So I went to go see the remake of Fright Night and I enjoyed it very much. The original was definitely the better of the two, but I came to see it for the David Tennant and I left feeling inspired. One thing that I found remarkable about Jerry was that even though I was immensely attracted to him, I could only see his physical appeal. Normally, I fall head over heels with the bad guy in the movies, but Farrell played him so coldly, manipulatively, and darkly that it was quite impossible to not only sympathize with his character, but to find cause for his actions. That was something I never quite experienced before so I felt inspired to write something about him and an OC I've created. Another thing was that I felt no emotional attachment to any of the characters in the movie. When they died or were in danger, I was just kind of 'meh'. Which was kind of unfortunate. But, I did feel bad when Ed died and I think her name was Beth, the go go dancer. They were two characters that strangely enough, I did feel for.

There's no guarantee whether I'll have any of the characterizations down in my writing, but I will write the actual characters from the movie as I saw and imagined them. This story doesn't have a long distance plot, but only an idea that formed. And to anyone reading who's currently awaiting the update for In Search Of Something Great and Noble, it'll come sometime this week.

Enjoy this chapter that is based on this new version of Fright Night. Anything in italics are thoughts. Also, while Jerry is Charley's neighbor on one side, on the other, my OC is his neighbor.

Chapter 1

Grace lifted an auburn brown lock of hair away from her eyes, sitting down in a chair next to the answering machine. Nervously, she tapped with her fingers against her knee – an anxious habit that had formed over time. However, the act was not able to persuade a stray finger from pressing the repeat message button.

Tucking in her legs suddenly, Grace placed a tired hand underneath her chin and listened for the tenth time that day, to the message.

Grace, this is your mother. I'm calling to tell you how much we've missed you and that a New York Christmas just isn't the same without you. We have no one to paint murals of Christmas Day anymore or sing holiday tunes for the neighbors. Most importantly, we don't have you. Grace, I want you to know how sorry your father is about yelling at you for leaving with Andrew. It just came so unexpectedly and I don't think that your father was ready to lose his baby girl yet. I'm certainly not. Still, I hope you're enjoying Nevada with Andrew. Your love took you somewhere and I only hope it makes you eternally happy. Oh and dear, happy 20th birthday.

The recording beep had interrupted soon after, slicing away the closest thing Grace had to home.

Thinking back on it, she knew she had made a lot of dumb decisions. Dating Andrew was one of them. She never even did a background check on him or asked around. Grace had naively assumed that he was a caring guy all around.

However, as soon as she ran away with him to Nevada, his dark side had emerged. By dark side, she meant the raging alcoholic who Grace would unfortunately meet each night. The bruises peppered around her jaw and eyes were clear signs of that.

Another stupid decision was running away with Andrew to some town in the middle of a desert. It distanced her from a family that she cared incredibly deep for and isolated her in a relationship she had no control over. The bouts of loneliness only heightened when she realized that there was no one around for her to tell what was happening to her. Instead, they read the story on her face, but declined to comment.

Grace was as alone as ever, seemingly a world apart from home. Life had sure capitalized on her mistakes.

Hey Grace.

The 20 year old smiled at the second message starting. Sometimes it felt that the only woman she could turn to was Jane Brewster. She herself had been married to a scumbag and instead of staying silent on Grace's battered appearance, Jane opted to comfort her.

Hopefully Andrew isn't there for me to tell you this. We have a new neighbor. His name is Jerry and I hate to say this Grace, but he's absolutely gorgeous. All tall, dark and handsome, meaning he's your type. Plus, he's single.

Rolling her eyes, Grace stretched her feet out like a cat, yawning at the sensation until the pain started to kick in. Running a sturdy hand over a bruise on her knee caused by Andrew pushing her into the television which nearly busted her kneecap, Grace only sighed dejectedly. If she didn't still see the same man inside him from which she first met, she would have left Andrew in a heartbeat.

Anyways, he's got looks and charm. Definitely will be a nice change from Mr. Despondency that lives with you. Come on over tonight, if you can get out of the house. I'll fill in the blanks. Oh, and happy 20th.

