Part Twenty:

I think remembering that moment, I realized something. If my kid acted the way I did, I'd beat her until she straightened her act. Why hasn't mom smacked me around? Over here disrespecting constantly, and finding a way to blame her all this time... I swear, I must be the biggest brat kid. Or a demon child. But maybe I do have anger problems. Not even a therapist can fix it.

My dream had ended at that flashback, and now it was nothing. I felt free of everything. As if I had never before busted bottles in people's driveways, spray painted signs to confuse people, bust out street lights in hope that they'd crash, or any of the other things my pack and I did for fun. And now I had never existed. None of the bad things were dragging me down.

And now I could go anywhere I wanted.

I could hear Hope talking to me on my bus, not long after she had converted to Christianity that changed her life. And when she asked my explanation as to why I wasn't... you know... there with God and all, I had merely chanted:

"Dearest Father,

Not a day went by that I didn't think of you.

Not one sin happened within that I didn't ask forgiveness for.

But as I stood on the middle of Earth,

I looked up at Heaven...

I looked down at Hell...

And I decided not to ask anymore.

For now I see that out of my choices...

Hell needs me the most."

Hope automatically had went into the "You're not destined" and "you're too good" stuff to... make me feel better or something. I don't think she understood exactly what that meant. It's all fairly good-heartedness, actually. Well, if I were a nice person, it would be good-heart talking. But I was mainly referring to those good people who didn't worship God.

And what I meant by "hell needs me the most" and referring to good-hearts... I was meaning that if a good person is sent to Hell, then they'd most likely help in making others better, right? A hero-at-heart CAN be sent to Hell... according to "the Bible"... just because they didn't worship the Lord almighty. I can see how THAT'S a sin. I mean, go about the world all nice and no-sin like... but you're sinning because the biggest evil is making people happy with your evil ways of non-worshiping. YOU SHALL BE SMITED... STRUCK BY GODS VERY LIGHTNING! Or is that Zues? Who... cares.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I'm not "there" with God. Because he's just like the rest of those greedy Kings. Bow down, do good, and you shall be living forever. Flapper-boot, I say. And no "but God is Good, so we should worship him" and stuff. How about this... I live, and when I die, I'll worship him. He's nothing but a party pooper... who works in mysterious ways. Once again, flapper-boot... along with a glabber boo boo. And pretititititiko-knocky.

And if it turns out Allah IS God... who cares?! Whoever is whatever, when I die I want to be dead. No worshiping or anything. So Hell for me shall be another life. And Heaven should be nothing. NOTHING. No human souls flapping around like bugs.. just... nothing.

But wait! I'm a half-vampire. Doesn't that mean a straight ticket to Hell?

In that case, wake up, Sprice. WAKE UP. I believe I prefer my previous Hell to whatever Allah, Buddha, God, Zeus, or George Bush has planned for me. Wakey upey. Wake-ith up-ith. Ith... ick. I, o, a, e, i, o, u. Ah, eh, ie, o, euw. Cataplakitacutie, cutie, cutie kitty, kitty. KITTY! Umm...

"I don't wanna go to Hell," I suddenly heard myself mutter, my mouth dry from obvious lack of liquids.

"Well, that's nice to know," I heard the voice of my mom said from above me, "I was wondering for a second there if you were actually Satan's kid and all." I scoffed.

"Don't you ever go to work," I asked, not really annoyed yet.

"Well, I will once you go to school," Mom informed slowly. Oooh, school. I haven't exactly been there for awhile. Hmm, they must not be worried. Probably having a party and dancing to the non-Sprice music. I guess I've got to ruin that celebration, right?

I sat up on my bed to see that no pain appeared. "I thought I got stabbed," I said, only half-way shocked.

"Your dad healed you," Mom started, but added, "And I helped. You got it with a cross-knife, and since Daviel happens to be full vampire, I figured I'd be useful." I think I've now got to accept the fact that my parents aren't insane... and were telling the truth all along.

"Well, what time is it," I asked to break the silence.

Mom glanced at the watch on her wrist, the face being a silver cross with black surrounding it. She stared at it for a moment with a blank expression. I waited a moment, and then Mom said, "It's time to get a digital watch." I snorted.

"Why?"

"It appears that since I've gotten this watch, the colors seem to blend in and make the time seem to disappear," Mom started, "You know... all that good stuff that's used to torture me and trick people into thinking I'm a retard." I laughed. It was Mom's art problem. Apparently, the silver cross and black blendish background seemed to be artistic, and she can't exactly... she's not an artist person. "No need to fear, though," she said with a sigh, "Reality dawg is here."

I watched as mom swipped her hand over the watch. Like a magic trick, once she removed her hand, the watch was now digital. And mom finished with, "It'll be 6a.m." I jumped up quickly, and started sprinting around the room. This'll be around the first time in a bit that I woke up in the morning and not at night. I didn't care that mom was there, just that I needed to get dressed to go to Hope's place quickly.

I slipped on my skater shoes-- the easiest ones to get on that wasn't preppy flip-flops -- and started for the door. Mom was just sitting there, slightly confused. "What could be rushing this one this time," she asked aloud, "Maybe she made a deal with Satan... her new father. Or maybe she's fixing to blow up this house with me in it. OH, I know! She's suppose to be assassinating someone, but now she's late and oh, deary... now she's going to die and upset Satan-daddy."

I bounced on one foot, still slipping on my second skater shoe, over to her. Then I hugged her. "See you later, Mom," I breathed out of all the rush. This shocked her, for I was halfway out the front door before she could reply, "Love you, too." Though... I don't think I said 'love you'. Whatever.

