Vampires and Vixens (Psy-Vamp) by Cassandra Lawson

but it was still too big.
    The Monopoly game the previous weekend
had seemed like a breakthrough. It had felt like things were getting back to
normal, but the following morning Lydia had been just as moody and withdrawn as
she had been before the game. There was a tension between them that Hannah
didn't understand.
    The thing that worried Hannah most was
Lydia’s lack of interest in her plants. All around the leaves wilted, as if the
plants were in a state of depression too. Hannah had watered them, sprayed
them, and even talked to them like Lydia did. As crazy as it sounded, they
seemed to miss Lydia.
    After taking a deep breath, Hannah
pushed a stack of magazines to the side and sat on the coffee table. “Are you
sure that you don’t want to come with us? You never go out anymore, and I miss
spending time with you.”
    Lydia didn't look up from her nails. “Miniature
golf is not exactly my idea of an exciting night on the town.” She finally
looked up at Hannah and rolled her eyes. “Will you please stop giving me that
pouty face?”
    Hannah looked down at her hands and took
another deep breath before continuing her plea. She was fighting back tears as
she spoke. “Something is wrong. You spend all of your time alone. I don’t know
how much weight you’ve lost, but it’s too much. You sleep most of the time, and
you look like a walking corpse.”
    Lydia’s head snapped up. “Walking
corpse?”
    “Yes, you're as pale as a cadaver,” she replied
bluntly. “I know that you really liked Dominic, but you only dated for a week
and that was over a month ago. You can't stop living just because he broke up
with you.”
    Lydia's expression was icy. “I’m fine.”
    The harshness in Lydia's voice hurt.
Hannah was losing the battle to hold back her tears.
    “I’m sorry for whatever I did to make
you angry with me. I miss you.” She stood and started to walk away, because she
just didn’t want to see the cold look in Lydia’s eyes anymore.
    Lydia stood up and hugged her. “Sweetie,
I’m not mad at you. I’m so sorry that I made you cry,” Now Lydia was crying too.
“How about if we go shopping and get some lunch together tomorrow?”
    Hannah choked down a sob, and nodded. “Promise
me you aren’t taking drugs.”
    That question actually made Lydia laugh.
She held Hannah’s hands and spoke as though she were comforting a child. “I
promise that I’m not taking drugs. You know I can’t even drink. Now please
don’t cry anymore.” The doorbell rang, and Lydia used it as an excuse to change
the subject. “That’s probably Noah.”
    Hannah dried her eyes, and opened the
door. “Hi, Noah!” She tried hard to smile, but it only succeeded in making her
lips tremble.
    Noah looked like he was about to ask her
what was wrong, but Hannah shook her head to stop him.
    “Are you two lovely ladies ready to go?”
    “I’m ready, but Lydia isn't coming.” She
looked over her shoulder at Lydia.
    Noah sat beside Lydia on the couch, and
rested his head on her shoulder. “Say it isn’t true. Are you really ditching
me? I let you win at Monopoly Sunday night so you owe me.”
    “I know what you’re trying to do, Noah,
and it won’t work,” Lydia scolded as she pulled away from him. He didn’t sit
up, but let his head slump across her lap.
    “What am I trying to do?” he asked,
blinking his eyes innocently at her.
    “You’re trying to convince me to go out,
because Hannah wants me to. It’s obvious that you’re taking her side because
she’s dating your brother,” she said.
    Noah sat up and laughed. “Damn, she’s
good at this.”
    Hannah gave her cousin a scowl. “I know.
There is no way to win an argument with her.”
    “Then get a clue, and get out!” Lydia
ordered. She was obviously trying to sound playful, but it came out sounding
impatient. “And I beat the two of you at Monopoly because you suck!”
    “You are a cruel woman.” Noah turned
away, headed toward the door, and then turned to