Page 99 of A Vampire's Pain
“I came home for you!”
“You could have decided to stay,” he said.
“And then I would have lost you. We both knew I would,” I said.
I turned around and walked out of the office, only feeling I had lost my brother, and not gained him back. I couldn’t believe he was willing to play me like that, but it was clear he was very hurt, and now so was I.
Chapter 40
-Valeri-
Lara came to visit me the next day. I knew why she was here, but we didn’t get right to the topic. It seemed to be difficult for both of us to discuss, so we mostly just sat in silence, while we drank some coffee and tea. It took a while but then finally Lara started the talk.
“So, how have you been?”
Oh yes, the old reliable conversation starter. I didn’t blame her for starting with that. I was about to ask her the same thing.
“Good,” I lied.
“Valeri,” she said, seeing right through me.
I smiled a little.
“Yeah, you weren’t going to fall for that one,” I chuckled.
She shook her head and smiled too.
“No, not really,” she said and winked.
“Awful,” I finally said.
“Yeah, you’re not the only one,” she told me.
“No?”
“Gabriel hasn’t been home since you left,” she said.
“Really?!” I asked, concerned.
She nodded.
“We’re worried about him, but we also understand,” she said. “We can’t force him home if he doesn’t want to be there.”
I sighed and looked down at my hands that were resting in my lap.
“No … I guess you can’t.”
It was quiet for a little while, as I thought of all the bad things Gabriel could throw himself into. I didn’t want him to get into any trouble, but it was not like I could stop him. I understood too why he would want to go be destructive. If I wasn’t locked up in the house, I would want to do the same.
“He will come back,” Lara said.
“You think so?” I asked hopefully and looked at her.
She nodded.
“He always comes home,” she said and smiled.
“I really hope so. I don’t want him to get hurt.”