A smile returned to Grace's face, although much more worn than one typical for girls her age. It quite literally spelled out a life of tranquility, overwhelmed by one bad decision that had turned her life horribly wrong.

Checking a nearby clock which signaled 5:00 in the afternoon, Grace tied her hair back in a loose ponytail. No matter how badly she wanted to escape her poisoned home, her concern always overtook her at Andrew's condition. Most of the times that he stumbled home from a bar or drove drunk from Las Vegas after a night at a club, let Grace know that he was slowly destroying not only their relationship, but himself.

She may have a deep malice toward him after taking a violent night of beatings, but it couldn't stop her from attempting to help him afterward. Perhaps Grace was still in denial that he had turned so viciously into a different man. Or maybe giving up on someone wasn't like her. Whatever it was, Grace knew that she would love Andrew no matter how many bruises he put upon her.

"Love stinks," Grace muttered into the empty house, cradling herself suddenly as she awaited Andrew's arrival. At least she'd make sure he was okay before heading over to Jane's.

GSCGSCGSCGSC

"Andy, please stop," Grace attempted to firmly say, but regretted as soon as a flower pot headed her way.

Ducking it just barely, Grace backed up suddenly at Andrew's searing anger. It had been a long time since he'd been this angry and this drunk.

"Y-you are slee-eeping around with me, aren't ya slut?" he mumbled incoherently, drunkenly stumbling toward her.

"Of course not!" she nearly yelled back, holding out a cautious hand toward him.

"Don't lie to me!" he screamed at her, throwing his half empty bottle at her.

Grace had had enough. Within seconds of ducking the bottle, she made her hurried escape into a bathroom and quickly locked it with wild fingers.

Her heart had been pounding abnormally as soon as Andrew had gotten home around 6, in a more spiteful mood than usual. It was hard to believe that he was only 23 and had the kind of rage which took years to build up in an alcoholic. Did she really do something to make him that mad?

A sudden boom from the other side of the door made Grace jump up in the air once.

"Let me in Grace!" Andrew ordered, banging harshly on the door.

Grace's heart rate only increased. It was the first time in Andrew's presence that she'd been scared for her life. Sure he'd gotten violent on her, leaving bruises in his anger. But he never pursued her so aggressively or assumed that she was sleeping around with someone. Hell, she never left the house unless it was to go to the grocery store or to Jane's.

"If you don't open this goddamn door, I'm going to kill you," he threatened, slamming what sounded like his head, against the unsturdy wood.

Witnessing the mild crack that appeared from the impact, Grace nervously backed up until she ran into the wall behind her.

What the hell do I do? Cell phone's in the kitchen. Good lord, he might actually kill me this time.

Despite his violent behavior, Grace attempted one last time to calm him down.

"Andy, just tell me what's going on. You know I love you. Why would you think that I'd be with any other man but you?"

"Because," he hiccuped, slapping his palm against the door, "you're nothing but a little whore. Running off into another man's arms as soon as I leave. Inviting men over when I'm not here. I smell their damn cologne on the sheets!"

He's lost his mind.

With that realization, Grace spun around and jumped on top of the toilet. Above it was a small window that she could just barely get herself through if she tried.

Fumbling with the latch, she heard Andrew's fists begin to beat on the door again, the door itself shaking with the constant impact.

"Come on, come on," she prayed to herself, sliding the window up.

"When I get in there-."

Grace never heard the rest of Andrew's threats as she jumped up, grabbed onto the window sill and pulled herself out. Using her arms to crawl, she fell headfirst on top of the garbage cans.

"Of for the sake of all things Christmas," Grace groaned to herself, feeling her dormant bruises spring to life with raw renewal.

Strangely enough, Andrew's beatings on the door had suddenly stopped.

Perhaps he passed out.

Wearily picking herself up, Grace brushed off last night's salad off her peach tank top and silently listened for any movements inside her house. Night had rapidly descended upon her town and nearby, she could hear cats wrestling with each other for a nightly treat. Even farther away, the sound of children's laughter greeted her ears.

