19. Decisions

The sun rose slowly on the eastern side, giving it a soft pink glow. It glared through my window telling me it was dawn. It also told me I couldn't be with Jason today.

Great. The day I actually have plans for school and I can't even go. This is just my luck.

It seemed as if the sun rose slower than usual, but time finally came to the point where Jason had to be up. I got out of my tussled, messy bed and made my way to my closet, which was strangely messy for a vampire. I pulled on my favorite shirt-the one with the happy bunny on it-and threw on a pair of jeans ripped at the knees. I had no where to go so who cared if I dressed down a bit?

I opened my door and walked to the bathroom. It figures that it's down stairs considering most of the rooms are upstairs, at least the ones that are being used currently now. And then it also figures the laundry stuff is up here. Who designed this place anyway? Now that we even use this stuff anyway but for a human? Stupid architects.

I looked in the slightly cracked mirror and I immediately looked at my irises. They were starting to turn black around the edges and the simple scent of a human made my throat start to burn a little. I haven't hunted in about in a week or so and my last attempt failed with Cody. I only got about half so for that I was actually grateful. I laughed a bit and made a left turn right into the kitchen. Now why was the bathroom so close to the kitchen? Who knows maybe I should hunt down the people who built this place? Of course they might be dead which would be even more fun for me. I smiled again.

I walked in to find everyone already there, and of course everyone had worried faces on.

"What's going on?" I asked casually as I sat down at my normal seat at the front on the maple wood table. Everyone looked at each other but none were willing to speak up.

"Come I don't bite…much." I winked but no one even cracked a smile like they used. Something bad must have happened?

"Skylar?" I turned to him and his face got paler, if that were even possible. Why wouldn't anyone talk to me? If this was such a big problem they were worried about then why would no one talk about it? Well its not like I was going anywhere so I guess I could wait forever, literally.

I've been tracking the movements of the other half," I saw Skylar flinch a little bit, "And they've been getting close. Here read this and it should show you what you need to know." She lightly threw a newspaper at me and I didn't know what she was talking about until I read the headline.

Out of place robberies

In the last couple of days there have been over 20 robberies around the same area. Not only is this strange in the number of them but it is strange in that nothing was taken from these stores and there wasn't any shred of evidence in them.

The police have no new leads on who the possible suspects may be, but they believe al are male and it's most likely a gang of them. As we have said there was no evidence. No hair, no prints of any sort. This gang knew what they were doing and what they wanted, but fortunately for the shops, it was not there. The estimated damage for all of the robberies put together was only around 1,000 dollars.

Each of these 20 shops were about all the same. They all consisted of hardware, electronic, and camping stores.

The police were not the only ones shocked here, so were the residents near each of them. "Our town has always been a quiet, peaceful place, nothing ever happens here. I guess the news room can have a real hay day with this story." One man commented.

"My shop has always been the hot spot if you needn't any hard working stuff done. People came and went and no one complained about the prices or the service. It was where most men gathered other than the bar. I don't understand why people would come to my place but not get what they wanted?" one of the hardware owners told us.

The first robbery took place on April 25th and each of the others came about a day or so after. This have been going on for about a month and that is already much too long. Since they are around the same area-about 3 miles apart-the police are hoping this small space can help us catch them since there are only a few of those stores left untouched.

"It's simply astounding," one officer told us, "These are no amateurs, they know exactly what they are dong. Even with all of the security cameras they find a way to avoid them as well. What could be haunting our quiet town?"

"What does this have to do with anything?" I asked. So some poor place was getting robbed. Why was everyone so worried? Then I checked the town name. It was only about 10 miles from here. As Angel had said "They're getting closer."

"Read the back." Cody advised me. I flipped the page over and this head popped out at me like a neon sign.

Vampires in Oregon

Vampires have always been known as mythical creatures of the darkest knights. Scary tales and movies to haunt your dreams. The ones, who could never come out in sunlight, fed on human's blood, and only sleeping in coffins. As a sign of attack you would find a bite mark of two fangs on a poor person jugular and the dead would be completely drained of blood, not a drop left to be found. This story doesn't sound so different does it?

On the 24th of April a body was found in the middle of the street in front of a police station. The body of the dead victim was pale and completely drained of blood. The girl was only 18 years old and was about to graduate from high school. They found no evidence to how she was murdered other than a row of teeth right on her neck, beside her jugular. They first thought a wild animal, but the teeth marks show of a human bite. Or maybe not so human. In accordance to no blood in her body some may say Oregon has it's own vampire haunting the state.

