Sorry for the late update! I had lots of homework. But since the workload is less, here you go! It's boring but I have need of this chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own this… Night World Series things. Aii.

Warmth in the Darkness, Chapter 5: Oh my God! Are you okay?!

Nice guy. Actually, stalker-turning-out-to-be-a-nice-guy, Vivienne thought, running her hands over the neon-blue lockers. He was pretty polite, unlike Mike or Keith or any other guy in this school. Darrion was an exception. Oh, and not to mention, pretty cute.

"Kristina would love him," she muttered. She opened her locker and grabbed the things she needed.

"Kristina would love whooo?" Penelope was behind her, giving her a hug.

Oh sweet Jesus. She should really learn to stop talking out loud. Vivienne shrugged. "Just this guy I met."

"Is he hot? I wanna meet him." Kristina brushed a strand of hair away from her face, smiling slightly.

"I DON'T have a boyfriend and Kristina… I think you'll absolutely love him," Vivienne sneered at Kristina. "Plus, I'm not even old enough to have a boyfriend."

Kristina turned pink. "I wanna meet him," she repeated.

Vivienne rolled her eyes and slammed her locker shut. How does she know these things? Oh, right, because every single time she talks about a guy, Kristina would "wanna meet him" and know everything she knows about him. God save me, Vivienne thought crossly.

"So how's he liiiike?" Penelope sang.

"I just met him," she protested. Both of them just rolled their eyes. "Fine. His name's Alex, he's in Mrs. Johnson's class, and…" Vivienne looked around warily at the noisy hallway. She motioned for them to come closer. "And this is serious, okay? Don't tell anyone." She waited for both of them to nod and pinky swear. "And you know how I got these seizures at the hospital? Well I was dreaming then, the exact same dream each time, and there were only two people in it: the guy who saved me at the pool, and this stranger I've never met." She paused. "And the stranger… is… Alex. I've never even seen him before," she whispered. How can she dream of someone she's never met before, and meet him the next day?! OhgodOhgodOhgodOhgod… She started freaking out, barely hearing her friends' murmurs.

"You're kidding, right? I know you read all those books about vampires and witches and stuff, and you want to be one, but you don't really have to make it up." Kristina looked scared underneath the exasperation.

Vivienne glared as red hot rage swept through her. "Oh my god Kristina. I'm not making anything up! I know you're not a believer," she mocked, adapting Kristina's tone. "But I'm not kidding. If you think I'm shitting you, then fine. Conversation closed." Vivienne shifted so her back was to Kristina, and she was looking at Penelope. "You believe me right?' Her gaze looked pleading.

Penelope looked surprised and giddy. How can she be giddy?! It's so freaky! Of course they won't know how it feels like, she thought irritably.

"Woah. I wish I can see the future. Good psychic child." Penelope patted her head.

Vivienne rolled her eyes but grinned. Now that she thought of it… it did seem kind of cool. But still freaky. She started to walk away from her them, thinking they would follow, but heard a moan which made her rush back. A panicked Penelope was supporting Kristina, who looked pale and tired.

"Kristina! Are you okay?! What's wrong?" Vivienne helped make Kristina lean against the lockers instead of Penelope.

Kristina shivered before her eyes closed and she slumped.

Penelope shrieked. "What's wrong with her? Is she dead?!"

Vivienne swiftly pressed her fingers to the base of Kristina's throat. A pulse was still beating. Thank god. She turned to Penelope. "She's still alive. I think she fainted."

"But from what?"

Vivienne could only shrug. Kristina was the strongest of all of them, claiming to be the "buffest" of them all. But this says otherwise.

"I think we should drag her to the office or something."

Penelope giggled, even though it was sort of serious right now. "What, you think we're gonna seriously drag her?!" she imitated towing Kristina to the office. "She's too heavy!"

"Fine," Vivienne growled, laughing. "Go get a teacher. I'll like slap her or something."

Penelope widened her eyes and burst out laughing before running away. Vivienne turned back to the unconscious person on the floor, shaking her head, but smiling mildly. Penelope hardly treated anything serious. But Darrion was worse. Kristina, Naomi and Eliza were the most serious. And what was she? Maybe in-between… or more of an un-serious person? You're getting off topic, she reminded herself.

