Ethan let out a little laugh in his head and then patted her on the head, the words he spoke weren't cold, instead, they were kind and playful. "You missed me so much that you came to find me, huh?"
"Stop that!" Hazel pushed his hand away and then scooted away from him. She puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms. However, after a few minutes, she sighed and smiled at him.
He looked at her then parted his lips and figured that now was the best time to tell her what Sasha advised. After all, once she was scared of her tonight he could skip coming back to the church for the next few days and focus on reading the book.
Hazel noticed the change in his demeanor and moved her hand onto his shoulder and looked him in the eyes. After a few seconds, she took a deep breath and finally asked him the question she wanted to know for years.
"Ethan, tell me what's going on with you. I will not take no for an answer by the way. Over the past month that I've been here, I've noticed that the changes happening in you are more drastic than a normal Hybrid.
I want you to tell me the whole truth and nothing but."
Ethan heard the conviction in her voice, but also the nervousness in her heart and breathing. He sighed then gently pushed her hand off his shoulder and looked forwards, placing his elbows and clasping his hands again.
"After my talk with Sasha I was already planning to tell you tonight or tomorrow, tell you everything that I know so far at least. It may take a while and please don't leave till I'm done explaining everything to you."
Hazel nods, though her smile turned into a look that could be described as worried or sad.
After noticing her nod, Ethan began to relay to her what he had read in the book the previous night and what changes with him he had discussed with Sasha, along with the advice she gave him. Though he didn't mention the threat she had made against him.
Throughout all of his explaining his voice was cold. He could hear her heartbeat speeding up more and more, he could see the subtle sweat dripping down her face, and knew from other signs that she was extremely scared at this moment.
Though like he asked her, she didn't run or leave him. She stayed till he finished telling her everything and after a few minutes of silence she finally spoke to him, though while she didn't stutter, her voice was shaky.
"Ethan, if all what you said is true…. I want to know what you'll do. You say you'll take Sister Sasha's advice for drinking blood and already acted on telling me all of this…. But what do you plan to do after it's all over when the advice she gave you has ended…."
"I don't know…. She told me I should ask to live with you and accompany you to your high school because I'll have nowhere to live and that I should experience the world outside of this church. I can't avoid people for the rest of my life after all.
However, I understand if you'd rather not have me stay at your place…. After all, I'm a dangerous Monster and one that needs to consume blood nonetheless…. I also understand if you'd like to cut ties with me after learning all of this…."
He could hear Hazel's heart stop for several seconds then began to beat at a slower pace, though it wasn't her normal rhythm. Her body also seemed to relax a bit after hearing what he said, however, he could see from the corner of his eyes that her hand was in a fist.
"Ethan…." She took a deep breath and then continued. "We've known each other and been friends for over ten years, not once have you ever shown me hostility or had any intention of hurting me. You've been a Monster your whole life but never hurt anyone, you took the abuse given to you, and I still know that you have a good heart.
You already told me that you wouldn't prefer to drink Human blood, that you only want the blood of Monsters and creatures because of the Mana in them. If that is true and you have no intentions of hurting Humans, then I'm fine with staying friends with you.
Even if you end up hurting a Human, I'll be fine with it as long as it's in self-defense and you don't kill them. It's also true that currently, I'm scared of you, however, I know that the one Human you would never hurt is me."
She takes another deep breath and after a few seconds, she places her hands on his, where he then looks over to her and she looks him straight in the eyes. With no fear in her voice, she says something that Ethan had wanted to hear this whole time.
"Ethan, you may see yourself as a Monster who needs to consume blood to survive and terrified of what kind of being you'll be in the future, but I will always see you as my best friend and I will never betray you.
I will stay by your side till I take my final breath and my soul leaves my body."
Hazel tightened her grip on his hands, then Ethan looked at them and a gentle expression formed on his face. And in a soft and gentle tone, he simply said three words that express his feelings after hearing that.
"Thank you, Hazel."
However, her face started to turn red and she quickly pulled her hand away after seeing the expression on his face. She had never thought of him romantically, but in that moment and the tone of his voice, she could only feel charmed by him.
"I- it's nothing!"
Ethan laughed at her because he could tell exactly what was going through her mind because of her heartbeat and the way her body started to heat up. He looked over at her and with a playful tone asked her a simple question.
"You okay there, Hazel?"