Disclaimer: don't own the night world. I just get to play with it :D

Kieran stared morosely out the window, wishing to be anywhere than where he was at the moment.

"Kieran!" Ambra scolded in an affronted tone, her wide hazel eyes glinting with barely restrained anger. "Did you hear anything I just said?"

You've been talking about your hair for the past twenty minutes, Kieran hissed angrily to himself, did you really expect me to listen?

Kieran was about to roll his eyes and say something flippant in response, but his father, as if reading his disgust, flashed him a warning glance.

Kieran caught himself, and said in a honeyed voice. "I think you're hair looks beautiful no matter how you wear it."

Ambra giggled and continued to twirl a strand of her thick blonde hair around her left index finger. "Thanks. You're too kind." She batted her long eyelashes and smiled sweetly.

Kieran forced a quick smile. That was a close call. It was important that this girl approved of him. He would have to pay better attention from now on. Next time, he might not be able to save himself.

Ambra started prattling again, this time about her clothes. "There's a ball next weekend that I was hoping you would attend with me. I don't know what dress to wear, though."

"I'm sure you look beautiful in anything." Kieran wasn't lying; she was a very pretty girl. She had long straight pale blonde hair and dazzling hazel eyes that sparkled with constant excitement. It was too bad that she was so boring.

She earnestly began describing each of the dresses in detail to him and Kieran found himself drifting away again. Did all this girl talk about was herself?

The rain pounded down on the windows and Kieran watched distractedly as little droplets dripped down the glass. Kieran vaguely entertained the idea of running outside and letting the rain wash over him. He loved the feeling of the cold rain sliding over his skin, the smell of a brewing storm. . .

. . .

"Well, I think that went well," Kieran's mother announced in an unconvincingly cheery voice. "She seems like a wonderful girl."

"Hmm," Kieran mumbled dejectedly. He knew he didn't have a choice, but he still couldn't accept the fact that in a few weeks he would be married to that shallow ditz of a girl.

"She was very beautiful," Kieran's father reminded him, as if this was all a man could desire in a wife.

"Yeah," Kieran muttered in a clipped tone, staring determinedly out of the window. He watched in grim amusement as the car raced through a massive puddle and splattered water all over the car.

"You're going to marry her," his father stated in a hard voice. He had recognized the rebellious gleam in Kieran's eyes. He glared at him through the rearview mirror as if daring him to contradict him."It's settled."

Kieran glowered back and hissed, too soft for his parents to hear. "I'll marry her the day she says anything remotely intelligent. Which means never."