Ok, so I'm currently a bit on the sick side and it's no fun.
And I've been writing under the influence of cold meds so if anything seems out of whack or doesn't make sense,
let me know? kthnx.

I had fully inteded on posting this chapter last night, but I rented Supernatural and couldn't stop watching it! haha.
It's a great show and Jensen Ackles is goooorgeous!

But anyway, this chapter is a bit longer.
Hope everybody is ok with that. ;)

||| three |||

DON'T BE SCARED, MICHAEL.

"Come on, Kaiya! You can't sleep all day!" Sam yelled as he jumped on the back of her sleeping form on the couch. She mumbled a bit and turned her head away from him. "Did you come to Santa Carla to visit or to sleep?"
"I can't do both? Sammy, I was up all night! You know that's what I do."
"Fine. Come here, Nanook."
She figured he'd finally given up and was going to play with the dog, but she was wrong. She felt a cold, wet nose on the back of her neck and she squealed. She rolled over and sat up so quick that she knocked Sam off the couch. He just laughed at her. "Sam! You know I hate that."
"Yeah, but it worked. Now go get dressed. Nanook and I will be outside waiting for you."

Kaiya sat on the couch for a few minutes, letting her body wake up. She seriously considered laying back down and going back to sleep, but it was already close to 2:00pm. Plus she knew Sam would just repeat the process all over. Now, she loved animals, but there was nothing she hated more than a critter's wet nose on her skin or a dog licking her face. So Sam used it against her whenever he got the chance. Grumbling under her breath, she got up off the couch and went upstairs to Sam's room to get some clothes. When she first arrived Michael threw her bags in there and, for lack of a better place, that's where they stayed. She pulled out an oversized t-shirt that fell off one shoulder and a pair of short black shorts. She called it her vegging outfit. Deciding to postpone her shower until later, she got dressed and headed back down the hall. On the way, she stopped by Michael's room. If she had to wake up, so did this goober. She opened the door and walked over to his bed. He was lying on his back with the sheets only pulled up to his waist. She slapped him on his bare chest and he coughed and jerked upwards slightly before laying back down. He opened his eyes and growled at her.
"What the fuck, Kai?"
"Sam woke me, I'm waking you."
"Eat my shorts."
"All right, Bender."
"I guess that makes you the basket case. Now leave me alone."
She just laughed at lame comebacks. He definitely wasn't intimidating when he was half asleep. But she left him to be grumpy and went outside to find Sam. He and Nanook were just laying in the grass. Kaiya plopped down next to him and stared up at the sky. "We haven't cloud gazed in years. Look at that one. It looks like a dragon."
"Yeah, and oh! Look, look at that one!" Sam got really excited and Kai followed his finger and tried to see what he was pointing at.
"What? Which one?"
"That one over there! It's amazing! It looks like a CLOUD." He stopped and turned to look at her, smirking.
She scoffed at him and tried not to laugh. But she couldn't help but smile. "You're such a dweeb!" She smacked him in the stomach and he rolled over onto his side and curled into a ball- partially from the sting where her hand hit and partially from laughter. She tried to keep her insults and language mild around Sam because even if he wasn't much younger, he was still pretty innocent. And she wanted him to stay that way. Most kids these days are corrupted at such an early age that it was refreshing to be around sweet Sam. She knew it was only a matter of time until someone got to him, but it sure as hell wasn't going to be her.
Just as they had stopped laughing, they heard the phone inside the house ring. "I'll get it." Sam jumped up and ran inside. Kaiya waited a few minutes before getting up and taking Nanook back inside. She didn't see Sam anywhere so she wandered up the stairs. She headed down towards Michael's room when she heard their voices. She walked in just as Michael was hanging up the phone.
"See, I told you to get up."
Michael just flipped her the bird and rolled off his bed. "Now get out so I can get ready."
"Hey, Kai," Sam got her attention as he followed her out of his older brother's room. "Wanna go down to the beach today? I haven't gotten to go swimming yet."
"Sounds awesome. Hey, Mike, you wanna-"
"No."
"Such a sour puss." She laughed at him as he chucked a shoe out his door at her. Yeah, they might as well be brothers and sister. They all acted like it.
Kaiya headed down to Sam's room and grabbed her suntan lotion and her swimsuit and threw them into a small duffel bag she had. Sam came out of the bathroom and handed her the extra beach towel he grabbed. She shoved that in the top of the bag, too. "Thanks. I'll meet you downstairs in a few."
She bounded down the stairs and grabbed a water bottle from the fridge. She turned around to head back to the living room but nearly jumped out of her skin. Grandpa (she called him that, too; it was just easier) was standing right behind her. "Don't worry; I didn't touch your second shelf." She raised her hands in mock surrender as she smiled at him before walking towards the door. "Oh fuck, hey Sam!"
"Yeah?" He called from the top of the stairs.
"Can you grab my shades off your desk for me? Please and thank you!"
He was downstairs only moments later, tossing her aviators to her. She put them on her face before opening the door. "Let's motor."

