Chapter 14: Zoey Knows

As I sat in the passenger seat, I looked over at Riley. His face was hard again. I noticed that Langston had his eyes closed.

"What's going on, Langston?" I asked.

"I'm trying to focus on Alex's decisions. She's definitely coming after you." he said sadly. I was horrified.

"I don't get it. What did I ever do to her?"

"Look, she's what we call a tracker. This means, she can track just about anything. Hunting to her is like a fixation. I read it in her mind. What I did in the field set her off. This will be her most challenging mission ever. She won't stop." Riley said.

"Until you're dead." Langston added. I began to panic.

"What's gonna happen now?" I asked.

"We have to kill her. If we rip up the pieces and burn them, she'll be dead." Riley said. Okay, gross. I sunk down in my seat. I can't believe this is happening. Everything was going just fine.

"So, what do we do in the mean time?" I asked.

"First, we have to get you out of here. We'll travel to the states." Riley said.

"No. I have to go back to my house. Now."

"That's not an option. She'll track your scent and she'll follow you there." Riley said.

"How can you be sure?"

"We would." Langston and Riley said in unison.

"Oh man. Look I don't care. We have to go back." I said.

"No, Zane." Riley said sternly.

"But my mom and sister are there. We…"

"That doesn't matter at the moment!" he roared. I couldn't believe it. Not the going back part, I was mad at that too, but he yelled at me.

"Yes the hell it does! They could get killed! And it would be because of us!" I yelled back. He looked conflicted.

"Just please, let me get you safe." he said pleading.

"Riley please." I said with my voice cracking. "They're my family. We have to go back. We'll deal with the tracker, but for now I have to protect my family." He looked at me with sad eyes.

"Okay. Anything for you." he said as he held my hand. Langston suddenly growled.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Ugh, I can't keep a steady eye on Alex. Her intentions are switching way too fast for me to see. If she could stick to one steady intention, I could see the path she'll be on." he said as he rubbed his temples. But so far, Zane going back home won't be a bad idea." Riley released my hand and gripped the steering wheel harder.

"I don't like this. I feel like I'm putting you in more danger. Riley said.

"No more than you already have." Langston said quietly. Riley snarled at him. "'Okay, okay! Sorry."

We arrived at my house. I looked around. I noticed that Zoey's car was there. This can't be good. I wonder if she's home or if anyone's home at the moment. I slowly got out of the truck.

"Is anyone home?" I asked them.

"Yeah, your mom. But Zoey isn't." Riley said.

"What do I do?"

"You have to find a way to leave. We'll be out here, doing surveillance." Langston said.

"No, you'll be doing that. I'm going upstairs to help pack." Riley said as he disappeared.

"Wait!" I whispered. He then reappeared.

"I have an idea, but I don't think you're gonna like it." I smiled innocently. He leaned against the truck and listened. I made my way up to the door and opened it.

"Oh my god, Riley! I can't believe this!" I said as I entered the house. My mom was in the kitchen, but I heard her come out.

"Zane, come on." Riley pleaded.

"No I don't want to hear any more of this. It's OVER! Now go away!" I yelled as I slammed the door in his face and ran upstairs.

"Zane? What's wrong?" I heard my mom ask.

"I'm so out of here!" I said as I went into my bedroom. I closed the door behind me and saw Riley already beginning to pack my clothes.

"Hey, I hope I wasn't too harsh down there." I whispered.

"Not really. You were a very good actor." he said with a smile.

"Zane? Honey please open the door." my mom called out. I looked back at the door and sighed.

"What am I supposed to say to her?" I asked. "I can't and I won't hurt her."

"You have to improvise, love." he said and kissed me on the forehead. Ugh! Why'd he have to be so irresistible? We continued packing.

"Okay, vampire boy, I'll do what it takes." I said. He then scrunched up his face. "What is it?" I whispered.

"There's something wrong here." he said as he walked towards my closet. Could there be something in there? He opened the closet and Zoey fell out.

"Zoey!" I said. How the hell did they not know she was in my closet?

"Um, hey boys. I was just… um. Well there really isn't an excuse for this. But what the hell did you mean by vampire boy? And how did Riley get into a two-story window without a ladder? I want answers and I want them now." she said and crossed her arms.

