Page 30 of Running from Drac

“That’s not fair, Pippa.”

“Life’s not fair, Amber. Trust me, if anyone knows that first hand, it’s me. Anyways, I’m going out. You have fun doing whatever this is.” She motions to the television screen, giving me a pathetic look.

You can hear the click of her heels as they echo off the tile floor, then the door slam behind her.

Something is definitely off with her.

Poppy pokes her head in the room. “Is it safe to come in?”

“Sure, why wouldn’t it be?”

Poppy smiles and moves to sit on the bed. “My sister has been a raging lunatic lately. I swear she’s been on the rag this whole month.”

Giggling, I share her smile. “She has been rather angry lately.”

Poppy nods her head in agreement. “I totally thought she was dating someone, but this is her post breakup persona. So, I have no idea what the hell is going on, just that she’s acting weird.”

“It’s definitely a mystery, one I’m too exhausted to understand right now.”

“Still got the post Eddie blues?”

“Every damn day, Poppy. I miss him.”

“So call him.”

“I’m not going to beg him to be with me. I’m sure he’s already moved on. If I were him, I would.”

“Why? It’s not like he didn’t commit the same relationship felony.”

Comparing my relationship to a jail sentence is kind of low. Poppy knows that Eddie has had a hard life, one that he’s seen behind bars a few times.

“Come on, Poppy, that wasn’t cool.”

She shrugs. “You know how I feel about Eddie. You deserve better than him. Someone who will treat you like a queen.”

“Eddie used to do that, Poppy. I’m not sure where things went wrong?”

She pats the seat next to her. “I’m not the best person to ask these questions to, Amber. My relationships can be counted on one hand. But I will say, that you can’t blame yourself for what happened. We all know that you were under the influence or something, because the Amber I know, would never cheat on her fiancé willingly.”

A frustrated breath hisses through my teeth. “You know that, and I know that, but everyone else thinks I’m a whore.”

“Hey, how about this? I got asked out by a guy in my biology class. I’m not exactly comfortable going out with him on my own. He has a roommate, who’s pretty cute, so what if we make it a double date tonight?”

“I don’t know, Poppy. I’m not exactly ready to date…”

Her hand covers mine. “I know, Amber. I’m not asking you to date him, just be my plus one tonight so I don’t get date raped or something.”

“Poppy, you’re not going to get date raped.”

She pushes her glasses up her nose. “Statistically, there are more non-consensual sexual experiences in college than there are outside of it. The odds are definitely not in my favor.”

Shaking my head, I lightly push her. “Fine, but just one hangout. I’m not considering this a date.”

“Thank you!” she squeals. “We’re going to the Cheesecake Factory. Maybe we can go Christmas shopping at the mall after?”

“Sounds fun-ish.”

She smiles. “It’ll be fun. I promise. Now come on, I’ll call Gideon and let him know to bring his roommate Finn.”