Chapter Twenty-Five

It had taken a few weeks, but we had managed to sort something out. Max had been more than happy to accept me into his house. There had been a bit of a problem with Jaws and Thorn, but the two dogs seemed to get along well. And there had been tears. Lots of tears. From both sides.

It was the night I was moving in to Max's. All my things had been moved and I was amazed, by actually having a proper bedroom. Of course, Paul said they would keep my area in case I decided to return, which he hoped I did. I knew I would, I was too use to their company after all.

No-one let on I knew that Max was the head vampire. It was a secret, kept by me, David and Paul. I had been sworn to secrecy and made aware of the consequences that would occur if I did mention it to anyone.

"So this is it." Paul said as we both stood in what was to be my new room.

"This is it." I repeated back to him. I had decided what I wanted to do about education. Max had said it would be good for me to go to school. I was due to start in the upcoming fall. It worked out that I would be in the same grade as Alan, so I would not be alone. Edgar would be a grade above me. I needed to do some catch-up tests to ensure I reaching my potential, but Max promised he would work on those with me. And Alan and Edgar had done them tests before. I would just nag them stupid, until they gave in and told me about them.

"You're going to be alright." Paul stated, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me close to him. "And I think David will miss you. Despite the face he puts on." Paul winked. I giggled.

"And I'll miss him." I teased back. I knew I would. I had grown fond on the elder vampire. He had admittedly been a wonderful help the past few days.

"And you no longer have to lie to whatshisname. Eddie?" I rolled my eyes. Paul made a point of pretending to forgetting Edgar's names to show that Paul did not consider him important. He remembered Alan's name though. I had a feeling that was to try and get a rise out of Edgar. When I questioned Paul on it, he just looked the other way.

"Edgar. And I never lied. Just altered the truth. He thinks you are all delinquents who will drag me down to your level. And he is convinced you are the anti-christ. You had that much of an impression on him."

"Good. Let him think that." Paul smiled and ruffled his hair. "Speaking of him. What are you two now?" I frowned as I thought about it. To be honest, I did not really know. We had not spoke about it. It just never came up. We had established that we were more than friends, but we just never labelled ourselves as it. I did not feel we needed to label what we were to each other.

"If I had to say what we were...I would say were were sort of enemies who like each other very much."

"Has he said that word yet?" Paul asked me. I shook my head. I honestly think that is one word we would never hear from his lips first. And that was fine with me. I was content to just let it play out and see where we ended up in the future.

"Hey little sister." Paul said. "Don't you have somewhere to be in ten minutes?" I looked at the clock and cursed. Yes. I had to meet Edgar in ten minutes. "Go on. Go get yourself done. I'll take you down to meet him."

"You just want to scare him right?"

"Oh gosh no. I want to make him recoil in pure fear."

I threw my shoes at him for that comment. Some things have changed. But Paul's attitude towards Edgar never would change.

"You're late." Edgar said, crossing his arms as I got off the back of Paul's bike.

"And you're moody" I said, pressing a kiss to his lips. I turned to Paul who pulled a disgusted face at us both.

"Curfew." He warned me. "I'll be waiting."

"Go away." I waved at him, holding on to Edgar. Paul winked at Edgar and revved the bike a few times, before taking off down the road.

"I will never like him." Edgar said as I took his hand and we started walking down the road towards the beach. There was meant to be fireworks down there tonight. "And he will never like you." I retorted. "Now let's go. I want to see fireworks." I pulled him down the beach, looking forward to the fireworks.

"So. You all settled in then?" Edgar asked me. I nodded.

"All done. I moved out of where I was originally was and moved into that flashy house you dropped me off on the first date."

"Yes. Why did you lie about that?"

"Some things are left better unsaid." Was all I said. "But yes. All moved in. The boys took it well. Well some of them did. David looked ready to throw a party, Dwanye did not say much, other than he would miss me. Paul, well Paul was Paul. He made sure I had everything I needed and more. And Marco was reluctant as we had a close relationship, but he accepted I would not be far away." I paused to catch my breath. "Star cried. But she always cried at everything. And so did Laddie. He clung to my feet and would not let go. I had to explain I was not moving far, just up the way." I laughed at the memory. "But I promised I would still look after him."

Edgar nodded as he stopped and sat down on the sand. He motioned for me to sit beside him. "Perfect view here." He said. I nodded and curled up next to him. "I'm still going to have to put up with your dog though aren't I?"

"Yes. Of course. And me." I looked down at the sand and dragged some of it through my fingers. "That is if you want me around. I mean, you'll be seeing me in school in the Fall."

"And?"

"And. You could get sick of me."

"I repeat. And?" Edgar took my hand. "You are the biggest pain I have ever met, and I know Alan. Sure, you annoy me, you moan a lot, you never let me have peace and you hog the blankets when you sleep up, plus you kick."

"You snore." I shot back. "Loud!"

"So do you." He said. "And you leave your shoes and bags laying around everywhere. I found your earrings and hairbrush in my bathroom the other day." He held out a pair of gold studs. So that is where they had gone. "So yeah, you're the biggest pain in the entire world. But I could not get sick of your presence. Because I'm fond of you. And I think..."

"You think?" I raised an eyebrow at him. Edgar opened his mouth but I pressed a finger to it. "I know." I said for him. "I know."

I did not need for him to say it. For I knew it already. And he knew it as well. We did not need to tell each other. It showed it in the things we did for each other. Like he would tell these stupidest theories to cheer me up, or I would go and grab whatever it was he asked for when it was a tough shift. Or it showed in the silences we had with each other. Just how we could sit there and do nothing. Just relax in the peace and quiet of wherever we were at the time.

And as I sat there, hand in hand with Edgar, I reflected back on everything that had happened. It had been long coming, and it had been emotional. But I finally was content with everything. I had the freedom I wanted, yet I got to stay close to home. Because that is what the cave always would be, it would be home. Filled with broken items, cracked fountains and the smell of ocean air.

"What are you thinking of?" Edgar asked me.

"Just thinking." I replied. "Now hush. I have not seen fireworks in ages."

He took the cue and just wrapped an arm around me and pulled me close. As the sky lit up in different colours, I smiled to myself. I still had a long way to go in life, but it could only go up from here, and I was looking forward to the changes that were to come.

"I warned you about keeping a distance!" I heard a yell from across the beach. I stifled a laugh. Well some things would never change.

Updated: 15/07/2015

A/N: And it is done. I know I have been useless with everything and updates but hey, I told you I would get it done eventually. :) Thanks for sticking with me throughout this!