Seeing Red (The Dark Love Series) (8 page)

             
“I caught a glimpse of her the other day,” Kali states. “I went to talk to her, but by the time I reached her, she was gone. It was strange.”

             
“Where did you see her? When?” I straighten my back and focus on Kali.

             
Kali looks at me strange. “I saw her by the mall yesterday.”

             
“She's not home,” I inform her.

             
“It looked exactly like her, but I guess it was my vision being crazy,” Kali continues to eat, as she brushes this subject off like it isn't important. If only she knew the truth.

             
Was it Caroline that she saw? Is she back?

* * * *

Andrew's Beamer is driving smoothly over the rocky dirt road that I'm driving on. I see his house in the distance, and I can't wait to walk through his front door and see his beautiful face staring back at me.

              I park his car in the driveway and hurry inside the house. I run to his room so I can jump into his arms and feel safe.

             
“Andrew,” I say as I walk into his room.

             
I drop my water bottle on the ground and my jaw drops. Andrew. Ora. What is going on? Were his lips just touching hers? I look Ora up and down. Is she really standing there, next to my boyfriend, in her black, silk panties and bra?

             
“Nina!” Andrew shouts. “This isn't what it looks like.”

             
I raise my eyebrows. I want to scream. I want to choke her skinny neck. I want to slap Andrew's face. My voice won't work. My body won't move. What the hell is going on?

             
Andrew grabs my arms, and I stare at him with a confused face. “Nina, I promise you I had nothing to do with this. I didn't know she was going to try to seduce me. I tried to push her away, but she wouldn't listen to me. I tried, my love.”

             
“Shh,” is all I manage to spit out.

             
“What?” Andrew asks.

             
I stare at Ora and see the smirk on her face. I want to punch her. I want to cause her pain, but I can't because I'm not that type of person. Actually, I don't even know what type of person I am.

             
I walk past Andrew like he doesn't exist. I make my way over to Ora. She looks at me confused and raises one eyebrow. I draw back my fist and throw my whole body into the punch. My fist connects to her face. I immediately feel the throbbing pain in my hand. Ora steps back and puts her hand to her face.

             
Andrew is at my side in an instant. Ora tries to attack me, but Andrew pushes her all the way across the room. Ora's eyes turn completely black and her fangs pop out. She tries to attack me again, but Andrew's catches her in mid-air and throws her to the ground. “No!” he yells.

             
I just attacked a vampire. I should be scared, but I'm not. I'm angry. I'm so angry that I feel my body getting hotter. If only I was a vampire, I would ruin her right now. The reason why I am so mad is obvious. She not only tried to take away the love of my life, but she tried to take away my happiness. No one should try to take away the happiness I feel. I will not be severely depressed again. I can't.

             
I feel my teeth clenching together. My breathing becomes heavier and heavier.

             
Andrew calms Ora down and I still continue to glare at her. My eyes don't leave hers. “Ora, you need to leave. Take a walk. Now!” Andrew yells.

             
“You're lucky, healer!” Ora shouts and runs out of the room.

             
“What the hell were you thinking? She could have killed you, Nina!” Andrew shouts.

             
“She was just trying to seduce you. She was trying to take away the love of my life and my happiness. Don't even try to stick up for her! You were kissing her! Your lips were on hers! I saw it, Andrew!” I shout back at him.

             
“She was trying to seduce me. She was trying to kiss me, but I was telling her no. I was pushing her away. I'm so sorry, Nina. I didn't think she would pull this shit!”

             
“Well, she did. I told you I didn't like her. I told you I didn't want her here. You knew how I felt about her!”

             
“I'm so sorry, my love. It will never happen again because she is not allowed in this house!”

             
I shake my head and turn around. I start walking toward the front door. I want to leave. I need to leave right now.

             
“Where are you going?” Andrew asks. I ignore his question and continue to walk. “Nina!” Andrew yells.

             
“I'm going home and I want to be left alone!” I yell back. “Just leave me alone!”

Chapter 11

Out of Control

Dear Diary,

              What happened yesterday? Did I really perceive that bitch trying to seduce my love? Why didn't I stake her?

             
Happiness, where are you? I wish I could just find you, along with peace. Where do you both hide from me? Why won't you show yourselves, and help me? I beg for you to find me. I want peace in my life, and I want happiness. Why do I always have to repeat myself? Why can't you just save me? Save me from this violent world I live in.

             
My emotions are so out of whack right now. I don't know if I should feel sad or angry. I don't know if I should cry or start hitting the wall. I want to take a razor blade and slice my leg. I want to take this unknown feeling away. I can't relapse. I can't. I just don't want to feel these emotions.

Love, Nina

* * * *

My cell phone starts to ring, bringing me back to reality. I glance at the name, and it's Kali. Can she sense my emotional problems building up? I'm expecting to answer the phone and hear her ask me what's wrong. Kali always finds out everything, somehow.

