Thank you to everyone who read and/or reviewed!

Elle: Haha, glad you liked it. :) Thanks for reviewing.

This was twice now Alan had been banned to his bedroom. Apart from Bonnie, everyone else was working tonight which meant hunting involved keeping a close eye on customers. Edgar had been torn. He didn't want Alan around in the comic book store surrounded by walking, breathing blood bags as his older brother so politely put it but he also didn't want to leave him in the house alone with their parents. Alan had ended up making the decision for him, choosing to stay at home before he ended up punching his brother in the face. While he could tell from Edgar's wary tone and slow talking that he was really thinking about how he was phrasing his choice of words, Alan could also tell that his brother saw him as untrustworthy. It continued to sting, having his brother view him as a danger. Almost felt like betrayal because he knew if the situation was turned around and it was Edgar dealing with half vampirism he would be one hundred per cent supportive. He would trust Edgar to still be part of the gang and be there to help his brother deal with the thirst.

A vampire is a vampire, Alan thought. That's what Edgar always said.

He sighed, letting his pen drop from his fingers and stared at the notebook in front of him. He had tried to distract himself by doing school work. But the piece of paper was mostly decorated in squiggles and doodles with a lot of crossed out words. He could hear his parents downstairs, both singing out of tune to a Beatles song and he kept glancing at his closed door in annoyance. Then towards his open window where he kept looking up at the dark sky. Since it turned night he had suddenly felt awake. Slightly more energetic.

He bit at his bottom lip slightly, looking away with guilt, because since that sky darkened all he wanted to do was go out. He was awake and he wanted to make the most of it.

But going out and enjoying the evening was another way of giving in.

He stole another glimpse of the sky.

Screw it, he thought and stood up as another Beatles song came on. His parents were now singing to Help and he closed his eyes with a groan. Couldn't somebody help him and turn his parents into normal ones with a better taste in music?

He stuck his head out of the window, peering down to the ground below him. Opposite, Bonnie's house stood in darkness. There wasn't even a light on in Bonnie's bedroom who had promised Edgar she would keep an eye on Alan. No doubt Edgar would have a hissy fit if he found out Bonnie had fallen asleep on duty but Alan had seen how tired she had been at school earlier that day. And not the tiredness everyone else had been feeling from juggling school and vampire hunting. That horrible exhaustion he knew she would feel now and again from her MS.

He had never really asked much about her time as a half vampire. Truth was, at the time he didn't really want to know what it was like experiencing your body and mind change into something evil. He gave a wry snort at that memory. If only he could travel back in time and show his past self what exactly he would be facing.

His thoughts travelled back to Bonnie. How tempting had it been to become a full vampire and get rid of the MS she suffered from? Had she been tempted at any time by that? What if it was him dealing with it or something else that either threatened his ability in the future or mortality? Would he change then?

No! Of course you wouldn't. You shouldn't even need to ask that.

He looked down at the ground outside. There was no drainpipe next to his bedroom that he could use to climb down. He could walk past his parents and out of the door but they would end up innocently mentioning it to Edgar. In his parents' eyes there was no such thing as secretly rebelling. One had to be proud and open about their actions. Proudly raise the middle finger up to authority.

Alan had never bothered making sense of it. He sighed and glanced down again.

There is another way.

He sneered at that little, tempting voice in his head. Of course he knew there was another option but he was trying not to think about it. Or do it.

Hey Jude now blasted through the house and Alan closed his eyes, gritting his teeth. That and being confined to the four walls of his already tiny bedroom was slowly driving him crazy. Restless.

Go on.

He hopped onto the window ledge, perching and clutching onto the frame with his hands. Taking a deep breath, ignoring his guilty conscious, he jumped forward. A short cry escaped from him as the ground quickly came closer and closer. His body moved in instinct, shifting to a crouching position and he landed perfectly on two feet. Not even a wobble. Alan swore under his breath and walked backwards to lean against the wall of his house, calming his breathing down.

That had been…

He clenched his jaw, not wanting to admit how much he enjoyed that. Sneaking out, simple being out. Moving swiftly to land perfectly, something he would never be able to achieve as a human. He felt free. Powerful. Curious. What else was he able to do? He couldn't help the tugging of his lips, wanting to form a smile. After a small mental battle, he rested against the wall with his eyes closed, head tilted back with a sigh and he finally allowed himself to laugh.

"It's a rush, isn't it?"

His chuckle stopped abruptly and he turned his head sharply to where Charlotte stood. Straight away when he saw that smiling face any amusement of escaping disappeared and fury was now in control. He wanted to reach out and wrap his hand around her throat. But he stayed standing on the spot, tensing and straightening up when she walked over to him. She started to reach out to him but he dodged back before she could place her palm on his cheek.

