Chapter 2:

Ask me any math mathematical equation, and I could answer it with the highest confidence in the world. That, I can deal with. But seeing Adrian in front of Clarence's when we arrived for Jill's feeding…was something I could not deal with. He was outside smoking a cigarette and leaning against his beautiful Mustang that I loved so much. The yellow beauty was far too valuable for him to be leaning on and that instantly snapped me out of my thoughts of confronting Adrian. We parked behind the Mustang and Jill was the first to hop out of Latte. My natural instincts to protect his car were burning a hole in me, but my fears of talking about the "kiss" was enough to keep me glued in the driver seat. Eddie gave me a worried look and then looked at Adrian talking to Jill. He looked at me again with an eyebrow raised, like he was trying to figure something out but shrugged and turned to me instead.

"Remember, Sydney…we're not pressuring you in telling us what happened"

Oh no, not the questioning again. Angeline snorted while taking off her seat belt and said,

"Yeah, not now, but if this keeps up…we're going to need answers."

I sigh and lean down in my seat and close my eyes. The new car smell in Latte was calming me down a little but my anxiety levels were rising by the second. If I told Eddie and Angeline about the kiss, they would think of me as a hypocritical fool. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts and give an appropriate answer.

"Okay, well, me and Adrian had gotten into a…um…an argument…last month. And we've kind of been avoiding each other ever since." I said staring at nothing but the steering wheel. "I don't know why Jill is taking it so seriously, but I figured it was just the bond."

Eddie and Angeline looked at each other and then looked at me. "Okay Sydney. If that is the real reason, then it shouldn't be so hard to talk to them about it."

He was right. I was making myself seem so guilty. "Can you tell Adrian to come over here when you guys get out of the car?" I asked looking at Eddie.

"Okay" Eddie said, and that was it. They both got out of Latte and I had let out a huge sigh. What was I going to say to Adrian? I'm sorry I broke your heart, but can we work it out? That's even worse than ignoring him. I like Adrian, maybe a little more than like even though I told myself otherwise, and saying that to him would be a low b low. We couldn't be together and I did want to be friends, I just don't know how to deal with this situation. The passenger side door opened and my heart began racing. The smell of late fall and the familiar scent of Adrian expensive colo9gne traveled in the car and I had to close my eyes to get my racing thoughts and heart under control. Adrian settled in to the seat and turned to look at me after closing the door.

"Sage?" Adrian said with a questioning look on his face.

"Hey Adrian.." I said, feeling lame because I couldn't think of any proper introduction besides that. He looked…hot, for the lack of any better words. His hair was in the messy style that I always loved, he was wearing designer jeans and a sweater that hugged his body so well anyone could have mistaken him for a model on their way to a photo shoot. I wasn't aware that I was staring at him intently until Adrian said, "I know I'm a sight to see Sage, you don't have to stare at my wonderfulness. I'm very flattered though.." I blushed and turned my head and eyes back to the steering wheel.

"Don't get so cocky, I was just admiring your sweater. It looks very nice on you" I said feeling sheepish but a little more confident than I felt. We haven't talked in weeks and leave it to Adrian to throw some of the awkwardness out the window.

"Thanks Sage, but I'm sure you didn't ask Eddie to tell me to come over here to compliment my remarkably good fashion sense. So what's up?" Adrian seemed to want to get this over with just as much as I did. Maybe he was still sore about me walking out of the apartment after we kissed.

"I wanted to talk about…us…well what happened between us…and" I was about to apologize but Adrian cut me off.

"Look Sydney, I understand. Even though it hurts and I don't agree, I understand. You don't want to be with me, fine. I've been keeping my distance and haven't bothered you once about your decision." He looked out the window at the leaves swirling outside in the fall wind and I suddenly felt a urge to just grab him and comfort him. I know ive hurt him bad by what I said after the kiss, and suddenly I needed to make amends for that. Adrian was my friend. One of the first friends Ive had in a while that actually genuinely cared about me.

"Adrian, I didn't come to make matters worse or try to make you feel any sort of way," I started and Adrian continued to look out of the window. I reached out and turned his face toward mines so that we could look at each other. Wow, where did this new found confidence come from? His eyes shone sadness and I could imagine that he was thinking I was about to stab a knife through his heart yet again. I continued now that he was looking directly at me.

