CHAPTER ONE JUST AN ORDINARY GIRL
"This class is so boring." Layla said quietly as she rolled her pencil around in her hands. The second to last period of the day, was always social studies with Ms. What-a-snooze-Hughes. It was also my best friend's least favorite part of the day.
"Especially if you can tell what she is going to say next." I muttered to myself. She had no idea. It sucks to know what's going to happen all the time. There are never any surprises… well… most of the time.
"You say something?" Layla asked lazily while popping her gum loudly. I nodded no then began taking notes on the facts she was about to tell us in her painfully slow voice.
"Are you seriously taking notes?" She asked bewildered. I nodded again, and then she looked at me funny. Of course it didn't occur to her that maybe taking notes is how I remember it all. That's just not how Layla thinks. Its probably a good thing she isn't so observant, otherwise she would know my secret by now. "Its not like you need to, you always get A's and you don't study. What's the point of taking notes?" She told me, snapping me back to reality. I thought for a moment then smiled.
"I take them, for the morons who sleep, draw or pop their gum annoyingly loud in class when they should be taking notes because they're getting a D+." I said to her. She smiled then discretely mouthed a thank you while the teacher walked by. I smiled wider. "It's so gonna cost you." I said wickedly. Her smile faded and turned into an 'I want to kill you so bad right now' look. I quickly dropped my head down to my paper, pretending to take a note while the teacher passed by again.
The worst part about this class for me, was when Mrs. Hughes talked, she waved her arms around a lot. It didn't usually bother me, but today something about her scent was actually tempting, and that's saying something because old lady, doesn't taste that good. The luscious smell whirled around me for a few moments after she hovered over me to look at my notes. I held my breath then griped the bottom of the desk hard, probably denting the metal. She looked up from my book, smiled slightly, then turned to the desk next to me and frowned.
"Did her eyes just turn black? Oh shit here come Ms. Snooze. Shit I didn't take any notes. Shit she is going to give me a-"Layla thought.
"Detention, Ms. Carson. Don't be late." She said to Layla. I laughed silently then began to draw in my notebook.
"Hey Nikki? You think you could, um, work your magic and um, get me out of detention please? You know I have that date with Daemon tomorrow and I can't miss it!" She whispered to me. I sighed then nodded my head slightly and she almost jumped out of her seat in joy. "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! You are the best friend ever!" She whispered loudly. I shushed her then whispered back. "You owe me big." I said as the bell rang dismissing us to our last periods which happened to be gym for us.
Vampire Note #1
As a vampire I have ability to never be refused. In other words, I could get myself, as well as my friends, out of trouble no matter the situation. This was not something that I did all the time. If I did the teachers would have noticed that I always got my way and gotten suspicious. I remember one time Layla, Emily and I got caught passing notes in our least favorite teachers class (Science with Mr. Rodriguez (we called him Rodrigo along with the rest of the sophomore class) and all I had to do was flirt my way out of the perverts detention once and he never bothered us again. Once my friends witnessed that, they used it to their advantage. I didn't mind this too much as long as it was for the benefit of all of us and my task wasn't too dirty.
"Well, ready for gym?" Layla asked while messing with her straight black and purple bang and popping her gum. I looked out the window. It was getting sunny so I had to hurry.
"Nah. I'm skipping. Tell everyone to be at the diner by seven okay. Have fun in gym." I said then ran out of the classroom while putting my sunglasses. I ran to my locker and packed my homework in my ATL backpack. I had to be fast because the teachers would be patrolling the hallways after the second bell rang. I ran out one of the side doors to the huge high school building at a particularly fast human speed, hearing the thoughts of others as I left.
"She is so weird. Oh well love her anyway. Hum, Daemon is in my next class maybe we can-"I blocked out her thoughts then began to run home. I looked both ways and saw two cars coming ridiculously fast then ran across the street quicker than the human eye could see, running home at the same speed.
Vampire Note #2
It's a fact, or at least it would be if people knew about us, that vampires love speed. It's a necessity. I always enjoy running across the street as fast as possible it brings back that adrenaline feeling received on roller coasters when I was human.
