Part Ten:

Ryen held out his hand, and I reached up to grab it. I didn't exactly need his help, but whatever. With amazing strength, Ryen pulled me over the fence. The fence traced the perimeter of the rooftop. The roof on a fourteen story building. I had no idea why Ryen was taking me to the roof of this building, but before I could look around, he covered my eyes with his hands.

Normally, a person would feel mighty uncomfortable at a stranger leading them around. Though, I'm the kind of person who was always around strangers. Besides, there was something about Ryen that allowed me to trust him. At least, enough for him to lead me around blind, but not enough for me to be relaxed during the time. I could feel the adrenaline in my veins, preparing me to sprint any second.

Suddenly, Ryen lifted his hands, and the dark view appeared. I could see plainly into the darkness, though, so the absence of light didn't bug me. What did confuse me was the golf course. Who put a golfing area on the rooftop of a fourteen story building? Rich companies, of course, but... okay.

"And...," I said slowly, "to cheer me up, you take me golfing." Ryen chuckled, but went to the storage area. It must have been unlocked because, not long later, he came back with a bag of golf balls and another bag of golf clubs.

"You know how to hit the golf ball, right," Ryen asked, not really caring otherwise. He went to the starting point of the golf course point, and placed a golf ball on the pick.

"Yeah," I replied skeptically. It isn't hard, you know. Ryen grabbed a club, and took a moment before hitting the ball enough for it to land directly into the first hole. So we have a golf playing recluse. Who would've thunk it?

"Your mom won't be mad that you're out this late, would she," Ryen asked shortly, "Especially seeing as you just got out of the hospital." How'd he know that? Hmm.

"Probably," I said, but shrugged as I steadied the club behind the golf ball, "Does it look like I care?" And I swung the club. My golf ball flew over the fence, and disappeared due to gravity. I heard that on the Empire State Building, if you drop a penny from the top, its momentum would gain so much that it could kill a citizen walking below. Gee, I do hope nobody gets hit by that ball.

I looked at Ryen with raised eyebrows. "That a foul," I asked, thinking of baseball, "Or a home-run?" I loved sports, actually, but at this moment, I had been aiming at the window in the tall building next to this one. I'll have to try harder next time.

"What were you trying to kill yourself for," Ryen asked as he prepared to hit the next golf ball.

I scoffed. "I wasn't going to kill myself," I lied, "Just thinking about it." Ryen hit the ball, once again getting it into the hole at first try.

"But why," he asked, looking directly at me. He handed me the club, but I switched it. I figured a nice driver could get a ball to a window.

"I had a best friend," I said slowly, not sure if I wanted to tell, "who I cared for like a close sister. Now I don't." I slammed the golf ball over the fence, but it started towards the ground just before it hit the window. I did hear a car alarm go off, and that satisfied me slightly.

"What happened," Ryen asked. So nosy, he is. Wow, I sounded like Yoda for a second there... and I hate Star Wars. "You might want to aim for the hole, by the way," Ryen suggested, "This is therapy to teach you to keep yourself in control." I was in control... hitting objects over that fence.

"I'll try next time," I responded to his request, "And I don't know. She just stopped being the friend I knew." Ryen peered at me carefully. Then he swung his club back, and with a whistle in the air, the golf ball flew across the gap between the buildings. There was a loud shatter as it collided with the window I had been previously aiming for.

I laughed loudly, clapping my hand over my mouth. Then, I grabbed a club, and flung it forward with effort. Amazingly, it hit the window below the shattered one. Amazingly, an alarm went off.

"Well, time to go," Ryen said shortly, running past me. He had to double back and snatch my arm, for I had just been staring with a pleasant feeling at the broken glass. Ryen pulled me through the doors that lead within the building.

Suddenly, we were walking past business people. There were doors and doors with metal plates that told a name. It didn't take long for me to realize this was a law firm. Instead of the elevators, we took fourteen flights of stairs to the first floor. Yet... both of us didn't even feel exhausted after reaching the ground floor.

Out on the streets, we saw two cop cars pull in front of the building in which had been vandalized. I never usually came into the North side of Reaper. It was like a mini version of New York, but maybe that was because I happened to be in this area at the time.

I was giggling as we walked past blocks of stores. Ryen stopped at one place, and it wasn't long before he came out with two icecream bars. "Want one," He asked, holding one in front of me.

"Nah," I neglected, raising my hand to block it.

"Aw, come on," He said, "Doesn't it smell so yummy? Can't you taste the nice icecream on your tongue? Chocolate sugary icecream. Mmmmm..." I snatched it from his hands so he'd shut up, but he only laughed.

"You've got any other friends," Ryen suddenly asked.

I paused. "What?"

"Friends," he repeated, "That one friend can't have been the only friend you had." I thought about the whole pack, and the others at school that were always trying to invite me to parties. I shrugged.

"It's only high school, you know," Ryen continued, "A lot of humans in high school do that. They want a change, and they don't care who they have to lose in the process. That's why you're not suppose to actually care about any humans... at least until high school ends."

