Chapter 9

Cris

February 10

Dear Diary,

Several weeks have gone by since I last wrote and everything seems to go back to normal, if you call having a vampire boyfriend normal. I have gotten used to it now, though I still have succeeded in avoiding informing Dave about him.

It was enough that Dave tries to control my life. I'm invited to Pup's birthday party, which is tonight, and, of course, he forbade me to go even though I have a ride (Kyle) just because it's a "teenage" party. He doesn't trust me to go anywhere on my own. It's soo annoying. Why can't he just trust me just a little? I just glad I leave for school before he gets up, so I don't have to deal with his crap in the morning, especially since Kyle is still driving me to school.

Speaking of Kyle, he offered to teach me how to drive, but I don't know if it's going to happen; Dave won't trust me enough, go figure. Maybe I might be able to sneak out after dinner. 'Course, who knows what he would do if he caught me sneaking out. Not that I really care any more. I have to admit; Dave's parenting skills really suck.

I stopped writing to glance up listening. The steady breathing of Sky and the dull gentle snores of my uncle was the only thing that broke the early morning silence. Stretching, I crawled out of bed and stuffed my diary into its hiding place, under my mattress. It was the only place that I knew nobody would find it.

Grabbing my school bag, I kissed Sky good-bye on the top of her furry head and ran outside to meet Kyle. I climbed into his Mercedes with a sigh and slammed the door shut.

"He still won't let you go?" Kyle asked immediately.

"Nope, I keep telling him it's not a huge party. There's only going to be a couple people there, but I swear he wants to tie me to the home. I don't understand why either. Its not like he'd miss me if I suddenly disappeared," I ranted. "It's not like he ever notices me. Come to think of it the only time he ever acknowledges me is during dinner. Or, I guess if I get anything lover than a 'B' on my report card. I don't even know why he bothers. Probably just to make himself look good. Ugh" Flopping against the back of the seat, I lapsed into silence saying all that was on my mind.

"So, what are you going to do?" Kyle asked.

"I don't know. Sometimes I wish my life would be normal and my parents still here," I sighed.

School was a bore. The first thing Pup did to me when she saw me was an ambush then immediate questions to see if I was coming tonight. Of course, I had to say no and explain my situation with Dave. She felt terrible, but I really hated having her pity.

"Pup, could you just leave me alone. I really don't want you pity right now." I snapped. Pup backed off instantly, however I felt bad for snapping at her. It wasn't her fault.

Lunch could not come fast enough, I had spent the whole morning trying to figure out a way to go to Pup's party and had finally reached a decision half way though orchestra. Thinking about that during orchestra was probably not the best thing to do. I played really badly and Rebecca had to keep correctly me on my bow style.

Kyle met me outside of the orchestra room to walk Shelby and I to lunch. Ever since Troy's attack Kyle met me outside every class and walked to my next class. I knew it killed him not to be with me twenty-four seven, not knowing if I was safe during class.

"You okay?" Shelby asked as we walked toward our usual table. Pup and Brea were already there. Brea had joined our table after Troy attack— probably under Mark's orders— and she and Pup got along beautifully.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I said answering Shelby's question. She obviously did not believe me, and opened her mouth again to push for information. However, I caught Kyle out of the corner of my eye silencing her with a look.

Sitting at our lunch table, I put my face in my hands, thinking. A cool hand began to rub circles on my back.

"Are you ok?" Kyle breathed into my ear. I nodded, my face pressed firmly into my hands, enjoying the cool feeling of his hand against my back. "Really?" he asked, gently lifting my face from my hands to search it with his stormy sapphire eyes.

Looking into his face gave me the final push I needed to make my decision. I was tired of trying constantly to please Dave, being the perfect teen, getting good grades and staying out of trouble.

"I'm going to sneak out." My voice had a new edge of defiance in it. Brea, Pup, and Shelby all looked at me stunned.

"Really?" Brea sounded shocked. We really didn't know each other very well, but she still knew that I wasn't one to break rules.

