Chapter 9

Finally, everything was starting to feel normal again. Well, as normal as a vampire's life can get. I noticed that day-by-day, my eyes were growing more gold than red. This was something I was perfectly fine with.

I loved spending time with my new family. Nicholas and I had actually become friends. Kathleen, Abby and I had finished painting my room, but the furniture wasn't ready when it was supposed to be, so I settled with the bed for a few more weeks.

I spent my days usually helping Kathleen with things around the house since everyone else was gone. But one day during the week Langdon stayed home from the hospital, and Joshua didn't feel like going to school. It felt like something was up.

I was sitting in my room listening to music when Langdon and Kathleen came in.

"Hi Sarah." Kathleen said.

I smiled back. "Hi."

Langdon smiled, but his face soon turned serious. "Sarah, the furniture is being delivered today."

My smile fell. I had been dreading this day since we ordered the stupid furniture. It wasn't that I didn't like the furniture, I did, it's just they don't usually have vampire deliverymen. We knew it would come sometime this week so we made extra hunting trips.

Langdon seemed to read my mind. "Don't worry Sarah. Joshua and I are here, and we'll stop you before you do anything."

That cheered me up a bit. I knew that my family would never let me do anything crazy, like killing a human.

"You should come downstairs, so you won't be in their way when they bring the furniture up here." Kathleen said.

I nodded. "How long is it going to take?" I was nervous already.

Langdon looked down, not a good sign. "Probably an hour."

I groaned. Kathleen came and sat next to me on the bed and pulled me into a hug. "Everything will be fine, trust me." I could never doubt Kathleen when she did things like that.

We walked downstairs and went into the kitchen. Joshua was already there.

"Hey sis! Big day, huh?" Joshua greeted me with a hug.

"Yeah." I replied emotionless.

"Don't worry we'll protect you." He smiled.

"I know. Thanks."

"No problem."

As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Kathleen went to the door leaving me with my two protectors. Actually, I didn't need protecting, the humans did. I heard the door open and Kathleen greeting someone. Unexpectedly Langdon and Joshua pulled me into the front room. I practically broke the counter by refusing. But it was a lost cause because Langdon and Joshua were stronger than me.

The three of us tried to make our appearance seem semi-normal, but the deliveryman gave us a questioning look. The smell wasn't that strong. It was actually manageable. He handed Kathleen a clipboard with some papers on it, which I assumed were receipts. She signed them and he went back to his truck.

Minutes later, he and his partner came through the door carrying the first piece of our order, a desk. I kind of felt bad for them. They looked like they were in pain. It would have been so easier and quicker if we were to do it. But Langdon insisted that we have it delivered. One of his many tests he said.

See, Langdon was slowly integrating me into society, as he called it. It started as trips to the gas station, and shopping trips with Abby. Soon, he actually expects me to go to school! Short shopping trips I can handle, but school is a different story.

It took the men forever to get the desk up the stairs. I could hear Kathleen directing them in my room where to put it. I sat on the couch in front of the T.V. and just waited. Each time the men would pass me I would brace myself for the inevitable thirst but it really only felt like I had a bad sore throat.

After about an hour the men were finished. After they drove away, Joshua – who never left my side – hugged me. "I knew you could do it little sis!" One reason I liked being around Joshua was because he was always so fun and energetic. I could see why Abby married him. They were a perfect match.

I smiled. "Wow, that wasn't hard at all."

Kathleen and Langdon both smiled at me. Soon we heard the soft purr of the mustang. The door opened and Abby and Nicholas walked in. Abby carefully studied all of our faces, then bounded over to me and gave me a hug.

"I told you everything was going to be fine silly." She said.

"I just can't believe it was that easy. I half expected myself to jump them when they walked in."

Abby smiled. "And it gets even easier the older you get."

Nicholas walked over to us, and pulled me off the couch and into a hug. "Congratulations." He breathed in my ear. This insignificant action shouldn't have sent shivers down my spine, but it did.

I reluctantly pulled away from him. "I think I'm going to go check out my new room, and listen to some music. Any plans for later?"

Abby started jumping up and down. "Oh I have the perfect idea!"

Nicholas groaned. "Let me guess, a celebratory shopping trip?"

Abby huffed, and turned to me. "Up for a little shopping? Vampire style?"

I wasn't sure what she meant, but I'm sure I would hate it. "Um, sure."

Abby squealed, and then turned to Langdon and Kathleen. She gave them the perfect puppy dogface, to which they couldn't say no to.

Langdon sighed. "I don't see why not. Finals are over right?"

Abby started bouncing again. She was so excited she couldn't answer. Instead Nicholas did. "Yep we finished up today. And Joshua finished yesterday."

