Sonny

xXx

"Oh, Lucy!" I squealed characteristically. I threw my arms around her in surprise (Just because I knew she was coming doesn't mean I knew why) and jumped in excitement.

It was hard to believe she was really here, but here she is- in my arms.

Now, don't get me wrong- I love Lucy. Despite the fact I was a vampire we had grown to be best friends. But now, seeing her in my home, she sent terrified shivers down my spine. I'd already gone through several ways to get her to evacuate Hollywood- Having Collin maybe "kidnap" her and take her home; having to take her to the hospital because she had fainted seeing Chad and being forced back into her mother's arms. I thought of other ways, but quickly pushed them away. I was so desperate that some involved murder.

I noted the fact that she smelled really good.

She had come at the worst possible time. After the destruction of the wolves, us vampires were very vulnerable to notice. Someone was bound to figure out that a person involved in their daily life had randomly gone missing, and after a while- realize they're dead. Someone on the outside just had to know that those people were werewolves, and then the bad part comes around- they were to come for Chad, and then for me.

And since that person knew about the wolves and the "fairytale" part of their world, they would know about me- vampires.

The Malexia would try to find me and no doubt succeed.

The Malexia would destroy me.

Or worse- They would destroy Chad.

I blinked back the traitor tears forming in my eyes. They couldn't betray me now; not in my most desperate moment of need.

I pushed Lucy away, and the movement caused a tear to fall down to my cheek and roll slowly downward. Realizing she noticed, I brought my hand up as fast as a human would and swiped it away.

"Well," She smiled. "You're still cold as ever."

I giggled.

"I'm so happy to see you!" I murmured with tears of "happiness".

"Aaaaaw!" She squealed. "Me too!" She leaned close and stage whispered to me, "This is your birthday gift. I knew you'd love it."

I laughed and hugged her again. As she began to put her head down on my chin as she did before, this time she gasped.

"Oh. Em. Gee." She whispered in awe.

I pulled away. "What?"

I turned around, wondering about her reaction toward whatever was behind me. For a split second I feared it was the Malexia or something, maybe a wolf, and then I realized I was correct.

My gorgeous wolf stood behind us, watching with his hands in his pockets.

"Oh," I giggled again. "Lucy, this is..."

"You." She cut me off. "Are. Dating. Chad Dylan Cooper!"

"Uh..." I raised my eyebrows. "I guess you could say that."

Chad decided to step in then. "So," He announced. "You're the infamous Lucy."

Lucy giggled and flipped her hair in a way that made me uneasy, and she stuck out her hand and shook my boyfriend's.

"Why, yes." She continued, "So...I guess this is more...serious...then I had guessed over the phone?"

"What do you mean serious? We're not super serious." My words were rushed.

"But..." She said, rubbing the back of her neck in an embarrassed manner. "Is he living here?"

"Oh!" I exclaimed. I had an answer ready to fling back at her, but then the words stopped in my throat. Chad had never really spent the night...but that might actually happen tonight. I need his help with Lucy.

"Actually, Lucy," Chad smiled. "I'm just over here a lot."

Lucy laughed. "It is a nice house, isn't it?" She joked, and I laughed, too. It was forced but good enough that only Chad noticed and she stayed at ease.

I noted her car still running.

"How long are you planning to stay?" I asked, trying to sound polite.

"Until you kick me out." She nodded.

"Let's go get your bags then."

I led her to the guest room. Chad stayed downstairs on the couch watching the news, looking completely uninterested. When we got into the room and closed the door she immediately bombarded me questions.

"So, you guys are serious? Have you met the parents? I can't believe you're dating the Chad-"

"Lucy!" I exclaimed.

"How often is he over here?" She continued, ignoring me. "Are you guys, like, completely in love? Are you being safe-"

"I'm sorry?" I gasped.

"Well?" She mumbled, making a motion with her hands that it was obvious. "Are you guys...you know..."

I got defensive immediately. "Lucy, it is none of your business if we're doing that sort of thing or not. Best friend or not, that's kind of...personal."

