Destiny said nothing about the gold converse I had ordered for myself. I had told her that if that I had to wear the dress; I was going to wear my own accessories. So far, it was the new shoes, the black net glovlets, my opal necklace that my great-grandmother had given to me, and a bracelet made of tiny gold hearts that my friend Amanda had given to me. I had been wearing these gifts when Skander changed me.

They were now all I had left of my loved ones I had had to leave behind. My headband was another thing in tact. In fact, I never took it off. Come to think of it, I never took any of it off.

"Faith is with Alec, right?" I asked. Destiny nodded. I noticed she was being unusually quiet. "Is anything wrong, dear?"

She looked at me as if she had just noticed I was walking right next to her. The rest of the guard and my family were already in the ball room. Destiny had had to put up a fight to get me into the dress. That was why we were late. If she was mad at me for making her late to her daughter's party, well, I didn't blame her.

"Oh, nothing," Destiny replied softly, looking back ahead.

"You're a terrible liar, Destiny," I said. "What's on your mind?"

"Well," she said slowly, "I was actually thinking about Vick."

I immediately snapped to attention, if I hadn't been paying any before.

"Vick?" I said calmly. "Has he gotten into trouble? Cause I'm pretty sure I could get him out of it. Of course, it may fail miserably, but I can see if I can help it."

Destiny smiled a little bit.

"No. I was wondering… what are your feelings for him?"

Oh, good Lord…

"Spit it out already. He loves me, doesn't he?"

"I think he fell in love with you when he heard you singing," Destiny answered honestly. "You've got a beautiful voice."

"I've heard you singing. You are a good singer, too."

"Our voices differ, like our beauties. I really like Vick. Won't you give him a chance?"

"Can we please not talk about this now? Not when I'm about to leave."

"Okay. But… as a thank you for the plane…"

"Isn't wearing this dress thank you enough?"

She laughed. "No. That was just some persuasion and a fact of the matter. As a thank you, if Vick asks you to dance at the party, will you?"

"Yes," I said, not wanting to hear anymore. We entered the ball room with big smiles.

Faith saw us immediately and ran up to us, laughing. I was glad she was a vampire, because she would've tripped over her dress otherwise. Destiny scooped her up and whirled the squealing, happy child around in circles. She planted a big kiss on her cheek and set her on the marbled floor.

I hoped I would have as much luck finding my daughter as Destiny did finding Faith. I noticed my family all dancing with each other. They all looked me up and down, but had enough integrity to not burst into laughter, but just smiled at me. I reached out to Jinx's mind.

You can hate this thing now if you want. I sure do.

Then why did you wear it?

Destiny didn't have anything else. Besides, it's a rule.

Rules were made to be broken! C'mon, Alice, live dangerously.

Hey! I am on the freaking edge!

I clocked my friend out, and Azure spun her around. It was a slow song playing now and Alec came up and danced with his wife and daughter. Tanana and her mate, Samson, and even sullen Hannah and her mate, Teagan, were swaying happily together. Even if they were just friends, most people had dancing partners, and it was hard to dance by yourself for a slow song.

Okay, things were getting a little too set-up-y for me, so I did a quick 360 of the room, looking for Vick. I did not want to dance with him. I didn't want to lead him on or something, especially when I was about to leave. I spotted him dancing with a girl named Libby, and I felt relief. Until her turned his dark burgundy head my way. He saw me and his face lit up.

As fast as lightning, the word flashed in my mind, in a cyan blue color.

Keep Runnin'.

I flashed him a grand smile, and then tore out of the ball room, out into the hall way. I stopped outside, and leaned against the stone wall.

Soon. Soon I would be on my way to Portugal. I couldn't let Vick… Uh. I hate my life…

Vick came out in the hallway, looking shy, a few minuets later.

"Hi, Alice," he said. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you," I smiled genuinely at him, "but I look like a fool."

"No, you don't. You don't have a foolish personality, so no dress can make you seem like one."

When I thought about it, he was right. If I didn't convey or carry myself as a fool, I wouldn't be one. I straightened myself up a little.

"Why did you run out here when you just arrived?" Vick asked. I grimaced.

"It makes sense if you don't think about it."

Vick laughed, and for a second I was mesmerized by the sound. Suddenly, I was very scared of the fact that he loved me. I couldn't hurt him, not Vick. If it was anyone else, maybe, but not him. Either I would have to make my bed and lie in it, or make up a different scheme. For now, I didn't have to worry about it.

"Will you dance with me before you leave?" Vick asked. I didn't answer, but took his hand. We walked in as a new slow song began to play. I knew the song.

My Friend Jane by Nevershoutnever.

Vick held onto me and we swayed and moved to the music.

"She's so beautiful," Vick whispered along with the music. I looked down, my cheeks would be flaming had I been human.

When the faster part came, we tuned our dance to the new pace. When the song ended, Vick held onto me, making me feel even guiltier than I already felt. I looked over Vick's shoulder at Destiny. She was looking at us, smiling encouragingly at me. I sighed and laid my head on my own shoulder.

"Alice," said Vick. "I think I've made it clear how I feel about you. And I have to know; do you feel the same for me?"

"I… I don't know," I answered honestly. "I can't make any decisions like that now, not when I'm about to leave for who knows how long on a journey that I have to make by myself."

"Will you have an answer for me when you return?" Vick asked, sounding hopeful.

"Yes," I said surely. "I know I will have one by then."

Vick smiled. "Then I will be happy."

The party went on, everyone getting a chance to dance with the birthday girl. I danced with her last song. It was a little tune called Bad Romance. As soon as the song ended, I was whisked away by Israel and Jinx to change for my flight. I hung up the dress with care and slipped into the cloths I was wearing the night I was changed. I out my old converse on and headed down to the doors. The stars were shining, and looked beautiful.

"When I look at the stars…" I mumbled to myself.

At the airport, Israel hugged me extra hard, and Jinx looked sad. Skander kissed my cheeks.

"Hurry back to us," Azure said. Hugs and kisses were dished out all around, and Faith sniffled a little bit.

"Don't be sad," I said. "I'll be back with a cousin for you as soon as I can."

Faith put on a brave face for that. Alec ruffled my hair because he knew I hated it, and I rolled my eyes at him.

"Oh, what will I do when you can't be there to irritate me?" I said sarcastically. Alec laughed.

"You'll just have to suffer through it," he said. Then he became serious. "We'll miss you, Alice."

"I'll miss you all, too," I said sadly. It would be the first time I was ever going to be truly alone without my family close by. "I love you all. And thank you Destiny, for everything."

"I'm happy to help," she replied.

Vick looked at me, curious. A loud speaker cracked and a light male voice said, "Now boarding 8-66-99 at gate 5, to Lisbon, Portugal."

"That's me," I said, reaching to kiss everyone's cheeks one last time. I grabbed my carry on item (my ice cream pillow, link on profile just for fun!) and hurried off to the gate.

"Wait!" Vick called.

"What is it?" I asked turning around.

"Can… can I have a kiss before you go?"

I knew I would have even if I had had time to think about it, so I stood on my toes and kissed him on his lips. It was a good kiss; short, sweet, and to the point. And I liked the way it made me felt like I was leaving nothing behind.

"I love you!" I cried waving. "I love you all!" Then, hurrying at a fast, but human pace to the gate, I had just made it. I boarded the plane in the first class section, where there weren't too many people, thank God!

I settled into my seat and pulled up the hood on my jacket and closed my eyes. This was going to be a long ride, and I was nervous. About the humans, the days ahead, and how much time it would take for me to find my perfect child. A few good memories keep me relaxed.

The most prominent is Vicks lips pressed to mine.