In My Veins (6 page)

“Um... yeah. We met at Lotus Dragon.” I
said awkwardly. 

“Oh love that place!”

“Me too. We should go together one of
these days.” I suggested hoping to get on at least one person’s good side. As
nice as she was I still felt like I was being watched by his entire family. I
know it was because I was the new outsider being brought for approval but it
felt like something else. It was like that weird feeling someone knows
something you don’t know.  

James’s father was getting the grill
ready as his mom brought the marinated meat. His father avoided any eye contact
with me as he passed us again to go inside. I saw Ellie making a salad and I
decided to ask her if she needed help.

“Ellie... do you need help?”

She glared at me before rolling her eyes
and ignoring me.

“Don’t worry about her. Teenagers.”
Jenny whispered. I had a feeling it was more than that but decided to let it go
when I felt James’s strong arms around my waist. Jenny grinned at the sight
before deciding to pull Ellie with her and leave us alone.

I instantly felt more at ease being
alone with James. “How are you holding up?” He said resting his chin on my
shoulder.

“Great.” I lied.

He looked at me and raised his brow as
if he knew I was lying, “You’re lying.”

“I’m not lying.” I lied again nervously.
I was never a good liar and was even worse with James. James could even figure
out tiny lies. I hated lying.

He smiled, “Sorry if anyone’s being
weird with you.”

“Everything’s fine babe, don’t worry.” I
said and rested the back of my head on his hard chest.

The dinner was no different than the
living room. I had a moment of wondering why I wanted to even meet his family
so badly. But then James interlocked our fingers together under the table and I
remembered why.

“So how long have you two been dating?
James had not mentioned anything.” His creepy cousin David asked with a smirk.

I felt James tense up at his question.
“It’s not my fault you went to New York and lost complete touch with your
family. You were back in L.A. how long before you decided to let us know?” He
said through his teeth.

David scoffed and glanced at me. “I was thinking
about waiting for summer to pass in California before coming back. It’s just
too hot here, you know?  I’d always be thirsty. I don’t know how you can handle
the
heat
cuz’.” He raised his eyebrows, “I mean, aren’t you
always...thirsty? I’m parched just sitting here.” he said and looked at me.

James practically growled at him
and looked like he was ready to attack while everyone else looked at their
plates awkwardly.

“David.” James’s uncle warned him making
him put his attention back on his food.

By the time James and I were walking
back to his car he was so distant I didn’t think he even knew I was still with
him. Regret was etched in his face and I felt so bad. I didn’t blame him
though. That was beyond awkward. But not as bad as he made it seem it would be.

He opened the door for me as usual, but
he didn’t look at me in my eyes. It was almost as if he was avoiding looking at
me.

His sister and cousin definitely didn’t
like me but his mom and Jenny seemed like they did. Maybe they were the one’s
who’s opinions stood out to him tonight?

His
eyes were glued to the road as he drove us back. I grabbed his free hand to get
his attention but it didn’t work. I squeezed it a little in my second attempt
and he finally looked at me with a smile that completely melted my heart. He
was sad.

He looked back at the road avoiding the
fact that I wanted to talk to him.  “Your family was nice.” Not counting two
members.

He smiled, “I’m sorry it was so awkward.
I hope tonight didn’t change things between us. It was a disaster…”

“James... it was the first time they
were meeting me. They were probably just testing me. I wouldn’t expect them to
like me right away.” I smiled trying to soothe his worry. I wasn’t going to
leave him because he has a creepy cousin and his sister hates me. And possibly
his father too, but I won’t be quick to judge on him.

“So... you’re not running away yet?” He
said only half joking, but I could hear the true question in his voice.

“Of course not. I don’t like running. You’re
stuck with me.” I winked.

I intertwined our fingers together again
and looked at them linked together. I wondered what was up with him that he was
so insecure about our relationship and so sure that it was going to end one day.
Someone as hot and rich as him should not be worried about the girl leaving.
Unless he had a reason for his concern.

“I’ll take your word for that.” he quietly
said and continued driving.

That following Monday I had a horrible headache.
Probably from the stress of meeting his family that weekend. Or maybe it was
from still not being able to sleep. I just kept thinking and thinking about the
previous day. And although we did our usual night chat on the phone, he seemed
quieter than usual.

I decided to stop by Daniel’s coffee
shop during my lunch break and grab an espresso and food to get some brownie
points with his friend. I figured if I couldn’t totally win with his family I
could at least win with his friends.

I was about to approach the café when I
saw a familiar car parked in front of it. I smirked knowing it was Tiffany. I
walked up to it and knocked on her window making her jump, “What are you
doing?”

