Chap. 1
Three girls, all aged seventeen, lay on Fork's beach, staring up at the sky. It was late August, but the night was cool enough to wear thick clothes. With the universe literally at their fingertips, and the ground secure beneath their young bodies, the girls felt at one with the nature and with the world.
The sun was starting to slowly disappear, and the rays were casting beautiful reflections of color into the sky. The air above them was filled with pinks, blues, purples, and greens, oranges, and yellows. It was a beautiful way to end the day, and the three girls took in the Earth's majesty.
It was late August, and the breeze was only a bit cool. The air was still warm and the sand beneath their bodies radiated a warm heat. Lulled by the waves pouring themselves unto the sand, the girls were feeling very relaxed. It was a perfect night, one of the last few nights the girls would enjoy together.
"Hey Claire?"
"Yeah Natalie?"
"Tell me about your future husband."
"Which one, my fiancé or my ultimate fantasy?"
One of the three girls, Dezba, spoke up. "The fantasy man, then you're fiancé."
"My fantasy man… okay. His name is Darren, and he hails from out of state. Could have come from anywhere really. Anywhere really. But I know that he is immensely intelligent, as well as quite witty. He has chocolate hair and his skin is darker than mine is. He has the kindest eyes and the gentlest hands."
"What is he like?" inquired Natalie.
"He is very gentle when it comes to human beings, but he is unafraid to get dirty when need be. He hunts, he debates, he argues. But with precision, and with thoughtful tactics. He actually thinks with his head, and takes time to listen to other people. He doesn't claim authority over anyone, especially me."
"What does he do for a living?" asked Dezba.
"He studies. But I know he needs funds to support himself, so he works part time as… well okay I don't know that, but believe me, he is smart enough to know that he needs funds in order to pursue what he needs and wants.
The girls appreciate this perfect character of a man for awhile, and Dezba and Natalie dream up their own men.
"My man," begins Dezba "my dream man is none other than—"
"Aragorn" finish Natalie and Claire.
"Ha! What can I say? I like them strong, tough, ready to fight… but unfortunately fictional and taken as well…" Dezba concludes. "Why are the best men always taken?"
"Now there is a question…" said Natalie.
After several moments of silence, Dezba turned her head and asked Natalie for her dream man.
"Oh that's easy. Alucard."
Claire gasped dramatically and exclaimed, "That's my fiancé! How dareth thee!"
Dezba giggled as Natalie and Claire "glared" at each other.
"I saw him first!" claimed Natalie.
"Bullcrap, I saw him first!" said Claire.
"Nu-uh, I claimed long before you did!" said Natalie.
"Oh you wanna duke it out girlfriend?" dared Claire.
"Bring it on little lady, BRING IT ON." replied Natalie.
By this time Dezba was curled up in a little ball, giggling out of control. As she tried to regain her breath, Natalie and Claire stood up and prepared to duke it out. They circled each other like professional boxers, looking to gain an advantage. They were only sporting each other, mainly to make Dezba laugh even harder.
"Once I am through with you girlie, oh man…" whispered Natalie.
"You won't know what you hit ya Natalie. Once I am through with you, Alucard will be all over me."
"Oh puh-lease girlfriend. He won't even look twice at you once he spots my Be-u-ti-full body."
By this time Dezba was turning blue, she was laughing so hard. Natalie and Claire were really getting into their boxing routine now. No punches had been thrown, but they were kicking up sand at each other and held their fists close to their face.
Dezba tried her best to stand up, in her attempt to console the two love struck fighters.
Wheezing because of the lack of oxygen, Dezba began.
"How about you two share or-or" Dezba took in a deep breath "let Integral have him."
Natalie and Claire briefly dropped their poses and looked at each other.
"Oh yeah, we have her to deal with." Natalie realized.
"Okay, we work on getting that chick out of the way, then figure out who gets Alucard?" posed Claire.
Natalie thought about it for a second then nodded her head.
"Agreed sister."
"Agreed."
Natalie and Claire hugged, while Dezba finally gained control of her breath.
Natalie looked down at her watch and gave a little yelp.
"Aw man, it's 7 o'clock. I am supposed to be home by 7:30! I won't be able to get home in time!"
"What about my Jeep?" asked Claire.
"I reckon you could gun that thing for all its worth, but it won't get me home in time" wailed Natalie.
"Why do you have to get home so early? Usually you are out until 11 p.m. but your sister never raised a fuss. What is the big deal now?" asked a puzzled Dezba.
"School" answered Claire and Natalie.
"Oh yeah…"
Dezba had already graduated last June from the local Forks high school. She was going to start studying at another Washington Community college not too far from her home, but she did not start until early September. She had freedom for a little while longer. As for Claire and Natalie, they were not so lucky. They began school within the next morning, and they were not looking forward to handing their freedom over to their textbooks and exams.
"Well here, take my cell phone," said Claire, pulling out her cell "tell her I was keeping you as my captive or something."
"Ha! You know I can't lie to the Yolande LaSalle" replied Natalie.
Both Claire and Dezba nodded along with what Natalie said. Trying to lie to Yolande was near impossible. The woman was probably a lie detector in a past life; you could not get away with lying when it came to that woman.
Natalie punched in the numbers into Claire's cell and waited for her sister to answer. Claire and Dezba made their way to Claire's jeep, giving Natalie some privacy.
"So Claire."
"Yeah Dezba?"
"Any guys you have on your eye on this year?"
"Nah. I mean, there are some cute guys, but none that really interest me."
"Really? Cause I heard Liam had a thing for you."
"Liam? Liam Elan?"
"The one and only."
"But isn't he dating that other chick… Anya or something?"
"Nah, they broke up. Rumors are swirling that he has heart set on you this year."
Claire was surprised to find a blush blossoming in her cheeks, and warm feeling grow in her stomach. Liam Elan was actually a great guy. Smart, witty, never at a loss for words… plus Claire had known Liam since the sixth grade. They worked as lap partners together in their Science classes and always walked away with an A grade and the teacher's approval. You really could not say anything bad about this Liam Elan kid. But there was something about Dezba's comment that bothered her.
"What do you mean this year? Doesn't he do that with a lot of his girlfriends? Dates them for a year, then says goodbye?"
"Yeah, I noticed that too… but what do you have to lose? He is not one of those pricked that expects you to put out or anything."
"Who expects who not to put out?" asked Natalie, handing the cell over back to Claire.
"Liam Elan. Claire." Answered Dezba.
"Oh yeah! Liam has a total crush on you Claire."
Claire reared back for a second. "Is everyone in on this?"
"You know, I would not be surprised if your mom and dad--"
"Okay I get it Dezba!"
Natalie and Dezba had a laugh at Claire's expense, while Claire stuffed the cell back into her jeans and tried (and failed) to lose her blush. In an attempt to change the subject, Claire asked how Natalie's call went.
"You know, it was weird, no one answered the home phone. I don't know if they are home or what." Natalie pondered.
"Huh, maybe you can get home before Yolande does…" Claire said with a sly note.
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Lets go!"
Natalie jumped into the back seat of the Jeep, while Claire and Dezba lumbered into the front seat.
"Onward and forward ladies!" shouted Claire as she ignited the car.
"Onward and forward!" Natalie and Dezba replied back.