I felt warm all over. Warm, comfortable and...heavy? My left side felt heavy, like someone had placed something on my side. I reached up a hand to find out what it was. My hand collided with warm flesh. Panic seized me. What had happened last night? I looked around my surroundings. I was in a dark room, venetian blinds partially opened on the other side of the room letting in a small amount of sunlight, letting me know it was daytime. How had I ended up here? I rolled onto my back to see whose hand had fallen onto my stomach as I'd rolled over. My stomach churned at this action and I groaned. My head was pounding and my mouth was so dry, it was like I'd been left out in the desert for days on end. And from what I could discern, the hand belonged to a warm, pale and slender, yet slightly muscled arm. Aware of my still churning stomach, I rolled over more. What I saw, or rather, who I saw surprised me. And it scared the hell out of me. I don't know how it happened, but somehow, I'd ended up in bed...with Adrian Ivashkov. How drunk did I get last night? I asked myself, knowing full well, that I had absolutely no idea of the events of the previous night. I checked under the covers. Good, I was still fully clothed. Well, if you can call being in the world's shortest dress, fully clothed. He was still sleeping, his mouth slightly open. He was softly snoring. His face relaxed and free of Spirit and other related things. He looked peaceful.

Realisation suddenly hit me full-force. I was in bed with Adrian Ivashkov! I was in bed with the guy- no, vampire- who was in love with me! I reached breaking point and began shrieking. Well, that woke him up! Adrian jolted awake and, taking the covers and me with him, rolled off the bed. I landed directly on top of him.

"What is it? What's wrong?" He asked voice heavy with sleep, though he was now wide awake. I scrambled off of him and ran to the other side of the room, pressing myself against the wall. Adrian looked confused. "Are you hurt? Did you vomit again and completely miss the bucket? That's it, isn't it? You vomited all over my floors. Oh man. I do not want to clean that up." He groaned.

"What are you babbling about now?"

"Why'd you shriek like that?" He pressed a hand to his ear.

"Did we...last night...why were...did we sleep together?" I stuttered gesturing between myself, him and the bed.. There was a soft smile on Adrian's face.

"Yes. We did sleep to-" I interrupted him with a strangled cry. He made to move towards me, but I put my hand out.

"Don't you dare come any closer! How could you? How could you do this to me?" Something shifted in him, and I think it was because he realised what had happened.

"Wait. You think we slept together? As in, we had sex?" I viciously nodded my head. Adrian gripped his hair. "No! No. I would never do that to you!"

"Then why were we in the same bed?" I demanded. Adrian's face fell.

"You really don't remember?"

"Remember what?" I was confused. Adrian sighed and sat down where he was.

"You had too much to drink last night. I put you to bed, I was going to leave and just check on you every hour, but you asked me to stay and hold you until you fell asleep. Sydney...you said some things last night that I was really hoping wasn't the alcohol talking. But it obviously was the alcohol talking."

"Let me guess. I told you I was in love with you?" I growled.

"So, you do remember?" His face lit up, he moved towards me, reaching for me, but I flinched and he stopped in his tracks.

"No. I don't remember. I was just taking a guess." I stood up and edged my way past him to the door. I pulled it open and ran out.

"Sydney!" I heard Adrian call out. I ran through the house and heard him chasing me. I yanked open the front door and bolted. I didn't even make to my car, when I fell onto my hands and knees and vomited right there on the front lawn. I was never drinking again. And, I never wanted to see Adrian Ivashkov again either.

"Sydney!" Adrian called out again.

"Go away!" He crouched down next to me and tried to pull me away from my vomit. "Leave me alone!"

"Not until you let me explain!" He yelled. He tried to pull me into his arms, but I struggled and shoved him. Dizzily, I jumped to my feet and stumbled back a few steps.

"Stop lying to me Adrian! I never said those blasted words. Or anything else. For that matter. I would never say them to someone like you!" I spat.

"Someone...someone like me?" He said.

