Chapter 3

When they got to the Boardwalk Dwayne parked his bike outside of Max's Video Store.

"So this is where the infamous Max works." Isadora said getting off Dwayne's bike.

"Yup." Dwayne replied. David had written Isadora about Max in many of his letters. If you respect him, he'll respect you. He would always write.

"Can I meet him?" she asked.

"He's not in tonight, but I'm sure David will introduce you eventually."

Isadora and Dwayne walked around looking in many shops and booths. One booth had many necklaces and bracelets. One bracelet in particular attracted Isadora's attention immediately. It was a silver chain with a silver long stem rose charm hanging on it. Isadora loved roses, so she dug through her pockets to find some money. She grabbed some whenever she left, but not much where she was in such a rush. The man she had fed on earlier that night only had a couple of bucks with him, so he wasn't much help either. She let out a deep sigh when she realized she didn't have enough for the bracelet.

"Do you see something you like?" Dwayne asked.

"No," she looked over her shoulder and saw a carousel," can we ride that?"

"Sure, whatever you want."

The two of them rushed over to the carousel before it started back up. Isadora got on a black horse, and Dwayne stood beside her. The two of them laughed and joked as Dwayne constantly tried to push her off the horse. The ride stopped after a while.

"You wanna go again?" she asked Dwayne.

"Naw, but you can, I have to go get something, but don't worry I'll be close by." Dwayne got off the carousel as it started back up.

Isadora leaned her head against the large brass pole going through her horse, and shut her eyes. Her mind drifted to Owen, and the gang.

Will he find me here? How long will I be safe? Will the boys defend me if he shows up? Does he even care that I'm gone? Am I putting the boys in danger?

So many questions flooded her mind. From the moment she left Pennsylvania she felt uneasy. Owen always had a temper, and sometimes he used it to show his gang that he was the leader, and he was in control. He even used it on Isadora a few times. She was a vampire so her wounds healed quickly, but the emotional scars were still there.

"Don't think too hard, you may bruise something." Her eyes flew open to see Marko and his Cheshire grin standing in front of her.

"Oh, you're sooo funny, Marko," she said rolling her eyes," but don't quit your day job."

"Don't have a day job, Is," he smiled and pointed to his teeth," vampire, remember?"

Isadora snorted as Marko climbed onto the horse across from her's.

"Where are the others?" Isadora asked.

"They're near by checking something out; they sent me to watch you." He answered. The ride stopped again, and they both got off.

"What were you thinking about?" Marko asked as they were walking towards Max's.

"Owen, and what I just got myself into." She didn't look at Marko when she answered him. Isadora noticed Marko stopped walking, so she looked up at him.

"You really don't have to worry about that, Is, we'll take care of you," he put his hands on her shoulders," we'll protect you from him." She looked into his dark green eyes.

"I know you will," she looked away as a tear rolled down her cheek," but you just don't know what he's capable of."

Marko took Isadora's face in his hands.

"I know David told me," she looked away from him, but he forced her to look back at him," and I promise we will never let him hurt you again."

Without hesitation, Isadora wrapped her arms around Marko, and buried her face into his shoulders.

"I believe you," she looked back up into his eyes," but I don't want any of you to get hurt either." He smiled.

"We won't," he pointed to his teeth," vampire, remember?"

The two of them began walking towards Max's again. Marko had his arm around Isadora's shoulder and she had her arm around his waist. The boys were already there, and on their bikes.

"You ok, Is?" David asked looking concerned.

"I'm fine." She smiled up at Marko.

" Is and Marko sitting in a tree…" Paul started singing.

"Shut up Paul!" Isadora yelled.

"Aw, chill out girl it was just a joke." He said. Isadora rolled he eyes, but couldn't help but laugh.

"We got something for ya, Is." David said reaching into his jacket pocket.

"Oh no, you guys, you've done enough for me."

"Well we decided to do one more thing." David handed her a black box. She opened it to find the silver bracelet with the rose charm, but it also had a heart charm on it now.

"Oh my God!" she exclaimed."You guys how did you know?"

"Dwayne." David, Paul, and Marko said together. Isadora turned to Dwayne, and he had a big smile on his face.

"Told you I could sense emotions." He said.

"So that's why you left me on the carousel."

"Yup."

