• Starved

    Heloise and Raine pulled the body into the room with one final heave. Breathing heavily, Raine closed the large door to the warehouse. Then, he turned back to Heloise and smirked. She locked eyes with him, but her frown remained. She only flipped back her curly raven hair. Raine sighed.
    “What is it, love?” he asked her.
    “The body.”
    “What about it?”
    “It's been too long,” she explained with a shrug.
    “Now isn't the time to be picky, love.” His black eyebrows furrowed in impatience and frustration.
    She shrugged again, pale shoulders moving up and down. “I'm just saying. We shouldn't have waited so long.”
    “We didn't really have a choice.”
    Her soft blue eyes turned to stone. “Yes, we did,” she said through clenched teeth.
    “Love, if we had done it any sooner, things wouldn't have gone so well, and she wouldn't be here. And what would we have done, then?”
    “Found someone else? It's not like it's crucial we do it tonight.”
    “Aren't you hungry?”
    “Raine, stop being ridiculous. I love the taste and all, but it's far from necessary for us to have it, so stop playing pretend.”
    “I'm not playing pretend, Heloise. This is who we are now.”
    She looked away, but her voice became stiff. “It freaks me out when you say that.”
    “Of all things, that is what freaks you out?”
    She only nodded, curls bouncing.
    “You know how ridiculous you sound now, right?”
    “Slightly less than you?”
    He let air out through his teeth, creating a hissing sound. “The longer we bicker, the worse it will taste. You know that, right?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then why are we still doing it?”
    “Because you're impossible, Raine.”
    “Oh? And what do you propose I do, then?”
    “Drink and shut up.”
    “That's not really what you want.”
    “Yes, it is.” Her voice had become shaky.
    “I can tell you're lying, Heloise.”
    “So?”
    “So, tell me what the hell you want from me.” His voice had risen two octaves, making her flinch.
    “I don't know,” she whispered.
    “What?” he snapped.
    “I said I don't know.”
    “Of course not. You never do.” He threw his hands up in defeat.
    “I don't know what to say, Raine. No matter what I say, you get angry.”
    “That's because you always bring this crap up when I'm starving.”
    “I told you to drink!” Despite the fact she had lost her patience and yelled at him, her voice cracked, making drink sound more like stink.
    “You drink first,” he told her calmly. “Just like always.”
    “Why do I always drink first, Raine?”
    “Because you're more important, and I want to be sure you're fed.” He paused before adding, “Are you just looking for things to argue about now, Heloise?”
    “No, Raine. I was just curious.”
    “You're a terrible liar.”
    “Because I hate lying to you, but I feel like my guard has to be up around you.”
    “Is that really how you feel?”
    “Yes.”
    “Heloise, you're hungry. Starving, in fact. You always act this way when you're starved. Will you please just drink already?”
    “Fine.” She breathed out softly. “I love you, Raine.”
    “I love you, too, Heloise. Forever.”