Okay, so I've been thinking long and hard about this chapter. Adding Loren to the whole Zoey and Erik thing would be major difficult because well, that clashes with the whole happy feeling I'm trying to put in the plot plus I hate him!!! Sorry for those who were looking forward to Loren being in here but it's not what you think.

Thanks for the reviews

Disclaimer: I will never own!! So honestly, peeps, give it up to P.C. and Kristin Cast.

Chapter 3

"Zoey! Thank Goddess you're still here!" Aphrodite yelled, catching her breath.

"What's wrong?" I asked her, as everyone sat up in their seats.

"I had a vision that Loren Blake is still alive and he's coming back to the House of Night." She replied, still catching her breath. I could have sworn my body already started to freeze up.

"I'm sorry, I must have been hallucinating......WHAT?" I yelled, grabbing her by her collar.

"I had a vision that Professor Blake is coming back to the school in less than ten minutes." Aphrodite said, as I turned towards Erik, "You and your man better watch your back."

"What do I do?" I cried, letting tears come down my face, "I can't have him come back when I just back together with Erik. This is so not happening."

"Oh, Zoey." Shaunee said, holding me, "What are we going to do guys?"

"Shaunee's right. There's got to be something we can do to help." Stevie Rae added, looking back at Erik. He looked just as shocked and upset as I did.

"Guys, I need to talk to Erik." I muttered, as everyone hesistantly waited outside, "I'm gonna tell you this only once. After everything that's happened to me, I'm never falling for that horrible man again. I made a promise to myself that when we got back together, I'd never go behind your back again. Now I don't know what to do. I'm so scared."

As I continued to cry, he came to me and held me. I could have sworn the way he was gripping me, that he'd didn't want to let me go.

"All I have to tell you is that I'll always love you, no matter what challenges we face. I'm not ever going to give up on us, Zoey." He whispered, still holding me.

"Still, there's got to be some way we can get rid of "it" before he gets too situated here." I told him, trying to think of something.

"Well, we can always go back to the Priestess loft and think of ideas." He said, breathing against my ear.

"Uh uh, this is too serious to get side-tracked. That stupid ass hole is coming and I've got to do something to get him out of here for good." I replied, playfully flicking him, "You can still come to my loft though, but just for getting rid of that ass hole."

As Erik and I headed back to the professors building, I was scared out of my mind. First, Loren was coming back, secondly, he probably wanted to be with me again (even though Neferet was no longer in charge of the school.) After a bit, we caught up with Stevie Rae and the Twins.

"Hey guys, what are you doing?" I asked, as Erik and I walked into the professors wing doors.

"We're going to help. Damien said he and Jack would catch up with us later." Stevie Rae told me, as we walked into my loft.

"I don't want to know," Shaunee mumbled, shivering.

"What they're doing." Erin finished, doing the same shivering motion.

"That's not important right now guys. Y'all both know we have to save Zoey and Erik's relationship from going down the toilet, again." Stevie Rae reminded everyone. Stevie Rae really was my best friend. She would go to the ends of the earth to save my relationship with my boyfriend. I'm so glad she and I met five years ago.

"Yeah, right. I say we just jump him." Shaunee suggested, cracking her knuckles.

"You don't have to tell me twice. I'll kick his sorry ass!" Erik nearly yelled, as the Twins, Stevie Rae, and I stared at him, "That guy pisses me off with his lovey-dovey poetry crap!"

"Not to burst your bubble, but you do the same thing." Erin muttered, trying not to laugh.

"That's because I make it look good. He took my thing." Erik said, stubbornly pouting.

"I do admit, you do it better than "it". I mean, yeah he's a Poet Laureate, but I mean seriously, he needs a hobby." I told him, kissing him.

"Okay, back to the subject!" Stevie Rae shouted, sounding irritated, "Professor Blake could be here any minute looking for Zoey. We need to figure something out."

"She's right." Erik mumbled, quietly.

"I was thinking Zoey could fire him maybe." Shaunee said, shrugging.

