Emily:
I was sitting in my room reading, about to go to sleep, when the phone rang. On a Sunday, I don't usually expect calls because most people are at church, but I figured it was for one of my parents so I reluctantly put the book I was reading down and walked in the living room to answer. When I looked at the caller id, I was surprised to see who it was.
"Hey Darien," I answered.
"Hey, Emily!" he said enthusiastically.
"Not that I really mind or anything, but why exactly are you calling me? Aren't you supposed to be at church or something?" I asked.
He laughed. "You make it seem as though I'm forced to go every Sunday."
"No, it's just that you usually do; it's odd that you would call me."
"Actually, I was wondering if you would like to do something today."
I sighed. It wasn't unusual for my friends to forget that I couldn't go out in the daylight anymore but you'd think that after two years they'd get the point. "Darien, you know I can't and if it wasn't a school night for you I'd say we could do something then."
"I forgot about that," he said, sounding disappointed, and gave a forced laugh. "Even after two years it's still so hard to believe all that has happened."
"It's not like anything really happened, Darien. I'm still the same person I used to be—only with a few new additions and limitations."
"I know." He paused for a moment. "Emily, do you miss getting to spend as much time with us; with me? Because I miss being able to see you as much, and I miss spending being able to drive around with you all of the time. Now you're always sleeping during the day and attending school at night. That only really gives you one night with us a week and sometimes you don't even get that."
I sighed. We've had this conversation millions of times and I knew that he was just trying to reassure himself that my answer hadn't changed, but I still hated talking about it. "Of course I miss hanging out with you guys. But don't worry. Summer will be here soon and we'll be graduating this year. We'll get to see each other more and if you're still planning on going to LBW then you could take night classes with me."
"I remember when you hated the thought of graduation. It's still so weird hearing you welcome it," he said. He didn't seem to acknowledge the part I said about the LBW thing.
Not wanting to go any further with the conversation I forced myself to yawn and said, "I know, Darien, but right now I'm tired and I think I should get some sleep while it's early. I'll call you as soon as I wake up. I promise."
"Okay. Sweet dreams, Emily."
"Thanks, D." I hung up the phone and walked back to my room. I didn't pick up my book because I found it very hard to concentrate. My thoughts were racing just as they do every time Darien surprises me with an unexpected visit or phone call.
Pushing all thoughts of Darien aside, I went to my bed and lay down. I laid there staring at the ceiling for a long time before I finally pulled the blankets up to my chin and closed my eyes so I could get the much-needed sleep I wanted.
Darien:
After I got off the phone with Emily, I sat at the kitchen table and put my face in my hands. Each time I do something I think would surprise her she finds some way to shoot me down; like she did just now. It makes me wonder if I'm just wasting my time, but I know that I'm not; I can't be.
Getting up from the table, I made my way to my room. I stood there for a moment trying to decide what I wanted to do for the day since Emily couldn't do anything. I thought I would call Chris at first but decided against it. So I looked around my room trying to find something to keep me occupied until Emily called and my eyes finally came to rest on the book she let me borrow a few months ago. She said it was a good one and that I would enjoy it so I thought I would--finally--give it a chance.
I read at least half of the book before I decided I could just go by Emily's house. Her parents never minded if I came over. I walked into the living room and looked at the computer for the time since the clock on the wall needed new batteries. It was already five in the afternoon and Emily would be up soon. Maybe if I go over there we'll have time to hang out. Besides, as long as I'm home by eleven my mom won't care.
I grabbed my keys, walked outside, and got behind the wheel of my 1993 yellow Mazda RX-7 R1. The interior was black leather and it ran smoothly. Emily loved the car. She even helped me save up so I could get it. And trust me; it took a very long time to do. Let's just say I've only had this car for three months and Em and I started saving up three years previous. I loved her even more for helping me out.
It didn't take me very long to get to Emily's and instead of getting out of the car instantly, I sat there for a moment and thought back on our relationship that ended almost two years ago. She was so fun to be around and we were hardly ever apart. But I mainly thought of were all of the walking trips we had. Her favorite place to walk was always Sherling's Lake, and after walking the park’s trail a bit she would always go on the pier in the middle of the lake. Her favorite time to do that was always at night, though they closed at dusk. So we found some way to sneak in. I always enjoyed watching her and listening to the things she always had to say. Though she doesn't really seem like it, she has always been a very deep person. I loved how she used to be so open with me when she couldn't be with anyone else. But things aren't like that anymore, not since I ended our two-year relationship. I hurt her and though I haven’t admitted it to her yet, I regret that I did. It was a pointless reason and I know I should have listened to what she had to say before overreacting, but I didn't and now I’m living with it.
