Chapter Four:

"Finally"

Six months past, and it was February. Valentine's day was just around the corner. I have been waiting forever for Tom to make his move. Katelyn, and Tom didn't even last four days. She got too bored I should say. He kept his word in the end, but I don't understand why I'm waiting on him to make a move. It's like a dream not to come true.

Me, and my other friends all became close especially Teresa, Tom, and Evy. I'm glad I got to know him a bit more better over the course of months. And he didn't seem like such a bad guy. More like very sweet.

Teresa and I were talking during lunch. Since Tom, and his crew don't have any other human friends except for me, and didn't want other humans to be involved in their life, I had to make a part time at Teresa's table, and at Tom's table. Which literally sucked.

I looked smug, and Teresa noticed. "Hey what's gotten you down?"

I sighed, and looked at her from my water bottle saying, "I've been waiting forever for Tom to make his first move on me."

She said, "That's whats bothering you? It shouldn't even be surprising. He never asks anyone out anyway."

"I know that. But it's just...I don't know. I'm just hopeful since him and I are close."

"Hmmm. Then maybe just wait a bit more. If he doesn't make a move, believe me there are other fish in the sea that would love to go out with an Arizona girl." She smiled.

I sighed in gloom. "I guess." But the thing is I didn't want to go out with anyone else. Only him.

I cannot believe I have kept Tom's secret for all these months. I asked Tom (when I finished my half-time at Teresa's table), "So, any plans for Valentines Day?"

He said, "Not really. You?"

"Me neither."

So much for having my hopes up. I don't see why I should anymore.

Tom sometimes had to go hunt for food. I never got disgusted…. Well okay I did a couple of times, but he did have to eat, and not starve to death.

After Tom, and Katelyn broke up she stopped stalking me, and my friends. She went back to her ex, Mitchell (and I can't even believe he agreed to take her back. I'm guessing free pass), but somehow I sense that our little argument wasn't over yet, and she's waiting till the right time comes.

I was passing all my classes, and mom was happy. She gives me money, or buys me a present when I pass an exam, or test, or get good grades on my progress report card. I know she treats me like a little girl, but I am her only stepdaughter, and little Joey is her only son. So why not spoil me? It's okay with me as long as it's not in public.

Every time I talk with my mom alone, I would not know that Tom is in my house until when I go upstairs. I find him waiting for me in my room, telling me he hears everything, and believe me sometimes I don't want him to hear what my mom and I would talk about.

I did meet his family a couple of times. I liked Evy the most. She is like a little rock princess. She's inviting, welcoming (like Rebecca), sweet, sometimes annoying (no offence), loves to party a lot, friendly, and always tells me that I'm perfect for Tom, but I tell her I'm not his type. I'm sure I'm not.

Tom and his crew don't talk to humans unless they need to, but Carl, since he's a doctor he has to talk to humans, which of course he doesn't mind at all. He told me once it's quite fascinating to study the human.

Ever since I told Tom about that guy, 'Jackson' that came in my room the first night, I never saw him again. But whenever I went to sleep I would always feel that someone was watching me the whole time, like to check if I was okay. It was a weird feeling.

My life totally changed ever since I moved here. Jack was making better money, and his job as an engineer was going great, but I did not care about him, because he does not care about me. We barely even talk to each other. So what the hell.

Twelve days passed, and there was one day left for Valentines Day. It was Saturday the thirteenth. Today was the most boring day ever, because well first of all Tom had to go hunt. Second of all mom took little Joey with her to go shopping, and then visit a friend after shopping. Third, Teresa, Angela, and Julie are planning to buy something for their boyfriends, and lastly I was staying at home not doing anything. Besides we have school off for four days, because of Valentines Day, and I was already getting bored.

Jack was always at work so I could do whatever I want. I never see him a lot anymore, only sometimes in the morning when I'm going to school. I never talk to him. Not even tell him good morning.

