A/N: This is probably my favourite chapter so it's all downhill from here. :D

Demetri

I waited as I listened to the ringing on the other end of the line. Gianna answered the phone and I asked for Master Aro. It did not take long for her to fetch him.

"Ah Demetri!" said my master's soft voice, "What news?"

I relayed what I had discovered. It was all very disappointing. I had failed my master and I asked for more time to track down my target. It was granted. I thanked Aro and hung up, letting out an unnecessary breath.

All three masters had called me before them a month ago.

"We have heard credible reports that the Olympic Coven have welcomed a human into their fold. Their leader, Carlisle Cullen, is an old friend. I'm sure you remember him?" Aro asked.

I nodded, even though the question was rhetorical to one with perfect recall. Carlisle had been one strange vampire. He had never tasted human blood except to change them and build his coven. I had never met anyone like him.

"You are to find Bella Swan, an unremarkable human girl. She will be with Edward Cullen. Their last known location was Forks, Washington. They have a permanent residence there."

"Yes Master," I replied, hiding my surprise that they had a home base. I was aware of the Denali Coven having one but they were strange ones too. At least they lived in a remote location in Alaska, away from prying human eyes.

"I wish to ascertain her threat level. You needn't make contact, but observe and report. I wish to know if she will become one of us or if she is a threat to divulge our secret."

"Yes Master," I replied again.

"You have one month."

I bowed and left immediately.

That had been one month ago today.

I had tracked Edward Cullen to Rio de Janiero. He was staying in a dreary hovel in the heart of the city. I had a hard time believing he would bring his love interest there but she was only human, so maybe he did not care much for her.

As it turned out, he did not really care for her as she was not with him. I had observed him for two weeks and not once did he leave to meet someone and, in fact, had left his residence only to hunt. I knew he had the ability to read minds so it was an exercise in mental stealth, making sure I never got too close nor my thoughts too direct for him to take notice. In any case, he never gave a sign of awareness he was being watched and the human girl was not with him.

I was frustrated but not unduly so. I fixed the rest of the Cullens as my next targets. The human girl would likely be with them if she were not with Edward. Aro had often spoken wistfully of Alice Cullen and her ability to see the future so no doubt she saw me coming.

I found them in Ithaca, New York. The younger ones were attending Cornell University and I found their residence there. I had no need for secrecy here so I went directly to the door and rang the bell of the elegant redbrick house.

"Welcome Demetri," Carlisle welcomed me into his home far more graciously than I had expected. "What brings you to Ithaca?"

"Thank you, Carlisle. I have been sent to ascertain the threat that Bella Swan poses to our kind," I told him honestly, not wasting time with pleasantries.

"Bella Swan is not among us," he told me with the rest of their strange amber eyes on me.

"And where is she?" I asked.

"She has not accompanied us," Carlisle told me. Clearly, they weren't willing to tell me.

"I'm afraid Aro will not find that answer acceptable," I replied calmly.

"She is not a threat to us, Demetri," he said firmly.

"You seem very certain," I said skeptically. You could never trust to the fickleness of human emotions.

"We are. I, personally, will vouch for her," he held my intense gaze. Finally, I nodded. I would get nothing more from them.

"Aro extends his regards to you and your coven and wished me to caution you against alerting more humans to our nature," I said formally, couching my threat in elegant words.

Carlisle nodded his understanding.

I had left but was still not satisfied. I eventually found my way to Forks, Washington. I wrinkled my nose in distaste. Everything was green and wet. There was a dampness that seemed to cling to everything. I enjoyed the green cypress trees in Volterra but it was warm and dry. I would not linger here but I needed to do my job thoroughly.

I inserted brown contact lenses. I was not there to kill and showing my red eyes would only alarm the humans. I did not bother hiding them when I was feeding. They would not live to tell. The Cullen scent was gone from the town but I made some discreet inquiries about where they used to live. I went to the house and found it completely abandoned. It certainly seemed as if they were not to return.

