Being Human Read Online Free PDF Page B

going to take some getting used to. I'm always gonna be sad about Mom and Dad and if you were human, you'd be too.”
    “They'd be alive if I were human,” I pointed out.
    He grumbled. “I'll be sad for the both of us. I'm sure there are support groups or something. Anyways, I saw you killing our parents but I dunno, I can't hate you. You're all I’ve got now.”
    “You're all I’ve got too,” I replied. “What do we do now? I'll go where you go.”
    He averted his eyes. “You can't, Uncle Dick wouldn't hesitate to try to kill you himself.”
    “I'll kill him first,” I replied darkly.
    “No,” he sighed again. “You're not going to kill any more of our family.”
    It didn't miss my attention that he didn't use my name. He could have used my name and I'd be more likely to listen – would listen. Maybe not using my name was his faith in me. He hoped deep down there was something human left.
    I tilted my head at him, staring until he shifted uncomfortably. “I'm not human. Don't treat me like one in hopes I'll change. I kill whoever I want and anyone that tries to keep us apart.”
    “Will you?” he challenged.
    “Yes!” I insisted, then remembered my internal struggle on my second night. “No,” I amended. “I wouldn't kill someone if it hurt you.”
    A faint trace of a smile filled his face. “Guess I can settle with that for now.” He kicked back, lacing his fingers behind his head. “I'll just have to work on training you again. Took me fifteen years to get you to listen to me when you were human. Should take no time this time around.”
    I laughed despite myself.
    “Creepy,” he informed me. Sadness crossed his face, along with guilt. “I better go. I kinda took the car without permission. Aunt Dee would crap kittens if she found out I took it out of the city after dark – with no license.”
    “But when will I see you again? Are you sure I can't come?”
    “You know, your voice almost sounded like it had emotions,” he replied. “You can't and I dunno when I'll get the chance to visit.”
    I exaggerated every emotion so he wouldn't miss them. I scowled and frowned; irritated, I told him I wouldn't kill someone because of him. If I could kill my uncle, then this problem would be solved. Our aunt sounded like, as long as I didn't bother her, she wouldn't mind me there.
    “You're acting like a baby,” he chuckled.
    I bit back a growl, annoyed I didn't have a retort.
    “You were always bad at comebacks too.” He shrugged, trying to act casual despite the hitch in his heartbeat my glare caused. “Fine, you big, fanged baby. How about this: I'll show you where I'm living now and you can visit whenever you want.” He jabbed a finger at me. “But you can't come inside.”
    “Not your home to welcome me in to,” I smugly retorted.
    He waved his hand dismissively. “The roof of the back porch is right under my window. You can sit outside and we can play video games until the sun comes up. Just like we used to. Come on, I'm driving.”
     
    ****
     
     
    “Do you dream?”
    I sat outside the window to my brother’s room in our aunt and uncle’s house. He was almost opposite of me, sitting on his bed, and leaning against the window frame. A curious look filled his face, waiting for me to answer.
    “I don't sleep. I close my eyes and relax and when the sun sets, I open them.”
    “Relax?” he asked after a curious silence.
    “I rest,” I clarified. “My mind is still active, still thinking, but at the same time I'm relaxed.”
    “You think?” he teased with a smile.
    I frowned long enough for him to see. “Didn't I as a human?”
    “I'm joking,” he replied in a sour voice. He turned his back to me, a succession of clicks sounded as he grumbled at the video game. Once he finished assaulting the buttons, he turned back to me. “Are you sure you don't want to play?”
    “No,” I said, staring across the rooftops.
    Lights glimmered in windows, most only thin lines of light that