Pushing away all thoughts of the sore subject, I got out of the car and walked to the door. I stood there on the front porch for a few seconds and then knocked on the door. When it opened, I expected to see Mr. or Mrs. Peterson. Instead it was her little sister Ellie.
"Emily is still sleeping, Darien,” she said lazily. “Maybe you should come back when she's awake."
"I know, but I wanted to be here when she woke up."
She sighed. "I really don't want her angry with you when she wakes up, and you know she will be if she sees you here."
I nodded, knowing it was true but not wanting to say anything else about it. When she stepped back, I walked passed her and into the living room. "So where are your parents?" I asked after I sat down on the couch.
"I don't know. They went out earlier and still haven't gotten back yet. I'm pretty sure they’ll be here a little after Emily wakes up," she said nonchalantly as she sat down on the end of the couch in front of the TV.
I nodded. "So what shall we do to pass the time until Emily wakes up?"
"Watch TV like we used to. What else?" she said with a smile.
Emily:
When I woke up, all I heard was the sound of the TV in the living room. It troubled me at first because Ellie is usually on the phone or has someone over at this time, and I would usually smell food and hear my mother and father talking in the kitchen, but there wasn’t a sound—other than the TV.
Getting out of bed, I walked into the living room to see what Ellie was doing or if she was even here. When I got to the end of the hallway I saw Darien and Ellie asleep on the couch. I wanted to be angry that he was there while knowing that I prefer him to stay away until I wake up, but I couldn't be.
Smiling, I walked back to my room, grabbed my camera, walked back into the living room, and took a picture of them. After I did that, I stood there for a moment and silently watched the two of them. Glancing at the TV, I noticed that were watching Ellie's favorite movie, Bambi.
I thought back on the day my parents adopted Ellie. My mom wanted to have children, but after almost dying while giving birth to me the doctors told her she couldn't. My father tried to tell her that I was a hand full on my own but she wouldn't listen. I was thirteen when she decided she wanted to adopt.
I didn't really go with them then because I wanted to spend some time with Darien, so they let me without argument. When they brought her home she was just a little shy, so Darien started talking to her. "Hi. I'm Darien. What's your name?" he asked.
"Ellie," she said quietly.
"How old are you, Ellie?"
"Three."
"Three!" he exclaimed. When she nodded her head with a smile, he said, "Wow, three. Well, I'm thirteen."
She looked at me and asked sheepishly, "How old are you?"
It shocked me at first because I realized that I hadn't been talking, but when I recovered, I said, "I'm thirteen, too; and my name is Emily."
She grinned. "You're my new big sister."
I smiled. "That's right."
"Let's go inside so we can show Ellie her new room, okay?" my dad said.
"Okay," we all said in unison.
Each time Darien came over afterwards he always spent time with her. We would always watch movies with her, play games, or read to her when it was time for her to go to sleep. And yeah, we spent our own time together, but it wasn't as much as it used to be—not that either of us minded that much. And it was like that for the two years Ellie had been with us. At least until one of my dad's co-workers came home with him. When he showed up things in my life slowly changed. Ellie was to stay with my grandparents for a few weeks, and my parents wouldn't let me hang with my friends. Each time I went somewhere, Ayden—my dad's co-worker—would follow me around. It was very annoying at first, but then I finally put it in the back of my mind; I’d stopped going anywhere and everywhere all of the time. It caused a few problems with Darien and I but we managed—somehow.
A year later, Ayden finally told me what he was. I didn't believe him, though—at least until he proved it to me by forcefully making me a vampire. I didn't tell my parents. No one knew why I never went outside anymore, but luckily we were on summer vacation and not everyone thought it was suspicious. Late nights and sleeping in were somewhat normal but that secret didn't really stay a secret very long. Two weeks later, Ayden called me worthless and left without another word. Ellie came home, my parents let me go and do things I wanted, and I got to spend more time with Darien--as long as it was at night, anyway. Luckily my parents knew about my situation. The only disadvantage was my father blamed himself for it. Apparently it was all mind tricks and my father couldn't control his actions.