I was about to leave Forks but hesitated, unused to failure. I wandered unobtrusively in the residential part of town.

Suddenly, I heard a scream. It was not one of fear but it might prove to be interesting. It brought me to an ordinary well-kept home. I crept over to a window in the back of the house so as not to be seen and stood beside a pane of glass. I could hear everything going on inside.

"Oh my god!" cried a young female voice, "I GOT IN!" she screeched.

There was a chorus of cheers from three people. I counted a woman, a man and a female child.

"Oh honey! We couldn't be prouder of you!" the woman enthused; her voice wavered with emotion.

"You did it! We always knew you could!" the man said.

"Way to go, Ivy!" the little girl said.

There was a long moment of silence and a quiet voice of the older girl, Ivy, said, "I can't go." I could hear the anguish in her voice. "You know we can't afford it and I didn't get a scholarship."

I sometimes forgot what it was not to have money. I could not remember much of my human life but I did know that I had been born poor. As part of the Volturi, I never wanted for anything and having nothing would have greatly lessened my happiness in life. The finer things in life cost money, and I did so love the finer things.

I heard steps going up to the second floor and quiet voices still downstairs, discussing the issue. I waited a moment and decided to leave. The affairs of mortals did not interest me.

I started to walk away when I heard the opening bars of Moonlight Sonata being played by a violin. Usually a piano piece, I was intrigued by the violin arrangement. I stopped and concealed myself behind a large tree trunk in the backyard.

I realized immediately that this was being played by the older girl, Ivy. I could only just see her in her room, standing close to the window with her back to me. Halfway through the song I also realized that this girl was no ordinary violin player. She was a virtuoso. I closed my eyes and listened to the mournful piece, appreciating the finesse and emotion she put into the performance. Every note was rich and it touched something deep inside me; I would guess my soul if I even had one. She let the last note linger and fade away. I deeply wished for her to play a second selection. Instead, I heard quiet gasps that gave way to soft sobs. She was trying to be quiet about it but they were heard by the three downstairs. I heard the soft footsteps of the younger girl on the stairs but the woman called her back, explaining how Ivy needed some personal time.

I watched Ivy's bedroom window darken when she went to bed. I took the opportunity to run to Seattle and feed. I stayed away from the population of Forks as the presence of a stranger in the small town coupled with a few disappearances would not go unnoticed or unconnected.

The next several days I followed Ivy to her place of business, Mercury Vinyl. I had worn my brown contacts to hide the true unnatural hue. I could see Ivy had done a skillful job with her makeup, hiding the fact that she had been crying but even had I not heard her sobs, my enhanced eyes could still tell.

There was something very compelling about her. She possessed a sort of quiet grace that was unusual among humans. She was unfailingly kind to others she met, and especially fond of her younger sister. I could not recall any siblings of my own but seeing Ivy's bond with her sister, I envied it.

I had seen Ivy interact with a friend. That is how I learnt that she had been accepted to a school called EAMS but did not get the full scholarship she needed to afford the institution. A quick internet search of EAMS told me it was the Excelsior Academy of Musical Studies, an ultra exclusive conservatory of musical education.

Every night I would settle myself beneath the backyard tree and listen to her play. She would practice for three hours every evening. It was the highlight of my day. She was gifted with such talent that seeing it go unrecognized was unbearable. Money was something I had in abundance and I knew that Marcus, Aro and Caius would applaud the course of action I would be taking. They were renowned as patrons of the arts and Aro especially was fond of those of a musical variety. Caius was a backer of fine arts and painting while Marcus favoured the theatre. They all gave generously to the arts and encouraged all the coven members to do the same to help whatever causes they felt strongly about.

I contacted EAMS and anonymously paid her first year's tuition in full. I also accepted the position on Ivy's behalf. I truly did not know if she would have accepted charity from a total stranger (I doubted it) so I gave her a gift I knew she could not and would not refuse.

