Blood Donor
Chapter 20
“Tell me again why you’re following me to work.” Frank commands for the fifth time since we left the house. I really feel like I shouldn’t have to repeat it.
“Because I want to make sure you’re safe. Walking around at night isn’t the best way to avoid being attacked.”
“But why do you have to be here? You already loaded me down with weapons. Wasn’t the point of that so you don’t have to be around me all the time?”
“No, the point of that was so I can have a little peace of mind when I can’t be around you. I still count myself as being responsible for your life.”
He shakes his head, but he’s smiling, “Whatever. I guess you can audition for my boss since you’re here, though. That is, if he’s here and willing to hear it.”
I nod simply and the rest of the walk is completed in a comfortable silence. When we get there, Frank sits me at the bar while he goes in the back. The guy behind the bar offers me a drink, but I politely refuse. He then goes to tend to other customers before returning.
“So….You’re a friend of Frankie’s?”
I look at him, “Yeah. I’m Frank’s…Friend.” I’m not comfortable with him using my Frankie’s nickname.
He nods, “He drag you out here to listen to him sing? Cuz you might want some earplugs.”
Yeah, I don’t like this guy, “No, I came of my own will thank you. And I happen to enjoy his voice, so…”
He holds his hands up, “Whoa, there. No need to get all huffy. I was just trying to make conversation.”
“Well I’m not very social…”
He walks away again much to my satisfaction. And just in time seeing as Frank returns with a guy with messy black hair and a wild look in his eyes.
“Gee, this is my boss, Billie. Billie, this is Gerard, the guy with the amazing voice.”
Billie nods, “Yeah, well, I’ll be the judge of that. You wanna come in the back and sing for me?”
Frank takes my hand, “Want me to come?”
“No,” Billie interjects, “You’re on in five, Iero. Go set up.”
I smile at Frank, “I’ll be fine. I’m not one for stage fright.”
Billie leads me to a back room that seems to be set up as an office of sorts. The middle of the
room has a desk set up with sloppy piles of paper. However, the walls are arranged with various instruments and band posters. It really seems like a cool place. I don’t have much time to stare before Billie thrusts some music in my hands.
“Do you know how to read this?”
I look down at the simple notes and key signature. Nothing I haven’t seen before, “Yeah, I used to play guitar…Badly…”
“Good. That’s a song I wrote. Sing it for me.”
That makes me nervous. If he wrote it, he knows how it goes. And if he knows how it goes, he’ll have much bigger expectations. There’s no way I’ll be good enough. This was a terrible idea. I should just leave now, wait for Frank to get off work, and go home. Except that I know he’ll never let me do that. I take a deep breath and begin the song.
“Take away the sensation inside
Bittersweet migraine in my head
It’s like a throbbing toothache of the mind
I can’t take this feeling anymore…”
There’s no way I’m singing this right. It sounds so off in my head. Plus I’m stumbling over the words like a moron. And yet his gaze on me isn’t judgmental. It’s…Intrigued. This has me confused. Even more so when I finish and he begins to clap. A small smile forms on his lips.
“I had Frank sing that song too. He sang with a lot more confidence, but his talent…Didn’t really add up. I think you’re exactly what his act needs. Welcome to the team.”
I stare in disbelief. No way did he just give me a job because of my shitty performance. But he did, and now his hand is outstretched. I take it in a daze. He says something about me starting with Frank’s next night. I nod and go to leave, only to be almost knocked over by a girl who happens to be rushing in the opposite direction. Her eyes widen when she sees me, and I know exactly why. She reeks. And not in a human way.
“Ava, you’re late!” Billie snaps.
“S-sorry sir! I overslept…And…I had something to do.”
Closer inspection reveals a drop of red on her lip. She just fed. On instinct, I reach up and wipe it away.
“Sorry,” I say calmly, “You had a little food on you lip…”
She knows what I mean. The look of panic in her eyes says it all. She thinks I’m going to blow her cover. And that look is changing to something feral real fast. I need a way to reassure her…
“Hey now, Gerard. I may have hired you, but that doesn’t give you the right to flirt with my assistant.” Billie says with a chuckle.
The girl…Ava’s attention is drawn away, “You hired him?!”
“Yeah. He’s joining Frank on stage. Actually…You should probably show him around the place. You know, since Frank’s busy.”
She looks like she wants to argue for a few seconds, but then turns and walks away. I assume I’m meant to follow, so that’s what I do. While we walk I get a better look at her. She actually reminds me quite a bit of Frank. Short demeanor, black and red dyed hair, though she doesn’t have a mohawk. Her moves are awkward, like she isn’t used to this sort of thing. And every time she points in a room to give it a title I see her large brown eyes watching me.
Finally we arrive at some sort of back door. She pushes me out of it and into an alley. Then she pins me to a wall with her arm at my throat. I don’t bother fighting back. I know she’s just scared.
