"I mean, when are we going to meet her?" Sharpay complained as she filed her nails. She was sitting on a swing in the local park as I scanned the area quickly. Charles and I decided to expand my patrolling. Every once in a while I would patrol throughout the whole town, but truth be told, most demons and evil things stayed in the cemetery when hunting for prey.

"Who?" I asked. I had zoned out on Sharpay a while ago. I'm pretty sure she was busy talking about Zeke and his new girlfriend Marcy, but I wasn't certain.

"Marcy!" She exclaimed. I nodded my head with my back facing her. I was right. She was still talking about Marcy and Zeke.

"I don't know Shar, but I think we can call it a night. Nothing is happening here and we can both use some sleep.

Sharpay jumped up from her sitting position. "Okay." She linked arms with me as we made our way back to her car. "So Charles and Taylor are doing their spell tomorrow. I guess it'll be pretty cool to watch. You coming to see them do it?"

"Um," I said, "I don't think so. I should probably clean the house and cook dinner. I'm sure Charles will fill me in."

"You know," Sharpay said quietly, "Ever since we found out about Lucy you've been distancing yourself from us. I'm even surprised you let me come tonight."

I got into the car, not knowing how to talk to Sharpay at the moment. She was right, I even knew that. I was distancing myself within the last three days. I couldn't get Chad's words out of my mind. I was blaming myself and the only way I knew how to deal with it is by distancing myself from the people that I love; Jason included.

Sharpay entered her car too. "It's not your fault Gabriella. So stop blaming yourself and concentrate on helping us defeat Hope."

"Okay," I said simply.

Sharpay pulled up to my house, both of us noticing Chad's car in the driveway. Sharpay looked at me. "You want me to stay?"

"No," I said getting out of the car. "I'll be fine. It's just Chad." And I truly meant it. No matter how mad Chad was at me and no matter how mad I got at Chad, we are always there for one another. We just fight like siblings.

I walked into my house, smelling pancakes instantly. I walked into the kitchen and saw that Chad was just putting a big plate of pancakes down on my kitchen table. I smiled as he turned around and looked at me with his own little smile.

"Hey," I said casually. I slipped into the chair that had the pancakes in front of them.

"Hey." Chad brought two clean plates over to the table, along with forks and syrup. "I hope you don't mind, but you were out and I needed to keep myself busy while waiting for you. I also fixed your back door too."

"That's okay. You know I like it when things get done around the house without me having to actually do anything." Chad grinned at my words.

He was scratching the back of his neck, and I knew instantly that he was nervous. I reached out and connected our hands. He looked at me instantly, surprised that I was actually touching him after our argument.

Please forgive me.

"Chad, it's just me. You don't need to be nervous." He chuckled before I continued speaking. "Your thoughts are very loud tonight."

"That's because I want you to hear them." He sighed. "I'm not good at apologies, but I know I owe you one."

"Hey, consider—" I didn't get to finish my sentence because at that moment my backdoor that Chad had just fixed was busted down and a big, burly demon walked through. I stood up along with Chad. This demon was wearing a Viking hate, horns still out from its side of the head, and claws adorned its hands.

"Go get my ax, Chad," I yelled over the demons screech.

"Gabs," Chad started to protest as I took a small step back, rocking on the backs of my feet, ready to pounce if necessary.

"Go!" I roared as I smirked at the demon. "Hurry!"

Chad dashed off, heading up the stairs to my bedroom where I kept a chest full of weapons at the end of my bed. It was just me and the demon.

"Come on big boy; show me what you got," I egged on. I don't know what had gotten into me, but whatever it was made me feel confident and like my old self.

The demon charged, howling in excitement. I don't think he actually spoke English which was somewhat weird. Almost all things I fought were able to speak to me. I ducked its flying claws and sent a kick to its back. He actually stumbled forward a bit, letting me grab the frying pan Chad used to make the pancakes and clonk him on the back of the head.

I could hear Chad coming down the stairs, making me look towards the door so I could take the ax from Chad. But before I could do that the demon whirled around and backhanded me. My whole body turned as I squeezed my eyes shut. I'm pretty sure I was going to have a nasty black eye.

"Gabs!" Chad yelled, tossing the ax my way. I caught it, hardly fumbling and swung with all my might at the demon's neck. I grunted, using literally all of my strength to slice through its thick head. When I finally cut through him and he exploded into orange goop, dirtying my kitchen big time, I sunk to the floor.

