I finished soaking the sun by 7:30 am. I wanted to go to sleep, but didn't feel like closing my eyes just yet. I wandered around the halls of the manor for a while before ending up in the kitchen and grabbing some Fruit Loops.

I was sitting at the table reading last Sunday's comics when King walked in with a look of pure anger. My eyes widened and I felt the need to run screaming bloody murder. The only thing that kept me from doing so was his defeated posture.

He glanced at me. "Don't look at me like that, runt."

I swallowed and erased the emotions written on my face. "Sorry," I mumbled and returned to my cereal.

He sighed and sat down across from me at the table. He eyed the cereal box next to me on the table.

"What I would give to have one last bowl of Fruit Loops," he said.

I smiled. "I'll gladly enjoy them for you."

"Whatever," he said flatly, but I saw a hint of a smile.

"So," I started, "why so serious?"

He folded his arms on the table and put down his head. "Ha-ha. Very funny, kid."

"Whatever. Just thought you might want to talk about why you're so mad." I began to finish my cereal.

He looked up sharply. "You'll know in due time. But for now, I need to sleep and so do you, little one."

I snapped, "I'm not little!"

"Ha! You are only 17. I'm…" he counted on his fingers. He looked back up and smiled uncertainly. "Uhm, let's just say I am a lot older than you are."

I rolled my eyes and stood. "Whatever…" I waited until I was done washing my bowl in the sink to say, "…grandpa."

I heard the screech of the chair and the thump of it fall before I dashed out of the room and up the stairs. He followed me, and we ending up in my room. I landed in my bed and screamed, "Safety!"

"You win this round, pipsqueak," he said, pinching my nose in a teasing way.

I smiled. "Tuck me in for old time's sake?"

He returned the smile. "Sure, Zo."

I slid under the covers and he pulled them up to my chin. He kissed my forehead and walked toward the doors. He flipped the switch and my room went dark.

"Night, Zo. Sleep well."

"You, too, King."

He left my room without another word. Only an expression I knew too well.

Worry.

I woke up to the sound of my door slamming open and a battle cry echoing my bedroom walls. I sat up and lunged for a weapon. I knew all too well that I didn't have a weapon in my room. I only had a bedside table lamp. I grabbed for that and held it over my shoulder, prepared to swing if needed. This all took place within six seconds.

I blinked my eyes quickly to clear my vision. There, standing at the end of my bed, was the outline of King. He was smiling like he saw something very entertaining. I bet my little scramble was very amusing to him. It was still light out! What the fuck!

"You bastard," I croaked, rubbing my eyes since blinking wasn't helping much. "I was having a good dream."

He leaned against my bed post, still smiling. Jerk. "Oh? About what?"

I thought back. "I, uh, don't remember." I scratched my head. "What do you want?"

"Just thought I'd wake up the human." He shrugged.

"Well, you succeeded in waking me way too early. Now, why don't you make yourself useful and make me some breakfast." I put down the lamp and landed back into my pillows.

"Unless you want to drink blood, I suggest that the cook feed you instead of me."

I lifted my head a fraction. He smiled wide at me.

"Go screw yourself."

"Hey hey hey! That is unacceptable, young lady."

I glared at him.

"You are to never say that to me! You can only say that to other vampires who have pissed you off."

"You are included in that group, dumbass." I crashed into my bed once again.

"No respect. What have they been teaching you all these years?"

"Nothing worth learning, I assure you," I mumbled into my pillow.

He suddenly jumped on my and started to shake me.

"What the fuck?!" I screamed. "Get off! Let me sleep dammit!"

"Wake up, sleeping beauty!"

"I need to sleep to be a beauty, fucker!"

Then he did the most embarrassing thing I've seen him do yet.

He jumped off of me and landed on the floor beside my bed. He began to dance. He sang, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T find out what it means to me. R-E-S-P-E-C-T, take care, TCB. Oooh! Sock it to me, sock it to me."

"STOP!" I threw a pillow at his head, which of course he dodged. "You are most annoying friend I've ever had!"

"But that's why you're still friends with me." He began walking toward the door. Without turning, he said, "Oh, and by the way, you are going to start training with me."

I lifted my head, "Why?"

He turned around after he opened the door. "So I can torture you."

I threw my other pillow. He ducked and it went flying into the hall. I heard something crash. I mumbled, "Fuck."

King laughed. "Very nice. Try explaining that to Drake."

"I'll tell him I killed you with a pillow. He'll forgive me."

"I'm sure he will, princess."

I fell into my thousands of pillows a third time—or was it a fourth? "Goodbye, King."

"The correct term would be 'see you in ten minutes'."

"Goodbye, King," I repeated.

He left and I got out of bed.

I went through my morning ritual in a daze. I dressed and ate all the time wondering why the hell King was going to train me instead of Lee. Maybe it was to make up for lost time? Maybe…

But I didn't think so.

A/N: Short, I know, but I wanted to get a chapter out for you guys and gals. Now, I will try to get another chapter out this week. I can't promise you that, though. I will try my hardest. I promise. Review. Review. Review! (:

-Willow.