“Getting coffee!” she said mischievously
while getting out of the car.

“Traveled this far for a cup of coffee?”

“I really liked his latte...” She said
nervously. I smirked knowing that was a lie. Yeah his lattes were great, but
with gas prices, they weren’t
that
great. She glared at me. “Hey. Just
because you found your lover boy and completely forget about me and your work
out buddies doesn’t give you---” she stopped herself, “I don’t know where I’m
going with this. I’m not even going to deny it. Does my hair look okay? How
about my makeup?”

“Looks great.” I smiled and dragged her
in the coffee shop with me.

“Are you sure?” She whispered.

“You look gorgeous.”

I purposely came at that time because I
knew it would not be super busy. Morning people already had their cup and the
afternoon crowd wasn’t here yet.

“Oh, hey ladies. What can I do for you
two?” he asked us both. I noticed his face light up from seeing Tiffany.

“Espresso please with as many shots possible.”
I quickly said needing a caffeine boost. Both Tiffany and Daniel looked
surprised at my order and I shrugged it off.

“So... Why all the caffeine?” Daniel asked
as he worked on our drinks.

“Haven’t been sleeping well lately. I’m
starting to get a huge headache because of it and getting sleepy now.  Maybe
the caffeine will help.” I said with a forced smile hoping that would detour
any questions about meeting James’s family. Plus I needed more brownie points
with him. Look like a happy girlfriend and have approving boyfriend friends.

“Meeting the family was that bad?” he
asked. I bit my lip to prevent myself from venting. “James mentioned you were
meeting his family yesterday. He was nervous…”

“Oh...” I said and noticed that Tiffany stopped
staring at Daniel to start staring at me. I guess I forgot to mention I was
meeting his family.   

 “Don’t be hard on him if it didn’t go
well. He likes you a lot, and his family can be a little.... intimidating.” He
said as he placed our prepared coffee on the counter.

Intimidating doesn’t even begin to
describe it. I nodded as I grabbed the coffee. “Thanks Daniel.”

We marched over to the same table we sat
at last time.“So...spill. What happened?” Tiffany asked before she took a sip
of her coffee.

“Well... his family seems like they
would be nice. But his younger sister hates me already. And his cousin, the
reason why they were having a barbeque, was super creepy.”

“Creepy? How so?”

“I don’t know...”

“Was it how he looked?”

“No. Definitely not… he was cute in his
own way. Good looks definitely run in his family. I’m just not comfortable
around him...”

“Maybe he was having naughty thoughts
about you.” she said.

“How the hell would that make me freaked
out by him? I can’t hear his thoughts.”

“Hey you never know. You
are
hot.
And girls can feel that sort of thing. Kind of like when a creepy old guy is
staring. You just know.” She went on and I could only shake my head, “Maybe you
felt the vibe and you were creped out by it.”

I rolled my eyes as a response, “He’s
not a creepy old guy. He just doesn’t like me. I think he doesn’t like James
either so it could just be my association with him.”

She shrugged. “Now what about his sister,
why does she hate you?”

“Well...his oldest sister Jenny liked
me. She said Ellie’s going through a teenager phase and is over protective of
his big brother.”

She nodded, “Makes sense, give it time Kar,
they’ll love you soon enough.” She smiled. “Think about it, if you had a
sister. Wouldn’t she be protective of you at first?”

“I guess...”

After a long day at work, I stayed in my
office doing some last minute touches on the marketing plan I was working on
for Adela
Français
. The extra caffeine
from earlier was starting to wear off and I had to re-read the report over and
over again to make sure it was perfect.

I re-read every paragraph making sure a single
period wasn’t out of place. I had to get the promotion. I wasn’t even sure if I
wanted the promotion for the promotion anymore or if I was competing with
Jennifer. Probably a little of both.

I looked outside the window and realized
how dark it was. “I guess I should probably head out now.” I mumbled to myself.
I always hated the dark and was kind of a baby when it came to it. Regretfully
shutting off my computer and packing up my stuff in my purse I knew I was going
to have to eventually make my way out in the scary dark parking lot.

I stood at the glass door separating me
from the dark outside world. I considered calling James to hear his voice while
I walk to my car. But then realized how much of a baby I’d be if I actually did
that.

But after five minutes of still not
moving and practically having a heart attack when the janitor came out of the
elevator I decided it would be best if I did call him. I got my phone out of my
purse and dialed his number as fast as I could.

“Hey beautiful.” He said after the
second ring.

“Hey... are you busy? I didn’t even look
at the time when I called...but could you stay on the phone with me for a
moment?”

