July 15

" Hey! " Lucy winks at me, coming towards me. I smile brightly at my best friend as she tosses her dark hair over her shoulder, a summer glow on her vampire skin. Her and Kain were so lucky, they tanned. Me and most vampires just burned.

" Hi, Lucy. " I put my shopping bags down and stare around in the mall blankly. Shiki had insisted I go to the mall all day today, he said he had something to do. I can't help but wonder what the hell is so important that I cannot be around him for a whole day. A illness wrapping around my stomach, I muster a smile. At least Lucy is here now, so I will not be so alone. " What did you buy? "

" Oh, not much. Just a lot from Belks. Mainly perfume. " Lucy giggles at the word perfume like it is absolutely hysterical. She shows me hundreds of bottles of different perfumes, all wich smell sexy and musky.

" Um, Lucy, " I blink. " Why so much perfume? "

A bright pink washes over Lucy's pretty model face as she smiles to herself. " Me and Lukeri, um, well . . . " She grows uncomfertable. " Lukeri and I are . . . . Hooking up, I believe is what most humans call it now. "

My blue eyes pop out of my head. Lukeri?! Lukeri and Lucy had always been dating. They were cousins, yes, but that never really bothered me as long as they were just dating. But this?!

" Valisu! " I call her official name, something I haven't done in a long time. " You can't! "

" Oh, why not? I'm sure you and Shiki do. " She sing-songed.

" WHO WOULD THINK THAT?! " I yell out, my face growing maroon.

" Oh? " Lucy blinked her navy blue eyes. " You aren't? Everyone thinks so. It's not a big deal, Rima. We're all sixteen. "

" N- Not a big deal? " I choke. Sex was a big deal for me. A huge deal. What, was everyone just doing it all over the place now because we are sixteen? Sixteen is nothing. Sex is suppose to be love, passion . . what happened to saving it until after marriage?!

" Yeah, not a big deal. Now, want to come to the, um, special store with me? " She giggled. I blinked. Special store? Curious, I nodded.

BIG MISTAKE.

All kinds of . . . toys . . . were everywhere. I turned green, about to vomit. Apologizing to Lucy, I run out of the store, running to the ladies' room to throw up, and run straight into . . . Mishira Mimito. " OW! " She cries, throwing herself backwards as we both rub our heads. Her dyed-orange ponytail sways as she hits the floor and she stares up at me with harsh brown eyes, nothing like sweet Ashira.

I can't help but to laugh ; this angers her more.

" What are you laughing at, Toya?! " She spits my family name as if it was the word snot. Ouch. I know she hates me, but come on. You don't insult someone's whole family just because you hate them alone. That hurt a bit; I respect my family along with many people. Who is she to say the Toya name like that?

" Sorry. " I roll my eyes and hold out my long, thin hand to help her up. She turns her head away, smirking.

" Like I would take your hand. " She rolled her brown eyes and stood up. " Stay out of the way next time. I - "

That's when it happened. I couldn't hold it in any longer. I puked right on her white cashmere tank top.

I gasped. Even if somewhere in the back of my mind I was laughing, I knew this was low. Even for enemies. What if paparazi snapped a photo of that? I could see the headlines now -

MODEL BULIMIA GONE TOO FAR!

Yeah, sure. I don't even have bulimia, but knowing the scumbag paparazi, their would be hundreds of bad gossip by tomarrow morning. Scanning the mall, I make sure no one saw that. " Mishira, " I dig tissues and napkins out of my purse and try to wipe the vomit off. It only smears it, looking worse. " Sorry. Let me buy you a new tank top. Please. " I hated being nice to her, I really did. But it was how I raised. Be polite, Rima, be polite, I could hear my mother's voice now.

" Forget it! " She screamed, thrusting her hands in the air like she was having a seizure. " I'm ruined! My tank top . . ruined! My image, my self-esteem, . . all gone by your vomit! "

I narrowed my eyes at Mishira, hating her even more. Why couldn't she just let me buy her a new cashmere tank top and she can stick it in her big, fat mouth. " Well, " I leveled my blue eyes to her brown ones and spoke slowly. " You're face will be ruined next. Oh, wait, it already is. "

With that, Mishira stood up and stormed away. I turned to see Lucy clapping behind me, holding bags of toys from the special store. " Finally. Someone threatened her! I've been waiting forever! " Lucy beamed. I knew Mishira used to spread rumors Lucy was a stripper just because Lucy was more . . . gifted . . than the other models when it came to her figure. Me saying that to Mishira = Me becoming Lucy's new hero. " Ah, Rima, " She dipped her thin arm around my shoulders. " Did I ever tell you how much I love you?! "

I laughed along with her as we went to eat ice cream and finish off shoping.

