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My Best Friend Is a Vampire

Leaving

Carlos' POV

I heard someone knocking on the front door.

"Coming!" I called out.

Whoever it was continued to knock even though I told them I was coming. Maybe it was just me, but it seemed like the knocking got even louder and faster after I had called out. Maybe my imagination was playing tricks on me again. That's weird. I don't recall having that much sugar or caffeine today…

"I said I'm coming!" I shouted, slightly irritated now.

I opened the front door and found myself face-to-face with Stephanie. After what she did to Logan, she was the last person I wanted to see. Looking at her though, I knew that something was wrong; something was horribly wrong.

She looked really pale. People's skin shouldn't be that white. Not to mention how…terrified she looked. I wasn't sure what it was, but something had her spooked.

"Stephanie, what's…" I started to say before she threw her arms around me, and wept in my chest. "…wrong?"

A part of me wanted to know what the problem was. However, a part of me didn't. I didn't do too well with scary movies. Lately, it seems that's what my life had become; one big, scary movie.

I found it hard to breathe. Just thinking about what possibly could have Stephanie scared gave me the chills. I knew that it took a lot to scare Stephanie. She wanted to be a scary movie director? Producer? What are the people that make the movies called? Whatever it's called, Stephanie wants to be that.

"He bit me," she said in a voice so soft that I almost didn't even hear what she said.

No! It couldn't be! Maybe I had heard her wrong. Yeah, that was it! It had to be! Logan would never! I mean…he wouldn't, would he? He knew how much Stephanie meant to me! Why would he do that to her? Why would he do that to me? Wait a second. What does Stephanie mean to me? I guess I never really thought about that until now. I mean we're friends, but are we more than friends? Do I want to be more than friends? Do I see her as someone I could be more than friends with?

"I'm scared, Carlos! He said once his venom circulates through my bloodstream, I'll be just like him! He said that I'll experience unimaginable pain! You have to help me! I don't want to go through this alone! Please, Carlos!" Stephanie wailed.

This…she…I…was this really happening? It was bad enough that my best friend was a vampire. Now, my…Stephanie was about to become one too? What was I supposed to do about this? Before Logan bit Stephanie, I could go to Stephanie to talk about Logan being a vampire, but what was I supposed to do now? Who was I going to talk to now? No one else believed in vampires, let alone that Logan was one. Why would they believe Stephanie was one?

"Where is he?" I asked, my voice quivering.

I didn't know what I was going to do when I found Logan. Would I be angry at him? Would I yell at him? Would I forgive him? What would I say to him? What he did to Stephanie was wrong, but so was what she did to him.

I hated taking sides. How could I possibly take sides when whoever I didn't pick would become mad at me because I didn't take their side? I didn't want anyone to be mad at me. I mean Logan was my best friend. Stephanie was…well, she's…Stephanie.

"I don't know. He vanished shortly after biting me," Stephanie answered.

I had to admit that it felt…good…holding Stephanie in my arms like I was. I didn't really care much for the reason why I was holding Stephanie in my arms, but I liked the fact that she was in my arms, and for now, that's all that mattered.

I thought I heard a sound come from the bedroom. I couldn't quite make out what it was, but it kind of sounded like a window opening or closing. Without going to look, I wasn't sure what it was.

I realized that I was kind of like one of those people in scary movies who hears a mysterious noise, and goes to investigate while you are screaming at the screen for them not to go look. I knew that what awaited me was probably scary and dangerous, but I was curious…

I grabbed hold of Stephanie's wrist, and pulled her behind me as I made my way to the bedroom. My heart was beating so loudly, I wouldn't be surprised if Stephanie could hear it too. I knew that I should probably breathe, but I was scared to.

Stephanie made for a very reluctant sidekick person thing, but I didn't want to be alone, and I figured that she didn't want to be alone either. That was something I learned from watching scary movies too. The ones that go off on their own end up getting killed or something bad happens to them. So if Stephanie and I stuck together…

When I finally arrived at the bedroom, I saw the window was open. There was a slight breeze that blew the curtains. I guess that answered the question from before; I heard the window open.

