Chapter Seventeen- Lots of Shopping

“Oh! Look at this one” Taylore chirped happily, pulling out a long, black gown. I shook my head.
“Come on, Taylore. Pick a different colour. One that’ll look sexy on you” I teased. Taylore laughed, pulling out another one that was tight, hot pink and backless.
“What about this one? Sexy enough for you, babe?” She asked, walking forward. I began to laugh. I really missed hanging out with them. It had been a few weeks already since I had been at school with them. 
“Hey! Guys, what do you think of this dress?” Katie asked, pulling out a long purple and black dress. I nodded happily.
“That’d look good! Go try it on!” I chirped happily. Taylore glared at me.
“Oh, what. She can wear black but I cant?” She snarled. I smirked.
“Exactly. Besides. She has another colour on her dress other than black.” I explained. Karin poked her head out of the change room suddenly.
“Taylore, we’re going to a party, not a funeral. Wear something bright!” She said happily, then went back into the change room to try on her tenth dress. I sighed, sitting down on the stool that was nicely placed between the change rooms and the rest of the store. In all honesty, I had asked them to put the stool there. I watched the girls try on their dresses happily, all giggling. I grabbed Cassie’s arm suddenly.
“Um, Cassie. Do you think I should go as my true self to the party?” I asked. Cassie stared at me for a moment, trying to comprehend what I meant, then nodded quickly.
“Oh, yeah. The note. I think you’d have more fun if you weren’t subconsciously concentrating on your glamour.” She stated. I raised an eyebrow.
“What? What are you talking about?” I asked. Cassie smirked.
“Well, as long as you can summon it, you’re allowed to use glamour. Most of the time, you don’t even realize you are but it definitely puts stress on you. So going as a Talking to the party would probably be a good idea. Plus Talkings are just known as beautiful when they transform so you’d definitely be the main event.” She said calmly. I nodded.
“So I should listen to my mysterious date?” I asked. Cassie nodded.
“Yeah. And I think it’s weird that he didn’t tell you who he was.” She said. I cocked my head to one side.
“What do you mean?” I asked. I felt strange, asking so many questions in a row, but I continued on with my question.
“Well I know who my date is, and she knows who I am. Same with Taylore, Karin and Katie. Saul lucked out and guess who he got?” She asked. My jaw dropped down.
“Caramilk? But I thought he was human?” I asked. Cassie shook her head.
“He’s a vampire. And Katie got that Ryan Reynolds guy, Taylore got some Hailey Williams girl and Karin got your friend Brendon. Everyone knows who their date is except you.” She explained. I raised an eyebrow. That was weird.
“Maybe he wants to seem mysterious?” I asked. Cassie shrugged.
“No idea. By the way, I want to see you in some dresses before we leave today. I mean, everyone else found a dress. Go find one.” She ordered, pulling me to my feet. I sighed. How’d I know that she was going to make me find a dress. I sighed, pulling out a simple green dress, a yellow dress and a red one. Anything that I wouldn’t have to actually like. I was just trying it on for their sake anyways. I walked in and shut the door. I sighed as I stared at the door, taking my shoes off. I heard a clanging next to me and leapt up, staring at the spot quickly. No one was there, how ever my dresses were gone and were replaced with a long, electric blue princess style dress. I sighed, taking off the rest of my clothes and slipping it onto me. I turned around, staring at myself in the mirror. I actually looked okay, and I instantly fell in love with the dress. I looked around me. How was I going to hide it from the others? I sighed, pulling my clothes back on. I peeked my head back out.
“I found a dress, but you guys can’t look, okay?” I asked. The others nodded, quickly covering their eyes. I dashed out, running frantically to the cashier. I placed the dress on the counter.
“I’d like to purchase this dress” I stated. The lady nodded, checking for a price tag, but there was none. She glanced at me.
“Where did you find this?” She asked. I shook my head.
“It was put in my change room when I wasn’t looking.” I explained. The lady looked around, looking for a price tag or a form of ownership. How ever there was none. She sighed, handing me a bag.
“The bag’s 25 cents. How ever there’s no price tag on the dress so I guess it’s yours.” She stated. I nodded.
“Oh, thanks…” I said softly. That was definitely something that had never happened to me before. Normally they would simply take the dress and assume someone had misplaced it… I looked around, searching for a sign of a manipulative vampire or were-wolf, but no one was there. I sighed, giving up and walking back to the others.
“Um, I’m done.” I stated quietly. Katie nodded.
“Well, good for you! Karin still hasn’t chosen, unfortunately.” She stated, rolling her eyes and glancing at the change room. We all stared as Karin held up the dresses.
“Which one should I pick?” She asked. I stepped forward, tugging on a long purple dress.
“This one.” I stated. Karin nodded.
“Gotchya!” She chirped.