"Gabriella!" Chad exclaimed, sliding over to me on the ground. I was covered in orange demon blood, and now Chad was too. "Hey, look at me." I did what he told me. "Are you okay? Your eye is swelling."

I gingerly touched my face and winced. "Yeah, he only got one good hit in."

"You know," Chad said, smiling once he realized I would be okay for sure. "This is your first demon you defeated by yourself without your powers. I'm proud of you."

"Actually," I corrected, "we defeated him." I sat up a little more, hugging Chad close to me. "I wouldn't have been able to kill him without your help Chad. Thank you."

"I would do anything for you Gabi. I may not like it, but I'm always here for you. And I'm sor—"

I covered Chad's mouth with my hand. "Please don't apologize. Can we just forget our fight? Please?"

Chad nodded his head. "Of course." We were both silent for a moment before we both realized we were literally sitting in demon blood, and I was covered in it from head to toe. Also, by hugging Chad before, I covered him in blood too. "Well it looks like I'm cleaning all day tomorrow."

"I can help if you want. I don't mind staying the night and then working with you tomorrow," Chad offered.

"That's sweet, but I know you want to be with Taylor tomorrow when she does the spell." Chad started to protest, but I cut him off. "Shut up Chad. I think it's cute how you like Tay. And I know for a fact that she likes you too."

Chad looked surprised. "Really?"

"Yup," I giggled. "So go, get out of here, clean up yourself, and spend the day with Taylor tomorrow."

"Only if you're one hundred percent sure," he said. "Like I said, I'm always around if you need anything."

"I'm fine," I insisted. We both stood up, almost slipping on my hardwood flooring. "Now go, get out of here before I change my mind."

"Okay Gabs." Chad started to leave, but he turned around to look at me. He smiled as I looked at him like he was crazy. What could he possibly want now? "Gabs?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad we're friends again. I don't know what I would do if I ever lost you."

Funny, that's what Sharpay told me the other day too.

"Yeah, well," I shrugged my shoulders, "I honestly feel the same way. I don't know what I would do without you and our friends."

After a much needed shower I entered my room wearing only a gray cotton robe that clung to my body. My hair was quickly drying due to the summer heat and forming my natural curls that ran down my back. I turned to look into my mirror that was connected to my dresser and started combing my hair out. After I was done I pulled out my silk nightie and dropped my robe to the floor.

A low growl sounded behind me and I instantly tensed up. I knew it wasn't Jason since he would have told me he was behind me. I looked in the mirror and saw nothing, which meant only one vampire could be behind me.

"You shouldn't tease an animal like this Gabriella," Troy scolded.

I turned around with a shriek and quickly grabbed my robe to cover myself. I felt myself blushing and my blood boil with anger all at the same time. He was leaning against the frame of my bed, his arms crossed, and his eyes traveling over my naked body that was now covered with my thin material of my robe.

"Get out Troy," I commanded as I harshly tied my robe securely around my small waist. "I'm not kidding. Get the fuck out of my room."

"Hey," he said while raising his two hands in a 'surrendering' kind of act. "I'm here to just check up on you. I was scanning your woods for anymore of Hope's wolves, and I smelled blood coming from your house." His eyes stayed on my bruised eye. It was a nasty shade of black already. "Let me heal your eye."

"And I repeat: get out!" I hissed with as much venom as I could muster. I did not want his blood. I think I am finally done with the blood bond to Jason and I did not need to start one with Troy.

"Hey," Troy snarled back. He was right in front of me now, leaning down so we were nearly touching. "I told you I'm only here to protect you. Don't tell me to do otherwise."

I gulped, but stood my ground. "Then why are you in my house when you could be outside protecting me from the big bad wolves?"

"I want you to try to read my mind," Troy said simply. It was like his whole personality changed in that moment. One moment he's angry and snarling at me and the next he's all calm and collected.

"It's almost daylight outside," I pointed out. "We don't have time to try."

"Your house is protected from the sun. I'll be fine," Troy reassured me.

"Believe me," I muttered, "it's not you I'm worried about." I sighed while pushing past Troy. I ran my hand through my hair trying to make a decision. I wanted so badly to read a vampires mind, and Troy was offering his mind for free. I wasn't ready for bed anymore and he was right when he said he was protected from the sun. I turned to look at Troy who was leaning against my dresser. "Fine," I snapped, "But under one condition."

"Anything."

"You keep your snide remarks to yourself."