I looked all around the room for…well I'm not quite sure what I was looking for, but I was looking for something, and didn't really find it. Of course, it would help if I knew what I was looking for.

Then, something caught my eye. On Logan's desk, was a letter. It was all folded up. I was surprised that the letter hadn't blown off the desk, but I guess the wind wasn't blowing that hard. It was just weird because there was nothing holding the letter down.

Before I knew what I was doing, I found myself walking over to Logan's desk. I picked up the letter with shaky hands. I didn't know what Logan had to say in the letter. I was afraid of what he might say in the letter.

I carefully unfolded the letter. I had no idea why I was being so careful. I saw Logan's neat cursive writing in red ink. That…was…ink, wasn't it? Great! Now any time I see the color red, I wonder if it's blood. Out of the four of us-me, Kendall, James, and Logan-Logan was the only one who used cursive. I mean Ms. Collins wanted all of our handwritten stuff to be in cursive, but besides Logan, no one even listened to her. Logan's handwriting was so neat. You should see my handwriting. Chicken scratch was more like it.

This is what Logan's letter read:

If you are reading this, then I am already gone, or soon will be. Don't bother trying to stop me because you can't. You're too late. I already made my mind up, and I can't stay here any longer.

Things just got too…complicated. It felt like the walls were closing in on me, and I was suffocating. I couldn't breathe, but I yearned for the oxygen it seemed my lungs weren't getting.

Besides, it was time for me to move on. It was a small wonder I stuck with you as long as I had. It wasn't easy keeping my secret a…well…secret. Once I was discovered, I knew that it was only a matter of time.

Please don't blame yourself though. This isn't your fault. None of this is. If anyone is to blame, it's me. I was selfish. I knew I was putting you, Kendall, and James in danger by being your friend, but that didn't stop me, now did it? I should have left a long time ago, but I enjoyed your friendship so much that I selfishly stuck around.

Like I said, it was time. That's just the way my kind operate. We're nomads. We can't stay in one place for too long because people will grow suspicious. We're immortal. We are frozen. We never age. Take me for example. I look exactly the same as I looked when I was fifteen, which was when I was changed.

Remember when I was hospitalized for a week? Well, now you know why. I was in so much pain. It's all I knew. I just wanted it to stop, but it wouldn't. The doctors didn't know what was wrong with me. They didn't know how to even begin to treat me. They had never dealt with anything like what I was going through. So, they decided to wait it out. It got better…after I took matters in my own hands.

Two people died that night. It stopped the pain…temporarily. See? That's the thing. The only way I can make the pain stop is by killing people, or at least hurting them. I hate myself for what I have to do, but I need to do it or else I won't survive. I guess…I guess I'm not immortal as I think I am. I mean I don't know if I can actually die from the pain that comes with not drinking blood, but it sure feels that way…

But back to what I said before; this isn't your fault. I know right now you are probably blaming yourself, Carlos, and I want you to stop that right now. Like I said previously, this is my fault. If I hadn't slipped up, then I probably wouldn't have had to leave. But I did.

Remember those two people you found in the dumpster that night you and I took out the trash? Those were two more victims of mine. As you can see, I've been slipping up. I'm trying not to. I'm trying so hard. I mean I hate who I am. I hate the monster I have become. There's blood on my hands, Carlos, so much blood…

I even bit Stephanie. I knew that I shouldn't have, but her blood smelled so good to me. Then again, all human blood smells good to me though…Some more than others…Anyways, tell her that she has nothing to worry about. I mean I could have killed her if I completely drained her body of blood, but somehow I was able to stop myself. How exactly I was able to stop myself, I will never quite understand.