"You led me to Logan that night," he snapped. "You purposely set out to turn me."

"I didn't do it to torture you, Alan," she said. She smiled again. "Take it as a compliment when a vampire turns you. Humans are mainly food. You have to be pretty special or interesting for a vampire to go all the way. And you know how much I like you."

A sneer formed on Alan's lips. "Turning me into a vampire is not going to get me to like you. I've never been interested, okay?"

Charlotte's smile faded, her lips pressing together and she glanced away. There was brief flash of hurt in her eyes but she quickly shook that away. She sighed, chin lifting and stared him straight in the eye.

"Maybe you'll change your mind when you fully turn."

He scoffed. "Not going to happen."

She tilted her head curiously at him. She could hear his breathing, raspy and short, abrupt bursts. Beads of sweat rolled down the side of his face. There was blood close by. Two sources inside his house and one next door where Bonnie lived. She had only just fed yet the scents brought that hunger back. If she felt the thirst even after feeding, she wondered how Alan must be feeling if he hadn't touched blood at all since drinking the Head Vampire's. Thirsting for blood wasn't like feeling parched in the hot summer, needing a cold drink. It was an urge, an instinct that made itself natural inside of the person. An ache to rip someone into pieces and take every drop of life and energy.

"You say that but you look awful," she said. "It's not an easy thing to resist."

"Oh, yeah, look how much you had to fight," he snapped. "You were taken the night of the prom and the next day you were already a full vampire. Sounds like you were quite happy to make the change as soon as possible."

She shrugged. "I liked the idea of being a vampire. And Logan promised me I'd have you."

"I'm not some prize to be won, Charlotte."

"I wasn't expecting you'd run straight to me as a half. You're still partly human. Whatever dislike you have for me will still be there, I know that. So I'm waiting. When you turn, you'll join our gang, and maybe I'll have a chance then. You'll forget everything about being human." She looked away, scowling into the distance. "You'll forget her."

He folded his arms. "Am I not allowed to have a best friend? Was Bridget not allowed to get to know me?"

She didn't respond, turning her back on him and started walking away. He immediately followed.

"So you guys are just leaving me to it?" Alan asked. "You turn me and leave me to deal with it by myself?"

"Marko advised it. The last time he was surrounded by half vampires in a pack, they all turned around and backstabbed each and every one of them." She glimpsed back, grinning. "But you're welcome to hang out with me for a bit. I can show you what it's like to be a vampire."

He was about to snap back at her, argue that he didn't care what it was like to be a vampire because he was never going to become one. But then he stopped. Maybe she would let something slip. When she shot straight into the air, he followed. He was slightly stunned at first by how naturally he lifted himself into the sky. He felt completely weightless, clothes flapping violently against the wind as he soared through clouds. Charlotte stayed in front, turning her back once to smirk. Screeching echoed around them as they moved. Then she suddenly dipped down and Alan did the same. She had led him to a deserted part of the beach, a good walk away from the actual Boardwalk. A bin had been dragged to their secluded spot, lit and surrounded by two familiar faces and one that was unfamiliar.

"Curiosity get the better of you?" Logan grinned. Alan scowled back at the vampire, eyes flickering to Marko who glared back. The last time Alan had seen the vampire he had been spurting blood and writhing on the floor of the cave with a stake through his chest.

"You two kids gonna behave?" Logan asked, looking back and forth between Marko and Alan. "I guess you both don't need any introductions." He moved to the other female vampire and Alan frowned. No… she wasn't completely unfamiliar. She had been in the comic shop once before. Only she had been wearing thick rimmed glasses.

Logan put a hand on the black haired girl's shoulder and she smiled but there was nothing welcoming or warm. Her smile was cold like her grey eyes. In the store she had looked completely normal, dressing like most teenagers, but now she looked like she had stepped in from the 70s with flares and chunky heeled boots. It was another night of chilly winds but she stood unresponsive to the cold in a crop top with bell sleeves.

"This is Ruby. It pretty much used to be me and her. Now we have our own little pack," Logan explained. "So, kid, give me an honest answer. How are you feeling?"

"Not great," Alan muttered.

"Edgar's not really fulfilling his promise to help you, is he?"

"It hasn't been long since you forced that blood down my throat," Alan growled. "He's doing his best."

"Mmm." Logan pressed his lips together and shook his head. "I dunno. He wouldn't fill me with confidence y'know. That and I don't like the way he's treating you, kid."

Alan didn't respond, resorting to his trademark scowl at Logan's words but it didn't stop the vampire from continuing.

"He already treats you like you've killed someone."

"You're exaggerating."

