Chapter 54:

I ended up rolling out of bed sometime after noon.

First thing I did was go downstairs and fix myself a cup of coffee and went back to my room, watching the noon news as I drank it.

I was going to eat candy for breakfast but I realized I ate all the candy we had in the house last night.

What is up with these random cravings for sweets?

I already have to deal with the craving for blood, or whatever the hell it is.

After having my coffee and feeling a tad bit more awake but still sluggish I got in the shower, hoping to help wake myself up more.

After getting dressed in tight red leather pants and a black, V-neck silk tank top I ignored makeup and left my hair messy, the long bangs falling in my eyes as usual.

I yawned as I stepped out of my room, yanking on my combat boots and stopping to rub my eyes.

"Tired?"

I took my hands away from eyes to be greeted with the pleasant sight of Corey.

Dressed in black jeans and not surprisingly enough, a black, button-up long-sleeved shirt.

"Uh...hi." I replied, a little distracted by his looks.

"What?" He questioned at my odd response.

"Nothing just, nothing."

"Okay. You didn't answer my question."

"Oh, right, yeah I am. A lot." I had to fight the urge to yawn, tugging on my left boot I almost lost my balance but Corey caught me before I fell.

"I figured you would be. I slept during the daytime when I was going through the change."

"The change?" I questioned, puzzled.

"I already explained this to you."

"No, you didn't." I retorted.

"Oh maybe I was meaning to and I didn't get around to it. Well, anyways the change is what you go through when you're becoming a vampire. It happens over a period of several days. But I believe it's longer with half-vampires." He mused. "That's what you're experiencing; the pain, the short temper-you look really good today." He suddenly said, his eyes roaming over me.

"Um..." I breathed a laugh. "Thanks."

"Anyways, like I was saying-" He stopped when I started laughing.

"What?" He questioned.

"Nothing, just you're so odd." I stated with another laugh.

"How?"

"You just are. So do you want to go with me to the store?"

"Why are you going to the store?"

"I need more candy." I paused, thinking of how tired I was. "And energy drinks."

"They'll be people there, right?"

"Usually there tends to be people at grocery stores so sadly yes."

"Hmm, okay I'll go but I don't enjoy being around people. I hate public places." He mused.

"Yeah, I know." I quickly descended the stairs, grabbing my leather jacket and car keys as I left the house.

I glanced at the dried grass of the spot where my car was burnt down to pieces.

I sighed, turning my attention away from it.

I drove to the nearest grocery store with Corey fooling with the radio a majority of the time before giving up and turning it off because he couldn't find a station he liked.

It was true most of the songs being played were horrible.

"Any idea why I'm having random candy cravings?" I asked Corey as we entered the store.

"Yeah, that's part of the change as well." He answered. "You get a really strong craving for something. Mine was cherries."

"Any idea why that is?"

He shrugged. "Maybe because your appetite's changing. Maybe it's just part of the whole thing. Speaking of which, when are you going to drink some blood?"

I wondered if all the people staring at us had heard what he said.

I really didn't enjoy everyone staring at me everywhere I went but I guess it just came with the title.

Or with publicly broadcasting my love for a vampire.

Probably both.

And who knows what was going through their minds after I'm sure they've heard the weddings been called off and now they're seeing us together.

"Eh, how about never?" I replied.

"Why don't you want blood? Well I know you want it. Why won't you drink it?"

"You can't be completely sure I'm a vampire."

"Sweet baby Jesus on a roller coaster. It's obvious you are."

I stopped walking and looked at him, laughing as I did. "What? Um, why is baby Jesus on a roller coaster?"

He looked at me seriously. "Cause he likes to have fun too."

I started laughing again. "I've never heard that saying before."

He smiled faintly. "It was the first thing that came to mind."

"And you even had an explanation for it."

"Mmhmm."

I shook my head at him and started walking again.

"There should be a test you can take or something to see if you're a vampire." I commented.