"Kristina! Are you okay?! Waaake up! Waaaaaaake uuuuup!!!" Vivienne started shaking her shoulders. This feels weird, she thought to herself shamefully. She should concentrate on waking her, instead of feeling self-conscious. "Okay, so what to do now? Wait until Penelope comes back, or continue to do the shaking?" She muttered to herself. Oh, so now she was talking to herself. Maybe she'll have split personalities when she grows up and start arguing with herself. Brilliant. "Slapping her? But maybe that's only for seizures… how about dumping a bucket of water on her head? I don't think I should leave her though…"

"Yeah, I don't think it's a good idea either."

Vivienne turned around, eyes flying open. "You could've given me…" her sentence trailed off as she realized it was a smiling Alex twirling a hall pass. "What are you doing here?!"

Alex shook the pass. "I was going to get something from my locker." His voice had a duh tone in it. Vivienne immediately glared at him. "So what's up with her?"

Vivienne glanced back at the girl. "Oh, I think she fainted. I can feel a pulse, it's like strong, and she's breathing. But she isn't waking up."

"Woah." Alex looked shocked, but dropped to his knees to inspect Kristina. "I think you're right, she just looks unconscious. Have you ever thought of getting a teacher?" It had a duh tone to it again. What the hell.

"Yeah," Vivienne snapped, annoyed. "My friend's getting one. But she's still looking for one, apparently." She put most of the blame and her annoyance on Penelope. Sorry, girl, she thought, smiling briefly.

Alex raised his hands to a surrendering position. "Okay, man. I was just asking."

"Yeah, well you sounded like you were accusing me," Vivienne said, face hot.

"Sorry, then." Alex's mouth quirked up to a smile abruptly. "So you know this girl?"

"Yeah. Why?" Vivienne was still annoyed at him.

"Do you hate her?"

"Why??"

"I just thought you might've done this to her." He gestured to the girl, grinning. Vivienne's mouth fell open. "Excuse me?" She said, starting to crack up. He's cute, she thought.

Alex shrugged. "You're strong enough. Believe me; I know how buff you are." He raised his eyebrows suggestively.

Vivienne nodded, flattered. He was probably remembering when she had shoved him into a wall. That's one of the best compliments she's gotten this year. Both of them grinned at each other. Hmm, maybe he could be part of our "group", she thought absently. Alex seemed nice enough, and to her, his aura seemed sort of like a warm, gentle glow. Like a blazing fire dancing hypnotically on a cold winter night in a cozy wooden house, with steamy hot chocolate in a mug –

Something on the floor groaned. Vivienne's head snapped down, grin disappearing in a flash. Kristina groaned again and opened her eyes slowly. Suddenly, she gasped as the upper half of her body lifted up, as if by some invisible force. But as abrupt as it began, it stopped immediately.

"Oh my god." Vivienne knocked Alex out of the way and grabbed the still girl by the shoulders. "Kristina?!" She felt like she was going to cry. What's wrong with Kristina? She was as still as before. Her tear-filled eyes flew to Alex. "Go get some help." Her feeble voice cracked. His hall pass was nowhere to be found.

"Look man. Just calm down. She's going to be fine." Alex patted her shoulder awkwardly. But his eyes were warm, and burned with sincerity. Well to hell with that! Vivienne shrieked internally. How are his eyes gonna help?! What, shoot lasers out?!

"Get help." Vivienne was close to crying. Kristina's wasn't moving yet.

"I have to stay with you! Or else you're gonna freak out, and what help would that be?!" Alex said, almost close to yelling.

"Why?! She needs our help! She needs your help." Vivienne turned around, trying to blink her tears away.

There was silence, only filled with Vivienne's fingernails tapping on the floor. I should cut it at home, she mused. Or maybe paint it. But mom probably wouldn't approve. Finally, Alex sighed. "I'll go. But try not to freak out."

Vivienne nodded and started shaking Kristina again. She concentrated on making the warm tears go back inside her eyes, since they wouldn't go away the first time, and listened as his footsteps faded. What the hell is wrong with you?! Vivienne's shakes were getting harder, and Kristina's head bobbed back and forth. A minute later, double footsteps echoed the hallway. Vivienne looked up, surprised to see Alex and Penelope, instead of a teacher.

"What is this?!"

Penelope bent over, panting. "We looked all over –"

"No teachers –"

"How about –"

"No teachers –"

"Not even –"

"No teachers –"

"Have you –"

"No teachers!"

