Colorado and high school

Ariel-

I climbed swiftly out of bed, changing into my clothes for the day and running a brush through my hair before putting it up in its normal pigtails. I glanced at the clock next to my bed and went to wake my brother. Sai climbed onto my shoulder and tucked himself next to my neck. I gave him a quick scratch.

"Ethan," i said, shaking him by his shoulder. He blinked, yawned, and stretched before wincing. Rak sat on the end of his bed, black tail swishing indifferently, white whiskers lifting ever so slightly.

"It's too early." Ethan complained.

I laughed. "School starts in thirty minutes."

He cursed and jumped up as i walked into the kitchen, grabbing an apple and biting into it, letting the sweet juices seep into my mouth.

Ethan appeared moments later, looking disheveled and messy. I threw him an orange, shouldered my bag, and walked out the door and towards school with Ethan following behind, still yawning.

Bella-

"Hey Ethan!" I grinned, running to give him a hug (this was practically a ritual now).

Ooh, loverboy's here! Remus joked, sitting a few paces behind me. If i had been looking at him, my eyes would have narrowed.

Shut up, wolf! I snapped mentally, adding a joking edge.

"Good morning, Bella," Ethan said, hugging me back. I inhaled deeply, taking in the wonders of his scent. It was stronger than usual, adding to the dizziness that usually followed a hug from him.

Ariel-

I snorted softly and looked away from my brother and Bella. Turning, i walked off in the direction of the school.

Aren't you going to wait? Sai asked, glancing behind them.

No thanks, i replied, ruffling Sai's soft fur. He squeaked in protest, coiling tightly around my neck. They'll catch up in a moment.

Ethan-

I hugged Bella before stepping back and smiling.

Careful, your face might crack, Rak said from beside me, his whiskers twitching.

Oh, shut up furball.

"Care to walk to school together?" i asked playfully, seeing as we did it every day.

Bella-

I grinned, nodding.

"I would be delighted," I replied as Ethan offered me his arm. I took it, grinning.

He likes you, you like him, Remus began, walking behind us.

Shush up, I replied in a sing song voice, wishing I could block him out occasionally.

So explain why you guys aren't dating again? I rolled my eyes. Ethan looked over at me, grinning. I half expected him to speak, but instead he blushed and looked the other way. Aha, he almost asked you!

Remus, you sound like a teenage girl. It's really obnoxious.

If you want me to stop, then tell him you like him. Right now! I glared inwardly at Remus. He began to speak again, and I turned to Ethan.

"Ethan," I said, looking at him. He met my gaze, smiles in his eyes. This was mad...Remus knew it...so why was I going to say it?

Ethan-

Bella hesitated, i saw it. I chuckled.

"Yes?"

She averted her gaze. Her wolf, Remus, plodded along behind us and i could've sworn he was smiling...

Remus seems quite amused by this, Rak remarked.

I can see that. Any idea why?

Oh, yes, we animals can communicate as easily as you humans. I know the whole story. the small black cat said smugly.

Care to share?

The cat seemed to snort. No. Why in the world would i do that. I agree with Remus when he says this is highly amusing. You humans are so easy to read and oh so predictable.

I glared at Rak. Suit yourself. i muttered before looking back at Bella, raising an eyebrow.

Bella--

I turned my head again, blushing as Ethan chuckled to himself.

"Yes, Bella?" he said again, his voice soft and curious.

Tell him, Remus urged from behind me. It will make things even better than they are, trust me.

Why should I trust that you know what Ethan is feeling?

I asked Rak,. That was reason enough. Rak and Ethan were just as close as Remus and myself, so Rak was definatly a reliable source of information.

"Ethan, I..." I paused. "I..." The words would not come out.

"You what?" he asked, cocking his head to the side. We were nearly to the school doors now, where I could hide from him for about 15 minutes before being forced to go sit beside him in Biology. I turned to face him and leaned up, kissing him lightly on the lips before sprinting into the school.

That a girl, Remus thought after me, obviously pleased.

