This is a very pathetic update considering how long it's been... Sorry guys. I really do want to finish this story, but my heart's just no longer in it. A lot has changed since I began writing this story.

I've been very tempted to rewrite the earlier chapters, but- let's be honest here- it's probably not going to happen. Either way, I hope you like this miniscule chapter I've been able to scrap up for you.

Start chapter 11: It's Not Okay

It's safe to say I didn't sleep well that night. At first, I just didn't want to fall asleep. But, could you really blame me? I mean that was... out of this world. Things like that just don't happen in real life. I mean, forget about the whole vampire thing- that's another inner conversation all in itself- I'm talking about him as a boy. Young man. And me. As a girl, working her way into becoming a young woman. Was this really happening? Was it a dream? Was this all a nightmare gone good? Could someone like Gregory actually be real? Was this really my life? Was it all in my head? Was this real? Was I losing my mind?

I didn't want to sleep that night, because I was afraid I might wake up to California skies. No longer able to see those red eyes, simply because they did not exist. But I did. I fell asleep and my mind reminded me of the truth I had forgotten in my giddy, school-girl bliss:

I was broken.

The dream was dark, yet it was so bright. Outside, surrounded by stones. I was looking at red, on the floor. When I looked up, I saw a boy my age being shot by a strange gun. He fell, covered in red and looked me straight in the eye. I hated those eyes. They were the same as hers. That woman who hated me and I hated in return. Her ice blue eyes in a wedding dress, walking towards my father with a greedy smile that he mistook for love. But with the light draining from his eyes, I saw no hatred. Only concern. And regret. Why? And all at once I was eleven years old. Why did you run!? My mother was face up, bloody and mangled in the street, staring me dead in the eye. Why didn't you look, you stupid, stupid girl! The longer I stared the more eyes I felt upon me. Look! They blamed me. Look what you did to your mother, you stupid, ungrateful child! They began to strangle me. Just look! But I couldn't look away. Just die! I just couldn't.

Suddenly, I was staring down the barrel of that same strange gun.

"Have fun in Hell, Traitor."

It went off. I screamed.

"Jennive! Jennive! Wake up!"

My eyes snapped open and I sprung out of someone's grip and off my bed. I fell onto my hands and knees; forcing heaves of oxygen into empty, burning lungs. Drinking it like a fish thrown back into the sea, coughing and choking on the air until hands pulled me back up into a sitting position. My cheeks being lightly slapped and a frantic voice calling me.

"Jennive? Jennive, sweetheart, can you hear me?" Aunt Dot. I grabbed her arm and held onto it for dear life.

"Jen? You okay?" Uncle Bob was beside me. I couldn't breathe. I shook my head. "Can you stand?" I nodded and was lifted more by the two of them by my own strength.

"It was just a dream, okay? You're okay. It's all going to be okay. Okay?" I really wish he'd stop saying 'okay'.

"Can I-," I cleared my throat. Not liking the quiver, "Can I get a glass of water. Please." Uncle Bob nodded and gave me a kiss on the top of my head.

"See? You're okay." He ruffled my hair, then exit the room.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I shook my head. "It might make you feel better?"

"No, thank you," I confirmed harshly, trying to get rid of the shake in my voice. It was amplified. Aunt Dot looked at me with worry and uncertainty while I looked down at the floor. She pulled me in and held me close, kissing the top of my head as she rock gently back and forth. Tony was lucky to have Aunt Dot. Even if she didn't know what to do or what was even wrong, she would still try to make it all better. She had a mother's touch. But her hugs and kisses weren't the ones I wanted.

Choking on my dry tongue, I tried to speak. "I... I miss.. I miss Mom." My eyes were stinging." I miss my Mamma, Aunt Dot."

"Oh, Jennive," she pulled me closer.

"I miss her so much!" I started to cry.

End Chapter 11