Update numero due (impressed with the Italian? Okay, just me...)! Enjoy

Playing with Fire

Rebekah kicked her tire. Are you kidding me?! She wanted to snarl. She hated this new century – sure it had its perks, but the automobile in front of her was not one of them. Her brother had bought it for her, a present though actually a thinly-disguised bribe. She hated it, perhaps pretty and sleek and smoother than those she had known before the coffin, but God did she hate them now as smoke poured from the engine. I'll just run home, let someone else deal with this pile of scrap metal. I don't think Nik would be too pleased if someone stole it. She smiled at the idea of her brother's livid face.

The rough purr of an older engine rumbled in the distance. She rolled her eyes, contemplating. Great, even a human has a car that doesn't break down. But it could be a nice meal, and a lift back to town – be a shame to waste it. She felt the harsh heat of the headlights, forcing her to stay. There was no way the human wouldn't see her speed away now. Rebekah gritted her teeth angrily, her patience wearing thin. C'mon, hurry up and pull over! Carefully, she spun on her heels, throwing a hand over her eyes.

It wasn't a flashy or expensive car, just a small, old, black Mini that began to slow, the heat from the headlights on her chest growing. The blonde put on a sad, frustrated look, reigning in her anger, as the car grew closer. She knew better than to scare away her snack. Usually. The car eventually stopped; gravel crunching under the tires, engine hissing in the cooling air.

Inside the Mini, the guy sighed, wanting to whack his head against the steering wheel. Why did I pull over? She's a vampire for Christ's sake, it's not like she actually needs a lift back to her house. Everything in him told him to keep driving, to let the monster walk home, but he couldn't. She's still a person… probably, and I can't just let her walk all the way back to Mystic Falls… right? He argued back to himself. Well, I can't drive off now… He sighed again, and got out of his car.

Rebekah stared at him silently over his head beams. He gulped, his nerves going haywire. Crap, she's gonna eat me. A bead of sweat trickled down his neck, and under his jumper, and his t-shirt clung to his back desperately. He cleared his throat, running a hand through his fringe. "Do you wanna ride back home?" He asked, coughing again at the end, trying to hide his agitation. What if she tries to kill me?

The vampire stiffened, frowning, her human mask slipping as she sneered at his offer. Great, him again. She thought darkly. Just the guy I want to see... least! What the hell is he doing here? No, you idiot; I don't want to be stuck in a car with you for the next twenty minutes! Bugger off! I don't care if it looks suspicious not getting in the car, I'll just compel him.

Without realising, she had nodded, and had started walking around, reaching for the door handle. What am I doing?! He rejected me, and I was just going to get into his car? Is the lack of blood making me insane?! I hate him, remember! And I'm going to get in a car with the moron for twenty minutes? She glanced over at him, the teen already sliding into the driver's seat, watching as he, and his neck, slid down slowly before disappearing inside. She licked her lips. No... I can't kill him. Sarah would notice if he suddenly disappears, she always does annoyingly, and I'd have to lie to her even more... Fine! Rebekah ducked into the little car, met his eyes and huffed,

"...Fine," she muttered, knowing she couldn't be too rude to someone giving her a free ride. Jake Martin looked like he had just sucked on a lemon. His eyebrow twitched, but he didn't say anything, glaring down at the steering wheel as he pushed down on the clutch, while Rebekah glared out of the window. Unbeknownst to the other, both were thinking the same thing: Why me?

Jake leaned over, turning on the heaters, and unwillingly, Rebekah sighed quietly in relief. She may have been dead, but her fingers still could go numb from the cold, which was more uncomfortable than painful. The teen also had the radio going - something that she thought would irk her, but he had surprised her, not playing the regular 'Top Chart' stations where every song sounded identically awful and blasting for everyone in the northern hemisphere to hear; but softly in the background, tinkling and soothing jazz trilled. The blonde smiled despite herself, but quickly schooled her face. She wouldn't let him see that. So, instead she smirked, pulling up the 'Classic Mean Girl look' as Sarah had tagged it.

"Didn't take you for a jazz freak," the moment the words rolled off her tongue, the boy stiffened, hands tightening on the wheel, blushing and one of Rebekah's eyebrows twitched. She wanted to roll her eyes. C'mon, that isn't the worst thing I could've said, or have ever said. But why does it make me feel guilty? God, I hate you Jake Martin. She hadn't meant it; but she had quickly realised that times had changed, and jazz was not in fashion anymore. And no one could say the Mikaelson's were nothing if not fashionable. She actually quite enjoyed the music, a lot more than the strange furious-paced songs or the ones in different languages that dominated Sarah's playlists.

"It's calming, and I'm driving." Jake replied firmly, eyes fixed on the road. "Driver picks the music, shotgun shuts her cakehole." He announced, a grin tugging at the edges of his lips, and the vampire narrowed her eyes at him.

