Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Kisses.

Vampire Love

Chapter 2

Friends: One New and One Old

"I can't believe you would do this to me!" I said to Uncle Jameson. He was currently trying to ignore my frantic yelling and making something for my lunch, even though I told him earlier I wasn't going to school.

"It's for your social development." Social development?!

"I'm talking to you ... There, I'm developed socially." I folded my arms across my chest stubbornly. I wasn't going to a human school and, no matter what he did, I still won't.

"You have to be among people your own age." He piled random things in the brown paper bag he had set aside.

"I am, Alexander is the same age as me!"

"He doesn't count." Don't please don't make me go! I hate school!

"How does he not count?" I yelled. "He's my best friend, remember?"

"That's why he doesn't count." Uncle Jameson turned to face me; a smile was bright on his pale face. He held the bag out for me to take. "Go meet new people!" he called after I grabbed the bag and turned away. I can't believe this! I stomped outside the Sterling Manor and towards the garage. If I had to go to school, I was going my way!

Raven sat talking with Becky outside of their high school. Becky was talking animatingly, but Raven wasn't paying attention. Her mind still questioned who this Andy person was. Was he a vampire? If he is, was he good like Alexander or bad like Jagger? She looked away from Becky at the noise that was coming up the street. It was a motorcycle, and not just any motorcycle. It was the motorcycle that Alexander drove in Hipsterville. Becky had stopped talking and was looking at the bike along with her.

"Who's that?" she asked.

"I don't know, but I will find out!" Raven stood up and started walking in the direction where Alexander's bike was getting parked by someone who was definitely not Alexander.

I cut the engine and slowly backed the motorcycle into the space. What Alexander didn't know wouldn't hurt him. Besides it's not like he would care anyway, I was the one who bought this bike for him. Throwing my leg over the side I stepped off, and kicked up the kickstand gently with my bright green converse. My color was green today! Not entirely though. My hair was dyed neon green, my shoes matched my hair perfectly, and my clothes had green parts while everything else was black. After pulling the helmet off my head I tucked a few green strands of hair behind my ears. It was habit I will never get rid of. I was a little nervous … oh who am I kidding I was extremely nervous. Will I fit in with these kids? I took a deep sigh and turned to face a girl I didn't notice was there. Her hair was black and she had a gothic style like mine. The scent that was radiating off of her was the same one that was mingled in Alexander's last night. This must be Raven.

"Who are you and why are you driving my boyfriend's bike?" she crossed her arms over her chest to show she meant business and glared at me. Whoa there. For a Goth girl she was fierce … I think we are going to be great friends! I smirked to myself but her glare heated up when she saw my face. She probably thought I was mocking her or something.

"I'm Andy!" I said with a laugh, to lighten the mood.

"Andy? But I was expecting …" her arms loosened and so did her glare.

"A boy? Yeah, I get that a lot. You must be Raven. Alexander has told me all about you." She smiled at me, and reached out her hand. I shook it with a matching smile.

"I hope nothing embarrassing," she whispered. I smirked once again, she thought I wouldn't be able to hear her.

"He told me all great things!" She looked surprised when I said that, but I only smiled once again in return. She wasn't worried about me being here was she? Some girls are like that … they think another girl could be moving into their territory any second, trying to steal their boyfriend. If she was one of those, she was in for a surprise, but part of me doubts that she is. "I don't really know anything around here … so could you help me?" I asked sheepishly.

"Sure, let's go." I followed her as she began to walk towards the school.

On the way to the office, Raven and I talked non-stop … about everything and anything. I saw what had Alexander so hooked on her. She was really a cool person. It made me second my own opinion that we were going to be great friends. We finally stepped into the air conditioned office. I walked to the counter and spoke to one of the women behind it.

"Name?" she asked, pulling on her rhinestone covered spectacles. Didn't anyone tell her that diamonds or fake diamonds weren't in anymore?

"Cromwell, Andromeda." I smiled and looked back at Raven when the older woman pulled out some papers. She handed me a schedule, a locker number and its combination. "Thanks," I muttered taking everything.

"You have three classes with me" Raven said after she snatched my schedule.

"Awesome!"

"So how long have you and Alexander been friends?" Raven asked me. We were sitting in first period, doing nothing.

