Walking into the building, I groaned at the look. There were random comics everywhere. Superman with batman, Thor with horror comics. And quite frankly it smelt like dope. Not that I minded that much…

Looking out the window, I sighed contentedly, the sun was going down. I removed my sunnies and walked over to the Horror section, while Sam walked over to the 'supposed' superhero section. Two guys followed him from the other side of the stand. I heard their whole conversation.

"Hey guys?" That was Sam.

"Noticed anything about Santa Carla yet?" Said the older looking one in a muscle shirt and a red bandana.

"Yeah, pretty cool isn't it? If "

I ignored the rest of the conversation as I came across a vampire book, curious, I picked it up. The first page was all about identifying vampires.

1. Tries to stay out of the daylight.

2. Sleeps all day, out all night.

3. Bad breath.

4. Longer finger nails.

Inhaling sharply I looked at my nails, they had grown longer. I did sleep all day and the light was affecting me. But surely I didn't have bad breath, right? As inconspicuously as I could, I swept my hair out of my eyes and then I breathed on my hand, woo! Boy that did stink!

I walked over to Sam. "Hey buddy, I've got business, to deal with; okay? Will you be alright here, with your friends?" I hoped he said yes, I had to go and see David, immediately.

"Yeah, we'll be fine. I'll see you later tonight?" he asked, sort of distracted.

"Maybe." And with that I walked out the door. I don't think he really heard my answer anyway.

I jumped on my bike and headed towards where I met the boys with Laddie the previous day. Sure enough there on their four bikes were the boys. I dumped the bike and ran over to them. I jumped on the back of Marko's bike and whispered in his ear; "I've decided and the answer is no, I want to stay human."

He looked down at me really disappointed. He was about to speak before I whacked him across the head. "You idiot! Did you really think I'd choice to stay human!" I grinned and he whooped and yelled out to tell the others.

Suddenly I was surrounded by hugs. Faces passed by my eyes; Paul, Dwayne, Marko, David, Star and Laddie, the latter holding onto my legs before being picked up by me.

"So, when are you going to make your first kill?" Marko asked me.

"Um, can't one of you like just bite me or something?" I said awkwardly.

"Nope, and what difference would it make anyway? You'd have to kill someone eventually…" Dwayne answered for him.

"Damn. Who? Where? When? And it cant be anyone I know, okay?" I said making sure they knew that I wasn't just about to kill like my brother or Grandpa.

"Yeah, yeah. Dwayne, you go with her. We have unfinished business with Star and her companion." David said, I could see Marko was going to complain, but with the look in David's eyes he knew there was no arguing.

Dwayne and me, walked towards our bikes and walked them through the boardwalk. "Before I, you know, I need to do something and I want your help."

"What are you going to do?" He asked curious.

"Buy a puppy. Since I'm leaving home, which I will be, I want one." I had wanted a puppy since I was younger, due to the fact that other then Nanook; my dad had kept our other dog, Jak. Jak was a gorgeous golden retriever.

"You haven't changed one bit Cordelia." He smiled, just like he used to when we were kids.

"Neither have you Evan." I retorted poking my tongue out at him.

We left our bikes outside of the animal shelter. Dwayne was explaining how it was a good thing that I was getting a puppy because vampires needed daytime protectors and Star and Laddie weren't good enough.

We entered and I checked out row after row of dogs. None of them were really calling out to me. I wasn't even really paying attention when we checked out the last stall, I went to turn away, when I heard a desperate whine and pawing on the bars. Slowly I turned back and sighed. I had found my dog. It was an adorable golden bullmastiff. She had HUGE brown eyes that just seemed to be calling me.

Dwayne called over the shop assistant and paid for my dog. He also threw more money at her and got given a 2 bowls and a collar. The dog was brought out of the cage and I grabbed her, hugging her to my chest.

"Interesting choice, what are you going to name it?" He said petting my new companion on the head.

"It is a she!" I replied with my trade mark eye roll and tongue flick. "And I think I'll name her something spunky…like…?"

"Cherish?"

"No."

"FIFO?"

"No."

"Josef?"

"Dude, half of the names you just said were guy names. Shut up!" I growled. "I'm trying to think."

"Fine, fine, don't get touchy!" he growled back.

"I know! Tanvir! It means strong!" I whooped with success.

"Tanvir? For a girl? And you thought I was strange? Your so weird Cord!" he laughed, slapping me across the head softly. "Finally!" he said as we left the store. "Lets eat!"