"So is this how it's going to be, huh?"
"What?"
"We hang out during the day and you hang out with Michael at night?"
"Yeah. I mean, it only makes sense. You're more of a day person and me and Mike are more night people. Why?"
"But its' not fair. You sleep all day!" Sam semi-whined so Kai splashed him. They were chest deep in ocean water.
"Oh, shut up."
"So did you meet Mike's new friends?"
"Yeah, they seem awesome enough." She really did like them, one a lot more than the others. And to be honest, she was hoping that she would see them when they were at the beach. They didn't really seem like the swimming type, but they could have been chillin' on the boardwalk. She was a little disappointed when, after being there for two hours already, there was no sign of them.
Apparently they were more night people, like she was. She definitely favored the moon over the sun.
"I don't know. Ever since Michael saw that girl, he's been acting strange."
"Yeah well, when you find a girl you're attracted to, you'll act the same way." She half expected him to respond with something about how girls have cooties, but then she remembered that he wasn't a little kid anymore. Instead he just shrugged it off and jumped as the next wave came so it hit him in the chest, not the face. Since Kaiya was distracted by her nostalgic moment, she didn't see the wave and it hit her smack in the head. Sam laughed at her as she spit the salty water out of her mouth and pushed the wet hair off her face. "Oh you think that's funny, huh?" She lunged at him and pushed his head under the water for a brief moment.
After another twenty minutes or so, Kaiya decided to dry off and get a little bit of sun. She slid on her shorts before stretching out on her stomach on her beach towel and Sam sat on his. "I'm going to get some fries. Want anything?"
"Just bring back enough to share. Oh," she reached for her water bottle and handed it to him. "And can you fill this for me? NO ocean water."
"Fiiiine. Fountain water. I'll be back." As he jumped up he kicked sand on her. She just groaned a bit, but didn't say anything because she knew that was actually an accident. When she laid her head back down, she must have dozed off because it seemed like he was back in just a minute or two. He got her attention by placing the cold water bottle on the base of her bare back.
"Ahh cold!" She turned over and launched the bottle into the sand.
"You might want to rotate; you're starting to look a bit red."
"Thanks. How long were you gone?" She pulled the water bottle out of the sand and wiped it off before placing it next to her on her towel.
"Only 30 minutes."
"Good, I shouldn't be too bad then." She reached over and grabbed a fry from Sam and shoved it into her mouth.
They were quiet for a few minutes until Sam broke the silence. "So Mom has a date with this Max guy tonight."
"Really?"
"Yeah, and she wants Michael to babysit me."
"You don't need a babysitter."
"That's what I said. I told her that I just wanted to sit around the house tonight and read my comics and Mike has plans. I told her I'd be fine."
"Plans?"
"Yeah, the boardwalk again. Probably with that girl. I swear..." Sam continued to babble on about his brother and this girl but Kaiya wasn't really listening. She was just thinking about seeing a certain group of boys tonight- and one in particular.

-------------------------------------

Kaiya made and ate dinner with Michael, Sam and their grandfather. Nothing special, just something quick and easy. Once they were done, she and Sam putzed around the house for a bit before she showered and got ready to go to the boardwalk with Michael. She just ended up putting her shorts back on but wore a red, long sleeved, off the shoulder shirt. She decided to forego all the normal jewelry tonight and just grabbed some sort of clip to hold her hair up on the back of her head. She, again, slid her bare feet in her Converses before checking her makeup and heading downstairs. She pinched her finger and made a note to remember to get another pair of shoes tomorrow. She kicked herself for not bringing more than one pair, but didn't really feel bad because usually she only ever wears her Converses.
"Kai, I'm leaving!"
"I'm coming, Michael!" She yelled as she grabbed some money and shoved it into her shoe before running down the hall. She only paused to poke her head in Sam's room for a quick second. "Are you sure you're ok? You don't want to come?"
"Don't worry about me. Hurry up because he will leave you." He smiled at her over his comic.
She smiled back, winked and continued running downstairs. She smashed into the door with her hands, stepped back to open it and dashed outside. She skidded in the gravel when she tried to stop at Michael's bike. It was already running and he was sitting on it, ready to go. He reached forward and grabbed her sleeve so she wouldn't fall backwards and then pulled her onto the bike behind him. "Kai, you are some kinda klutz."
"Yes, but it adds to my adorableness." She chuckled as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Or something." He joked with her before revving the bike and heading off towards the boardwalk.