"Since we were children. Jagger, he and I were always together. My mother once told me when I was little that I was the glue that held them together as friends. And I didn't understand it then, but now I do. Loony had to ruin it all!" I sighed, placing my head on the cool desk. The school didn't have air conditioning and I was burning up. This is why Romania is good, it's cold and snowy.

"Loony?" My head shot up and read her confused expression.

"Luna … Lex told me you met her, and the other Maxwells." She nodded and I continued. "Loony is the nickname I have for her. It was once an affectionate one when we were friends, but after she got bit, she dropped me like a hot crucifix. I still like Valentine though. He's an amazing little boy." I smiled, Valentine was my favorite and he will be forever.

"And Jagger?" She said his name with venom. Apparently she didn't like him too much. I laughed silently.

"He means well, but nothing really turns out the way it should for him." Raven looked at me with same venom in her eyes that were once in her words.

"But he's terrible. He wants to take over the world!" she argued. Okay … scratch didn't like him too much and replace it with hate more then anything.

"I know …" I whispered, turning form her. "He will change." My tone puzzled me. Was I trying to convince Raven or myself? Where are you Jagger?

My classes continued quickly, and Raven and I continued our quickly formed friendship. I tried to stay away from talking about Alexander because whenever she started daydreaming it would make me daydream too. Sure our daydreams included two completely different people but I didn't come here to focus on what never was. I didn't even know why I was here in the first place. Grams just packed up all my stuff and said I was going to America to visit Uncle Jameson. It wouldn't have to deal with my upcoming 18th birthday did it?

"Want me to drive you home?" I pointed to the motorcycle with an 'oh come on' look on my face.

"Thanks but I have to have some me and Becky time." I smiled and shrugged before throwing on the helmet and revving the engine.

"Have fun!" I yelled over the noise made by the engine. I drove out of the parking lot swiftly. I had to talk to Uncle Jameson! Right now! I have an idea why Grams sent me here but only he could tell me the truth.

"Uncle!" I screamed, throwing open the manor doors. I breathed in the air searching for his scent. Kitchen!

"Yes? How was school?" he asked me once I stepped in the kitchen. I glared at him and his smile faded. He must have picked up the fact that I was mad. "That bad?" he asked cautiously.

"No, school was fine, but … why am I here?" my voice growled out the question.

"Your grandmother, my mother … does not want your fate to be the same as mine." Uncle Jameson sat at the island, begging me to sit next to him.

"But you're happy here," I said, taking the empty seat next to him.

"I am only happy because I was lucky. The Sterlings treat me like family, not a slave, but you have so much potential in this world, unlike I did. I chose to serve a vampire family for the rest of my life instead of marrying someone I did not like."

Werewolf society is so complicated. We have rules about everything. We must get married by our 18th birthday and if we don't, a vampire comes and claims us to be their slave or "worker". Werewolves say slave while the vampires say worker. Uncle Jameson was right as always, he was lucky. The Sterlings were amazing people; they treated him like an equal. The chance of me finding that are slim to none.

"She sent you here so you can find a way out of your slavery without marrying someone. And so far it has worked. After some time I'm supposed to send you to New York, where no one knows what you are, for extra safety."

A knock on the door interrupted my uncle. He stood and went to answer the door, I followed shortly behind.

"Jameson Cromwell?" the young man asked. He was an inch taller than Alexander and his blonde hair was spiked up elegantly. His dark clothes clung to him, showing off the muscles he had. All together he was handsome, but blondes have never appealed to me.

"Yes. And you are?" my uncle asked stiffly. He sensed it just like I did. This guy was bad news.

"Damian Vlas, it's a pleasure, may I come in?" he smiled showing his pearly white fangs. His lime green eyes traveled over to me. I felt the disgusting things look me up and down. What did he want? Damian licked one of fangs and winked at me. Ewwww……

"No." Uncle Jameson, after looking at my expression, slammed the heavy oak door in his face.

"I guess that means they know I'm here and that it's almost my 18th birthday." I sighed, heavily. My life just got worse. I sat down on the first step on the staircase, sadly.

"Everything will work out, небольшой волк." Uncle Jameson wrapped one of his arms around my shoulders to give me some comfort, but I still didn't feel better. That Vlas guy wanted me to be his slave. If he didn't, he wouldn't be here. What am I going to do?!