Sun was not a friend of vampires, therefore not a friend of mine. In the sun we have to wear sunglasses. I don't know why, specifically, I just know that it hurts not to and that I was told to do so. See, I don't know who changed me. I don't know where and I certainly don't know why. What I do remember is the fire. It hurt so much more than words can describe. When I woke up I was vaguely explained to what had happened and the rules by someone and then I was told to go back home and never return to where I was. That was never a problem, nor ever will be, because whoever did this to me made pretty sure I could never find them again.
I fumbled with my key then opened the door. I stepped into the medium sized house I called home then was greeted by my big hairy dog Grover. After being drooled on for a few seconds I shooed him off. I walked into the kitchen dropping my bag onto the floor on the way, and then placed my keys on the tray table.
I always found it both relieveing and somewhat abnormal that no matter how thirsty I was I would never even think about hurting my dog. When I got into the kitchen I saw a note. It smelled like my mothers handwriting.
"Natalia," it read "I have some office work to do and your father had a lawyers club meeting tonight… again," I rolled my eyes. Of coarse my father was at a meeting, when wasn't he? "so you guys are gonna be alone tonight until late. I will call and check on you later. Be nice to your brother" I snickered slightly then went on "and don't bother cooking dinner for just the two of us, I'll grab something on the way home. Make sure Matt and James eat chicken nuggets for dinner and not one of the five other crappy foods they eat, ok? Don't have anyone over and keep the windows and doors locked. I'll be back home around midnight as will your father. Don't wait up" I laughed at her clueless to my not sleeping at all then finished "Love, mommy. P.S. no cooking, only use the microwave…" and then she went on listing the rules for my brother and I when she wasn't home. Sometimes she made me feel like such a 10 year old.
I sighed. My homework would only take me a few minutes so I decided to do it later. What I needed to do was hunt. I needed to hunt badly, but I didn't want to go.
Vampire Note #3
I knew I had to hunt for many reasons. One, my throat itched. The back of my throat would burn and itch until my thirst was quenched. Two, I felt an extreme amount of temptation toward any living thing that happened to be near by. Three, the voice inside of you tells you horrible tempting things that if you don't know better, you listen to/do without a second thought. Four, my eyes. A vampire's eyes turn black if they need to hunt and/or when a living thing with blood gets near and waves there scent around. Most of the time all three symptoms come at the same time and it is very… unpleasant.
Hunting is dreadful. It is something vampires (Well most of them) do not enjoy. I, being a vegetarian, chose the humane path and feed on animals with large populations instead of humans. It was something I picked up from a book I had read in the eight grade about vampires. None the less I still felt horrible about having to kill animals for my own life and probably will always feel that way.
I always felt horrible after hunting. No matter what I did I was a monster and didn't deserve to have friends or family members that cared about me.
I always felt bad about lying to my friends and family but decided it was safer for them not to know, and truthfully deep inside I was afraid that they would hate me or expose me and I didn't want to deal with it.
Deciding I had no choice, I ran upstairs with inhuman speed and grabbed a hoodie that was big enough to cover most of my upper body and put it on, hood and all so that no skin was exposed. I ran back downstairs, took my keys off the tray table then stopped to look at the mirror. I was just as pale as usual, if not even more so and most of my features were the same, that is except my eyes.
My usually green-blue eyes were eerily black with hunger. I picked up my sunglasses off my head, put them on, and then walked back out the front door. I went into the garage, jumped into my beat up second hand sebring then revved up the unnessarily loud engine. Then I backed out of the garage, going over eighty miles an hour and not even on the highway yet.
I got on the highway which, luckily, was deserted, then slammed down on the gas pedal, driving even faster than my usual break neck speed. I drove until I reached my exit then made a sharp turn into a small parking lot off the side of the road. There was a map on the left side of the road showing the best trails in order to avoid them. I continued to run into the woods until I smelled a sweet vanilla smelling smell that stopped in my tracks. I waited for the animal to move closer to me then pounced on it, cracking its neck then biting down, drinking the sweet smelling liquid though my retracted sharp teeth. I drank until it was dry then picked up a near by tree, placed the animal carcass under it, then placed the tree back into the ground. I repeated the process a few more times until the itch at the back of my throat was gone, then I sighed deeply.
