Crave - Teresa Mummert Page 0,3

hesitated before sighing and taking a seat, struggling to ignore the memories of our time spent alone here. He sank down next to me as his palm landed on my thigh.

“What happened?”

I hadn’t the slightest clue as to where to begin. I decided to leave out my brief stint on the ledge of a building. He would run right back to my father and they wouldn’t let me out of their sight again.

“Dad came by today,” I replied, sipping my beer. He nodded his head and took the bottle from me, chugging from it before handing back.

“He’s worried about you, Eva. We all are.”

“I don’t need pity and I can take care of myself.” The anger welled up inside of me, desperate for an outlet. I stood to leave and he grabbed my arm pulling me back beside him on the bed.

“I don’t pity you, Eva. I love you. You used to be so happy. We used to be so happy.” He pressed his mouth against mine softly, catching me off guard. I gave in and relaxed my body against his as he parted my lips with his tongue, an old familiar longing buzzing just below the surface of my skin. His hands slid to either side of my face as he held my mouth against his tenderly. I let myself melt into his touch, my hands roaming over his chest, craving the connection.

It had been too long since anyone had showed me this kind of tenderness and I felt like an addict relapsing. He slowly laid me back on his bed, coming to rest on top of me, the weight of him making me feel safe. Suddenly, the door shot open and a blonde girl appeared, pulling me from the moment as I was reminded that Grayson was no longer mine.

“Grayson, you’re missing all the fun,” she pouted, waiting for a response like a puppy eager for a treat. He glanced over at her as he groaned in frustration. The magic of the moment evaporated around us and the sadness that followed me settled back into my chest. This wasn’t what I needed. He wasn’t what I needed.

“I have to get out of here.” It was one thing to want Grayson to live a happy, healthy life, it was another to have to watch as he moved on without me. I pushed him off me and stormed out of the room and into the kitchen, grabbing a beer from the fridge, before heading out the window and down the fire escape. Grayson called after me, his voice echoing from the old buildings.

“Come on, Eva! Don’t leave like this.”

I rolled my eyes and twisted open my beer, tossing the bottle cap over my shoulder. I chugged as I turned the corner from Main Street back onto Church. I could still hear Grayson yelling, “Don’t do anything stupid, Eva.”

Chapter Two

Embers

I defiantly took a longer swig, trying to imagine what life would have been like had I never met Grayson.

My eyes focused on a figure standing against a store front in the distance. I lit a cigarette and continued on knowing I could use it as a weapon if necessary, although it would do little to stop one of the vamps. As I got closer, I recognized the guy who had caught my eye earlier. He had chestnut brown hair, in need of trim, and deep chocolate colored eyes flanked by thick lashes. He could have stepped off of the cover of a magazine, not the typical guy hanging around on the streets in Seven Valleys, Pennsylvania. It is a small town filled with mostly farmers with Pennsylvania Dutch roots.

I glanced subtly at him, smiling as I passed. He grinned back and pushed off the wall, trailing closely behind me. The warm alcohol sloshed in my belly, giving me liquid courage. I turned around, walking backward as I looked him over. The scruff on his face must have been at least three days old, but he wore it well, enhancing his rugged, tough exterior.

“Help you with somethin’?” I asked with a wry smile. The alcohol coursed through my veins, lowering my inhibitions. I wanted to forget, just not with the guy who reflected his broken heart in his eyes every time I looked at him.

“Perhaps a drink?” He asked raising an eyebrow and glancing at my beer. My eyes drifted down over his plain white T-shirt and over his dark wash jeans.

“Afraid I already finished this one off.” I held the bottle