TWO HOURS LATER

" Bye! " I call out to Lucy, whom is sitting in the back of my limo. " Drive her home carefully, sir. " I say to my limo-driver. He nodds and starts the limo.

" Miss you. " Lucy stuck her head out the window and smiled sweetly and sadly at me. I laughed.

" We see each other tomarrow at modeling. And, trust me, with Lukeri there tonight . . . . You won't be missing me too much. " I wink knowingly, even though deep down I felt like screaming for her to just have a slumber party with me and not go with Lukeri.

She swallowed. " It's my first time tonight. " She took my hands in hers and squeezed them. " Wish me luck? "

I blinked. " Good luck, Lucy. Call me if you need anything, or if something happens, okay? " I squeeze my best friend's hands back. She nodds a yes to me, then the driver says they have to go. She says bye again, then rolls the window up as the limo drives away. I watch while the limo disapears into the orange and pink Summer sunset.

" Good luck for what? " Shiki's voice says from behind me. I turn.

" U-Uh, nothing. "

" Tell me. " Shiki wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me close. I shiver, my mind still thinking of . . .

" Sex. " I say out loud, sighing. Shiki blinks, his silver-blue eyes widening.

" Sex? " He repeats. It sounds funny when he says it.

" Yes. Lucy and Lukeri. It- It is her first time . . " I stammer, blushing of embarasment. Shiki and I had never even said the word sex near each other. But now we was actually talking about it? " I'm scared. I know I shouldn't be, I just am! She's my best friend, and I don't want her to . . . And the perfumes, and the toys. Oh, God, Shiki. It's such a huge mistake for her! And she thinks it's okay just because we are sixteen! "

He rubs my head and pulls me even closer, listening to me, watching my facial expressions. He was reading me, no doubt. Shiki likes to do that. He likes knowing how I feel about everything. He cares. Calming down, I wrap my arms around him and try to forget about Lucy and Lukeri. I can't do anything about it anyways. Lucy does what she wants to, I know that. It has always been like that. Who am I to tell her what she can and can't do?

" Lukeri will not hurt her, Rima. I'm sure he will be gentle. You know how he is. " Shiki whispers in my ear. I shiver from that, blushing. It also feels nice knowing that Shiki speaks the truth. Lukeri has always been the nerdy type. He's no male model, but he is generally attractive. And, oh Lord how he is smart. Lucy, however, isn't as bright. I guess they click because they are opposites. I nodd my head and Shiki kisses my cheek softly, almost like he's afraid if he kisses me any more agressively he'll break me in two.

" I don't know, Shiki. Is it strange that we aren't . . . you know? " I turn cherry red at this touchy subject. I wanted to marry Shiki, no doubt. And I want to live my life with him and maybe have his babies. But, at sixteen, am I really ready to go that far? I don't think so. I want to grow with Shiki, loving him and him loving me. Why should we rush that? I enjoy every minute, intimate and general, with him. There wasn't any need for us to . . . .

Is there?

" Of course not, Rima. We aren't ready. Valisu and Lukeri aren't, either. Your friend is just . . . trying to grow up to fast. "

" Oh, Shiki. " I squeeze his hand. " You can read my mind, can't you? "

He chuckles to himself, obviously liking this thought of reading my mind. " It would be much easier if I could. " He admits, staring in my eyes.

Oh God, why did you bless me with Senri Shiki? I have no clue how I ended up with the most sexy, sweetest most perfect guy in the whole world!

" Yeah, " I respond. " It would. "

Silence took over the hot Summer air. I could hear both of us breathing. Inhale, . . . exhale. . . Inhale . . . exhale. . . .

" Goodnight, Rima. " He glances me up and down once, then kisses me on the forehead, cheek, and finally the lips. " I love you. " With that, Shiki opens the door to my house.

" Goodnight. " I smile at him as I close the door and go to my bedroom.

Lucy got more than a goodnight, I think as I stare at the ceiling, knowing my eyes will have bags under them from not sleeping by tomarrow morning. So will Lucy, probably. What will we tell the modeling agency? What about Mishira?

I just know one thing. I have a new mission - Protect Lucy . . . . and myself . . .

Summer isn't that long, . . . . Right??!

Vampire Knight is owned by Matsuri Hino.

This is told in Rima's veiw point and takes place after Rima's Birthday.

* Leave reveiw telling me how you like it so far. Should I finish off? I have good ideas for this so far, but I need to know if you people like it enough to keep reading! I can't read your mind, tell me what you think! ^^