A/N Whoops, look at that, it's been a very long while! Last updated July 2017, now we're in the roaring 20's and I'm 21 and almost at the end of my university degree! But because of this, I've forgotten how to write, so it's a damn good thing I always wrote 5 chapters ahead of what I posted! I write scripts now and make short, probably not very good films. But people still keep following me so, well, heck it! Here, have another chapter! The title of this one, This is the Dream, comes from Doctor Who, Series 5, written by Murray Gold! The music itself doesn't quite fit, but I felt the title did.

"Basically, it's a school dance in the Spring time. But it's not prom, I don't think it's quite as big as prom. I might be wrong, but anyway prom comes later in the year. I think anyway, this might be bigger than prom. For this one, someone told there's some nonsense tradition where girls are supposed to ask the guys, but everyone I actually know and would maybe go with is taken, so I'm just going by myself." We'd just finished English, and I was trying my very best to explain the Spring dance to Vlad, whose blank expression told me I probably wasn't doing a very good job. "Are you following? Sorry I'm not very good at explaining this."

"Oh, no you're explaining it perfectly, I'm just wondering why you're not going with anyone. I'd have thought…"

"See, what you don't know about me my dear, is I'm a coward. Quite honestly, I don't have the balls to ask anyone anywhere." I gave my best self-pitying smile. It's lunch so we're walking very slowly to the dining hall. The corridors are dark and void of sunlight, so we take our time.

"I'm free." Vlad said, as if I was unaware of the fact. "You could uh… ask me if you like?" Vlad lent back against a table resting by the wall, pulling one of those faces that looks like it's mocking you but really it's very friendly. It suddenly dawned on me that he was actually… alright… looking. His soft, kind face and darks eyes and… even darker hair… all wavy against his head.

"Ok then." I replied in a nonchalant way after the short pause. In my head, that meant the deed was done and we were going together, but apparently, I hadn't said as much out loud as I had in my head.

"So, will you ask me?" Vlad asked grinning.

"Yeah, sorry. Do… you want to come with me?" I asked quietly.

Vlad winked at me. "I mean, as a last resort, I'm not so bad, am I? And I suppose beggars can't be choosers." he said as he walked down the corridor beside me.

"Oh shut up!" I beamed, giddy inside. "Any talk like that and I'll refuse to go with you, you'll have to drag me out my house!"

"Don't worry, I wouldn't go anywhere I wasn't invited" We continued along, Vlad almost flat against the wall while I cut through the beams of light now cascading through the many windows as we got closer to the dining hall. "I might have to be a bit of a diva and ask if we can arrive later though? Sorry, I'm being a nuisance" Nuisance, such a brilliant word coming from his lips.

"I don't care as long as you're ok." I replied truthfully and he grinned again.

"You're too sweet you are." I could do this forever, just talking to Vlad, I almost feel like I'm back in England again. "Do you want me to pick you up from yours? Or would you rather meet there? Actually…" Vlad stopped himself from saying any more.

"What?" I asked.

"Well… my dad's not… he has his own sense of humour. Our car is not like most normal cars, it's… well it's a hearse." Vlad stumbled over his words.

"We'll meet there, don't worry about it!" I reassured him. This all felt a bit too good to be true!

"Ok, now you're being too sweet. This had better not all just be a prank and when I get there I see you dancing with Cullen instead."

"You would be more likely to see me chew my own leg off than dance with that creep!" I retorted "Anyway, he's not even going, which is wonderful!"

"You'll have found someone else to replace me" Vlad joked.

"I don't think there's another single person in this school who would seriously want to go with me." I laughed with blissful ignorance for a few seconds before my smile dropped from my face.

Crap! What was I going to say to Toby?

We reached the dining hall and I looked round for my friends. "Hey! Izzy!" Eva and Beth ran over to me, well, Eva ran anyway. "We're shopping for dresses for the dance tomorrow. Do you want to come?" She asked excitedly.

"Of course!" I replied, mentally picturing my calendar to see if I was free. I'll just have to check when I get home. "Where are we going?"

"Port Angeles" Beth said to give Eva time to breathe "It's the only place they actually sell anything worth buying." I thought about my wardrobe, I'm sure I can afford another dress, I'll find the room somewhere. And besides, I've not been shopping since I got here so my parents cannot complain! "I'll drive us all."

"Beth, you drive us everywhere. I can do it this time." Eva said. I felt bad that I couldn't drive, but my dad was sorting out getting me lessons, so hopefully soon.

"I like driving though." Beth crossed her arms. "We'll go straight from school, but you can drop your things off first if you want."

"Thanks, that'd be great."