"Pretty much snapped at you for taking advantage of your new abilities last night. I heard everything."

"He's got a point – look, I'm not standing here arguing, okay?"

"Then what are you standing here for?" He grinned at Alan. "It's hard to resist stepping out for the night when you're turning. You can't be kept inside like a caged animal. There's a bit of curiosity there, kid."

"Maybe I've come to fight."

"Four against one? You'll have no chance. And we would all fight you. Even as a half vampire you wouldn't be able to defend yourself against four vampires. I really wouldn't bother." He beckoned Alan over as he started to walk away.

"What?" Alan growled.

"Relax, kid. We're just taking a walk. Come with us."

"Come on," Charlotte said. She reached for his hand, fingers brushing against his before he jerked away and stuffed his hands into his pockets. Instead of sulking, she gave him a mocking pout and decided to settle for walking next to him.

"Isn't it risky to be walking around in Santa Carla when you've officially been declared missing?" he asked.

"Alan, you know our town. Nobody pays attention to a face on a missing poster. When it's night time on the Boardwalk, pretty much everyone is too drunk or stoned to notice. And I've mainly stuck to Downtown Santa Carla. Best place for a wandering human and easy kill." She grinned at him and he gave a disgusted groan.

Ruby laughed behind them and Alan turned to see her wicked smirk directed at him. Her grey eyes shone in amusement.

"Something funny?" he snapped.

"Don't get all judgemental, tadpole," she said. "I bet by now you've given in to a few abilities."

He turned away, only to make her laugh again.

"Tried to kill anyone yet?" she asked.

"I bet I know who's pissed you off by now," Charlotte said. "Has Bobby been behaving himself?"

They stopped at the railings to the beach and Alan leaned against them, scowling at Charlotte who took his wordless, angry reaction for confirmation. She stood next to him, too close but he couldn't move away because Logan was on the other side, watching their conversation with interest. Alan stiffened, feeling like a weak animal about to be pounced on as he ended up in the middle of these vampires. Logan and Charlotte on either side of him and Ruby and Marko in front.

"Is Bobby that bully at school?" Logan asked.

"I'd been ripping him apart by now," Ruby said.

"For a kid who claims to be tough, you take a lot of shit from people," Marko added.

"I'm not going to go around killing people who I don't like. That's not how it works," Alan said, tensing. While he meant one thing with his words, there was a part of him agreeing with them and he blamed it on that vampire side. He felt himself detaching from the human world, automatically understanding what the vampires were talking about. There was still the horror of lashing out at Bobby earlier but there was also still a part who was convinced Alan should have killed Bobby to really teach him a lesson.

Ruby grinned. "He just needs a taste for it."

"It's pretty easy once you let it happen," Charlotte said.

"Like so," Logan said and suddenly pushed Alan forward. He lurched, stumbling a few steps and crashed into a passer-by who swore aloud as his can of beer tipped down his t-shirt. Alan carefully stepped back, already putting his hands up as a sign of surrender.

"Brat, what is your problem?" the guy snapped. Alan wanted to turn around and punch Logan. Of all the people to push him into, he had to choose this tall, towering stranger with multiple ear piercings and snakebites. He was muscular, toned with a sleeve of tattoos all the way down his left arm. Right now he glared down at Alan, waiting for a reply.

"Sorry, these guys –."

The guy shoved him back, straight into Logan who froze and Alan heard the rumble of a growl. Logan's voice was a whisper in his ear.

"Gonna let him get away with that, kid?"

"You shoved me into him – hey!"

The empty beer can hit Alan right in the face. The laughter around him, from the pierced, tattooed punk and his little gang and the vampire one surrounding him. It was only Alan who wasn't laughing. He sneered instead, straight at the punk and felt that anger seething inside of him again. A wave of fury that clouded his mind; his ability to stop and think. He wanted to tear that smirk right off the punk's face. When Logan elbowed him in the back, Alan took it as encouragement. He heard himself snarl and his body lunged forwards. Two steps towards the tattooed guy and his fist connected with the stranger's face. Right in the nose. A grin formed at the howl from the punk. The delight of hearing that strangled cry satisfied his violent streak that had been building up since earlier that day.

His amusement faded when there was a sudden, familiar scent lurking in the air.

"Oh dear," Ruby sang and Logan took Alan's shoulders. They were tense and his body had gone rigid. He could see the glimpse of Alan's profile, eyes narrowed at his eyes were fixed on the trail of blood coming from the guy's nose.

"I know, kid," Logan said, keeping his voice low. "But you don't want to be feeding in the middle of a public area. You'll get us all exposed." He glanced at the punks with a smirk. "You can run along now. Just wanted the kid to have a bit of fun."