Ivy received a letter from the school telling her how pleased they were to welcome her in the new fall term. I had peered through her bedroom window, clinging nimbly to the drainpipe to the side of her window. She had the most comical look of shock and confusion on her lovely face. I saw her grab her phone and dial a number from the letter.

"Hello, this is Ivy Donovan," she said after a greeting from the school administrator.

"I'm well, thank you," she answered the question I could not quite make out from outside. "I think there's been a mistake… I was offered a spot at your school that I never accepted. But I just received a letter saying that I had accepted… No…Yes…Yes…" Ivy wore an adorable look of concentration on her face and it made me smile. "An anonymous donor? Who?...Oh, of course…No, I suppose it wouldn't be anonymous if you told me…Then yes, I accept…I look forward to meeting you too…Thank you."

She ended the call and just stared at her phone in shocked silence. I wished for Edward Cullen's mind reading ability just then. A dazzling smile graced her face and it was as if the sun had appeared on an overcast morning, much like the current sky. She gave an enthusiastic whoop and raced downstairs, shouting the news in pure joy. I smiled, feeling good about helping a deserving recipient of my generosity.

I jumped lightly to the ground and watched as she breathlessly told her father about her change of circumstances.

"Ivy, hold your horses," Ivy's father told her. He took her gently by the shoulders to stop her from jumping up and down. "Are you sure someone's paid the whole year for you?"

"Yes! I don't know who would do this but you never look a gift horse in the mouth," she sang, so happy she was virtually vibrating.

"But what does the donor want in return?" he asked skeptically.

"They didn't cite any conditions," Ivy told him.

"I don't know if this is such a good idea. Accepting such a sum of money from a stranger seems risky to me," he said and Ivy's face fell.

I glowered. I felt like doing violence to this man for dampening his daughter's joy.

"Ivy, your mother and I only want what's best for you. She and I will discuss it today and talk about it when you return from work this evening. Hmm?" he lifted Ivy's chin to meet her eyes and gave her a soft smile. She gave a weak smile in return.

"Okay. I'll see you later," she told him, running upstairs to grab her purse, running back downstairs pausing only long enough to grab her car keys and flew out the door. I followed discreetly, hiding in the shadow of the house, and watched her sit in her car in the driveway for a moment. I saw her place her hands together as if in prayer and her mouth moved in supplication, asking for a way to allow her to attend the school of her dreams. I smiled, she had such an innocent and beautiful soul. Praying would not help her, but if her parents refused, I would find some other way to allow her to attend the academy. She drove to work and I followed. She walked into Mercury Vinyl and I waited an hour before entering.

It was time to meet Ivy Donovan.

Ivy

I was elated. Someone, I didn't care who, had paid my entire first year's tuition in full. I did have my reservations about accepting charity but I wanted this so bad that I would take anything anyone was willing to give.

I could understand my dad's cautiousness. It was one of those 'too good to be true' stories. And as the saying goes, if it's too good to be true, it probably is. But I could see no downside to this. If the donor really did want things in return, they would have had to name them in the agreement. My mom was a lawyer and I'd picked up a few things. I hoped my mom would help my dad see that this was a godsend. I did briefly wonder if Jasper or the Cullens had paid for it. They had never said as much but I knew they were loaded, what with their massive house, designer clothes and expensive cars. But then, they wouldn't know I had been accepted so it couldn't have been them.

I didn't particularly believe in god but I sent up a prayer just in case. I would pray to every religious figure including Jim Jones if it would help me. I grimaced. Maybe Jim Jones was going too far.

I walked in to Mercury Vinyl, said hello to Mr. B and waited for the first customer of the day. I was reorganizing the vinyl records in the Metal section – who the hell had put Beethoven in the metal section? – when the door chimed and in walked a dirty blonde Adonis.

He definitely wasn't from around here. I would have noticed this man before.