I looked at Troy pointedly as he held my nightie in the air. I grabbed it from him and held it close to my body. He smiled at my actions.

"I'm not doing this naked. You need to leave my room so I can get dressed."

Troy walked towards my door but before he left he turned to me. "You know, if I really wanted to see you naked, I could."

I threw a pillow at his head, but he was gone before it hit him. I sighed while quickly getting dressed. Instead of wearing what I was going to I pulled out a pair of panties, plaid shorts, and a white tank top.

"Okay Troy, you can—" I stopped talking as I heard my bedroom door open again. When I looked at Troy I realized something, "Don't you need rest during the day?"

"The older the vampire the less rest they need. I'm down to only needing four hours of sleep." Troy motioned to my perfectly made bed. "Should we do it on your bed?"

I wish he would have specified what 'it' meant because I choked on my air supply in surprise. I cleared my throat, chuckling to push aside the blush that was on my cheeks. "Uh…yeah. Make yourself at home."

Troy sat down on my bed, his back against my headboard. He motioned for me to sit across from him.

"You know," he said, making conversation, "I could heal your eye for you. All you would have to do is drink my blood again."

"No thanks." I settled down, making myself comfortable by crossing my legs. "I've had enough of your blood for a lifetime."

"What did Jason say when he found out you drank from me? If you guys are still connected through a blood bond he would have felt you drinking from me," Troy explained.

"Actually," I took Troy's hands, preparing to enter his mind, "I don't think Jason and I are connected anymore. I can't sense his emotions and he would have come running if he could sense mine."

"So you haven't drunk from him recently?" Troy asked.

"Nope, and he hasn't taken my blood either. I'm trying to keep to myself nowadays, so I will not need your blood to heal me either." I smiled. "But thanks for the offer."

"Anytime gorgeous."

I was nervous. There was no denying that. In twenty minute everyone from the gang would be at my house including Troy. Although he had just left my house five minutes ago to go change. He had stayed at my house the whole day. After we got done with me trying to read his mind, we both fell asleep. It wasn't until three in the afternoon when we both awoke. Surprisingly, Troy helped me start preparation for dinner. And when the sun went down, he decided to run home to change before the gang arrived.

"We're here!" Sharpay shouted as she walked into my house. "And we brought wine!"

She seemed happy as I turned around to greet her. "Hello to you too Shar," I giggled.

"What the fuck?" She exclaimed before running up to me and cupping my face. I winced slightly as she gingerly ran her fingers across my black eye. "Who did this to you?"

"Relax Shar. Chad and I ran into a demon last night. Actually, it ran into us here at the house," I explained. "It doesn't hurt as bad as it looks. And Jason would heal it if I asked him too and Troy already offered me his blood."

Sharpay sighed, but left the subject alone. The mention of Troy's name distracted her. "So," she looked around with a smirk, "is he here yet?"

"Not yet," I said. "But he'll be here soon. I don't know if he's running over here or driving his sports car."

"It smells delicious Gabs!" Chad yelled throughout the house.

"Like heaven," Taylor said as she put down a pan filled with brownies on top of my counter. "Hey Gabs!" Taylor greeted before pulling me into a hug. "The spell didn't work out as well as we thought. It didn't tell us anything that we didn't know already," Taylor whispered in my ear. "Hopefully talking to Troy will help."

"Yeah," I said. He was supposed to be telling us tonight what was up with the vampire population. Were they staying to fight? Because if they were then they would have to somehow work together with me and the gang. Or were they being scattered across the world? If that option happened then I don't know how I was going to say 'goodbye' to Jason.

"Chad told us what happened last night. I'm glad you're okay," Charles said. "Why don't you guys go set the table?" Charles suggested pointedly to Sharpay, Chad, Taylor, and Zeke. When they all left Charles turned to me again. "I'm very intrigued to meet Troy."

"Yeah," I turned off the stove. "Troy's a real charmer."

A knock was heard and when I looked up Troy was leaning in the doorframe of my kitchen wearing dark blue jeans that hung low on his hips and a black button up shirt that actually made his skin look a little tan. I don't know how he managed to do it, but he looked even better than usual.

"Charles, this is Troy. Troy, this is Charles, my guide," I introduced. "The others are in the dining room setting the table."

"I can hear them," Troy stated with a small smile. Of course he could hear them, I realized. I don't even have vampire hearing and I could hear them slightly. "They sound very entertaining."

"Yes," Charles agreed, "Our group is quite the mix."

