A/N: Hey everyone. I just wanted to say thank you for some really nice reviews and comments even though there aren't many at the moment. But I'm still motivated to continue with this story 'cause it means really really much to me. I know that the beginning was very...boring and uneventful but you have to consider it like...a movie or a book. All of them have pretty much the same structure. A boring beginning- turning point- climax- etc. But hey! It's just how I work and I understand that not everyone appreciates it. That's ok. Anyway I wanted to say that I really try to update asap but life is being real bitchy towards good ol' me but I'm working on future chapters and can't wait to show them to you. Well, I think that's it for now. I hope you'll enjoy the new chapter and if you feel like it...review. ^^ Just in case you've forgotten. Haha

xxx with love, Steph

Chapter 17 Difference

Everything was pitch black. All she could recognize was Troy's smell and his shallow breath on her neck. Slowly she turned around and discovered two blue eyes

looking back at her. She went with her hand behind his neck and stroke him with one hand his neck which made him shiver.

Gabriella smiled:" Hey."

Troy closed his eyes and ran his nose around her face, inhaling her scent which slightly changed after her transformation.

Then he whispered into her ear:" Hey, baby."

Gabriella blushed and pressed herself more into his arms. Troy grabbed her head by her chin and whispered:" How are you? Feel any pain?"

Gabriella shook her head and looked at her wound which he caused hours ago. There was just a little scar left. Troy followed her gaze and suddenly looked as if he

was in pain. He spoke:" I'm very sorry, Gabriella. I know that you wanted to stay in heaven with your family and rest in peace but…we couldn't allow that. I couldn't

allow that."

Gabriella smiled slightly and answered:" It must have been a pretty tough decision but somehow I'm glad that you decided to let me come back. You know, I heard my

parents' voices. They told me that it wasn't my time to die and that they trust you and your family that you will find a way to get me back alive. And they were right."

Troy chuckled a bit and kissed her. Gabriella closed her eyes but before she was going to give in she had a question to ask:" Why are you like this now?"

Troy raised his eyebrow showing her his confusion. She sighed and explained:" I mean we didn't really get along well before and now everything is like the complete

opposite. It's confusing me."

Troy blinked once and stared at her face which seemed to glow. Carefully he put a loose curl behind her ear and leaned his forehead gently against hers.

Finally he answered:" I've told you before that after what happened with Angelika I became more careful. Especially when it comes to humans. And even though I

knew that you wouldn't betray us as Angelika did, I knew that I shouldn't let myself being caught up in love again because then I would lose my focus on the fights

and other important things."

Gabriella raised her eyebrows and said:" But still you're here with me. Lying in a sarcophagus which is out of a creepy-looking substance."

Troy chuckled:" This is a special one for special couples. I…couldn't just let you die, Gabriella. It just didn't feel right to just let you go."

By his rambling she recognized that he was nervous. She tried to soothe him by stroking his hair which worked a bit. Troy closed his eyes and sighed. Then his

fingernails suddenly started to lengthen into very sharp-looking ones. With one slash he freed them out of the sarcophagus. No one was in the room. Troy stood up

and looked around the room. Then he grabbed his boxers and put them on. Gabriella observed him while hiding herself under the covers. He noticed her stare and

suddenly realized something:" Oh, sorry. I forgot that we're in my room. Uhm…you probably want to change into something."

Gabriella blushed but nodded. Troy smiled slightly and went through his clothes. After Gabriella changed into them Troy returned from the bathroom and joined her on

his bed. They were sitting on each opposite site, staring on everything besides each other.

Gabriella asked:" What exactly happened?"

Troy raised his eyebrow and asked back:" What do you mean?"

Gabriella shifted a bit in her position:" Troy, I've transformed into a vampire. Of course I have questions!"

Now he was nervous. Troy could clearly remember the same situation when he bombarded his parents with millions of questions. That's why he mentally called out to

Taylor and Zeke to get their parents.

He answered:" Okay, I know that you will be going through a lot of changes and eventually you have to get…accustomed to some things."

Gabriella gulped:" Of what things are you talking about?"

Before he could answer the door was pulled harshly open and Jack and Lucille were standing in the doorway. After they saw that both young adults were fine they

hugged them, obviously sighing in relief…well just Lucille. She spoke up first:" I'm so glad that my two babies are okay. And welcome back, sweetie."

She gently stroked Gabriella's shoulder and smiled. Jack let out a small deep chuckle and announced:" Well, now that you're finally back, you certainly have some

questions, right Gabsy?"

Gabriella nodded:" Yes, I do. I just know that one second I was lying in my bed and then…Troy stabbed me and then…I was in Troy's arms. What am I supposed to do now?"

Jack waited patiently before he started:" Listen, Gabriella. Angelika used a trick on you by leaving saliva in your mouth and silently crawling up to your mind. That's

strange but humans are that sensitive and can be easily influenced by Weres. That's how she took control over your body and the only way to get you back was by

…killing you."

Gabriella said:" I knew that but. I feel different now. My body has changed and everything seems just…in a blur."

Lucille reached out to stroke her cheek. Whenever Lucille touched or hugged her for the first time Gabriella would flinch a bit because of the coldness which was

radiating from her skin. Now it seemed normal…as if her body temperature was as cold as hers. Lucille told her:" You know why you're alive do you, Gabi?"

Gabriella looked at her hands. They looked the same. Actually she hasn't changed at all…but inside her body she felt like a whole other person. Suddenly her eyes

widened. She couldn't hear her heartbeat. It didn't exist anymore. Her body didn't need any oxygen. Breathing wasn't a necessity anymore. Troy observed her

movements. He felt her inner instability and insecurities. Automatically he reacted by gently stroking her hand. Even though everything seemed like it was upside

down, Gabriella couldn't help herself but feel tingles making their way through her body.

Jack noticed their intimate interaction and exchange of glances and told them:" Your bodies share a special connection. It could be called a special body language just

your bodies know how to speak. "Both, Troy and Gabriella, looked perplex. Lucille smiled at their nativity and stood up from the bed. The parents stood in the door

frame and looked to the young adults.

Jack spoke:" Before we are going to move back to earth we want you to get to know each other in every way possible. Are we clear?"

Gabriella and Troy nodded. The adults went away and closed the door. Troy turned his head to Gabriella's and said:" You're hungry, right?"

Gabriella blushed:" Yes." Suddenly she felt something different. Aside from her own empty stomach she could feel that Troy's was as empty. She looked up with a

shocked face:" And you're hungry as well." He smirked and reached for her hand:" Yeah. Come on. Let's go."