Chapter 2: Train in Vain

After Paul and Shelby had gotten dressed once more – Paul had let her borrow one of his leather jackets – they rode their motorcycles out to what David described as one of their favorite places. Shelby spent the entire ride contemplating where they were going. But, sitting with her arms wrapped around Paul's middle as he drove his motorcycle hell knows where almost felt peaceful. She knew she wasn't 100% part of the group yet – David didn't seem like a very big fan of hers – but she was halfway there, and that was good enough. Watching the scenery around them roll by, she built up in her mind that they were going someplace either really exotic or really remote. So, when they wound up on a bridge – with train tracks going up and down it – she felt a tad disappointed.

"Uhh… What's going on?"

She watched Paul smile at her words. David did the same. "Shelby wants to know what's going on." He informed the boys, laughter in his voice. "Marko – what's going on?"

"I don't know –," Marko turned to look at Paul, "What's going on Paul?"

"Wait a minute – who wants to know?" He chuckled, happily, crossing over to put an arm around her waist.

"Shelby wants to know!" Dwayne howled, laughing.

After high-fiving him, Paul pressed his cheek to her forehead, a grin on his face. She looked from boy to boy, her eyebrows raised, excited and nervous at the same time.

"I think we should let Shelby know what's going on." David said.

Paul snorted, "Yeah."

With his arm still around her waist, they turned to watch Marko as he stepped to the edge of the bridge. He glanced over at her and smiled, waving. "Good night, Shelby." And without a single trace of fear, he stepped off the side of the tracks, "Bombs away…!"

She let out a gasp of surprise, but Paul winked at her – as Dwayne moved over to the spot Marko had just disappeared from. He pointed his fingers at her, like loaded guns, and then jumped off the edge as well. As soon as he was out of sight, David made his way forward to say, in an almost seductive whisper: "Come with us, Shelby."

She blinked, unaware of what to say, just as he turned and leaped off the bridge. Their voices could be heard from beneath their feet – so they obviously weren't dead – but she couldn't work out what had just happened.

Sensing her un-ease, Paul pulled her close to breathe in her ear; "You don't have to do it if you don't want to. But – if you do – I promise you'll be okay."

She could hear the various things that the boys were yelling from wherever the hell they were, and took a deep breath. "Are you sure?"

He cocked his head, playfully, "Come on, sassy – don't you trust me yet?"

Then, he held out his hand to her.

And – wordlessly – she reached out and took it.

Pulling her along to the edge, he turned to grin at her. "Bottom's up, babe."

She giggled, shakily, and moved forward to jump off the side with him.

At first, she felt certain that she was going to die. All she knew – the only constant fact she held in her mind – was that Paul had her hand clutched tightly in his. The rest was darkness… and cold air whipping at her face.

But, just as soon as it had started, everything stopped. Opening her eyes, slowly, she was shocked to discover that she was still in once piece. Somehow – fuck if she knew – her free hand was now holding onto one of the bars on the bottom of the tracks. Her other hand was still clasped in Paul's – who was hanging beside her, clinging to another bar. Her feet dangled in the open air, and she let out a relieved sigh. Were she still human, she definitely wouldn't have been able to hold onto the metal strip for long. A moment or two, maybe, but not like this. She didn't feel worn out or weak – she felt so incredibly strong… and powerful.

Looking over at the blonde vampire, she smiled – which made him grin, too. "You okay?"

As she nodded, Marko piped up: "Fuck – where's the train?"

David quieted him, "Patience, boys, is a virtue – of the highest sort."

"Naaahh," Paul shook his head, "Patience is for pussies."

Marko snickered, "Leave it to you to bring pussies into the conversation, man. You have so much –," He glanced at Shelby, then back to Paul, "– knowledge pertaining to the subject."

Everyone laughed, as Paul kicked at his friend with his feet, swinging his legs forward. "I think he's a little – what's the right word? – jealous." Shelby observed, watching as the two boys kicked back and forth at each other. "I mean, when was the last time you got any, Marko?"

