Back to You (58 page)

I steal a glance at him. “I don’t believe I was ever invited to it.”

He sighs. “I am inviting you now.”

“What kind of ball is it?” I inquire. “A private party, a charity event, or something similar?”

“It is a charity ball, as a matter of fact,” he explains. “But the purpose is to collect … blood. You know, for the blood bank. However, I can’t hide the fact that ten, maybe twenty percent of the blood is for us… It seems like fair deal to me. We get our nourishment, and do a good deed at the same time.”

“Honestly, Donn, I can’t dance,” I gasp, as panic begins to burn me from the inside.

“You, silly girl. You don’t have to worry,” he says. “I will take care of you, and keep you away from danger.”

“I believe that, for this week, you and I should not overdo it. Poor Vuk. I don’t think I should send him over the edge,” I add quickly.

He looks crossly at me. “You are turning down my invitation for the second time in a row.”

“It is not my fault if you keep telling yourself I will go to the ball with you,” I mumble.

“If I had asked you earlier, in the small foyer, when I wasn’t feeling well… Would you have said no back then, also?” He is not taking his eyes off me.

“Probably not,” I admit. “But I think I would have found a way to get out of it at the last minute.”

He sneers. “Oh, really?”

“I would have probably relied on a sprained ankle. I am sorry about this misunderstanding…”

He rolls his eyes. “And how so?”

I shake my head, cautiously. “I guess you didn’t hear me clearly enough when I said that Jason is back… I thought you’d understand. Plus… I cannot dance on a flat and solid surface without losing my balance.”

He bursts out laughing. “Of course. But that wouldn’t be a problem.” He sounds really confident. “First of all, it would be enough to keep you away from the drinks…” he says, with a crooked smile.

Now I start feeling irritated. “Listen, I haven’t forgiven you for what happened with Bryan at the Rise”. I cringe at the thought of it.

“Oh, he would have found the right moment to ask you, regardless. Even if I hadn’t been there from the beginning,” he laughs. “I was simply dying to see your reaction.”

If watching him laugh weren’t so fascinating, his words would sound really upsetting.

“… Then, secondly, it all depends on who’s leading,” he adds, and continues on with his list. He knows I’m ready to answer back, and he doesn’t leave me the time to do so. “Don’t you want to be my friend?”

“Yes.”

“So, why can’t I invite a friend to the ball?”

“I think you could.”

“Well, then go to the ball with me. I will lead you. I won’t let you go, ever. I promise.”

I smile. At his tender promise, I let down all my resistance. “Well, after all, it doesn’t sound that bad,” I say, my head still spinning from the twirls. I accept his invitation.

Yes, I admit it, am a crazy masochist.

All of a sudden, Donn is staring down the street. He looks tense.

“What is going on?” I ask, breathless. I follow his gaze, yet, all I see, is darkness.

He shakes his head. “Nothing.” His alert eyes are still fixed on the road, piercing through the low clouds.

“Please, tell me what is wrong,” I ask again, my hand on his shoulder. That is his typical look when he sees…

He turns his head, somber, his surly gaze on me, for a brief moment. Then his eyes go back to the street. “It’s nothing,” he tries to avoid my question, yet pretending to listen to my words.

“Donn, don’t lie to me… Why are you looking so absent-minded all of a sudden?” He is staring at somebody he would like to see disappear instantly.

Now he frowns, a deep shadow growing on his countenance. “Stella, I … don’t think I am the best person to tell you this. And I don’t believe I would be able to have control over my mouth, over my tones.”

“Something is happening, isn’t it?”

“It’s nothing,” he tries to reassure me one more time. “I am sure that now you will see him with your own eyes.” I step off his feet, as he takes a step back.

I turn to face the road, and, yes, after my initial stupor, I understand what was worrying Donn so much. Jason. Not in a dark outfit, but wearing his suit and helmet, riding his roaring bike.

“He is back from the hunt,” I whisper to myself, dumbfounded, and excited.

He crosses the street, moving towards us.

Donn is growling, softly, anguished.

My mortified expression catches his eyes. I try to calm him down.

He is furious, indeed, but he is keeping it in check. “He wants to take you away. So much for the end of the play, and the dagger ripping the painting.” I cannot help feeling a deep sense of guilt. We are all silent, looking, intensely, into each other’s eyes.

It’s too early when Jason hits his brakes and brusquely stops in front of us.

I turn to face him. The only dim, diaphanous light irradiating from his skin is visible around the edge of his gloves.

I would have gladly insisted for Donn to join us, even just for a few minutes, but Jason is waiting for me on the side of the road.

