|
|
The next two weeks passed almost uneventfully. Ivory continued her training, was forced to deal with several more of Kenyon's "touchy-feely"-related incidents (she gave him a black eye for the latter one), and otherwise hung out with her friends at the Bronze. And slayed at least two random vampires with her father's help.
But not once did she run into Chase, much as she preferred to. It was almost like he was avoiding her since their impassioned kiss, and she was far from understanding why.
Which was why she found herself seated in a corner booth in a dimly lit seafood restaurant after school, relating her insecurities to Hannah of all people. "I don't get it," Ivory was saying, absently chewing on a piece of crab meat. "I mean, I liked him and it seemed like he was getting to like me too. I don't understand what I did wrong. And where has he been the last few days?" Ivory sighed. "God, it's gonna drive me nuts!"
Hannah giggled briefly. "I'll bet, the way you're carrying on about this guy! You must really like him to have your feathers be ruffled like this!"
"So, what do I do, Hannah?" Ivory asked her younger friend. "I don't even know where he lives, it's too soon to look him up in the phone book since he just moved here, and..." She buried her head in her hands. "And I am just losing my mind, aren't I?" she moaned.
"Just a little," Hannah joked, holding her thumb and index finger two centimeters apart to emphasize her point. "Okay, change of topic! We need to get your mind off Chase... So, how goes the slaying? Did you bag any last night?"
"Nope, it was just another night of same old training," Ivory said with a sigh. "I'm getting better though. At least, my fa... my favorite teacher, your mom, says so." Despite it all, Ivory still had disclosed the news about her father being back, not to Hannah, and so mentally kicked herself for the near slip-up.
Hannah grinned. "So, pretty soon, you're gonna be the resident martial-arts queen, huh?" she asked, taking a sip of her soda. "It must be pretty thrilling. I mean, you get to be out there kicking serious vampire butt, and the rest of us can't hold a candle to that."
Ivory looked up at her friend with serious eyes. "Is that what you think this is?" she asked calmly. "A thrill ride?" When the redhead didn't answer right away, Ivory went on, "It's not a game, Hannah... It's a warzone out there. It's me against the forces of evil. That's why I'm so against you tagging along. This is not a crossfire you want to be caught in."
Hannah's eyes were wide by now, her face slightly pale, at the seriousness of Ivory's tone. "Geez, like I don't already know this?" she asked, gently rubbing the two nearly healed punctures on her neck. "One of them nearly killed me, Ivory!"
"Exactly! And I don't want to see another of them finish what that one started!" Ivory reached across the table for Hannah's hand. "You are one of my best friends, Hannah, and right now, you're the only one I can confide in about this... What would I do if I were to lose that, lose you?"
Hannah yanked her hand from Ivory's, taken aback at her friend's words. Her face flushing with anger, she said, "Don't talk to me like I'm headed in that direction! I know the score, Ivory. Both you and my mom did a good job of filling me in! And, frankly, I don't understand or like this sudden grim attitude of yours!"
Ivory leaned back in her seat, wearing a slightly pained expression. "Oh, God, Hannah, I'm sorry," she said after a moment. "It's just... I've seen and heard about the people who have died for this cause. My mom, the ones Nick and his friends have killed, and countless others... And my real mother was one of the greatest Slayers there was, but that didn't help her. I think, based on that... What if none of us are truly safe?"
Hannah paused, then nodded slowly in understanding. "You can trust me to protect myself, Ivory. I'm not gonna die, not this soon! And who knows, maybe for each vampire you slay, one more person gets to go on. Think of it that way." She paused again. "So, how does it feel to be the town champion?"
Ivory cracked a smile. She gave it some thought, then said, "It feels pretty good, Hannah. In fact..." Ivory's voice died in her throat at this point, as she looked up to see a familiar face entering the restaurant.
After a few seconds, Hannah followed her friend's gaze, breaking out in a wide grin. Her mind forming a quick plan, she rose from her seat, going over towards the new arrival, while Ivory looked on in mute dismay.
"Chase!" Hannah exclaimed, looping her arm through his. "I'm so glad you made it! You have to come join us!"
Taken off guard, Chase was forced to either follow her lead, or fall flat on his face. He was at the table facing a wide-eyed Ivory before he knew it. He held her gaze for a second, then looked away uncomfortably, suddenly nervous at being this close to her after the past few days. Nevertheless, Hannah backed him into a corner by inviting him to sit, which Chase did purely out of politeness.
A tense silence followed, with both Chase and Ivory fidgeting in their chairs, neither of them able to meet the other's eyes for more than an instant. Hannah finally broke in with, "I don't know what you two are so unconfortable about! It's not like this is a blind date or anything, and you've already kissed each other!"
Ivory blushed furiously, futilely trying to hide her embarrassment with one hand. Once more, Chase's eyes darted towards her, but managed to hold this time. "Your friend has a point," he said after a moment. "We're both adults. We... We can deal with this rationally."
Biting her lip, Ivory gazed back at him, the tension diminished somewhat now that they were on speaking terms. "Deal with what?" she asked quietly. "What is going on, Chase? I think you owe me an explanation."
He paused, then leaned closer, deciding that he owed her at least some of the truth. "I didn't move here with my mom like I said," he admitted quietly, barely noticing as Hannah slid from her seat to give them some privacy. "Both my parents have been dead for a few years. Result of a fatal car crash... I ran away from an abusive uncle at sixteen, spent the next year travelling, doing odd jobs... It wasn't until I hit Arizona that I met Cinnamon."
Ivory stared at him through this with slightly parted lips, a range of emotions running through her. There was anger that he'd lied to her, curiosity when he mentioned Arizona (wasn't that where vampires were flocking to?), and a growing apprehension when he mentioned the latter name. "Cinnamon?" she asked, a tremble in her voice.
Chase looked down at his hands. "My girlfriend," he said quietly. Then, before Ivory got really upset, he added, "At least, I think that's what she is. I'm not sure anymore... Not since I met you." He paused, then said, "I know how lame that must sound..."
Ivory looked up at him with tears flooding her eyes. "I should have known," she said after a moment. "It was too perfect, you and me. There had to be a curve in there."
Chase reached for her hand. "Ivory, please," he started.
She jerked her hand away just before he made contact. "Don't," she warned in a cold voice. "Don't you dare! So, what was that kiss all about? Was it just a joke!?"
Chase swallowed back the lump in his throat, looking at her. "It wasn't," he insisted. "Ivory, I may be seeing someone else, but I don't think my heart belongs to her. I don't feel for Cinnamon what I feel for you," he said impassionedly.
"And that's supposed to make me feel better?" Ivory asked angrily. "You're sick, Chase! If you think for one moment, I'm going to leap into your arms and pretend everything is okay..." She shook her head in mute anger, then abruptly stood. "Don't you ever come near me again!" she said before walking away, grabbing Hannah on her way out of the restaurant.
Chase watched her go in sorrow, then stared down at the unpaid bill she had left with a sigh. "Way to go, man," he berated himself. "You just blew it big time with the potential girl of your dreams..." But, more than that, he hated himself for deceiving her in so many ways. The news about Cinnamon was barely a scratch on the surface compared to what else he was keeping from Ivory.
And now, there was no easy way to tell her the entire truth, not unless he could get into her good graces again. With a sigh, Chase picked up the check and went to cover the expenses for the meal, all the time brooding over the mess he had gotten himself into...