Here's another Chapter! Hope you like!!

Welcome Home

I waited in front of the door, waiting for someone to open it. I heard someone walking heavily towards the door. They opened the door, looking down and sad.

"I'm sorry we don't want to buy anything, sorry." It was Matthew who answered the door. I've never seen him this sad before in my whole human life. He turned away and started to shut the door. I put my foot in-between the door and its frame and pushed a little.

"No welcome home then Mattie?" I asked cheerfully. Mattie looked up at me, shocked.

"Ashley?" It looked like if you flicked him now, he would fall to the ground.

"Hey, Mattie. Where's my birthday hug?" I asked smiling; my arms out in front of me, waiting.

"Ashley? I-is that r-really you?" He stuttered.

"Unless you're having really weird dreams about me, then yes, it is really me." I chuckled.

"Oh Ashley, come here." He gave me a bear hug, swinging me around a little. I smelt his scent again. It doesn't bother me, he stinks! If I was human I wouldn't be able to breathe because of that hug. I hugged him back.

"Matt-ie...let...go." I stuttered, pulling back.

"Oh sorry." He blushed. Lee came round the corner from the living room.

"Matt, what's taking you so- Ashley!" She screamed my name and ran into me, giving me a hug. That must have hurt her. I smelt Lee's scent. I tensed up, against her.
"Hold your breath." Alex murmured under his breath so no one could him. I did as he said and it helped a little.

"Lee! It's so nice to see you again!" I said, stepping back to look at her properly, my hands on her shoulders. She shivered a little.

"Mum, Dad look who's here!" Mattie shouted to the living room, smiling with Lee. Mum and Dad came round the corner looking really sad.

"Matthew this is a hard time as it is – ASHLEY!" My mother screamed louder than Lee – which was impossible. My mum and dad ran towards me then hugging when we meet. My mum was crying and I saw a tear escape from my dad's eyes and roll down his cheek. My mother's scent was like Lee's but bitter at the same time. My father's scent was like Mattie's so he didn't bother me either.

"Mum, Dad! Look at you! You look well. May we come in?" I asked after remembering Alex.

"Of course, honey." She looked up to Alex – who was smiling politely – "Who's this then?" She asked quirking an eyebrow at me, then looked at Alex then at me again. I rolled my eyes at her and grabbed Alex's hand and stepped into the hall.

"This is Alex, my room-mate." I gestured to him. "This is my family. Matthew, Lee, my Mum, Sue and my Dad, Mark." I gestured to my family as I said they're names.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all." Alex shook everyone's hand, and kissed my mother's and Lee's hand as well – which made Lee look like she was going to faint at his touch. My mother blushed. I just rolled my eyes.

"Come in, come in." My mum waved to the sitting room. I walked towards the couch when I saw that everywhere was full of pictures of me.

"Why are there loads of pictures of me? Ugh. Baby photos. Alex don't look!" I covered his eyes, playfully. He took my hands away, laughing and walked towards the fire place where my pictures were.

"May I?" He asked, pointing to one photo of me in a swimming pool with a little swim suit on – that was took last year when it was summer.

"No." I said anger.

"Shhs, Ashley. Of course you can." My mother said, smiling at Alex. Alex smiled back and picked up the picture of me and his smile grew bigger.

"What's so funny?!?" I snapped and I could feel a growl building in my chest. I hate photos! If I don't calm down soon I think I'll end up attacking Alex. I winced at that thought. But why?

"It's nothing, Ashley, really." He looked at me, still smiling. "Ashley, don't look like that. You look lovely, really." He insisted. I turned around and looked at my family, who had their mouths hanging open.

"Ashley..." Lee said shocked.

"What? Why are they looking at me like that?" I snarled. Feeling really self-conscious.

"I-I've never seen you that angry in my whole life!" Lee looked down at my clenched hands. I hadn't realised until I looked for myself that my hands were clenched. My skin looked whiter, if that was possible?

"Sorry." I looked down at my feet and took a deep breath.

"Anyway. Happy Birthday, sis!" Matthew shouted. Matthew always cheered up the situation. Everyone looked at him then looked at me and smiled.

"Thanks, Mattie. I was coming here to see you and Alex wanted to meet you all. So I invited him. It's alright isn't it? We could go-"I pointed towards the front door.