"So you are!" She squealed, jumping around with her mouth agape.

"Luce!"

"Sonny," She shook her head. "You've obviously been away from me for too long. Trust me, a sister would know if that was going on or not, and the way you guys look at each other- it is so out there."

"How does he look at me?" I'm pretty sure I seemed desperate.

"Like he wants to eat you up on the spot."

"Oh," I said, flustered. "I hope that's a good thing."

"Sonny, I mean that he wants you."

"...Oh."

"Yeah."

"So," I sighed, knowing Chad had heard everything that was said. "I want him too."

"Eep!"

"Shut it."

"Got it."

I sighed happily and smiled. "Well, what do you want to do?"

"Eat?" She said with a sheepish grin.

My throat burned.

Oh, my God.

"Yeah, sure, let's go." I said much too fast.

I sprinted down the stairs as fast as a human could go.

"Sonny?" Lucy said, confused, and ran downstairs after me.

After I was out of her sight, I kept my breathing halted. I went blindingly fast to Chad.

"Watch her," I whispered. "I need to go."

He probably saw the hunger in my eyes.

"Please tell me that look in your eyes is there because you're looking at me." He said just as fast as I did.

Lucy was a quarter of the way down the stairs.

"I have to go." I murmured insanely fast, and bulleted out of the door after telling Chad, "Cover for me."

I ran to the backyard, into the trees, desperate to get away. I was doing her a favor- not killing her.

She'd never smelled so good before. Hollywood hadn't changed my sense of smell. Lucy's blood wasn't any more appealing than it had been in Wisconsin. I hadn't hunted in forever...

What would the vampires think of this?

I took a deep breath in, savoring the fresh smells of the forest. Then my throat burst into flames. A bear trudged lamely through the forest fifty meters from where I stood. I crouched, and was off.

Ten minutes later I felt sloshy, having disposed of the lifeless bodies of two deer and one bear, feeling disgusting.

"Ugh," I groaned at myself, and leaned back against the tree I was sitting near.

I sniffed Collin out before I saw him. I opened my eyes and smiled at him, content of my fullness but disgusted at myself yet again.

"You fascinate me, Sonny." He said with a thoughtful expression on his face.

My brow crumpled. "How so?"

He began to walk toward me. "You look...troubled about something."

"How could I not be?"

"Well, when you look at the bigger picture I understand that there is a lot to be worried about, but what at this moment makes you so upset?"

As I stared at his face, I couldn't help but feel vulnerable. He seemed so wise at this moment. I kept my problems in the back of my mind so that he wouldn't see her. I could feel him raiding my brain, feel his eyes scan my face for an opening to my thoughts.

"Don't feel that way." Collin whispered.

I needed to keep her away from him. All of the vampires. Here in Hollywood she was not safe.

"Who is not safe?" He said alluringly.

The vampires would destroy her.

"Who?"

I kept my eyes closed so I wouldn't look into his dark, curious, nosy green ones.

"Who, Sonny!"

"Get out of my head!" I yelled at him.

Collin didn't even flinch. "What are you keeping from me?"

"Nothing. I just like to have my privacy."

"You are so full of crap."

Yep. Now he's a real wise guy.

"Just stay away from me for a while, okay?"

He took another step forward and was six feet away from me now. "What is new temporarily?"

"Do you really think I'm going to tell you?" I said exasperated, not bothering to lie any more.

He pursed his lips. "I promise I won't tell anyone if that's what the problem is."

I can't say anything. She would be in danger-

"A female is in danger?"

My thoughts continued to betray me.

If a single vampire or werewolf- other than Chad- knew about my best friend, no doubt he would be dead by the next morning. it was my responsibility now- my responsibility to keep her safe. Lucy would-

"Lucy."

I groaned, holding my head. I heard Collin get over to me in less than a second and tug my arms from my head.

"Sonny."

"Stay away from her." I said slowly, in the most deadly voice I could muster in my current state.

I could feel Collin's surprise.