"Yes, tonight. I'm tired of Dave trying to control my life." Pup let out an excited squeal.

"Yes, you are coming! You are coming! Yes, yes, yes! We are going to have so much fun!" I smiled at Pup's enthusiasm as she turned to back to Brea and Shelby obviously making plans.

"You sure you want to do this?" Kyle asked playing with a strand of my hair.

"Yes, I'm sure. Maybe Dave will get off my back."

"That of he'll get on your back even more."

"God, why to you have to always spoil my optimism," I whined laying my head back on the table. He chuckled, lightly kissing the top of my head.

"Sorry to spoil you optimism some more, but you need to eat." He said pulling my lunch out of my bag.

"Ugh, I'm not hungry."

"Eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"Humor me…please." I looked up at him. Big mistake. His eyes were locked onto mine, pleading with me.

"Oh, fine." I snapped. Grabbing my lunch, I ripped it open and grabbed the apple. I stared him straight in the eyes, chewing defiantly, which, inevitably, caused Kyle to laugh.

Suddenly, someone cleared their throat, breaking my eye contact with Kyle; I look up and grimaced at what I saw. Nichole standing there, ogling at Kyle—my Kyle.

"What do you want?" I snapped. Nichole ignored me and instead turned to Kyle.

"Hey Kyle, I was wondering if you wanted to go to my party tonight. Its at my place at eight." She spoke in her most annoyingly high and, I guess what she thought was flirtatious, voice. Brea glanced up at her with disgust and spoke for her brother.

"Oh, I'm sorry we already have something planned, and," she looked Nichole up and down, "it does not involve going to your little party." Nichole was shocked; obviously nobody had ever spoken to her like that. She looked down a Kyle hoping her would say that he would go to her party, but all she got was a cold look from his eyes. I'm surprised she didn't turn to ice.

When she did not move Kyle turned back towards me, clearly intent on ignoring her. Nichole clearly was not planning on giving up the battle that easily. Tapping Kyle on the shoulder, she leaned down, flaunting herself in front of him, to say, "You should know, if you hang out with me I can give you everything you want. You'll be popular, everybody will be jealous of you, what else would you want."

"Actually if I do hang out with you," Kyle snapped back, "I wont be getting everything I want because what I want is for you to go away and leave us alone. If I hang out with you that would totally defeat the purpose, because I would be with you.

"Come on Cris, Brea, lets get out of here." He grabbed my hand pulling up from the table. I followed him out of the lunchroom purposely knocking into Nichole as I passed her.

"Cris, did you see her face?" Pup giggled excitedly as we walked together down the hallway. "She was totally stunned." I smiled. Yes, I had seen her face, a face I had wanted to see on her for the longest time.

"Kyle where'd that come from?" Brea asked catching up to Kyle, who was pulling me along with an arm wrapped around my waist.

"I'm tired of her, Brea. Every time I walk into a room she's there, flirting with me even though I have explicitly specified my disinterest. Worse she knows Cris and I are together and she still insists on pushing it. I just snapped and I pray she got the hint."

"Wow." Brea looked at him stunned. "I've never heard you speak so much in one day." Kyle stopped against a wall and cracked a smile. I giggled seeing is eyes light up for the first time in weeks. Brea always seemed to make Kyle laugh when I couldn't especially after Troy.

"Come on we all better get to class," he said. Shelby, Pup and Brea all left together, laughing about something. I sighed leaning into Kyle as I watched them leave. "C'mon lets go." He whispered kissing my cheek gently. I nodded and together we walked to Euro barely making it on time.

Taking our seats I glanced around looking for Nichole. She wasn't there, but her friends were glancing over at Kyle and I, whispering behind their hands.

"They say she's crying in the bathroom." Kyle said answering my unasked question.

I did not see Nichole for the rest of the day; not that I minded. She was always one to torture me and it was time she got some of her own medicine.

Kyle met me outside of my government class at 3:00 like usual. He wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me into a tight hug and lightly kissing the top of my head. Behind me I heard the twitter of jealous girls, but I didn't care. Kyle would not look twice at any of them and I knew it.