"Alright then, let's get packed." Langdon said.

"Wait what? Packed? Where are we going?" I was so confused. All the guys looked like they were going to be sick. But Kathleen and Abby looked like they had won the lottery.

Nicholas was about to say something, but Abby cut him off. "Nope, sorry. It's a secret. But don't worry I'll help you pack."

I just shrugged, and was immediately dragged up the stairs by an ecstatic Abby. Once we were in my room, she went to my closet, grabbed a suitcase and started throwing things in it. She moved so fast, that it looked like a tornado was going through my room. In about 5 minutes, I was fully packed.

Abby had successfully filled 3 suitcases to the brim. I didn't even know I had that many clothes. But the fact she packed so many scared me. It could either mean that we were going somewhere far away, or that we were going someplace very fashionable.

Somehow, she grabbed all 3 suitcases and ran them downstairs. Then she was back in my room in a flash and towed me behind her into her and Joshua's room. I waited while she packed and had to help her decide between 2 shirts that looked exactly the same. In the end she packed both.

When we got downstairs we found the rest of the family already ready to go. The guys had considerably less baggage than the girls. Big surprise there.

"Wait Sarah doesn't have a passport." Abby said a little depressed.

"A passport? Just where are we going?" So I had been right about going somewhere far away. Now I was actually excited because I had never been further east than Kansas City.

"We can get her one at the airport." Kathleen said.

Soon the guys had everything packed in the cars, and we were off to the Seattle airport. As much as I tried, Abby wouldn't tell me anything. I even tried to persuade her with the idea of me being her Barbie doll for the day.

We arrived at the airport in record time, as always. We didn't go to the main airport though. We parked in front of where the private jets are held. I gasped.

"You guys have a private jet!"

Joshua shrugged. "It comes in handy sometimes."

Kathleen offered to get my passport while we unloaded the cars. Langdon led the way through the airport and security checks. We finally ended up in front of a really nice private jet that I assumed was ours. I couldn't move for a few seconds. Nicholas finally had to drag me up the stairs.

If I thought the outside was nice, the inside was even better. It was carpeted with leather recliners, and plasma screen televisions. After everyone was settled – Langdon was going to fly the plane – we were given the all clear.

I knew we were heading east, but I still had no clue where. We had to make stops in Denver, and then New York City for gas. And soon, we were headed out over the Atlantic Ocean.

It was early morning when I first saw land again. Abby had to put a blindfold on me because she didn't want to 'ruin the surprise'. After another hour or two in the air, I could feel us finally starting to descend. When we had finally landed, Abby led me out of the plane and undid my blindfold.

The first thing I saw at the airport, was a large flag that had 3 stripes on it that were red, white and blue. It took me a moment to recognize it.

"FRANCE! WE'RE IN FRANCE!" I was beyond excited.

The rest of the family just laughed.


"So you like the surprise huh?" Nicholas teased.

I smiled. "If this is the reward I get for being around humans, I'll do it more often."

"Come on. We have to check into the hotel before we do anything else." Langdon said.

I spent the entire car ride gawking out the window. I didn't want to miss a second of this. I grew even more excited when we passed a sign that said "Soyez bienvenus à Paris". I didn't understand the first part, but I understood the Paris part.

As we entered the city, the sun was just breaking over the horizon. Everything was beautiful. I saw the Eiffel Tower, and the Champs-Élysées. I knew that it was probably stupid to take pictures, since we could come back anytime we wanted, but I still felt a need to.

We pulled up to the Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris. It looked amazing from the outside. When we walked in, I was speechless. It took all the effort I had to make myself walk next to my family. Despite the number of people in the lobby, I hardly noticed them.

But the people obviously noticed us. Every eye was on us as we walked in. Suddenly Nicholas let out a small growl, and wrapped his arm protectively around my waist. I gave him a questioning look but he was staring at two businessmen. My guess, is that he didn't like what they were thinking.

Langdon checked us in, and we went to get settled in our room. The hotel room was very nice; actually it was a bunch of rooms. It felt like an apartment. I couldn't help but notice that there were only 3 bedrooms. I looked over at Langdon questioningly.

"Sorry. It's the biggest suite they had left."

"No it's fine." I didn't want him to feel bad about it.

Everyone headed off to their respective rooms. I looked back to see if Nicholas was following me, but he was already making himself comfortable on the couch. I sighed.

"Nicholas, what are you doing?"

He seemed confused. "Making my bed. Why?"

I sighed loud enough so that he was sure to hear me. "I don't mind sharing a room with you."

"Oh. Ok."