It wasn't even five minutes after they arrived before Kaiya felt someone's hands around her waist. She smiled as Marko kissed her cheek before she turned around to face him. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Michael glare at him, but she didn't care. She didn't want to deal with him acting like the overprotective brother right now. All she wanted was to enjoy being with Marko. David walked right by them, glancing over at her bare neck and giving Marko a strange look that seemed almost like a warning. Kaiya wondered for a short second what that was about but instantly forgot about it when she heard his voice in her ears. "Kaiiiiya." He dragged out her name when he said it.
"I've missed you, Marko. I mean, I know I just saw you last night... but I feel empty without you."
"I do too." He leaned in and kissed her full on the lips. This kiss had the potential to be long and intense, but was cut short when Paul and Dwayne popped up on either side of them.
"Yo, bud. This girl actually does need air, you know." Paul laughed at them until he stopped abruptly because Marko punched him in the stomach.
"Before you get too attached, Marko, let's do what we came here to do." Dwayne said as he turned to look at David.
David nodded and turned back to Michael. "Star, you stay with Michael and Kaiya. We'll meet you guys on the beach in 30 minutes."
Michael just nodded and looked at Star as she walked over to them. Marko nuzzled Kaiya's neck before David forcefully squeezed his shoulder. Marko withdrew his head and let go of her. She kissed him on the cheek and the boys all walked into the throngs of people and were soon out of sight. As Michael turned to Kaiya and Star to presumably ask what they would like to do, Star interrupted him. "Can you go get us a pizza or something? And take Laddie with you. I want to talk to Kaiya."
Michael looked back and forth between the two girls before leaving them to themselves. Kaiya was a little uncomfortable because this was the first she ever heard Star speak, so what could she possible have to talk about with her? She didn't have to wonder long, Star dove right in. "Listen, I only have a little bit of time to talk to you and it's important. Come over here." She led them to a less crowded and place and looked around to make sure no one could over hear them. "You don't know what you're getting yourself into."
"Excuse me?"
"These boys. They aren't what they seem."
"What the hell are you talking about, Star?" Christ, this girl doesn't talk to her all last night and then the first thing she says to her is some paranoid shit?
"I can't tell you. But just trust me. Don't get involved."
"Are you just trying to scare me away? Are you jealous that they're bringing another girl into the circle and you won't be the princess anymore? Listen, hairbear," Star gasped at her, clearly offended, but Kaiya ignored her and just continued. "I hate drama and I don't appreciate you trying to start shit with me. It's bad enough that you are being nothing but a tease to Michael when it seems to me that you are with David. Just for that I would love to tear your throat out. But, for the sake of Michael and of new friends, I'll give you a chance. But I promise you that if you fuck with my brother, I'll fuck up your face." Now, of course Kaiya was completely unaware that she just threatened to fight a half vampire. But Star, even in her current state, was intimidated. There was just something about this girl that was terrifying. And Star could have swore that as the girl got angrier, her dark brown eyes got darker almost to the point of becoming black. Star didn't even question the fact that Kaiya called Michael her brother. She didn't say anything. And before she could even think about it, Michael came back.
"Kaiya, what's up?" He was a bit leery; he recognized that look. Clearly Star angered her. But he wasn't gone long so what could have possibly happened?
"Nothing. Just setting some things straight." Her angered abated just as fast as it had surfaced and she smiled at Michael. He let it slide and opened the pizza box.
"What is this? A Pac man pizza?" Kaiya joked as she reached for a slice.