The mother of the girl informed us that she was hanging around some new friends this time, and they are no where to be found. "It's like they vanished into thin air." The mother sobbed. She also said that she was hanging out with them the night she was found dead on the street. We have found no trace of the friends or prints on the body. We have no indication that these "friends committed such a murder, but since it seems that they have fled, they are all possible suspects.

The police are not releasing the names of these suspects, but the mother was happy to describe them in full detail. "They were all so odd to me from the first time I laid eyes on them. Though I could tell their eyes related them all. Each of them was blood red, but I never questioned them, not wanting to be rude about it. They were all very polite teenagers and that too was strange to me, but I was very delighted to see her make such good friends.

"Each had pale skin, they wouldn't have been able to be found in a snow storm. It was like their skin was paper, though each of them was very strong and graceful in each of their movements. I have never been the superstitious type, but they seemed like vampires to me, but I never gave it a thought until my baby girl was dead. Plus I've never met anyone who has red eyes and is normal anyway." The police have not let out any other words the grieving mother has said over her daughter's death.

7 other murders were committed as well, but each on day after another. Each of the deaths was different and not related other than the descriptions of the death and suspects. This is one of the many things their friends had to say about this.

"They all started hanging out with these pale, red eyed freaks. Then they went to the movies and never came back. When they found the bodies the freaks were no where to be found I knew they had something to do with this."

Others have made the same description. We don't know where the suspects are located yet, but we will have details to you as soon as we can. If you see anyone like this you are to inform your local police immediately.

Could vampires really be stalking Oregon?

My mouth was hanging open as wide as it would go as I set the paper down on the table. How could the others do this to us? I'm sure the other kids have noticed Cody's red eyes as well as mine and I'm sure some of them even read the morning paper after their parents. Rumors spread fast. Well I guess they are exactly rumors since their true, but either way they had to be stopped.

"How could they do this to us?" I screeched so loud that I heard the mirror in the bathroom break. Were they nuts? They could expose us all. Was that their plan? So I would have to leave Jason?

"I don't know but we have to figure this out, and quick." He grabbed Angel's waist and held her tightly. She leaned her head into his chest and breathed deeply.

"What could they be looking for?" Cody asked himself. He closed his eyes instantaneously and began to think.

Keith wanted us gone-or mostly me gone-and the best way to do that were to kill us-me. He couldn't kill the rest of my family with me standing here in control and I trusted Keith knew that as well. What could get me out of the way first, to then destroy or take over control here? Was he using Cody?

Keith and them were going to hardware, electronic, and camping store, though they weren't finding what they wanted. What could they want that could get me out of the way?

As the sun came through the window, making the glass dance on the other side of the wall, I figured it out.

"Fire." I whispered, shocked and amazed that I didn't think of it right away. How could I be so stupid?

"What did you just say?" Angel said tilting her head just like Summer did. She heard me, and she understood she just didn't want to think what she was thinking. Though Skylar and Cody snapped their fingers in synchronization. They must have put together each of the puzzle pieces like I had.

"Of course!" they shouted together. "They're building a flame thrower. It has enough fire to burn us to ashes and it can shoot from long distances. They have been browsing around looking for pieces to steal to make the machine. Though they haven't found anything that would work. I wonder why they haven't robbed a gun store yet?" ok the talking together thing was starting to really creep me out.

"That makes perfect sense, but why would they want it? Couldn't they just light a normal fire and rip us apart if they wanted us dead so bad? Nick asked. It made me want to laugh how he just blurts stuff out of his head without thinking it through, but I didn't now.

"It's not for us, Nick." Skylar answered. It's for-"

"Me."

Every face turned to me as if they were all imagining why they would want me out of the way first.

"I could save you all in a heartbeat and he knows that. Without me it would be just that much harder to win a fight, especially with Taylor on their side.

It went Silent in the room as I watched Skylar make a face about me mentioning Taylor. I glanced over to the clock to see the time. It was seven thirty, Jason had to be up by now and he would be waiting for me to pick him up in a few minutes.

"We have another thing to make a decision for today so be ready after school. I'll bring Jason over and we'll talk over this, he needs to know the danger he's in."

No one dared to disobey me now knowing that I might not be here that much longer. All of the people I would be leaving here if Keith got his way.

"Cody." I said again, this time smiling."

"What?" Cody said, thinking I was meaning him.