I looked at Ryen in confusion. "Humans, huh," I said slowly, "And what are you? An alien. Want me to take you to my leader? Am I your new slave, dear alien master. You're not going to probe me, are you?" I snickered, and took a bite out of my icecream bar.

"I'm... you know what you are, right," Ryen asked me carefully.

"I'm a human chick," I stated certainly, "Who is eating an icecream bar that tastes awful for some reason. And I think I now have a blood disease because my blood is refusing to regenerate more of its own kind. But I do believe I'll be just fine." I smiled widely, and dumped the icecream bar at the next trash can I saw.

"And you're half vampire," Ryen suddenly added, shocking me. I paused, and glared at him.

"Have you been stalking me," I snapped suspiciously, "You said my mom as if I didn't have a dad, and you knew I was in the hospital. And now you know what my mom was telling me... you've got to be kidding, right?" Ryen was watching my reaction as if he was enjoying it, but seemed confused.

"But you know your dad is a vampire, right," Ryen asked. I could feel the fury rise within me. "I'm not trying to make you mad," Ryen said quickly, "I just thought you'd know that. Why would someone keep you in the dark about being half-vampire?"

"Sure," I snarled, "Whatever. What are you saying? That you're a vampire, too?" Ryen's look responded positive, and I rolled my eyes. "Look, I had a great time and all, but I seriously don't hang out with people who think they're vampires," I stated... and added with a mutter, "and they don't hang out with me, apparently."

"I don't think I'm a vampire," Ryen said testily, "I know I'm a vampire. And you're just about one. You had the thirst attack just before the hospital. I had to give you some of my blood, remember? I had to drop you off at the hospital... the first thirst usually is the worse, anyways." That kind of rhymed.

"Well, I've got to go, now," I stated in denial, "Nice to see you again, Mr. Waterfall Cave Guy a.k.a. Ryen. Thanks for saving my life--"

"A third time," Ryen remarked with a bitter mutter.

"Goodbye and good night," I said, walking off.

"Things will get worse with becoming one of us," Ryen said loudly to my back, "But I'll be at the cave when you realize you need someone. Someone who isn't human!" What's that suppose to mean? It's suppose to get worse? Wait... nothing would get worse seeing as I'm NOT a vampire. I didn't get bit, did I? And there's no proof that my dad was a vampire... seeing as he isn't even here.

And how does he know all this stuff?!

I started to go through my window, but thought over that. Mom would probably be waiting again. So, I figured I'd risk the noisy door. As long as I remember to turn the knob THEN shut it, I should be doing just fine.

I reached the front door, and opened it slowly. Luckily, it was unlocked... this meant that mom had been expecting me to be gone awhile. Though, she must be expecting me if she left it unlocked. As I stepped into the dark house, I could actually see clearly. Nobody was in sight. So I swung the door. I winced physically when it slammed against the edge of the threshold, and bounced back at me. Great, I forgot to turn the knob and shut it. Good job!

Mom appeared in front of me, just as suspected. "No," she said when I started to talk. Great, ANOTHER fight! This never ends, does it. "I don't think you should hang out with Ray-Lottie anymore. She's definitely getting you to do bad things." I scoffed.

"Fine, we're not friends, anyways," I snapped, and started towards my bedroom.

Mom hesitated, "Wait, what? Did I say the wrong name or something?" I shook my head.

"Nope, Ray-lottie is not my friend anymore," I stated, "Said so herself. Said she never cared about me, and wanted me to leave her alone." I felt the familiar cold as I remembered her glare and the rage in her words. She's just some stupid person. It isn't like I cared too much about her anyways.

There was silence for a moment. Then mom said, "Did you have any thirst problems, yet?" And then I was angry again.

"Look," I snarled, "I told you once, and I'll tell you again: I'm not a vampire!"

Suddenly, Mom started laughing. "You sound exactly like I did with Dav-," And she stopped shortly; almost painfully. This made me stop being so angry. "In fact, you act a lot like him, too, but more in the anger issue area," Mom said wistfully.

An opening at last. "Where is he," I asked, suddenly not wanting to go to my room. "Is he still alive, even? When's the last time you heard from him?" Mom hesitated, not sure whether she should tell or not.

"Nevermind," I snapped, "No, I don't care." That happens a lot. I'll feel curious, almost eager, then I remember that he left without me even remembering the sound of his voice. And I get mad. So mad at him for doing this to me. For being alive, but not alive. And not in that vampire sense, but almost as if he doesn't exist. Because it feels like he's just a figment of my imagination. Without a voice; without a face.

Then again, I'm afraid of knowing about him. As long as I hate him, I won't miss not knowing him. If I ever felt a sense of wondering, I start to feel depressed. So, whenever I want to know, I force myself to get mad. That way, I won't even want to know. Complicated, but true. How can a person have a kid... and then just leave it? Without even knowing it?

I stormed into my room without waiting for mom to reply.

Okay, that's the five for today. Thanks!