Hallows: Duets

Don't Be Fvck!ng Rude

Kanye West- Heartless

Ashley:

The demons are hovering close. Kelly and Carter put Dante, Anthony, and me on lockdown. We're not allowed to leave school grounds until the salt is out of his system and he feeds properly which can take two to three weeks. Tiffany is really upset that I can't go to the game against the New City Jaguars on Friday. It's an all-boys school.

Dante hasn't come out of his suite all week. Anthony and I are taking turns bringing up food and his dry cleaning because he's having a huge fit over his argument with David. Stupid David who hasn't been answering his phone calls despite my begging him to.

"Can I ask why you're not in New City, right now?" Ms. Andrews asks when she finds me sitting on the floor of my suite while I do my homework on the coffee table. She sets a fresh cup of coffee down in front of me.

"Thank you," I smile taking it from her.

"Black, no sugar. Right?"

"Yes," I nod.

"You're what? Sixteen? What sixteen-year-old drinks coffee like this?" she asks watching me take a sip.

"Seventeen. I turned seventeen in July and this is how I've always had it. My dad used to drink it like this. I guess it just stuck,"

"What are you doing here, Ashley?" she looks over some of my assignments.

"Uh, one of Dante's crazy stalkers came after us last week and she hasn't been caught," I lie for the millionth time this week. It's not really a lie, is it?

"Oh, no. Is that why he's been held up in his suite all week?"

"Yeah, he feels really guilty for putting me and a couple of our friends in danger like that. The girl had a gun,"

"No one was hurt right?"

"No, thankfully he has really good bodyguards," I reassure her.

"Yeah," she nods. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm not really sure how I feel about it," I admit.

This is the first time the hunters attack him while I'm near. I heard stories from the others back when we all first started hanging out but now that it happened in front of me. I have this weird need to protect him at all costs. Like I need to do more to make sure I never put him in a position where he's in danger because of me.

"Have you spoken to him about it?"

"Not, yet. I've been trying to give him some head space. With stuff like this, I usually let him come to me. He gets worse if I push it,"

"Okay, if you want to talk about this. You know where to find me," she gives my shoulder a squeeze. "Try to get some rest this weekend. You and Lily are doing amazing. Your chaos is almost in sync,"

"Thank you," I laugh. She's way off. Lily and I have a long way to go but we are close to finding our tempo together.

"Seriously. We start officially practicing for the competition on Monday. I want you both prepared," she goes to the door and I go back to my homework. "Mr. Blackstone. We need to stop meeting like this. Have you given any thought to my suggestion?"

"No," Dante answers her.

"You should. My office is always open," she says and leaves the room. He walks in and slams the door shut. She's been pushing him to get therapy. The poor lady is way too nice for her own good.

"Nosy b***h," he murmurs under his breath.

"Hey," I scold him.

"Hey," he greets me.

"Not, hey like hello. Hey, as in hey don't be f*****g rude," I laugh.

"You're being rude right now," he comes over to me and grips my hips to lift me to my feet. He pulls me with him until he's sitting on the armchair. He sits me on his lap and lays back.

He looks as tired as I feel. He's got dark circles under his eyes. He hasn't shaved all week and I'm loving the scruff on his face. His dark roots are getting pretty long as well. He looks so human like this. I grip a handful of his hair and press a kiss on his throat. He swallows making his Adam's apple bob against my lips.

"You need a haircut," I tell him. He smiles opening his eyes to look at me.

"Desmond is having someone come up later. Kels wanted me to ask if you want a trim or a color change?"

"A trim. I don't want to dye my hair. No offense but I think it's kind of tacky,"

"Ouch," he laughs.

"I said no offense,"

"You don't want me to dye my hair anymore?"

"I love the white in your hair. You should try a different color,"

"Yeah? I was thinking blue,"

"I love blue," I nod. He looks me over and pinches my chin.

"What's wrong, baby face?"

"You've never called me that to my face," I laugh. "I know the others call me that because of you,"

"One hundred percent true," he smiles. "Talk to me. What's on your mind?"

"David," I answer truthfully. He nods sitting up so he can cradle me into his arms.

"I spoke to him this morning. He should be here soon," he sighs.

"Did you guys argue again?" I get up to sit next to him. He looks over at me without answering.

"When did he tell you he was engaged?"

"Uh, before leaving for your coast tour," I admit.

"That was a week after graduation," he glares at me. "Right after he left,"

"Yeah, he had just found out and he was freaking out. I told him to take his time to think about the way he was going to tell you because if you would have heard how frantic he was, you would have dropped everything to go kill his dad and then he told me he told you and I believed him because you were all down and Carter had just told you the hunters were all over Hellbourne. I didn't want to add fuel to the fire,"

"I don't get why he told you and not me," he admits.

"Hey," I take his hand. "I think it's because you're a lot scarier than I am. I weigh a hundred and twenty-six pounds,"

"Do you really?" he laughs looking me over and shaking his head. "You're like ninety pounds,"

"I like that you think that. It's a compliment," I laugh and reach to touch his face.

"I'm going to shave it off,"

"Aww but I like it,"

"I don't. I look like a f*****g bum," he scoffs. I laugh looking him over.

"In what world do you look like a bum? You're wearing like a five thousand dollar outfit right now," I shake my head.

"You're just being nice to me because I'm upset," he rolls his eyes. I'd never do that. His ego is big enough.

"How is your shoulder?" I ask him.

"It's not numb anymore, but I kinda wish it was. It hurts. Bad enough to keep me from playing my guitar,"

"Oh, no. Not your guitar," I mock. He laughs pulling me into him so he can rub his scruff on my neck. "Mm, jokes on you," I hold him still so I can rub my face against his. "I love this,"

"What were you working on?" he asks me. "Is it for me? You had this just got caught doing something weird look on your face,"

"Shut up. Not everything is about you,"

"Isn't it though?" he smirks.

"No, it's about you and David," I shrug.

"Oh, you have to play it for me now," he sits up. "Please,"

"No, it's not finished. What part of I just started it don't you get?"

"Fine, but I'd like to be the first to hear it. For science purposes,"

"Science purposes?" I laugh.

"Yeah, think of it as a trial run," he grins.

"Okay, for science purposes," I roll my eyes. The doorbell rings making us both look over at the door. I get off his lap to go get it but he grabs my arm and pulls me back hard enough to make me stumble into him. My forehead smacks against his. "Ouch,"

"Shh," he smiles, burying his hand in my hair to keep me from moving. His lips press against mine. Since he can't feed right now, his kisses are desperate and rough. He's not being gentle in the slightest and I love it.