Bloodl.u.s.t

While washing my hands in the sink, I heard Penelope call my name from the living room. Rolling my eyes, I immediately made my way towards her voice. I didn't want to hear her say my name one more time because I didn't like the way she pronounced it. Even with a smile, the hostility was pretty evident in her tone every time she talked to me.

She was sitting under the unlit chandelier on the massive couch, a few inches from Nicholas. Her eyes were fixed on him and the same fake smile was plastered across her face.

"Umm… Penelope?" I asked while my eyes searched the room for Samuel. Shifting her doe eyes to me, she widened her smile. "It's really cute how you cannot be without him for even a minute. Just like I can't be without Nick." Her eyes returned to her vampire boyfriend; they glittered even in the scarcely lit room. It was such a pity to know that she wasn't even aware of the real identity of the person she was supposedly in love with.

"Did someone mention me?" came a voice behind me and I didn't have to turn to see who it was. "What are you all doing?" he walked into the room, stopping right beside me.

"Movie Marathon! We haven't done it for weeks! I was just going to ask Diana if she would like to join us." She smiled cheekily, her eyes glinting with hope.

"Umm… I er-" I hesitated.

"She'd love to, won't you Diana?" Samuel ignored the denial which was clearly visible on my face. Before I could answer his question, he had his arm around my waist and I was practically being dragged to the couch.

"Yes… I would love to." I managed to form a forced smile.

"Great!" Samuel said and though there was enough space to accommodate four more of my size, he squeezed himself in the little space between Penelope and Nicholas. She looked pretty displeased but Nicholas honestly looked relieved. "What are we watching?"

"Nothing horror, please. The last time I watched a horror film I couldn't sleep properly for 2 weeks. Diana, why are you standing? Have a seat." Penelope said with a smile which was a lot less fake this time. Maybe we could really be friends after all.

I had two options; to sit beside either Penelope or beside Nicholas. The decision wasn't a difficult one. I went for the first option. In the whole while Nicholas had not even acknowledged my presence. He kept staring at his phone, scrolling down his Instagram feed.

"Diana, any suggestions?" Samuel asked. His eyes were pleading, probably not wanting to see another movie of Penelope's choice.

A few good movies came to my mind but suddenly my eyes shifted to Nicholas who was now watching a video of an artist creating a canvas painting. A smirk crept up my face, "How about Twilight?"

Samuel eyes widened and Nicholas almost dropped his phone. His eyes darted slowly to me, his teeth gritted in anger and I felt my smirk grow even wider. "It's a boring movie, Penny. You won't like it." He scowled.

"I've seen the trailer of that movie… it's pretty good. All my friends have watched it and they have amazing things to say about it. It's a love story, right?" she asked and I nodded. "Wow, we're so watching it!" she squealed with excitement making Samuel chuckle.

"I've seen it before but I can watch it a hundred times. Just for Diana." Samuel spoke with a tone that pulled something in my c.h.e.s.t. I ignored his burning gaze on me and focused on the TV screen in front.