Do you ever feel like you know what you want from a story but you don't know quite how to get there? That's where I am. Enjoy!

(I don't own the Vampire Academy/Bloodlines series')

"Are you okay?" I asked Zoe as I locked the door to our room. I turned to face her and she was sitting on one of the guest beds. She seemed a little worried. No... that wasn't the right word. She seemed... perplexed.

"I'm fine. It's just," she paused and shook her head. "I never expected them to act so... you know, human."

That certainly wasn't what I expected. "Well what did you think they would be like?"

"I don't know. Not like that. They acted like they were normal people. Like people I would see around school."

I hesitated. "Do you want to know how I used to deal with it? With them?" Zoe looked up at me with curiosity.

"Okay. Who's the biggest jerk you've ever met?"

"Byron Moore." My sister wrinkled her nose. "He's such an asshole. He's always ripping people off and making fun of people."

"And compared to him, do the vampires downstairs seem so bad?"

Zoe thought about it. "That's the problem. They don't. I know they're different. They look different and they shouldn't exist! But..." She shrugged helplessly. "I don't know."

I said softly, "How do you feel about that?"

My little sister looked at me, and I saw something change. Her eyes got a steely resolve.
"I won't let them trick me," she said firmly. "I know what they are, and they aren't corrupting my soul."

I sighed. Zoe mistook it for relief and smiled. "Don't worry Sydney," she said, "I won't let you down." Then she hugged me.

It was so hard to hug her back. I mean, I love my sister, I really do. But every time she looked at me and smiled with such sincerity I felt like I wanted to vomit. I felt dirty for lying. Then again, what was I supposed to do? Leave Adrian again? Then we'd both be miserable, and Jill would get the side affects. I was tired of lying to myself, and I was tired of lying to those closest to me too. Unfortunately, it had to be one or the other.

I was stuck between a rock and a hard place, only the choice was simple. I had to keep lying to Zoe to keep everything from falling apart. The hard part was having the strength to do it.
I stood. "I'm going downstairs for a drink. Do you want anything?" She shook her head. Lacking anything else to say, I walked towards the doorway.

"Sydney?" I heard Zoe call out. I turned. "Who did you use? When you compared someone to vampires, who was it?"

I hesitated. Something told me that saying Keith's name wouldn't be a good idea. Instead I said, "Maybe I'll tell you someday. Lock the door," I added. Closing the door behind me, I sighed again. This was going to be a lot harder that I thought.

I really needed coffee.

A few minutes later I was in the kitchen waiting for my coffee to brew. Clarence's espresso machine was ancient, but it made the best coffee. As I was waiting, I felt someone's arms wrap around my waist. I gasped.

"Your sister does look like you," I heard Adrian whisper in my ear. My heart raced. "She's not as cute though."

Before I could muster a reply, Adrian brought his lips down to my neck, and whatever I had to say was lost. All my attention had turned to wherever his body was touching mine. Electricity spread quickly through my body. Had it really been a day since we were together in person? It felt like so much longer. I tried to get myself back on track.

"You shouldn't have messed with Zoe like that," I muttered. I had hoped to sound more stern, but he was distracting me.

"Why not?" he asked, spinning me around to face him. His green eyes were glimmering and his face had gotten so, so close to mine.

"I- it wasn't nice," I stammered, grasping for something else to say. "She was nervo-"

Adrian cut off my words with his lips, and I didn't protest. Mostly because my focus was all on him now. The taste of his lips, the heat of his touch. My arms went around his waist and my fingers got caught in his hair. Kissing Adrian never got old. It was always a rush of excitement, like a roller coaster. No matter how many time you go on, you always come off feeling breathless.
It wasn't until I smelled coffee that my synapses started firing and I remembered where I was. I pulled back- oh so slowly -and said, "You're still not off the hook yet."

"I know." He smiled and pulled away. "But I've been waiting all day to do that."

I laughed. "I couldn't tell. Maybe you should be an actor instead of an artist."

"I could go for that. I'd be the next Zac Effron."

"I'd say Johnny Depp. He suits you better."

Adrian chuckled. "I'll give you that one, Sage. How's you're sister holding up?"
The mention of Zoe instantly dimmed the good mood Adrian had put me in. "Well, she's convinced that all of you are unholy creatures that shouldn't exist. Other than that? She's a little homesick."
Adrian sighed. "I guess I understand that. But if we're unholy, what's she gonna say about her witch of a sister?"

I groaned. "I have no idea." And I didn't. Recently I've been taking things one at a time. "I guess I'll deal with that when we get to it. Although," I backed up even more and pulled out my phone. "I should probably text Ms. Terwilliger about Zoe later."

"Do you think Zoe has any special powers too? She's your sister, after all."

I looked up at Adrian, surprised that he'd thought of a problem that I hadn't even considered. "I don't know," I said after a moment of thought. "But I'd better get back upstairs. If I'm down here any longer,

Zoe will think that one of you took me as a snack."
Adrian didn't say anything, but he backed up and leaned on the refrigerator. "We're really not going to be able to spend any time together," he said. "I mean, I know that's what you said but..." Adrian shook his head.

"I'm sorry." I didn't know what else to say. For whatever reason, it gave him a hint of a smile.

"What are you apologizing for?"

I looked at him helplessly. "I don't really know. You just looked so sad-"

Adrian's lips found mine again, but they were gentler this time. The kiss wasn't as intense as our others, but that didn't make it less amazing. This time, it was him who pulled away first.

"We'll be fine," he said, kissing my forehead and walking behind me. I turned and watched him pour my coffee into a mug and add non-fat milk.

"I never knew you were paying attention to how I make my coffee," I said.

"I pay attention to everything you do." Adrian handed me the mug. "You were the one who wasn't paying attention." I stuck my tongue out at him. He just grinned as I turned around to leave. "Sydney?"

I glanced behind me. "Where do you want to go tonight in the dream?"

I smiled and made my way up the stairs. "Surprise me," I called out.

I just hoped it would be a good surprise and not some strip club. Sometimes with Adrian you could never really tell.