"No, no. It's alright, honey. It's nice to meet your friends." My mum winked at me. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Anyway, Ashley, are you okay?" My dad asked. "You look a bit pale, love." I looked at Alex – who was watching me - and we both smiled at each other.

"I'm fine, dad, I just feel a little ill that's all." I smiled at my family now.

"Oh, honey!" Mum ran over to me and hugged me tightly. I could smell her blood again, I could see her bleed running down her veins, and her pulse pumping and I could hear her heart beating. I stepped back and went into the coffee table. Everyone looked confused, besides Alex, he looked more concerned and ready to catch me if I went for my family. I smiled at him thankfully.

"Sorry. I don't want you ill cold as well." I smiled and swallowed back the venom in my mouth. "I think I'll show Alex around." I grabbed Alex's hand and dragged him up the stairs – human speed, but vampire strength. He still had that stupid picture in his hand. I groaned as we went up the stairs. When we were on the landing, I grabbed the picture from his hand. He was staring at me, gob-smacked. "Stay here." I whispered and at vampire speed, I ran to my room - at the end of the hall – and throw - lightly – the picture on my bed. And I ran back to him in seconds. He just stood there with his mouth hanging open.

"What?" I asked annoyed and shut his mouth for him.

"You really don't like that picture, do you?" He said, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Come on, before they're thinking we're doing something we're not." Alex rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around my waist and started making kissing noises. "Alex...stop...Alex!" I said while laughing, pushing him away lightly. He squeezed me tighter.

"Fine!" He let go and stopped making kissing noises. "I'll just tickle you instead!" And Alex starting tickling me.

"Alex...STOP!!" I shouted while laughing again and trying to slap his hands away. I heard someone clearing they're throat. We both stopped and jumped.

"Hey, sis! I just wanted to get to my room." Matt pointed to his room behind us and rubbed his head, looking down.

"Sorry. Alex as you know this is Matt. And this is his room." I pointed to Matt then his room.

"As before, nice to meet to." Alex said, and smiled.

"And you, Alex. I'll just leave you two alone now." Matt walked passed us and I hit him on the arm. He turned round and rubbed his arm. I smiled at him, innocently. When he was in his room we both started to laugh again. I walked towards Lee's room and opened the door. Her scent knocked me and Alex back.

"Hold your breath." Alex whispered in my ear. I nodded and held my breath. Alex grabbed my hand and held it tightly. We walked in and Alex's eyes grew wider.

"You've never been in a girl's room before." I stated while chuckling. Alex looked at me then nodded. I dragged him out of Lee's room. Lee ran up the stairs and looked at me and Alex then ran into her room, slamming the door behind her. We both blow out our breath at the same time. We both started to laugh at the same time to, which made us laugh harder. The next room was my Mum and Dad's.

"My Mum and Dads' room." I opened the door. Alex looked around then nodded. Opposite my Mum and Dads' door was the bathroom.

"The bathroom." I pointed. Alex opened the door and looked round. I could feel the confused expression on my face.

"I like to see, it fascinating." He shrugged. The last room was my room.

"And finally, my room." I opened the door and walked in. Alex hesitated then walked in behind me. Once he was in my room. At vampire speed, I closed the door and sat down on the floor and got a bag and started to put some clothes in it. Alex sat down on my bed. He was looking at the stupid photo again.

"What's with you and that photo? It's hideous!" I turned round and faced him.

"Do you know how beautiful you look in this photograph?" He asked, looking at the picture. I looked away from him to the floor in embarrassment. In the picture I was wearing a bright pink bikini. Last summer was the hottest summers in the US, and we had to go in the swimming pool that Dad had blown up. So Matt and Lee thought it would be funny to cut up every swim-suit besides that bright pink one. I was so pissed that day. The only reason I was smiling in that photo was because I throw ice-cold water at them.

"Ashley, are you alright?" Alex said, shaking my shoulder.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking how I ended up in that 'Gorilla Suit'." I shuddered. Alex laughed a little. "What's so funny?" I moaned as I turned back around to put some more clothes back in the bag.

"It's kind of...funny, when you're angry. And it's not a 'Gorilla Suit', it's a bikini, I believe." He chuckled.