"There is. You can take a blood test."

"Oh, well then I should do that."

"I already know you are but yeah, sure."

I reached the candy isle, my eyes scanning over all the sweet goodies.

I grabbed bags of candy, tossing them in the basket.

As I did I glanced over at Corey; he seemed very uncomfortable as the other people passed by us, going about their ways.

"You okay?" I asked him.

He nodded, moving closer to me. "I just really don't like people."

I felt bad for him, seeing how uneasy he was, I wanted to comfort him.

"Do you have a phobia of people?" I inquired, quickly tossing the last of bags of candy I wanted in the blue basket.

He nodded.

"I have a phobia of things with wings and people dressed in costumes."

He smiled. "Those a lot funnier than mine."

I breathed a laugh.

"I'm going to dress up in a costume." He stated. "What kind freaks you out the most?"

"I shouldn't have never told you that. If you do that I'll...throw you into a crowd of people."

He laughed. "I'll freak out."

"Well then don't do it."

"Fine. Now hurry up so we can get the hell out of here."

""Why don't just you just go sit in the car?"

"No, it's fine. I deal with it all the time."

"Okay." I bit my lip, studying his expression as he wasn't paying attention to me at the moment.

I took his hand in mine and continued down the isle.

I got the energy drinks I wanted and went to the freezer section to get these little cartons of frozen Chinese food I loved.

There were more people in this part as it was a wide, mostly open section and it was quite crowded but that wasn't too surprising because it was a Saturday after all.

I was worried about Corey because he didn't look very good.

"I think I'm going to get sick." He announced, as I pulled him along, through the group of people.

I looked at back at him. "Seriously?"

"I just don't feel good."

Someone bumped into his shoulder, but didn't seem to notice as they continued hastily towards the checkouts.

His eyes widened slightly when that happened and he noticeably swallowed.

"You wanna leave now?" I questioned.

He shook his head. "It's okay, I'm okay."

I didn't believe him. I quickly got the Chinese food that being thankfully my last thing I needed.

We headed away from the doors of frozen goods, trying to make my way through the crowd without coming in close contact with anyone for Corey's sake.

"Oh god," I heard Corey say.

I stopped, looking at him. "What?"

He seemed visibly unwell as he put a hand to his face.

"I'm seriously going to throw up."

"Oh," I muttered to myself. "Um...bathrooms?" I suggested.

"There are people in there too."

"Well...maybe not. I'll figure something out, just come on." I headed in the direction of the restrooms, trying not to run into people, still some people I could tell got a little too close for Corey's comfort.

We finally reached the restrooms and I saw an employee standing out by the door, mopping the floors.

"Um, do you know if there's anyone in these bathrooms?" I asked him.

He looked at me, his eyes widening. "Um, no I don't believe there is, your majesty."

"Okay well good you do me a favor and not let anyone come in while we're in there. We won't be long."

He nodded.

"Thanks." I set down the basket of food, not wanting to carry it in there with me.

I dragged Corey into the bathroom.

"Eh, I'm not supposed to be in the girl's bathroom." Corey whined.

"I don't think it matters right now." I replied, as the door swung shut, blocking the swarming noise of the store out and replacing it with some slow song being played on the radio in here.

He exhaled heavily, his eyes shut.

"Are you better?" I questioned, my voice showing my concern.

He shook his head. "I'm going to get sick." He quickly went to the nearest stall.

I stood there for a moment while he was throwing up but decided to go and stand by the entrance of the stall.

The bathrooms were very pleasantly clean and I sat down on the floor, glancing over at Corey as he leaned over the toilet, his knees on the dark brown floor.

After a minute he leaned back, resting against the stall wall, his breathing slightly strained and his eyes closed.

I could see the sweat glistening on his neck and along the top of his chest where some skin was exposed from the few buttons at the top that were undone.

He brushed his dark hair across his forehead but mostly it stayed in place as it clung to his skin with the sweat.

