Sierra PoV
"Yeah, I'm not the best driver in the world. What can I say? I like arriving in style!" I giggle, tucking a spiralled strand of my hair behind my ear where I can feel that ghost of an allegiance to David suspend even if it has been replaced by a different earring. I can't help but to imagine it's there, like I feel obliged to wear it on a daily basis. "Stunt driver, huh?" I snicker, continuing to feel the abnormality of the earring. Everything is different about it, the rough edges of the ruby dangling on a wire, the smooth texture on the miniscule flat surfaces, it doesn't feel right. I don't know why, maybe it is the fact Max's blood is running through my veins but it's like David from where I am from has adopted the role of a sire even before my turning. "I would, but, I don't think the dance teacher at the college I'm going to will appreciate me turning down a dance scholarship"
I still can't help but to laugh a little, but it withers when Michael mentions my family who I didn't know even existed until three days ago when my sober mother finally confessed a secret of my paternity after seventeen years of silence.
"I told them not to come into Santa Carla until I come back. Hopefully my father can do that. He's a lot like me though, so I can only hope. As for Max, oh yeah, he'll be enraged by everything. He won't kill us though, not if we're careful. I mean, yeah, pragmatically, there is a prospect of him killing us. We'll just have to be extra wary around him" Again, the mention of Max not enjoying the idea of anyone wanting to kill him releases a singular laugh from my lips, finding it hypocritical in a way. "Feeling's mutual. I'll be careful though, don't worry about me"
I sigh a little bit, watching Marko and Paul's hilarious recreation of catapulting sand. My groomed eyebrow heightens as they begin rolling on the ground together, but still I laugh a little as it reminds me of the Marko and Paul where I come from and their antics. Suddenly, a thought collides with my brain.
"Michael, does it hurt?" I ask, referring to turning from a half vampire to a full one. I can't imagine the pain he must have done through, the whole concept sounds excruciating yet alleviating since the starving claws grating against the stomach will be ceased once blood is in your system. I shake my head, slightly horrified that I actually found a positive from turning. "Turning, I mean"
Mike PoV
"Oh yeah? Well, how did you even pass drivers ed? They should fire the guy that was your instructor, unless it was stunt school. That was some crazy driving, but yeah, it sure is an entrance, a damned good one. Not sure about style, most people would just run screaming. That I'd never even try. Then again, I normally am not a risk taker. Worse thing I ever done was go to an after school party and accidentally get drunk because I had never drunk before. That was fun, though a friend woke up in the guy's closet with a rash and necked. I woke up with a grounding and a lecture from my mom." I had a dull life. Just typical, school, sports, hanging with normal human friends, nothing exciting. Moving to Santa Carla has given me all the excitement I could handle for years on end. Then, Sierra, the adventurous driver, mentions a dance scholarship. My surprise, I'm sure, shows on my face. "Scholarship to dance? Oh wow, that's pretty good. I was hoping for a scholarship in Phoenix, well sports, but then we ended up here and that's out the window. But, I probably was sunk anyway, 'cause popping into a school on the last year, no one knows you and everyone's already set on who's doing what from previous years and I'd likely have a hard time getting any field time." I shrug, no longer being affected by this thought. It's not like I have to worry about it now. I highly doubt that vampires attend school. "But, at least you're getting somewhere and won't have to worry about getting screwed."
"I told them not to come into Santa Carla until I come back. Hopefully my father can do that. He's a lot like me though, so I can only hope. As for Max, oh yeah, he'll be enraged by everything. He won't kill us though, not if we're careful. I mean, yeah, pragmatically, there is a prospect of him killing us. We'll just have to be extra wary around him" Sierra laughs a little. At least she has predicted this won't be easy for us or our families.
"I'm glad you're not thinking it'll be easy, 'cause that'll be a good way to lose. My brother won't stop, he'll go and do it himself. I won't be able to stop him, but you can do what you can to make sure he doesn't get himself killed. He's a really smart kid, but he's very determine to save everyone and already got himself ate up by Max's damned dog and he's planning to try another round, but it can't be killed. As long as Max lives, the dog won't die, but it can be distracted by getting it out of the gate to attack someone while others sneak in. Just someone has to distract the fucker, get chased out the gate and get inside a car, the thing will be too busy trying to kill the person inside the car to notice anyone sneaking threw the gate. Otherwise, we're totally fucked." I don't like the having to bait the dog idea. It is dangerous, highly risky, and if failed, someone would likely die. I am trying my best to figure out how I can come along, though I'll probably have to be locked in the car's trunk.
Her question – 'Michael, does it hurt?' – confuses me for a moment, then she informs me she the information needed is based on the transformation from human to vampire. This seems to make sense considering her position. She's still half, and the chance that she may not be free of it is likely high.
"It's not that bad, not like what you think with being stuck between. It's much worse being between, because well, you know, the thing's pretty much trying to force the change inside you. There is a little pain, but not like what I felt when i first got hit with that hunger and there's this feeling you lost something, like a part of you dies, then you just feel good and what you did, killing just doesn't bother you. I'm not sure how it doesn't, but it doesn't. I guess that's the monster portion that takes over that makes it not something to bother you. In a way I'm glad of that, 'cause i wouldn't be able to stand killing someone every few nights. I think I'd go insane."
I reach over and place my hand against her back, trying to be comforting. She is scared to lose her identity and it is plausible. Sierra seems to have this tough exterior, a don't want to let others in or it could undo everything. I don't think I'd count what she's allowed with me as letting in, so much as letting some of her frustration, anger and fear out.
"I still seem to know who I am and myself, some changes, but it at least doesn't destroy you completely." I smile at her, trying to reassure her of this change I have recently experienced.