Hello everyone! Wow it feels like it's been such a long time since I've updated. This is my longest chapter yet (2,871 words). So I'm really iffy on this chapter. I don't know how good it is, but I really hope you guys like it. There was almost a cliffhanger for this one, but my friend (XxSilverxXxRosexX) managed to get me to not put one in. Anyways, I had writer's block a lot for this chapter which was annoying. I think it's because I do so much writing. Not only do I try to update my stories but, I also co-write a fanfiction with XxSilverxXxRosexX, and I'm in pre AP english and my school's newspaper, so it makes sense for me to feel a little burned out every once in awhile when it comes to the writing department. Anyways I really hope you all like this one. Thank you sooooooo much for the reviews, you guys are the best! Reviews really do motivate me to update. Enjoy!!

I was just standing there looking at him with nothing to say, feeling more and more like an idiot as the seconds passed by. And then who showed up? The worst possible person of course.

"Hi Ethan," I said when he came up to me. Thankfully there were other students in the hallway now, so there wouldn't be a scene.

Ethan was glaring at Anthony. "What do you want?" he asked rudely.

I looked at Anthony hoping that he wouldn't say anything to provoke Ethan, or to get me in trouble. Thankfully all he said was, "nothing." He glanced at me one more time and then walked away.

As soon as he left, Ethan looked down at me. "What did he want?" he asked.

"Nothing, I think he just wanted to mess with me," I said.

Ethan pursed his lips, "Are you sure?"

"Positive," I answered. The bell rang, "we're going to be late for class," I said and started walking off leaving Ethan at the lockers.

My first three classes passed by in a blur. Like every other student in the school I was anxiously anticipating lunch.

I was at my locker, piling my books in ready to go to the cafeteria. I saw Michelle talking to Anthony fluttering her eyelashes ridiculously again.

"So we have to stay on campus for lunch?" Anthony was asking.

"Yeah," she said, and went into a rant about the stupidity of school policies. "Last year we used to be able to leave campus for lunch, but there were a lot of accidents and kids ended up skipping school and stuff so they changed it. It's so dumb. The only reason it changed is because we got the new principle."

"That sucks," he said. "In my old school we used to be able to leave. Florida's strict." He sighed. "I guess I'll see you around."

Her friends came up to her, "Bye, I'll see you later," she said as she walked off.

He gave her a small wave and then looked up and saw me. Dammit. He was walking over, I wished I could've walk away, but then he'd probably think I was afraid of him, ugh.

"Hey," he greeted me. "You look like you're having a bad day. Still want to take up my offer for ditching school? Unless you feel some strong urge to sit through the entire lunch hour in the cafeteria," he said.

"I already told you," I said through clenched teeth, "I am not going anywhere with you."

"Okay, how about this? I remember you saying 'I owe you one' for the whole saving your life thing. So, I'm using that against you now. You owe me this one small thing, and then after that, if you don't want me to, I'll never bother you again," he said with hopeful eyes. "My brothers would get upset if they knew I was using a favor from a hunter for a date, but what they don't know won't hurt them."

I stared at him and took a deep breath knowing I would regret this, "fine, I'll go with you, but NOT as a date. As acquaintances."

He smiled brightly, "perfect."

"Where do you want to go?" I asked. "And by the way, if anyone finds out that I skipped school to go somewhere for you, I will be dead, but I am so taking you with me."

"Don't worry little huntress, I'm not going to let you get in trouble," he said mischievously.

I sighed, "Where exactly do you want to go? Because there is no way I'm going back to your house."

He laughed. "Don't worry, we can go somewhere public that's nice and open. But wait, what if someone sees us? Wouldn't want to blow your cover would we? How about you choose the place?"

I glared at him. Where could we go? I was pretty sure that I was being way too paranoid about this, but if anybody saw me with a vampire I was dead. I didn't just have to worry about my family finding me, there was an entire network of hunters living in south Florida who would sell me out to my mother faster than you could ever possibly imagine.

He had his ridiculous grin on, which was actually more cute than ridiculous, but regardless I'm sure he had a ready suggestion, one that I wouldn't like. "Doesn't my house sound pretty good right about now?" he asked.

"No," I answered. "There is no way—"

"I don't see why not. You've been there and you're still alive and healthy, so what's the big deal? My brothers aren't even home; I'm pretty sure if you really wanted to you could kick my ass anyway. And on top of that I'm sure your mommy didn't let you leave the house this morning without a knife after finding out about the evil vampire now attending school," he said his last sentence teasingly.

I rolled my eyes. "Look we'll just take our chances and head over to Pizza Hut or something."