"Monster." It echoed, "Monster." It echoed again "Living off animals to survive. Endangering the lives of ones you love. Selfish. SELFISH you are. You are a stupid, dreadful, vampire." The monster echoed. I frowned then taped a tree with the tip of my toe, forgetting my own strength, and sending it flying into the distance. "Shit." I muttered to myself then ran to pick it up. I returned the tree moments later and placed it back in its original place. I checked my watch. My brothers were going to be home soon, if not already and if I wasn't there around the time they were they would call my mom and tattle on me, so I began to run back to the car.
Vampire Note #4
My junior year of high school was going to end in two weeks, which meant my amazing vacation was in two weeks and two days. My friends and I had managed to convince our parents to let us drive down to Ocean City, New Jersey to stay at the Waldwick hotel on the beach, with no parental supervision for a whole week.
I had to shake the feeling that I was the worst creature on the planet before I went out tonight because my friends would notice and would question me more than they usually I took a few clensing breaths I ran back to the car in under a minute, then got in and sat there. I popped in the Rise Against CD that was hanging out of the CD player and sang along all the way home. I had driven much slower this time so it took me about a half hour to get home. When I got home my brothers were sitting on the couch staring at the television screen intently, playing video games. They mumbled a hello then continued to play. I waited until they finished what they were doing, then once they put the controller down and looked up at me I spoke.
"So, how was your day guys?" I asked them as they looked up into my face staring at my bright green-blue eyes.
"Gee I don't know what words could describe what a shitty day I had. Boring teachers, long classes, annoying friends, 57's on your math tests. Just your typical day of seventh grade I guess." James thought. I smiled getting exactly what I needed as blackmail, and then laughed at how sarcastic he was in his thoughts as well as in person.
"Ugh, why does she even bother asking, she knows what were gonna say anyway." Matt thought. I was a bit stunned at his thought but after a moment I decided he didn't mean anything from it.
"As good as it can be in seventh grade you know? The classes become repetitive after a while." Matt said before James could say something stupid. Matthew was the brains of the two.
"No bad grades Matt?" He nodded no. "James? How 'bout you?" I asked him waiting to see if he would tell me then truth though knowing he wouldn't. He shook his head no then I smiled evilly. "Look. I know you got a 57 on your last math test, so here's the deal. Cover for me tonight and I won't tell them about your grade. Deal?" I asked him. He looked at me in shock then agreed unhappily.
"Listen when mom calls tonight when she asks for me tell her I am in the shower. That's all I am asking you to do ok. Then keep both your mouths shut and I'll keep mine." I said then grabbed my bag and ran up the stairs at a human speed.
Vampire Note #6
Neither my parents, nor my brothers knew I was a vampire, or ever suspected it. No one ever did. They believed vampires were myths, and I didn't blame them for thinking so. Hell, I wish I still did, and I had, up until two years ago. I am now seventeen and living an ordinary life, as a wealthy ordinary girl, or at least I seemed to be to everyone else.
I walked into my room, which had recently been painted black and red, my favorite colors, then plopped down into my desk chair, and took out my Trig homework. Within five minutes it was done and correct for sure. Then I did the same with my History, Physics, English, Spanish, and Latin homework then placed it all back into my bag.
I then pressed play on my ihome and Saosin's Your Not Alone blasted into my speakers. I then took out my black and red nail polish and slowly painted my nails black. Then when the black dried I painted red tips on them then waited until it dried.
