Disclaimer: I own plot, Adele, Avril, Bryce, Emmeline, Tristan, Chase, and nothing else. ((Lol))

ONE DAY LATER

Bryce's POV

I stared at the small, grey house the head man, I mean, Kit, had bought in the crowded city.

First thing I noted was it wasn't in the best part of the city, and it wouldn't be big enough for all of us.

Not that Avril and I would stay.

Just for a day or two, then we would head out. Try to figure this "vampire" crap out.

I still had a hopeful twinge of doubt in me, that they were liars, that someone would pop out any minute with an "Gotcha!" or "I'm an actor, he's an actor, were all actors, and your on Pranked!"

But so far, all the supernatural stuff they'd said proved to be…true. So far, I had no evidence I wasn't a vampire…or that I was. Except for the weird, cold feeling inside me, like everything was frozen, and the weird red that was slowly filling in my eyes. And the "super speed" blondie swore she saw.

Avril shifted next to me as the big, dark haired guy- Bigfoot, as I called him, based on attitude and size, stood, staring at the house with blondie at his side.

They stared for a long time with out saying anything, and for some reason, my eyes seemed glued to them.

"Bryce," Avril said, shaking me.

I blinked and shook my head. What was up with me?

Oh yeah. I just found out I'm a mythical creature.

I turned to Avril, who was studying me with worried eyes. "What about Mom? Dad?" She asked, wrapping her arms around herself. "What would they think?" She asked, looking disgusted.

I knew my sister well enough to practically feel the guilt she was feeling.

"It's not our fault. We didn't do anything," I tried to make her feel better, but I felt it inside me too. If Mom and Dad were here, they'd be horrified.

"Still," She said, wringing her hands.

"Bryce?"

I looked up to see blondie staring at me, Big foot nowhere to be seen.

"Are you staying?" She asked, her voice low, almost like she was shy. Though I doubted she really was.

Avril looked at me, swallowed, then nodded. "Thank you, Chloe." Avril said her name carefully, unsure if it was right, I assumed.

Chloe nodded, and smiled slightly. But it was easy to see the smile was fake. She turned slowly, awkwardly, and disappeared in the small house.

I sighed as I watched the boy who Avril had interest in (not that she would admit it) carry a baby into the house, followed by an older, dark haired woman whose name I forgot.

The boy looked at us, then quickly looked away when Avril looked back. I wanted to roll my eyes.

The dark haired woman decided to pretend we didn't exist.

I watched as they disappeared into the house. "How can you like him," I whispered into Avril's ear. "You don't even know him." I shook my head.

"So far," She said, backing away from me, slowly heading toward the house. She turned so she was walking backward. "Simon is the only other one beside Chloe, who is actually showing sympathy for us." She shrugged, and with a nervous look my way, headed toward the house.

Simon.

I couldn't really care less what they're names were.

I sighed again, and followed her up to the small screen door to the house. She stopped in front of it.

Kit looked at us through the screen, awkwardly waiting outside. He slid open the screen door, then went back to organizing something in a small brown box.

"Thanks," Avril muttered, I let her step inside first. I uncomfortably stood there for a moment, while Avril bravely decided to head into the house, peeking down a hallway, still wringing her hands.

I'll be honest; I was surprised there even was a hallway.

"Bryce," Kit said, startling me. I turned to him.

"Would you mind taking this to the kitchen?" He asked.

I hesitantly nodded, and he gave me the small box, filled of kitchen supplies. He paused for a minute, staring a my wrist. I looked down to it, and realized the scars were visible

"Where's the kitchen?" I asked quickly, trying to draw his attention away from my wrist.

He slowly looked up, swallowed and said "Uh, down there." He nodded toward the hall Avril went down.

I nodded, and took off down that hall. As soon as I was out of his sight, I glanced down at my wrists, covered with the rusty colored scars that lied horizontal on my arms.

I let out a breath, then looked up to find a wooden door in the small, grey hallway propped open. I ducked inside to find Simon and Chloe talking in hushed tones, Avril lingering around the wooden table, which sat on a white, carpeted floor.

As I walked in, and Simon and Chloe looked up at me. I saw Chloe study me, but I did my best not to look back. For some reason, I couldn't keep my eyes off her.

I cringed at that thought. I set the box down on the table, and Chloe and Simon stopped talking.

Avril and I looked at each other.

