I recalled the smell of human from the night before, and lifted my face to the air, sniffing hesitantly. All at once I got a flurry of scents, all of them powerful and struggling for dominance. But I focused, and my eyes snapped open as I registered the smell of warm human flesh. I could try and describe it in words, but all I would come up with is ripe. Y'know that smell of a fruit when its ripe? It's more than a smell; it's a tingle, a shiver under your skin.

I whirled around and took off into the darkness. The smell was down the road some, and suddenly I found myself in a small town. I hid in an alleyway, watching as people walked by. I had to physically bite my lip to keep from hissing in anticipation.

I could smell the blood in their veins, I could almost taste it.

But I had promised myself I wouldn't kill young people, and that promise kept me in line…barely.

A few minutes later, the waiting was becoming unbearable, and I was about to lash out and grab the nearest person when someone grabbed my shoulder, smacking a hand around my mouth before sliding their other hand down to grope my chest.

"Don't scream, bitch, or I'll–"

But the man's greasy voice was silenced as I turned around and latched one hand around his neck. He was so slow compared to me; I couldn't believe how easy it had been to immobilize him. I had never taken fighting lessons, not even karate when I was a little kid, and yet I was keeping a full-grown man at bay with nothing but a hand.

The scumbag was tall and lanky, with watery eyes and a scraggly beard. His eyes bulged in fright and surprise, and I smiled, relishing the tang of fear. It aroused all of my new instincts in a delicious way, and I leaned in, flexing the muscles that would release my fangs. I had sworn not to kill young people, but then again…I could make an exception for men who went around raping unsuspecting girls. I was doing the town a favor, really.

His eyes widened even more at the sight of my fangs, and when he made to scream I covered his mouth with my free hand.

"Who's the bitch now?" I hissed, and without allowing him a moment to think about responding I lunged forward and bit into his neck. He screamed, but I pressed hard on his mouth, so it came out as a weak gurgle instead. The blood wasn't as tasty as it had been with the elderly couple, but it was warm and it gave me strength. I could taste something off in the man's blood, and had my answer when I glanced down and saw infected needle marks on the crook of his am.

I gave his neck one final chomp, and the man finally died, his blood trickling down to nothing. I let him drop to the ground, and thought for a moment before kneeling down and using his shirt to wipe my face. I stared at his horrible dead face for a second or two, and then ran away, back to the car. I wasn't completely full, but I was confident that I wouldn't rip into Ally the moment I stepped into her car.

I could do this. I just had to keep reminding myself how important Ally was to me, how much it would hurt me if I touched a hair on her head.

I was still a bloodthirsty wreck, but for Ally, I would control myself. For her, I would push down the urge to kill, bite and fuck all at the same time. Oh God was I horny. I hadn't felt aroused in the slightest when I drained the elderly couple, but after this satisfying kill, after smelling the man's pathetic fear and feeling his throat slowly crumple under my hand…all I wanted to do was grab the nearest attractive guy and fuck him silly.

I shook my head, rubbing my arms and retracting my fangs; it was getting easier and easier each time, I noted.

My phone buzzed, and I looked at it to see that Ally had texted me, asking where I was. I sent her a quick text giving her directions to the gas station in town, and then ran back to my car. I couldn't get over the fact that I was moving so fast, it was like flying!

I grabbed my bags, so light thanks to my newfound strength, and ran to the end of the road, slowing down once I got in sight of the town. Even with my dirty clothes and tangled hair, I still didn't get so much as a second glance once people saw my backpack and luggage. I kept a small smile on my face, and moved with purpose, so as to not alarm anyone.

In reality, I was going crazy. Every brush of warm human skin against me sent pangs of hunger and need through me, and it was only the grip on my bags and my suitcase that kept me from ripping into every single person that passed. I finally caved, and called Ally, desperately needing the distraction of her voice.

"You still doin' okay, Ari? You're soundin' kinda jittery," her Southern drawl came through the phone, painfully loud on my heightened senses, but a welcome pain. It kept the bloodlust at bay, for the moment, and I nodded even though she wasn't around to see me.

