After our truce of sorts (and after I finished bawling my eyes out...) I didn't really know what else to say to Liam. I mean, what are you supposed to say to your immature, frenemy, vampire kidnaper? Is there some kind of protocol?

Maybe not, but I imagine you're not exactly supposed to, y'know, befriend them, a voice in my head whispered. I scowled. I hadn't befriended him, not really. We were just...friendly. And I didn't think that making enemies with Liam was the best escape plan. Even if he didn't seem like it sometimes, he was still a monster after all. Arguing with myself wasn't going to help anyone. I shook my head.

As I did, Liam giggled at me. "What are you, a wet dog? Is this some mortal ritual? Humans are so weird!"

"Oh wow, so funny," I muttered. Okay, not making enemies with Liam would be harder than expected.

"Hey Blythie-"

"Don't call me that."

"If you keep bullying me, I might be inclined to retaliate," Liam sing-songed. I scoffed. Then I realized that might actually become a serious concern.

I sighed. "I'm ever so sorry for my bullying, Liam."

Liam humphed. "Please! To think I'd let a monster like you off the hook with that shallow apology. You ruined my life, Blythe! Why can't you understand that?"

"Ever since I've met you, I've had this constant headache," I mused. Liam shrugged.

"Wonder why," he said, standing. "I'm bored. Let's play a game!" I looked up warily. "What?" he asked.

"That's the kind movie serial killers say before they murder you. No thanks."

"I meant a board game." I frowned. I've never liked board games. Mostly because my mom would never buy them, so whenever we played them in elementary school, I'd lose. And since I had no friends, what was the point in playing games that needed more than one person?

"No. Thanks," I grouched.

"Come on, what else are you doing? Sitting here? Your short little mortal existence doesn't give you much time to sit around, you know," Liam said, waving a finger in my face.

I pushed it aside and scowled. "Oh...fine."

"Yes!" Liam whispered, dragging me downstairs, past the kitchen and to the game room. As I glanced around it, colorful cases for video games (none of which I was familiar with) caught my eye, but no board games.

"Hey, where are the board games anyw-" The question died on my tongue as I noticed a small group of people sitting on one of the couches, laptops in hands. No, not people. Vampires.

Instinctively, I edged myself behind Liam, who raised both eyebrows at me. "Are you okay?"

"There's other vampires here," I whispered. Liam laughed. Loudly.

"Uh, yeah? What, did you think there were only four of us here? In a house this size?"

I blushed. "Well, no, but I haven't seen anyone else so I kinda forgot," I mumbled. "Can we go do something else please? Before they, um, notice me?" I whispered.

"Blythe, you reek of human-they noticed you as soon as you walked in. And they can hear every word we're saying."

"Oh." The blush spread to my whole face. "Then why aren't they turning around?"

"They're playing Minecraft? Why would they care about you?" Liam asked, rolling his eyes. I wrinkled my nose.

"What the hell is Minecraft?"

The room got about ten degrees colder as every vampire in the room turned to face me. "You're joking, right?" Asked a rather pale one with brown hair and a scarf.

I glanced at Liam for support, but he was just shaking his head at me. "Um. No? Should I know what that is?"

"Annnnd now it's time for you to go up to my room," Liam said steering me out of the way.

"What? Why? What'd I do?" I asked, trying to turn back around. Why were they being so odd? Was this a vampire thing?

"Remember how they weren't focused on you? You just gave them a reason to be," Liam whispered. "I'll meet you up there, I'll bring games...just go!"

I didn't need him to say that again. I was up the stairs as fast as possible, flying back into Liam's room. I squeezed my eyes shut slammed the door behind me and leaned against it, exhaling. Safe!

"Blythe? What the fuck are you doing in here?" My eyes popped open.

"R-Ruby?" I squeaked. Suddenly, the room wasn't seeming like the safer alternative. Ruby glared at me from by Liam's closet. Liam's open closet.

"That is my name. Got anything more useful to say?" She asked coldly, slamming the closet door shut.

"What are you doing in-" Before I could finish, Ruby was right beside me, her face mere centimeters from my own.

"You wanna finish that question?" She whispered.

"Not really, no," I whispered back. She smirked, pulling away.

"Good. If you tell Liam I was in here, I'll make a necklace out of your small intestine," she said, blowing me a kiss. I shivered. Disgusting.

As Ruby opened Liam's door, though, I realized that it wouldn't matter whether I told Liam or not.

"Ruby? What are you doing in my room?" Liam asked. Ruby giggled.

"Snooping through your things. You know that seeeecret closet you have?" A vein popped up under Liam's eye.

"You didn't." Liam growled. I could swear his eyes turned darker.

"I did!" Ruby whispered.

I closed my eyes. My stomach churned. I didn't want to witness this, not again. I couldn't.

"Please don't do that, okay? I've got private stuff in there," Liam said, sounding kind of strangled.

"What? Come on, that's it? I went through all that goddamn trouble for that?" Ruby snapped. "I'm a complete asshole, I went through all your private shit, I stole some of it. I can see that you're fucking mad at me. Do something about it!" She barked.

"You really want me to?" Liam said, his quiet voice chilling me to the bone. I knew what was coming. "Fine." I heard his heavy footfalls as he walked towards her. Nononono.

Suddenly, Ruby's incredulous laughter filled the room. That wasn't the sound I was expecting. Confused, I cracked open an eye.

Liam was hugging her.

"Liam...why?" Ruby asked, her laughing beginning to sound more like sobbing.

"I'm not going to lose it. No matter what you do. I'm not failing you again, okay?" He mumbled into her hair. Again, I felt like I was watching something I wasn't supposed to.

"You say that now," Ruby mumbled. Liam snickered.

"You might be right, but I'm trying. And you should too."

"Yeah, sure, whatever," Ruby sighed, untangling herself from his arms. I didn't want to be an eavesdropper, but I was too curious. What was the relationship between those two?

"You can start by playing some board games with Blythe and Me!"

"What?" Ruby and I said simultaneously. She glared daggers at me, like I'd orchestrated it or something.

"Human face over there? Unless the game is draining her dry, no. I love you LiLi, but no," she sniffed, turning to exit the room.

"Wait. I'm still technically your leader, so you still technically have to listen to me when I say that I don't want you cooped up in your room all day. You're going crazy in there, and you need sun."

"I was already crazy and I burn in the sun," Ruby smirked, flipping both middle fingers at Liam.

"Neither of those things are true. Stay! It'll be fun, I promise," Liam said, grinning. Ruby glared at him for a few moments.

I was sure she was going to leave, but she finally threw herself dramatically across Liam's bed and groaned, "Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine."

"Wonderful! Now you two can be best friends like me and Blythe," Liam grinned, bringing in the stack of games he'd left in the hallway.

I glanced at Ruby, who was baring her sharp fangs at me. Friends. Sure. Yaaay.