"This isn't a good time." I said as walked over to my window. I looked out and saw Langston.

"Sorry! I didn't see her." he said. Sure he didn't.

"Now who's that?" she asked.

"Nothing." I said quickly.

"I heard that!" he said and appeared in my window. Zoey did a double take. "Hi, Langston. Your brother and I are good friends." Langston said as he introduced himself.

"Okay, now I'm confused. Please explain, Zane." she said. I looked over at Riley. He nodded his head.

"Okay, Riley and his family are vampires." I said. Zoey gave me that 'Are you out of your mind' look.

"Okay. Prove it." she said. I looked at Riley to see if he could read her mind. Riley then rubbed his temples.

"Ahh, it hurts." he said. We all just looked at him. "I can't hear anything." he said. I thought just my mind was impenetrable.

"So, you can't read any of their minds?" Langston asked.

"Only their mom's." he said. How interesting.

"Zane, Zoey? Is everything alright?" she asked.

"Yeah, we're fine." Zoey said.

"What's she doing now?" I asked Langston.

"She's still waiting. Her intention is to find out what's going on." he said. I thought of something.

"Wait, Riley can read minds?" Zoey asked. "That's so cool. But how does that make you a vampire?"

"Look, Zoey I'll explain this all to you later. I'm in danger right now and so are you and mom if I stay here." I said. Zoey just looked at me.

"Fine. Go, but I want you to call me A.S.A.P" she said.

"Okay, now back to the basics. You can never tell anyone this, okay?" I said.

"Fine." she said.

"Alright, I have to improvise something in order to get mom to let me leave." I said. Zoey smiled.

"One improvisation coming up. But just remember, anything I say don't take it to heart. Either of you." she said to all of us. I have to admit, she's taking this pretty well. "Zane, what're you doing? You can't just leave." she said with a wink. Riley and Langston smiled and leapt out the window. I gave her a hug and smiled at her.

"Yes I can!" I shouted.

"This isn't right. What about mom? What about me?" she said.

"Zoey just let me leave." I opened the door and went into the bathroom.

"What's happening?" my mom asked.

"It's Zane's relationship. It went south." Zoey said. I packed my toiletries and grabbed my bag. I walked by my mom.

"Did he do something to you?" she asked.

"Nope." I said with an attitude.

"Well, did he break up with you?"

"Jesus Christ! Would you get off my back! I dumped him." I said and walked back into my room to get my keys.

"I thought you two liked each other." she said. Zoey just watched.

"We did and that's why I'm leaving. I can't handle this, so I'm going home." I said and walked downstairs.

"Home? We both know that your dad is in New York." she said.

"I explained that to him already." Zoey said as she followed mom downstairs.

"Yeah, I know that he isn't home. But he will once I call him." I said.

"You are not gonna drive all the way to California tonight. Just… sleep on it. If you still want to leave in the morning we'll take you to the airport." she said.

"Zane please stay here. Riley isn't worth leaving your home for." she said. That sort of stung a little. But I had to realize that it's fake.

"Whatever." I said as I walked into the kitchen. "I'm leaving tonight. Besides if I drive then it'll give me some time to think about things. If I get sleepy, I'll pull over." I said.

"Look, sweetie. I understand that you're hurting now. But it will get better. Maybe we could all do some family stuff together." she said hopeful.

"I don't know about all that." Zoey whispered quietly.

"Really, like what? Sitting here watching you and Trevor watch the game all the time? Going to the Dot and watching you eat that unhealthy garbage. Yeah, that's something you would do, not me." I said as I walked to the door.

"Zane, I just got you and your sister back in my life. I feel that I'm whole again with you two here." she said sadly. I felt my eyes burning. I knew I would have to use the big guns.

"You know mom, you are so clingy! Now I know why dad divorced you!" I shouted and walked out. I got in my truck and drove off. This isn't the life I expected at all.

A/N: Okay here's chapter 14. It's kind of a filler and part of the story. I wanted to add a twist and so now Zoey knows the truth about Riley and his family. More to come soon. Read and Review. XOXO ShadowBeauty.