BANE

CHAPTER THREE - BLAME (Part 1)

"That's a cop-out if I ever heard one. Look, I'm secure enough with my heterosexuality to admit that my best friend is an attractive man--I'm not blind. Now, answer me--you have the hots for him, don't you?"

"When I'm not terrified of him, yeah. Of course I do."

Victor sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "So that 'intimacy without intimacy' line yesterday was just that, a line?"

"It's not like I'd act on it or anything, this isn't the first time in my life I've had a little crush on a straight boy. I didn't expect you to be so bothered by this... I told you I was gay, you seemed fine with it."

"I don't care that you're gay, Holden. I care that you're putting your life in danger over some perceived connection you get from letting him drink your blood. The more you let him do it, the more he'll need to do it. You put yourself in real danger last night, and I'm not talking about the warehouse fight. Whether you were the one that made that cut or Corbin was, it was too deep."

"Thanks for your concern, but I know what I'm doing," Holden stepped around the taller man to grab himself a cup of coffee as well.

"No you don't! How could you possibly know when you can't even remember doing it? Holden, use your head. You're going to get yourself killed!"

Holden put down the coffee mug, having lost interest in drinking it and shook his head. "You say that like it's a bad thing," He chuckled darkly and walked back towards the bedroom.

"Where are you going? What about lunch?"

"I'm not hungry."

******

A week had passed and while Holden's physical wounds had healed, it was clear to his roommates that he was still in bad shape emotionally. "I'm worried, Callie. He hasn't been to work all week, he just stays in his room and barely even eats. It clearly triggered something... but how are we supposed to snap him out of it?" Layla scoffed. "What am I saying, 'we' for? Corbin has been absolutely no help."

Callista sipped her latte. The two girls had met for a late lunch at a café after they both got off work. "Did you really expect Corbin to help?"

"I dunno... he was getting along with Holden earlier that day, apparently. He managed to get him to talk about his family, at least. Maybe that was a mistake," Layla picked through the dish of sugar and sweetener packets and reorganized them as she spoke. "Corbin's been acting weird too. He said Holden attacked him, and was able to overpower him... How is that even possible?"

"I guess Holden is a lot stronger than he looks."

"He's still human, Callie."

"Well..." Callista tilted her head to the side.

"What?"

"Maybe Corbin wasn't so opposed to being overpowered..."

"I know you like to assume that everyone around you is secretly gay, but believe me, I would notice if my brother was banging dudes," Layla laughed.

"You say that, but he's never told you who he lost his virginity to..."

"Ew, why would I want him to tell me that? He said it was a friend, and that's all I care to know."

"Bet you ten bucks it was a male friend," Callista laughed, "I'm just teasing, though, you have to admit it would explain a lot."

"True."

"Vic hasn't said much either, but he seems to be pissed at the both of them," Callista took another sip of her latte. "He's been asking lots of questions lately, though..."