[Elijah]
Mark's hands tightened on the steering wheel, "Cool down, man! You're jumping to conclusions," he said with forced calmness, his voice wobbling just enough to betray him.
My teeth clenched so hard my jaw ached. "Don't. Don't play dumb, Mark. Did you ever think of me as a real friend? Or was that fake too?" The words burned as they left my lips. "Tell me the truth. Are you one of them? Are you a vampire?"
Mark's shoulders tensed, but his gaze stayed on the road. "I'm not a vampire," he said quietly. "I'm human. And yes, you're real to me, Elijah. You're my best friend."
"Then why the hell are you doing this if I mean anything to you?" My voice cracked, and I hated myself for feeling disappointed—I mean, I'd only known him for most of my life. "What connection do you have to Ash