I turned around and headed to our room. I opened the door and froze. It was beautiful. There was a large canopy bed in the middle, with cream-colored sheets. There also was a deck outside, with an amazing view of the city. You know I could really get used to this vampire lifestyle.

Nicholas chuckled from behind me, and nudged me into the room. I set my bags down by the dresser, and went to the deck. I pulled out one of the two chairs from the table and sat down.

Paris in the morning is something everyone should see, it's stunning. I sat there for a long time just staring at the little cars driving, and the even smaller people walking. Before I knew it, Abby was bounding into my room, begging me to come shopping with her.

"Are the guys coming too?" I was genuinely.

"No, they went to go find some good hunting places. They're meeting us later, at a club."

"Ok. Let's get this over with."

Abby didn't seem at all bummed by my little comment. Or perhaps she was ignoring it. We met Kathleen in the lobby and then headed out into the city.

I was starting to get used to people staring at me wherever I went, so it wasn't a surprise to see practically everyone on the street stop, and watch us walk by. Abby insisted that I get something for the club tonight, so we stopped in a little corner boutique. I found the perfect little black dress, and strappy heels. It looked amazing in contrast with my chalky colored skin.

Abby and Kathleen found cute outfits too. Abby found a red sequin top and a black leather mini skirt, with high, shiny, black, leather boots. Kathleen on the other hand went with something a bit more practical. She got a dark blue jean skirt, and a royal blue jeweled halter top, with a pair of white heels. Abby was very impressed at our findings.

After we had visited all of the stores, we went and got our makeup done. Abby was ordering the makeup artist around, with exact details of what she wanted to have done to each of us. I was given a dark smoky eye look, paired with pink lip-gloss. Kathleen had subtle pink eye shadow, and an even lighter shade of lipstick. And Abby had fire red eye shadow, with equally bright lipstick.

By the time we were all done, it was nearly 9:00 p.m. so we headed back to the hotel to get dressed. We arrived at the club before the guys, so we went inside. I had never been to a club, so I didn't know what to expect. But when I walked in, I almost turned around and headed back outside.

There were so many people in here that they looked like packaged sardines. At first the smell was overwhelming, but the longer we spent inside, the easier it got. Soon, I was actually able to enjoy it.

The music was playing so loud, you could hear it a block down. And there were many different colored lights that added to the club's atmosphere. Abby dragged me over to the dance floor, while Kathleen said that she would wait for the guys.

I didn't know how to dance exactly, but I just followed Abby's lead. Which was just mainly, a 

lot of swaying, and circling. At one point during the dancing, some guy came up, and grabbed me by the waist.

"Heeeeyy baby. You all aloooone?" I could tell he was drunk by the way he slurred his words, and by the fact that he reeked of alcohol.

Before I could even think, Nicholas was there by my side, growling. He wrapped his arm around my waist like the time he did in the hotel. I couldn't tell if it was the club lights, or the music, but I suddenly became aware of how close Nicholas was to me, and how much I actually liked it.

The man swayed a little, and backed off. He was absolutely terrified of Nicholas. Once the man was a safe distance away, Nicholas grabbed my hand, and led me outside on the terrace.

"I can't bring you anywhere without you attracting some guy's attention, can I?" He said gruffly.

I just laughed. "What can I say, I'm irresistible."

I didn't miss how Nicholas quickly looked me over. Then he muttered something so low, that even I couldn't hear it. It kind of sounded like a 'you have no idea'. I just sighed.

I looked around and then back to Nicholas's face. He was staring at me with a strange expression. Like desire, and determination mixed together. He leaned in so close to me, that all I had to do was move forward to meet his lips. I could have sworn that my silent heart started pounding in my chest.

I closed my eyes hoping that he would give me what I truly wanted. A kiss. After a moment, when I didn't feel his cool, smooth lips on mine, I opened my eyes again. Nicholas had reached around me, a plucked a flower from the basket behind me.

"You look beautiful." He gave me the flower. "We should get back inside though. Just so the family doesn't think we've run off."

I was sure that disappointment was all over my face as we headed back inside. Before I could really wallow in my sorrow, I could have sworn I saw Nicholas sigh and frown. Confirming that he really did want the kiss, as bad as I did.

I sighed. I'll get that kiss eventually I thought.

A/N: Hope you liked it! Thanks for all the reviews. I have pics of the outfits that Sarah, Kathleen, and Abby wore to the club in my profile. There might be a bunch of mistakes in this chapter and I'm sorry for that, but its 3:15 am, and I'm tired. Also, the characters names were originally different, so if I missed some names in the editing process I'm sorry. Just incase I did, Sarah was originally Taylor. Nicholas was originally Ethan. Langdon was originally Piers. Abby was originally Abbie. Kathleen was originally Eliza.