"You sure you want to go through with this?" he asked as if continuing a conversation. Weaving in and out of the flood of student anxious to leave school, Kyle led me toward the parking lot

"Yes, I'm sure." I replied confidently, knowing exactly what he meant. What I didn't need was Kyle talking me out of my plan. I wanted to do it; I needed to do it. I twisted out of his arms and turned my back on him heading toward his Mercedes. I heard a chuckle behind me; it seemed to dare me to turn around and look. An urge I fought with all my will.

Solid, cold arms on again enclosed my body in an icy trap and lifted with ease into the air. Kyle carried me bridal style the rest of the way to his car saying, "I'm not trying to discourage you. I just don't want you to get hurt…emotionally or physically."

"Kyle…" I reached up putting the palm of my hand against his pale cheek. "I'll be fine. Come on, this is a thing average teenagers do. Just because I've lived under a rock called Dave for two years doesn't mean I can't do something rebellious." Ooh, I liked the word… rebellious; even though I was just sneaking out to go to a friend birthday party it felt good to do something. "Plus, you're going to be there, so stop worrying. I'm 17 years old. I think I'll survive. So stop worrying." Kyle sighed as he set me down when we reached his car.

The drive home was normal, Kyle had dropped the subject of me sneaking out tonight for which I was glad. We talked about simple stuff, homework, books; particularly Star Wars, which we both had a thing for.

"No way, a rancor could definitely not beat a gundark."

"Oh, yes it could." I shot back, "they're so much bigger."

"Gundarks are much more agile though and definitely smarter."

"Fine, I'll give you that much." I glanced out the window to see my house standing silently and innocently in front of us. "Well, I'll see you tonight." I smiled and leaned over to give him a quick peck on the cheek. Instead, Kyle turned and captured my lips in his. I shivered in pleasure as his lip moved softly against mine. His scent was intoxicating. I pushed in an attempt to deepen the kiss, but he chose that moment to pull away.

"You should go," He whispered; softly hold my face in his hands he gave me one more quick kiss before letting go. I licked my lips, savoring the taste of his lips on mine.

"Yeah, I'll see you tonight." I climbed reluctantly out of his car. After watching him pull away I hurried up the front steps into my house.

Dinner was very uneventful. I fixed pulled-pork sandwiches, which Dave seemed happy with. Then hurried to my room to get away from his probing stare. Sky followed me as usual and claimed a spot on my bed. I glanced at the clock and, still having time, I quickly did my homework. Finishing it, though not doing a excellent job on it, I stuffed it back into my bag and pulled out a loose leaf sheet of paper on it I scrawled:

Dave,

I'm going to Kaitlyn's party. I'm tired of you not letting me go anywhere, so I decided I did not care what you thought anymore. Please don't send the police out looking for me. Just let me do something I want to do for a change. I'll be back tomorrow morning and then you can kill me all you want.

Cris

Yeah, I know most people if they were sneaking out would not leave a letter telling where they were going, but I'm not most people and I don't want Dave sending the police out for me. I set it on my bed before cautiously opening window and slipping out.

It was already dark out and I could just barely make Kyle dark blue Mercedes sitting on the curb. I hopped in, slamming the door shut.

"Hey, long time no see," I giggled to Kyle.

"You ready to go?"

"Yes, lets do this!"

A/N: hey peeps another chapter and sooner than i expected. i know most of you have been waiting for the plot line to kick back in don't worry it will. the action is comming back. there is much more in store for Cris that she expects.

anyway i want to thank all of you who have put me on alert and faves. it means a lot. I also want to thank all of those who review, it really keeps me motivated to write and post faster. i love yeah all

Ca'Prudii

PS- don't forget to push the pretty periwinkle/purple button and review. it really means a lot when you do even if it is a simple "i like it" or this whole speal about how bad my spelling and grammer are. (which i do know is bad and i try my best to get it fixed but i don't catch everything)

Anyway REVIEW bitte (please)