After that I went into my closet, which consisted of black and dark colored jeans, soccer shorts, band t-shirts and a tight black and red fancy dress for special occasions and a few other fancy dresses and pulled off my My Chemical Romance T-shirt and put on one of my Three Days Grace t-shirts. Then I switched hoodies to a tight white one with the Thirty Seconds to Mars logo on the back and threw the big one I had grabbed earlier onto the closet floor. I then decided to put on a few more studded belts over my jeans, just for style. Then I looked for shoes. I searched for at least 5 minutes (which is REALLY long in vampire time) and ended up pulling out my red converse. I took off my sunglasses and let my eyes adjust to the light then put some blue eyeliner and mascara on, which only took a few minutes. Once I replaced my sunglasses I felt much calmer and much healthier.
I checked the clock. It was five thirty six, so I took my sunglasses off then picked up one of my favorite book, which happened to be a vampire book about a 'vegetarian' vampire named Edward who fell in love with a human but was constantly fighting with himself about how selfish he was to have interrupted this human girls life, no matter how many times the girl told him she loved him he would always say he was bad for her though tell her he loved her too.
I read the whole book again without even realizing it, then checked the clock. It was seven fifteen. I decided it was time to get out of the house and go meet the others. I pulled open my desk drawer and throughout the mess was a slightly bulky black wallet. I opened it and checked that my credit cards were in it then jammed it into the tight back pocket of my jeans. I patted my front pocket making sure that my phone was still there, grabbed my sunglasses then left my room.
I said bye to James and Matt, then walked out the front door. It was finally night fall, my favorite time of day, yet my least favorite. It was the end of another day, and yet the beginning of another long night. The moment I stepped outside my eyes hurt so I put my sunglasses back on before they adjusted to the light and I got into my car. I put the key in the ignition the music came on at a deafening level, making me let go the wheel and hold my ears. I lowered it immediately, cursing under my breath the whole time for having super sensitive vampire hearing.
I drove on the main road into uptown Midland Creek where Stanley's diner stood, mostly deserted and dimly lit. I parked next to the beat up Honda Acura I had come to know as my friend Daemon's car. Next to that was a red Mazda which I knew was my friend Emily's car because of the bumper sticker that said Emily the Strange. Then the only other car in the parking lot was a black Cadillac CT, mid condition which was my boyfriend Tony's car. I shut the music then got out of the car checking my outfit. I messed with my hoodie until it wasn't wrinkled then checked my hair. My straight blonde, red and black hair was tied back as usual behind my head into a sharp ponytail, letting my bang hang loose in front of my right eye. After deciding I looked fine I walked across the parking lot and went into the diner. The first thing I noticed was Tony's voice in my head.
"My GOD she is so fucking hot!" Tony thought. And before I could ask the lady where my friends were sitting I heard Emily screaming.
"Over here Nik!" Emily yelled across the room and motioned for me to come and sit. I walked over then sat down next to Tony.
"Hi guys." I said to them "Hey babe" I said to Tony. He smiled lightly then took my sunglasses off for me. "There now everyone can see your gorgeous eyes." He thought. He then kissed me on the cheek.
"Hey how was your day?" I asked him while he handed my sunglasses back to me. He looked at me, and then looked away. I looked at the others for an explanation to his behavior but they shrugged just as unsure as I was. I leaned over, making the distance from my lips and his ear minimal then whispered.
"I can't whatever it is better if I don't know what it is Tony. Please tell me." I whispered into his ear then kissed it. I heard his heart speed up and I stifled a laugh. He frowned then looked at me. I moved back then let him speak.
"My parents said that if I don't pass the Trig final that I can't go to Ocean City with you guys… and…" He stopped, grimacing slightly. I looked at him, indicating him to go on. "That and I won't be able to see you anymore." He whispered slightly angered. I was shocked. Tony's parents usually didn't give a shit about his grades.
"That's okay," I said while hugging one of my knees on the booth's seat. Everyone looked at me like I was crazy, especially Tony. "Because you are not going to fail." I told him.
"Nikki, I am not smart like you. There is no way on earth I could pass that final." He told me. I smiled lightly then was struck with an idea.
"What if I tutor you? Yeah, that's a good idea." I said thinking aloud. "I am going to tutor you. Hacuna Matata chico. No worries. I'll get you to pass if it's the last thing I do." I told him. He smiled.
"Fine, but the day you get me to pass is the day I believe in the monster in my closet." He joked. I laughed lightly, then grimaced.
