Roses Are Red

Summary: Hi. I'm Faith Isabella de Silva. Interesting name, not? Yeah, well, I'm not your average girl. My mom's the most powerful shifter around, and my dad (who my friends allllwaaays drool over-eew!) is pretty high up there on the mediator totem pole. So, what did I get from them? OK, a) I'm a shifter. And b) Thanks to being a mediator/shifter hybrid, I'm a "special" kind of shifter. I mediate vampires.

Disclaimer: What you recognize is either from The Mediator or Boys that Bite.

I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT. THIS IS OFFICIALLY THE FIRST IN A SERIES CALLED THE VAMPIRE SHIFTER CHRONICLES. JUST SO YOU KNOW.

SINCERELY,

MRS. DE SILVA 4EVA. JESSE AND MAGNUS ARE ALL MINE. ;)

Chapter Seven: Busted

"Faith Isabella de Silva!" Mom yelled, "You get down here right now!"

Sure, she's a fun mom. Most of the time.

I turned back to Magnus. "I'm-I'm sorry," I sighed, "I got you into this."

"Don't worry," He smiled, "It was a pleasure dancing with you."

Giving him one last smile, I raced down to Mom.

"What were you doing with that boy?" Mom hissed at me as she dragged me to the car.

"Nothing," I said somewhat dreamily.

"You've been saying that all evening," Mom exclaimed as we drove toward the house. "Do you know what kind of worry you put your father and I in? You are grounded!"

"OK," I giggled.

She gave The Look. "And cannot see him again!"

That got my attention.

"What?" I yelled, "But-"

"No buts."

000

I lay in bed, thinking about Magnus. His eyes, the way he had been so close... hmm.

Wait. This sounded like...

No. It couldn't be...

But it is.

No!

Yes!

No!

Yes!

No.

000

As far as groundings go, this had to be the worst I'd ever had. I wasn't even able to send a message to anyone via Ben. Father Dom made sure that I didn't even talk to anyone.

Geez, all this over one little dance?

The best dance of my life.

Magnus really was a pretty good dancer, actually. And how it had felt... incredible. Wow.

But it had almost looked like... like... like he was about to kiss me.

No way.

It couldn't be. I mean, not possible. Magnus's feelings toward me were purely platonic.

But were mine the same toward him?

000

Having nothing else to do, I opened the old book Charity gave me that night. It was full of spells, all this Wiccan stuff, until I came to the last few pages.

"Please no."

000

Late that night, it happened.

Faith, a voice in my head said, look out your window.

As I looked out, I saw a sight for sore eyes.

"Magnus?" I whispered. He and I hadn't even communicated with our telepathy since... that night.

As I stood in my long, lacy night gown, I noticed a radio at his side. A cocky smile lit his lips.

"Dance with me?"

Not bothering to change, I ran downstairs and outside. Then, once out there, I realized that I was:

a) barefoot

b) in a nightgown

c) without a bra

d) with MAGNUS!

As I stood looking awkward, he smiled again.

"I want to make it up for you. And we never did finish that dance."

I shrugged, pretending to be casual. "OK."

Then... that lilting music began to play, and Magnus stepped forward. But this time, he knew exactly where to put his hands, and how to sway.

Gosh, I hope the top of this night gown doesn't slip.

I felt the dew covered grass beneath my feet, smelled the French Bread that is made by Bake Bread in the Middle of the Night Lady-don't ask- and heard the music.

But all I saw were Magnus's eyes.

The eyes that looked into my soul, made me feel wanted, accepted, cared for.

And... something else I couldn't put my finger on.

Slowly, our faces came closer and closer together. And suddenly...

I was kissing Magnus.

Magnus was kissing me.

Whoa.

But I didn't stop. Far from it. My hands gripped the back of his neck tighter, bringing him closer. His lips were surprisingly warm for a vampire's, and I... I wanted more.

"Wow. Lotta control there, sis." A penetrating sneer caused Magnus and I to catch ourselves and jump apart, eyes wide.

Once again, I turned to find another member of my lovely family.

My baby brother.

Now, if you have a little sibling, you know how embarrassing it is to be found kissing your boyfriend. Think about it if he finds you kissing a guy out of your species.

Yeah. The first one times ten.

Before I could say anything, Nick stormed back inside. I now turned to Magnus, panting.

"Faith, I- I," He stuttered, "I don't know what just happened. I'm very sorry."

With that, he quickly walked off.

Leaving me in the front porch, hand to lips, trying to keep those tears from falling.

000

For all I know, Mom either thought I was pregnant, or had the flu.

The next couple of days, I was throwing up constantly. This kept me out of school, and won my parents' sympathy, actually.

Though he didn't talk to me, Nick kept my secret a secret. A felt so guilty though. For having to make him go through this, and playing with Magnus's heart.

I had kissed a guy I had no feelings for.

I think.

But I knew that it was bad on the day I called her.

I found her number in the directory, and dialed.

"Hello?"

"Ch-Charity?"

"Holy... Faith!"

And then it began this whole sob story-no, seriously, I was crying to a Goth vampiress- and at the end, I got this response:

"Uh... maybe you should come over at my house and spend the night."

000

Luckily, my "sentence" had ended, so I packed my bags and rode my bike to Charity's(yes, I don't have a license yet).

She came to the door dressed in a night gown-a black one. Charity actually smiled at me.

Yes. Charity.

"So," She smirked as I set my bags down. "You liplocked with your partner?"

I gave her a weird look. "You know that Magnus is my partner?"

She nodded. "He told me."

I smiled. "He tells you a lot, doesn't he?"

Charity shrugged and flashed the pearly whites. "I guess. I, um, used to have a crush on him."

I cocked my head. "Why'd you stop?"

"You came along."

Taking this badly, I blabbered, "Oh, sorry-I mean, uh-"

"No, no, no," Charity assured me, waving a hand. "I just... sensed a connection."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, well, I don't have feelings for him, if that's what you mean."

"Right."
"That kiss was a total fluke."

"Sure."

"Shut up."

"You betcha."

000

We talked for a while, Charity sympathized, and things went pretty well. Until, that is, we went to sleep.

Charity and I had become... friends.

And I didn't want to mediate her.

000

OK! OK! I GAVE YOU THE KISS, HAPPY? R and R!