A Vampire's Embrace

A Vampire's Embrace


Chapter Four

        It was at five o'clock that the Malloys' computer was officially determined dead. MJ sighed defeatedly as she leaned back in her chair. Her green eyes drifted to Trina's blue ones, and she shook her head solemnly.
        "There's nothing you can do?" Trina asked disappointedly.
        "I'm sorry to break it to you," MJ admitted in a hushed voice, "but there's really nothing any one can do. Your Windows is completely dead, and the rest of your computer is not going to last much longer. The hard drive was hit."
        Trina's face fell. Although she had known for quite some time that they were going to have to buy a new one, she had still hoped that Mary Jane would be able to resurrect their old friend.
        "I'm sorry," MJ said softly.
        "It's not your fault," Trina assured her as she pushed her blonde hair back. "You tried."
        MJ smiled sadly. "How do you think your brother will take it?" she asked, her voice soft.
        Trina shrugged. "It's a computer. It's not like it's Moses."
        "Moses?"
        "Our family's dog."
        "I haven't seen any . . . " MJ started to say only to already have her question answered.
        "He doesn't live with us, but we grew up with him. He lives with our mother and younger siblings."
        "You have a big family?" MJ smiled. She had always longed for a happy family life but had never been gifted with one.
        "Our blood family isn't really that big, but when you consider our extended family . . . Huge," Trina answered, smiling fondly. "You?"
        "No," MJ said hesitantly. "I haven't spoken to my parents in years." She started to mention that she had tried to create a happy family life with her ex-husband but that his job had always kept him too busy for her, but she quickly stopped herself.
        "I'm sorry," Trina spoke sincerely.
        Mary Jane started to open her mouth to answer just as Trent swept into the room, carrying a glass of sweet tea in one hand and two glasses of soda in the other. Trina shook her head at him as she commented, "Carrying an overload again, I see." She stood and met him half-way into the room. She carefully took one of the sodas from him and sipped it as she headed back to her seat. "Thanks," she told him with a smile over the rim of her glass.
        "No problem." Trent nodded to his sister before approaching Mary Jane. "For you, my lady," he said, holding the glass out to her and bowing.
        MJ smiled, her green eyes sparkling in delight, as she accepted the drink. "Thank you, kind sir," she said, winking at him as he straightened.
        MJ had barely lifted the drink to her lips before Trent asked her, "How's the computer coming?"
        "Oh . . . Hum . . . " She paused, taking a sip of Coke to cover her hesitation. "Well, Trent, it's like this . . . "
        He saw it in her eyes and sighed heavily before she could even say one word. "Sis?" he asked, looking at Trina with pleading eyes.
        "I use it as much as you do, Trent," Trina answered his unspoken question. "It's no problem, and I'm sure MJ won't mind helping you pick out a new system."
        MJ watched the two of them curiously. She had never before met a man and a woman who thought so much alike and could so easily know what was going on in the other's head.
        "Would you?" Trent asked her, turning back to face Mary Jane.
        "It would be my pleasure," MJ answered with a smile. "I'm just sorry I couldn't save your current one, but when the hard drive's fried by lightning, there's really little you can do other than buy a new drive. Your computer's already out of warranty and rather out-dated, so it would probably be better in the long one -- not to mention cheaper, as well -- to just buy a new computer."
        "It's not your fault," Trent said as he sat down on the couch and finally took a sip of his tea. He swirled the sweet liquid around in his mouth before swallowing and speaking again, "We appreciate all your help. How much do we owe you?"
        "It's on the house," she told him.
        "Are you sure?" Trina asked. "We can pay you with no problem. I make good money."
        "I know," MJ said. "There was a time when I always wnated to hit it big like you have, but it never really worked. Any way, yes, I'm sure. I didn't have to use any of the store's tools or other resources. All that I gave was my time, and I've enjoyed hanging with you two."
        Trent smiled. "We've enjoyed being with you, as well." He didn't know if it was true for Trina, but it certainly was for him.
        "Maybe we can do it again sometime," MJ suggested, her eyes meeting Trent's.
        Trent smiled shyly. "I'd like that."
        MJ continued to smile as she felt herself becoming lost in his baby blues. He was already swimming in her enchanting green eyes when Trina spoke, shattering the mood, "MJ, do you mind if I have a word in the kitchen with my brother?"
        "Hmm?" was the first thing out of the redhead's mouth. Realizing what Trina had said, Mary Jane shook herself and forced her attention away from Trent. Looking back over at where Trina was curled in a recliner, she said, "Not at all."
        "Thanks," Trina said with a smile before standing and heading out of the room. "Come on, Trent," she said, her voice shattering his daydream.
        "What?" he asked, clearly confused as he had not heard a word she had said since having become lost yet again in Mary Jane.
        "Kitchen," she repeated. "Now."
        "Oh." He stood, smiled apologetically at MJ, and then hurried into the kitchen after his sister. She closed the door as soon as he entered, then turned to face him with her hands on his hips. "What?" he asked. "What did I do?"
        "It's not what you did," she told him. "It's what you didn't do."
        Trent looked at her in complete confusion. "Trina, I usually have absolutely no problem understanding you, but what in the world are you talking about, sis?"
        "I'm talking about your bubbling ignorance in there, Virgin Boy!" Trina exclaimed, fighting to keep her voice low so that Mary Jane would not overhear her.
        "Trina, what . . . ?" Trent started to ask again.
        "Hello! Earth to VB! The woman's crazy about you! She wants you as badly as you want her! Ask her out! See if she's got plans for tonight. If she doesn't, invite her to come with us!"
        "Oh," Trent finally comprehended. He then paused before asking, "But why should I ask her out when you're so damned determined to ignore your feelings for Carlos?"
        Trina's mouth fell open, but she closed it in the next second, her blue eyes blazing with quiet, deadly fury. "I don't believe you're back to that again!"
        "Trina, you're a wonderful undercover agent, but you have never been able to lie to me. I know you love him."
        "Yeah, as a friend!" she retorted fiercely.
        "Stop lying to me, damn it, and stop lying to yourself!" Trent exclaimed angrily, his voice rising a notch as his blue eyes flashed furiously.
        "Don't take that tone with me, little brother," Trina nearly snarled. "You have no idea what's going on in my head or in my heart. You don't understand how I feel. We have a close bond, but you still don't know everything about me."
        "That's where you're wrong, Trina. I do know. I do understand, and I'm telling you to stop being afraid and go for it. I want you to be happy."
        "Maybe happy isn't one of the things I'm meant to be!" Trina suddenly exclaimed, tears filling her eyes. She turned, planning to flee, but Trent grabbed her shoulders before she could run out on him.
        "Trina, please, listen to me," he said, his voice gentle and compassionate again. He turned her slowly to look at him. She didn't want to, but she would never hurt him. Keeping one hand on her shoulder, he gently lifted her chin. "Trina, I know you. I know you're scared, and I know Markus isn't the only reason why. He was a heartless asshole that never deserved you."
        "I'm over him," she insisted.
        "Over him, yes, but not over the fear of being hurt again like that. Carlos isn't that type of man; we both know that. Maybe he has been a bit of a ladies' man, but he loves you and would never do anything to hurt you, no more than I would. Markus did just about everything in town, but Carlos isn't that type. He'd never have more than one woman at a time. We both know that."
        "I know," Trina admitted, her voice hushed and only a notch above a whisper, "but that's . . ."
        " . . . not the reason why," Trent finished for his sister. "I know that, too. You're afraid of what will happen if it doesn't work out. You're afraid that we'd lose his friendship, but that wouldn't happen. You can still be friends with some one you break up with."
        "But things would never be the same," Trina protested.
        "I know that. We all know that. But it's a risk you need to take. You can't keep living a lie, sis," he said softly, hugging her gently. "Think about it," he told her in a voice as gentle as the hug. He then brushed his lips across her forehead in a brotherly kiss before releasing her. "I'm going to take your advice. You should really think about taking mine."
        Stunned and afraid, all Trina could do was watch her brother disappear back into the living room.