So I went to my room, and changed into something besides my pajamas. I took my books to study, and do my homework went back downstairs, and went outside in our backyard. We had a little table with four chairs, but I did not feel like sitting on a chair. Instead I wanted to sit on the grass. I took an afghan from inside, and put it on top of the green, breezy grass. I sat on it, and started doing my homework. I never get bored sitting outside, because I love to look at nature, and be in it. It made me think. I was not far from my backyard door, but I was far from the forest. I wanted to walk in there again, but I promised Tom I wouldn't. And I'm keeping that promise.

As I was trying to think about the answer for a math problem, something comes beside me. I felt the air breeze come very fast. All my hair was hanging on my left side. So I turn to the left, and I find Jackson. I got up so fast, and went to get inside the house, but Jackson came in front of me blocking my way. I said, "Could you just leave me alone"

He said with a teasing smile, "I don't think that's possible."

"Why? Why can't you leave me alone?"

"Your blood is very rich, and pure. It's hard not to pass up on something like that. Besides you're involved in Tom's life."

"And, so what I can't be involved in his life?"

"No you can not. Now you are in danger. One day you'll see what's going to happen to you, and it will drive them crazy."

I gulped. "You know what if you wanna kill me, I'm right here. Why don't you do it now?"

He chuckled mischievously. "It's better to play with the fire first."

I was creeped out. He wants to play with the fire? I didn't understand what he meant. "Sorry, but I don't hang around with strangers that are trying to kill me."

Then he stopped talking, he looked like he was sensing that someone is either telling him something, or someone is coming. He said, "He's coming." Then he was gone back into the forest. I took my stuff, and went inside the house. I locked it behind me. I looked back outside through the screen glass door that I came in, but no one was there. I turned to sit down on the ground, and put my back on the glass door, but then I find Tom behind me. I jumped. I said, "Tom you scared me."

He said, "Don't worry. I told Bill, Martin, and Justin to drag him out of here. Listen did he touch you or anything?"

"No I'm fine."

"Well don't worry then I won't let him come near you again."

"How can you even do that?"

"Easy. Eyes on you twenty-four seven."

"You're going to watch over me?"

"Yup."

"Tom I'm not a kid. It's not like I can't take care of myself."

"It's not about being a kid. He's someone...something you can't go against Rose."

I definitely understood what he talked about. I hugged him, and he hugged me. Glad to be alive. I told him, "God can't you be warm just one time."

He said, "Nope."

"Well anyways how was lunch? And what did you eat?"

"Lunch was good. I ate a buffalo."

"Okay changing subject."

"Ha ha. You look like you got disgusted."

"I did."

"It's okay I still like you."

"Yeah I can see that. Proof enough that you're still around me."

He chuckled. "So what do you want to do?"

"Oh I don't know. Let me call my mom first, and see where's she at."

I dialed her number, and she answered. I said, "Hey mom hi. Um where are you? ... You're done with shopping. Okay where are you going right now? ... Your friend's house…. No every thing's fine. I just wanted to make sure where you are, and to check if you are okay that's all…. Your coming at around seven okay…. No, no take your time, don't worry about me…. okay bye…. Love you too!" I shut the phone.

Tom said, "Wow your stepmom sure does care about you."

I said, "I know. I care about her too."

"Hmm so you want to talk today?"

"Yeah, but I'm hungry. I'm going to make myself something."

"You know how to cook?"

"Well duh I do."

"I wish I could enjoy the taste of food. But it never fills my appetite too nicely."

"I wish you could too so I wouldn't have to eat alone in front of you."

"So what are you going to make?"

"I guess I'm going to make something easy, but time consuming. French fries."

"Sounds appetizing to me for a light lunch."

I took out a couple of potatoes, and starting peeling off the skins.

I finished peeling, and we haven't uttered one single word. I washed the potatoes, and then I started cutting it. Finally I decided to start a conversation saying, "It's boring not to have someone you love. I mean everyone else we know has their own lover, and you, and me we don't. Ridiculous isn't it?" I scoffed.

He said, "Yeah it is ridiculous, but we can't just hook up if we're not interested in each other."

"Yeah. True." In that moment I felt stupid.

I know I have deep feelings for him. Real deep. But I don't think he felt the same towards me, and that just broke my heart. Here's to even feeling so hopeful in the past moments. Now that hope has died away.