"No, it's a torture suit. You don't realise how embarrassing it was to be like that in your front garden in a swimming pool, where strangers walked passed-" I stopped to shudder. "I was only smiling because I throw ice-cold water at Matt and Lee for cutting up all my swim-suits besides that one. They're faces." I laughed, shaking my head. Alex laughed to. Something he said before bugged me. "What did you mean about what you said before?" I asked as I turned around to face him again. Confusion then guilt washed across his eyes before he could control his emotions.

"That the bikini isn't a 'Gorilla Suit'?" He asked, quirking his eyebrow, playing dumb.

"No, before that. After I said that the photo is hideous." I watched his every action. His brown eyes looked away from my green eyes to look down at the floor.

"Nothing." He said quietly. Did he look embarrassed?

"Tell me, please. I promise I won't laugh." I said softly, flattering my eye lashes. I moved onto my knees and put my hands on his knees for support. He rolled his eyes at me.

"I said, 'Do you know how beautiful you look in this photograph?'" He looked into my eyes and signed.

"Oh. Right." Now I looked away embarrassed. "Thank you." Alex put both of his hands on either side on my face. He looked into my eyes, and leaned towards me. I froze. Alex kept leaning towards me until our lips met. When our skin touched it sent an electric circuit through me. I closed my eyes and kissed back. My fingers getting tangled in his hair. Alex's hands moving down from my face to my waist. Suddenly there was a knock on my door. Alex and I both jumped and let go of each other. I sighed, disappointed.

"Come in!" I shouted, sitting back on the floor next to my bag.

"Ash, Mum wants you two down- Oh, did I interrupted anything?" Lee said opening my bedroom door.

"No." I got up and look at Alex, who was looking at me. "Don't worry your little head."I said to Lee and walked over to Lee and patted her head.

"Ash! Watch my hair!" Lee shouted.

"You're really annoying for someone who's really small." I stated, snarling lightly. "Tell Mum, we'll be down in a min, before she starts shouting at us." Lee and I both grimaced and Lee walked out my room and down the stairs.

"Sorry. I don't know what came over me." Alex said looking at the floor. I walked back over to Alex and sat next to him on my bed.

"Don't be. I kissed you back, didn't I?" I said, nudging his arm and smiled a little. Alex smiled back, half-heartedly.

"Come on, we'd better get down stairs before your Mom shouts at us." Alex said, grabbing my hand and taking me out me room. I shut the door behind me.

While we were walking down stairs I smelt something burning and something sickening sweet. I followed the scents and found myself in my dining room and the lights were off but I could still see my family sitting round the table. The lights flicked on and my family jumped.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ASHLEY!" Everyone shouted, including Alex.

"Oh guys, you shouldn't of." If I was human I would be defiantly be crying and blushing now!

"Ash, don't be stupid! It's your birthday! Here, open your presents." Matt said and pushed a small pile of presents towards me on the table. I sat down in my usual spot and started to unwrap a thin, rectangular box with plain, purple wrapping paper. Inside the box was a necklace with my birthstone – Amethyst rock – cut into a heart shape, on a silver chain. It was beautiful!

"That's from me!" Matt spoke quietly but smug from my expression.

"It's...It's...beautiful, Matt. Thank you!" I got up and hugged him tightly and kissed him on the cheek. He hugged back and blushed under my kiss.

"Open mine, Ash! Please open mine!" Lee whined, bouncing up and down.

"Give me a sec, Lee. I'm having a moment here. Matt, help me put this on please?" I took the necklace out, gently and handed it to Matt. I turned around lifting my pony-tale out of his way. Matt fastened the catch easily and we went back to sit down again. Lee shoved a flowery purple square box under my nose – literally – I could smell the cardboard and Lee's scent and perfume on it. I grabbed the box from her and opened it. Inside was a picture of a plain, midnight blue dress with a navy blue ribbon around the waist, with spaghetti straps. It was beautiful, something that Lee might wear. And in the photo, it was on a hanger, which was hanging on Lee's door. I looked up at Lee confused.

"I didn't have enough wrapping paper." She smiled and shrugged. "Wait here and don't move a muscle! I'll be back down in a minute. Don't think of opening Mum and Dad's present either!" Her face was serious. I rolled my eyes. Lee ran upstairs to her room. I didn't notice Alex was still standing up. I went to go under the stairs to get Alex a deck chair. I went back and opened the chair next to me and gestured Alex to sit down. He looked to my parents and brother for approval and sat down next to me.

