s*x with a Vampire

Long Drive

It's a long and awkward drive home. The silence in the truck is deafening but neither of us say anything.

I want to say something but I feel so shitty. I've always suffered from a low self esteem. Phoenix is the alter ego that I wish was just my regular self. She's fierce, passionate, confident and sexy as hell.

But she's not me.

She's just something I pretend to be.

Whoever said 'fake it til you make it' probably doesn't understand how damaging that can be.

I silently cry in my corner. I'm facing the window, trying not to make a sound. I hate these moments. It's like all my worries just come crashing down upon me all at once.

Maybe I need to see a psychiatrist. There is always this crushing weight. It's like I'm drowning but never dying. Always stuck in a loop of despair trying to be okay.

I have people in my life I care about but it's like no one truly knows who I am. I'm always filled with fear and disgust.

Urgh, please stop.

I try to quiet the negative thoughts in my head. I need them to stay quiet. I can't have a breakdown here with Garth next to me.

I feel a hand touch my shoulder. He squeezes it and rubs my back.

"You can always talk to me, Sam. You know I love you and I'll listen. Please don't shut me out." I stiffen. I can hear the sincerity in his voice but he'll think I'm crazy.

I shake my head. A sob escapes my lips and I cover my mouth with my hand. "I can't Gar. I don't know what's wrong." I confess.

"It doesn't matter, we'll figure it out together." He makes small circles on my back and I feel the dam break.

I cry years of unresolve pain. When I start, I can't stop. Garth pulls aside and undo his seat belt and mine. He pulls me into his arm and tries to soothe me.

He's cupping the back of my head and rubbing my back. "It's okay. You're gonna be okay."

I shake my head and push against him. I can't even find words to speak. I just look at him and shake my head as he caress my face and holds me against him.

"Whatever it is, I'll help you through it. Just trust me." His face is so close to mine.

A blur catches my eyes outside and in seconds, Garth is out of the truck and on the ground. The force pulls me over the center console and face first into the driver's seat.

I look up to see Eli standing over Garth. He grabs him by his shirt and slams him against the truck.

Oh, no.

"Eli, stop." I scramble to right myself and get out. I climb over the console and jump out the driver side of the truck.

Eli has Garth against the truck with his hand around his throat. Garth kicks him off and throws a punch.

"Guys, please stop." I scream.

I'm only now aware of how things might have looked to Eli. Garth was holding me close, I was crying, shaking my head and pushing against him. He probably thinks Garth was trying to hurt me.

Garth tries to tackle Eli but he moves out of the way and grabs the back of Garth's shirt. He pulls him backwards, slamming him into the pavement.

He punches Garth and I hear a c***k. Oh God. His nose is definitely broken. Blood leaks from his nose and he tries to fend off Eli.

Eli goes to punch him again and I drop over Garth. "Please." I beg. I am sure I was about to take the hit.

I look up at Eli, he grabs me and pulls me to him, looking me over. He pushes me behind his back and stares as Garth tries to get up.

I struggle with him to get in front. I finally break free and go to stand in front of Garth. He's bloody and bruised. It's all my fault.

I look at Eli pleading with him to stand down. His eyes are wild and glossy. He looks so fierce. I've never seen him look like this; even when I've seen him do sparring matches at the MMA gym.

He stalks towards us and I hold out my hand to stop him. Garth tries to push me behind of him and Eli growls.

"Get your hands off of her." I'm in full panic mode now. Eli looks like he's about to go on a rampage. I know Garth can fight but Eli is wickedly strong and fast.

I fight with Garth to get him to stop trying to push me aside. I'm sure I was the only thing stopping Eli from attacking him right now.

I finally get Garth to release me. I run to stand between then. I don't want Eli to try and grab me either.

"Please, stop." I shout again. I hold my hand out to stop them from advancing. "Please, just stop."

"He's the crazy one that attacked me. What the f**k is wrong with you?" Garth argues. He takes a couple steps forward and I shake my head at him to stop.

Eli steps forward as well and I'm afraid that they would start punching each other again.

"It was just a misunderstanding, right Eli?" I try to reason with them both.

"What misunderstanding? He was touching you while you were clearly trying to get away fo him." Eli barks. The vein in his jaw is ticking. He has a death stare that makes me want to cower even though it's not directed at me.

Garth is pacing back and forth now. "You don't know s**t. Who the f**k are you anyways, mate?"

"Garth, this is Eli. He's my boyfriend." My voice sounds shaky. "He's also the owner of Mega."

Garth stops and stares at me. He then turns to Eli and I see when the recognition finally hits him.

"What the f**k?" He runs his hand through his hair and turns away. He quickly turns back to me with a finger pointed at my face. "Is this why you didn't want to tell us who you were dating? You're f*****g the owner of the company?!"

He makes that sound so dirty like I've done something extremely forbidden. I slowly shake my head.

He looks at me with disgust and shakes his head. "f*****g hell." He turns and looks at Eli, scanning him from head to toe.

"Please," I beg. I try to grab his hands but he pulls away from me. I'm shock. I'm not sure what I did to deserve such treatment from my friend.

It's not my fault Eli went off the hinges and attacked him. I could see how he may have misread the situation but I'm trying to make things better. Why is Garth upset with me?

I try to reach out to Garth again but Eli steps between us. He blocks my view of Garth.

"Stay away from her." Eli's voice is lace with venom. I can feel the anger radiating off of him.

I grab Eli's hand to stop him from attacking Garth just in case. He stiffens momentarily and relaxes a bit.

"No problem," Garth walks back to the truck. "Boss." I watch my friend drive away after a long, hard look at me.

After he disappears in the distance, Eli turns to me. "Get in the car."

I look at him dumbfounded. Did he just try to order me around? I cross my arms over my chest and stare him down. He's the reason for this mess.

"No." I say defiantly.

"Get. In. The. Car." Each word comes out loud and clear. His scowl tells me he's not in the mood.

I start walking towards the passenger seat and get in. I buckle up and stare straight ahead with my arms still folded.

"Why did you have to do that?" I ask when he gets in and starts the engine. He pulls off without glancing my way.

"Why was he holding you like that?" He shot back.

"He was comforting me." I say.

"I bet." Eli scoff. I'm annoyed now.

"You have no clue what you're talking about. You come in guns blazing and don't even ask any questions." I shout at him. "I thought something happened to you. You didn't answer your phone when I called."

"Sounds familiar." Eli shots back.

I roll my eyes. "I was having a breakdown and he was comforting me. He was just being nice. Then you came and try to kill him. What the hell was that?!"

"He was doing more than comforting. That's not how a friend will act. He clearly wanted more from you and you're too naive to see it." He turns a hard corner and I hit the door. He looks over at me to see if I'm okay.

"He's my friend. He wouldn't have done anything. He doesn't see me that way." I defend Garth. I don't think either him or Harvey likes me that way.

"Every guy sees you that way." Eli shouts. He's giving a lot of gas to the vehicle. We're weaving in and out of traffic.

"Please slow down." I'm holding on to the door and my seat belt.

Eli looks at me and slows the vehicle. I know his car can go so much faster but I would rather we not. I've watched too many driving fails.

"He's not your friend. He has terrible intentions." Eli tells me.

"And how would you know? You just met him." I state.

"I just know." Eli stares straight ahead.

I refuse to continue the conversation. I stare out of the window for the remainder of the drive.

I wonder how Eli knew where I was when he found me. I also want to know who Celeste is to him. And what the hell happened to his phone.