Protected (Book 1 in the Ariya Adams trilogy) (18 page)

Caroline looked a bit stunned. “Ariya, you have nothing to apologize for. I’m sorry you’re going through this at all. I’m even sorrier that
you are going through it alone. Vampires and werewolves surround you and your closest friend on the outside is going through some things he needs space for. I can’t imagine what you’re feeling and I’m sorry, too. I’m glad you trust me and please know I want to tell you everything. I just think we need to take this slowly. It’s a lot, new, and it can be difficult to deal with. Heck, it’s difficult for me sometimes and I am a vampire! I’m always in this world.”

I was starting to tear up
, but shook it off and walked over to the barstools and climbed up onto the seat. I had missed her. We were going to be just fine.

“A
ll right, enough of this crying mess. I love you. You know that. We’re good. Now, what on earth are you doing rummaging through the kitchen? I don’t know that I’ve ever seen you in here like this before.”

“Well
, we had decided to do Thanksgiving at school last year, remember? We told Riley we’d make our famous mashed potatoes, which are really your famous mashed potatoes. I was going to see what we had and write down what we needed since we’re less than two weeks away.”

I had completely forgotten about the
upcoming holidays. I had been so consumed lately with everything going on that I just wasn’t paying attention to the actual date. Was it really already Thanksgiving?

“Crap! Good thinking.” I paused for a minute
, starting to worry that maybe I wouldn’t be invited this year. “Do you think it’s okay that I still come? I mean with Riley and everything?” I hadn’t heard from him after the awkward run-in.

“Just call him and ask
, Ariya. It’s not a big deal, and I’m sure he’ll be fine having you there. It’s Thanksgiving, for goodness’ sake!”

“How long
has Helen been around?” I asked suddenly, knowing Caroline would have the answer.

I had spilled to her that I ran into them an
d the awkwardness that had followed, both with Riley and with James trying to butt into my life again.

“Last week. I guess that’s not really seeing someone
, but they’ve been on three or four dates.”

What?
I thought to myself. He was over me in a week? That was fast! I felt a hitch in my stomach again that reminded me a bit of jealousy.
Stop it, Ariya!
I mentally told myself. Riley deserves to be happy. You aren’t jealous, you just miss your friend.

“Really?
That’s great! Maybe he’ll be ready to be my friend again.” I tried to sound happy, but I noticed my tone came out sarcastic the moment the words were out.

“Ariya, you know he misses you. And you know he needs some time.”

“I know and I do want him to be happy. I didn’t know I was hurting him, Caroline. I’ll call him and ask.” I went to my room to grab my phone.

I dialed his number
, realizing after the fact I had no idea how to start the conversation. It turns out I didn’t need to plan because I got sent to voicemail. This wasn’t a good sign.

I left my voicemail, ‘Hey
, Riley, it’s me. I, uh, Caroline reminded me of Thanksgiving and we were going to start getting things ready. I wasn’t sure if it was okay that I still come or not. Could you let me know? I’d love to be there, but if you, if you’re not okay with it, then I’m not.” I hung up. I should have thought out what I was going to say a little bit better. Then maybe I wouldn’t have stumbled though the message as much. I walked out of the room.

“I left a message.”

“Good,” Caroline said. “So I think we can make a run out to the store for decorations at least, and then we can get the food next week if you want?”

“Well Caroline
Lufsky, look at you being little Miss Suzy Homemaker!”

“Oh hush you. Let’s go.”

We headed off to the store. We chatted and caught up since it had been two weeks since we had a girls’ night or even an in-depth conversation about anything. I told her what my mom had said and how it had changed my mood.

“I’m glad you talked to her. You seem much more yourself. You should have called her earlier
, huh?”

“I know. I was in my own world
,” I said.

I told her my feelings on James and how he was staying away from me
, and again brought up how I felt about the similarity between what I felt for Riley and what James must feel for me. Caroline didn’t say much on the matter. Usually she gabbed about this kind of stuff and walked me through it, but I guess when it came to James, she wanted to leave that alone. They seemed to have a strange dynamic, Caroline and James.

Questions kept
arising in me, but I pushed them down and reminded myself that when Caroline was ready to tell me more, she would. Until then, I should be thankful for my friend, thankful for the understanding that came from talking to my mom about things, and thankful for my life, seeing as things really could have been much crazier than they were.

W
e got to the grocery store and saw Ashley walking around aimlessly. I was so surprised to see her that I probably looked dumbfounded when she spoke to me. We hadn’t really seen her much since the beginning of the semester.

“Hey guys. I’m just getting some things to bring to Thanksgiving.” She sniffled and added, “Now that I’m going alone. Devon still hasn’t returned
my calls.” She started sobbing.

Apparently, no one had seen or heard from Devon. I heard from Caroline that Ashley had been extremely distraught
, which was evident by her emotional outburst in front of us. I wasn’t one to judge, considering this was me all the time now. I also overheard Caroline saying she’s surprised Ashley was still alive to Nick one night. Talk about picking the wrong guy! I was sure she would get over it soon and move onto someone else. Hopefully, someone human.

Did Ashley know what Devon was?
I wondered. She had holed herself up in her apartment and just recently started hanging around everyone again. I guess she had been at the movie night Riley had at his place that I skipped out on. She still seemed distant. Maybe she really had been attached to Devon. That, or scared into liking him. He was a bully, that I did know.

I gave her a hug. What the heck, it had helpe
d me when Caroline gave me one.