They stopped playing around; Marko's cheeks glowing scarlet as Paul laughed silently.

"I get why you call her 'Sassy' now, Paul." Dwayne said, matter-of-factly. She winked at him, and – though slightly taken aback – he returned the gesture, jokingly, from where he hung beside David.

"So what's the point of this?" She questioned, giggling when Paul squeezed her hand, which was still clasped in his.

Marko smirked, "No point. We're just crazy fuckers." He stuck his tongue out in an overly perverted fashion.

She rolled her eyes, as David gave her an answer: "Uh, Sassy – is it? – you're about to see what the point is. Any minute n-,"

His words were cut off by the distant sound of a train whistle. Taken by surprise, Shelby let out a small gasp, just as Paul dropped her hand to grip the train with both hands. She did the same, holding on tight. Looking from boy to boy, she realized that this was what they'd come for – the main attraction. Jumping off the bridge was only the opening act; it was time for the headliner. The thought of this alarmed her a little – but the grins that each of the boys were sporting relaxed her. She knew she was in for a wild ride, and smiled – in spite of herself.

"Hold on!" David shouted.

As the train started onto the bridge, the entire line of tracks began to shake steadily. Marko gave a yell of excitement, which the other guys mimicked, jovially. The tracks rocked above them, causing all of them to vibrate in time with it. Shelby's grip on the metal bars tightened, as her whole body was shaken back and forth. Despite the fact that this whole endeavor of theirs was ridiculously stupid, she let out a "Whoo-hoo!", which was barely audible over the thumping of the train. Looking to her right, she saw Paul head-banging and laughed. David was cheering, Dwayne wolf-whistling, and Marko howling; She could used to doing shit like this every night.

But, jut when it had started to get fun, Dwayne let go of the bar, and, shouting, fell down into the mist below.

"What the fuck?" She exclaimed, the train still roaring overhead.

"Don't be scared, Shelby!" Marko assured her, before following Dwayne – letting go and disappearing into the fog.

Paul was laughing, but she didn't get what was so hilarious. Everything she'd experienced up to that point made this look like a suicide mission…

David dropped one of his hands, before shouting, "You are one of us, Shelby; Let go!"

She didn't know what to say, but screamed when he, too, let his grip on the bar slide, and fell. After he disappeared, the train finally made it off the tracks, and the roaring faded until silence filled the air. Gasping, her chest tightening up on her, she heard the boys' voices from beneath her, and looked over to Paul.

"Paul…" She had no words, but managed to spit out: "The fuck?"

He nodded, "I know. It's fucking crazy – I know."

Marko's distant voice rose above David's and Dwayne's, screaming, "Come on, Shelby!"

"You don't have to let go, if you don't want to, but –," He looked at her, guiltily, "– there's no other option than to fall. You can't get back up on top of the bridge from here."

"So – what the fuck? – I'm just supposed to… trust you? Again?"

Paul sighed, closing his eyes for a long moment, as Dwayne's voice rang out: "Quit touching each other and get down here!"

"Shut up, man!" Paul yelled, which caused the boys to laugh, before looking back to Shelby, "I promise you'll be okay."

She huffed, "You said that last time…"

"And did anything happen to you?" He asked, "No. So come with me." Extending his hand to her, he snickered, "Come on, princess – it's not like you can die twice, right?"

Shelby looked down at the swirling mist beneath them, then back up to him. "Alright." She gave in, reaching out and taking his hand once more. His fingers twined through hers, and she felt calmness settle through her, as she stroked the back of his hand with her thumb.

"Ready?"

She nodded, "Ready."

He winked at her, "Okay – on three. One… two… three –!"

They both let go, free falling into the fog – together.

A/N: If you liked this chapter, please leave me a little review (they make my day :D) and I'll update again ASAP :)