And I hoped she wouldn't get attached to anyone, because I wanted to leave as soon as we could.

Chloe's POV

Tori's cry haunted me, filling my brain, that awful memory of her heart wrenching sob as soon as she processed my words…

"Chase…They have Chase Tori. I'm so sorry. I did my best to get him back. We'll get him back. We will, I promise. There was nothing I could do."

I couldn't eat, or sleep.

Tori had went off, heart broken, with her babies. At least she has them, I thought.

Simon, as much as he tried to comfort me, was just as heartbroken as Tori was.

Derek seemed weird around Bryce and Avril, and they seemed uncomfortable, but I could understand why. I would be exactly the same if my only choice right after finding out I was something I didn't believe in was too stay with a bunch of total strangers.

Bryce, for some reason, caught my attention. There was something about him…it seemed…sad. Almost tragic.

But my senses were still off after the ten hour drive, and everything else that plagued my mind.

I turned on the lumpy couch, and gave up. It was evident I was never going to get any sleep.

"Chloe?" Derek whispered from the small, grey couch to my left. I sat up.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

I shook my head, and I realized I was crying.

Derek walked over to me, and sat down next to me. "Come here," He said softly, and pulled me into his lap. He wrapped his arms around me, and I buried my face in the crook of his neck. Derek pulled up the flimsy blanket around us.

"I'm a screw up," I muttered.

"Don't say that," He said, his voice full of something I didn't recognize. I pulled away and wiped a tear. He caressed my face, willing me to look at him.

"Chloe," He started. "You don't understand how much you mean to me."

I'll admit it was a really cheesy line, but the way he said it, the way his green eyes seemed to melt into mine, it made me go soft.

"I love you. I'm in love with you," he continued. I cuddled closer to him. I opened my mouth to speak, but he shook his head and looked down. My brows furrowed in confusion.

"Chloe Saunders," He looked back up to me. A knot tied in my stomach.

He smiled for a minute, confusing me even more when he said "I gotta do this right."

"What are you..?" I shook my head as he got up. He looked at me, took a deep breath, and then got down on both knees.

My breath caught.

"Chloe," He said my name steadily. I could see the nervousness in his eyes…

No. He could not being doing what I think he is…

He ran a hand through his hair, looked away, then looked up at me.

"Will you marry me?"

Speechless.

I was speechless.

Frozen to the couch, blankly staring at him, who was staring at me.

Waiting for a response.

"Will you marry me?"

The question rang in my mind.

….

Finally, my senses slapped back.

And I pretty much tackled him, and I think I let out a squeal.

My lips fiercely met his, and I heard him laugh.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Yes!" I squealed without thinking.

Derek purposed. To me!

I was engaged!

For that sweet moment, everything disappeared. All the problems, all the worries were gone. It was just Derek and I, and nothing else mattered.

We were kissing when he pulled away.

"Wait," He said, a wide smile on his lips. He pulled something out of his jean pocket, and it took a minute for my eyes to adjust.

He was holding a ring.

I gaped at him. "How did you get-"

Derek's head turned, and I looked where he was.

My Aunt Lauren stood there, her hair all over the place, staring at us.

I didn't really know what to say. She looked to me, then him, then to the shiny ring in his fingers.

She raised her brows.

"Really?" She asked, disbelief clouding her face.

I swallowed. A hand flew to her chest.

"Oh my God," She shook her head, a giant smile taking over her face. I relaxed, and a laugh escaped my lips, surprising me.

"What's going on?" Simon rushed out from the hall way, like he was afraid someone was attacking. He paused when we came into view.

He took a deep breath, relieved.

"Well, it's about friggin time." He muttered, and smiled.

And in all the darkness, there was a light.

There was no doubt we had work in front of us. Possibly the worst battle ever.

But for the moment, in Derek's arms, I was happy, and safe.

THE END

*Sniff sniff*

Well, this is it for The Changing! Like I said before, you guys are the best ever! I can't believe I actually wrote a fanfic. This was all a big challenge for me a kind of "If I can do this, I can do anything," test.

You guys rock. I can't stop saying that enough! Thank you all so much!

All of you who were with me from the beginning, and all those who joined along! Even if you haven't commented, I thank you so much for reading! I remember when it seemed like it was impossible to write that first short chapter, now it comes second nature.

I can't believe it's over!

:')