"A vampire." Adrian fell to his knees. "I never want to see you again, Adrian Ivashkov. Never!" And with that I spun and stalked to the car. Back at the apartment, the door swung open and everyone filed out to see what all the commotion was about.

"Get in!" I shouted up at the apartment as I started the engine. "We're going back to Amberwood."

"No. No! Sydney. No! Please, just let me explain." Adrian ran up to the car and pulled open the door and got to his knees and went to reach for my hand but I moved it out of the way. He wanted to explain? Fine, he can explain. And he'd better hurry up and make a good excuse.

"You have five minutes to explain why we were in the same bed together and why you think I said that I love you." Adrian nodded.

"You really did have too much to drink. You really did ask me to stay with you until you fell asleep, I must have fallen asleep too. I was so happy, ecstatic even, to finally hold you. You didn't say you loved me exactly, but I knew exactly what you meant, even if it was the alcohol making you say those things. You went through a list of things you like and love about me. I only wish you weren't drunk when you said them. I wanted you to be sober and mean them. I really wanted you to remember."

"Time's up." I pulled on the door until he finally moved out of the way, and slammed it shut. The others had scurried in quickly. Jill was glaring at me. The bond between her and Adrian, telling her everything that had happened. I didn't care. I wanted to get as far from him I could get. Eddie and Angeline were understandably looking confused and uncomfortable. Yet again, I didn't care.

"Sydney...please. Don't leave. Don't leave like this." I released the handbrake and stomped on the accelerator, the car sped off leaving a cloud of dirt, dust and loose stones in its wake. I flicked my eyes to the rear view mirror and saw Adrian standing hopelessly in the middle of the road, shoulders slumped, watching as my car took me further away from him.

Back at Amberwood, Jill ignored me and stalked off. Eddie and Angeline didn't know where to look or what to do, so they left to go to the library. I set off slowly for my room; my head felt like I'd had an anvil dropped on my head a couple of times and my stomach was twisted and clenching uncontrollably. I ran and only just made it to the toilet, bending over the bowl. Tears were streaming down my face. Why would I let Adrian hold me and sleep in the same bed as me? Why would I tell him about things I like and love about him? I need to get away from everything. I needed to get further away from him. I needed... that was it! I'd go to the Alchemists and ask them to re-assign me. Or better yet, ask for an extended vacation. I wanted to go home. To my mom, to familiarity and to comfort. I'd go work with my mom at the garage. I patted my pockets, but then remembered that I was wearing a skimpy dress that didn't have pockets. I finally pulled myself to my feet and shakily looked around for my purse. I couldn't find it anywhere. It finally hit me; I'd left it at his apartment. I groaned. I really didn't want to go back there. But, I didn't see any other choice. I needed my phone. There was a knock at my door. Hesitantly, I turned the door knob and pulled. Jill held up my purse.

"I figured you'd need this." She said, shoving it into my arms. She was still angry with me about Adrian.

"Jill..."

"Don't. How could you do that to Adrian? All that stuff he was explaining to you? It was true! It all happened; you did say all those things. And I don't think it was the alcohol talking either. He would never lie to you Sydney. He loves you too much to even think about lying to you. I saw the whole thing. Through the bond. You really need to sort yourself out. You need to get over this and stop thinking that he's an evil creature of the night. He's not. Something could happen to him and he could die knowing that you left things the way you did. The Alchemists are controlling you. But you can't see that." Jill took a breath and looked me squarely in the eyes. "I think it would be best for everyone, especially Adrian, if you left." And with that, she turned and walked away. I was too dumbstruck to say or do anything except watch her walk away. When she'd rounded the corner, I finally shut my door, leaning against it. I remembered that she'd brought my purse back. My phone was in there and I pulled it out. My photo album had been pulled up and I rifled through the photos. There were a lot of me and Adrian. I deleted them all, except one. He had his arm around me and he was looking at me, adoration written all over his facial features. I was laughing and looking at the camera. It must have been taken last night. Shaking my head, I rang Donna Stanton. She answered after a couple of rings.

"Miss Sage. What can I help you with?" She asked all business-like.

"Miss Stanton. I need your help..."