Hey. How'd you guys like the last chapter? Good? Well, I hope you like this one.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Cirque Du Freak or Darren. But, man, I WISH I owned Darren. He's a cutie! Anyways…on with the story.

Darren found Phoenix drawing in the mud by a creek—with a waterfall by the way—with a stick absent-mindedly about a mile away from where the cirque was. He sighed in relief at the sight of her and stepped in the small clearing. She lifted her head, saw him, and went back to her dirt-doodling.

"Whatcha doing?" he asked as he sat next to her on the grass.

She shrugged and threw her stick, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.

"Thinking, I guess." She replied quietly.

"You GUESS?"

She smiled and nodded at him. She stared at the creek for a while, oblivious to Darren's staring at her.

"Darren?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, Phoenix?" he said, turning to the red-eyed girl.

"Do you think I'm…evil?"

He was thrown off guard by her question. Of COURSE he didn't think she was evil. She was too nice to be evil.

"Evil? Why would you ask such a thing, Phoenix? Do YOU think you're 'evil'?"

She shrugged and continued to stare at the stillness of the creek's waters. He looked at the waters also and found it very soothing. He looked back at the girl and he saw tears at the corners of her fiery eyes. His eyebrows furrowed. She shouldn't be sad. She didn't DESERVE to be sad.

"Why do you think you're evil?"

"I don't know. People tell you things and you eventually start to believe them." She slowly wiped the tear away.

"Well then, I'm TELLING you that you aren't evil."

She turned towards him and smiled before going back to watch the still waters.

"Uh, Phoenix?"

"Yes?" she asked, turning to him.

She gasped softly at how close they were. Merely, INCHES apart. Within kissing distance. She gulped and stared at his soft-looking lips.

"Y-yes?"

Darren bit his lip, questioning if he should do this. He smiled mentally and leaned in towards Phoenix.

Their lips met and everything was fine now. There was no such thing as evil or vampires. There was no 'Cirque Du Freak'. There was only Phoenix and Darren. Two teens who cared DEEPLY for the other.

Darren kissed her lips once more before pulling away. She growled at his distance and pulled his lips back against hers. He smirked and slowly, and softly, began to move his lips in sync with hers. She leaned back and stretched her legs out. He laid her gently on the grass and leaned over her, careful to make sure she didn't feel ANY of his weight.

She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him even closer. He was looming over her now and had to use his hands to keep him up. He looked like he was getting ready to do some push ups. This thought made Phoenix giggle.

He pulled back and stared at her in surprise.

"A-are you LAUGHING at me?!" he asked with a wide smile and eyes.

She started to shake her head 'no' but then started shaking it 'yes' and continued to laugh. She rolled onto her side slightly and laughed loudly. Darren rolled off of her and stared at the sky.

"Wow," was all he could say. "I kiss you and you…LAUGH. Fail, Darren, FAIL."

"You looked…like…you were…going…to…work out!" she yelled in between laughs.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "That's funny…HOW?"

"Because," she said, still laughing, "You don't work out."

"I can work out!" he yelled, obviously offended. "I DO work out!"

She shook her head and laughed some more. He pouted and got up, dusting off his jeans and started to walk off. Phoenix rolled onto her belly and grabbed his pants leg, still quietly laughing.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to laugh."

He turned and went back to her. "Are you done laughing now?"

She nodded and tried to suppress her giggles, her shoulders still shaking with laughter. He rolled his eyes and silenced her with a rough kiss, replacing her giggles with a moan. He smirked against her mouth.

"Who's laughing now?" he asked quietly against her soft lips.

"Shut up," she mumbled against his kiss.

A figure watched in the shadows at the two teens, glaring at their mouth-to-mouth contact. They were too close, too soon for him. He stepped further into the shadows and eventually flitted* away.

How'd you like this chapter? I'd love to hear your opinion. Comment and Review. Sorry the chapter is so short! Please forgive me!

*Flitted-key word. Can you guess who the figure was? Evra? Mr. Crepsley? Mr. Tall? Put it in your review. Thanks guys!

--alice