Chapter 20

I wake up the next morning feeling better then I did yesterday.

I didn't see Corey anywhere.

I got up and walked out into the hall, I saw Corey walking up the steps and I walked over to him. "Hey, I was just coming to check on you." He said.

"What am I gonna die in my sleep?" I said.

"It's possible."

"Not really."

"So I talked to Trey." Corey said.

"Okay..."

"Stop making friends with vampires, Arabelle." He said.

I laughed.

"It's not funny." He said.

"What would you like me to do? Do you want me to be mean?" I asked.

"No..."

"Okay then, stop complaining."

"I just don't understand how you do it; it's so easy for you. Why isn't it easy for anyone else?"

"I don't know. But I think vampire's make better friends."

He laughed. "So do you want breakfast? I can make you something." He offered.

"Uh, sure." I said.

I followed him downstairs into the kitchen; I hopped up on the counter.

"What do you want?" He asked.

"You said you didn't know how to cook." I said.

"I lied." He said bluntly.

"Well in that case, I don't care."

"You really don't care? After I make you something your not gonna say you don't like it?" He asked.

I laughed, "No, I'm not picky."

"Okay." He said.

Drake walked into the kitchen then.

"Hey Bells, how ya feeling?" He asked me.

"Fine, how did you know I was sick?" I replied.

"Corey told me."

"Oh."

"So due to your illness you missed a family meeting this morning." Drake said.

"How can it be a family meeting if I'm not there?"

He shrugged, "I don't know but it was about you."

"What about me?"

"Just you in general, oh and dad wants you to hurry up and fine someone to marry or he's going to make you marry someone of his choosing, and let me tell you, you won't like his choice." He said.

"Who's his choice?" I asked.

"I don't know if you want to know."

"Just tell me."

"...Nick."

I was in shock, "Wh-what?" I asked.

"You heard me."

"Why the hell would dad choose him?"

Drake laughed, "I have no fucking idea."

"So...why don't you like Nick?" Corey asked me.

"Because he's a bastard." I stated.

"Why is he a bastard?" He asked.

I sighed.

"Why won't you tell me?"

"I don't like to talk about it."

"Why?"

"Because, I just don't. I don't like him; I don't like to talk about him."

He went back to cooking whatever it is he was cooking.

"Did you wash your hands?" I asked.

He looked at me, "No."

"Most people at least lie."

"My hands aren't dirty." He responded.

"How would you know? God only knows what you've touched."

He laughed, "What are you implying?"

"I think you know what I'm implying."

He raised his eyebrows, "I'm not sure if what I'm thinking your implying is the same thing that you are implying."

"I'm pretty sure you can figure out what I'm implying without me having to say it." I said.

"You don't want to say it?" He asked.

"Not really."

"Then I defiantly know what it is."

I laughed, "I knew you'd figured it out."

"Are you implying that I do that?" He asked.

I shrugged, "I don't know if you do."

"Do you think I do it?"

"Maybe."

Drake was staring at us, 'What the hell are you two talking about?"

Corey and I laughed.

Drake shook his head then walked out of the kitchen.

A few minutes later Corey handed me a plate that had just about every breakfast food on it. "I swear my hands are clean." He said.

* * *

It was late that night; I was changed into an oversized white T-shirt that fell a few inches above my knees. It was a Transformers shirt; I was a big Transformers fan, I use to get up early on Saturday mornings to watch the cartoon when it came on until I got TiVo, now I just record it and watch it whenever I got up.

I walked out of the closet, all the lights were turned off except the small one on my nightstand, Corey was sitting on the bed watching TV.

He looked over at me and smiled, "Transformers, really?" He asked.

"Don't make fun of me." I said.

"I'm not. I think it's adorable." He mused.

I laughed, "Sure you do."

"I'm serious."

"Okay, whatever." I said.

He sat up and turned to face me, "Come here." He said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Just come here."

I walked up to him and he wrapped my hands in his.

"I-uh-I have something to tell you." he said.

"What?" I asked.

He took a deep breath, "God I'm so nervous."

I was confused, why is he nervous? He's making me nervous.

"Arabelle?"

"Yes?" I replied, getting anxious.

He looked at me with those bright green eyes that I loved and said:

"...I love you."