He looked to be maybe a few years older than my nineteen years, but not by much. His hair had a sexy disheveled appearance that I knew probably took a while to create. His features were perfectly symmetrical and his skin as pale as Jasper's had been. I hid a flinch; thinking about Jasper still stung so I concentrated on this new customer. What really made my heart beat faster was his bearing. He walked in with a self-assured swagger I found insanely attractive and he held his back and head up straight. I imagined that this was how the aristocracy would present themselves. He wore expensive clothes and looked like someone who expected the best of everything.

He saw me checking him out and gave me a smirk and a wink. I really think my heart stopped. He turned away and started flicking through the classical section.

Dear god, he likes classical too?! I thought, already half in love with this man.

I stopped myself from drooling. And suddenly, my mouth went completely dry when I recognized the pull I felt towards this stranger. The skin color, the perfect hair, the unearthly good looks, the slight shiver of revulsion as he passed me.

He was a vampire.

What the hell was wrong with Forks? Was this like the Hellmouth in Buffy the Vampire Slayer that just spat out demons and vampires all the time? I forced my breathing under control and edged away, hoping he'd leave me alone.

Mr. B sauntered up beside me. "You mind helping that kid out? I've got tons of new vinyl to unpack in the back," he walked off before I could offer to do it for him. Fuck.

I walked towards this golden god slowly, unwillingly. He turned when he heard me coming over and gave me a smile that dazzled me momentarily.

"Good morning…Ivy," he said with a lilting sort of accent, part British and part something else, barely there at all.

"H-how do you know my name?" I asked him.

"It's on your nametag," he pointed to the left side of my shirt. I felt my face blaze with embarrassment.

"Oh. Of course," I tried to laugh it off, hoping the floor would open up and swallow me. "Can I help you find something?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. I was wondering if you could recommend something romantic," he asked, his head tilting engagingly.

"Does it have to be classical?" I asked, gesturing to the vinyl in front of us.

"Not necessarily. It's just my usual preference," he told me.

I didn't feel threatened by him so I relaxed my guard. Besides, he had lovely deep brown eyes I could get lost in. Nothing like the red Jasper had warned me about. He had said nothing of brown-eyed vampires.

"Well, I'd say anything in Italian is pretty romantic, like opera arias," I told him, "I don't know if listening to Italian would bother you. Some people can't enjoy a song in another language even if it's wonderful."

"Non mi disturberebbe affatto, bellezza mia." (That wouldn't bother me at all, my beauty.)

The breath left my lungs and I contemplated ripping his clothes off with my teeth and taking him there in the aisle of the store. I recognized it as Italian even though I didn't know exactly what he had said. Regardless, that was the sexiest fucking thing I'd ever heard.

"I guess Italian wouldn't bother you then," I squeaked embarrassingly. I should have recognized the accent hidden beneath the British. Some of the words he had spoken had that Italian accent to them.

"It is my native tongue," he informed me with a grin.

Argh. Ivy, don't think about his tongue… Which led me to think about his tongue and all the things he could probably do with it.

"I thought I heard a bit of an accent," I told him, relatively composed, but only just. "What brings you to Forks?" I asked, truly curious. I led him to the opera section, and his eyes snapped up with a guilty expression when I turned back around to face him.

Was he just checking out my ass? Yes, he was. Why didn't I mind?

"Work," he told me simply.

"Is this music for personal enjoyment, or dinner with your girlfriend, maybe?" I couldn't stop myself from asking.

"Sadly, I have no girlfriend," he gave me a knowing grin, "It is just for personal enjoyment."

I shouldn't have been so happy to hear he was single. But I was willing to bet he had tons of vampire beauties hanging all over him back in Italy or wherever it was he lived.

He flicked through the opera section and pulled out two albums, flipping them over to see the track listing as I stood there awkwardly. I worried my bottom lip in discomfort. The vampire briefly glanced over to me and his gaze stopped and stared at my lips. I released it from my teeth and took a step back at the hungry look he gave me.