“Of course...it’s never a bad time for
you.”

I giggled, “You’re so cute.”

“Again with the cute. How many times do
I have to tell you that cute isn’t exactly what a boyfriend wants to hear
baby.” he said, his deep phone voice giving me butterflies.   

“Sorry. What did I say last time? Oh
that’s right, I meant to say you’re manly and hot.”

He laughed and acted offended, “Now
you’re mocking me. But I don’t think you said hot last time…”

“Tough.” I smirked.

I was quiet as I walked down the mostly
empty parking lot. I had never realized how big it was till now. I made a vow
to myself that I would park in the company garage rather than the lot. Even
though that’s just as creepy.

Or maybe I should leave at six like
everyone else. No more over achieving. Screw beating Jennifer at the promotion.
At least I’d stay alive.

“What’s wrong baby? You’re so quiet.” He
asked sounding worried.

“I’m just walking in the parking lot and
it’s creepy. I’m kind of scared” I admitted getting more paranoid as I said it
out loud.

“Why are you scared?”

“As much as I love the night. It creeps
me out. My friend in high school, her grandma used to say the ‘devil’s friends
come out to play at night’ and she would never let us out late when we hung
out. Ever since then I’ve been paranoid.” I admitted but laughed at myself for
being such a baby.

“I’ll protect you.” I could almost hear
his smile.

“Now you’re the one mocking me.” I
mumbled not being able to fight off my smile either.

“Never.”

“Well you’re---” I stopped mid-sentence when
I saw a figure next to my car. My heart dropped to my stomach as if I went on a
roller-coaster. Just as I stopped the figure vanished.

“Karina?” He asked almost panicked.

“Yeah...” I was barely able to get my
voice out. That had to be my imagination. I had to just be imagining things
from my lack of sleep.

“Why did you stop talking?”

“I...” I saw it again, next to another
car on the other side of the parking lot. My eyes shot around the parking lot
trying to catch the figure again but every time I had a glimpse it was further
from the other and only seconds long.

“Karina, talk to me!” he almost yelled.

“I keep seeing... something. I think
there is more than one…” I whispered.

I could hear shuffling on his line as if
he was standing up or if he dropped something, “What are you seeing, can you
describe it? Is it a person?”

“It looks like a person... it was by my
car at first and then the other side of the parking lot in seconds. There has to
be more. They keep practically vanishing and showing up in opposite ends.” I
said trying to hide my fear, but failed miserably as my voice shook. “It has to
be my imagination…right?”

“Are you near any buildings with people?
Could you go there? I’ll come pick you up.”

“I’m in the middle of the parking
lot...” I wasn’t hiding my panic anymore. I felt like something bad was going
to happen. A gut feeling was telling me that it wasn’t my lack of sleep and
something told me that James knew it too. Someone was with me.

Just as I was about to say something to
James, I felt something hit my hand making me drop my phone.

Whoever it was grabbed my wrist, spun me
around, and was suddenly grabbing both my wrists.  I was about to scream
when my own voice wouldn’t come out from the shock of his face.

He had to be wearing a costume of some
sort. He looked like a monster. The fact that it’s not Halloween and he is
wearing that mask only sent my panic into overdrive. But it wasn’t some measly
dark ski mask in order to hide attention. He had jet black hair and bright red
eyes. Something about him was so familiar but I couldn’t figure out if I knew
him or had heard of him.

He smiled and showed his sharp teeth. They
didn’t look fake or plastic like a costume would.

All logic left my body as my heart rate
started increasing. He looked at my chest and my stomach twisted as I started
thinking of what he could possibly want with me. The way he was staring at my
chest had me feeling like I was not going to get robbed, I was going to get
raped. This monster is a pervert.

The monster tightened his grip on my
wrists causing a shot of pain to go through my body as he brought his ear to my
heart. I heard a growl leave his chest and I realized that he wasn’t wearing
some sort of weird costume. No. This was real. A real monster.

I was frozen. My mind was screaming at
me telling me to yell for help or run but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even move
my mouth. The only thing ‘moving’ was my increasing heart rate which seemed to
be turning him on or whatever the hell that growl meant. Maybe it meant he was
hungry…

The thought caused my heart rate to
increase even more.

I finally got my mouth to open so that I
could scream but he switched to grabbing my wrists with one hand and pressing
my mouth shut with the other. His smile got bigger as I struggled to get out of
his tight hold. As the hair swept away from his eyes the familiarity was even
more obvious now. But I still couldn’t figure it out. It would be insane to
know him and forget. It’s not a matter of who he was but
what
he was.