"Laddie got hungry." He rubbed the little tyke's head with his free hand and she looked down to see pizza sauce all over his face.
Kaiya looked over at Star one last time to make sure she got her point across before walking over and sitting on the railing nearby. By the time it was time to head down to the beach, they had killed the whole pizza. Kaiya ran into a nearby store and bought a few gumballs. She didn't want to kiss Marko with pizza breath. When she came out she offered Laddie first dibs and he took the red one. Kaiya then popped the blue one in her mouth and offered one to Michael. He shook his head and they both looked at Star. Just because Kaiya didn't like Star didn't mean she couldn't be civil. But Star didn't want one either so she gave the last two to Laddie and told him to save them for later. She leapt over the railing and landed on her feet in the sand. Unfortunately, she lost her footing and fell forward on her knees but she didn't let that stop her. She sprang back up and ran down to the water's edge to wait for the others while Michael, Star and Laddie stayed towards the middle of the beach. She saw them approaching first, the wind blowing their hair and jackets around their body as they walked towards them. She chuckled softly. It was like a cheesy scene from a movie. But she stopped as soon as she locked eyes with Marko. He separated from the other three as they walked towards Michael and Marko walked over to Kaiya. He wrapped one arm around her waist and placed his other hand on her left cheek. "Hey." He seemed different. More confident, stronger.
"Hi." She felt her insides begin to boil and she tightened her grip on his hips, pulling him closer to her. He smirked at her reaction and leaned down to ravish her lips with his. This was, by far, the most heated kiss they had yet. They backed into the shadows of a nearby dock, only stopping when Kaiya hit her back on of the wooden posts underneath. Marko pushed his body into hers as he deepened the kiss. She moaned into his mouth and ran her hands up under his jacket. She reluctantly pulled back from the kiss, feeling the need to breathe. While she was catching her breath (he didn't seem to need to) she watched him as his eyes and fingers trailed across her collarbone and around her neck. She saw him ever so slightly lick his lips and she gently, but firmly pushed her fingers into his back. It brought his attention back to her face and he began planting kisses all along her jaw as his hand began to travel under her shirt and along her sides and back. "Marko." She barely was able to say his name aloud, what he was doing to her was taking her breath away. "Have you ever felt like this before?"
He lifted his lips from her skin just long enough to respond. "No. It was fate that brought us together. I never want to let you go." He moved his lips to the other side of her jaw.
"I never want to be without you either. It's just, Star said something to me tonight," she didn't even finish her sentence, but the mention of Star talking to her made him immediately stop what he was doing and look her in the eye.
"What did she say?"
"She told me not to get involved with you. That you weren't what you seemed." She paused to see Marko's response. But he didn't change. He was waiting to see just how much Star said. "So I threatened to rip out her throat."
It took a second for Marko to realize what she said, and then he started laughing. After a moment or two, he took her face in his hands and kissed her quickly on the lips. "I swear, I love you already." She smiled at him and kissed him back. Before they had a chance to pick up where they left off, David appeared out of nowhere. These boys had a tendency to do that.
"Having fun? Playing safe?" He smirked looking from Kaiya to Marko. Kaiya blushed and tried to hide her face.
"Don't worry, David. Everything is under control."
"I wasn't worried. I know you'll make the right decision. I just came to tell you that we were thinking about taking Michael over to the bridge."
Marko smirked at David and then looked back at Kaiya. "Come on, it'll be fun."

