Chapter 2

Alex and Bill re-entered the room where the rest of the band was still sitting, worried expressions still plastered across their faces. Even Tom still looked worried. He stood and held her phone out to her hesitantly, afraid that she would get mad. She just took it from him and pocketed it, looking distracted.

"You alright?" Georg asked, concerned like the rest.

"Yes. I'm fine." She replied, calm once again.

The group made small talk for a while, Alex never leaving Bill's side.

"Oh shit! I was supposed to be back at the hotel an hour ago! I'm dead!"

"Which hotel? I'll drive you." Bill jumped up too, offering his hand.

"The Holton Garden on 28th street." They joined hands and ran out to Bill's car, Alex jumping into the passenger side and Bill into the driver's seat.

"My teacher's gonna fuck me up!" Alex shouted. She was known for her interesting language among her friends; she was very creative in that respect.

"Your teacher?"

"Yes, my teacher. It's a long story."

"Well, we have time; it's a little ways yet to your hotel."

"OK, well, I guess I owe you for the ride. I'm here with my class on a trip. I was in my room when I heard you guys were doing a concert and you're my favorite band so I had to come; it was just necessary. But my mom was completely against it, me having no one to go with, so she said I couldn't. My temper got the best of me and I threw a bit of a temper tantrum and locked myself in my room. Thankfully my school is cheap and we had rooms on the second floor. So I formulated my escape. I used the hotel computer to reserve tickets. Then, when the time came for the class to leave I said I was sick and stayed by myself in the room, cuz my mom had to chaperone. After I knew they were long gone, I got ready to leave. I jumped out the window and landed in a bush. Then I made my way across town on foot and ended up at the arena. And I think you know the rest from there."

"You JUMPED out your SECOND FLOOR window?!" Bill realized just how gutsy the plan was and fully appreciated that fact. But, most of all, he was strangely aftaid at the lack of concern the girl seemed to have about her own safety.

"Mhm. Is there a problem with that?"

"You could have been hurt, badly hurt."

"It was a risk I was willing to take. Besides, what would it matter if I did? No one would care"

"I would care!" Bill didn't know why he had said it, and didn't even realize he had until it was out. But it was true. He knew it was. He already felt attached to this mysterious girl. He didn't even want to think that he was going to lose her in just a short amount of time. As short as a few minutes, maybe. No, he decided mentally, I need to see her again before she leaves New York. Who knows, maybe even after. Woah! That was a thought he didn't want to hear. I shouldn't already be thinking like that! I barely know the girl for god sakes. And who knows, maybe she doesn't like me that way either. But that was hard to believe, with the way that she had curled up next to him in the hallway, the way his very presence seemed to make a significant difference in her emotional state. But one thing was for sure. He had to see her more before she left.

"What are you doing when you get back to your hotel? With your class, I mean."

"I'm assuming that we will be going out to eat, Carrabbas I think they said this morning. Why?"

"I was just wondering if we could, that is if you want to, hang out sometime before you leave."

"Want to? Are you kidding me?! I thought you would never ask!"

"Really? Ok then. Maybe me and the guys can hit up Carrabbas tonight then."

"That would be awesome. That's the hotel, right there on the left." Alex pointed to it out the window and Bill turned in to the narrow drive next to it. It wasn't in the greatest part of town and it looked a little beat up. She said her school was cheap, he thought. She jumped out and so did he, to her great surprise.

"I want to make sure you find your class alright before you leave." He had the cutest accent she had ever heard in her life. It made her heart skip a beat every time he spoke. These were the moments she had previously only dreamed of. They walked into the lobby to find a group of teenagers, very preppy-looking teenagers, standing around in groups. Alex turned to Bill, a sick expression on her face.

"That's them, unfortunately." Her expression did well to express her hatred towards the preps standing around.

"Oh, that's just lovely." Bill looked around, his voice sarcastic as could be. He, too, wore an expression of dislike. These looked like the very clone-like bullies who hat tormented him in his younger years. He wondered briefly if the ones bullying Alex were in this very room. The thought angered him and he quickly distracted himself.

Just then one of the buys turned and yelled to the others, "Hey look! There are two vampires now!" A tough-looking, shortish, red-haired woman gave him a glare and walked towards the two alternatively dressed people. Someone who Bill guesses was a teacher settled down the now laughing students. Bill couldn't quite guess what age they were. Some looked really young but some looked to be years older than the others.

"Where have you been?! I've been worried sick!" The woman who had come over to them spoke, looking at Alex with a maternal expression. Her mother, Bill guessed.

"Where do you think I've been?"

"Don't tell me you went to that concert! Do you even know how dangerous that was?"

"I'm fine, mother. Chill!"

"I can see that but it was still a huge safety risk! And how did you get back?" She looked at Bill for the first time and something like recognition flickered in her eyes. "Oh, don't tell me you…. He….. Is that the Bill you always talk about?! How….. why….. YOU LET A STRANGER DRIVE YOU BACK!"

"NO mother he's not a stranger. I know basically everything about him. He's not just some random stranger. Don't freak. Jeez."

