"Forgiveness does not mean compromising. Let's forgive and forget and solve this African debt, just like the Chesire Cat, who says 'Meow! You're running out of time!'" - Samantha James, "Just Friends"

"Cecilia...?"

I turned my head sharply over towards where Ryan's voice was coming from. He was hiding somewhere in the forest, shielded by trees. Tears were dranning out of my eyes, my face feeling flushed and red. I had been sobbing for quite some time now. I was dismal, joyless, demented, sad, livid, dreary, rabid, depressed, mad, outraged, melancholy, enraged, miserable, distraught, provoked, angry...

In other words, I was rejected.

"W-w-what?" I sputtered, weakly. I struggled speaking. I could feel my voice slowly cracking in my thoart.

Ryan hesitated as he walked out from behind the darkened trees. His posh, handsome presence gleamed and shimmered as the moon's light washed down on his flawless self.

"I'm...I'm..." Ryan stuttered, not looking at me.

I waited, tears streaming down my cheeks still. Heartbreak and false hope flowed through me.

"I'm...sorry," began Ryan, his voice sounding pitiful with regret. "I am so sorry, Cecilia. You have no idea...our kiss...our kiss was harder than I expected and...and...and..." he choked, popping his head up.

Ryan's eyes gazed into my stained ones. His tightened and then spread wide open.

"You're crying!" Ryan's face fell, rushing over to me.

No shit, Sherlock.

At that overly tortured moment, I wanted to say that vulgar phrase to my flamboyant boyfriend. Usually, I would never wish to say anything such as that to anybody. Especially not to anyone that I felt so passionately about. Definately not. But at the time, I wasn't myself, I wasn't Cecilia Cullen. I didn't know who I was. But who could blame me? My own boyfriend didn't want me anymore. Ryan didn't want to kiss me...

In a flash, Ryan was by my side once again. Without thinking, I fell limply onto his bone-crushing hard side. Ryan caught me, attaching his arms around my back. It was a sign of comfort, of how sorry he was for hurting my feelings. I was letting out loud sniffs and cries while thick, wet teardrops ran down my rosy cheeks.

"When are you getting turned?" Ryan asked suddenly. I stiffened, my crying ceasing quickly. The sound of his voice...it wasn't right. He abruptly did not sound like himself. Ryan's new voice was deeper, dark, and...well...kind of frightening.

"W-w-what?" I said, my voice cracking again.

"Did I stutter?" Ryan snapped, harshly. This was really unlike him."When are you getting turned, Cecilia? When are you getting turned into a vampire?" Ryan repeated, this time a tad bit more darker. He was being way too assurtive.

"W-when I-I-I g-g-raduate," I struggled to say, gulping a hard ball of saliva in my tired thoart.

I heard Ryan growl, his chest rumbling. I closed my emerald eyes, fearing my boyfriend for a few moments.

What was he going to do to me? Did he only want me if I were a vampire like himself and the rest of my family? Was I not good enough for Ryan in my human form? Did he suddenly find me ugly and plain and unattractive? Mixed emotions and thoughts flew through my aching body. I couldn't take it. I didn't like it. Not at all. Everything was going so perfectly before, but now...now it was all ruined.

"When you're eighteen?" Ryan whispered, this time in a calm manner.

"Y-y-yes."

We were both silent for a long time. Forever, it seemed to be for me at least. I wasn't sure about Ryan. He still held onto me, which was nice. Evenually Ryan started rocking the two of us back and forth, back and forth...

"I'm so sorry," Ryan whispered in my ear, his cool breath tickling. "I'm being horrible to you. You're so beautiful...you've no idea, Cecilia..."

"Ryan," I moaned, my cheeks horribly stained from old teardrops.

"I love you...I can't believe that I hurt your precious feelings...what a monster I am..."

I froze in Ryan's arms, my jaw slightly dropping.

Ryan Middleton said that he loved me...

But why wasn't I melting over this? Why didn't I care?

Something was not right. Not right at all.

Ryan pulled my face up to his so that we could make eye contact. His cold lips crushed with pressure against my warm ones, knocking the breath out of my lungs. I wasn't expecting that Ryan would ever kiss me again, I mean, who would?

Our second kiss only lasted about half a second. After it was through, Ryan gazed down at me, his eyes wild with thirst for my crimson blood. I evenually caught my breath back with much difficulty.

"One day, we can be together forever," Ryan whispered with a somewhat erotic voice.