"I brought flowers for you Gabriella," Troy stated. He brought his hands out from behind his back and revealed lilacs. "They're your favorite I've noticed."

I swallowed harshly, trying to understand Troy's motives. "Uh…thanks."

Charles noticed the tension in the room and excused himself. The moment he was gone Troy was right in front of me, blocking me against the counter. The flowers were already in the vase that used to hold my dying lilacs I bought weeks ago. Troy was super speedy, and just the thought of him using his speed excited me a little.

"You look beautiful tonight," Troy husked out. "I just wish you would let me heal your eye." His fingers ran over my face, but unlike Sharpay, his touch was gentler. "Just drink my blood and no one will have to know. We can sneak upstairs and be done in five minutes."

I didn't like that he was this close. I had Jason. Jason was a wonderful boyfriend who I was pretty sure I was in love with. Troy on the other hand, was this ruthless vampire who liked torture, destruction, and fighting. He is everything I'm against. I just wish he would show his usual self tonight because this Troy who was caring and gentle was sending shivers up and down my spine.

"No," I swatted his hand away and sidestepped him. "No," I said a little bit more calmly. I think I was trying to convince him more than me hopefully. "You're here because Charles wanted to meet you. Also, it's time we all learn if you're on our team or are going to be running away from the fight."

Zeke poked his head into the kitchen. He looked from me and my scattered look to Troy who looked perfectly normal. "Everything okay?" He raised his eye brows in curiosity. "We're all famished out here."

"Yeah," I said, "Let me grab the food and we'll be ready to eat."

"I got it," Troy said as we both reached for the pot on the stovetop. Troy won the small battle we had and carried the food into the dining room with perfect ease. He looked back at me and winked. "Let's just say that you owe me."

I was nervous. There was no denying it. Not just because Troy was meeting my friends; I couldn't really careless if they liked Troy or not. The only thing that mattered to me was if Jason was staying or not. Over the weeks of knowing Jason, I had given him my heart, whether he knew it or not. I was his and not Troy's.

"I think those were the best brownies ever Tay," Chad declared with the rest of use murmuring our agreement. Surprisingly, Troy ate what he could. He took only bites of his dinner, but had two of Taylor's brownies. This baffled me because I had never seen a vampire eat before, but it also put a strange satisfying feeling in me.

"It's the least I could do since the spell didn't work out today. I really thought we would have learned more about Hope," she said with remorse.

"A spell?" Troy raised an eye brow. "Of course a spell didn't work. Hope predates every spell there is practically. She's one of the oldest beings of the universe."

Chad rolled his eyes. Troy had warmed up to everyone but Chad. Chad may have kept all his snide comments to himself, but he wasn't about to become best friends with Troy. Even Sharpay seemed to get along with Troy.

"At least we're trying things. What have you and your vampires been doing with the Hope situation?" Chad asked.

"Actually," Troy said while folding his hands on top of the table. His smile faltered and it was then I knew I was finally going to get the answer I was desperately waiting for. "One of my vampires just received orders from the Queen about the Hope situation. I am not pleased with the decision, but we must stand by our Queen."

My heart dropped to my stomach as I listened to Troy.

"Tiara has ordered all vampires in Mississippi to leave town immediately. We all know Hope is coming after the vampires next. If she can conquer werewolves and then get vampires on her side too, then she will be nearly invincible. Hope wants Tiara's crown, and Tiara is convinced that scattering her vampires is a necessary thing."

My hands were shaking and the need to see Jason increased. Immediately? Why didn't Jason tell me this right away?

"Troy," I rasped out. I didn't dare look at Charles or my friends. I could only look at Troy. Troy looked at me and it was like our eyes couldn't break away from one another. He knew exactly what I was asking as I saw the flames in his eyes die. He looked just as miserable as I felt when he started speaking again.

"As of tomorrow night there will be no more vampires in the state of Mississippi. I do not support this decision. I believe vampires could stay and help with this upcoming war, but our Queen has decided. However," Troy started to say, but I interrupted.

"Jason. I have to go to him right now." I stood up.

"However, Ashley, Jason, and I are allowed to stay. It is of our own free will to stay and fight. Whatever you ask of us Charles; whatever you may need, we will be at your service."

I couldn't believe Troy. He had my blood racing and head spinning just thinking of Jason leaving me. He may have fooled my friends tonight with his charm and good looks, but he didn't fool me. He will always be a vampire who says and does what he needs to do to survive; even if that means being ruthless and relentless.