"Not to mention," Her mother wasn't done yet. "You held up your whole class. We were supposed to go eat an hour ago."

"Then let's go eat. See you there, Bill." Alex hugged him and he hugged back, though a little surprised. She took off with her group after she changed clothes and washed some of her "way to heavy" makeup off.

Alex paused at her window looking out on the world. It had been raining and was now grey. Perfect, just like my brain, that is, before I met the love of my life a few short hours ago. But like my brain none-the-less. She rolled her eyes and wondered back down to the lobby.

"Hey vampire…"one boy started.

"Shut it fag," she glared at him with icy eyes. He was not going to ruin her day anymore. She walked away closer to the teacher, ignoring both her mother's glare and the students whispering.

The students loaded into the taxi vans and headed off to the restaurant that was uptown a little ways. It was about a twenty minute drive and Alex sat curled up in the back corner of the van the whole time, trying to ignore the insults flying her way. Her mother, who was sitting in the front of the cab, seemed oblivious to it all. Once they got there all the students stormed in to the resteraunt, the smell of food taunting them. Well, all but Alex anyways. She stuck around outside to wait for Bill and the other guys. No one even noticed.

Ten minutes later a car pulled up next to the curb and out jumped Bill, Georg, and Tom. Gustav went to park the car and Alex ran over to Bill, jumping into his arms. He hugged back, a feeling of content in his chest. This seemed right, normal, to him. The other guys just watched as Bill smiled, seeming happier than he had been in a while.

"How was your ride over? Did anyone bother you?" Bill asked, concerned again.

"No more than usual." Alex answered, unconcerned. "But that doesn't matter now, because…..nope, that's staying in my head."

"What? I want to know what you were going to say."

"No I…" Bill gave her a look that she couldn't say no to "Oh alright." Alex blushed deeply and Bill smiled. He liked the flaming red of her cheeks. "I was going to say because you are here now…" Alex's voice trailed off and she looked down at the ground in embarrassment. The other band members were choking back laughter and Bill glared at them, silencing them.

"I think we are just going to head inside and get a table now." Tom and Georg walked inside, leaving Bill and Alex alone on the sidewalk. Alex was still staring at the ground.

"Why are you embarrassed? It's not a bad thing to…. To…. Care for someone." Now Bill was looking at the ground too. A few seconds later they both looked up and their eyes met. Both pairs were full of unspoken emotions.

Alex half-laughed. "It is if you're me…"

"Caring is never a bad thing. Why would it be?"

"Because if I care too much about something or someone, it's easier to get hurt.

"I'm not going to hurt you."

"But one day you will leave me; everyone does. I'm not good enough for a normal person, let alone you! I wouldn't ever be good enough…… and that probably should have stayed in my head."

"What makes you think I'm going to be like everyone else?"

"It's not you, it's me. There's no point for anyone to be with me; I'm just not good enough." Bill wrapped his arms around her and held her close and tight.

"That is not true. You are good enough. I've only known you for a day and I can already tell you that."

Alex pulled back from Bill, taking all the strength she had. "Yes it is. Now, my mother is going to murder me if I stay out here any longer and I'm already dead as it is, so I'm going to head inside now." Alex looked at his face one last time before turning and disappearing through the doors. Bill sighed in frustration. Why does she feel like she isn't good enough for me? For anyone? She definitely is, but she can't see that for some reason. I have to show her that she is, but how? She's only here for a few more days. Bill walked in the doors after her. I just have to show her, somehow.

"Bill! Over here!" Georg waved him him over and Bill sat. He spotted Alex sitting a few tables away, looking miserable.

"Hey, little freak. What's got you so upset? Was it that freakish guy you were talking to outside? What, did he tell you that you were a loser like everyone else?"

Alex glared daggers in his direction, lips pressed together in a tight like. She looked around and found Bill, meeting his eye again, as if saying "See, I told you so!"

She got up, tears brimming in her eyes. I don't want to fight with Bill but I can't like him, I just can't. I won't be able to handle losing him. Why am I doing this to myself?! She walked as if in a daze towards the bathroom and the boy got up and followed. He looked back to see if there were any chaperones or teachers watching and seeing that he was clear, he reached out and shoved her hard into a wall. Alex glared again.

"That's exactly what he said, isn't it, vampire girl? You know I'm right, just like always." He got a cocky grin on his face. Alex chuckled.

"If you think you're always right then you better wake up and get a clue, idiot, cuz your not." He checked for teachers again, and then pushed her into the wall once more. She grimaced a little as her already-injured shoulder hit first this time. Bill had had enough. One of the things that bothered him most was bullies. He stood and signaled for Tom and the other two to follow if they wanted. Tom got up while the others stayed and continued to eat their food. They reached the alcove where the bathrooms were and Bill asked "Is everything ok, Alex?"

"Everything's fine." The boy answered. "Nothing to see here."

'I believe I asked Alex. Alex?"

Authors note: I hope you like this chapter! please review!!!!! It would make my day! =)