CHAPTER TWO
It was a cold, cold, day the day I met Jake. I remember every detail exactly.
Flashback:
I slid down against the brick wall of a building, and looked up at the sky around me. Black, stormy, ugly. Ugh.
I shivered in the cold, helpless. I couldn't have risked staying with my human family- I would have given in to the venom in my throat and bitten them all, dooming them to a miserable life as a vampire.
I didn't even have an umbrella with me. You're so pathetic, Ariella, I thought.
But then… I saw him.
He was fairly good-looking for his age; tall, slim, the slightest bit muscular, short chocolate-brown hair; the only thing that gave him away was his alabaster skin- and his burning ocher eyes.
Yes, the moment I saw those burning eyes, I knew he was a vampire, too. He didn't quite look like a Newbie; instead, he more fit the role of an Intermediate vampire; a vampire who had been around for a couple of years.
The boy caught my eye, and I waved at him for help, praying that he would have the kindness in his no longer-beating heart to help me.
I let out a breath of relief when I saw him stride towards me- I hadn't even realized I was holding my breath.
The boy knelt down next to me, immediately placing his big , warm, wool coat over me. "What's your name?" he asked softly, helping me up and leading me across the street.
"Ariella," I replied. "But call me Rella." The boy smiled. "My name's Jacob," he replied. "But call me Jake." He smiled at me warmly, and he told me funny jokes the whole walk to where he lived.
I knew by the end of that walk that this was the beginning of a great friendship- a friendship that I hoped would never end.
End of Flashback
I smiled, comforted by the presence of all of those warm memories. Every day I was more and more grateful for Jake; he was a true angel, sent from Heaven, and I loved him to pieces. As a friend, of course.
Jake looked at me, cocking his head. "What is it?" he asked. "You're smiling quite a toothy grin."
My smile slowly faded- I didn't want to keep it on for too long, because then it would slowly grow fake as we talked about other things; things I didn't exactly love.
Like being a vampire, for example.
"Oh, just… memories," I replied vaguely. Jake nodded. "I think I know what you're talking about," he said softly. "Not like you need to ask," I half-scoffed.
Jake's a mind reader, so he doesn't have to ask people questions if he wants to know something; he could easily barge into their minds and read every personal thought they're having or have ever had in their whole lifetime. But Jake's too polite to do stuff like that; Jake is a gentleman, and he always will be.
I hope. I don't like the fact that Jake could read every thought I've had if he wanted to; but at least I'm prepared if there does come a day when Jake's…
When Jake's come to the Dark Side.
‡‡‡
No, life isn't like Star Wars for vampires and Special Ones. It's actually quite simpler than that; there's a Dark Side and there's a Light Side.
Most vampires are on the Light Side, though there are the rare few vampires who are on the Dark Side, and the occasional vampire spy.
But the Special Ones are a different matter.
Way different.