"Where is you'se from?" Blink asked.

"The boonies."

"Da what?"

"Sunnydale, you guys haven't heard of it. It's not there yet." Oops. Umm. "We're just building it now." I blew it, I know that. They don't buy it. "What's you're names?" I said looking around and changing the subject.

"Kid Blink," One-eyed Jack said.

"Jack Kelly," Said the cowboy.

"Mush," said the boy that spoke first.

"Skittery", "Boots", "Snooty", "Racetrack" said a bunch of other boys I hadn't even noticed. There were probably a lot more than I can remember. Skittery has brown hair and eyes, Snooty looks weird, Boots is little, Racetrack has black hair and brown eyes, and a cigar in his mouth, choking up my air. Mush is hot, and Blink would be if he hadn't yelled at me.

"Why does everyone have dumb names?"

Another boy with curly hair walked up, "I'm David."

I squinted at him and sarcastically said "That's any better?" They all hate me, I can sense it. So I smiled sweetly and said "I'm just playing around. See, I'm not a people person, so I usually just diss. Don't take it pesonally." Their hate lightens, except for Jack.

"You'se ain't gonna be a newsie are ya?" He asked.

"Why would I do that?"
" Cause' you'se ran away."

"What? No, I didn't run, I was sent number one, number two…I forgot, but, I'm a blonde."

"What does you hair have to do with it?" Asked a little boy standing next to David.

"You see sweet, blonde's are stereotyped as dumb or stupid. Stereotyping is an awful thing. Never do it Love. What's your name?"

"Les." What is with these names?

My stomach turns and growls. I'm hungry. I need to get out of here. "I have to go." Before I left I took Les aside. "Keep an eye on Spot. Don't let him leave. I'll be right back." He nodded and I went out the door. I turned down an alley, turned right and walked into a butcher's shop.

The man behind the counter looked up. "Yes?" He asked.

"Hi, can I have a pin of blood?"

"What for?"

"Soup, yummy soup," He looked at me strange and I rolled my eyes. "Look, I'm paying you, just give it to me."

"O.K." As soon as he came back with it I handed him the money and dashed out before he could realize that the dime said 1999 instead of 1899.

I stopped in the alley. I'm so hungry. I opened the bag with my teeth and let the blood drizzle down my throat. Here it is, the object of my lust, the center of my being, and it tastes so good. My strength and hunger was quenched at the same time. I felt my strength coming back, and my face relaxes into its true form. As I drain the last of my meal, I once again feel normal. I wiped the excess off my mouth with my hands, and from my hands to my jeans.

I let my face go back into the lie of human form. Sure, being a vampire has its faults. A few less than humans, but enough to keep you second guessing your world, my existence. I mean, I know I exist, but there are humans that I talk to everyday that don't think I do. That's why there's the saying "Looks can be deceiving" and "Mirrors can lie". If I can't see myself in the mirror, does that mean I don't exist? No, I should think not. O.K. now I'm just rambling. To myself even. I'm so lonely, God I'm pathetic.

I walked back to the lodging house and up the stairs. Spot's still there, good. Ow, my neck hurts. Something's wrong, something's not supposed to be here. Something like…like…like him. I walked over to him and looked out the window so I don't draw attention.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I sensed you. What are you doing here? Business or pleasure?" He asked back. How dare him. I tensed, I feel his eyes searching me.

"I'm here on business."

"Oh, that's too bad." That damn accent of his always gets to me.

"Go away," I tell him.

"Not in this lifetime."

Ahh, I don't have time for this. "Dee, I'm not playing around, Leave or-"

"Or what? You'll hurt me. Come now love, I do know you better than that."

Damn I'm drifting. Big blast, Angel holding me back. Desent…oh God. I hung on to him for as long as I could. Maybe if he didn't follow me, maybe if. I closed my mind, forcing back the tears that sting m eyes and threatened to wet my face. "Go Dee," I forced out, "Please, for the sake of us, go," I pleaded, as my voice quivered. I lost him before.

"Why did you run?" He asked and touched my arm, but I pulled away, "How did you change?"

"It's a long story my love, please, please," Oh my god. If I keep him with me for as long as I can, then maybe I can stop it from happening. He turned to go. Say something. "Stay." No, anything but that. I can't loose him again. "No, yes, no, yes, damninit, go, just go." I turned back to the window as he left. I can't see him go again.

"Who was dat?" Asked a familiar Spot voice. I sighed.

"What is that Pup? Concern?"

He tensed, clenching his hands into fists. "Possibly. Why? Scared?"

I smiled, tears still noticeably in my eyes, "Possibly." I said simply. He sat down on the windowsill. Great. Now he wants to bond.

"Old Boyfriend."

"Somethin' like that." I need to change the subject. "What about you Spot? You have anyone? Girlfriend? Boyfriend? Both?"

His eyes widened "Nooo. Broke up wid me last goil, hadn't had one since. What about you'se?"

"Nope."

He smiled, "You'se like what you'se see here?" I looked around.

"Some of them, I should go." I said Good night to the boys and started on my way home.

"Ivory!" I turned fast to see Jack was running up to me.

I smiled sweetly and asked, "What's up?"

"You wanna go sellin' papes wid us tomarrow?" He asked out of breath.

"Sure. What time?"

"Meet us at da lodgin' house before dawn."

"Kay." He smiled and turned away. Ahh, what a hottie.

When I finally got back to my apartment I dropped my shoes and went into the back room. I should work on my skills. I walked up to the punching bag and hit it unenthusiastically. Then again, and again, and again. I must've gotten carried away, because by the time I stopped the bag and I were on the floor, and my knuckles were bleeding.

CONTINUE…