“He’s a jerk
, Ashley. You’ll find a better guy.”

“You think?” She looked like a lost puppy
, and I was reminded that Ashley’s sole purpose in being here was finding a man.

Mine was not that
, and so I made a mental note to get back to my old self and soon. I didn’t want someone looking at me the way I was looking at Ashley.

“Of course, look at
you. You’re never alone long.”

Apparently
, she was easy to cheer up because she snapped out of it, telling us of course she would. She started walking away, saying she thought she saw a cute cashier that she could flirt with. The girl was insane.

I turned back to Caroline and took her move by rolling my eyes. She laughed and
grabbed me by the arm. We started picking up things she had on her list. We finished by getting some bowls for our potatoes and some decorations, since we had told Riley we would help with everything. He texted me while we were out. I read it out loud to Caroline.

“Of course you’re still
invited. See you then.”

“See!”

“See what, that he’s still not speaking to me? Yeah, I see that.” Deep breath. I felt myself calm down instantly and did a little cheer that I was able to rein in an outburst. Talking to my mom really had helped.

“Take what you ca
n get, Ariya. At least he’s speaking to you. Well, texting, but it’s better than no answer at all.”

“I know, I know. Hey
, wanna stay in with me tonight? Pretty please? I’ve missed you.”

“Well
, I was planning on that anyways. Even if I had to tie you to the couch, I was going to make you spend time with me. So, I’m in.” She nudged me and we headed to check out.

“I’ll even let you decide what we do.
As long as it isn’t some creepy vampire thing.”

She laughed at me.
“Deal.”

We
walked back into the apartment, giggling and goofing off. I was finally starting to feel like I could be myself again. However, all that happiness was sucked out of us when we walked into our place.

I could almost feel the tension the minute the door opened
. Nick, James, and some blonde-haired girl were all sitting in our living room. Caroline walked in behind me.

“Hey guys,” I said
tentatively. “What’s going on?”

We walked around the corner and I got a better look at the rest of the blonde. She had her legs draped over James’ on the couch.
Awesome.
Who in the world was she?

Whoever she was, s
he was slender with extremely long hair that was curled at the ends. She had ice blue eyes. One look and I already didn’t like her. Clearly, this was not going to be fun, whatever it was, simply for the fact that whoever she was, she knew James and seemed to be all over him.

She stood up and said hello. As I continued to look at her
, I realized she had the same color blonde hair as I did, and her blue eyes were only a shade lighter than mine. She was narrower shouldered than I was, but sort of had my chin. The only reason I noticed is because I hated my chin. It was a bit strange looking at her, because it felt like I had met her before.

I just stared for a moment before blurting out, “Do I know you?”

She grinned a wide and, to be truthful, rather fake grin back at me.

“Oh
my gosh, I am just so happy to meet you. I’m your great, great grandmother! Gah!” She threw her arms around me as I stood there, not speaking.

I didn’t even move to return the hug
. I just sort of stood there, immobilized by what she had just told me.

“I’m so
rry?” I finally managed to say.

I looked to Caroline
, but she was just shaking her head and her fists were clenching at her sides. Clearly, Caroline knew who this person was. My great, great grandmother, though? That seemed impossible.

“I told you to ease into it
, Emma,” James cautioned.

“Oh
, she’s fine. She can handle anything. I would know, she’s related to me.” She laughed, and it was a sharp, forced sound. It sounded as if she didn’t laugh on a regular basis.

This was weird. There was something about her voice that I couldn’t exactly put my fing
er on, but it sounded familiar. I knew I’d heard it before, but where?

“I’m sorry,” I said again and paused
, trying to figure out where to even begin. I held my hands up and took a step back from her. “I’m confused.”

I was looking around the room at my friends. I was left out of something
, I could tell by the look on everyone’s faces. This new being, Emma, was the only one who looked happy. Everyone else looked…dismal. It was like they were annoyed or pissed off. If she were related to me, why would they be upset? Oh, this was one thing Caroline was not going to keep from me later, that I did know!

I
will be asking about who this is, especially since she made herself so comfortable in our apartment. Nick was holding Caroline’s leg as if he was keeping her from pouncing across the room at Emma. That made me feel better.

“So, you’re a vampire
, too, then?” I asked her.

“You got it
! Haven’t aged a day since my twenty-fifth birthday.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder, making me want to gag. “Creepy at how we look alike, right? Well, in some ways. You are a little more husky, I’d say.”

I frowned and was about to retort back with something
, but James must have seen my anger, because he finally involved himself and stood up from the couch.

“Emma was just getting ready to tell us why she is here
. Emma? Could you, in non-bloodline related terms, tell us what you’re doing here?” James said to her.

He looked at her as if she should understand some secret message he was
conveying in that statement. I was surprised he wasn’t winking, since it was obvious he was telling her to be careful what she said in front of me. He was being strange in general, now that I was taking a better look at him. He was stiff and tense, just not himself. Usually he played things pretty cool. I’d only seen him show true emotions a few times. He didn’t look happy now, so something was up. Was ‘non-bloodline’ a vampire saying for not gory? Maybe he didn’t want me to be grossed out by whatever it was that had happened to bring Emma here.

“Of course, of course.
You can’t be mad at me for being distracted. It’s not every day you get to meet such distant relatives.” She smiled at me and I tried to return it, but I was so dazed at the moment that it came out as a weird half movement before disappearing from my face completely.