"Guys we should really be getting to bed, school starts tomorrow." My sister spoke from the edge of my bed as Caroline and I continued to forage through my closet.
"Unlike you, dear sister, I care about how I will look tomorrow." I responded as we kept going through my clothes.
Caroline nodded as she looked back at Skye. "I'm not letting Nik show up dressed like a homeless man." Finally she tossed me an outfit.
Sky snorted at this. "Goodluck with that, He has the fashion sense of a toddler."
"Hey!" I complained as I sent her a glare.
She smirked in response, flipping me off as she got off my bed.
"Whatever you two lovebirds. I'm going to bed."
I missed the way Caroline paused as Skye spoke.
"Night Skylar!" She responded, her usual bubbly smile appearing on her face.
I smiled watching her as she started putting away the mess of clothes we had made on the floor.
"Are you sure your moms okay with you staying over tonight? I don't want another night in a holding cell for you being in my bed." I set down the outfit she had tossed to me earlier.
"She only did that cuz she walked in on us. She wanted to scare you." She responded nonchalantly as she looked back at me.
"Mission accomplished. Your mom terrifies me sometimes." I pouted slightly, moving to stand behind her as I wrapped my arms around her waist, resting my chin on her shoulder.
"She's just overprotective of me."
"She knows I'd never do anything to hurt you right?" I let go of her as she moved out of my reach. "You know that too don't you?"
I'd never hurt her. I made sure to always keep my hunger and strength in check around her. Unless she was having her mom be intentionally strict. Like Skye does with Nyx and boys she doesn't actually wanna date. Caroline wouldn't though would she? She never had a problem telling people things how she saw them nor putting any filters up when sharing her opinions or feelings. Surely she wouldn't pull the whole parent card on me right?
She paused as she turned to face me. 'Of course I know you'd never hurt me Nik. And my mom does too; she just likes giving you a hard time..."
I look at her as she answers. Her heartbeat spikes as she says the last line. Of course, my intuition was right. I should have listened when she told me at the beginning of the summer that she wanted to keep us a secret from our friends. There was no reason for us to have to hide our relationship, but I agreed to her terms. Afterall I have had a crush on her since we met, and I wasn't passing up the opportunity when I asked her out and she said yes.
"Unless you're having second thoughts?" I asked softly, dreading the lump growing in my throat at my words.
I knew deep down she didn't really like me. I mean who would? She just needed a distraction. I knew that when I asked her out. She had just been through a breakup not even two weeks before I got the guts to ask. I knew her well enough to know her pattern. And I had offered myself. I knew that she didn't actually have romantic feelings for me. Of course she didn't. Why would she? I wasn't her type anyways. Atleast not her most recent type. . I just wanted to wish that none of this was true. That maybe just maybe I had a chance with her.
"Nik..." There were tears forming in her eyes.
No wonder the sheriff was putting on the act double time. She had told her mom to try to scare me off. To get me to initiate the breakup. I should've known better.
"Just say it Care..."
"I don't want to hurt you..."
Too late for that Caroline. But it's my fault more than yours.
Tears started to stream down her face. Fuck. The lump in my throat grew as I felt the sting of my own tears threatening to show themselves. I swallowed down the lump.
"Was any of this real for you?... You know I've had feelings for you since we met... Did the last few months mean nothing to you?..."
I knew the answers. I knew asking them this way would hurt her. I shouldn't have asked like that, but I needed to hear her say it.
"Nik I'm sorry..." She reached out, causing me to step back as I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from breaking down myself.
"Say it Caroline..." I clenched my fists at my side, my nails digging into my palms as I tried not to cry.
She let out a small sob, moving to wipe the tears escaping her eyes. I felt the familiar prick of pain as my nails cut into my skin, the warmth of my blood pooling around them slowly. Moving them behind me, I felt the blood drip down as I opened my hands to let them heal.
"Yes... Nik this is over... Us... I'm breaking up with you..."
I let out a shaky breath at her words. I know that she was going to say them. But actually hearing them come from her hurt more than I imagined. I had shared so much with her these past couple months. I had come out to her, shared parts of myself with her that I hadn't planned to ever share again.
"Is this because of... who I am?..." I motioned down at my body for a moment as I spoke.
"No, no of course not Nik. God no. Your identity has nothing to do with it. I have always seen you as the boy you are. I just..." She answered immediately.
I let out another breath, my own tears finally escaping.
"I get it... I knew you needed a distraction after that last breakup... I knew this but I still asked anyway..."
"I wasn't trying to use you Nikolai..."
"I know... Thank you Care for being honest with me... I'm sorry..." I hastily wiped my tears away. "You take the bed. I'll go crash in Skye's room..."
I leaned down to pick up the outfit she had picked out for me.
"Nik, wait."
Before I could process, she pulled me up, connecting our lips in one last kiss before she finally pulled away.
"Goodnight Caroline... I'll see you in the morning..."
I quickly left the room, shutting the door gently behind me. Walking towards Skye's room I listened, hearing her asleep. Shit. I won't bother her if she's sleeping already. I sighed and made my way silently down the stairs to the living room. Tossing my clothes onto the couch, I walked over to the kitchen wiping more tears away as they escaped my eyes. Nyx stood at the counter.
"Hey bud, you're still up?" She asked before she saw my tears. "What happened?"
She came over, pulling me into a hug. I hugged her back after a moment, pushing away more tears.
"We broke up... It's fine..."
She pulled back, keeping me at arms length as she looked me over again. I avoided her gaze.
"I'm sorry bud, wanna talk about it?"
I shook my head moving out of her grasp as I went to the fridge. Opening the door, I moved to the hidden cooler in the back, grabbing a blood bag from it as I closed the door, turning and leaning back against it. Popping the bag open I took a long drink from it.
"Do you wanna skip tomorrow?"
"No... I don't need the questions... No one but our families knew we were together anyways..."
"Alright. Offer stands if you change your mind. I can call the school." She moved back to the counter, leaning on her elbows as she watched me.
I finished off the blood bag, using magic to incinerate it. I needed to get out and let off some steam.
"I'm gonna go out for a run..." I moved towards the door, bending down to put on my shoes.
"Be safe."
I nodded and pulled my headphones from my backpack on the floor by the door. Leaving the house, I put my headphones on after connecting them to my phone, letting the music block out my surroundings as I headed down the sidewalk towards the woods. After a few minutes, I was deep into the woods and away from prying eyes. I removed my headphones, wrapping them around my phone and shoving them into my pocket. Rolling my shoulders and neck a little I finally shifted into my wolf form.
I raced around the woods for hours until I finally tired myself out. Shifting back into my human form, my clothes magically reappeared on my form as I made my way back home. The sun had already risen and was making its way slowly through the sky. Checking my phone I saw that it was only an hour before school would start. Using my vamp speed I got back to the house, unaware that a crow had been watching me from the shadows all night.