"That's too easy. I need something that'll lead him onto me and break his heart." I replied, pacing back and forth.

"You and Erik could pretend that you're not going out and lead him on to think you're still single. That'll break his heart." Erin said, happily.

"No, I'm not like Neferet." I muttered, rubbing my chin, "How about I pretend that I miss him and want him back, but in reality I'm "going behind his back" with Erik?"

"Wait, this doesn't include sex does it?" Erik asked, raising a brow. I knew he'd ask that.

"No, it won't. I'll make sure it isn't." I smiled, staring into his gorgeous blue eyes.

"All right, so where would be the first place he'd go to?" Shaunee asked, humming to herself.

"The library." Erin replied, logically, "I mean, who's safe to say he wouldn't screw a good book?"

I just bursted out in laughter. I knew Loren liked look at poetry books, but Erin made it seem like he was obsessed.

"I really wish I would have came up with that." I laughed, slapping my knee.

"You are so goofy, Zoey Redbird." Erik smiled, holding me.

At about 6 am, I snuck out of my loft (as we intended in the plan) and headed to the library, where I knew Loren would probably be. After about fifteen minutes, I ran into someone carrying a crap load of books.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't see you there." I apologized, looking up to see an intricate pattern of thunderbolts on the man's face. Yup, I definitely ran into Loren.

"Zoey Redbird?" He questioned, as he picked up his last book.

"That's me." I replied, modestly.

"You look as beautiful as you did five years ago." He told me, smiling.

Yeah, you would know? Bastard. "Why are you here?" I asked him, just out of curiousity.

"I just came back to get all of my things I left here. I'm retiring and moving to London." He answered, modestly.

Well, looks like I won't have anything to worry about. "Oh, well that's nice." I mumbled, really thinking "Yes! No more Loren Blake," in my head.

"So it is true, you being High Priestess." He whispered, as we stopped in front of the courtyard.

"Yes." I mumbled, shyly.

"You know that you're the youngest High Priestess in history. High Priestess are at least in their mid 30's before they can take the place of their successor." Loren explained, just being his normal self.

"I've missed you terribly, but you've hurt me so bad when you slept with Neferet behind my back." I told him, putting the action into full action, "I loved you with all my heart and you broke it in two."

"I know, and I'm terribly sorry, Zoey." Loren said, tracing my marks on my forehead.

"I want you back. I miss us!" I blurted, sounding like I wasn't thinking.

"Aren't you back together with Erik?" He asked, sounding hesistant.

"No, honey. I haven't been with him for five years. He never wanted to get back together. But now is our chance to be together." I whispered, sounding so in love. I leaned in to kiss him. I felt sick to my stomach kissing Loren because I loved Erik so much. I know this was part of our plan, but now that I actually thought about it, I didn't want to do this anymore.

"Zoey, I'm sorry. I can't be with you. I'm already getting married." Loren whispered, holding my face.

"To who?" I asked, pretending to be shocked. Honestly, I didn't care what this ass whole did.

"I met another vampyre. Her name is Elizabeth." He told me, sadly, "I'm sorry. I have to go."

After I was long gone, I headed back to my loft to go to sleep. The gang had still been in there waiting for me. Wow, Loren getting married......gee that was a shock. I wish the woman who he's marrying luck. She's going to need it.

"So how did it go?" Stevie Rae asked, calmly.

"I'm so relieved." I replied, sitting next to Erik, "It turns out, he's not staying here. He came back to get the rest of his things because he's moving to London."

"Are you serious?" Shaunee asked, sounding somewhat happy.

"Yeah. He had all these books and boxes." I told her, snuggling with Erik.

"I'm still a little uneasy about him. How do you know he's leaving?" Erik asked, still sounding a little stern.

"I agree with Erik, Zoey. For all we know he could be lying to you. Just like he lied to you when he went behind your back with Neferet." Stevie Rae added, in agreement. They did have a point, for all I knew, Loren could be lying to me, again. What if he's not going to London? What if he's marrying Neferet instead of that Elizabeth chick? Only Nyx knew.