Vivienne opened her mouth to make a snappy remark, but suddenly remembered it was recess. All the teachers were at lunch break, or outside. Damn you Kristina, she thought irritably. You had to faint or something at this time?

"Have you looked –?"

"Yeah." Alex ran a hand through his hair.

Vivienne's tapping fingernails interrupted the silence again. Well, there were also the heavy pants from Penelope and the quiet footsteps from Alex's pacing.

"We'll go get someone outside," Penelope said.

"I guess so… Pen –" Vivienne was interrupted by a hoarse groan. She looked down at a weary Kristina blinking at the lights. Well that solves the problem.

"Kristina!" Penelope cried.

Kristina tried to get up, but failed. Alex bent down and quickly supported her, as Penelope smiled uncertainly.

"What?" Kristina asked. Well, at least she didn't notice Alex, Vivienne thought. Wait, but that might make her recover faster. She smirked to herself, ignoring the panicked look on Alex's face. Kristina was leaning rather heavily on him, and he really didn't look like the type to hug strangers. Maybe stalk them. But not touch.

"Kristina, we were talking about this guy I met and then you said you wanted to see him," Vivienne said slyly. "We got into a fight and then you fainted. You woke up and tried to stand up, and right now, you're leaning against said new guy called Alex."

Kristina blinked a couple of times before warily turning her head around to look at the person behind her. She grabbed a lock from one of the lockers to support herself and screamed, "Oh my god!!" Alex's eyes widened more and he leaned his head back as much as he could. Vivienne turned away, trying not to laugh. His expression said, "Get this crazy girl off of me!"

When she turned back, Kristina had her head buried in her hands, and Alex was searching frantically for his hall pass. Penelope was just grinning madly. Vivienne watched as Kristina pointed out the hall pass for him, embarrassed, and Alex grabbing it, almost running away, without even a goodbye.

"Oh my god," Kristina whispered, lifting her head from her hands. "I just made a horrible first impression, didn't I?"

Vivienne smirked. No harm in telling the truth. "You scared the shit out of him," she informed the red-faced girl happily.

"Oh no." Kristina sank to the floor, making a face.

Vivienne shrugged, and did a cartwheel in the middle of the hallway, since no one was watching. Maybe Penelope and Kristina, but who cares? 'Alex, Alex, Alex' was the only thought in her head. Even though he ran off at the end, he actually stayed and helped. In a way. But normally, someone like Mike wouldn't; he would just back away, and let her deal with it. A nice guy… maybe he could be someone like Darrion. A guy friend, with a brotherly love. Not a bad thought… except Kristina might try to make him "notice" her. Not like she didn't already, Vivienne thought, amused.

"What happened Kristina?" Penelope played with the zipper from her favourite black Hollister sweater. She was watching Kristina closely, as if waiting for her to drop down dead any second.

Kristina rummaged through her brown purse, stalling. Finally, she sat up straighter. When she spoke, her voice was so quiet they had to go closer. "Since like, three days ago, I've been, uhh… fainting? I don't know what to call it. Losing consciousness, fainting, whatever." She picked at the strap of her purse, refusing to look up. "And it wasn't like at a certain time or anything, and the amounts of times were different every time. I didn't even bang my head or anything."

Vivienne nodded abstractedly. So that was why she was sometimes late for the afternoon attendance, and the reason why she sometimes "went somewhere", but didn't tell her where. "Does anyone know?"

Kristina's hand went still immediately. "Don't tell anyone!!! It's fine! I'm fine! Just give it time," she said in a much calmer way.

"Give what time?"

"These fainting thingies, I don't know. And tell uhh… Alex that too. Just lie to him or something. Give him an excuse. Don't tell him everything," Kristina pleaded. "Trust me on this. I'm fine."

Vivienne and Penelope exchanged a glance. "Uhh… why?" Vivienne squinted at her.

Kristina looked blank. "Why… because I don't want to." She said that slowly, as if she were figuring out what word to say next.

Penelope and Vivienne looked at each other again. Should they trust her? And why doesn't she want people to know about it? There is a lot going on right now, Vivienne thought. Penelope took a deep breath and let it out slowly, saying one word that made Kristina's expression change dramatically.

"Fine."

Wait for the next chapter. I promise you, it shall be brilliant! Review please? If I don't get at least… 4 reviews then I'll be sad. :( See how sad it already is? I said FOUR. Most people say twenty or something. God. Have a nice day.