“What do you want here?” he voice is borderline hysterical, “What do you want with Billie? He’s not available as prey. Okay?!”
I sigh and gently push her back by her shoulders. I can see it in her eyes. The same emotion I live with every day, “Look, Ava, I’m not here to kill your man. I’m here to get a job so I can join mine onstage.
She looks confused for a moment before realization dawns on her face, “You…..and Frank? You’re…?!” I nod silently and she lets out the most high-pitched squeal I’ve ever heard, “That’s….Adorable! You have to tell me more! How did you meet him? What’s your relationship like? How…..How do you get a human to fall in love with you?”
Her voice is quiet on the last question, and I realize that she isn’t dating Billie. She’s just in love with him. Chances are he has no idea. We don’t show emotion well, us dead creatures.
“Ava…I wish I could help you, but I didn’t get Frank to fall in love with me. He got me to fall in love with him. But I think the first step here would be to be honest with him. And I mean one-hundred percent honest.”
She plays with the hem of her shirt, “But…What if he hates me? I mean, I don’t think he has a very high opinion to begin with…”
“Let me ask you something. Do you kill your victims?”
She shakes her head, “I only take a little at a time and heal them up before they even know they’re missing anything. The idea of killing someone…” She shudders, and I understand completely.
“Well if he doesn’t accept you knowing that, he’s not worth it in the first place.” It’s the harsh truth, but I know she needs to hear it. I’m quickly getting attached to this girl. Like a little sister. Though, she could technically be older than me… “Do you mind if I ask how old you are?”
“Not at all. Physically, I’m seventeen. However, I’ve been on the Earth for…I’d say around seventy years?”
Wow, “You don’t really seem that old.”
She giggles, “Yeah. It’s something to do with the fact that we are incapable of growth. We gain new memories because that’s just adding information to the cells that are already there, but we can’t mature any because our brains can’t get any more developed. I’m pretty okay with that, though.”
The childish look in her eyes makes me chuckle, “Never thought I’d be stuck at twenty-five forever…I assumed I’d at least start sounding like an old man eventually.”
“Oh, you will. You have no idea how much I complained about things like computers when they first came out. It didn’t take long to realize I needed to adjust to the changing times, though. It helps with blending in.” She winks.
This causes another realization to dawn on me, “You were around when the revolution began.”
“Revolution? Yeah, that’s one way of putting it. Didn’t really faze me, though. I had my lifestyle set up by then, so I mostly just watched in the shadows as it happened.”
I nod, completely understanding where she’s coming from. I know that if I had been there I would have hidden out too. Just because the beasts don’t deserve to be treated like animals…Well, some of them don’t, but that doesn’t mean they should be so violent about getting recognition. I have a pretty nice life as it is, and most of this little town is oblivious to my true nature. And I like it that way.
“I’d love to stay and chat, but Billie will be expecting me back. And I guess I have a talk to have…” she sighs.
“Good luck,” I say before walking past her.
I go back to the bar where I am ignored by the bartender completely. I would be okay with this if the reason for it wasn’t that he’s staring intently at Frank where he’s perched on the stage. I know nothing will come of it, but it still irks me. Irks me to the point that I call him over and order a margarita. I have absolutely no clue what I’ll do with it, but getting him away from Frank gives me a bit of satisfaction.
He scowls as he sets it in front of me and I thank him sarcastically. I then take to staring at the drink, almost hoping it’ll vanish on its own. I’m going to look ridiculous for ordering a drink and not actually consuming it. But that’s just what I’m going to have to do.
“I thought drinks were a bad idea?” I feel a pair of arms wrap around me as a smooth voice speaks in my ears.
I smile back at Frank, “Good thing I didn’t get it for me. Enjoy.”
He smiles and drinks it before pulling me out of my seat, “C’mon. I just finished my last song. Let’s go home.”
I have absolutely no reason to object, so I don’t. We make the short walk back with no incidents and fall immediately into bed. We start out snuggling completely innocently. It’s so nice. But then Frank is kissing me. Straddling me. Running his hands off my shirt. Images of the last time I let something like this happen run through my head at lightning speed. Not again. That can’t happen again. I muster all my willpower and push him off gently.
“Frank….No…”
He pouts, “Why not?”
“You know why not. Last time…”
“Last time you were thirsty. I just fed you yesterday. You should be fine now.”
“I wasn’t thirsty last time!” The words come out as an unintentional yell, “I lost control. Dammit, Frank, why can’t you understand how dangerous I am?! I could hurt you….could kill you….Probably will if you keep being so careless.”
His face runs through several emotions. Shocked. Afraid. Sad. And then it settles on stony. And he says them. The words I had hoped would never cross his lips, “If it’s so dangerous…Why don’t you just turn me?”