"Suit your self," he said. "But if your mom gets a craving for pizza during her lunch break don't blame me."

I took a deep breath. I couldn't believe I was letting him get to me. It's common sense that a girl shouldn't go into a vampire's house. Especially a powerful vamp like Anthony. He was looking at me expectantly, as if he already knew what I was going to say.

"Okay, we can go to your house, but we have to stay somewhere close to an exit-"

"So that you can run at the first sign of danger like a little coward?" he asked with his eyebrows raised.

"So that if you and your bloodsucking friends decide to gang up on me, I can get away," I said glaring.

"Ah, of course," he said.

"And I'm keeping my knife with me the entire time," I continued. "Also, I leave whenever I want."

"Yes ma'am," he said. "But you really shouldn't be so worried. My brothers aren't even home."

I rolled my eyes, "whatever."

That's how fifteen minutes later we ended up at his house. Getting out of school was no problem. We'd split up to leave the campus, all I had to do was go invisible, and he probably just hypnotized anybody who got in his way.

When we arrived at his house, I paused before stepping in. This was by far the most stupid thing that I'd ever done. Worse was the fact that I was completely aware of the stupidity and the danger, but I insisted on following through with it anyway.

We walked in, and he offered me a proper tour of the house, one that I refused. So he just led me to the kitchen, the entire time keeping a safe distance between us. The house did in fact appear to be empty, just as he'd said, and he didn't seem to have any motive for having me there other than to talk.

"I ordered pizza, is that okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, but it won't get here before we have to get back to school," I said.

"I ordered from since before second period, whether or not you came with me, I wasn't planning on staying in school," he told me.

Sure enough, right then we heard the "ding dong" of the doorbell and he left to go answer the door.

"Wasn't sure what you'd like, so I got cheese," he said opening the box.

"Cool," I took a small slice and nibbled at it feeling increasingly more uncomfortable. I decided that as long I was here, I might as well make some kind of conversation. "So, it's just you and your brothers?"

He seemed surprised that I was attempting civilized conversation, but he recovered quickly. "Yeah, our uncle changed us, but he doesn't exactly agree with our lifestyle choice." An awkward silence followed. "You still don't believe me about the whole good vampire thing do you?"

"Not really, no," I answered. "Every vamp I've met before you has tried to kill me. A vampire killed my father."

Why did I tell him that? Because I was an idiot that's why. One of the top ten rules of vampire hunting was to not get friendly with your prey, well my coming to his house for lunch was already a violation of that one. Another rule, don't divulge personal information that can be used against you. Broke that one too. Yup, I was definitely the stupidest rebel in existence.

He looked sympathetic. "I'm sorry."

I glanced at the clock. We'd been here for fifteen minutes. "Okay, so how do you get blood? You need it to live don't you?"

Again he looked surprised at the fact that I was talking to him. "Animal blood provides just as much sustenance as human blood. And when that isn't readily accessible we take human blood." I raised an eyebrow, and he continued quickly. "We take human blood, but we don't kill them. It doesn't hurt them, they don't even remember it."

"Barbaric," I muttered.

"Really? What if it was up to you? If you had to drink human blood to stay alive, and you knew you could do it without harming the human physically, mentally, or emotionally, would you do it? Or would you rather die?" he didn't seem smug as he waited for my answer. He just watched as I processed what he was saying.

I hated the way that he could always make points to shut me up. If he was telling the truth about not hurting anyone, I couldn't see how what he did was really so wrong. "I don't know," I said. "I never had to think about it."

"I'm not saying that vampires are a misperceived race. I know how evil the majority is, I'm only speaking for myself and my brothers when I talk about us being good." He said.

I was beginning to feel relaxed. I leaned back in my chair, and grabbed another slice of pizza. "But what happens when you come across another vamp, like Edmund?"

He settled back too. "We don't argue with them. We don't try to change their ways, it would never work. We do let them stay with us sometimes, but only if they follow our rules. Most of the time, they do. Edmund was a rare exception. When they do break the rules, we're pretty much always strong enough to take them out. Even if they do happen to be more powerful we out number them. As a rule of thumb, we never let more than two vamps stay with us at any one time."

I listened carefully as he gave me details of his life. "Why are you telling me all this stuff? I could use all of it against you. After I leave, I could go home and tell all my hunter friends about the new vamps' secrets, and we could kill you all easily."

"Who said I was planning on letting you leave? I could be toying with you before I eat you," he said, all of sudden very serious. I stiffened and positioned my body so that it was ready to fight. To my surprise, he chuckled. "You're very fun to mess with you know? I already told you. I'm not going to hurt you. What do I have to do to make you believe me?"