"Forgive me, I am afraid my gaze has startled you," he apologized, looking back at the albums in his hand.

"I know what you are," I blurted in a whisper before I could stop myself.

His gaze snapped back to me. He looked at me for a long moment.

"I see," he said quietly. What was I supposed to do with a response like that?

"I think I'll take both of these," he told me at a normal volume.

We walked to the cash and I rang up his purchase.

"What time do you finish work?" he asked.

I stared at him dumbfounded. Was he planning on making me his supper? I really didn't want to get mixed up with a vampire a second time. The first time around didn't go so well.

He was staring deep into my eyes and I felt stunned.

Without thinking, I told him I was done at five and cursed myself for telling him anything about me.

"I would like to speak with you more, if you are amenable," he said. Amenable? Who the hell speaks like that? I wondered.

"I don't even know your name," I told him cautiously.

"Scusami," (I'm sorry) "My name is Demetri."

As he said his name, he took my hand in his and I tried to pull away but he held firm. He took my hand to his delicious-looking lips and instead of kissing my knuckles, he flipped it over and kissed the inside of my wrist, ever so gently. My legs went weak and I surreptitiously leaned against the counter behind the register for support. He grinned, knowing exactly how he affected me.

"Until five, mia amata," he said, exiting the store but not before he threw me another dazzling smile over his shoulder.

I stood transfixed for a while. I blinked a few times and shook my head to clear it. I pulled out my phone and looked up 'mia amata'. It meant 'my lovely' and I nearly melted all over again.

What the actual fuck was wrong with me? Why was I so attracted to vampires? And, moreover, why were they attracted to me? The whole notion was ridiculous. Demetri was dangerous. I could feel it. Then again, he didn't bite my wrist when he kissed it. And holy hell, that was so fucking sexy.

I knew without a doubt that I was attracted to him at an almost inappropriate level. I also knew he was a vampire who probably wanted my blood. I sighed. My knowing didn't seem to bother him. Maybe he could protect me against those other vampires who wanted to kill me for knowing about them or against the red-eyed ones?

I decided to meet him at the end of my shift. If he wanted to eat me, I knew I wouldn't be able to stop him. By meeting him, maybe I could plead for my life.

Five o'clock rolled around far too quickly. I closed the cash and bid goodbye to Mr. B. I stepped outside to be greeted by Demetri who was waiting on the sidewalk. He was still as gorgeous as ever and he would be for all eternity.

"Have you agreed to speak with me some more?" he asked politely.

"I have," I told him simply.

"Are you hungry?" he asked, still impossibly polite.

"A bit. Are you?" I asked warily. He laughed and it did something funny to my insides. Something pleasant.

"Not in the way I imagine you are thinking," he smiled. I nodded, not ready to believe him. "Shall we go get some supper?"

"Okay," I agreed. I told him about the local diner – casual and more importantly, full of witnesses – and he made a face.

"I was thinking of something perhaps a bit more upscale. You deserve nothing less," he told me. I quirked an eyebrow.

"I'm not really dressed for anything nicer than the diner," I told him honestly, looking down at my sneakers, jeans and band t-shirt.

"As my lady commands," he smiled with a gracious bow of his head.

I looked at his outfit: black denim pants that clung perfectly to his frame, a gray V-neck shirt that was just tight enough and a tailored black blazer. He looked like a fucking model; and not the super girly type. My thoughts strayed to the Cullens. While they were always impeccably dressed, they never wore black. Demetri's look made his pallor obvious but almost more beautiful in its contrast.

He held out his arm. I hooked mine with his and we walked to the diner a block away.

Sitting at a secluded booth for two in the back, we sat facing each other. I texted my mom that I was going to the diner with a friend and that I wouldn't be home for supper. I got an immediate reply to have fun. I ordered a burger and fries while Demetri ordered nothing.

"Not hungry?" I asked, surprised by my audacity.