“Because I want to make sure you’re safe. Walking around at night isn’t the best way to avoid being attacked.”
“But why do you have to be here? You already loaded me down with weapons. Wasn’t the point of that so you don’t have to be around me all the time?”
“No, the point of that was so I can have a little peace of mind when I can’t be around you. I still count myself as being responsible for your life.”
He shakes his head, but he’s smiling, “Whatever. I guess you can audition for my boss since you’re here, though. That is, if he’s here and willing to hear it.”
I nod simply and the rest of the walk is completed in a comfortable silence. When we get there, Frank sits me at the bar while he goes in the back. The guy behind the bar offers me a drink, but I politely refuse. He then goes to tend to other customers before returning.
“So….You’re a friend of Frankie’s?”
I look at him, “Yeah. I’m Frank’s…Friend.” I’m not comfortable with him using my Frankie’s nickname.
He nods, “He drag you out here to listen to him sing? Cuz you might want some earplugs.”
Yeah, I don’t like this guy, “No, I came of my own will thank you. And I happen to enjoy his voice, so…”
He holds his hands up, “Whoa, there. No need to get all huffy. I was just trying to make conversation.”
“Well I’m not very social…”
He walks away again much to my satisfaction. And just in time seeing as Frank returns with a guy with messy black hair and a wild look in his eyes.
“Gee, this is my boss, Billie. Billie, this is Gerard, the guy with the amazing voice.”
Billie nods, “Yeah, well, I’ll be the judge of that. You wanna come in the back and sing for me?”
Frank takes my hand, “Want me to come?”
“No,” Billie interjects, “You’re on in five, Iero. Go set up.”
I smile at Frank, “I’ll be fine. I’m not one for stage fright.”
Billie leads me to a back room that seems to be set up as an office of sorts. The middle of the
room has a desk set up with sloppy piles of paper. However, the walls are arranged with various instruments and band posters. It really seems like a cool place. I don’t have much time to stare before Billie thrusts some music in my hands.
“Do you know how to read this?”
I look down at the simple notes and key signature. Nothing I haven’t seen before, “Yeah, I used to play guitar…Badly…”
“Good. That’s a song I wrote. Sing it for me.”
That makes me nervous. If he wrote it, he knows how it goes. And if he knows how it goes, he’ll have much bigger expectations. There’s no way I’ll be good enough. This was a terrible idea. I should just leave now, wait for Frank to get off work, and go home. Except that I know he’ll never let me do that. I take a deep breath and begin the song.
“Take away the sensation inside
Bittersweet migraine in my head
It’s like a throbbing toothache of the mind
I can’t take this feeling anymore…”
There’s no way I’m singing this right. It sounds so off in my head. Plus I’m stumbling over the words like a moron. And yet his gaze on me isn’t judgmental. It’s…Intrigued. This has me confused. Even more so when I finish and he begins to clap. A small smile forms on his lips.
“I had Frank sing that song too. He sang with a lot more confidence, but his talent…Didn’t really add up. I think you’re exactly what his act needs. Welcome to the team.”
I stare in disbelief. No way did he just give me a job because of my shitty performance. But he did, and now his hand is outstretched. I take it in a daze. He says something about me starting with Frank’s next night. I nod and go to leave, only to be almost knocked over by a girl who happens to be rushing in the opposite direction. Her eyes widen when she sees me, and I know exactly why. She reeks. And not in a human way.
“Ava, you’re late!” Billie snaps.
“S-sorry sir! I overslept…And…I had something to do.”
Closer inspection reveals a drop of red on her lip. She just fed. On instinct, I reach up and wipe it away.
“Sorry,” I say calmly, “You had a little food on you lip…”
She knows what I mean. The look of panic in her eyes says it all. She thinks I’m going to blow her cover. And that look is changing to something feral real fast. I need a way to reassure her…
“Hey now, Gerard. I may have hired you, but that doesn’t give you the right to flirt with my assistant.” Billie says with a chuckle.
The girl…Ava’s attention is drawn away, “You hired him?!”
“Yeah. He’s joining Frank on stage. Actually…You should probably show him around the place. You know, since Frank’s busy.”
She looks like she wants to argue for a few seconds, but then turns and walks away. I assume I’m meant to follow, so that’s what I do. While we walk I get a better look at her. She actually reminds me quite a bit of Frank. Short demeanor, black and red dyed hair, though she doesn’t have a mohawk. Her moves are awkward, like she isn’t used to this sort of thing. And every time she points in a room to give it a title I see her large brown eyes watching me.
Finally we arrive at some sort of back door. She pushes me out of it and into an alley. Then she pins me to a wall with her arm at my throat. I don’t bother fighting back. I know she’s just scared.
“What do you want here?” he voice is borderline hysterical, “What do you want with Billie? He’s not available as prey. Okay?!”
