Once again, sleep passed through my grip as I became more and more zombieish. The spear in my gut became fiercer the longer I went without blood. I could die if I waited too long. My aunt had always brought me home some blood by taking it from cows at the farm she worked at.

She had reminded me to get the blood syringe at her house, but I had forgotten it. And I couldn't ask Donavon to drive me there. He couldn't find out what I was. 

The only option was to ask my dad to drive me. Life would be easier if I had my own car. Death couldn't be any worse than driving with my dad for a while, so I could survive that. I would have to wait till tomorrow though.

The next morning, my head was pounding even worse, yet I dragged myself out of bed. After a fresh shower, I studied my face in the foggy mirror. Makeup or no makeup? That was the question. If I went to school normal, I risked having to be more social. If I went back to my old self, I would have to be alone.

What was I thinking? I liked being alone. That's how it had to be. My life was already decided for me and trying to change that would be stupid. I grabbed my eyeliner and sabotaged my face with black.

I was about to send a text to Donavon to let him know that I was going to take the bus, when he beat me to it saying that he was waiting outside. Whatever…maybe one more day wouldn't hurt.

I forced my brain into another world as I entered Donavon's car. I knew his eyes were on me.

"I guess it would be pointless to ask about the makeup?" He asked.

"Extremely pointless."

For almost a few hours, life felt as it had all turned normal again. At least what used to be normal to me. Though now my clothes were starting to feel outlandish—like being in the skin of someone else. 

Donavon wanted to know who I really was. But he could never know. My father had loved a monster…but my father had been desperate and co-dependent. Donavon was different.

Once our last class before lunch was out, I bolted for the cafeteria and sat alone at my old, loner spot. Of course, it didn't take Donavon long to find me.

"Can I sit here?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Your reputation will forever be destroyed."

"And if I don't care about that?"

Ignoring him, I stared down at the well marked up table.

"Do you really want me to leave you alone?"

I couldn't answer that question. My brains threatened to explode as I tried to just keep my dizzy self from falling over. It was the lack of blood, and not having slept wasn't helping either. I could almost feel life draining from my body as black splotches started to take over my vision.

"Avery? Are you alright?" He spoke with urgency.

My hand gripped tighter as it enclosed around flesh—Donavon's arm? I hadn't realized that I had grabbed it. I tried to focus on not fainting, but it didn't work.

The blankness only lasted a few moments but upon awaking, my head was pounding and too cloudy to think clearly. I could tell I was being carried…by Donavon? I could hear his voice.

"Set her down here," I heard another voice say.

I was gently laid down as Donavon's warm body broke away from mine. Trying to open my eyes, only black streaks flooded my vision, so I kept them shut. 

The nurse quickly did some simple tests. "She's significantly low on iron, but she should be okay." 

They gave me some iron, but I knew that's not what I needed. They then told Donavon to go back to his lunch.

"I don't want you to leave me," I whispered, hardly knowing what I was saying.

"I won't…" he answered as he was forced out.

I was forced to stay in the nurse's room till they called my dad to pick me up. I was too dizzy to care. When my dad entered the room, he looked as stoic as me. Finally, my head was functional enough for me to walk on my own.

"I need to go to my aunt's house," I stated to my dad. He didn't question it, knowing what I needed. By the time we got there, the only words he had said were, "Are you okay?" Which he asked almost three times. Did he really care?

I stumbled through the house, as I looked for the syringe. The pounding came back. I had to hurry.

A few minutes later, I found it and bolted for the door back to the car where my dad was waiting. His eyes finally showed expression of concern. I must have not been looking so well.

"Which way to the farm?" He asked.

I handed him my phone where my Aunt had sent a text giving directions and instructions to get the blood. His car turned into a reckless beast, and we were there in no time. A deeper emptiness hurricaned in my gut. Must…get…blood…

Opening the car door, I stumbled out and to the ground. Mental fuzz seized me, and I couldn't get up. My dad was now at my side starting to panic. Uselessly, all I could do was keep my eyes shut.

"Are you okay!?" He jiggled my body slightly.

A moan was the only thing I could perform. In that moment, I really thought I could die. And maybe it was for the best. Living could cause even greater heartache later.

"Stay with me, Avery," my dad's voice brought me back to reality for a moment. He was acting like a normal father who had cared all along.

He ran to the car. "I don't know how to use this thing! The cows! Where are those blasted cows?"

I had never seen him so drunk with worry. And all because of me? Blackness started to encroach even closer. Was this really the end?

I thought about my aunt and the start of a new relationship we could have had. I even thought about Donavon. It didn't seem right to never see them again.

My dad was back at my limp body, holding up my head. Something wet trickled on my lips.

"Drink it, Avery!"

Blood? Had he managed to get it from the cows so soon? Parting my lips, I took in its life. The black started to dissipate. I opened my eyes to see my dad's body shaking above me, his tear filled eyes fixed on mine.

"I thought I was going to lose you," he stuttered out, clearly his emotions sabotaging him.