I was so clumsy I didn't look where I was cutting. I cut my finger accidentally. It was bleeding. I just remembered that Tom was a vampire. I looked at him, and he was just staring at my finger. He was just staring at it, like he wanted to drink from it. I know I had to do something for him not to smell the blood, and not kill me. If he did kill me he would regret it.

I got up fast, and washed it. I put a bandage around it. I told Tom, "Tom, are you okay? Tom. Tom."

He said, "I….I….I got to go."

"Tom it's…"

He was gone already, and my finger was still bleeding. I could see the blood on the bandage. It was red. I said, "God I'm so stupid."

I sat back down, and finished cutting the potatoes, but when I finished cutting them I didn't fry them. I washed my finger again, and put another bandage on it. Now it stopped bleeding for good. I went to my room, and took awhile to go back downstairs. I took my favorite perfume down with me.

Going back downstairs I find my food cooked. I sprayed perfume around the kitchen, and all the areas I walked around with blood. I went back to my room, and putted it back. I went back down, and I find Tom sitting at the table in a chair. I went to the kitchen, and went to the fridge. I took out some mayo. Then I went to sit beside Tom. He smelled so good, and he was very cold like an ice sculpture just got out of the fridge. I felt his body heat beside me, which of course I shivered from. I put the mayo on the side of the plate, and started eating. I asked, "You know how to cook?"

He said, "Yeah I know how to cook. I have experience. Been in culinary arts in the most famous places for food you can think of."

"Oh of course you're living for eternity, and you've lived for along time. Well what brought you back here then, I mean weren't you going to attack me?"

"Well yeah, but I had to get out so I wouldn't hurt you. If I tasted one drop of blood, I'd be wanting more, and I don't know if I'd be able to stop."

"Oh well I'm glad you went away, but I don't want you to be faraway from me."

"I wasn't far away from you. I just had to be away from the smell of your blood. I didn't want to hurt you."

"I see." He can be so confusing sometimes. "Is the smell of my blood still around?"

"No. I like the smell of your favorite perfume though."

"Thanks." I smiled.

"No thank you."

"You're welcome. Although for what?"

"For not leaving the scent of your blood around."

"Oh."

I finished eating my French fries, I got up, washed the things that I used.

I headed to my room, and find him sitting on my bed as usual. He was already there before me.

He helped me finish up my homework. He was so smart, he knew every answer to every question in math. And in English Literature...My god his opinions sounded so more of a fact. I wonder how old he is. How many centuries has he lived to actually know so much about Poe.

Not realizing how much time has passed, we heard the rev of my mom's car. Telling him I'll see him later, he said, "Come tomorrow at my house since you and I don't have any plans. We'll spend it together."

"Jeez uhm I don't know..."

"Just wear a dress," he smiled.

I looked at him wide eyed. "I don't even have a red dress."

"No worries. Evy will take care of that."

"But Tom – ."

He was gone out from my window before I could even finish what I wanted to say. Great, now I have to trust Evy into getting me a red dress.

Mom came in the house holding stuff she bought. She said she needed help so I went, and helped her. I said, "So how was your day today? Did you have fun?"

She said, "Yeah I did. It was okay. What about you?"

"Totally cool. I love being in the house by myself."

"Yes I know sweetheart. So tomorrow's Valentine's Day. Is there anyone on your mind?"

"Huff." I breathed out, and said, "No." It's better off this way anyway.

"Oh honey it's ok. There's still a lifetime of opportunities out there. One day you'll get many Valentines."

"I know." But I wanted to be only his Valentine. I completed, "He invited me over to his house. Said he is going to come pick me up, and told me to wear a dress, and I don't have a red dress. All I have is one blue dress. So I'm going to wear blue." That is if Evy doesn't get me a red dress. I don't know how she will.

"Well okay, but do you want to shop for a red dress?"

"No mom it's okay." I smiled reassuringly.

Valentines Day was finally here. I know I do not have anything planned, but going to his house was one.

Staying up late last night surely will make me wake up late. While eating pancakes, I asked my mom, "So mom what are you going to be doing today?"