I was sprinting towards Hope's house, abandoning the hope of getting a car-drive there. I used to have the bus drive to my house, but then I decided that was too much of a hassle. All the screaming and me wanting to... ironically... bite each one of them. You know, one of those nice little hate-bites. Just to quiet them down a bit. But I was planning on riding today with Hope.

I bounding up to the bus-stop just down the road to Hope's house to see her whole lot of siblings standing with her. The eight siblings were also combined with three siblings from her neighbors house. All three with blonde hair and blue eyes. As I appeared to gather with the crowd, Hope's younger sisters yipped with happiness and smothered me with their hugs. I happen to be nice to the pack's siblings.

Still, her brothers hang back, not wanting to be girl-ish. But I rub the youngest one's head and shove another playfully... then dodged James before appearing in front of Hope. I looked at her a minute, not even hearing her greeting. Then I smiled brightly. She obviously hasn't been attacked, yet. And she's the one I'm worried about now. The heart of the pack, with her green eyes looking at her siblings with both love and pain. I'd minus the love and pain part and replace it with murder. That many siblings would kill me.

Luckily, my mother isn't a breeder.

And suddenly I was being hugged. For a moment, I just stood there. I'm not a hugging person. Hugs... gah. And I thought Hope knew me. Yet I didn't mind it too much. Not from Hope; my fallen angel out of nowhere.

"What happened to Jason wasn't your fault," Hope said suddenly, now pushing away from me so that nothing got too awkward. "And I know you'll eventually forgive your dad." I hesitated.

"My dad," I asked, for I'm sure I never told her about him. Hope only smiled wisely, her eyes glistening with amusement.

"Like I couldn't tell that that man wasn't your dad," she said sarcastically, "You two have the same exact eyes, and that same manipulative way. I'll bet you two have that anger issue, too." I laughed at this. Of course Hope would notice. She's the one who always knows things about me. "And I think I've figured out your other problem... being a half-vampire." Now I was beyond suspicious.

"How'd you--"

"You told me," Hope said swiftly, "At your welcome back party, and you didn't believe it. I think it's true, though. You've been missing out a lot, and that day your stomach hurt at school? Blood loss? I think you're a half-vampire all right." I glanced at the people waiting for the bus, but the only one looking at me was James... who had a curious look on his face. This is how her family always was. Pretending as if Hope never existed. And the people at school ignored her... and even the pack. I think Candace only talked to her once, and that may have been a fluke.

Hope always just talked to me, and I always talked to her.

"So, are you going to be like Candace and ask me to bite you," I asked curiously.

Hope smiled sweetly, "I don't think there'd be a point in being a vampire. Not for me, at least."

"What's that suppose to mean?" The bus' brakes squealed to a stop, opening up the doors. Hope started for it, lagging behind the rest who looked as if they'd trample over her. She didn't say anything as we climbed into the bus, which was always quiet before the Flowers family showed up. (Flowers being Hope's last name for the memory-loss people.)

The bus driver raised her eyebrows when I entered. "Back again, are you," She asked, probably remembering the last time I rode this bus. I had grabbed a little boy by the back of his shirt, opened the emergency exit door, and thrown him out just when the bus had stopped. I was banned for a year, but that was a year ago. So, I'm pretty sure I'm fine for now.

I smiled sweetly, "I promise no boys will be crapped out of your bus this time." And as I followed Hope into the bus, I muttered, "Just girls." When I took a moment to look at the familiar faces of the bus, I could see the looks of nervousness and mutters of dislike. Apparently, that boy had been liked. That's what he gets for throwing a paper ball at my head.

I sat down, Hope being next to the window. James sat behind us, and started to talk.

Hope suddenly said before he said anything, "Another Prep-rally today." And I realized that I may just see Ray-Lottie today. James went on to talk to me, and I politely ignored every word coming out of his mouth. Eventually, he turned to annoy other people. There was silence between Hope and me.

And then she opened up her backpack. She pulled out a small box, and handed it to me. "I've been having bad feelings lately, so I figured I'd give this to you to cheer myself up," Hope said slowly. She put the box on my lap. I smiled: a present!

I started to open the box, and saw there were two objects inside it. One: a picture of Hope and I. It had been taken at school by Candace. It was a rare thing for Candace to be taking a picture of Hope and I without Ray-Lottie being in the picture. I could see Jason sitting on a bench on the corner of the picture, glaring at someone. I was making a face, and Hope was smiling softly. The lightness of her hair and skin made her look almost as if she were disappearing.

The second object fell onto my hands, making a sharp 'ping' as it collided onto the ring on my thumb. It was a silver heart, a green emerald stone being placed in the middle of it. The chain was balled up around the heart, and I stared at the necklace with amazement.

"It's a wishing necklace," Hope said slowly, "Well, that's what the 'witch' said." Hope had lifted her fingers to put quotes around the word 'witch'. "I went to this one market with 'magic' products, and thought this one was most perfect for you. She said that the wish can only be used at the most ultimate feeling of need. And you don't have to do that 'I wish' part, either. Just want something so bad and it should happen. Plus, someone else can take your wish so be careful."

"How's someone else going to take my wish," I asked skeptically.

Hope shrugged, "That woman just said that it only works by heart, seeing as it's heart-shaped. So I guess for a person to steal it, the heart would have to be on their heart while they make the wish or something. But I think it's just a lucky charm or something." I wondered for a moment if I should hug Hope or something. Then she suddenly said, "You're welcome." As if she was reading my mind.

I put on the necklace, and when it landed over my heart... I could feel a warm pulse. It was as if my heart had brought back this heart necklace, but I just figured it must have been my mind going wacky. But this was the best gift anyone had ever given me.