She looked at the heart charm that wasn't there before."What's this one?"

"Just our own little touch." David said smiling. Isadora saw that there was an engraving on it. On one side it said 'Lost Boys' and on the other it said 'David, Marko, Paul, and Dwayne'.

"You guys are the best." She squealed. She ran over and hugged each of the boys, and when she got to Marko she kissed him on the cheek.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"For earlier." She said smiling. He smiled back at her.

"May I?" he said reaching for the bracelet.

"Go right ahead." She handed him the bracelet, and he hooked it around her wrist. She looked at the bracelet hanging from her wrist and it looked like it was made for her. It was perfect.

How did they get it engraved so fast? She wondered looking at the heart.

"The guy owed me a favor." David said.

"God Davey I-"

"I know, I know," he said starting up his bike," you hate it when I do that."

The rest of the boys started up their bikes.

"Come on, Is," David said," we're going home."Isadora looked at Marko then at David.

"If it's ok with you, I think I'll ride with Marko." She said.

"Fine with me," he said shrugging his shoulders," ok with you Marko?"

"Yea, it's fine." He said smiling.

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Paul started singing again.

"Shut-up Paul!" Marko and Isadora said together.

Marko helped Isadora on his bike. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and felt a shiver got up her spine.

"You ok?" he asked.

"I'm fine, just got a bit of the shivers." She said.

"Well hold on tighter."

That's what's making me shiver. She thought. She saw David look at her and smile.

David! You say anything I'll kill you. She thought realizing he had heard her. He smiled again and raced off down the Boardwalk, and the others followed.

She rested he head on Marko's shoulder as they went down the beach. She felt totally comfortable like this with him.

Was Dwayne right? She thought.

When they got to the cave Marko helped her off the bike, and put his arm around her shoulder again. They walked into the cave and the boys sat around the fountain, but Isadora headed back to her room.

"Where you going, girl?" Paul asked grabbing his radio.

"I'm not up for partying tonight, guys, so I'm gonna go to my room." She said.

"Ok." David got up and walked towards Isadora." Goodnight little sister, or rather good morning." He said kissing her on the cheek.

"Sweet dreams big brother." She hugged him, said goodnight to the boys, and went back to her room.

When Isadora got into her room she took her lighter out of her pocket, and lit the candles David and the boys had got her. She looked at the books on her shelf to find something good to read. David knew she loved to read as much as he did, and that's why he picked them up. She picked up the first book on her shelf, kicked off her Chucks, sat on her bed, and started reading.

"Knock, knock." She looked up from her book and Marko was standing in her doorway.

"Hey, do you need something?" she asked closing her book.

"No, it's just the sun's getting ready to come up and I wanted to wish you goodnight again." He said walking into her room.

"Thanks Marko." He walked over and sat on the edge of her bed.

"I also wanted to make sure you were ok."

"Ok?"

"You know, from earlier."

"Oh, you know, Marko, "she sat up and scooted closer to him," I'm ok, and I really appreciate you being there for me, but I still can't help but think I've put you and the boys in some serious danger." She stared down at her feet dangling off the side of the bed.

"Isadora," he lifted her chin so her eyes were locked with his," we're big boys, and we know how to fight. So, if he does find you here, which I doubt he's gonna be able to, we'll be ready, and we'll protect you."

"But you have no idea how powerful he is. I just don't want to lose you guys, not now," a tear rolled down her cheek," not ever."

Marko leaned forward and put his lips to her ear.

"You won't." he whispered. He pulled back so his eyes would meet hers again. She believed him.

He got up, and headed for the door.

"Sweet dreams, Is." He said.

"Sweet dreams, Marko." She replied.

He smiled and walked down the tunnel to where he slept. She started to feel tired, so she threw off her jacket and her jeans, blew out the candles, and snuggled under her new blankets. She was glad David had got a bed for her because she didn't care much for sleeping on the ceiling. She looked down at the bracelet that David and the boys bought her. She felt like she finally found people who cared about her. She knew David always did, but the fact that the boys treated her as much as a sister as he did was just the icing on the cake. She thought about Marko, and how much he had already done for her. She wasn't even away from Owen for one night, and she already felt like she had gained so much from leaving. For the first time in years she fell asleep peacefully without worrying weather or not she would be punished for something she probably didn't even do the next night.