"Not you Cody, my Cody. He wouldn't let me die. As he says, he loves me. He wouldn't let Keith get his way." I smiled at the though of Cody coming to my rescue. Then I frowned because I wanted him to be the one who comes to my rescue.

"I wouldn't let him touch you, Claire. You may not love me, but you won't die for it." Cody growled inside my head. Of course he was eaves dropping again, though I knew it. He would protect me at all costs, with him I wouldn't die. Unless he's lying again.

"No Claire." Skylar protested. "Don't bring him into this. I don't want him here and neither does Jason."

"Jason would want him here if he knew it would be the only I would be kept alive and here for him! So don't you dare say that! Jason would want what's best for me and that would mean for me to be alive for him. I wouldn't ruin Jason's life for your problem with him coming here to help me. So you listen to me Skylar James, if I have to I will get Cody here, but that will be my last resort. Is that fine with you!?" I snapped. I totally exploded at him and ran out the door before he could say anything else. "I won't die if I can avoid it!" I yelled to him. I hopped in my car, threw an extra paper in the passenger side of the car as Skylar sighed. I took on like Speed racer down the street to Jason's place.

I parked outside of his house and pulled the key out the ignition as I waited for Jason to appear. I glanced around the side of the house and it looked like someone had planted a garden, or at least fixed the old on up. Now the garden was full of bodacious flowers and herbs.

Rose took up a wide margarine of the front while the marigolds triumphed the back of the wall. And there was a vine climbing up the wall with purple flowers springing from it. There were only a few weeds squished in between of everything, but all in all it looked very nice.

His house now had a new clean earthy smell masked by his fathers strong abundant scent, along with his son's strange repulsive one. It looked more like a forest now with the new trees planted in the front yard, I guessed. His father must have worked very hard on this last night.

I looked up to Jason's room to see a big blue tarp that covered his hole in the wall to keep out the wind, rain, and bugs.

There was movement in the kitchen downstairs as I listened in to the fight going on between them.

"How long?" Jason's voice was grave and very annoyed by the sound of it.

"Now don't' blame or guilt this one me. It you can't give me a real answer then it's going to be like this."

"Just tell me how long?" he asked again in the same voice. I could picture him rolling his eyes and clicking his tongue when he gets mad. It always made me smile when he did that.

"I'll let you decide on that with your attitude and don't you roll your eyes at me young man!"

Jason ate his bowl of cereal and kept quiet for a while. He sucked in a large breath and let it out with a gust of wind. He always did that when he was mad. He was so predictable.

"Why can't you just tell what happened, Jason?" his father pressed more quietly for an answer.

"I already told you, I don't know!" he lied through his teeth again. His father sighed again and went to another question.

"Did Claire have anything to do with this?"

Jason kept quiet and didn't answer, which was the worst thing he could do besides lying.

"Am I right, Jason? Did Claire do this?"

"Dad, no offense to girls, but she is one! She's weak!" he almost cracked up laughing. "How can she break down a wall down that size?" he knew I was listening now. I don't know how he knew, but he just did.

"Well her and her brothers could do some damage I'm sure." His father scooted back his chair and leaned on the counter a bit. Jason sighed knowing where he was going with this.

"She wasn't there ok? Why can't you just trust me? I'm still a virgin dad and I hate for you to make me say that!"

"I wouldn't blame you if she was up there you know? She's gonna be your wife soon. But since you brought it up, is she a virgin?"

Jason kept his mouth shut; though he did groan. He didn't want to answer at all. His breathed in and out not looking at his father I'm sure.

"Of course that's none of my business…"

"No it's not." He hissed.

"Why did you groan then? Do you not want to marry her?"

He hesitated for a moment. Then he spoke. "Of course I want to marry her, dad." He said in a harsh tone again.

"Then what's the problem?"

"You know what people say about girls who get married at this age.

They say that they're rushing things and that it would never work out. Most of the time they might even say that she's pregnant and I'm the father. She would be the rumor of the year and I just don't want her to go through that like the others do." I smiled at his very words. He truly loved me even though I wouldn't care what rumor they sent my way because in fact it is love and I'm not pregnant. Nor could I ever be.

"You must really love her."

"I do. Claire is everything I have never seen before." Again I heard the smile in the tone and I laughed at the joke only his father would not catch.

I honked the horn and waited for him to come out. There was a light breeze and if my windows weren't tinted so well then I would just be a diamond right now.

"It sure is sunny out today." He father said in happiness. "What's spring without the sun?"

"Yeah? What kind of spring would that be?" Jason said sarcastically before opening the door slightly, sliding into the passenger seat, scooting over the paper and closed the door.