"That day may be sooner than you think." I mumbled to myself.
Vampire Note #7
I knew one day my life as a vampire would affect the lives of the ones around me and I dreaded the day I had to tell them about my… problem. I also knew that because of my not aging, well I'm not supposed to be aging but I have been, people will begin to notice and it will cause trouble for me. Leaving my family and friends seems so… unreal but I know one day it is going to happen and I am dreading the day. I don't even know where I would go or what I would do. My future is approaching me quickly and I'm no where near ready.
We spent the night talking about our days and our teachers. Everyone ate except me (I had told them I had eaten at home) and enjoyed themselves. They ate and we talked until about eleven when the diner told us they wanted to close up, so we all went out to the cars. Emily and her boyfriend, Craig, left in her car, and Layla and her boyfriend (my best guy friend) Daemon, left in his car.
I placed my sunglasses back on and walked to my car door. I went to open it but it was shut seconds after. I turned around to see who had closed it, though knowing who it was, I wasn't expecting Tony to crash his lips down on mine and pull me tight to him. I kissed him back gently so that I didn't accidentally hurt him and focused on controlling the part of me that thirsted for his blood. He then placed one hand on my neck and one around my waist. This usually was the point where I would pull away from him in fear of losing control but surprisingly I didn't feel like I could have hurt him if I wanted to. Then, feeling secure, I placed both of my hands behind his neck, pulling him closer to me while he backed me into my car, pressing me to it lightly then pressing his waist to mine. I smirked under his kiss as I enjoyed his warmth against my cold body. We kissed until I was at the point where I feared that I would get carried away and Tony was out of breath.
"What was that for?" I asked him pretending to be out of breath as well.
"Well, it was mostly for me, but it's also for being the best girlfriend a guy could have ever asked for. You are amazing you know that." He said smiling the whole time he said it.
I hugged him tightly. "Not half as amazing as you think." I grumbled under my breath. I noticed I was doing a lot of that lately. "I need to get home, my parents will be home soon and I have to make like I had been there this whole time. Drive carefully." I said then pecked him on the cheek then got into the car. "Bye" I said, then drove away.
I drove home in silence and at break neck speed. I made it home at eleven thirty-five and parked the car in the garage making it look like it never left. Then, I walked into the house lazily finding my brothers hadn't moved from the couch and their eyes were still glued to the screen.
"Everything go alright?" I asked them. With my brothers you could never know if they had actually lied believably because they were so bad at it.
"Yeah she didn't suspect a thing. She just called again and said she'll be here in five minutes so you might want to change." Matt said. I thanked him then ran up to my room. It was usually dark but seeing as though it was almost midnight and it was a black room, it was pitch black, just the way I liked it.
I took my sunglasses off and I could see as though the lights were on with my vampire sight so I quickly grabbed the soccer shorts and the old Beatles shirt that was lying on the bed then went into the bathroom to change and scrub off my make-up. After doing so I reentered the room and threw the clothes into the closet, not thinking twice about hanging them up or throwing them in the hamper, then plopped down onto my bed. Sometimes I found it so useless to have a bed, but other times, like this for instance, I was glad to have one. Being physically unable to sleep I pressed play on my ihome, closed my eyes, and got lost in the music.
After a few songs I heard my mom drive into the driveway, come in the house, talk to my brothers for a few minutes, then come upstairs. I clicked off my music then pretended like I had so many times before, to be asleep. She walked in as silently as she could, which was loud for my hearing, flicked the light on low, which made me flinch and then tripped slightly over her foot. I stifled a laugh.
"Why is it always so dark in here? Ah she is so beautiful. I am so lucky to have a daughter like her, so responsible." She thought then leaned over and kissed my cheek. I felt a little guilty disobeying her, but didn't let it get to me. "Wow her skin is always so cold. Shit, its twelve thirty," She thought slightly panicky. "Good night my love." She said then left the room, closing the door behind her.
"Good Night Mom" I said as I reached over the put the music back on and then I did what I did every night. Wait.