Grace found herself smiling at their innocence. She remembered a time like that, before having fallen in love. Where nothing mattered except hanging out with friends or catching the latest movie. Knowing that she was utterly safe within the confines of adolescence.

"Grace! Come back here you bitch!"

In seconds flat, she heard the sound of the front door being swung open and Andrew's heavy footsteps pounding on the pavement.

"Oh Christ," she mumbled to herself, quickly scanning the scenery around her in the dim light.

Ahead of her was a fence separating her from her neighbor. To the right of her was her back yard, but it was barren and held no legitimate place for her to hide. If she were to head left, she'd run straight into Andrew.

Hearing the approaching steps nearing, Grace made a final decision.

Sprinting as fast as she could, Grace ran at the fence ahead of her. Luckily for her, she was a successful cross country and gymnastics protege. Definitely not the best, but talented enough to run and jump with speed and trajectory.

Jumping as if she was going to grasp on to one of the uneven bars at her gym, Grace ignored the pain suddenly erupting in her kneecap and grabbed on to the top of the fence for all it was worth. Through deep breaths, she managed to pull herself over and land onto her neighbor's grass with a soft oof.

"Grace!"

Andrew's voice came from right on the other side of the fence as Grace attempted to steady herself once more. This time, the pain in her knee was excruciating. Still, she managed to hobble across the yard and catch Jane's house come into view.

Stumbling, she held onto her knee with one hand and kept swinging her other, forcing herself into a half walk-half run.

When Andrew's yells still vibrated from her yard, Grace broke out into a full run. Ragged breaths fell through her teeth as Jane's house continued to become closer and closer.

Just a few more yards, c'mon!

So focused on running from Andrew and not paying attention to her surroundings, Grace nearly had a heart attack when she slammed into a solid, male form. Nearly bouncing off and hitting the ground again, the arms firmly caught her as Grace felt a shiver run through her. They were uncommonly cold for such a humid place.

Slowing her breaths as the figure pulled her to a standing position, Grace studied the man in front of her. He was a good few inches taller than her, deep raven black hair, exotic brown eyes, perfectly thick eyebrows and pale skin that nearly glowed in the dark. Definitely fit with a white wife beater wrapped over his muscles, the man screamed sex appeal.

Wowza. This must be Jerry.

Her observation was cut short as another angry yell came from her yard. Still feeling the man's arms on her, Grace gave him an apologetic smile before pushing him with all her might. He was caught off guard, but allowed her to push him until they were on the other side of the house, away from Andrew's eyes, were he to jump the fence. Which in Grace's mind, she believed he would.

Ahead of her, her neighbor merely smirked in curiosity at her, still keeping his arms wrapped around hers.

He was just about to open his mouth when Andrew's scratching on the fence distracted the nervous girl.

Pushing the man so that he was between the house and her, Grace calmly placed her hand over his mouth and with her other finger, signaled for his silence.

"I'm going to put a permanent scar across your face, you stupid slut, once I get a hold of you."

Despite the ferocious comment, Grace detected a slight tiredness in his threat. The alcohol would soon be wearing off and he'd probably pass out in their yard.

Her affirmations were soon proven true as Andrew's clawing at the fence ceased and a final groan entered the atmosphere before she heard a falling bang.

Oh what a relief.

Sighing into the night air, Grace closed her eyes in gratitude.

However, she retracted her hand shortly after as she felt a warm tongue lick across the inside of her palm.

"Hells bells Jerry, did you just lick me?" Grace cried, distancing herself.

"You know my name. How unfortunate it is that I don't know yours," he replied, taking a step toward her.

There was something about his steps that made her feel uneasy. A sort of predator-prey complex she felt. Where it was obvious that he was the predator and she was the prey.

"Yeah, well it's going to stay that way if you try to lick me again," she guaranteed.

"I promise not to lick you then," he charmingly assured, holding out his hand.

Grace stared at it with an eyebrow raised. Then, she glanced at the man across from her. There was something almost cynical in his gesture, although she could tell that it wasn't his intention to show that.