"You never did tell me." He said trying to copy my French accent. I laughed. "Why can't you be in the sun?"

"I sparkle."

"You always sparkle to me." He complemented.

I rolled my eyes. "Well then maybe I can show you sometime what I look like in the sun. It's dazzling." I winked and drove down the road at a normal pace.

"I'd like that, but why the slow speed. I thought vampires liked it fast and furious."

"I figured you might want some more time with me today since I can't go to school today with the sun and all."

Jason didn't answer this time. From the corner of my eyes I saw him reading the paper that I threw in my car after my fight with Skylar. I could then see how his face began to take on the confused shape of furrowing his brow and wrinkles began to crease up there.

"Robberies?"

"Flip the paper over and read the other section." I told him.

"Which one?"

"Oh you'll know."

He flipped the paper over and then went bug eyed at the title. He then quickly read the page and dropped it.

"You have red eyes."

I nodded.

"You have pale skin."

I nodded again.

"You're a real vampire."

"Yes we all get I'm a real vampire." I teased trying to lighten the mood that had fogged up the car. He turned his face towards mine and I saw the fear in his eyes.

I already knew what he was thinking. He knew as well as I did that other students read the paper and everyone at school well knows my strange red eyes and my family's pale skin, along with Cody's as well. We both know everyone will jump to conclusions-which are probably right anyway-but they can't ever discover the truth.

"This is going to cause problems and you know." Jason sighed. "You're going to have to leave."

"I'll only leave with my family if I have to. Until then I'm staying here. The rumors can't be that bad, besides we can get through this."

Jason looked down and whispered, "Leaving".

"I'm not leaving without you Jason. And if I had to keep you safe I would come back and get you when it was over. Besides I'm gonna be your wife one day." I teased and punched his arm very lightly.

"I knew you were eaves dropping on me." He said as he opened the door and stepped out of the car, blocking the rays with his body. He waved goodbye while the other seniors stared t him as he walked off. They followed him with their eyes until they couldn't see him anymore. Then all of their faces darted to my car and the tires squealed and to drove off.

I drove to my house and then I grabbed Nick and Angel out of there and ran back to the school to keep an eye on Jason and the people who read the papers.

"I don't understand why I have to come with you." Nick grumbled. I had pulled him out of a sports game on TV. Men and their sports.

I snorted and hid behind the bushes at the edge of the school yard. I peeked into the window of our history class for first period with Mr. Marshall. Jason sat in his normal seat, but Trevor seemed to sit in mine since I wasn't there. Well no one from my family was there. I could almost see the anticipation for Trevor who was waiting for Mr. Marshall to leave the room like he always did for coffee.

He finally left the room slowly, watching Trevor's figure almost shake. He knew he was going to regret this again later.

"Jason, did you read the paper that came out yesterday?" he asked, his head tilting to the side like Jason and Summer's. I wonder if everyone has always done and I just haven't noticed or if they have just started it.

"Nope." He lied nicely. I might have even been fooled by it. He was learning from the best. Skylar and i.

Trevor though seemed convinced but when has Jason ever been able to lie to Trevor without messing up?

"Oh well then I'll just give you the details in it all. It seemed really cool. It might even has something to do with your precious Claire." He sneered my name in an evil way.

"Well there have been a few robberies and some details of some really weird people with pale skin and red eyes. Sound familiar to you, Jason?"

"Doesn't ring a bell." Said Jason, fighting a smile. He was obviously learning a pokerface from Angel as well as I.

Trevor sighed and turned away. "Yes you do and you know it." Trevor was very mad now. I could see his face getting redder by the second.

"Claire, what if they find out? What if the know what we are. What if…"

"You worry to much." I said. You only think of the worst scenario. The 'what ifs' can get pretty large if you let them and there can be only one. Now shut up, I'm trying to listen." I rolled my eyes and looked back at Jason's pained face.

It was a very good thing Trevor was whispering. It seemed like he still cared for his friend a bit.

"Trevor could you just stop." Jason pleaded.

"Where is your Claire Jason." Trevor said like he didn't hear him. "Is she hiding? Is she hiding from something or her family did? Did she leave you behind to take the blame?"

"Trevor just shut your damn mouth!" Jason blurted out. His fist swung so fast Trevor had no time to react. I heard the blow and saw it connect to his face like slow motion. His nose broke and blood was gushing from it. It was a good thing I wasn't in there or I was going to be having some issues. It did shut his mouth though. Thank god for that.

