Falling Apart

Bella Hail dresses like a lesbian

"Are you sure you're okay?" Ashley winced as Ethan tightened the bandage around his finger. He'd cut himself badly slicing onions for the lunch rush because he was too deep in thought. "I could always do it myself."

"I'm fine. It's just a little blood. What kind of mate would I be if I couldn't help you bandage a wound?" Ethan finished up and put the bandages away. "Besides, I'm done."

"Hmm... You're still holding your breath."

"I didn't say it was easy."

Ashley sighed, turning the bandaged side by side to examine it. "I've never actually seen you drink, you know...."

"I know what?"

"You know what I mean." Ashley scowled, making Ethan laugh slightly. He couldn't help it. Ashley looked adorable. "Are you hiding it from me?"

"Ashley-"

"Are you?"

"I didn't want to scare you off."

"Ethan..." Ashley crawled over to his side of the couch, placing his hands on Ethan's shoulders and leaning in. "...it's going to take a lot more than that to scare me off." Ashley leaned in, lips brushing against Ethan's lips.

"Ashley..." Ashley silenced him, pressing his lips softly against Ethan's. The taller man's arms wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer to him.

Ashley felt Ethan's fangs grazed against his bottom lip. Ethan pulled back, holding Ashley away from him. "Maybe we should stop."

"I thought you wanted to..."

"I do, but you don't. You can't even say the words yet, can you?"

"I'm a little squeamish but..." Ashley trailed off. In truth he was incredibly squeamish, violence and blood made his stomach turn. "I-I just wanted to m-make you happy."

"Ashley... I'm already happy. I've got you."

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Certain parts of the Adirondacks have always made Candice uneasy. It's not because she hates the woods, in fact, she loves them, but these woods were a little different. For one thing, this corner of the forest was home to one of the largest Witch Covens in New York state, Saga falls. It also sat right next to one of the largest packs in the state.

Although the wolves are definitely more welcoming.

The moment Lukas, Eilís, Azmi and Candice followed Alma past the coven's barriers heads snapped in their direction, making Candice uneasy. The five of them had their reasons to dislike Saga.

And Saga had its reasons for hating us, however unreasonable.

"God, I can feel the glares already," Azmi commented, arms folded protectively over their chest.

"Let them stare. What could they possibly do?" Alma spoke up, clutching her wand to her chest in a way that betrayed her bravado.

"Let's just get this over with." Lukas sighed as they turned down the path to a giant log cabin.

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Bella's new apartment was surprisingly cosy once she got all her furniture set up, with Ashley's help of course.

"You didn't have to help you know."

"Really? And here I thought I'd been conscripted." Ashley gasped in mock-surprise. "I better be off before you change your mind."

"Very funny."

"So..." Ashley looked around the apartment and the boxes full of Bella's old clothes that littered the living room. "...what are you doing with these?"

"Well, you already laid claim to some." There was already a giant box by the door with a giant 'A' scrawled on it. "The rest's going to be donated, and some will be set on fire later this week. You know, for therapeutic reasons."

"Sounds fun," Ashley said as he plopped down on to her couch.

"If I don't start a forest fire." She sighed then plopped down on to the couch next to Ashley and grabbed the remote. "Aside from helping me get my life back together how's your day been?"

Ashley told her everything, right down to the incident revolving around his injured finger. "Do you think I was being to forward?"

"Incredibly. Ashley Wren you little slut. The two of you haven't even... you know."

"You're right. What was I thinking? I'm glad he stopped me."

"I thought you hated blood anyway." She let out a very unladylike snort, something Bella would have apologised for profusely a few weeks ago. "Can you imagine? Your dating a vampire and you can't even stand the sight of blood."

"I'm well aware of the irony." He grabbed his phone. "I'm ordering lunch. What do you want?"

"Chinese food. I'm fucking craving spare ribs."

The cursing is definitely new too.

"Sure. Is there a place nearby?"

"Down the street, I've got their number on my phone. Let me call them." She grabbed her own phone. "Since when did you get a phone?"

"Since I could afford one. Can I get some sweet and sour pork? Oh, and some kung pao chicken."

"Got it." Bella made the call and placed her order before tossing her phone back to the couch.

"So, enough about me. How about you?"

"I've been okay. Picked a therapist yesterday, bought more clothes, a girl gave me her number a-"

"I'm sorry but what did you just say?" Ashley interrupted her and bolted upright.

"She gave me her number." Bella shrugged, a slight grin spread across her face. "In her defence, you should have seen the amount of flannel I was wearing."

Ashley slouched back down into the couch with a sigh. "Well, I hope you let her down gently."

"I didn't exactly... 'let her down'."

"Bella!"

"She's really sweet, all right. She likes Star Wars too."

"Wait. Are you even, you know... gay?"

"I have no fucking clue. I just know I have a date this Sunday." Bella grins slightly. "Help me pick out an outfit?"