School was back in session. I stopped going to school when David turned me since being in the sun made me sick. Then when I became a full vampire it was even less of an option. I tried to learn what I could from the library but most nights it was closed before I could get to it.

I wanted to have as normal a life as I could, even if normal had a different definition nowadays. I may be stuck at 17 but I would not let myself be trapped mentally at that age. I wanted to grow up, even if it was only knowledge-wise.

I woke up just after sunset and headed to the boardwalk. Another sign that school had started was the boardwalk had way fewer people, teenagers at least. Don't get me wrong, there were quite a few, but there was a noticeable difference.

I strolled toward the comic store with my hands shoved deep into the pockets of my red leather jacket; my favorite since I bought it months prior. The comic store was the only place I didn't feel like an outcast. The Frog Brothers and I got off to a rocky start but we were getting on better terms since the others bit the dust.

They realized I wasn't a monster and grew to trust me or trust me as much as they were capable. I was still a vampire and that put them on edge but with each passing day that edge rounded and soon there wouldn't be an edge at all.

As I approached the store, I noticed only three of the girls were in the corner they called their own. Their leader Celeste was not with them. I stopped walking when I heard Sam's laugh. I turned toward the sound and followed it to the boardwalk's railing. I looked down onto the beach and found him strolling through the sand with Celeste by his side.

Her arm was wrapped around Sam's as they walked. She looked at him with a flirtatious smile and he returned it. I squeezed the railing rod I was holding and left imprints of my hands in the metal. I lifted my hands the second I realized and decided I'd go down and break up the party.

I went down the closest set of stairs and ran up to them, using my speed to appear directly behind the pair before either realized I was there. I crossed my arms and cleared my throat. The pair turned around to face me. Celeste was amused but Sam looked like I caught him with his pants down.

"Dawn, what are you doing here?" Sam asked.

"I could ask you the same thing?" I replied, anger lining my tone.

Celeste could see what was building and let go of Sam's arm. She wiped her hands on her pants and turned her attention to me. Her smile was apologetic but her eyes were still amused.

"I didn't mean to make things awkward," Celeste admitted with a slight shrug. "Sam offered to show me around."

"Oh, is that what he was doing?" I asked with my eyes directly on Sam.

"I think I should go, thanks again, Sam."

Celeste nodded to Sam and peered at me before leaving us on the beach. My gaze never left Sam's as I tried to contain my anger. We were in public and I didn't want to make a scene but seeing them together irked me more than I was willing to admit.

"I was just showing her around, Dawn. I swear," Sam insisted.

"Showing her around is one thing but what I just saw was more than that and we both know it," I said, gritting my teeth. "You were flirting with her!"

"I was not!" Sam exclaimed with an overexaggerated expression.

"Do you think I'm an idiot?" I asked, my voice rising in tone. "You two were basically canoodling!"

"We were not canoodling! She wanted a tour of the area since it was her first day of school!" Sam retorted.

"And was she at school today?" I asked.

Sam shook his head. "No, she takes night classes because she's sensitive to sunlight."

I almost laughed with an I told you so right there. That was the lamest excuse I had ever heard. I had to corroborate my findings but that comment made the possibility of Celeste and her gang being vampires highly likely.

"And you don't believe their vampires?" I asked, trying to hold back my laugh. "They are ice cold and now you tell me they are sensitive to the sun. Do you honestly believe they're not vampires?"

"Celeste and her friends have a medical condition. They've had it since they were young," Sam explained.

"All four of them have the same condition? Seems a little far-fetched to me," I muttered.

Sam shook his head. "You're just untrusting."

"Untrusting? Sam, it's right in front of you, I don't know why you deny it. Did what happened a few months ago just escape your mind? It's happening all over again," I said.

"It's not!" Sam insisted.

"Why are you so adamant about this?" I asked, looking him up and down confused. "Did they do something to you?"

"They've done nothing to me, Dawn," Sam said.

I squinted my eyes looking him over to see if I noticed anything out of place. It's possible they compelled him but if they had he wouldn't remember it happening. I used my speed to grab his shirt and pin him up against a shadowed part of the railing.

His heart slammed against his rib cage. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Shhh, I'm looking for something," I muttered.

I held him in place and checked him over with the other. I slid my fingers up both his arms, checking for blemishes. When I found none, I slid my hand under his shirt, which caused him to shiver. I slid my hand up his chest and around to his back again finding nothing. Lastly, I pulled back the collar of his shirt and again found nothing. I could've checked his legs but I decided that might not be the best idea since we were in a public place.

He didn't realize what I was doing until I pulled back the collar of his shirt. "You're checking for bite marks."

"Sam, I have to be sure," I said, doing one last once over before letting go of his shirt.

He moved back from the railing and wiped the invisible dirt from his clothes. His gaze was annoyed anger and it was directed right at me. I could almost feel it seeping off of him.

"Do you really think I'd let a vampire take advantage of me?" Sam asked, almost offended.

I sighed. "No, but if they took control of your mind anything is possible. I refuse to use my powers to control others but most vampires are not like me. They don't care who they hurt."

"I'm going to go apologize to Celeste."

Sam turned and headed up onto the boardwalk, never looking back at me. I stood there in the sand dumbfounded. It seemed like he was compelled but not bitten … yet. I didn't have proof but I would get some. I would prove to Sam the danger these girls were and I'd get him as far from them as possible. I could try now but he'd never forgive me if I locked him away until I figured this out. He was his own person and I wouldn't make him a captive.

I walked onto the boardwalk as the girls were getting on their motorcycles. Sam slid onto the back of Celeste's. I stopped as Sam looked back at me. He looked disappointed as he put the visor over his face. Celeste looked back at me and I for sure believe it was a grin, but I couldn't be sure from the distance I was at.

She revved the engine of her bike and sped off down the path, her three girls following after her. I had a horrible feeling brewing in the pit of my stomach but I had no proof. It was possible Sam was right. That I was overreacting and was making an ant hill out of a molehill.

But I was going to make sure. I had to make sure. I would not let what happened a few months ago happen again. I'd save Sam, even if he didn't want me to.