I just sat there briefly, thinking. I hope Loren wasn't lying. Besides, he couldn't get his job back anyway, right? I mean, I don't think a man who has been documented dead for five years could just all of a sudden expect me, after the hell he put me through, give him his job back. I mean, him being murdered was the reason Neferet almost declared war against the humans. I never did get why he went to look for me. Was it because he loved me after all? Well, whatever. I'm in love with Erik now and he's the only one I'Il ever love.

"Zoey......ZOEY!?" Erik shouted, shaking me.

"Huh, what?" I asked, snapping out of my trance.

"You were just staring off into space, girl. What's wrong?" Erin asked, getting worried.

"I don't know. I'm just stressed out over this whole Loren thing." I said, sadly, "I'd really like to live a normal life."

"Z, you were never meant for a normal life." Erik told me, kissing my cheek. I liked when he used my nickname he gave me.

"Let me get out of here before I gag over this." Shaunee said, exaggerating her sigh.

"Ditto, Twin." Erin added, as they both shut the door. The only people left in here was Stevie Rae and Erik.

"So, I'm going to go.....do something." Stevie Rae mumbled, quickly leaving. Great. She just had to leave me with Erik, alone, in my loft, just the two of us.

"This is a little unusual." I said, breaking the silence. In reality, I wanted him to do me so bad. Just like the Twins and Stevie Rae would say. After a while of trying to keep myself still, I jumped onto him and started making out.

"Mmmmffmmmm.....Z," Erik mumbled, in between our kisses.

"Do me." I whispered, grabbing the collar to his polo shirt. Before I knew it, he picked me up and took me upstairs to my gianormous room. After we both fell onto my lavender scented bed, we started peeling off clothing. After Erik ripped off my hoodie and sweatpants, I was in nothing but my lacy white bra and panties. In response, I wrenched off his Hollister polo, revealing his very muscular chest and his pants, revealing....well I know what it revealed.

"Erik......," I breathed, as his kisses moved down to my neck. He ripped my bra in half and ripped my panties off. I kicked them onto the floor, as I continuously kissed him.

"Zoey.....you're so beautiful." He whispered, as he plunged into my entrance and pushed himself into me. I moaned as he began to thrust me. He began to move in and out, and within seconds picked up the pace.

"Erik......yes....Erik!" I moaned, gripping his broad shoulders. He thrusts grew hard and wild as he began to thrust faster. This felt so right. I mean, with Loren, it was all about the bloodlust and sweet words. With Erik, it was something else. It was like pure magic and pure lust. He loved me and I loved him.

"Zoey.....," He gasped, burying his face in my neck. As his thrusts grew harder, I started to reach my peak of pleasure, gripping his shoulders and kissing him fiercely. I screamed his name as I finally reached my climax. As he reached his, he fell onto me and my body covered in sweat. We both started to catch our breath, as we relaxed against each other.

"One day, I want you to imprint with me." I whispered, quietly.

"That day will come, Zoey. We'll cross the bridge when we get to it." He told me, caressing me cheek.

The next evening, I woke up staring into my small night light (well, it was actually Nala's night light.) She was lying in her kitty bed, with the blanket up to her neck. Right next to me, I hit something really hard. It was just Erik's chest. I forgot he'd still be here after this morning. I picked up my phone. It was only five in the evening, so we had a little time left to sleep. To be honest I really was tired. I knew probably, if I woke up, my friends would start teasing me about how Erik and I had sex. Too bad for Shaunee, Erik didn't have to be jealous about not getting any. I turned to my other side so I could stare at Erik sleeping. He looked so peaceful when he was sleep. After about two seconds, he opened his eyes to look at me.

"Morning, precious." He said, still sounding sleepy.

"Hey." I replied, quietly, "You okay?"

"As long as I'm with you, I am." Erik whispered, holding me closer to him. He was so sweet.

"I don't want to get up. I'm so tired." I mumbled, pecking his cheek.