Trevor looked at Jason with betrayal in his eyes. He felt hurt that Jason did that even though he brought it all down on him self again.

"Mr. Greenfield." Mr. Marshall walked in and his face wasn't all that happy. I sighed.

"Where are you going?" Nick said grabbing my arm and dragging my back to the ground.

"Saving his butt." I quickly wrote a note on a piece of paper and stuffed in my back pocket of my skinny jeans. I walked in the school and opened the class room door.

All eyes were on my face as I walked over to our teacher. "Here. I have a note from Jason as well as Trevor's parents saying they were to come back to my house for the rest of the day. They wanted us to clear some things out with everyone." I smiled and picked up Jason's books. "Come on my car is running and I really don't feel like wasting gas today."

Trevor walked with us with a sour look on his face. Jason mouthed "Smooth" as I took his hand and walked the both of them to my car.

"Claire?" Jason asked.

"It's your decision now Jason." I said opening the door and got in. Jason did the same but Trevor didn't touch the door.

"Where are we going?" Trevor spat some blood near my feet. I cringed at it.

"Jason don't. I don't need a fight right now. Trevor I'm taking you to my house and you just need to get in the damn car!" I smiled and he got into the car right after I growled at him.

After he got in I noticed the smell change. Someone had put an air freshener in it.

I thought this might get rid of the overwhelming smell of your boyfriend. –Angel

I smiled. I handed it over to Jason who laughed. It smelled like roses. Trevor just grumbled.

"I don't understand."

"You will." Jason sighed.

So Jason finally decided to tell Trevor the truth then. Maybe they could be friends again and forget this whole mess.

I pressed down hard on the gas pedal and raced to my house. The only other words I got from Trevor were his complaints on the speed, though I knew he enjoyed it.

We got there in no time and I found Skylar peeking out the window before running out the door.

I'm so glad to see you again!" Skylar said imitating something or me. Jason laughed as he hugged back.

I smiled again. "Ok you two that's enough. You can talk about the latest fashions later. I teased. Right now Jason has something important to tell Trevor."

Skylar looked at Trevor. He smiled and walked back inside. I led both of them into the house where the chair where Trevor was going to sit was already planted in the middle inside a circle where we were supposed to sit. We all looked at Trevor and Trevor kept looking from Jason to Cody.

"Trevor…" Jason began, "you have been making up a lot of things in class about Claire accusing her of something. Though I wish to tell you this wasn't true, I cant. I'm not going to lie to you anymore. I'm sick of keeping this from you, always lying to your face and destroying the friendship that Cody and I had made with you. But something happened to me and I couldn't tell anyone, until now. I need you word as a brother you have always been to me."

Trevor looked at Jason, read to finally discover the truth. "I can't tell anyone can I? I can't tell anyone what she is or anything like that? I know it has to do with her and her family, Jason, I'm not stupid."

"I never said you were, but I care about Claire so much and if word got out about her we would have to leave forever and never come back. No word about us, it will be like we were never here. I need you to promise me Trevor, that what ever I tell you today will stay between us. I'm taking this huge risk in telling you a secret I shouldn't even know about but I need to know that your trust is here with Cody and I as well as ours with you.

"You also should know that if we leave so does Cody. And I know you don't want to lose both of us at once."

"I guess I have no choice do I?" Trevor looked at me.

"Well you do. You can tell the truth and I will either have to kill you, change you, or kidnap you. Which I don't want to really do the first two but if I have to I will Trevor, trust me on that. I don't kid around with our safety." I smiled.

He gulped. "You can trust me."

"Perfect." Jason and I said together, interlocking our hands. I squeezed tighter on my hold.

"And you can tell him about spring break and what happened there. It comes with the package." I winked at him and he smiled.

He smiled too, took in a deep breath and began to tell the tale which he only learned about two weeks ago as well. Imagine that.

Trevor sat and listened as Jason droned on about the tale of my life story. He chose his words carefully for me when he told of my changing and what I am, and then he went to the part about the other half of my family, finally revealing the questions o many had wondered. Then he described my Cody and how dangerous he was to us and he also described me situation with him and how we were connected. Even Trevor didn't like that part. Then he told about how his Cody became the way he did, but he wasn't mad like I thought he would be.

But the real thing that amazed me was that when Jason was done, he walked over, gave me a hug, and smiled.

So sorry this took so long. My computer still doesn't work so I had to copy this onto another computer, but I promise it won't take as long anymore. Thank you for being patient. !!!!!! : ]

-Kate