Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
Charlie
Going Through Changes
The diner was a disaster. I feel so bad for Kip.
His entire life has shifted, and it’s clearly overwhelming for him.
I can’t imagine. He seems to feel like he’s lost everything in the span of a couple of days, and I can’t blame him.
But I want to be around to help him. Even though his life is changing, that doesn’t mean it’s over.
It’s only a new beginning. Woah, when did I become such an optimist? Maybe Kip brings it out in me.
“I’m sorry you didn’t get to eat your pancakes.” Kip is glum as he drives towards my apartment.
I battle with myself, wanting to reach out and rest my palm on his thigh. I held his hand at the diner, but that seems more…innocent, in a way, than my hand on his leg. Friends can hold hands and it’s not all that weird. But friends don’t hold each other’s thighs.
In the end, I decide against it, chickening out. “It’s alright. I’ll eat them when I get home.”
We pull up to the curb outside of my complex, Kip placing the car in park. “Uhh, I also wanna thank you, Charlie. For tonight, and everything. It means a lot that you gave me your trust.”
The only four people I truly, openly trust are my Mom, and my four friends, Fae, Lukas and Tommy.
And it took me years to really get there.
But now I’m realizing, I added Kip to that list without much thought.
Sure, yesterday I didn’t trust him as far as I could throw him (obviously not very far.
Don’t even think I could lift the guy). It clicked into place today though, pretty much right when he showed me his vampire side.
That took courage, and trust of his own.
He’s been honest with me since he met me, and pleasant, even when I didn’t offer him the same.
I blink, emerging out of the hazy jumble of my head. “It’s no problem—” I turn to face Kip, only to find him slumped back in the driver’s seat. His head hangs limply to the side, and his skin has taken on a sickly gray hue.
Unbuckling, I quickly shuffle onto my knees, leaning over the center console towards Kip.
“Kip?” I nudge his shoulder, and the coldness of his skin seeps through his shirt into my finger. He feels like the inside of a meat freezer. “Kip, wake up!” I shake him harder, but still don’t get a response.
Vampires can’t just like…die, right? Don’t they have to be staked in the heart, decapitated, or burned or something? They don’t just pass from natural causes. At least not in any of the movies I’ve seen or books I’ve read.
I fling open my door, bolting outside to run around to the driver’s side.
“Kip, oh my god. What the fuck?!” I’m panicking now. “Come on, buddy. Don’t do this to me. You gotta wake up!”
I feel around his neck for a pulse. And then his wrist. “Fuck, of course you don’t have a pulse! You’re a fucking vampire! How am I supposed to know if you’re dead- dead, or just vampire dead?!”
This is either a brilliant idea, or a really fucking stupid one, but I don’t have time to debate the pro’s and con’s of what I’m about to do.
Using one hand, I tip is head back so it leans against the headrest. Prying his jaw open with my fingers, I raise my wrist to his teeth. Shit, his fangs aren’t out!
Using the next best thing, I bring my wrist up to my own mouth and bite down as hard as I can. I bite until it breaks skin, and blood begins to bead along my wrist.
When I bring my wound up to Kip’s mouth, I watch in fascination as his fangs begin to descend, popping through his gum line. He’s got to still be alive then?
“Come on, Kip. Wakey, wakey! I’ve got some yummy blood for you.” I sing-song.
Kip’s nostrils flare, and his eyes snap open. Once again, they’re like silver swirling mists. Without hesitation, he clamps down on my wrist, biting into the flesh.
I hiss at the unexpected pain.
Kip’s hands fly up, gripping my wrist tightly to hold it steady against his mouth as he sucks. His grunts and growls echo through the night, and for the first time, I’m a bit frightened of him. He doesn’t seem like himself.
“Kip…” I try to pull my arm away, but he snarls at me, his eyes endless swirling pits as they glare at me.
“I think you’re taking too much, Kip.” I gasp. This time there’s no pleasure in it, only pain. “You fed earlier, remember? You can’t take that much.”
Kip doesn’t listen, biting down harder until I cry out in agony.
“Kip…please.” I cry, tears trailing down my cheeks. “Stop. You’re hurting me.”
It’s like my words aren’t breaking through his blood lust. Is Kip going to kill me? I start to get woozy, my body going lax as I sink forward into Kip’s hold. My eyelids become heavy, and my brain starts to slow.
“Kip.” I rasp. “Please. You don’t want to kill me, I know you don’t.
I’m your little dude, remember? It’s me, Charlie.
” My words get weaker as I talk, but I try to keep going.
With the last of my strength, I reach my free hand up to his face, stroking his cheek.
I meet his eyes, even though it’s difficult for me to keep mine open.
“Kip.” His name scrapes out of my throat.
“I like you Kip, and I trust you. I know you don’t want to hurt me. Come back, please.”
I watch as recognition flares in Kip’s eyes. After the recognition fades, panic sets in as he realizes what’s happening. His vise grip releases, letting my arm go, as his fangs retract back into his gums.
With blood dripping down his teeth and chin, he whispers brokenly “Charlie?”
And that’s the last thing I remember as it all fades to black.