Not Even Human

Chapter Fourteen

I awakened as the sun shone on my skin, and I moaned at the sensation. That was until I felt skin against mine. I sat up quickly, too quickly, and fell off my bed with a small shriek. I sat up again, looking down at my body and my eyes widened at being covered in only my bra and underwear. Was I that drunk? Who was in my bed?

I stood slowly, and gasped when I saw Monica in my bed. I cursed aloud as I remembered some of last night, and letting her in and kissing her. Besides that, I could barely remember anything else after. I gingerly sat on the bed, and poked her. Monica stayed still under my covers, still asleep.

I poked her again, and was startled when she moved with a groan. “Mmm, what is it?”

I huffed, “What do you- Monica. What did we do last night?”

Her dark brown eyes opened, staring with annoyance while her brow raised. “We made out for, like, fifteen minutes before you kind of fell asleep.”

“Then- then why am I naked?” I furrowed my brows, determined.

“Cause you got up in the middle of the night and complained how hot it was.”

I huffed, “Sounds like me.”

Monica chuckled as she sat up, revealing herself to only be in the shirt she was wearing last night and panties. “Pretty much.”

I raised a brow, “Why did you come here?”

“I… I feel bad about biting you. I don’t even know what that was…” Monica sighed, looking away. “If I had seen your necklace, I never would have done that. I’m really, really sorry Kim.”

Her hand went to my face, her thumb caressing my cheek as she spoke. “Can you forgive me?”

I couldn’t help the way my breath hitched as she leaned in closer, and managed to nod yes to her question just before her lips met mine again. I tensed, but also wanted to kiss her back, so I did.

I pulled away before I could kiss her more, shaking my head with my eyes closed in frustration. “I… I can’t. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have kissed you last night.”

“What?” Monica scoffed, making me open my eyes with a guilty expression on my face.

“I’m engaged.” As soon as I spoke the truth, I regretted it. She would have learned sooner or later from her parents. She furrowed her brows, backing away as if repulsed.

Monica scoffed, “No, you’re not. You just got here like, a week ago or-”

“I am.” I showed her my left hand, the ring Gabriel gave me to show off.

“To who?” Her tone was understandably bitter, and I sighed.

“Gabe… Gabriel.” I looked away, almost afraid to see her reaction to who I was engaged to.

“Gabriel? As in Gabriel Romaro? Why would you date him- let alone get engaged to him?”

I covered my face with a groan, “It’s complicated…”

“It doesn’t seem that complicated to me.” Monica spoke, an edge to her voice. "You're a royal too, aren't you?"

"Yes." I said meekly. "That's not the point-"

“You don’t love him.”

“I do- I…” I sighed again, running a hand through my curls as I held my knees to my chest. My lying wouldn’t help anything but prove her point. We both knew if I loved him, I never would have kissed her to jeopardize what Gabe and I ‘had’. “Anyways, the point is… we can’t do anything.”

Monica looked away, her expression full of disappointment and annoyance. I placed a hand on her shoulder, making her look at me as I spoke.

“Maybe you should leave...”

“I probably should.” Monica grimaced, and we both jumped as a knock on the door startled us. I gave her another look before going to my closet to get a hoodie to look somewhat decent, and went to open the door.

“Kim…” Gabriel sighed, his expression guilty. I rolled my eyes, leaning on the doorframe and holding the door behind me. “Kim, I’m sorry. If you would let me explain-”

“There’s nothing to explain, Gabe.” I faked a smile before going to close the door. To my annoyance, he protested by placing a hand on the door.

“Please. I didn’t mean for-”

“You’re a big boy, Gabriel. You knew what you were doing, and if you think that it affects me at all then you’re mistaken. I really don’t care.” Lies. I cared, and I don’t know why, but I had always been territorial. Fake or not, Gabriel and I were engaged. Everyone knew, but that person he was with didn’t give a damn.

“Then why are you avoiding me?”

Even with his sunglasses on, I could see the turmoil of annoyance, guilt, and regret he had. I shook my head with a scoff, “I don’t care what you did. What I care about is that you make me look stupid as f**k. To that girl, to everyone who might know what you did, I’m some pushover fiance who lets you do whatever you want. And I’ll be damned if everyone in my new coven thinks I’m some f*****g pushover.”

He was speechless, about to speak before I backed up and slammed the door in his face. I waited, hearing his sigh and breathing as he stood in front of my door. I heard Monica approach from behind, inhaling as to speak before I held my hand out, signaling her to wait. I heard him as he walked away, and finally, out of the building.

"Trouble in paradise already?” Monica asked.

I waved my hand dismissively as I walked over to my fridge, fetching out some eggs and bacon, “Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”

She raised a brow, and sat at the bar stool in front of my kitchen island. “Are you sure about this?"

I looked at her in confusion, "About what?"

"About him. About being engaged to him."

"Well, he's never tried to kill me."

"I already said I'm sorry." Monica scoffed.

"Right. So why are you still here?"

Monica shook her head, "You don't like me anymore, fine. But I still kinda... like you. And we're on the cheer squad together still... so... I'm here if you ever wanna talk."

I ignored her, continuing to make my food. I heard her get up and put her clothes on.

“I’ll see you around then.” She walked past me, and as she slammed the door shut, I never felt so alone.

I went back into the kitchen, finishing up breakfast and serving myself. As I ate, I scrolled through social media nonchalantly. That was, until I got a text message from Mr. Fernandez.

‘Hey Kiddo, meet me 4 coffee in ten min. The Smokin’ Cafe, on 5th and 13th.’

I replied immediately, about to say I couldn’t make it…. I had a lot on my plate right now: when on second thought… I missed him. In my complicated life, he was the only one who stayed constant, who I felt truly safe and comfortable with. I guess you could say he was what made me truly human.

I got there one minute late, in a baggy sweater and leggings, and tennis with my hair in a bun. Just casual, of course. Mr. Fernandez raised a brow at me, “Late again?”

“Sixty seconds.” I smiled, rolling my eyes as I sat down. “No biggie, Mr. F.”

Fernandez scoffed, flagging down a waiter and asking for a vanilla latte. I asked for a caramel frappe, and Fernandez sighed. “So how’s school? Make any new friends?”

“A couple."

"What's with the rock?"

I looked at the ring on my hand. "Oh, this." I held my hand up so he could see better as I chuckled drly, "Just something I got for myself. Cute, isn't it?"

"How'd you get the money for that?"

"I got a job." I smoothly lied. "They didn't ask for too much paperwork."

"Right. Well, be careful with that."

"Hey, Fernandez…” I leaned in, my voice a whisper, “Did you ever think there were others like me?”

He tensed up, and I resisted the urge to narrow my eyes. Did he know something about my kind, and he never told me?

“What do you mean? Like a…” He trailed off, his eyes narrowing at me for me to finish the sentence. What did this mean?

“I just… I mean, I don’t know what I am, but I also know I can’t be the only one that’s like this.” I reasoned.

“Why not?”

“I…” I shook my head, submitting defeat to our little debate, and crossed my arms. “Why did you even call me here?”

“Because… we got a hit on your dad.”

I tensed, “Where?”

“Two states away. We think he may be coming here.”

My jaw clenched, and I huffed. “We can’t let that happen. We just got here-”

“I know. I had it taken care of so he’d think you’re in another state… but if he does show up again… we can’t have a repeat of that time- you need to be ready to drop everything and go because nothing is as important as your life. Not your friends, not any pets or any object you may have left behind... Nothing matters .”

I looked up, my gaze hardening. “What if I want to stay?”

“That’s not an option.”

“Then let’s make it an option.” I raised a brow, “Let’s kill him.”