"Did you just quote Supernatural at me?" She asked, watching him freeze, and wince a little. He turned on her. "Dork."

"You recognised it!"

"Only because of Sarah!" She argued, and the two fell silent, seething in their own angers. Rebekah glanced over, scrutinising him. Dark jeans, grey cosy-looking, long-sleeved jumper, he wasn't too hard on the eyes. He'd be freezing if he was walking, but in the car, it was fine. He reached over again, eyes never leaving the road as he pressed a few more buttons on the control panel with practiced ease. She closed her eyes, revelling in the increase of hot air streaming from the heaters in front of her.

Jake finally relaxed, occasionally glancing at the girl in his passenger seat. Rebekah's eyes were shut, head tilted back, breathing evening out. She looked like a girl, not a monster. He mentally shook himself. Don't go down that path Jake. She's a vampire, never forget that. Vampires like her are the cause of this mess of a town. Don't think of her like that, because she can only think of you as food or a play-thing, like that loner she adopted at school. His heart thrummed in his chest.

Rebekah opened her eyes quickly, glancing over at the guy, whose pulse had suddenly accelerated, frowning a little. He refused to meet her stare. A dark patch near his wrist, snaking up the inside of his arm caught her eye. "What's that?" She asked, and Jake winced, tugging the sleeve down further, hiding the sliver of whatever was on his arm.

"Nothing important," he answered shortly and gruffly, suddenly reminding Rebekah of that man Sarah lived with. "Just a birthmark." She scowled at him, wanting to fight back. What was it with this miserable human and shooting her down whenever he could?

"Obviously that's not true," she shot back, and finally his head turned, showing a vicious grimace, teeth bared, before turning back to the road. Rebekah's blue eyes narrowed and hardened. Do that again, jazz-man, and I'll rip out your innards and show them to you. The car journey was becoming torturous, both teens tense, short conversation clipped to only a handful of sentences broken sporadically throughout the journey. They soon pulled up outside the Mikaelson Manor. Jake whistled lowly, staring at the white walls.

Rebekah huffed, rolling her eyes. Normally she liked the envy she caused humans to feel, but not right now for some reason. At least Sarah has the decency not to stare so bloody openly, she grumbled. But... "Thanks," she mumbled, and the teen's head snapped towards her, suddenly grinning in a way that made her glare.

"What did you say?" Jake asked, a little too innocently. Rebekah rolled her eyes, and repeated herself.

"Thanks," She said louder, "for the ride." The blonde added, and the guy nodded, staring at her thoughtfully. Suddenly, Rebekah felt the tension build. Unconsciously, her eyes flickered towards his lips. His briefly flashed down to hers. Jake was growing closer, or maybe it was her leaning over...

Jake cleared his throat, looking away and out of the front window. Rebekah's throat closed over, eyes burning, that anger consuming her once more. How dare he! It had been a while since she had been rejected so openly, twice, by the same boy. That feeling... it had been even longer since she'd felt that one. Why did she care so much for him? He was one stupid teenage boy, and she was an Original. A vampire. Over a thousand years old. He was nothing compared to her.

Almost as soon as the cheerleader shut the door, the little black car pulled off, speeding back down the drive and out of the blonde's life. She glared as it left, storming up and inside the house, not bothering to reply to Klaus' half-hearted greeting.

What she didn't know was that Jake Martin pulled into a layover, a few blocks from her house, parking up. His head thumped the steering wheel, his horn blaring loudly until he shifted. No Jake, you can't. Not now. And not her, definitely not her. Pick any other girl, just not that one.

Jake closed his front door as quietly as possible, glancing into the living room, then up the stairs cautiously. He sighed, relieved, and began to creep towards them. "Where were you?" He stiffened at the hard words, and turned towards the speaker.

"Out to clear my head." He answered just as shortly, trying not to sound as disrespectful as he actually wanted to, staring at the man in front of him. Alex had been his dad's younger brother, moving in after his stroke. His chequered t-shirt was rolled up to his elbow's, showing off beefy arms, and even thicker biceps.

Alex nodded stiffly, glaring down at the teenager. "Get to bed." He commanded as if the boy was one of his soldiers, and Jake held his gaze as he walked up the stairs. The teen sunk down on his bed, running a hand through his hair, scowling into his pillow.

He lifted his head, glancing over at the picture on his bedside table. It was from happier times, showing the family they should've been. His mum never smiled like that now, especially after Uncle Alex moved in. At first, Jake had wondered why he had never been mentioned, but it had only taken a few days to realise why his Dad never spoke about Alex. Even Jake didn't like to speak about Alex. The teen reached over, trailing a fingertip over the glass. I miss you Dad. All those stories you told me about... I think I'm about to screw up. Really badly.