"I will not hurt Lucy, Sonny. We are friends-"

"I swear to God if you lay a hand on her I'll rip it off along with the rest of your limbs and burn them."

"Sonny. Relax. I won't-"

"Then I will laugh at your burning remains, and she will be safe."

He grabbed my arms as tears fell from my eyes. He was not gentle, but he wasn't hurting me.

"Sonny! Look at me!"

I grimaced horribly and opened my eyes, looking at who was now my enemy.

"I am not the enemy-"

I yelled out in rage and threw him off me and into a tree. Getting up in a fluid movement I walked toward him in a fashion that could have scared away anyone.

Anyone but Collin.

"Listen to me, Sonny. I will not hurt you or Lucy."

I looked into his eyes for five seconds and read his thoughts, his whole mind and planned actions.

He was not to hurt me. He was not to hurt Lucy.

I let myself fall to the ground in exhaustion. The past three weeks had been a miserable slow moving blur. The first two were lonely without Chad and my family and the next was full of suspense and crying and blood. I yearned for the studio, for everything to be in the right place. I wanted Lucy to go home yet I wanted her here beside me. I wanted to be with Chad forever yet we would be destroyed if we tried. I want to keep everyone safe by fighting off my own kind.

I want everything I can't have.

But most of all, I am terrified. I was terrified of the unknown; of what was to come. I wanted the Malexia dead, to kill them off myself. My bare hands to destroy everything that stood on my way.

Lucy stood in my way.

The whole world was against itself- against me.

I groaned and was forced over.

"Go to the house." I whispered to Collin. "Keep her safe."

Not a minute passed before I heard him enter through the door.

It took my about five minutes to recollect myself and shove the monster in me to the back of my mind. I didn't lose that monster- I wasn't done with her yet.

I walked into my house a second later.

"Okay, that's finished." I said in a stage-whisper so Lucy would hear.

I turned around and found Chad and Collin sitting on the couch and watching the news together. Oh. I hadn't smelled Lucy, so I assumed she's still upstairs. I took a deep breath in through my nose and her smell drifted down to me. She smelled much less appealing now that I had hunted, but she could be extra mouthwatering for a normal vampire.

I gave warning thoughts so Collin would read them and get the message.

"I'm not breathing," He whispered quickly.

I knew that this was going to suck.

"Lucy!" I called up to my friend. "There's someone down here I want you to meet!"

I went to the kitchen so I could get something for her to eat. First a grabbed a glass out of the cupboard and filled it water.

"I've already met Chad!" She called back. It felt as if she was screaming at me because of my sensitive ears. "Don't you remember?"

"How could I forget?" I snickered at my own lame humor.

"Good one!" Chad muttered.

I smiled and murmured. "I heard that."

He looked over his shoulder and at me in the kitchen. I winked at him and continued to work. From my peripheral vision I saw him bite his lip and stare at me a bit longer, and then turning away.

I prayed to whatever Higher Being up there that Lucy would be safe in Hollywood.

Lucy began to descend the stairs.

I grabbed a granola bar from the cupboard and set it on the counter.

Collin tensed up.

Chad coughed.

I worried.

She came into view.

"Hey, girl." She smiled, totally oblivious to the tension.

"Hello..." I smiled back, and gestured to her small meal.

"Thanks."

Collin and Chad came into the kitchen. Chad stood next to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I let my hand rest on his shoulder thinking that we probably made a priceless picture. That's maybe way Lucy gazed at us and smiled warmly, opening the wrapper to her bar.

"Lucy," I said nervously. She didn't notice. "This is my friend. Collin."

She looked over at Collin absentmindedly and nodded, beginning to put her bar down. She stopped mid-action and stilled, processing in her mind what she just saw. Slowly she looked back up at Collin, and he bit his lip. Recollecting himself he smiled, sticking out his hand.

"Collin." He said softly, staring into her eyes.

She did the same. "Lucy."

He began to shake a little bit, something in his eyes growing.

They made contact.

Hunger grew in Collin's eyes, but as I stared at the scene, I couldn't comprehend what kind of hunger it was.