Ethan-

I stared after Bella's disappearing form, feeling my cheeks flush a deep red.

Rak's laughter bubbled through my body. You should see your face! Red as a tomato!

Yes, Rak, very mature. i muttered.

His laughter continued as he jumped onto my shoulder, settling himself into his usual spot. Pets were allowed in school, seeing as it was so small, but they had to be trained. Rak automatically knew better, never having been one to make a fool out of himself often, though always taking joy in making me feel like one.

Little over ten minutes later i entered the Biology classroom, taking my normal seat near the back. Ariel was already there, sitting a few tables away. Bella was nowhere to be seen, however.

Just as the bell rang she slipped into the classroom, carefully avoided my eye, and sat down in the seat next to me. She kept her eyes trained forward, watching the teacher's every move.

Smiling inwardly, i pulled a piece of paper from my notebook, wrote something down in my sloppy handwriting, and passed it across the table towards her. She looked down to see the words I Love you, too written there. I reached over and grasped her hand gently in mine.

Bella--

I sat on the highest ledge of the bathroom (a shelf that was, for some reason, connected to an air vent near the ceiling) until the late bell rang.

He seemed pleased, if it helps any, Remus pointed out from where he sat outside the building. I sighed, and jumped off the ledge, landing on my feet (most would've broken a bone from that height). I stepped forward, heading to biology.

Ethan was there already, and I saw him straining to look for me from the back of the room. Hiding my eyes, I walked to my seat and sat beside him.

I love you too was scrawled on the paper he placed under my nose. I grinned, and my heart skipped as he took my hand in his.

Ethan-

Biology ended quickly. Bella raced out just as the bell rang. I hurried after her, catching her near her locker.

"Bella, wait!"

Bella--

I looked up at Ethan as he leaned against my locker, stopping me from opening it.

"Yes, Ethan?" I asked, meeting his gaze curiously.

Ethan-

"I...er..."

Gosh, Ethan, whatever you do, don't come up with an answer! Rak taunted.

Shut up!

He snickered. I still struggled for an answer.

"I...um...i was wondering...what you...meant back there with the...er...kiss, and all..."

Bella--

I resisted the urge to giggle.

"Ethan, you already know the answer to that," I said, urging my voice to remain normal and not get nervous sounding.

"What do you mean?"

"You wrote it, remember?"

Ethan-

I nodded slowly. "Yes...i had hoped that had been...what you meant..."

She smiled and kissed me again, this time on the cheek. I felt the spot grow red with a blush. I ignored Rak's tomato taunting and studied Bella curiously. I smiled at her as Rak moved from my shoulder to hers, rubbing the side of her face gently.

"I think he likes you." i commented, laughing.

Suddenly Rak jumped back onto my shoulder, digging his claws painfully into my flesh, drawing blood. I cursed.

Sorry, he muttered.

Bella-

I noticed the blood seeping through Ethan's shirt at the shoulder, where Rak's claws had seeped in.

"Oh shnap," I muttered. "I'm sorry Ethan, but I really have to go."

"Wait," he said, grabbing my wrist with the arm that had blood on it. I pulled away forcefully, using more of my vampire strength than anything. I was holding my breath now, refusing to let myself lose control.

"No, Ethan, you want to let me go," I replied, prying his fingers away while looking him straight in the eyes. He seemed to have caught my urgency, and let me go.

Zaquoya


Zaquoya watched as Yameo finished eating before they continued walking. Zaquoya's mother was human, her father was vampire. Year by year, month by month, Zaquoya turned more and more vampire. When she was a little child, she had blond hair and blue eyes, she was a sunshine girl; but as she grew, she turned more into a shadow girl. Almost everyday, her canine teeth grew a crumb longer. Her father died from poison, her mother kicked her out because she wasn't a good girl anymore, and soon after that she was killed by a hit-man.

Zaquoya saw someone she knew, but only talked to on her good days: Ethan. Yameo ran up to Ethan and started rubbing against him like a house cat.
"Yameo!" Zaquoya shouted as she ran to him.