I let my muscles relax again. "Why did you want me to come here with you?"

"I wanted to get to know you better," he answered. Nothing about the way he said it made me think he was joking.

"Why would you want to do that? I'm a hunter, I'm supposed to hate you." I reminded him.

He stood up and cautiously took a step closer to me. "Do you hate me?"

"Maybe, why?" I asked. I glanced at the knife I'd set down on the table next to me.

"It's kind of essential for me to know. It could very well dictate my next action," he answered vaguely.

My eyes narrowed. "That tells me nothing."

He kept coming closer. "Just answer the question. Do you or do you not hate me?" I stood up, unsure of what to do or what to say.

My mother would be disappointed in me. I didn't hate him. I didn't have any real reason to, especially after the whole him saving my life thing. "No, I don't."

He was way too close to me now, I considered moving, but instead I stayed frozen. "Well that's a good thing."

He took my hand and brought me even closer to him. Before I knew it his arms were wrapped around me. Still, I didn't move. If I was going to be incredibly stupid today, why not be thorough? He brought his face closer to mine, and then, he kissed me.

My body was pressed against his. His body was muscular and warm and he held me tightly. It felt, good? No, it felt amazing. My brain tried to direct my body to stop, to push him away, or at least to not enjoy it so much, it didn't work. I let him run his hands through my hair and move his lips down to my neck before I had the sense to stop.

"Wait, I can't do this," I said gasping for breath. He was a really good kisser.

"Why not?" he seemed genuinely puzzled.

"Because," I began, stressing the word, "you are a vampire and I am a vampire hunter. Do you see how that wouldn't work out?"

"Not really," he answered.

I realized his arms were still wrapped around me. I pushed at his chest a little, not really trying very hard. Irresponsible once again, but any normal girl who saw him wouldn't blame me. I took a deep breath, I needed to focus, and that wasn't going to happen while I was snuggling up to him, especially since it felt so good.

I pushed him harder and extracted myself from his grasp. "Why did you kiss me?" I asked keeping my voice steady.

"I thought it was obvious. I kissed you because I like you," he said as if I shouldn't have even been asking.

"No, you can't like me," I groaned.

"I don't see why you're so opposed to this. Is it because I'm a bad kisser?" I didn't say anything. He smirked. "I didn't think so, you seemed to enjoy it."

"Had a lot of practice? Ugh, how old are you anyway? Please tell me I wasn't just kissing an old guy."

He grinned, "You think I've had a lot of practice?"

I rolled my eyes, "I so don't want to hear about that."

"You know, I thought you were cute when you were angry, but it's so much better when you're jealous," he said.

"I'm not jealous. Why would I care about how many girls you may or may not have kissed?" I asked pursing my lips.

"Because you like me," he said simply.

Ugh, nothing worse than a vamp hung up on himself. "Cocky much?"

He put his arms around me again. "I really don't want to fight with you. Now, backgrounds aside, if we were just two regular people, would you have minded the kiss?"

"Yes," I answered immediately.

He looked me dead the eye. "Really?"

Damn him and his blue eyes. He was still holding me gently, and it actually didn't feel too bad. I sighed and told the truth. "No I wouldn't have minded. Happy now?"

He grinned widely, "You have no idea."

I pushed at his arms a little. "You know you can let go right?"

He was still grinning. "Yeah, but what if I don't want to?"

I bit my lip. "Umm…"

He laughed and kissed my cheek. "We can keep it a secret," he suggested. "No one really has to know."

"You want me to lie to my mom?" I asked.

"You're a teenager, it's kind of your job," he reminded me.

I put my arms around his waist, giving up on convincing him or myself that I wasn't feeling something. "It's not going to work. What would your family think about this anyway?"

He answered quickly. "My brothers wouldn't care. They know I'm not stupid."

"Really? You're not stupid?" I cut in. "Could've fooled me."

He smiled. "The insults don't have quite the same effect when you're hugging the person you're insulting. And how do you know it wouldn't work? Been in many forbidden romances?"

"Why? Are you jealous?" I asked playfully. Yes, I was flirting. I'd completely sold my soul.

"Can we just try? I promise, I will do my very best to keep you out of trouble," he said.

"You know, a few days ago I would've laughed if someone told me I'd one day be considering being a vampire's girlfriend. Laughed and then cringed," I told him.

"Yes or no?" he asked patiently.

"If I regret this—" I started.

"You won't, I promise," he cut in.

I sighed. "Okay, we can try."

I made no move to stop him as he pulled me closer to him and kissed me again.

See? No cliffhanger. By the way do you guys like short chapters or long ones?