She said, "Well Jack is taking me out."

"Who's going to take care of little Joey?"

"I hired a nanny. The neighbor's daughter. She loves kids."

"At least it's someone we can trust. What time are you going out?"

"I told him at six."

"When will you guys be coming back?"

"At least till midnight."

"Dang. What for?"

"It's Valentines Day hello. What time will you come back?"

"Surely earlier than midnight."

"Okay. Just don't take too long on the nanny. I'm paying her twenty an hour."

I laughed. "Don't worry I won't."

I finished eating, and went upstairs to my room.

Looking at the blue dress I definitely wanted to cancel the invitation. I sighed, closing my closet door not wanting to look at it.

Suddenly, the doorbell rings, and I hear my mom open the door. She shouted that it was Evy. Mom knew Evy, because she sometimes comes over to my house. Mom let her in. Mom called on me again, and then I went downstairs. I invited Evy to my room. She smiled so wide. "Ready for today?" She was excited.

"Ready? No. I'm thinking of canceling."

"Oh no don't do that. That'll totally break Tom's heart."

"Well what am I suppose to do? I don't have a dress to match the holiday."

She smiled that big smile again. She went out of my window to I don't know where, and came back with a red dress, red heels, and silver jewelry. The dress was long and strapless. It had a heart neckline, and fit bodice. On it had fake, but glimmering diamonds, and glitter. On the hips came a diamond glittering pin to scrunch up the side giving it a style and touch. The dress was long covering the feet. It was beautiful.

The heels were dangerously high being only four inches, but still. They were a brighter red than the dress. The pair had a knot/bow in the middle of each. I couldn't utter a word at how nice they looked.

She spoke up. "He bought it yesterday."

I know they have money, and a lot of it, but all of this for one night? "So he wants me to dress perfect today huh?" I breathed a deep in, and took a deep breath out.

"Yup!" She smirked. It made her close her eyes. "So aren't you going to try on your new dress?"

"Of course, but if Tom comes don't let him in. I don't want him to see me."

"Oh don't worry he's so not coming. He's very busy right now."

"Okay then I'm going to go change now."

I felt uncomfortable to be wearing something so bare. I never left the house without wearing long sleeves. A reason why is I didn't want anyone to find out about my old aged scars on my right wrist. I've kept it a secret for so long from everyone. I managed to control my emotions for quite some time now. I just don't know when is the next moment that I'll try to do something stupid again. I decided against my thoughts, and started to take my shirt off.

I came out awhile later. Evy stared at me. She said, "Wow you look gorgeous."

I said, "Thanks."

"Okay let's do your hair now."

"Wait what are you going to do with my hair?"

"Style it dummy. Of course not burn it."

"Well okay go easy on it though. Not a good reaction happens when you pull on it."

"Don't worry. You won't even feel it."

She did my hair in a short amount of time. It was all curled from the bottom to the top, and my bangs were held back with a couple of bobby pins to keep it in place. She didn't hurt me at all.

Then she did my makeup. She put black eyeliner and liquid eyeliner on my eyes. She put foundation on my face, red eye shadow on my eyelids, and lip-gloss on my light pink lips. Then she sprayed me, and now Tom's favorite perfume. She put my jewelry on me for me, which were a heart silver ring, silver bracelet, silver necklace, and silver earrings. She said, "Believe me if Tom sees you this beautiful he'd flip."

Sarcastically I answered, "Hmm sure he will."

Then Evy stopped talking, and she was staring at something. I followed her eyes. She stared straight looking at the mirror. It looked like she was having a vision forgot to mention she gets visions from about the past, the present, and glimpses in the future. Her face started to sweat. Then after a couple of seconds still staring at the mirror with her eyes wide open. I stood up from the chair she had me sit on, and turned to look at her. I shook her awake. "Evy? What is it? What do you see?"

She shook her head, and regained her conciousness. "It's...It's nothing for you to worry about. Just some random past vision I'm having." She breathed out. "I'm okay...Your mom is coming to knock at the door any second now."