He delicately hits his horn, then two more impatient honks. Donn looks up. “Your boyfriend seems quite anxious,” he mumbles. “Is he afraid I will hold you in my fangs?”

I roll my eyes. “Drop it, Donn… We know you guys don’t have fangs.”

“He grinds his teeth. Something similar.” He mumbles.

“Well, that’s the way Jason is.” I reply. “Anything else?”

He leans over. “Jason is back, I know. But… Stella, are you sure you made the right choice?” His voice breaks, on that last word.

“Yes.” I look at him with teary eyes. “Distance has changed many things, and it has changed me. I know who I can live without. And Jason is one of those people I am not ready to give up.”

He frowns.

“But now…” I blurt out, “I can’t live without you, either.” My voice is barely audible, and I feel completely helpless.

A satisfied grin appears on his perfect features, but I can sense that many worries are still withering his face.

“I know what I want… what I have to do now… And I know what I need…” I reassure him. My lips curve into a smile. “Balance, remember?”

“Go to him. He is waiting,” he murmurs as he nods towards Jason. “I will make sure he won’t stay around for long,” he laughs as he winks at me.

I shake my head, grumbling. “I cannot even imagine anything like that. How could I? Donn, two hundred years ago, you were dying, in this very moment.”

“Yes, two hundred years ago,” he confirms.

“I know that my leaving now would kill you all over again.”

“These very words you just told me saved me from a certain death. This is enough for me now,” he whispers. “And… by the way, as I was dying, if Jason hadn’t been here I would not have stolen a kiss from your lips. Better… not right away. But a promise from your heart, to selfishly treasure within me,” he murmurs in my ear, referring to the moment when, earlier, in the parking lot, he had, once again, cast a glance inside my mind.

Time is running out. Donn pulls back before I have a chance to say anything, then he pulls himself together and tells me it’s time to go. Jason pretends he doesn’t really know what is happening. He waits, nervously, perfectly still in front of us.

I don’t feel the same tension as before, and so I nod and do all I can to erase any trace of anxiety from my face. I turn to finally join Jason and yet, unexpectedly, I find myself slowly moving backwards, running back to Donn. I kiss his cheek one last time, grabbing so tight onto his neck to hug him and bury myself within his chest.

For once, I catch him by surprise.

He looks at me. Divinely. “I am not the most beautiful thing in your life. However, I want to be the worst thing that, regardless, you would still find yourself
choosing over and over
, in spite of all the best you might have in life… This. This
is enough, forever
,” he bursts out, breathless, dropping part of his mask, and only now he lets me go, satisfied. I walk, frazzled, towards Jason’s bike.

Out of patience, Jason lifts up his visor, and looks at me with his sapphire eyes. “Hey, hi!” he calls me softly, and I return the smile.

Another quick glance at Donn, still behind me, and I am on the road.

Jason helps me wear my leather jacket and helmet.

“Good evening, Jason,” a kind Donn says in the end, turning to him with peacefulness in his eyes.

Jason, very practical as usual, ignores the kindness and greets him with a raised hand.

“Where are you taking her?” Donn steps in, again.

“We are going to Medford,” Jason replies. He turns to me with the most enchanting look in his eyes. “I am taking Stella home.” Donn looks at me, cautious, and yet inquisitive. “Ah, good. Jeff will love it,” he laughs. “Wait, why don’t you go pay a quick visit to Jeff alone. I bet you would love it.”

“Well, yeah, it probably would,” Jason sniggers, sarcastically.

They both frown, and turn somber at the same time.

“Jump on, Stella!” yells Jason, louder than the powerful and gloomy thunder of his bike. He smiles as the motor roars up.

I’m on the saddle now, and I barely feel the discomfort from the helmet and the padded jacket.

I hold on tight to Jason, the only thing that will ever stop my tears.

He accelerates, and with a safe move he takes off, full speed, leaving the theater behind. We are off to Medford. He zips on the asphalt, so fast that my stomach cannot keep up with him. And the rhythm grows faster, as if to run away forever from Donn Brooks.

“Hold on to me!” Jason yells.

I hide my face against his shoulder, as he continues in our mad run. “You haven’t
forgotten
me.”

“You make it sound as if this were a possibility,” he says trying to smile. But I can still feel his tension.

I breathe in deeply.

Jason senses it, and he holds my hand, tenderly. “I am here,” he says. He lowers his visor, keeping his eyes on the road. It is true. I feel it in my embrace and, with this renewed sense of certainty, I allow the night to close all around me.