The guy wiped his hand across his nose. Logan heard a small growl come from their new recruit and he gripped Alan's shoulders tighter.

"Seriously, scram," Logan said but the punks never budged. He felt Alan try to move an inch forward but he pulled the boy back.

"No, if you wanna fight, we'll give you one," the tattooed guy snarled.

Logan sighed. "It's not gonna be much of a fight."

He saw the punks checking them all out. Two chicks who they would probably ignore or use as some sort of trophy. And only three guys. Logan had to admit himself that looks-wise, they weren't much. He looked the youngest out of all of them. Not surprising since he was only sixteen when he turned. But he knew he still had those young, boyish features. He hadn't even began growing facial hair yet when he became a vampire. He knew Marko could tear a person's head off in one tug but right now, when he looked like any other teenage boy, he was the short, innocent looking one that looked easy to corner and beat up. Alan was also on the short side, still as boyish looking as Logan. He wasn't skinny like Logan and Marko but he still looked like he couldn't even take on one person in a fight. But Logan had seen many nights where Alan had held his own against vampires when he was completely human. Now as a half vampire it was going to be interesting to see what the boy could do against these much older and toned punks.

"Tough shit," the gang's leader said. "You guys shouldn't be looking for trouble if you can't walk the walk."

"Not talking about us, kid," Logan said.

Alan yelled out and finally wrenched free from Logan's grip. He ran straight towards the bloody and bruised punk, hands reaching out to push him backwards. There was an assortment of distant sounds. A mix of surprised cries, laughter, cheers, loud swearing, maybe some begging… but the noises were muffled. He could only hear a frantic pounding in his ears. It got louder and quicker when Alan shoved the guy back and he pounced on top of him, fist flying up and down in a frenzy to hit at the punk's face. Blood splattered onto his face. He snarled, the smell stronger and his lips drew back when he saw that blue vein standing out on the punk's throat…

"C'mon," a voice said and arms scooped him up, dragging him away but he wriggled to get away. Alan snarled, swearing out loud and reaching out in desperation at the terrified guy. All he wanted to do was sink his teeth into that throat. He turned around, glaring straight at Logan.

"Not in public," Logan warned. "You really do have a temper, don't you?"

Alan glanced back at the punk, suddenly calming down. Like he had been in trance and had just been snapped back into reality by the hypnotist, suddenly aware of the stares he was receiving. From passers-by, the vampires, the punk gang. Especially from the guy he had just attacked. He was still on the floor, cheek swelling up and more blood running down his noise and dripping from his chin. He was breathing heavily, hands up in the air and he shook his head.

"Okay," he said. "I'm not gonna fight. It's cool, man."

Alan gaped, swearing aloud again but this time in guilt. Shame. He ducked his head, staggering to the railings and leaning against them as the punk gang sprinted away and gradually the passers-by returned to touring the Boardwalk and trying to forget the fight they had started to witness. Alan breathed heavily, knuckles turning white as he gripped the railings.

"You nearly got me to kill that guy," he snapped.

"That was all you. I thought you would punch the guy and that would be it. I guess I forget how bad the hunger is when you're half. And I also forget how bad a temper you have." Logan suddenly burst into laughter and slapped Alan on the back. "That was fucking brutal, kid."

"I'm impressed," Ruby said. When Alan looked at her, she grinned in approval. "I wasn't expecting much from you."

There was a girlish, gleeful laugh near him. An arm curled around his upper back and Charlotte inched herself closer. She beamed when he glanced at her, eyes almost wide in admiration of him. He felt her fingers dig into his clothes, squeezing his side almost possessively.

"It's a shame we weren't in a more secluded spot. You'd be a full vampire now if we had had more privacy." She kissed his cheek and he darted away from her with a hiss.

"Easy," Logan said. "It's okay. You're just changing. We've all gone through it."

"That's the second human I've attacked and wanted to kill," Alan said. His voice shook. It was terrifying alone being able to give in so easily to all these different urges but what also scared him that while he was shocked with himself there was something missing. He felt like he was forcing himself to care when a large part of himself still didn't regret hurting that guy. More than ever, all he wanted to do was take away this thirst that burnt his throat and twisted in his stomach. The determination to fight against it was disappearing bit by bit.

"It's not just about finding the Head Vampire," he said, scowling at each vampire. "I'll get to the point where it doesn't matter anymore and I'll just do it, won't I?"

"Do you care about that?" Logan asked.

Alan bit his lip, reluctant to answer but when Logan repeated the question again, this time with a smirk, he stopped biting his lip and slowly shook his head.

"No."

He sprinted away from the laughing vampires.

Thank you for reading. :) If you would like to leave a review, please feel free to. I'll be posting Chapter 18 next Saturday.