Chapter Six: Epilogue

"Thanks so much, Ethan," Jesse said as the two of them walked up the driveway that led to Jesse's house. He was finally returning to his own place, after a year of trying to convince the Vampire Council.

"It was no trouble. You deserve it. After all, you helped us defeat Stern," Ethan said and checked his watch. He was going to be late if Jesse walked even just a tad slower.

"Thanks," Jesse said as he unlocked the door. The furniture was the same as Ethan remembered it from that party he went to in freshman year. Boy, how things had changed.

"Remember, you can't turn anyone and you're not allowed to try and take over the town or anything crazy. The Vampire Council will be keeping a strict eye on you," Ethan reminded him. Jesse nodded as he walked around his house, memories overwhelming him. "Alright, so I guess that's everything." Jesse turned and looked at Ethan, still standing in the elegant doorway. He looked very sharp in his tux. He had grown up quite nicely.

"Get her lilies," Jesse told him. "She loves lilies."

"Thanks," Ethan sighed and smiled. Jesse and him and grown closer over the last year and they considered each other friends of a sort. "I should go."

"Have a nice night," Jesse said as Ethan left.

Ethan drove his car up to Sarah's house. She was already outside. Ethan waved and she walked towards the car. As she did, Ethan got to appreciate just how beautiful his girlfriend really was. Her black hair was curled and pulled up into a ponytail. A dark blue dress hugged her curves then dripped into a simple skirt with a slit up the side. Hanging over it was her red graduation gown. In her hands was her cap. Sarah climbed into her boyfriend's car and sighed.

"How are you doing?" Ethan asked her, a little worried.

"Fine," she said, sounding sad.

"I got you something," Ethan said suddenly and handed her three white lilies tied together with a red string. Sarah smiled as she took them.

"Thank you," she sighed and sniffed them. Then she smirked. "Jesse told you?"

"What? No," Ethan told her in his lying voice. Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Yes."

"Well, I don't care. Thank you," she said and laid them on the dash. Her hands were shaking.

"Sarah, how are you really doing?" Ethan asked seriously. Sarah took a deep breath and looked out the window.

"I'm nervous, sad, excited, and so many other things. I've waited for this day since I was a kid but I don't think I want this time of my life to end," she confessed, her dark eyes filling with tears.

"But so many bad things happened."

"And so many good things happened. I grew closer with Erica. I learned who I was and who I could be. I saved so many people. And I met you."

"Thanks."

"I'm just worried about the future," Sarah admitted. Ethan took her hand. After a year of going steady it still gave Ethan a rush to touch her hand.

"Don't worry about that. And, hey, you've got all eternity to figure it out," Ethan assured her, reaching up to wipe away a loose tear that had been making its way down her cheek. Sarah smiled gratefully and leaned closer. With no hesitation, Ethan closed their gap and touched his lips to hers. They both colored and broke away after a moment. Then Ethan pushed his foot onto the gas and they were off.

"You look hot," Rory told his sister, Erica, as she landed next him, in front of the school. She smiled and did a little spin, showing off her skin tight black strapless dress. Her red graduation gown billowed out and her cap was titled at a stylish angle. Despite their differences, Rory and Erica had become like real brothers and sisters over the year.

"And you need to lose the lightsaber tie pin," Erica replied, smirking. Rory stood up straighter.

"It defines me," he protested. Erica rolled her eyes and glanced at the doors. A girl was walking up to the school, probably to see her friends leave. When she saw Rory she gave a little squeak, smiled, and approached him.

"Hi Rory," Sunday Clovers said, full of joy. Her blonde hair was pulled back and her face shimmered with makeup She was wearing a pink dress with flowers on it and a silver chain with a lightsaber charm. "Ooh, I love your tie pin."

"Oh, thanks, Sunday. I like your necklace," Rory replied and smiled, totally oblivious. Erica rolled her eyes at his stupidity.

"Well, uh, bye," Sunday said and skipped into the school, smiling.

"She's cute," Erica told Rory after she had left.

"Who, Sunday?" Rory wondered. Erica nodded.

"She likes you, by the way," she added. Rory reeled for a moment before looking after her.

"Really? How can you tell?" he gasped excitedly.

"I just can. Go talk to her," Erica instructed him and shoved him towards the doors. Rory nodded.

"Okay! Thanks Erica!" Rory called over his shoulder to his sister and ran after Sunday. Erica just shook her head in wonderment. How was she related to that? She turned around and smiled as Ethan and Sarah walked up to her. "Hey Sarah. Are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be," she told her best friend. Suddenly Benny ran up to the group. He was wearing jeans and a Star Trek sweatshirt.

"Hey guys!" he cried.

"Benny, what are you wearing?" Sarah demanded.

"Dork," Erica groaned and rolled her eyes.

"I didn't have time to put on my tux because I was finishing my invention. This!" Benny said triumphantly, holding out a small silver digital camera.

"Dude, hate to burst your bubble, but the camera's already been invented," Ethan said and patted his friend's shoulder. Benny shook his head.

"No, you guys don't get it," Benny insisted. "I used magic on this camera and some super cool technology and now it can take pictures of vampires!"

"Really?" Sarah gasped and yanked it out of his hands.

"Hey!" Benny cried, upset. He reached for it but Sarah swatted him away. "I've been working on it for months. I tested it on Rory yesterday. I thought we could use it tonight."

"This is awesome. Thank you Benny!" Sarah said and hugged him. Benny grinned and waggled his eyebrows at Ethan who just rolled his eyes. Rory suddenly came running back.

"Guys, guess what! Sunday Clovers asked me to dance with her at the graduation dance!" Rory declared.

"See. I was right," Erica said, patting him on the back.

"Well done, buddy," Benny said and fist bumped him.

"Do you guys think things are going to be different next year?" Sarah asked, looking up at the setting sun. Her words suddenly chilled the mood.

"Of course things are going to be different," Erica said.

"But that doesn't mean it won't be good," Ethan insisted, taking her hand in his. Sarah smiled at him softly. Then she noticed someone's parents walking into the school.

"Excuse me," she called out to them. They turned. "Would you mind taking a picture of us?" The man nodded and took the camera. The group huddled together and smiled.

"Say cheese," the man instructed. They all laughed and he snapped the picture then handed the camera back to Sarah. "Here you are, young lady."

"Thank you so much," she told him then the whole group huddled around the screen to look at the picture. Erica, Rory, and Sarah smiled. They were seeing themselves for the first time in two years. It was amazing.

"Hey, look!" Rory cried out, pointing at the screen. "It's us!"

"All of us," Sarah finished, smiling at herself on screen. Erica put her arm around her best friend and pulled her close. Then the five friends turned and walked down the path to their school together for the last time.