Nick's POV

This wasn't good. No, this was incredible. I never did this. I never felt this way about anyone in centuries. A human, a mere mortal caught my attention so hard, that I kissed her the same day I met her. It wasn't a one day stand (?). I knew how I felt about her now. I didn't have to think about it for long. All I had to do now was know her, learn about her. What she hated, what she liked. It was all vital information to me now.

It had been an hour and a half and Claire and I accomplished nothing on the stupid report. We just talked and talked, taking in each other's words mechanically, scrutinizing every detail. Her feelings were mutual. I knew it. Only one girl could keep her cautious and that was Wendi. Unfortunately, I would see anything that girl could through at us before it comes.

I wasn't going to ask what we were. Not tonight. That would be a topic I would bring up in the near future, just not tonight when things were going to perfectly. For now, I just listened to Claire talk about the small things that made me like her more. Was this how an average love-struck teenager felt? Was I really feeling the emotions of a normal human?

"I should go," I said, taking her hands in mine, "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yeah," she nodded, "Thanks for coming by."

"Whenever you need me," I laughed, "Whenever you hit your head."

"Shut-up," she laughed slapping my arm. I took her hand again, pulling her closer to kiss her goodnight. It was a small, light kiss but it still sent fireworks through me. I wasn't wrong about her. I knew she was special as soon as I laid eyes on her.

As soon as I smelt her.

Let's face the fact that there was a tough reality to this. Claire was a human, I wasn't. This relationship would only last as long as I stayed here and that couldn't be more than a few years.

When I left her house, there was also the harsh fact that I had to be very careful with her. To my kind, Claire is made of glass. Not just because of her blood type, but because she was breakable to my touch. I couldn't get too rough until I learned to be controlled. I couldn't even kiss her too much… not until I knew she wouldn't get hurt.

I drove home a little too fast, my car winding through the dirt road smoothly. I didn't live very far from her place, giving me an idea.

The old Latham House was in pretty good condition. It was good enough for me to live in anyway. It was owned by a rich family who owned the woods. I entered through the creaky metal gate, walking my way up the front steps with a smile on my face.

That's when I felt it.

Something was here. I turned around, scoping the landscape. There was a darkness lingering here, waiting. The first thing I thought of was Claire. She would be alright… she would.

Claire's POV

"You… WHAT!" I dropped the phone as Minnie screamed at the top of her lungs. I grabbed it from the floor. I don't know why I was so startled by her reaction. It was probably because I was still in this daze. We kissed… twice and counting.

"Yeah," I said, "We did."

"Oh my GOSH!" exclaimed, "What was it like? Did you guys use tongue?"
"Minnie!" I laughed. She just waited for my answer, "The first time, yes. The second-"

"Wait a minute," she said, "You kissed TWICE!"

"You know you're emphasis on every other word you say is getting old," I chuckled. Then I became serious, "I know it feels like I'm moving fast. But… if you were me, Minnie, you would know how it felt. It was like… like I already knew him. Does that even make sense? Am I just making this all up in my head?"

"Wow," she said breathlessly, "Claire, this is so amazing. You finally have a boyfriend!"
"Whoa," I said, "He's not… that. I don't know what we are."

"You didn't bother to bring it up?" she asked.

"We just met today," I explained, "Besides, we're adults. We don't need any labels right now do we?"

"I guess not," she said. I could picture her shrugging cutely, "So was it good?"
"Really, really good," I smiled to myself, "He said he'd see me tomorrow. That's a good sign right?"

"Absolutely," she said, "Wait until Rosemary finds out."

"Yeah," I said sarcastically, "Can't wait."

"She'll understand," Minnie replied, "She only wants what's best for you. If you're happy, she is."

"Yeah, but what about Wendi?" I asked, "I mean, if she sees us together she'll demean both of us."

"Well, did you tell him about Sarah?" Minnie asked.

"Yeah," I answered.

"Then you have nothing to worry about," she said, "She has nothing on you now. How'd he take that anyway?"

"Like any dream would," I said, "Sometimes I feel like I'm asleep… like this really isn't happening."

"You two should be a book," she said, "This is all so romantic!"

"Claire?" I smiled at the sound of my aunt's voice. I could hear the front door shut.

"I gotta go," I said, "My aunt's home. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Sure thing," she said.

"Hey," Aunt Donna said as I hung up the phone, "Sorry I'm running a little late." My aunt looked very headstrong. She was tall and strong looking, her platinum blonde hair always pulled back for work.

"It's alright," I smiled still leaning against the kitchen counter.

"Good day at school?" she asked.

"Yeah," I said, "Yeah, I think so."

"What's his name?" she asked.

"Aunt Donna!" I laughed, "It's not a guy…"

"Uh-huh," she said, "Spill it." She let her hair down and sat in the chair by me as I went to the dishes.

"His name is Nick," I said, "He transferred. I really like him."

"Finally," she said, "I was wondering when you would get a guy in your life."

"I have plenty of guys in my life," I said.

"James doesn't count," she said, "You two have known each other since you were six. He's hardly a guy." I sighed. Ah, James. I haven't seen him at all today. He really was my oldest friend. But we didn't talk as much after he admitted some non-mutual feelings. I didn't want to lose my friendship with him, but I think he was embarrassed. There was nothing I could do but tell him I cared about him… just not in that way.

"I guess," I shrugged, shaking off the thought.

"So is he cute?" she asked. I laughed. Underneath that hard lawyer shell of hers, Aunt Donna was just like a teenager. She almost reminded me of Minnie at this point.