"So, when did you meet? Not saying you're together. I mean did you meet at work then need a place? You know what I mean." My mother said, digging a hole.

"I think you should get a bigger shovel, Mum." I sighed, she giggled and Alex looked at me confused. "Alex had a spare room in his apartment and I looked around – like any other person would – and he accepted my offer." I felt smug about my answer.

"That's how Ashley got her job as well." Alex said quietly. "She was talking to me about how she wanted a good paying job and at my work there was a job going so I told her that she should come in one day and she did and they accepted her the first day she went." Alex seemed smug as well. I smiled at him and Alex smiled back.

"What do you work for, son?" Did my father just call Alex 'son'?

"I work in science, well in make-up, but it pays well I suppose."Alex shrugged. "I'm a scientist you see." Alex added.

"What is Ash a scientist?" Matt asked laughing. Like I couldn't do that. Actually I probably couldn't. I always hated science at school.

"No." Me and Alex said at the same time. Alex spoke first,

"You could say Ashley is a 'tester'. She tests all the new, organic make-up we're making. That's why Ashley's skin is so smooth and pale." Everyone looked at my arms - which were bare because I pushed up my sleeves to my elbows – and my face.

"Oh." Was all my Mum, Dad and Matt could say. Lee came running down the stairs.

"Ash, you have to try it on first before you take it, just in-case it doesn't fit." Lees face fell. "Anyway, what were you talking about? I heard make-up." Her face lit up again. I chuckled.

"We were just talking about mine and Alex's job, Lee." I said, still chuckling.

"What do you do?" Lee asked running to her seat, sitting down and waiting for my answer.

"Alex and I work in making make-up, Lee." Lee's eyes widened. "Alex is a scientist and I'm a 'tester'." I said shrugging my shoulders.

"Wow!" Lee said gob-smacked. "Come on! Let's try your dress on!" Lee said jumping up from her chair and ran to grab my hand to go upstairs. I looked at everyone else with pleading eyes. They smiled reassuring me.

***

When I got into Lee's room I could smell her scent again, stronger. I felt myself getting wilder. I held a big breath.

"Ash, you alright? You look like you're in pain?" Lee asked concerned.

"I'm fine. It's just...no offence...but...can we do this in my room? I d-don't feel...comfortable in here. It's your room after all." I said the last sentence quickly. Lee's expression was a mixture of shocked and hurt?

"Oh Kay?" Lee extended the words longer than normal. "You go to your room and I'll follow you in a minute." She shooed me out of her room. When I got to my room I left my door open for Lee. I quickly put my bag in my wardrobe. After that I sat down on my bed and took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

"You ready, Ash?" Lee asked excitedly at my door.

"Ready." I opened my eyes and saw my dress for the first time – other than the picture. I saw every detail of the fabric. I felt my mouth gape open, shocked. "Lee...You shouldn't...Wow!" I stuttered. Lee giggled.

"Ash, it's your birthday. I'm just happy you like it. And that you're accepting a dress from me. You are accepting it, aren't you?" Lee asked sadly.

"Of course I am, Lee. Wow." I got up from the bed and walked over to where she was standing. "This must have cost you a lot." I stated. Lee shrugged.

"It doesn't matter. You're my sister, after all." She smiled. "Here, try it on. You're killing me here." She joked and I heard Alex's chair moved downstairs.

"Okay, Lee. Go downstairs and let me put this on in peace." I shooed her away and shut the door behind me.

When I had the beautiful dress on, I took my hair out of my pony-tale and let my hair flow down my back. I made sure you could see my necklace, as well. I made sure I didn't look in a mirror. More afraid to then anything else. I opened my door to find a pair of black pumps, with a note inside one shoe.

'I thought you might want these.

Lee

xxx'

Lee was my star that day! I took off my trainers and picked up the pumps and went back into my room. I put my clothes, neatly, on my bed and put my trainers on the floor. I took off my socks and put on my pumps. Once I thought I was ready, I took a deep breath and walked out of my room and walked down the landing then walked down the stairs slowly meeting gasps.

A kind of cliffy for you. Im writing the next one now - because I didnt plan for it. R&R!