We were hardly any distance from each other on the small space but I scooted over to sit directly beside him, our legs tangling together.

His eyes were only open slightly as he leaned his head on my shoulder, his hands resting in my lap.

One of his hands clung to my left leg, his fingers lightly digging into the material of my pants and I took his other hand in mine, rubbing my thumb gently across the smooth, pale skin of his.

"I didn't know phobias could make you get sick." I commented softly.

"People literally make me sick." He replied. "I'm not kidding when I say that. I mean it in every sense."

"I know that now. You shouldn't have come if you knew it would make you...like this."

"I didn't want to be away from you." He muttered pitifully.

I swallowed; feeling a tug at my heart.

"Well still, I could've gotten someone else to get the things if you told me that." I said.

"I wouldn't have told you that. The only reason I'm doing it now is because I feel vulnerable and I didn't think about it before, I just said it"

It was silent for a few minutes before I asked: "Are you better?"

"Yeah." He answered.

"Do you think you're ready to go back out?"

"Eh, maybe but I don't want to."

"Well we can't really stay in here for the rest of the day."

"You're the Queen can't you just like, tell everyone to get out?"

I breathed a laugh. "Maybe but um, I don't think that would be very nice. Let's make that the last thing we try."

"What else is there to try?"

"You can close your eyes."

"I can still hear."

"I have my i-pod. You can listen to calming music."

"How am I suppose to walk if I can't see?"

"I can guide you."

"I'm gonna be like a blind person." He sighed, lifting his head from my shoulder. "Okay, I'll do it."

I stood up, looking down at him with a small, encouraging smile.

"I wish I had a toothbrush." He complained, not moving.

"I can go get you one." I offered.

"Yeah, go do that." He ordered.

"Okay, I'll be right back." I quickly left the bathroom, luckily the isle with toothbrushes and toothpaste were only a very short distance away.

I didn't bother paying for them because the checkouts were so far away but instead just went back; swinging the door open to find Corey in the same spot.

"You're gonna have to get up to brush your teeth." I claimed, peering down at him.

He held his hand up, gesturing for help.

I smiled and grabbed his hand, but he only pulled me down roughly on top of him.

"I should not have fallen for that." I commented bitterly, glaring at the floor.

He smirked. "No you shouldn't have." He pushed me off of him and stood up swiftly, exiting the stall.

"Jerk." I muttered, getting up.

I heard him chuckle to himself.

I walked out, finding him looking at himself in the mirror. "You know considering what just happened, I still look really sexy." He mused.

I rolled my eyes. "Well your back to your old self."

He grinned at me.

"Just brush your teeth so we can leave." I held my hand out to him that was holding the un-paid for items.

He took the things from me, tearing open the plastic package covering the toothbrush.

I waited patiently until he was done; he brushed his teeth three times and commented that I should have gotten mouthwash as well.

Talk about ungrateful.

Before we left the restroom Corey braced himself, putting the earphones of my i-pod in, I suggested listening to The Beatles as they always seemed to help relax me.

With his hand tightly in mine we exited and I grabbed my basket, continuing towards the checkout.

I glanced back at Corey; his eyes softly shut.

It didn't take long to finish up in there; I went through a self-checkout and we were walking out of the automatic doors in less than five minutes from the time we walked out of the bathroom.

I reached my car and put the two bags in the backseat, turning to look at Corey, I tapped his shoulder.

His eyes slowly opened; glancing around before looking directly at me.

He took out the earphones.

"Did it help?" I inquired.

"Yeah, it did." He responded, handing me back the i-pod.

"What'd you listen to?"

"The Beatles. You were right, they did help me relax. I think I'm starting to like them."

I grinned. "This coming from the person who said they were a stupid commercialized band? Hmm..."

"Okay so I was wrong. They're good. Really good."

I headed towards my door. "I have a CD in the car. We're listening to it."

"Oh, god what have I started?"