"Thank Goddess it's Friday. At least we don't have to teach tomorrow." He told me, shifting underneath the blankets.

"I'm still on High Priestess duty though." I groaned, rolling my eyes.

He laughed (Man, I love his laugh.) "You said duty."

"Shut up. You are such a dork." I complained, playfully hitting him.

"You let this dork sleep with you." He smirked, kissing me deeply. I quietly sucked on his tongue, letting his enter my mouth.

"Only because this dork is my unbelieveably gorgeous boyfriend." I replied, smiling, "Get ready to be teased all day."

"Why? Oh, right." Erik mumbled, not seeming to care.

"Shaunee and Erin are going to have a freaking field day dissing me." I whined, cuddling my face in his chest.

"Come on, at least Damien and Jack won't make fun of you." He told me, trying to shine light on the subject.

"They're gay!" I nearly squeaked, hiding my face.

"Z, I'm trying to be supportive. Don't say anything and maybe they won't know, except Damien and Jack." Erik said, calming me down.

"Okay. I guess I'm over-reacting a little bit." I admitted, kissing his cheek, "Let's get up so we're not suspected of anything."

After taking a quick shower, I rummaged through my closet to look for something to wear. Something that had the staff emblem on it. I didn't want to look too dressy, so I decided to wear a black short sleeve, dressy jacket with a soft dark purple polo that had the emblem and some dark wash skinny jeans.

"Morning, Zoey!" Stevie Rae chirped, giving me a huge hug.

"Morning." I said, hugging her back.

"So tell me what happened last night. Don't leave out the details." Stevie Rae whispered, getting herself comfortable.

"Well, obviously we did it. I've got to tell you that having sex with Erik Night is the best!" I nearly yelled, gasping.

"Hey, don't leave us out." Erin babbled, running into my room with Shaunee.

"Yeah, we're your girls too, Zoey." Shaunee said, suddenly becoming quiet, "You were saying it was the best?"

"Yes, it was. He is a really good kisser too and everything that was downstairs.......,"I drifted, as everyone started gapping at me.

"He was making it do what it do, right?" Shaunee questioned, smirking.

"Hell yes." I told her, as she and Erin squealed.

"Hey, have you seen my belt?" Erik asked, coming out of the bathroom with his jeans on, but no shirt.

"Hello, gorgeous." Shaunee purred, eyeballing his muscular chest, "Bring it to mama!"

"Huh?" He just twitched his eyes in confusion.

"Twin, you so need to be on The Bad Girls Club." Erin told her, raising her eyebrows.

"I'd run that house if I were there. I'm a bad bitch," Shaunee added, in agreement. I wonder what it would be like for the Twins to be on The Bad Girls Club. Shaunee would fuck a bitch up (as she would put it.)

"But anyway, Erik needs his belt." Erin grinned, as her and Shaunee gave seductive and evil looks towards Erik.

"Y'all leave Erik alone. Let the man breathe," Stevie Rae interrupted, straightening out her turquoise striped sweater, "Plus, he's Zoey's boyfriend."

"Thank you, Stevie Rae. At least there's someone who doesn't go crazy over the sight of my boyfriend's bare chest." I said, as the Twins looked embarassed, "Here's your belt. Now get back in there before they eat you alive."

After I shoved Erik back into the bathroom, I shut the door. All I could do was stare at the Twins for their little moment.

"Sorry, Z, I just can't resist eye candy when it's staring me right in the face." Shaunee apologized, smiling.

"Oh, you guys know I love you." I replied, getting smothered into a group hug, "Now, let's all get ready to teach hormonal teenagers."

"It wasn't too long ago that we were like that." Erin pointed out, as we all went to the refridgerator for breakfast, "Ooh, yogurt."

"Yeah, you're right." Stevie Rae agreed, pouring herself a bowl of Lucky Charms.

"My back really hurts." I complained, rubbing the lower part of my back.

"Gee, I wonder why?" Shaunee questioned me, laughing with Erin.

"That was a cheap shot. At least I wasn't making out during a scary movie." I mumbled, knowing she probably heard me.