Mom suddenly knocked on the door. I jumped. What a hunch; she was right. I'm guessing part of vampy senses. I don't think I'll ever get used to it. I told her to come in. She asked, "Everything okay?"

I said, "Yeah mom." I smiled.

"Oh wow. Honey you look so beautiful and gorgeous." She came and hugged me. "Oh, you look so much like your mother." She smiled. I saw the tears she held at bay. "Rose I have something I've been wanting to give you."

"Really?" I smiled. "What is it?"

"It's a picture." She smiled wide. "Of you and your mother. I found it last week in the attic with the old stuff. And decided to retouch it up, and put it in a nice picture frame. So here you go." She handed it to me.

"Oh my God. I have been searching for a picture of her since ever. This is the sweetest, and best present ever mom. Thank you. I love you so much."

"Aww I love you too sweetie." I hugged my mom. I started to sniffle, and wiped away some tears that tried to escape. Evy was staring at us. She looked happy for us, but a bit sad. I asked her, "You want a hug too?" My tears didn't want to stay at bay, did they?

She said, "No it's okay." She smiled kindly.

It was me and my mom when I was a little baby. I was in my baby chair eating. She had her face up close to mine touching my nose while smiling looking so happy. The picture frame had small hearts all around it, and now I started crying.

Mom said, "You just look like her." She wiped my tears away, and gave me a kiss on my forehead. Then she went out, and closed the door behind her. I put the picture on the little table beside where I sleep. I looked at Evy. I asked her, "What's wrong?"

She said, "Nothing. I just never really got to meet my mother personally. Is all."

"Aww. Well sorry I had to do that little special moment in front of you."

"It's okay. She abandoned me anyway. Leaving me to die in the cold streets back in the nineteen hundreds."

"I'm sorry." I felt bad.

Her eyes were wide open as if she's seen a ghost.

"You don't remember how she looks like do you?"

"No. Prefer not to actually. Remember the story that I told you that she abandoned me when I was a baby, because I was a mistake to her. She left me on the streets, and Carl found me. Hello."

"I remember. All of you have sad endings of how you all became Vampires." There's only one story I didn't know about yet.

"Yeah I know. It was like our life was suppose to end there, but then since our parents did hateful things to us we live life forever. As if it's a gift. A second chance was given to us."

"Special." I smiled.

She smiled back very wide noticing I considered them special.

After awhile of chit-chatting randomness, Evy had to go, but said will be back to pick me up.

Jack came home, and then the nanny came. Him, and mom went to get ready. Jack finished in half an hour, and mom finished in forty-five minutes. I helped her get ready. She looked glamorous. Jack was staring at her crazy. He said she looked beautiful. Jack pretty much didn't look at me. Maybe because I reminded him so much of mom.

Me, little Joey, and the nanny were the only ones left. I went to my room, and closed it. I turned around, and I find Evy in front of me. I jumped. I said, "Evy you scared me."

She said, "Sorry." She chuckled. "You ready?"

"Yeah. Let's go."

She said, "Oh wait. Before I forget. Here's a red clutch."

"Aww thanks, but you didn't have to."

She scoffed. "Oh please. It completes the attire." She can be a bit ahead when it comes to fashion styles. Always need to have the complete look.

I looked at myself one last time in the mirror. "Do you know what I think I look like?"

"A strawberry."

I looked at her wide-eyed. It's like she read my mind...Oh wait. She did. I can be so forgetful sometimes. I forget their pale white complexion, and amber eyes being 'unnatural.'

She completed, "Dipped in chocolate," with a wink.

I looked at her. She wore a short red dress with a black belt under her chest (anything she wears she has to have black with it). It came four inches above her knees. It was a baby doll dress. Her hair short, but curved out from the bottom to the outside as usual looking like spikes. "You look so cute." I said. Pixie cute.

She smiled wide. "Thanks."

Before we left, I filled the clutch with all the makeup Evy used for my face, and the perfume. I told the nanny to keep all doors, and windows locked, and to keep the curtains covering the windows. And told her not to open up for anyone except if it was the police, or anyone little Joey knew. She obeyed.

Finally we left, and headed to her house. And could I not be any more nervous? I felt my nerves wrecking.