"I'm fine, just a bit nervous. I'm not sure what I'm going to do about the car…"

"Oh don't worry about that. We'll get you home, and then we'll leave a message for the local towin' company. My brother's been in plenty of accidents himself, so I'm pretty used to all this," Ally said casually, and I nodded.

Ally's brother Todd was a wild one, that was for sure. Ally was wild, too, but in a much safer, more tolerable way. Todd was in and out of jail most days, and was currently in rehab for his alcohol addiction. Ally was still optimistic, but I didn't think Todd would ever be completely sober. But then again, I didn't know him all that well – I had only known him for a few months before another stint took him off to jail.

"That's a relief. Thanks so much, Al. I really appreciate you coming out like this."

"Girl, what're best friends for? Okay, I see the gas station…oh, I see you!"

I looked over to see Ally's silver Toyota Camry winking at me from across the street, and I gave her a big smile. I could see every detail of her face, and saw the brief moment of confusion as she looked at me.

"Holy shit on a pancake, you weren't kiddin' when you said you fell in the dirt a few times!"

I made my way across the street, grinning sheepishly to appease her. "Yeah, you know me, I can barely walk in a straight line most days," I muttered, and hung up, because I was at her car. She got out, and I had to sigh because wow.

Ally was seriously beautiful. I had known that ever since I met her for the first time, but with my transformation, her beauty was only intensified. Sure, I could hear her gut making odd noises every now and then, her breath wasn't the cleanest, and she had forgotten to put deodorant on, but beneath all the little human things…she glowed. Her skin was tan and smelled like sunshine, making my chest ache with bitterness; I would never feel the sun on my skin again. Her eyes were a much more vivid blue than I remembered, and her wavy blonde hair shone with subtle silvery-blonde highlights. Her slim body curved and flared out in all the right places, something I had always envied – I definitely wasn't slender by any means, and although I did have a rather nice butt I had always envied Ally's long, slender legs and generous bust.

Suddenly, she was hugging me – we were both tall, around 5'10", and so that put my mouth almost directly at neck-level. I clamped my mouth shut, refusing to breathe in her scent. I could hear her blood pulsing just under her skin, beckoning to me and begging me to bite. But I bit hard on my tongue, and refused to give in. It was Ally, my best friend, and I wouldn't hurt her.

"I know you're dirty and all, but y'looked like you needed a hug, so here you go. It's only been like, a day, but I've missed you!"

I smiled, and allowed myself to hug her back, gingerly, careful not to shatter her spine and ribcage. I could feel them beneath my arms, so deceptively delicate and human.

"I missed you too," I whispered, and we pulled apart. She helped me put my bags into her trunk, and we piled in. She cranked up the AC – it was mid June, and so even in the evening it was ridiculously hot – and we were off. I was grateful for the icy air; it helped filter Ally's scent. I slid down in my seat, folding my legs up and hugging my knees tightly, anything to stop me from reaching over and yanking Ally's head to the side so I could bite down on her throat.

I wanted to drain her, but somehow I was able to avert my gaze and focus on the world passing by outside the car window, focus on how much I cared about Ally and didn't want to hurt her. It was the most focused I could ever remember being about anything, and seeing as I had just graduated college, that was saying something.

Luckily, Shreveport was only thirty minutes away. The two of us didn't particularly feel like talking, so Ally popped in a CD and we listened/sang along to it the entire ride to Ally's house. I appreciated the lack of conversation; it wasn't awkward or uncomfortable, but peaceful, as silence can only be when shared with a close friend. It made me think back to all of the quiet times Ally and I had spent in the car, in her apartment, in the college library. For such an outgoing, candid person, Ally knew when to be quiet, and I loved her for it.

The only problem was…would I be able to break the silence and tell Ally the truth about what had happened?

Could I tell her that I was a vampire?

She was my best friend, but would that be enough for her to seriously believe me? And what if she did believe me? Would she be afraid of me, would she call for help and have me run out of town for good? Would she try and kill me?

I didn't know what would happen, and that scared me more than anything.