"I want to say how sorry I am, I am not sorry about stating why we couldn't do this. I'm sorry about the way I worded it, I made it sound completely horrible, I knew I hurt your feelings but the Alchemist in me wouldn't let me apologize right then and there. I thought I was doing the right thing. But Jill, she has been so angry with me these past few weeks, and I knew she was getting half the feelings from you and half from herself. I made it sound like you weren't my friend and we just you being a vampire was wrong. I just want you to know that maybe I do want us to work out but no matter how much you and I would want it to, It won't. I would be sent to re-education and never see any of you again. My name and families name would be slanted, and my whole life's work would be down the drain...I couldn't deal with that…I…"

I couldn't finish, my anxiety levels spiked and tears started filling my eyes. Adrian looked at me with a look I couldn't quite place. He lifted his hand and touch mines that was still on his cheek. He wiped a tear that escaped from my eye and just caressed the side of my face.

"Sage…Its okay. I said it before and I'll say it again, those bastard Alchemists are using you. You can't enjoy life like this. You can't experience love like this. They have your whole life in the palm of their hands, and I despise them for that."

I looked back up at him and I saw the passion the determination in his eyes as he continued. "Your one of the smartest girls I know, and I can't understand why you don't see what they are doing to you." I felt more tears slip from my eyes and my thoughts reeled on his words. They are using me, but it was for a good reason right? To protect mankind from Strigoi was our mission, right? It was too much for me right now. I just wanted time to stand still. All I wanted was for life to simplify and me and Adrian to be like this forever. I didn't know what to say and it was as if Adrian could read my mind, he put his other hand on my other cheek and leaned in.

This kiss wasn't like the first. Yeah, it erased all of my memories of my thought of the Alchemists and why this was wrong, but it also gave me a sense of freedom. I wanted more, I couldn't hold back my feeling anymore, even though I didn't quite know what they were yet. The kiss heated up, and my lips moved along with Adrian's as if I was as skilled as him. My body tingled and my heart beat picked up. I felt a strange sensation as he moved his hand on my thigh and the other at the bottom of my shirt. Adrian had experience in this, and with me still being a virgin, I had none. My thoughts came flooding back and I broke away first before things got to out of control.

"Adrian.." I started but he put a finger to my lips silencing me with his eyes.

"I know Sage, I know what you're going to say. We're not supposed to be doing that…but it isn't "wrong". I know you feel what I feel when we kiss. When we touch." He moved his hand from my thigh sensing that I was feeling a bit uncomfortable with it resting there. He grabbed my hand and held it to his heart so I could feel his heartbeat. It was racing, just in rhythm with mine. My face felt hot and flushed and I had to pull away. But his hand didn't escape mine. We sat like this for what felt like an eternity while I thought of something logical to say. Nothing came because I didn't want to ruin this moment. But I couldn't just throw away my life. There still were so many questions and answers I needed before I could make a decision.

"We can't tell the others." I finally said as I glanced at the time. Adrian hadn't had his feeding yet and I'm pretty sure Jill had been finished for a while now. "They are probably waiting for us to come in, and I don't want Eddie and Angeline's minds to wonder about…us." I said as I started to pull my jacket on. Adrian helped me button it up but I felt he still wanted me to speak on us.

"Look Adrian, I don't regret kissing you just now. I just don't want us to move to fast. I'm still new at these things and my min d still isn't made up about the Alchemists and what I want to do."

He look hopeful as he placed a small kiss on my forehead and smiled at me.

"I'm fine with that. You're worth the wait, and I'd wait forever if I had to."

I felt a smile play on my lips and my face et hot all over again. I could place my feeling for him but I knew it was far more than just liking someone.

"Let's go in, we don't want Jailbait watching anymore of us being…intimate. It's just too much for her young eyes." Adrian joked, and I let out a small giggle. We got out the car and walked briskly to Clarence's. I shivered at the cold air but had the warmest feeling flowing through me as I looked at Adrian and the content look on his face. I knew this was a start of something, but I wasn't sure if it was good or bad.