"Yeah, you just need faith," Alexander's voice rang out from above us. Both looking back, Uncle Jameson and I saw him standing towards the top of the steps. "We have to go find you a husband … or at least a pretend one." He smiled brightly.

"He can pretend to be engaged to me so they leave me alone!" It was a perfect idea, but it wasn't long term. Eventually I would have to get married to really escape them. "But where could we find one here? The boys at school are all butt munches."

"Then we have to go to the Coffin Club," he said, matter-of-factly.

"The Coffin Club?" I stared blankly at him before he pulled me up the stairs, and into my room.

"Get an outfit. We're going out!" Alexander smiled and picked up the phone. "Raven and I will help you, no matter what." He dialed the number I knew was Raven's and he began talking. I wasn't listening to what he was saying. I was more interested in looking at my closet. What could I wear to the Coffin Club?

In no time at all, the three of us were standing outside the Coffin Club. It was lucky that today was a Friday. If it was a weekday, Raven couldn't have come. And I realized she was the female best friend I had always wanted. I had never had that with Loony, but how did I find it in her after only a couple hours? After Alexander called her she came right over wearing her own clubbing outfit and helped me pick out mine.

I looked down at the green and black outfit I was wearing. The entire dress that didn't even come close to my knees in length was black with lime green stitching. The black netting stuck out at the skirt and my lime green fishnets and converse finished the ensemble off. My hair was still green as well. I smiled when I noticed we were closer to the door. This might be fun!

"Come on! this way!" Raven grabbed my hand and dragged me through the crowd of dancing people. We stopped at a door shaped like coffin. How ironic. Using a key she pulled out of her purse, she opened the door. I followed her in.

"Wow," I gasped looking all around. This place was amazing.

"Isn't it?" She smiled at me and grabbed my hand once again. She dragged me past more people and through some rooms. She introduced me to two other girls she knew. They both were vampires. For a human, Raven was sure in deep in our world. Eventually I surprised her by knowing a few vampires, myself. They were neighbors and friends of vampires I had known in Romania.

"I'm going to go to bar. I'm thirsty," I laughed pulling away from Raven, Scarlet and Onyx.

"Okay," they said in unison. I smiled and pushed past people to the bar. I sat down on one of the stools, to notice a purple-haired leather-clad guy sitting next to me. I raised my eyebrow and laughed.

"Are you joking?" I turned to him and laughed harder.

"Shut up. Don't blow my cover," he leaned over and whispered to me.

"Whatever, nice hair though." I smiled and nudged him away. He nudged me back before walking off in the direction that I was pretty sure Raven was. I laughed once more, watching as Alexander disappeared in the crowd of people.

"Enjoying yourself?" a voice I knew asked me, causing my breath to hitch in my throat. Why was he here? Did Alexander know he was going to be here? Yeah! He did! He brought me here on purpose, so we would see each other. I turned and looked at the boy who had plagued my dreams since childhood. His red-tipped, white hair hung elegantly around his face and onto his back. His eyes, one green, one blue, stared at me. I blushed lightly and looked down at my nails. In my mind he was the most beautiful man in the world, and I didn't expect to see him face to face after all these years.

"Hi," I said releasing the breath in my throat.

"Hi?" he questioned, like he didn't know me. Anger pulsed through my veins and then I realized maybe he just didn't recognize me. "Is this your first time here?"

"Yeah," I answered honestly. I wonder how long it will take him to realize that it's me.

"Alone?" he asked. Oh you wish.. don't you? I smiled innocently at him.

"No, two of my friends brought me."

"I'm Jagger." I was tempted to say 'I know', but I bit my tongue. He has to figure it out on his own.

"Meda, pleasure." My smile never faltered. Meda was my name … well half of it anyway.

"The pleasure is all mine." He smiled back, sending little tingles up and down my very being. "Would you like to dance?" He hopped off the stool and held out a pale hand for me. Without hesitation, I took it. Even though the music was fast he pulled me close to him and we swayed back and forth together. I felt safe in his arms and I breathed in his familiar scent. In only one day I met two friends, one new and one old.

End of chapter 2

Please review. Just to let you all know the two Russian words that jameson says mean little wolf. Thanks for the other reviews and stuff and I hope you like this chapter too. XD