It was like a mental slap seeing him act so detached all my life, and now one sudden moment brought him to intense concern. It reminded me how I had acted when my aunt was in the hospital. Before then, I had separated myself from her too, yet I had cared deep down all that time. I guess near death experiences brought that out. Maybe my dad was no different. 

He whimpered some other words that I couldn't make out followed by, "Please…please forgive me."

Still too dazed to hold grudges against him, I accepted his embrace as he carried me back to the car. He then spent the next hour getting as much cow blood in jars as he could.  

Back as his place, he continued to pamper me even though I was capable of walking now. He carried me to my bed and asked if I needed anything every few minutes.

"Just sleep," I answered. He was about to disappear behind the sheet wall when my own words surprised me. "Dad?" I had never called him that…ever. Turning, his eager eyes drank in the moment. I had to say something. He saved my life after all. "Thank you."

I never thought it would be possible, but my attitude towards my dad now had changed. But I wasn't sure if it was truly from a new prospective or the dramatic experience. 

~*~

The next morning came seamlessly. My head was in much better shape. I turned my phone on to see a million texts from Donavon, most of them asking if I was okay. He even said that he had stopped by my dad's house and worried when no one was there. 

I texted him back to save him a heart attack. I should die more often. It really brought a lot of attention. I almost laughed at my own mental joke. Attention wasn't on my favored list.

It was only a moment later when he texted me back saying that he would be there soon to pick me up for school. Going into the kitchen, I saw my dad with his head lowered on the table. Had he stayed there all night? He lifted his head.

"How are you doing?" He asked with half closed eyelids.

"Fine. I have to leave for school soon."

"Are you sure you are well enough to go?"

"Positive." 

"Okay, if you're sure. You can call me to pick you up if you aren't feeling well."

"I'll be fine."

This was definitely the longest conversation we had ever had. I still wasn't sure how I felt about being around him. A car honked, and I headed for the door.

Descending down the outside stairs, Donavon's soft gaze followed me every step as he stood by his car with the passenger door opened for me.

"Hey! It's the real Avery today," he smiled. "Need to go back and get your makeup?"

"No, it's fine." I even surprised myself by not caring anymore.

"Does this mean we can eat lunch together now?" He asked as he entered the car. 

"If you buy." 

He laughed. "That's more than worth it. So where were you last night?"

"Just out with my dad. You know, just doing normal father-daughter things like randomly driving around and such."

"Hmm… Yeah that sounds totally normal."  His eyes then turned to deep pondering. I wondered what it might be about, but I dared not ask.

Once upon entering the high school, Jenifer spotted us. She waved dramatically with a smile.

"Hey, Jade. Has my crazy cousin been behaving himself?"

Words never seemed to find their way out of my mouth when around people anymore. I simply nodded. Maybe I should have worn my old clothes and makeup.

Jenifer gave a quick punch to Donavon's arm. "See you guys around." She departed, making way to a group of girls who she also greeted warmly. Seems like she was fitting herself into this school just dandy.

A few more steps led to something even worse—Kyson Conway. His forceful gaze and smirk clearly showed that he recognized me. He started snaking our way. Before, it had never been a big deal. I would have just brushed him off rudely, but for some reason I felt different. Scared?

Quickly, I dashed my eyes to Donavon and grabbed his hand. He looked back extremely startled, but said nothing.

"To class quickly please…" I urged.

"Oh, okay."

Kyson had stopped in his cougar tracks as we walked past him, my hand still in Donavon's.

I didn't look at Kyson, but Donavon must have. Once safely passed, I dropped his hand.

"Nice camouflage," he said.

My faced flashed with heat. I hadn't really thought about what I was doing at the time, I just wanted Kyson to leave me alone.

Donavon's face was stoic. I couldn't tell what he was thinking. Ugh, why did I grab his hand? That was so dumb.

"I'm sorry…" I said.

"No, it's okay. That guy looked like a creep."

"He is."

By now, I bet that Kyson had dated about every decent looking girl at school…except me. He might be getting more desperate. If he thought Donavon and I were together, would Kyson do anything to harm him? I doubted it, but I was exceedingly convinced that parts of his brains were missing.

Focusing in class was a complex procedure as my mind battled with questions. Donavon was over the top nice to me, but was it because he was such a generous guy, or because he felt sorry for me, or because…he liked me? 

Ugh! This was so stupid to be wasting brain power on! He couldn't like me…and I definitely couldn't like him. It was one thing to let myself get close to my aunt…and maybe even a little bit to my dad but…they knew what I was and what my future was. This kid knew nothing. His ignorance was digging himself into a deadly pit.

Since he didn't know of his stupidity, I would have to distance myself from him. Once my aunt was better and I got Alexander back, I would just get my GED and skip my last year of high school. And the world will be a better place.

I remembered when I had told him that I didn't want him to leave me back in the nurse's room. But I had been demented then. That didn't count. But did he know that?