Disclaimer: Any characters you recognize aren't mine and neither is the world they live in.

A/N: I apologize for the very long delay in updates, but my computer was out of commission for a month and I couldn't get to my story. I'll try and do a decent length update soon. I know this is more of a teaser chapter than anything else because its only two pages long, but I will very definitely try to update again this week so you guys don't get mad at me!

Now, on to the story...

~*~

Nicole looked up from the book to see Vitaliy at the top of the stairs. His long black hair was disheveled, like he had gotten into a fight or something. "What happened?" She asked, setting the book on the floor and rising to meet him.

Vitaliy shrugged. "Jack decided to push an issue that he didn't understand. I corrected his point of view."

"He's still alive, isn't he?"

"Yes angel, Jack is still alive and well. I didn't hurt one bleach blond hair on his not-so-innocent head. He's a little scuffed up, but he'll be fine by tomorrow," he hugged her close. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm just a little stressed," she said as she allowed him to steer her back to the bed. "Not only do I have school to worry about, but my parents are telling me that I'm acting weird and India is being a complete bitch. And rehearsals are just going to- Oh no! I missed rehearsals today!"

"No rehearsal today, remember? We just had to pick up scripts and I got yours. It's in my bag."

"Well, that's one thing that went right today," Nicole said, giving him a kiss in thanks.

Vitaliy stretched out beside her on his low bed with one arm around her waist. "So what's up?" He barely hears Nicole's sigh.

"I don't know what to do. It seems like everyone is harassing me about something lately and I can't seem to do anything right," she answered after a few moments.

"You got the lead in the play, you're the only one I know with an "A" in Thornton's physics class, and I'll always love you. What else do you need?"

"Somehow classes just don't seem important anymore. After all, I have all eternity to learn what I need to. Besides, it isn't like I'm going to get a real job anymore or go to college. What's the point?"

"Someone very famous once said that all knowledge is worth having."

Nicole half-laughed at that. "Then why don't we have the knowledge that we need to deal with life?"

"Who says you don't?" Vitaliy replied. "Besides, if you always knew everything, life would be pointless. If you knew exactly what to do in every situation, why bother to do anything? You'd already know how it came out. You would be bored by everything. I, for one, enjoy being able to figure my way out of a situation."

Nicole sat up and looked down on Vitaliy. "Then figure out a way for my family to not notice that I'll never age. Find me a way to have children one day. Show me how to live a real life without really being alive."

"Did I make a mistake in changing you?" Vitaliy asked softly. He was afraid that he didn't want to know the answer. He hated to see Nicole in so much pain, but he didn't know what he could do to help her. He had never needed to face the problems that she was facing now. His parents hadn't cared whether he lived or died, so they had probably been happy when he and Gabriel left. He looked up to see Nicole's expression soften from anger to sorrow.

"I don't know. But if it's anyone's mistake, it's mine. I told you to change me. It was an impulse. I didn't think about the consequences. I just thought 'that would be cool, and no one could hurt me ever again.' I never thought that I might have to hurt others. At least with SingleEarth, I don't have to kill anyone. That might be the only thing that is keeping me sane. That, and having you. I don't know what I would do without you and Alexia and your brother," she lay beside Vitaliy and allowed him to put his arms around her. The lay entwined on his bed for hours. Nothing else mattered.

~*~

Gabriel walked out of the house and found himself face-to-face with a very angry blonde girl. She stood with her arms crossed over her chest and was giving him one of the dirtiest looks that he'd ever seen. "Who the hell are you?" She snapped as he walked past, ignoring her.

Gabriel turned to look at her again. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me leech. Who the hell are you and what the hell are you doing here? Its too early for a bash," she said impetuously.

"Leech?" Gabriel laughed. "Didn't your mommy teach you better than to announce your heritage like that?"

"I didn't announce anything."

"Only witches call us leeches, if you've noticed. But, apparently you haven't. My name is Gabriel. May I help you?" He was trying to make this conversation as brief as possible as he wanted to see Alexia after he went to see how Fritz and Devon were doing. The little witch was going to be hurting if she interrupted his plans.

"Where's Vitaliy?"

Gabriel was immediately on the defensive. Even though he knew that Vitaliy was perfectly capable of taking care of himself, the big brother instinct never seemed to die. "What do you want with my brother?"

"That's none of your business. Where is he?" The girl tapped her foot impatiently.

He wasn't about to let her in the house, especially since he knew that Vitaliy and Nicole needed some time alone. "He's not here."

"Liar!" She screeched. "Alexia just dropped him off. I watched him go into the house. And then you came out. Where is he?"

"I told you, he's not here. Or did you forget that we have the ability to change locations with no more than a thought? He went to the city for a few hours. He had some business there. Now, you need to get off my property before I call the authorities and tell them that you're trespassing. I don't think they'll believe you if you say you're hunting vampires. In fact, I think that would get you admitted to the psych ward."

"I'm not leaving until I see Vitaliy," the girl was repeating herself and it was getting irritating. Gabriel grabbed her by the arm and took her to a place in the woods on the other side of town. At least she would have to walk home or call someone to come get her. He'd bet that she wouldn't call anyone in her family, because then she would have to admit that she told her heritage to a vampire. That little tidbit would get her very definitely disowned. Another thought brought him back to the house so that he could drive over to Fritz's new house. Fritz needed every bit of help he could get to appear human. Appearing in the front yard wouldn't help matters at all.

~*~

End Part III

Like I said, more will be coming soon. I wasn't going to put Fritz in here because I thought his story needed a "story" to itself, but my muse (or maybe Fritz himself is the one doing the mental poking) really wants him to be in here so there will be some Fritz and Devon action going on in the next part. Please review to get my creative juices flowing! Also, if there's anything you would like to see, let me know!

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