Frenemies.

CHLOE'S POV

The council was likely aware of my escape by now, but I was still sceptical since there are no signs of their attempts to find me. If they perceived my escape, they'd come running; I wonder whatever happened to that new-bred.

It's been weeks in this horrible place but I've managed it well, I was here for a reason. I'd have to make do with what I had to get what I wanted. The Gabriels sure knew how to steal the spotlight wherever they stepped in. It was easy to spot them even among thousands of mundanes they were. Selene, still gorgeous and impulsive as ever, but ever so shortsighted; I had walked by her within a close range with the fear of her noticing a change in the ambience, or perhaps the irregularity of my heartbeat that was one of our core difference from the mundanes, but she didn't. She merely walked by.

Matthias, on the other hand, the most reckless of our kind still carried on with that disgusting attitude of his. A vampire, yet a big philanderer, driven by lust and blinded by desire. I still wonder how he took care of his feed's lifeless bodies. I had watched him from afar, monitoring everything he does for when I finally struck.

Now, to the main object of my fascination, Alexis. As meek and calm as ever, he soared carefully and brilliantly through the worst of all situations. His ability to deal with tribulations in the most pleasant ways remained one of his strengths. That could be why I wanted him so bad, or maybe I just wanted him for all that he was. Either way, I was bent on getting what I wanted even though I doubt he felt the same after all the happenings in the past.

Then again, the past was in the past, this could be the time to right all the wrongs and make him love me like he once did. And I knew exactly how.

Alexis had always been one to bear affection for every living species, he always thought of them with respect even though they weren't our equals, he especially beheld a curious mind immense curiosity towards the mundanes then, seeing as that hadn't changed, I knew the exact way to make him want me again.

It's funny how even a dead heart could react to hurtful things, I guess everything that breathes was wired to feel this way. The pang of seeing someone whom you'd never pictured yourself without, living happily with someone else, while you remained just a speck in their memory, or maybe they had completely forgotten about your existence too. That was how I felt when I saw Alexis with a female mundane — a tight feeling in my chest, like an arm, squeezing around it and won't let go. The next feeling was well known to me; rage. The need to stand over her lifeless, decomposing body for as much as even breathing close to him. Alexis was mine, I figured that out centuries ago.

Even if he kept denying it and pushing it away, I had to make him realise what his true feeling was. That he and I were made side by side for each other.

I treated you like I treated everyone else; this is who I am, please, do not find anything special In that. His cold words to my ears after I had confessed what I felt. Still, I remembered them in a pleasant light, just words rolling off the tongue of a scared lad. It's okay to be scared to love a person, I just had to show him I'd wait no matter what happened. I know he loved me in return, he had to.

That mundane was the weak link; I found my way in.

~~

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry!", She exclaimed. "I'd get that, I'm so sorry about this mess." She hastily checked her bag and brought out a handkerchief.

"No, it's okay. It's just coffee after all. Although it burns a little," I replied with a smile, taking the handkerchief from her hand and wiping my blouse with it. "It would probably dry off soon."

Her face darkened with guilt, she won't stop apologizing for my own mistake. Not take she knew that, it was a perfectly planned encounter.

"It would but this blouse won't recover from that stain, it's pure cotton. I'm so sorry about this." She examined my blouse before setting down what was left of the coffee on a table by the pathway. "Please let me pay for your laundry, or can I get you a new blouse instead?"

"That won't be necessary, I'd rather get changed and get to class."

She bit her lips, and before they could form words, I interrupted again.

"Oh no! I can't get to the sorority house at the moment, my roommate is out on a date. She keeps the key since I'm so careless anyway. It would be sad to have to interrupt her date for such a petty issue," I stated piteously, expectant of her reply.

"I'm so sorry I caused you this much trouble, do you mind coming with me to my hostel? I could get you something to wear for today, we should be about the same weight."

Yes, exactly.

"Uh...", I pretended to contemplate. "If it's not too much trouble, sure, I'd like that."

"Of course not, it's the least I could do."

There, I had my way. Cordial relationships were the simplest things to set with mundane. One smile, handshake and sad face were all it took to make it into their list of lifelong friends. I'd be sure to put my newly found friendship to good use.

On getting to her hostel room, just as she made to thrust the key into its hole, the door swung open revealing the person I never would have expected. I held it in, all the thoughts that came rushing, threatening to sweep me off my feet. The least I could do was keep a plain face on the outside.

Selene Gabriel walked out of this mundane's room, with little to no regard for her presence at all, she sauntered out without a second look at who stood before her. I was still collecting stability when the mundane's voice interrupted.

How was this even possible? Is this mundane somehow acquainted with the Gabriels?

"I'm sorry about that, that's my roommate, she's a little... different." Her voice trailed off.

Of course, she was different. She was Selene Gabriel after all.

"Ah, I see." Her heartbeat still moved at an ordinary pace, this creature was a mundane. How then did she end up with the Gabriels as acquaintances?

"Come on in," she ushered me into the room, then proceeded to open a suitcase where she held two plain shirts up for me to see.

"Which do you prefer? I don't know much about clothes..."

"Anyone is fine, it's just class anyways."

She offered me the plain black T-shirt she held in her left hand as she flung the other on the bed.

"This one looks better on you, you have a really pretty skin tone," she chimed.

"Yes, thank you." I moved to a more pressing topic. "however do you manage with your roommate? She seemed a little rude."

"Uh...I guess every personality differs she's like that, I'm like this. As long as she doesn't do anything to hurt me, I can manage." She replied with a shrug.

Oh, she'd hurt you, alright, but she won't be the only one.

"You're right, all creatures to their differences. I guess you'd just have to deal with it then."

"Of course, I have to, it's college after all."

"Yes, you never know where a person came from."

I changed into the shirt she gave me, with questions, a ton of questions rippling through my head, and mixed emotions. One of which was anger, how did she end up in such a relationship with the Gabriels? Even I never had the chance to be in the same space with Selene Gabriel.

Was there something else I didn't know about? I balled my fist and exhaled, I needed her to get to Alexis, that was all that mattered at the moment before I slowly watch life seep from her frail body.

"Fits you perfectly, I can't even tell who wore it better," she offered a friendly grin that churned my stomach with disgust.

I offered one in return, and a friendly smile seals the deal.

"I'd have this sent to you, after the laundry, please give me your contact information," she asked politely picking up the stained blouse.

"Sure." That was the exact reason for all these shenanigans. I called out my phone number.

"What's your name?"

"It's Chloe, my name is Chloe."

"I'm Dawn, it's a pleasure to meet you, Chloe."

You have no idea.

"I could say the same about you." I flashed her a wide grin. "I feel like we're going to be good friends."