-------------------------------------

The whole ride there, Kaiya could feel Michael's eyes on her back. It wasn't because she usually rides with him and he was hurt that she chose to ride with Marko instead. No, it was because it wasn't just a ride with a friend; it was a ride with someone who tried to suck off her face. It was his job to play the older brother and look out for her, and she was grateful, but he didn't have anything to worry about. She turned around and looked at him, the look in his eyes... she couldn't peg exactly what it was, but it was fierce. She just pointed to him and gave him that 'don't start' look. Before she even turned back around, she felt Marko slowing. They were there. It wasn't a long drive at all. Once stopped, Marko jumped off the bike before she even had the chance to think about it. When she did start to swing her leg over, he put his hand on her thigh to stop her. She looked from his hand, up to his face, questioning.
He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "We're going to play a game. I don't want you worry. But I don't want you on that bridge until the train passes."
"Train? What train?" She was slightly worried. She knew they weren't stupid enough to put themselves in danger, but she was worried about what might happened to Michael. Accidents happen.
"Don't worry about it, ok?" He started kneading her thigh with his fingers and she almost forgot what they were talking about.
She sighed outwardly. "Marko-"
"Kaiya. Please." He kissed her gently and his hand dropped to her inner thigh and inched up just the slightest little bit- not enough to make any promises, just enough to imply. She moaned quietly into his mouth, but their kiss ended abruptly. Not only was Marko's lips suddenly pulled from hers, but his hand was jerked away too. She opened her eyes to see him a few steps away with Michael right up in his face and his fingers wrapped tightly around the collar of Marko's jacket.
"Watch yourself, Marko. I don't like how fast you're moving with Kaiya."
"She's a big girl. She can take care of herself. And I don't see her complaining." Marko responded, smirking.
He just succeeded in pissing Michael off more. He slammed Marko against the beginning of the bridge and Kaiya jumped off the bike and grabbed his arm. "Michael! Enough. Stop trying to control me."
"Control you?" He looked quickly from Kaiya to Marko, then back at Kaiya. "I'm not controlling you. I'm trying to protect you."
"Overprotect me. I don't need another father. I just want you to be my brother. I know what I'm doing. Just trust me. Be happy for me."
Michael's grip loosened and Marko shook free of his grasp. In any other circumstance, he probably would have snapped Michael's spine in half. But since it was just him worrying about a girl that was pretty much his sister- a girl who happened to be Kaiya, Marko understood. He let him slide. "Michael, I'm not going to hurt her. I would give my life to protect her."
Although a little shocked by the commitment that they were already throwing into this relationship, especially from Marko, Michael believed them. "I'm sorry, man. It's just-"
"Forget it, Mike," Kaiya interrupted before hugging him. "Forget it all happened. Now go have fun with the boys while I babysit the bikes."
"By yourself?"
"Yeah, nothing's going to get me. There are no crazy darkness monsters out here."
Of course when she said that, she didn't see David and Paul smirk at each other. She did, however, see David come wrap his arms around Michael's shoulder and lead him out onto the bridge. "Come on, Michael. Before it's too late."
She couldn't really hear him say anything else and she didn't try to. She just went back over and sat on Marko's bike to wait for them. It had only been a few minutes when she heard Michael yelling something. When Kai looked up, she didn't see any of them. A bit worried, she stood and walked over to the bridge. Once she was on the tracks, she noticed Michael's hunched figure peering over the edge. Just when she was about to call to him, he climbed over the edge. He moved too slow to be jumping, so there must have been a ledge or something, she thought. She just continued to walk to where she previously saw him and the closer she got, the louder the hooting and hollering got. Once she got to where she last saw Michael, she stopped and looked down. There were all five of the boys, swinging from some steel bars under the bridge. She laughed at them and they all looked up at her.
"Aww, why wasn't I invited to hang?"
"Don't, Kai. It's too high. And you have no upper body strength."
"Thanks Mike!"
"I'm serious, Kaiya."
"Oh, why not let her have a little fun too?" David interjected, the smile clearly heard in his voice. "Besides, in a few seconds, it's going to be her only option if she wants to live."
Both Kaiya and Michael looked at David, confused, but within seconds they heard the train whistle. Feeling a sudden rush of adrenaline, Kaiya smiled down at the daredevils and sat on the edge, dangling her feet. She scooted down to one of the bars and sat on it like a swing. "Who needs arm strength when I can just sit?"
"Yeah, until the train comes by and takes off your head." Michael repied, a hint of worry in his voice.
"No problem." By now the train was very near to the bridge so Kaiya leaned back and let herself fall so that she was hanging upside down from her knees. The train drove over the tracks above them and they all began to shake. Kaiya began laughing, enjoying the thrill. After a few seconds, Paul let go. Kai and Michael both yelled.
"Don't be scared!" Marko screamed over the rumble of the train before winking at Kaiya and releasing his grip.
Dwayne seemed a lot less willing, but eventually fell. David just chuckled lightly and told Michael that he was one of them. "Let go." As David let go and began to plummet, Michael yelled his name as the last of the train already began to distance itself. Both Michael and Kaiya sat there for a minute, staring at the fog below them. Then they heard, from seemingly somewhere very distant, the boys calling their names. Kaiya, still upside down, looked over at Michael. "I trust them. I trust Marko. You should too." She leaned up and grabbed the bar with her hands.
"No, Kaiya! Don't let go!"
Kaiya just smiled at him before kicking her legs back over her head and letting her body fall until her arms couldn't bend anymore. Then she let go.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THE REVIEWS.
It makes my day when my blackberry lights up and I check my email and it's someone leaving a review. =D
So thank you to those of you that did and I hope you continue to enjoy!

And props to you if you understood the reference in this chapter and can name the source.
And don't say Futurama, haha.

Love, peace and chicken grease.