I was scared by the way Valentin replied, his eyes flashing with anger and his voice dripping with menace. For a moment, I wondered if I had made a terrible mistake by getting involved with him.
What if he actually gets angry and kills me one day? I thought to myself. What if I'm not enough to satisfy his thirst for blood?
I tried to push the thoughts away, telling myself that Valentin loved me and would never hurt me. But the seed of doubt had been planted, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.
"Valentin, I'm sorry," I said, trying to placate him. "I didn't mean to upset you."
Valentin's expression softened slightly, and he sat back down next to me. "I'm sorry too, Ava," he said. "I didn't mean to scare you. It's just...this is all still new to me, being with a human. I don't know how to control myself sometimes."
I nodded, feeling a little better. "I understand," I said. "But please, promise me you'll never hurt me."
Valentin looked at me, his eyes burning with intensity. "I promise," he said. "I will never hurt you, Ava. I love you."
I smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. But the doubt was still there, lingering in the back of my mind.
The next day, I told Valentin that I wanted to go back to college, even though the holiday wasn't over. He looked at me in surprise, but nodded and offered to drive me back.
When we arrived at the college, he told me that he wanted to be my roommate again, but I hesitated. I had been thinking a lot about our conversation the day before, and I wasn't sure if I was ready to live with him again.
"I think I'm fine alone," I said, trying to sound casual.
Valentin looked at me, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Do you think I'll actually hurt you, Ava?" he asked, his voice low and serious.
I looked away, feeling a pang of guilt. "No, it's not that," I said. "I just need some space, okay?"
Valentin nodded, but I could tell he was hurt. "Okay," he said. "But know this, Ava - I would never hurt you. I love you."
I smiled, feeling a little bad for doubting him. "I know," I said. "And I love you too."
But as I watched him walk away, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was making a mistake. Was I really safe with Valentin? Or was I just blinded by my love for him?
The door creaked shut behind me as I entered my room, and I quickly locked it, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. I leaned against the door, trying to calm my racing heart, and then made my way to my bed, collapsing onto it.
I felt terrible, my mind racing with thoughts of Valentin and his unsettling behavior. My adrenaline kept shooting, making me feel jittery and on edge. I couldn't shake off the feeling of fear that had settled in the pit of my stomach.
For the first time, I was really scared of Valentin. I had seen a glimpse of something dark and menacing beneath his charming exterior, and it terrified me. I didn't know what he was capable of, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to find out.
As I lay there, trying to calm my racing thoughts, I couldn't help but wonder if I had made a huge mistake by getting involved with him. Was I in over my head? Was I in danger?
I tried to push the thoughts away, telling myself that I was just being paranoid, but the fear lingered, refusing to be shaken off. I knew I had to be careful, for my own sake. I couldn't let my love for Valentin cloud my judgment, not anymore.
I was still busy rolling back and forth on my bed, trying to calm my racing thoughts, when I heard a knock at the door. My heart skipped a beat as I wondered if it was Valentin, come to apologize or explain himself.
But as I got up to answer the door, I realized it couldn't be him - I had locked the door, and he didn't have a key.
"Who is it?" I called out, trying to sound calm.
"It's me, Sarah," my friend replied. "I saw you come in and wanted to check on you. What's going on?"
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should let her in, but something about her friendly tone put me at ease.
"Come in," I said, unlocking the door and letting her in.
Sarah took one look at me and raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
I took a deep breath and let it all spill out - my fears, my doubts, my confusion about Valentin.
Sarah listened attentively, her expression growing more and more serious.
"Ava, you need to be careful," she said when I finished. "If you're feeling scared or unsure, maybe it's time to take a step back."
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. Maybe Sarah was right. Maybe I did need to take a step back and reevaluate things.
The next day, I decided to let the relationship between me and Valentin be just that of a friendship.
During lunch break, he came to meet me then I told him.
He asked me why but i just told him I'm not ready to be in a deep relationship.
Valentin looked at me, his eyes searching for answers, but I just shook my head. "I'm not ready for a deep relationship, Valentin. I think we should just be friends."
He nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "Okay, Ava. If that's what you want."
I felt a pang of guilt, seeing the disappointment in his eyes, but I knew I had to be firm. I couldn't keep going back and forth, unsure of my feelings.
"Valentin, I care about you deeply, but I need some space," I said, trying to soften the blow.
He nodded again, his eyes never leaving mine. "I understand, Ava. But know this - I'll always be here for you, no matter what."
I smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. Maybe this was for the best. Maybe we could really be friends, without the complications of a romantic relationship.
But as we parted ways after lunch, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I had just made a mistake. Valentin's eyes had seemed to hold a hint of sadness, a hint of longing. And I couldn't help but wonder - had I just let go of something special?