here we go.” I rolled my eyes and tried my best to hold back a snort as I hefted my bag off the floor.
“Don’t be such a downer, Claire.” Liz followed me back into the bedroom. “You could be so beautiful if you just gave it a little effort. I mean, look at that sweater!” She picked at my sleeve like I was wearing a pair of dirty gym socks.
“What’s wrong with it?” I looked down at myself, relishing the softness of the fabric against my flesh.
“That shade of green is a crime,” she said as she strolled back into the closet and began rummaging through the clothes. “You’ve got every designer in the region in here and you’re wearing that!” she called out to me, but I ignored her as I slipped on my favorite pair of black ballet flats. She was being her usual annoying self, but I enjoyed every second of it. Liz might be shallow, vain, and materialistic but at least I knew she’d always give it to me straight. That was one of the things I had always loved about her. She was who she was and she didn’t care who knew it, or what they thought. I could take a tip from her and start embracing who I was. Anger, fangs, and all.
“So, what’s the deal with you and that Arrick guy? Are you two hooking up?” Liz walked out of the closet minus the sparkling jewelry but had donned a pair of skinny jeans, pale white camisole and a light peach blazer. She had a knack for pairing items that alone looked ridiculous to me, but on her were straight off a magazine cover.
“Not exactly.” I evaded her penetrating gaze as I gathered Louie’s things into an extra bag.
“That’s a big yes then.” Liz giggled wickedly as she tossed an empty suitcase onto the bed and began raiding my closet again. “Seriously, Claire, a guy like that? You better reel him in quick or he’ll be fishing in another pond faster than you can blink.”
“Arrick isn’t like that,” I said, stuffing Louie’s cat toys into the side pocket of the bag. I knew she was only trying to look out for me, but there were details about Arrick she didn’t know yet. He and I were bonded, and I was fairly certain there was no way that bond could ever be broken. I knew his feelings better than my own. He loved me more than anyone I’d ever known. It was me he should be worrying about, not the other way around. I was the one fighting my true feelings. My hot, cold moods were going to have to end. Arrick deserved better than that.
“If you say so. I just don’t want to see you get hurt,” she said, delicately folding clothes and setting them in her suitcase with extreme care. “I wouldn’t want to have to kick his ass. I could ruin a perfect pair of heels that way.” She winked at me.
“Whose butt are we kicking?” Robin asked curiously as she stepped into the room. Her face was bright and friendly, yet I could still see the shadow of sadness in her eyes.
“Robin!” I flew over to her and wrapped her in my arms. It wasn’t till she squeezed back that I finally released her. “Robin, this is Liz. Liz, this is Robin.”
“Hi.” Robin waved with a wiggle of her fingers and plopped down on the bed.
“Hey,” Liz replied, her attention sucked onto a black miniskirt. It was still clipped on a hanger, and she kept switching it back and forth under three shirts trying to decide which it matched with better.
“The red one. It’s totally classic,” Robin piped in, sounding more chipper than she had in days.
“That’s what I was thinking too.” Liz smiled approvingly. Anyone who agreed with her fashion tastes were okay in her book. Robin beamed back widely, her fangs on full display.
“Wow, you’re one too?” Liz dropped the miniskirt and red blouse into the suitcase and looked at Robin with wide eyes. “You don’t look like a vampire at all.”
“What do I look like?” Robin looked confused, and looked at me with a worried glance but all I could do was smile. I knew exactly what Liz meant. I had thought it myself when I first met her.
“You just look so…” Liz planted her hands on her hips.
“Sweet,” I answered, sitting down next to Robin. “I thought the same thing when I first met you.”