One night I was at a pool party one of my friends was having and I was hungry, but thought I could do just fine for a few hours. I was kind of wrong. Darien and I walked off on our own and I regret that. Not even a minute after we were alone all I could think about was blood—his blood. I could even hear his heart beat and smell it. I kept telling myself that I should get away from him but I couldn't—nothing in me could make me get away from him like my logical-self was screaming at me. And, somehow, I controlled his mind enough to get what I wanted. Everyone there saw and eventually Darien found out, freaked, and ended our relationship. And since my friends know, they've pitched in to get blood drawn so I don't have to put myself through that guilt anymore.
I'd been hoping that another vampire would come into town and teach me some of the things I'd so wanted to learn, but I lost hope six months after. I have learned how to read minds and put my thoughts in others' minds, and I have learned how to open, close, lock, and unlock doors. But as for the other stuff, I still don't know how to do it.
Shaking my thoughts away, I quietly walked over to the couch and gently shook Ellie. When she opened her eyes, I pressed a finger to my lips to ask her to keep quiet. When she nodded, she pointed to her head. At first I thought she had a headache, so I got up to walk to the kitchen, but she grabbed my arm and pointed to her head again. It was then I realized she had something she wanted to tell me, so I concentrated on her thoughts.
Please don't be mad at Darien, Emily. He just wanted to spend some time with you, she said.
Well, I kind of can't help but be. He knows that he shouldn't be here until I call him, I said.
He just wanted to spend some time with you, Emily. He still really cares about you. He told me so himself. Please just give him the chance to make things better.
It was easy to understand why she was telling me this. She thought I didn't care for Darien in that way anymore; which is a good thing since I've hidden it so well for the passed year. So I told her, Everything is fine between Darien and I, Ellie. You shouldn't worry about that.
No it's not, she said, Darien feels completely horrible for what he did to you.
It annoyed me that my seven-year-old sister was telling me things that he should be able to tell me himself, so I simply said, Ellie, just go to your room or something. Call a friend. Do anything until Mom and Dad get back. And call them. I will talk to Darien about this later. Now go.
Once Ellie was in her room, I walked over to the couch again. "Darien, wake up," I said while shaking him.
"Emily?" he asked groggily.
"Well who else were you expecting?" I snapped.
He opened his eyes slowly and asked, "How long was I out?"
"I don't know. I just walked in here." Truthfully, I was just staring at you while you were sleeping and thinking back on old memories, I said mentally.
"Where's Ellie?"
"She's in her room calling Mom and Dad. Speaking of Ellie, this brings me to my question I was going to ask you but almost forgot about."
He sat up. "Emily, I just wanted to spend time with you. I don't want to argue with you."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not arguing. I'm just a little annoyed that you can tell my sister how you feel when you can't even tell me."
"Well, you're not all that great at telling me how you feel either."
"What am I supposed to do? Lie to you about how I feel? Darien, the only feelings I have for you now are in the form of friendship. Even if I did still have them for you I still wouldn't tell everyone else." Lies! Please see that their lies! some strange, little voice kept screaming in my head.
"And why not?" He stood up. "Is it because you're afraid?"
"I'm not afraid of anything." Still lying. There were a lot of things that I was afraid of but it was best I not tell him that.
"Just go walking with me, Emily. We'll talk about everything that needs to be said."
"Fine." I walked to my room and changed from my pajamas to actual clothes. Honestly, I was too angry to think of how great this chance to talk to Darien would really be. All I could think about was how much I wanted to yell at him.
Once I walked out of my room he looked at me and smiled, but I just darted passed him, walked out of the door, and walked to his car. I didn't know if he had it locked or not so I stood beside it impatiently. When he got to the driver's side and got in, I did the same, and after that we were off to Sherling's Lake.
Darien:
The car ride was quiet. Emily kept playing "Had Enough" by Breaking Benjamin repeatedly until I couldn't take it anymore and turned the radio off. When I was just about to say something, she said, "How could you tell my sister something you can't even tell me, Darien?"
"Why were you reading your sisters thoughts?" I asked.
"When I woke her up I asked her to be quiet so she spoke to me with her thoughts. Now I will ask you again: why did you tell Ellie something you couldn't tell me?"
"Because I feel more comfortable telling other people than I do you." I sighed. "Do you think I feel all that great knowing you can read every thought I have if you wanted to?"
She stared at me so I continued, "I care about you, Emily. Honestly, I never stopped. It's why I call you so much, it's why I try to surprise you all of the time, but you act as if you really don't care anymore. And what I would like to know is if you do or don't."
She shook her head. "I don't have time for this. Stop the car and let me out. I'll walk home."