"Yeah," I smiled, "He is, but he's a lot more. He gets me… like really gets me."

"So you guys had a little talk, eh?" she said.

"Yeah," I nodded, turning around to face her. I smiled lightly, "And he really took everything great."

"You just met him today and you're already telling him your life story," Aunt Donna said, "Must be special." I smiled.

"Claire," Rosemary called in the parking lot. She and Minnie were catching up to me as I was on my way to the school. A lot of kids were unexpectedly out in the lot. It must be Friday fever or something. The only thing I could think about was seeing Nick. It was almost making me anxious. I wanted to know if he didn't regret yesterday.

"Hey," I said slowing down for my friends, "What's up?"
"You coming to the party tonight?" Minnie said, "You can bring Nick."

"I didn't know there was one tonight," I said, "Um, I don't know."

"You should," Rosemary said, "Besides, I need to approve of this guy." I looked up at her and she smiled, rubbing my shoulder.

"Thank you," I said. She shrugged, rolling her eyes and smiling. I didn't give Rosemary enough credit, thinking that she wouldn't approve of my quickie romance with Nick.

"I'll see you guys in class?" I asked. They nodded, walking away to meet up with a group of friends. I would've gone with them normally, but I really just wanted to find Nick right now.

"Hey," I jumped, turning around to see my prayers have been answered. Nick stood in front of me, smiling warmly.

"Hi," I laughed, "I was just looking for you." I leaned a little closer so nobody could hear us, "About last night… y-you still…"

"Of course," he laughed, "There is nothing that would make me want to regret what happened."

"Good," I released a long breath of anticipation and began walking to the school with him. People were already staring but I didn't really care. This wasn't anyone else's business. Let them say what they want to say.

Yesterday… I was going to tell him about yesterday. The nightmare right before he came, the reason I had hit my head in the first place. I tried to shake that face out of my head. Those eyes were so electric, so green. He was pure evil, but so enticing at the same time.

"You okay?" Nick asked. God, I had to snap out of it.

"Yeah," I said.

"See I learn new things about you every day," he laughed, "Today, I learned you're a terrible liar." I laughed a little bit, but Nick nudged me with his elbow gently, "You can talk to me you know."

"I know," I nodded, "You know how I fell asleep the first time I met you?"

"Yeah," he said.

"Well," I began, "It happens a lot. I mean… I get these weird… dreams. And yesterday, before you came, I had one. That's why I hit my head. I was a little out of it."

"Hmm," he said, "What was it about?"

"A guy," I said, "Some guy. He didn't do anything except tell me that I was there because he wanted me to be and… I don't know. It was all one big weird… thing." Nick laughed, surprising me. I was waiting any minute for him to call me a freak. "It happens a lot," I threw in.

"Sorry," he smiled, "You really do surprise me, Claire. You think I'm going to think you're odd. And you are, don't get me wrong. But… I like odd." I smiled, looking down. Maybe I should stop worrying. If I felt this special connection with Nick, he wasn't going to just drop me over some silly dreams. At least, I hope not.

When we reached the English room nobody was there. We were awfully early and everyone was outside talking about the party. I just sat down in my normal seat and turned towards Nick. He was staring at me nervously now, a complete shift of emotions.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"Nothing," he said. I nodded and turned back around, leaving him alone.

Nick's POV

Last night… the dark presence left sooner than it came. I had to figure out what happened before it got worse. Things like that don't just come and go. We were in trouble.

I was so distracted that I pushed Claire away. Sure, I realized right away that we were in a room alone together again and I haven't fed in a few days. If I lost myself, I'd kill her and anyone who ever saw. It doesn't matter though, right? That's what I do. I could easily get over this, right? No, no I couldn't. She's so different; I couldn't let her go even if I wanted to. It's only been two days… not even. That means something.

We were bonded.

That's how things worked with vampires and love. It's sort of like an indentation between two and that's how they know they're meant to be together. But the odd thing about it all, the only thing that would convince me this couldn't be the bond, was Claire was one-hundred percent human. That's never happened as long as I've been around.

I looked at Claire's back, my hands sliding up her shoulders. I wanted her nowhere but close. She wasn't safe with this darkness and… she was important to me now. She turned her head a little then eventually her whole body. There were no other heartbeats near this place.

"Nick," she sighed, "We don't have to-"

"You're right," I nodded, "We don't… but we are." Her eyes flicked to mine as she tried to conceal a smile. I leaned in and kissed her softly, pulling away slow. "Somebody's coming," I laughed.

"Oh," she laughed back. She turned back around pretending to be busy with something. I smiled to myself as Wendi Benson walked in the classroom. She smiled when she saw Claire keeping to herself and didn't seem to acknowledge me at all.

"Hey, Claire," Wendi said.

"Hey," she waved in a friendly way.

"You guys seem early," Miss Tolesco said walking in the classroom, "Did you three talk over that report?"

"Yeah," Wendi lied.

"Miss Tolesco," I began, "I was researching differences between the film and the novel and noticed there was a character added. What was her name? I thought it was something like… Sarah?" I kept a smile plastered to my face as I felt Wendi's eyes on me and her heartbeat quicken. To the average bear it wouldn't have caught on so fast. But anything with Claire's sister's name in it would tip Wendi off.

"I'm not sure," Miss Tolesco said in wonder, "You know, it could be Sarah."

"It's Emily," Claire said. She turned towards me, her eyes dancing with laughter, "She wasn't in the novel."

"Thank you," I said, putting my hand on her shoulder, "Thank so much for telling me that." She laughed turning around, looking at Wendi. I looked at her too. Hopefully she caught on now.