"Hey, hey! At least I've already done the deed." Shaunee said, after a while feeling like she probably shouldn't have shared that with everyone.

"I think I lost an appetite for my cereal." Stevie Rae muttered, pushing the bowl away from her.

"Hey, I'll take it if you don't want it." Erik said, swiping her bowl of Lucky Charms.

"You might want to use another spoon." Stevie Rae mumbled.

"So yeah, anyway, Zoey your back is hurting. Care to tell why?" Erin asked, as Shaunee did a spit take with her orange juice.

"Shut up." I whined, poking my lip out.

"We love you, honey." Shaunee told me, hugging me, "We're just funnin' with you."

"Yeah, we don't care that Erik made you do what it do." Erin said, trying not to laugh again.

"Come on, don't pester her to death. It's too early in the morning." Erik pointed out, holding me. I loved when he held me. He made me feel like a un-experienced little girl.

"Yeah, what he said." I agreed, doing a little sassy head nod, "How you doin'?"

"Oh my Goddess, Zoey, you totally got that from Norbit." Erik replied, rolling his eyes. I admit, that movie was a little funny but it was a little ridiculous. I mean, there's no way a person could do all those horrible, yet impossible things.

"I'm sorry, but I love that movie. Even though Norbit was so dumb to be with that fat girl." Shaunee said, sighing, "Well, I have hormonal children to teach. Catch you peeps later."

"See ya." Stevie Rae replied, as Shaunee and Erin left, "Why is it they always leave me with you two?"

"What's wrong with being left with us?" I asked her, getting a isn't-it-so-obvious look.

"You think about that while I slowly leave." Stevie Rae said, actually running more so than slowly leaving. That girl was so crazy sometimes.

"I think we should leave before we have the urge to do it." I said, plainly. Unfortunately, it wasn't too long until Erik and I were back on my couch doing it, again.

I was in such a rush once I was in my office. So far, I had to deal with a fifth former twisting their ankle in Damien's fencing class, then I had to help Aphrodite with a student in her Spells and Rituals class because something exploded, and so on. Now I understand that Neferet's job wasn't easy as she made it seem.

"Well, Nala, looks like I've out-done myself today." I whispered, as she jumped in my lap. For the billionth time that day, Nala hissed at the knock on the door.

"It's open." I said, as Erik popped in. I couldn't believe how hot he looked when he dressed nice. He was wearing a pink dress shirt (yes, men can wear pink and not be gay), and black slacks and some black converses.

"Hi, my sweet Juliet." He replied, as Nala hateful hissed at him.

"You be nice." I told her, as she scampered off onto the loveseat in far corner of my office, "She's been really irritated today."

"I'm used to it." Erik shrugged, pulling me into a hug, "I missed you."

"We're in the same building." I giggled, letting him hold me, "How's the monologues coming?"

"Oh, they're great. There's this kid Will in my 3rd hour, it's like I'm looking at myself." He told me, as I took in his warmth.

"But he's wasn't the hottest fledgling, was he?" I asked, running my hands up his chest.

"No, but I'm not talking about looks." Erik answered, rustiling my hair. I decided to wear it in spiral curls today. They looked so cuter since my hair is only at my shoulders now and with my honey brown highlights.

"I wish you didn't have to go to London this weekend for the competition. I'm really gonna miss you." I pouted, sounding like a little girl.

"I won't be far. I'll always be here." He whispered, putting his hand on my heart. He's the sweetest guy I've ever met.

"I'll still miss you." I said, patting his cheek, "Now go before some fledgling get's hurt and then that's something else I have to tend to."

"You've been doing it all day?" He asked, lifting a brow.

"Yeah, and it's been giving me a workout." I replied, kissing his cheek before he left. After about five minutes, Damien walked into my office and shut the door.

"I saw that." He said, smiling at me.

"Oh my goodness, Damien, you act like it's the first time." I laughed, rolling my eyes.

"Yeah, you act like the girl's never had a soft moment with her man." Shaunee added, coming in after him.