              “Hello,” I answer.

             
“It took you long enough to answer!” Kali replies.

             
“Sorry, I was,” I stutter. “I was doing something. What's up?”

             
“Whatever,” she says. She must know I'm lying. “I'm having a party tonight, and I want you to come. Before you answer, please know that I'm not asking you to come and get wasted. I want you to come so we can hang out. You don't have to drink at all,” Kali continues to ramble on.

             
I begin to block her voice out, as my mind wanders.

             
I should go to her party tonight. I should get all dressed up, look sexy, and drink away my broken heart. I have never drank alcohol before, but I guess there is a first time for everything. I won't be driving, I'll make sure of that! I need to get rid of these unknown emotions I feel inside of me.

             
“Why not,” I answer.

             
Kali goes silent. “Really? That was,” Kali falls quiet, as if she was caught off guard. “That was easier than I thought it would be,” she blurts out.

             
“I want to get wasted too,” I announce.

             
“Are you being serious or are you joking around with me?” Kali asks.

             
“I'm serious.”

             
“What's going on with you? What happened with Andrew?” Kali asks. I knew she would sense something is wrong.

             
“His ex-girlfriend Ora is in town. I found her half naked with him in his room,” I blurt out.

             
“Oh. My. God. Are you serious? That is so messed up! What a whore!” Kali yells.

             
“Tell me about it!”

             
“Let's forget about boys tonight. We will dance our asses off and get wasted! Deal?”

             
“Sounds good to me!”

* * * *

Digging through my clothes, I realize that I have nothing sexy to wear tonight. I look around my room, and it's completely destroyed. Clothes are everywhere. Now I know why Caroline's room was always a mess!

              Caroline. I know for a fact that she has something sexy in her wardrobe.

             
I open Lynns' door and sadness sweeps over me. I miss her so much. I was hoping to open this door and see her face shining and smiling at me, as she ran around her room searching for something to wear tonight.

             
I ignore the feelings. I start searching through her clothes and find a beautiful dress.

             
I strip out of my sweatpants and over-sized shirt, and pull the dress over my slim body. It's a perfect fit.

             
The dress is completely black.
It's shorter than I would prefer, ending at the tops of my thighs. I hope my ass doesn't show.

             
Looking in the mirror, the dress sticks to my body and shows off my curves. This is definitely a party dress. I look sexy. Now, I need some heels.

             
I search through Caroline's closet. She has so many shoes! It's ridiculous. It's like I'm at the mall searching through their shoe racks.

             
I notice a pink pair of heels. “Perfect,” I whisper to myself.

             
I slide my feet into the plain pink heels. I hope I can walk in these. They sure aren't wedges.

             
“You look beautiful,” I hear a voice say.

             
I look over and see my mom standing there with tears in her eyes. “I needed something to wear, and I knew Caroline must have something in here.”

             
“It's perfect,” Ali smiles.

             
“You think so? It's not too much?” I ask, as I examine myself in the mirror.

             
“You're going to a party, honey. It's perfect! Andrew is going to love seeing you in it!”

             
“I don't think Andrew's going to be there,” I admit.

             
“Why not? What happened? You know I don't want you going anywhere without him. It's not safe for you, baby,” Ali says with a worried look on her face.

             
“It's a long story, and I don't want to talk about it. I'm just going to a party. I will be fine.”

             
“Nina, I don't want you going unless someone is going to be there to protect you,” Ali says.

             
“Well, I'm not having Andrew come with me!” I yell.

             
“Nina,” Ali says calmly.

             
“I'll be fine, mom!” I yell as I walk out of the room and make my way to my car.

* * * *

I pull up to Kali's cabin in Charlotte, and see lines of cars down the road. I continue to drive my Saab down the rocky, dirt road. I'm searching for a parking spot, and I can't find one.

              My phone starts to ring and I check who's calling. Andrew. I press ignore. I don't want to talk to him tonight. I just want to have a good time. I hope my mom didn't call him.

             
“Finally,” I whisper to myself. I find a parking spot, and it's close to the cabin.

             
I leave my phone in the car and get out. I make my way to the cabin, toward the loud music.

             
“I don't care, I love it!” I hear Kali singing to “I Love It” by Icona Pop. “Nini!” Kali yells as she grabs a red cup. I'm guessing that's for me. “Here's your pretty red cup! Drink up, best friend!” Kali yells.

             
I laugh at her and take the cup. Looking inside, I see it's filled with beer. I take a deep breath and smile. This is going to help me. I start drinking, and I don't stop until it's empty.

             
Everyone outside, including Kali, is watching me drink it down. “WOO!” Everyone screams.

             
“We're going to get wasty pants tonight!” Kali says as she stumbles. I think she is already drunk.

             
I smile at her, and I feel the need to drink more. “Let's take some shots!” Kali screams. She read my mind.