Yeah, she has nothing to worry about. Simply biting her won't make her like me. That's only how it works in Twilight. That's one of the many reasons why I dislike that movie so much. It's not true at all. What actually has to happen is that she has to have vampire blood in her system before she dies. Then, she'll come back to life, but as a vampire. That's what happened to me. Last I checked, she didn't have any vampire blood in her system, and she didn't die, so she'll be fine.

I was just…messing with her. I guess that makes me and her even now. What I told her about vampire venom circulating through her body from my bite was a total lie. Now, the part I told her about newly changed vampires going through unimaginable pain, that part was very real.

So, I guess this is goodbye, Carlos. Just try to forget about me, okay? It'll be easier that way. It'll be safer that way. That's what's important to me. The safety of you, Kendall, and James. Face it. You're not safe with me. I'd like to think that I would never harm you guys, but I can't say with absolute certainty that is the case, so I am not willing to risk it. You know me; I've never been much of a risk taker…

Even though I want you to forget about me, I will never forget you guys. I will always remember you, James, and Kendall. You'll always have a special place in my heart, and before you ask, yes, vampires do have hearts. Thank you for being such a great friend to me; you were all much better friends to me than I deserved. That's for sure. Anyways, take care and stay safe.

Logan

My eyes had filled with tears I think way back in the first paragraph. It may have even been the first line; I'm not sure. There were several splotches on the letter from where my tears had fallen. Stephanie had been looking over my shoulder, reading the letter as well. I could hear her quiet sobs as well. I wanted to comfort her, but there was something else that I wanted more: I wanted Logan to come back.

I don't think I have ever cried this much before my whole life. I almost wished that I hadn't even read this letter in the first place. No, as painful as it was, it was better this way. At least I wouldn't be wondering where Logan went or if he was okay. Who am I kidding? I'll still wonder where Logan went and if he is okay. I don't even know what I'm saying anymore!

I wasn't sure what it was, but I felt drawn to the window for some reason. Stephanie was startled when I let go of her hand, but I didn't really pay much attention to that. My feet seemed like they were moving all on their own once again.

He was there. Down by the pool. Logan. Our eyes met for a split second before he pulled up the hood on the hoodie he was wearing. He nodded his head once, before turning around to leave.

"Logan, wait! Don't go! Please? Come back!" I shouted.

He didn't seem to pay any attention to me. So, I made a beeline for the front door. I had to get to him before he left. I had to see him one more time before I never saw him again. I didn't care that he just admitted to me in a letter that he had killed people. I didn't care that he had bit Stephanie. Right now, none of that mattered to me. I just didn't want him to leave…not before I had a chance to say goodbye to him.

I didn't want to wait for the elevator, so I scrambled down the stairs. I hoped I wasn't too late. I was running as fast as my body could take me, but I had this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that it still wasn't fast enough. I shook my head, silencing that nagging voice in the back of my head that told me that it was too late; Logan was already gone.

After what seemed like forever, I was poolside, but I found I was all by myself. There was no one else in sight. I took off running, searching desperately for my best friend. Maybe he was close by. Maybe he had waited for me. He couldn't just leave me like that. He wouldn't just leave me like that.

"Logan? Logan!" I shouted, not caring if I was disturbing other residents by making so much noise.

I got an idea, and pulled out my cell phone. I dialed '1' on my speed dial, and my heart shattered in a million pieces when it went straight to voicemail. My knees shook to the point where they completely gave out on me. I sank to my knees as a ton of tears fell from my eyes.

"Logan…" I wept.

To Be Continued…

A/N: Holy cow! This turned out much longer than I originally thought it would! It's all Logan's letter's fault! So, what do you think? Is Logan really a vampire? Or is this just a part of his epic prank that he is pulling on both Carlos and Stephanie? Are you confused yet? Is it wrong of me to want you to answer 'yes' to that question? Also, is it wrong of me to want the Logan torture fic to win in my poll? Yes, you heard that right, folks. I want to torture Logan. Okay, now I have to admit that sounds bad…it does sound bad, right? Blame it on my FCMD…Right…shutting up now…