Yunami the Dragon: It's confusing? Uhm…ok. Sorry about that, then. I hope I don't confuse you too much in this story. Don't hurt yourself when you slap yourself, either. Not rambling, I've done worse. And thanks. : )

~He said that he would tell no secrets, he said that he would never lie, he said that he would spring eternal, he said that we would never die.~ - Jack Off Jill – Rabbiteen

The music could be heard at Rose's house. The thrums of guitars and drums and a voice she could barely hear drifted through her open window a block away from Janice's.

Rose searched through her closet in her second floor bedroom. Dark clothes were jammed together on hangers that her nimble fingers separated. The urge to care how she dressed had been with her ever since Ashyr had asked if she was going to the party. Before she had watched Janice graduate, Ashyr had been called first. C before S, of course. And as he had walked onto the stage and received his diploma, he had looked up into the audience and Rose could swear his gray eyes had met hers, stayed there for what seemed like eternity until he began walking down the stage and back to his seat. He had looked up at her every once and a while, she had caught, and each time her heart pounded faster. She didn't want to have a crush on Ashyr, but it didn't feel as if she had a choice.

When Janice had walked onto the stage, there had been more claps throughout the stadium than any other person before her and after. It was astonishing to realize how separate the two girls were. One was a social butterfly, Ms. Popular, Untouchable, the other a barely known freak that was too intimidating. One girl with natural blonde hair almost silver and streaks the color of rust throughout her entire head. It fluttered around her face, perfect in every way. Large, icy blue eyes that warmed around those she trusted drew people around her in. She was gravity to humans and looked upon by Night People. The haunting blue in her eyes was visible from all angles of the stadium and she had heard a whisper from Janice parents:

I'm glad she's graduating. I can't believe we've let her be friends with Maya's girl this long. But our little girl is going away and they'll never see each other again.

Rose had been in a slight state of shock since and had tried not to glance at the adults. After the graduation, she had been in a daze and let Janice's parents drag her to dinner in a fancy restaurant. Janice had acted like normal, social child and bringing two girls with her. The witch was a red head with curls and green eyes that were nothing compared to Rose's, named Ivy Maga, and in Janice's grade. The other was a lamia with mink hair and honey colored eyes that people called Dani Brunksi who was a year older than Rose. They had all included her in their conversations as best as they could for the social outcast, but their attempts failed when Rose hadn't reciprocated. Ivy seemed glad but Dani had a disappointed look in her eyes that appeared genuine.

They had all asked if she had wanted to go to Janice's to help set up for the party, but Rose hadn't wanted to be around them and make them more uncomfortable so she had fled to her house to "take a nap".

Half an hour later Rose stood, staring at her mirror. The black mass of her hair fell to her lower back, straight and silky and recently brushed. A black stretchy shirt covered her top, cut low but not revealing and with ties at the shoulder. A black skirt hung from her hips to her ankles and a touch of black eye shadow darkened her eyes to reveal the dark green in all its glory. She looked the part of a cliché vampire indeed, she decided as she slipped on knee-high leather boots. She didn't really mind if the night came to a disaster, as long as she did her hunting. After giving herself another look to make sure she approved, she headed to Janice's house.

The lights from the Swift's house were visible as she walked up the street. The music kept getting louder, if possible, and she could see the bodies of people through the windows and the screams outside of people swimming. It felt like the human parties Rose went to occasionally when she was bored, but the feel of the air felt different. Over the years Rose couldn't find a word to really describe it, but has narrowed it down in her head that if felt powerful. The aura of Night People united in one place.

Rose opened the oak door and watched as a few heads lifted to see who she was. Immediately their heads turned away and continued their conversation. The entryway had two rooms splitting off on each side and then one in front. On one side there was a room filled with couches that bodies were laying on and a vampire, it appeared, sitting next to them and wiping their mouths on the back of their hand. One dark-haired vampire caught her eyes and winked. She looked away.

On the other side there was a large stereo system and TV that was turned on to a football game and on mute. The speakers for the CD player boomed the favored local station and some boys and girls mingled of all species. One female lured a male to the couch room with a twinkle in her eyes and crossed in front of Rose. She side-stepped them and continue towards the kitchen that led a back way into the backyard.

"Rar!" giggled Janice as she stepped in front of Rose in the kitchen. "Glad you *finally* came," she said jokingly and winked one blue eye. The bright color was lightning caught in a mortal body. The white tigress was known for those eyes.

Rose shrugged one shoulder and smiled slightly. "Where's Ivy and Dani?" she asked, casting her senses to pick up the aura of the two girls. She knew the answer before Janice told her.

"Ivy's in the pool, swimming. Almost nude, but not quite," the 'shifter said dryly, leaning her small frame against the counter. Her silver-blonde hair covered her eyes for a moment. "Dani's talking to some guys out back and making sure Ivy doesn't do too much tonight. Ya know, disappear and get some tattoos on her."

The vampire laughed slightly and added, "Or somehow ends up in Vegas and eloped with a human."

"Hey, that might be fun," Dani's voice said as she walked through the door to the backyard. "Then we could have a little side-adventure and her human could, you know, *mysteriously* disappear."

Rose and Janice shared a small snicker and grinned. Dani's honey brown eyes gleamed gold and she beckoned the two other girls to follow her back outside.

There were more people scattered in the back yard, some swimming, others clustered at tables, another set hiding in shadows. A keg of beer Janice's mother had bought to keep the humans less suspicious was hidden in a small tent off to the side. Recently emptied cups littered the ground and tables, and other odd places. There was a local vampire rock band playing.

 Rose spotted Ashyr mingling with a group of mixed genders and heard them laughing. He saw the girls walking towards that direction and his smile widened. "Hey, you three!" he shouted and waved them over. His gray eyes locked on Rose.

Rose slowed down slightly and the two other girls were suddenly side by side. Frowning back at her, Dani grabbed her arm and pulled back in stride. Janice glanced worriedly at her friend and they were at Ashyr's group.

There was a ball knotted in her stomach and she had a feeling tonight was going to change everything in her life.

Review, please! Not that hard to.