~*~*~*~

        The very second Trent reentered the room, MJ looked up at him with deep concern written clearly in her eyes and face. "Is everything okay?" she asked him worriedly.
        "It will be," he reassured her, "but nevertheless it's nothing to worry about."
        "Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked hopefully.
        "Not at the moment, but thanks." He smiled down at her, and his charming smile immediately eased her worry. He returned to his glass of tea, and they both took a swallow of their drinks.
        "Where's Trina?"
        "Off thinking," Trent replied honestly.
        "Ah. Guy problems?"
        "It's really not my place to say."
        "I'm sorry," MJ apologized. "I shouldn't have asked. It's none of my business. I was just concerned."
        "I know," Trent told her with a reassuring smile, "and it's okay. I appreciate your concern."
        Silence reigned for a few more moments before Mary Jane stood. "Well, I suppose," she said disappointedly, "I should be going."
        Trent immediately jumped to his feet. "MJ?" he started.
        "Yeshe she asked, turning back to look at him, her long, fiery red hair whirling around her shoulders.
        He opened his mouth to say one thing, but instead another came out, "May I walk you to your car?"
        "Oh," she said, carefully hiding her disappointment that that was all he had asked her. "Certainly." She smiled up at him before turning for her coat. She didn't know how he moved so fast, but he was suddenly standing behind her her her coat in his hands. He helped her into her coat, and his fingertips brushed against her palms, sending sparks shooting through both of them.
        They smiled adoringly at one another but walked in silence. It was only when Mary Jane slid into the driver's seat of her car that he finally managed to speak again, "Hum . . . MJ, I know it's kinda sudden, but do you have plans for tonight?"
        She shrugged. "I was just planning on handing out candy."
        "Oh." His handsome face fell, and she immediately felt a stab of regret.
        Thinking quickly, she hastily added, "I really wish I had something funner to do tonight."
        Trent immediately brightened. "I know it's short notice, but I'm going with Trina and another friend of ours to a masquerade ball at CD's Bar and Grill tonight. Would you like to come?"
        Her beautiful face lit with instant joy. "I'd love to!"
        "Can you be ready by 7?" he asked.
        "I can," she immediately assured him. {I'll have to run like crazy, but for him, I can,} she thought to herself.
        "Where can I pick you up at?" After Mary Jane had given him directions, Trent answered, beaming happily, "I'll see you then, then."
        "I can't wait, tiger," Mary Jane nearly purred. She then shut the door and drove off.
        He watched her go as butterf dan danced in his stomach. "Down, boy," he said with a glance downwards. "It's way too early yet."


To Be Continued . . .