"Again, don't you two have something to do?" I asked, getting irritated that they were all in my love life.

"No." They both answered, smiling innocently.

"So, I heard a little bit of dirt that Erik's taking you out tonight....or today." Shaunee added, twitching her eyes.

"Okay, where did you hear it from?" I asked, trying not to sound like it was our first date. I mean, yeah it would be our first date since we got back together, but not the absolute first time I'd been out with him.

"Erin was walking past his classroom and she heard him talking on the phone with his mom. He's totally taking you out." Shaunee told me, smiling.

"See, thanks to you now my nerves are acting up. I don't know what I'm going to wear, I don't have any shoes that are decent......," I complained, sighing.

"That's why we got your back, honey." Damien said, concluding my whining, "We were thinking little black dress."

"Something that shouts "I'm the best High Priestess ever" with fashion sense." Shaunee added, as her and Damien left my office, continuing to ramble on with ideas. I loved my friends so much. Then, I thought back to me and Erik's discussion earlier. He told me that he was leaving for the House of Night monologue competition this weekend. Today was Wednesday, so it was about a day and a half until he left for the competition. I guess it'd make sense for him to spend some time with me before he left for London.

"I don't know, should I go out with him tonight, Nala?" I asked, as Nala did her usual meow. About two seconds later, I heard my phone vibrate. It was text from Erin. Ah, hell! A fledgling died.

After classes were over, I headed back to my loft. After I tossed my purse onto my purple couch in the main room, I plopped my butt on one of the lavender love seats. Gosh, I was really tired. I realized that from my room, I heard small little muffles of sound. As I opened the door, I saw my friends rummaging through huge shopping bags. It was obvious that the Twins were behind the whole thing and Damien was just their little sidekick.

"Oh, hey, Zoey." Stevie Rae greeted, giving me a warm hug, "As you can see, we're trying to help you get ready for your date."

"Thanks. I think?" I said, sitting on the edge of my bed.

"Okay, so we just had to buy you a new outfit. All the clothes you have are in style thankfully, but they're too casual." Erin told me, taking out pieces of tissue paper.

"There's only so much you can do to work with skinny jeans, Twin." Shaunee added, setting down this beautiful navy blue dress, with matching heels and jewelry.

"You guys didn't have to get me these clothes." I told them, feeling a little selfish. I didn't want them wasting their money on me. My date with Erik wasn't that important enough for them to buy me things. Our relationship wasn't based on our looks.

"No, we wanted to, honey. Please, just let us this one time." Damien insisted, nicely. How could I say no to a sweet face like that?

"Oh, okay. If you really insist." I mumbled, giving into my friends, "I don't know about you, but I'm going to the pool."

"Pool?" Erin questioned, raising a brow.

"Yeah, the Priestess loft has a pool on the patio next to the kitchen." Stevie Rae explained.

"Ooh, I forgot I purchased that new bathing suit. Let's hit the pool bitches!" Shaunee yelled, heading to my bathroom to change.

"Hey! We're supposed to help Zoey get ready for her date!" Damien yelled, after we left him alone.

"We love you, Damien." Stevie Rae shouted, as we all jumped into the huge in ground pool. I admit it was pretty cold but I got used it. Vampyres and fledglings hardly get affected by cold temperatures.

"This is the best pool ever. You can see through the water!" Stevie Rae exclaimed, totally making her Okie twang apparent.

"I feel a little bad for leaving Damien to lay out my clothes. We should go back and help him." I suggested, feeling a little bad.

"But I really want to stay in this huge pool." Shaunee muttered, stubbornly.

"Come on guys, please? I promise when I come back from my date we can chillax in the hot tub." I said, watching Erin and Shaunee's eyes widen.

"It's a deal. Let's go help her majesty Damien." Erin agreed, getting out of the pool, "Man, it's freaking cold!"

So ummmmm, yeah, this chapter was okay, but I had to save the date part for the next chapter. See ya peeps l8ter! R&R plz!!