“I’m home!” I called, entering the large penthouse. There was no answer. They were probably all still sleeping. I stepped forward quietly, walking into the kitchen. I opened the fridge and pulled out an apple, taking a bite out of it quietly. I was glad that Brendon had chosen to buy human food for me. I began to walk into my bedroom with my bag quietly and calmly. As I entered, I felt as though my room had been searched. Or a presence of something else there. I looked around, rubbing my arms as if a chill had swept over me. I held my breath as I flicked on the light. My breath suddenly burst out from my lungs as my eyes fell across the brilliant blue mask on my pillow. The strange design reminded me of a butterfly which caused me to smile, seeing as how I love butterflies. I picked it up gently, noticing that it matched my dress perfectly. The music notes that danced across parts of the mask and the gold rims sparkled in the unnaturally lit room. I felt the smooth surface rub against my hands as I continued to stare at it. I was definitely entranced by its beauty. I heard a clicking as my door was opened. I quickly placed the mask back down on my side table, turning to the door. Ryan walked in gracefully, searching my body as he did so. A smile spread across his face as he embraced me with a huge hug.
“I missed you…” He muttered. I paused, then wrapped my arms around him as well. But this time… something didn’t feel right. I felt as though my chest was tightening up with the mere vision of him. What was going on? Surely I wasn’t believing what the others had said. I felt his arms loosen as my arms loosened as well. He stared down at me.
“So this mysterious date isn’t going to steal you away, I hope?” He asked calmly. For some reason, his voice didn’t sound soothing this time, rather… it sounded fake… I smiled calmly, trying to control my paranoia.
“Of course not. You know I care about you and the others.” I stated. Ryan nodded, loosening his grip a bit more. He glanced at the bag.
“How was shopping?” He asked, sitting down on my bed. I found myself wishing he would simply leave. I nodded calmly.
“Oh, it was good. I reconnected with my friends” I stated. Ryan paused, his smile fading only for a moment before he nodded again.
“That’s good. And you’re spending Christmas with us right?” He asked, his voice sounding a little more desperate than normal. I nodded slowly, beginning to feel weird. Why was he acting like this now? 
“Yeah, I will.” I said calmly. I began to miss my mom… I mean, I hadn’t seen her in about three weeks now and that’s probably the longest I’ve ever been away from her. Especially at this time of year. I hated being away from my mom around Christmas. As if sensing my uneasiness, Ryan’s arms loosened just a bit more as his smile turned into a look of concern.
“Are you okay?” He asked. I nodded.
“Yeah, I’m fine” I lied calmly. Ryan nodded, then glanced at the door.
“I’ve got to go do some things before dinner tonight. I’ll talk to you later, yes?” He asked. I nodded calmly.
“Yeah, okay” I stated. Ryan smiled then walked out. I glanced at the door as he shut it behind him. I could have sworn I was going insane as I heard the noise of the door locking. I dashed forward, gripping the handle tightly. Surely enough, it was locked. I knocked on the door.
“Ryan? Ryan let me out” I called. There was no response. I knocked on the door again.
“Ryan, this isn’t funny. Let me out.” I ordered. This had to be some sort of a joke, right? I gripped the handle, trying to turn it again.
“Ryan. Come on, I’m getting scared.” I stated. It was true. I’ve never liked being forced into a room and not being allowed out. I don’t think anyone ever has. I began full out knocking on the door.
“Please! Let me out!” I wailed, “What did I do?”
Once again, there was no answer. I leaned up against the door, holding my head in my hands. What was going on with Ryan? What had happened to my prince charming… well… my vampiric prince charming. I heard a gentle knock on the other side of the door.
“Taylor?” Brendon’s voice rang through. I felt my heart leap.
“Brendon?” I asked, my voice sounding light and happy, “Brendon, oh thank god. Let me out!” I cried. I heard a gentle, yet pained noise on the other side.
“I-I can’t. I don’t have the key.” He said. I felt my heart drop again. No key?
“What are you talking about? What’s going on?” I asked. I heard a noise that sounded like someone banging their head against the door. 
“R-Ryan… he’s started. Taya. The reason why Ryan was so obsessed with you is because you look like his late wife. And because he thinks your leaving or having thoughts of being with someone else, even friendship wise, he locked you in here. That’s why we were telling you to watch out for him… Ryan is obsessive and he doesn’t like losing his things.” Brendon explained. I stared at the door, unbelieving of what was going on. This seemingly sane vampire had locked me away? So I really was like a princess locked in a tower… I sighed, pressing my head against the door.
“When will I be allowed out?” I asked. Brendon sighed as if responding to my own sigh.
“I’m not sure. When ever he trusts you again I guess… or just before he goes to bed. I think that he thinks you sleep all day like us…” Brendon explained. I nodded softly. I just had to wait it out until morning. I could do that… I thought. I looked back at the door.
“B-Brendon?” I asked. 
“Yeah, Taya?” He responded. I sighed.
“Is it too much for me to ask of you, if I ask you to stay with me until morning?” I asked. Brendon laughed.
“No, not at all. I’ll stay with you as long as you want. You see, I’m obsessive but in a different way. I’m more of a father figure, I guess. So I’ll do anything to make you happy and when you have to go, you have to go. Ryan is just obsessive.” Brendon stated. I sighed, nodding.
“So, what do you want to talk about?” I asked. Brendon chuckled.
“Well, why don’t we play truth or truth, seeing as how its hard to play truth or dare. You like that game, don’t you?” He asked. I smiled, nodding.
“Yeah. I do… So, you wanna go first?” I asked.
“Sure.” He chirped happily, “So, Taya. Truth or truth?”