Please review so I know to keep going with this. No interest/no reviews, no new chapters because I will refocus my time and effort on other writing projects.

Like my writing style, check out my other stories 'If I can't have you' and "So you can be mine"

Enjoy, Birgitta

Disclaimer: I own nothing except my able mind and busy fingers *smile*

Show me What you Are.

Resembling the actions of a gentleman, Derek gives me a ride all the way home. Luckily, no one is home. Derek is not exactly the type of boy my father would approve of. Not that Jackson is an ideal candidate either but at least we are the same age and my father plays golf every Saturday's with his father. With Derek, there are so many things that I do not know… and I hate not knowing. Knowledge is a drug for me and I am a chronic abuser, always longing for the next dose.

"Thank you," I say and hand him the helmet.

Instead of taking it, Derek puts the stand down on his motorcycle and commences to study me. Any other girl would have squirmed, blushed, and trembled under such penetration. It's not I don't find him attractive, because I do. Derek has that dark sexy appeal which pulls you to him; makes you wonder and has your mind create scenarios.

"Be careful, Lydia," he suddenly tell me and the helmet almost falls from my hand. "Whatever you are up to… be careful. It's not all ponies and lip gloss. Stay away from the house in the woods."

'Ponies and lip gloss' I repeat in my head insulted and my chin lift higher, displaying my unquestioned superiority over him and most.

'How dare he?'

Refusing to play by his rules any longer, I set down the helmet on the ground. I twist to leave but I am stopped by his hand on my wrist. Furious, I look down at him sitting on his bike with a cool nonchalant expression as if he has all the right in the world to use up my time… to lecture me… to touch me.

"Let go!" I advise, warn, or however he wants to take it.

"Lydia, I'm serious. Remember what happened last time you went wandering all alone too close to the woods." I twitch as I clearly recall the feeling of fangs burying into my flesh. Derek looks down at his feet momentarily, possibly regretting his words. "Just… just stay away from that house. You don't know what lurks inside below its floorboards and outside amongst the trees."

Recollected, I huff and snatch my hand from his grip, which was never very tight. "You couldn't even phantom the amount of knowledge I possess."

Pleased with having the last word, I leave with him sitting still on his bike watching me stomp off. The feeling of victory quickly fade. He might have been belittling me but there was sincere concern for my safety… and what he says is true; I should stay away from the house and from what lurks there.

'Should I tell him?'

As I halt my steps up to the house and debate on turning around, the bike revs up and Derek is gone. It's not until I walk inside and catch my own reflection in the hallway mirror that I realize that I am shaking. I rush into the bathroom and splash cold water onto my face. The reality of situation is clear; I am over my head and I need help. I should have reached out. I should have swallowed by pride and reached out. Why am I so stubborn and proud?

'Because I promised… because we are linked… because he possesses me… because he guides my decisions…'

At night, he comes to me, just as he said. Yet, it's not him. He, the other him, disturbs my restful sleep by sending nightmares into my mind. Just as I wake, panting and shaking with fear, thankful that it wasn't real, I sense him next to me in the bed and the nightmare continues.

Tears roll down my cheeks as I plea for him to leave me alone, but he won't. Not until I help him. I am to throw a party and invite the whole school. If I don't follow his instructions exactly, all will die.

And then, he shows me. He shows me what he is. He shows me the secret that everyone else is in on, the dark secret that all but the 'all-knowing' Lydia knew. The monster that I once saw, sitting in my car outside a movie rental, is real. He is the monster. They told me I was wrong, that I didn't truly see it and that such things do not exist. It sounded logical so I cast it from my mind. Even when I was attacked, even as the nightmares begun to plague me… my mind refused to step past the point of reasoning. I do not live in the land of fairy tales. I make decisions based on research and facts, yet… there it was; red eyes shining in the blackness of night, fogging up my kitchen window with its hot breathe, claws preparing to dig in, fangs ready to bite down… into me.

I scream.