Emilee

“Maxxx! Just tell me where we’re going!” I said, laughing at him. Yet again, Max had blindfolded me and was taking me somewhere. He wouldn’t tell me where or what for. I tried begging already...

“For the last time missy, I’m not telling you!” He continued to lead me forward on foot. “Besides, we’re there now.” I heard the screeching of hinges as Max opened a door for me and helped me through. He sat me down on what I assumed to be a couch and cupped my face with his hands. “Now...you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do Emilee. I...I just thought it’d be a good idea...” What was this boy on about?

“Max, I’m confused.” He removed the blindfold, revealing basically nothing. The room was almost pitch black. A few candles were scattered about the corners of the room on the floorboards, forming a soft glow on Max’s face. I smiled. “Where are we?” I asked softly.

“This is that old house...the one a few streets from ours. You’ve been here before to meet my friends, remember?” I nodded.

“But...why are we here now?” I asked. “It’s kinda creepy in the dark.”

“This is the same place I was uhh...changed. By Ronnie.” His eyes flickered to the floor. “...Only if you want me to.” He stared back at me again. I smiled even wider and hugged him.

“Max, you’re gonna change me!?” I asked, amazed. “You said before it was too risky, that you could hurt me.”

“But if I don’t then one day I’ll lose you for good,” he said. “And...well I want to prove I love you. I don’t want to lose you...ever. That is far more risky,” he said softly.

“Max, I’ll never leave you...” He looked away from me. He didn’t believe me.

“There’s always the possibility tho...” I grabbed his face with my hands and caught his lips with mine.

“Don’t be stupid.” He looked across at me with his gorgeous eyes.

“You want this tho, don’t you?” he asked. “Despite everything, you still want this.”

“Of course, but I’d love you all the same if nothing changed.” I managed to get a small smile outta him.

“If this is what you want...If you’re sure...I’m happy to do it for you. I know I won’t hurt you honey. I know that now,” he said, resting his forehead against mine. “I’d do anything for you.”

“I want,” I whispered. I had to admit it. “Besides you, there’s nothing I want more.”

“Your family?” He bit his lip lightly.

“I...I’m sure they’ll survive without me for a few days, or weeks. I’ll say I got lost or kidnapped or something. It’ll work out Max,” I assured him.

“If you’re sure,” he whispered, brushing the hair from my neck. I nodded and closed my eyes. He moved his lips to my neck where he planted a soft kiss.

“Wait Max,” I said quickly. He froze and backed away. “How much will this hurt?”

“Depends on you. Robert said it didn’t hurt in the slightest, but when it happened to me it was the worst pain I’d ever been in. And I mean, I once broke my leg in 2 places...” I swallowed and nodded. “Are you sure baby?”

“Yes. Max, just do it.” He kissed me sweetly on the lips before he began to move them back to my neck. Before he could get within a few inches, he was pinned up against the wall by someone.

“What the fuck is wrong with you Maxwell!?” the person yelled. I recognised the voice from somewhere.

“Craig? Get off! What are you doing here!?” Max yelled back. Craig. I remember meeting him.

“Stopping you from fucking everything up!” he yelled again. He let go of Max.

“I don’t see how this is any of your business Mabbitt. Get lost,” Max said coldly.

“You were gonna change her, weren’t you? I fucking warned you Max. I warned you not to. She’s bad news.” Craig turned around and glared at me.

“Don’t you dare so much as glance at her!” Max yelled, grabbing onto Craig by his jacket. “I can hear what you’re thinking,” he seethed. “I can hear every word you fuck. You’re wrong.”

“You know how possible it is for this to turn out like before Max. We don’t need another one!” Craig pulled himself free from Max’s grip, something I didn’t think possible.

“Another what?” I asked, my voice appearing to be so timid compared to theirs at present. Craig turned to me.

“Another one like Anna,” he said, staring me down. “Another bitch with the ability to kill, so it seemed.”

“It...it wasn’t her fault that Ronnie...”

“Yes it fucking was!” he yelled across at me. “If she’d loved him till the end, he’d still be around! If she were still human, she’d still love him! He’d still be alive...” Tears were now streaming down Craig’s face. “You didn’t know him like I did! You didn’t know him at all!” Max put his hand lightly on Craig’s shoulder. He immediately brushed it away.

“Don’t fucking touch me Max,” he spat. “I thought you learnt from Ronnie that this is a bad idea! I thought you cared about your mates!”

“I do! I swear...” Max sighed. “You guys mean a lot to me but you have to understand that Emilee is my world. She will always come first. It’s just the way it is now,” he said. He walked over to me and pulled me up into his arms. “She won’t be like Anna. Craig...you knew what Ronnie did to her. We all saw the bruises. We all saw the pain in her eyes. Her becoming one of us was the best thing he could’ve done to her really. She was free. Ronnie drove her away, you know that.”

“So you’re saying he deserved to die?” Craig asked in a frightening tone.

“Of course not,” Max said softly. “I loved him like a mate. He did a lot for me. But he didn’t deserve Anna.”

“He didn’t deserve to die, either,” Craig spat.

“Well that was his doing, not hers. He drove her away and then did away with himself,” Max said. “I promise Emilee and I won’t be like that. You won’t lose another mate.” Max opened his arms for Craig, who accepted the hug immediately. They pulled apart after a short time.

“Come to band practice tomorrow night, okay?” Craig said quietly. “Things are hard with no bass.” Max was skipping band practice?

“Sure man,” he replied. “Get some sleep. Don’t worry about me.” Max smiled, and received one back from Craig before he disappeared as a blur through the front door. Max flopped down onto the couch behind him, pulling me down on top of him.

“Why are you skipping band practice?” I asked.

“I dunno,” he replied, shrugging. “I wasn’t in the mood to play. We’ve been a little turbulent recently, that’s all. I wanted to make sure you were okay.” There was a short silence.

“Max...You don’t have to change me. If it’s causing problems for you and your mates, don’t bother,” I said softly.

“I want to.” He flipped me so that I was lying beneath him. “I’m sorry if it hurts.” He brought his lips to my ear. “I love you Emilee Parker,” he whispered. I melted at the sound of his sweet candy voice. The tingles he’d given me were a vast contrast compared to the pain I felt sting my neck several seconds later.