"Not for diner fare," he told me with a smirk. I shivered, not sure if it was because of fear or attraction. Probably both.

"How about you tell me what you think you know about me," he asked. He placed his chin in his hand, leaning forward on the table. He looked angelic but the glint in his eye said otherwise. He had that quality where, when he looked at you, you felt you had his entire attention and that you were the most interesting person in the world. It was flattering and attractive.

I leaned forward to keep my voice quiet.

"You're a vampire," I breathed.

"I am," he agreed.

"Why are you here?" I asked him. Our faces were a foot apart.

"I was sent here to look for someone as part of my employment. I did not find them. Instead, I found someone far more fascinating," he said and I marveled at how he spoke so openly with me.

My traitorous eyes flicked down to his lips and back up to his eyes. Said lips curled into a smile and he lifted both brows in a suggestive gesture. I sat back against my seat and turned my head to the side, my eyes looking at the vinyl floor, letting out the breath I'd been holding and tried to still my racing heart.

My food arrived and I was glad for the interruption.

"Sure I can't get you anything, hon?" the waitress asked Demetri.

"Nothing, I thank you," he told her politely. The waitress looked surprised at the turn of phrase but walked away.

"Why are you interested in me?" I finally asked, taking a bite of my burger.

He watched me chew, apparently fascinated judging by the look on his face. I guess a vampire who drank their food would be fascinated by grinding food with one's teeth.

Still with his head propped in his hand, he said, "Because I think you are stunning. I think you are a good person with a warm heart. And you play the violin so very beautifully."

I forced myself to swallow the bite I had taken. It went down painfully.

"How do you know I play the violin? How can you say any of those things when I've only met you today?" I whispered.

"I have listened to you play every night from outside your house for many days now," he told me softly.

"You've been watching me for days?" I asked, aghast. I never even knew. I hid a grimace as I thought of Edward watching Bella. Total red flag.

"Just so," he said softly. "The way you play…It moves my soul. I feel so much more alive when I hear your music."

"You shouldn't be feeling alive. You're dead, for Christ's sake!" I hissed.

"And yet, I speak true," he said, removing his head from his hand and taking my own that laid on the table in a cold vice grip. "Please, Edera," he pled softly, "Allow me to continue listening to your enchanting performances. Allow me to admire your beauty. Allow me to endeavor to make you smile."

Well shit. What could I even say to that? What girl didn't want to hear something so romantic?

"What does Edera mean?" I asked softly.

"It means Ivy in Italian. May I call you that?" he asked, running his thumb across my knuckles.

I nodded and smiled weakly, marveling at how charming he was. Demetri gently pulled the hand he was holding towards him, forcing me to lean forward. He flipped the hand over and traced unknown patterns on my palm. I briefly closed my eyes at the sensation. I was aware we looked like a couple on a date to any onlookers.

"May I tell you something honestly?" I asked out of politeness, not really asking for permission.

"I welcome it," he told me, gazing into my eyes. I shook my head at his antiquated way of speaking, wondering how old he truly was.

"I've been in a relationship with a vampire before," I told him and he seemed startled. "I'm not sure if you're hoping for a physical relationship with me but I don't think I can overlook the fact that you're dead. I'm disgusted with the mere thought of doing anything physical with a corpse."

He seemed to digest this for a bit.

"Edera, I am undead," he said. "True, I am technically a corpse, but an animated corpse who can do such amazing things to your body…"

He left the rest unsaid but my thoughts went back to the way Jasper had made me feel. I shuddered at the way he had brought me to ecstasy multiple times.

"Lasciami fare l'amore con te come meriti. Lascia che ti apprezzi come nessuno ha mai fatto prima." (Let me make love to you the way you deserve. Let me treasure you the way no one ever has before.)

I caught 'fare l'amore' as 'make love' but nothing else. It didn't matter what he said. When he spoke Italian, it went through my ears and straight to my nether regions. I tried not to let my mind wander to his touching me, making love to me, while whispering dirty things to me in his native language. I failed.