"Will you stop running from me, from yourself? At least for a second?"
"What makes you think I'm running?" she asked in an annoyed tone.
"Because I know you, Emily. When you get afraid, you run. You always do it when you don't want to face your feelings."
"I have nothing to be afraid of," she said.
"Stop with the bull crap, Emily. You may not be afraid of growing older like you used to be because you're a vampire, and you may not be afraid of some of the other things we… we… mortals are, but that doesn't mean you aren't afraid. I know you're still afraid of losing us, your friends, and I know very well that you're still afraid of yourself, of your feelings. You may be excellent at hiding things from other people, but you can't hide anything from me," I all but yelled.
She just looked at me, and, for a moment, I thought I won but then she said, "If I can't hide anything from you and you know so much about me, then go ahead and tell me what I'm feeling right now. Tell me what I’m hiding from you, Darien. Go ahead. Prove to me that you know me better than anyone else because, honestly, I don't think you can do it."
I just stared straight forward. I couldn't say anything. My mind had gone completely blank.
"That's what I thought," she said. "You only like to believe you know so much about me, but you don't."
After that the car ride was silent until we got to Sherling's Lake. When we pulled over to a spot near the entrance, but at a spot that hid the car, I watched her before getting out. She looked like she was concentrating on something, but I didn't dare ask her. After we got out of the car, and walked toward the campgrounds of the place, I watched her even more. This time she seemed completely lost. I watched her as she licked her lips and I soon began to worry. "Emily? Are you alright?"
She looked at me, her eyes completely gold. "Yeah. I—I’m fine." She blinked a few times and her eye color returned to the normal shade of sapphire blue with that golden ring around them.
"Maybe we—“
"No it's fine," she said, cutting me off.
I grabbed her arm. "We're going home, Emily. You're not in any shape to be around all of these humans at once right now."
She looked at me, those golden eyes back. "If you're scared, maybe you should just go without me."
"I'm not leaving you here. You're not in any kind of shape to be out here tonight." Realizing that she wasn't going to listen to my reasoning, I pulled out my pocketknife and ran it across my wrist. When it started bleeding, I held it out toward her. I sat there waiting for her to make a move and watched her nostrils flare and as she licked her lips. Then her eyes darted toward my face. After staring at me a few seconds, she ripped the end of her shirt and tied it around my wrist. "What are you doing?" I asked.
"Let's just go home, Darien. You're right. I'm not in any shape to be out here tonight. Maybe some other time."
We got in the car and sat there for a moment before she said, "Go to your house and get some sleep. You've got school tomorrow."
"I think I should take you home first, Emily."
"No, you don't. I have something I have to do in town. I'll make it home just fine."
"But you live twenty minutes or so away from town."
"I know," she said passively. "I'll get home. Don't worry about me. I'll ride with you to your house."
I knew I couldn't change her mind, so I just shrugged and started the car. I had a good idea on what she was going to do, and though I didn't like the idea, I knew she had no other choice. And I knew she didn't want the same incident that happened two years ago to repeat itself. It scared her; it scared everyone. But it's how we discovered what she'd become and we accepted it. We loved Emily and we couldn't abandon her just because she was different.
When we got to my house, she hugged me. "Goodnight, Darien. Sweet dreams and have a good day at school tomorrow."
Before I could say anything, she disappeared. "Goodnight," I said to no one and walked into the house.
Emily:
I didn't know what had gotten into me tonight. All I know is when I got near the campgrounds all I could hear were the heartbeats of every person there. It made me remember that I hadn't had any blood in at least a week, and I needed some but I didn't think I could make it home to get some of the saved blood that I have. So after I said goodnight to Darien, I went hunting.
I was following this late night jogger when I sensed something out of the ordinary. I stopped and hid behind the bushes, letting my prey slip away so I could investigate what this presence was. I sat there for a few seconds when a saw a boy walking after my prey. When he walked passed, I realized that he was the unordinary presence I felt.
He was wearing a black Slipknot t-shirt, black jeans, and black and read Adio Hamiltons. He had shoulder-length blonde hair. I had to admit that from the distance I saw him he looked good.
Pushing how good he looked aside, I waited until he rounded a corner before I moved to follow. I continued to follow him for about two blocks and ended up right in front of Darien's house. I felt my heart begin to race as he watched the house. I didn't know what he was going to do and though I had this sudden urge to attack this stranger, I sat still and watched, waiting for him to make a move.