"I'm Grace," she finally said, shaking his hand and feeling another bout of cold hit her.

"I've never met a Grace before," he announced, holding her hand for just a second longer than she was normally comfortable with.

"I've never met a Jerry," Grace admitted, running a hand through her messy hair.

She held her breath as Jerry planted himself in front of her. A slight aftershave invaded her nostrils as she felt his fingers comb something out of her hair.

Taking in the branch, Jerry chuckled before throwing it behind him. The branch landed in a trash can ten feet away.

"Wow, impressive," Grace acknowledged.

"Really? I wasn't looking."

Snorting, Grace rolled her eyes.

"Nice meeting you Jerry."

With that, she began her way out toward the road.

Feeling his presence behind her immediately, Grace struggled to keep her heartbeat calm. Instead, she focused on the periodic stings of long forgotten bruises that suddenly decided to make their feelings known. Her walk eventually reduced to a slight limp.

"Do you need any help?" he asked, his breath blowing the brown wisps of hair on the back of her neck.

"No thank you," she relayed, frustrated at the slight whimper that made it's way into her answer.

"Now what kind of neighbor would I be if I just let you walk back to a man who gave you that limp?"

"A smart one," she replied, turning on the sidewalk.

She didn't know how, but suddenly Jerry appeared in front of her. Maybe she'd been focusing on the ground too much or perhaps not enough on her neighbor, but his presence in front of her had her pause in her footsteps.

"Yes?" she asked in slight frustration.

"Grace, I'm here at your disposal."

"Is that supposed to sound reassuring?"

"Well, yes," he laughed as if it was painfully clear.

Blowing a strand of hair from her face, Grace met Jerry's eyes with hesitance this time. Although Jane had mentioned nothing hostile about their neighbor on the answering machine, Grace had met enough creeps in her life to know that there was something distinctly off about Jerry. It was buried within him, not often seen. But for some reason, to Grace's eyes, it was obvious.

"Alright, have it your way," Grace commented, throwing an arm around his shoulders.

Immediately, Jerry wrapped a strong arm around her and helped her walk the remainder of the way home.

"One more thing?" Grace found herself asking as she ventured a look toward her half of the fence.

"Lift the drunk?"

The way he said it, made him sound like he was so sure of what was going on. In fact, Grace found herself put off at his comment. She didn't know why when she had allowed Jane to call Andrew the same thing, countless of times.

"He's got a name," Grace mumbled, throwing her green eyes harshly at Jerry's brown ones.

He met hers with amusement, plainly allowing her to know how ridiculous it was that she was trying to find cause for Andrew's actions.

"Of course," Jerry said, sliding his arm painfully slow, off her back.

Shivering at the action, Grace watched Jerry retreat into the darkness.

What is it about him that unnerves me? He's so...odd? Enigmatic?

Seconds later, Jerry came back with Andrew's form slumped over his shoulder.

"This way," Grace offered, refusing to meet his eyes as she made her way toward her home.

Throwing open the door, Grace walked inside, expecting Jerry to follow her. However, he stopped just short of the doorway.

Spinning around, Grace took in his patient form outside of her door in confusion.

"Well?" she asked.

"You don't seem like the type of woman to let men in without an invitation," he remarked.

"What happened to being good neighbors?" Grace amusedly asked.

"Is that an invitation?"

Sighing, Grace tapped her fingers on her knee a few times.

"I've got it from here," she finally answered, walking up to him and tugging at Andrew's limp form.

"Are you sure?" Jerry softly asked, allowing Andrew's form down into her arms.

"Yep. Thanks Jerry, but if my boyfriend finds out I let in my new mysterious male neighbor into our house...well let's just say that you'll never be at my disposal ever again," Grace announced.

Smiling sullenly at his slightly puzzled experssion, Grace shut the door and locked it.

Andrew stirred slightly at the action, blowing out rancid whiskey through his teeth.

"What am I going to do with you?" she mumbled to herself, dragging him toward their bedroom.

I'll talk to Jane tomorrow.

Just an fyi, Grace will not be some Mary Sue. Review if you're interested.