I sigh and gently push her back by her shoulders. I can see it in her eyes. The same emotion I live with every day, “Look, Ava, I’m not here to kill your man. I’m here to get a job so I can join mine onstage.
She looks confused for a moment before realization dawns on her face, “You…..and Frank? You’re…?!” I nod silently and she lets out the most high-pitched squeal I’ve ever heard, “That’s….Adorable! You have to tell me more! How did you meet him? What’s your relationship like? How…..How do you get a human to fall in love with you?”
Her voice is quiet on the last question, and I realize that she isn’t dating Billie. She’s just in love with him. Chances are he has no idea. We don’t show emotion well, us dead creatures.
“Ava…I wish I could help you, but I didn’t get Frank to fall in love with me. He got me to fall in love with him. But I think the first step here would be to be honest with him. And I mean one-hundred percent honest.”
She plays with the hem of her shirt, “But…What if he hates me? I mean, I don’t think he has a very high opinion to begin with…”
“Let me ask you something. Do you kill your victims?”
She shakes her head, “I only take a little at a time and heal them up before they even know they’re missing anything. The idea of killing someone…” She shudders, and I understand completely.
“Well if he doesn’t accept you knowing that, he’s not worth it in the first place.” It’s the harsh truth, but I know she needs to hear it. I’m quickly getting attached to this girl. Like a little sister. Though, she could technically be older than me… “Do you mind if I ask how old you are?”
“Not at all. Physically, I’m seventeen. However, I’ve been on the Earth for…I’d say around seventy years?”
Wow, “You don’t really seem that old.”
She giggles, “Yeah. It’s something to do with the fact that we are incapable of growth. We gain new memories because that’s just adding information to the cells that are already there, but we can’t mature any because our brains can’t get any more developed. I’m pretty okay with that, though.”
The childish look in her eyes makes me chuckle, “Never thought I’d be stuck at twenty-five forever…I assumed I’d at least start sounding like an old man eventually.”
“Oh, you will. You have no idea how much I complained about things like computers when they first came out. It didn’t take long to realize I needed to adjust to the changing times, though. It helps with blending in.” She winks.
This causes another realization to dawn on me, “You were around when the revolution began.”
“Revolution? Yeah, that’s one way of putting it. Didn’t really faze me, though. I had my lifestyle set up by then, so I mostly just watched in the shadows as it happened.”
I nod, completely understanding where she’s coming from. I know that if I had been there I would have hidden out too. Just because the beasts don’t deserve to be treated like animals…Well, some of them don’t, but that doesn’t mean they should be so violent about getting recognition. I have a pretty nice life as it is, and most of this little town is oblivious to my true nature. And I like it that way.
“I’d love to stay and chat, but Billie will be expecting me back. And I guess I have a talk to have…” she sighs.
“Good luck,” I say before walking past her.
I go back to the bar where I am ignored by the bartender completely. I would be okay with this if the reason for it wasn’t that he’s staring intently at Frank where he’s perched on the stage. I know nothing will come of it, but it still irks me. Irks me to the point that I call him over and order a margarita. I have absolutely no clue what I’ll do with it, but getting him away from Frank gives me a bit of satisfaction.
He scowls as he sets it in front of me and I thank him sarcastically. I then take to staring at the drink, almost hoping it’ll vanish on its own. I’m going to look ridiculous for ordering a drink and not actually consuming it. But that’s just what I’m going to have to do.
“I thought drinks were a bad idea?” I feel a pair of arms wrap around me as a smooth voice speaks in my ears.
I smile back at Frank, “Good thing I didn’t get it for me. Enjoy.”
He smiles and drinks it before pulling me out of my seat, “C’mon. I just finished my last song. Let’s go home.”
I have absolutely no reason to object, so I don’t. We make the short walk back with no incidents and fall immediately into bed. We start out snuggling completely innocently. It’s so nice. But then Frank is kissing me. Straddling me. Running his hands off my shirt. Images of the last time I let something like this happen run through my head at lightning speed. Not again. That can’t happen again. I muster all my willpower and push him off gently.
“Frank….No…”
He pouts, “Why not?”
“You know why not. Last time…”
“Last time you were thirsty. I just fed you yesterday. You should be fine now.”
“I wasn’t thirsty last time!” The words come out as an unintentional yell, “I lost control. Dammit, Frank, why can’t you understand how dangerous I am?! I could hurt you….could kill you….Probably will if you keep being so careless.”
His face runs through several emotions. Shocked. Afraid. Sad. And then it settles on stony. And he says them. The words I had hoped would never cross his lips, “If it’s so dangerous…Why don’t you just turn me?”
@MayMayChan
Oh its fine! Sorry it took 6 months for me to reply, this website is messing up for me so much.
4/1/17