"Fra non molto urlerai il mio nome, mia Edera." (You'll be screaming my name before long, my Ivy.)

I wrenched my hand away with a whimper. Demetri smirked, knowing the effect his words had on me.

"Oh Edera," he sighed with his eyes closed and his head tilted back, "Your heart is beating so frantically."

My eyes widened. Shit. So for all this time, all the vampires around me could hear my heart beating? I thought. I felt my face flame red in humiliation.

"Please do not be distressed," Demetri reassured me, "It is enchanting." He gave me such a real smile that I felt a bit better about it.

"Are you always so forward?" I asked when my heart rate returned to normal.

"Only when courting a human," he told me.

So he was courting me, was he? Okay, I could deal with that.

"There's so little time in a human life. I wish to be around you as much as possible before our time together ends."

I felt a stab of sadness when I recalled how Jasper had said something similar.

The waitress passed by to ask if the food was to my liking. I looked at my abandoned plate and asked for a box to get it to go. The waitress left and returned with the box and passed me the check and left.

"You will permit me?" Demetri asked, sliding the bill towards him.

"I don't like people paying my way," I told him. It was true. I thought of the anonymous donor who was paying my first year at EAMS and shrugged it away. That was different, I thought.

"Nevertheless, I pride myself on being a gentleman if nothing else," he smiled. I allowed him to pay.

We walked back towards my car. "So how old are you?" I couldn't resist asking him. It was something I had never had the chance to ask Jasper.

"Twenty-two," he said.

"No, how old are you really?"

"Quite a bit older," he said, frustrating me.

"Edera, truly, it does not matter with my kind," he said, stopping beneath a street lamp, taking both my hands in his.

"Fine," I huffed. I paused and peered at him closer, "Your eyes look different," I told him.

I thought I saw his eyes widen slightly. He looked away quickly, mumbling something about how the streetlights were playing tricks on my eyes. He might have been right but something had definitely changed the colour of his eyes. Maybe it was like Jasper whose eyes were amber and then black. Must be a vampire thing, I thought.

"Can I give you a ride somewhere?" I asked.

"No, I thank you. But I would like to ask your permission to hear you practice the violin tonight?"

He looked so hopeful. I couldn't refuse. I acquiesced and he gave me one of his dazzling smiles.

"Thank you, Edera."

With that, I got into my car and drove home as he walked away.

My parents were just finishing with the dishes when I came in.

"Ivy, your mother and I have come to a decision," my dad said. I had completely forgotten about my parent's decision about my anonymous benefactor with Demetri's appearance. I took a seat at the kitchen table, nervous as hell. My future hinged on this decision.

"We called EAMS to talk about this anonymous donor," my mom said, "And they told us it was all on the up and up. I did some research on the subject at work and legally, if there are no conditions otherwise, there's nothing that is required of you to access the donation apart from accepting the spot you were offered."

I stared at both my parents. Were they saying what I think they're saying? I wondered.

"So, if it's alright with you, we can go look for an apartment in Seattle together this weekend," my mom said with a huge grin.

I squealed louder than I'd ever squealed before. I shot out of my chair and hugged both my parents and shouted 'thank you' over and over.

I was so elated. All my dreams were coming true. I mentally thanked the person or organization who had allowed me such an opportunity by paying my tuition. Without them… I didn't even want to think of what would have become of me. I wished I could have told Jasper about it and the thought made me sad. I pushed the thought away, not allowing it to dampen my spirits.

I told my parents I'd be up practicing in my room. I looked out my bedroom window towards the tree in the backyard until I saw a shadow creep its way behind it. I smiled. I always enjoyed playing for an audience.

A/N: So here's Demetri. Let me tell you, if any man hit on me this way, I'd be putty in his hands. ;)

More lemons to come next time...

As always, a huge thank you to my reviewers, followers and those who favourited!