I gasped. My breath was hard...fast. I placed me right hand on my heart trying to slow it. My eyes blinked hardly and slowly. It was black. I wouldn't see anything. My eyes were blind. I could feel coldness all around me. There was nothing. I streched my arms out hopeing to grasped something...Anything. But there really was nothing. A cold wind blew in my face. I closed my eyes. There wasen't a point of keeping them open, I couldn't see anyway. Then there was a light...Above me...In a circlular shape. It was me...Lieing down on a bed. Austin sat there. Tears coming out of his eyes.
''Austin!'' I screamed. I was amazed at the length and highness of my screeching voice.
My breathing came harder. Shallow.
''Austin!'' I tried to scream again. Then I realized he couldn't hear me. He looked down at me, lieing on the bed.
I couldn't take this. This was torture. I closed my mouth and breathed through my nose. Harshly. I became angry...
''What do you want from me huh?!'' I screamed. I threw my arms out. And looked at the vision above my head.
''You want my life?! Am I even alive?!'' I screamed again. I don't know why I was doing this. I felt too angry to become reasonable. I wiped my face with the back of my hand. I couldn't tell whether I was crying or sweating.
''Send me a sign!-'' I yelled. ''-If I'm alive send me a sign! Prove yourself!'' I stopped. The air around me became warmer. My breathe all of the sudden slowed. I felt safe. Then there was a reflection. Like, a mirror infront of me.
My dark brown hair framed my face. Tears shined of my face. I wore the same clothes I had on earlier this morning when I looked in the mirror. I had a small scratch on my neck. I pressed my left index finger againest the small scratch.
''Ow.'' I whimpered like a small puppy. Then I closed my eyes. When I opened them. I looked up, and opened my mouth to speak.
''What does this mean?'' I whispered, looking at the reflection of myself. Then I woke up...

I screamed, and sat up. Austin rushed back to my side, he grabbed my hand.
''Hey.'' He said using his free hand to remove the hair from my face and pull it behind my ears.
''Are you okay?'' He asked and looked me deeply in the eyes.
''Im alive.'' I whispered. My eyes quickly wandered around me, then my eyes found Austin's. I threw my arms around him.
''I'm alive!'' I choked out at the tears. These tears were really from being so happy. Im alive. I thought.
My fingered intertwined in his hair. He hugged me back. His strong hands layed strongly on my back. My cheek pressed smoothly on his neck. Then I let go. Then I noticed where I was.
''How did I get back home...? I was in the bathroom...with...-'' I said then stopped. Where was she now? ''-Alexis.''
He rolled up his sleeve to his jacket. Two medium sized marked laid on his arm. They had to be at least an inch deep. My eyes were open wide stari ng at the marks.
''Austin...'' I whispered.
''...I stopped her.'' He said looking in my eyes.
I couldn't believe he would take a bite from a vampire for me. How did he even get there? I was alone with her.
''How did you...?'' I didn't finish.
''Simple spell...Tranportation is always good in cases like this...'' He was looking down at my arm. I looked confused. But then I noticed what he was looking at.
Two scratches lied there on my arm. I was suprised to see the scratches. They looked like they were going to be bite marks, but slightly skidded across the skin. I raised my right hand, and gently went over the scratches with my fingertips.
''Ow.'' I whimpered. This 'Whimper' reminded me of when I was out. In the blackness. My mind raced ahead of me to the memory. Then it played the memory in my head...
''Send me a sign!-'' I yelled. ''-If I'm alive send me a sign! Prove yourself!'' I stopped. The air around me became warmer. My breathe all of the sudden slowed. I felt safe. Then there was a reflection. Like, a mirror infront of me.
My dark brown hair framed my face. Tears shined of my face. I wore the same clothes I had on earlier this morning when I looked in the mirror. I had a small scratch on my neck. I pressed my left index finger againest the small scratch.
''Ow.'' I whimpered like a small puppy. Then I closed my eyes. When I opened them. I looked up, and opened my mouth to speak...
I gasped, my hand automaticly came up and felt all around me neck, only to find a small scratch. My eyes looked up and Austin.
''What is this?'' I said my hand still on the scratch.
''Believe it or not, you did that to yourself.'' He laughed half heartedly.
''Huh.'' I said almost insulted, althought I dont even know why.
''Why would I do that to myself?'' I asked confused. I think I would know if I had.
His hand reached out for mine, my hand took his willingly.
''You woke up...Screaming...You didn't know where you were...Or really who I truely was...You automaticly raised your hand and felt of your neck but you raised your hand so fast that it made a small scratch from your fingernail.'' He explained. I tryed to imagine a vision from the details he provided but couldn't quite do it.
He looked up, and bite his lip. He seemed like he was trying to concentrate on something.
''Can I ask you something?'' He asked me.
''Yes. Of course...'' I was suprised to hear my own voice. Small and highpitched. As thought I was crying, but I wasen't.
''Do you remember...-'' He said through barely opened lips. ''-anything from being out... Was it black? Was it like...a dream...?''
I focused hard to find anyway to explain the darkness in a way he could understand but to be honest there was a way to. Because both dream and blackness were in it.
''I wish there was a way to show you...Because I remember it very vividly.'' I said. Tears welded up in my eyes. Suddenly his hand was strong. I looked up his eyes were closed. Then I figured out what he was doing. I closed my eyes and replayed the scene of blackness in my head.
We sat there for at least two mintes. His breath was hard. Like a gasp in every breath. His hand shaking in mine. I knew that this all happened is my mind was way more than two minutes more like three or four hours. I remember standing infront of the mirror, seeing the scratch on my neck. I stopped remembering and stopped the scene from playing in my head. When I opened my eyes his were open too.
''Why'd you stop?'' He asked.
I sighed and free'd one of my hands from his, and gently placed it on his cheek.
''Because, theres no reason why make you suffer of somthing that happened in my mind that wasent even real and something that is over now...A dream of darkness. Which is gone. '' I said simplely and smiled a small smile. He smiled and looked down. I free'd my other and lifted it up to his face, gently I lifted his head and leaned forward to kiss him. My lips pressed lightly on his. He kissed me back adding the slightest pressure. I let go of the kiss and layed my head on his chest. He leaned back againest the headboard and stroked my hair with the back of his hand. I sighed and closed my eyes. I felt safe...Warm...feeling his heartbeat, and his breath. He breathed slowly. His heartbeat pacing slow aswell.
''I should go...'' He said slowing getting up.
''Why?'' I asked and stood up with him.
''We have school tomorrow.'' He said smiling at me, though his reply only made me frown. Thinking of tomorrow and having to face...Alexis, again made me feel like a fly behind caught in a spiderweb. Couldn't get out, having no where to go, being tortured to death...
Austin felt my uncomfortableness and took his hand, and lifted it to my chin, and tilted my head up.
''I'll be there...I won't let anything happen to you Ashley.'' He stared me deeply in the eyes, with the most serious look on his face. His gentle eyes then flashed to the necklace he had given to me, on my dresser.
He walked over to the dresser and gentlely picked up the necklace, and simply turned around. He walked over to me, lilted my hair and put the necklace around my neck. It hung around my neck loosely, I shivered when the cold metal touched my chest.
''Always wear this.'' He said. He leaned forward and kissed me on the forehead. I closed my eyes and took a deep breathe. When I opened my eyes he was gone. I sighed and laid down on my bed, closed my eyes and tryed to not think about anything. Hopefully I'll drift to sleep. And So I did...

I screamed to the top of my lungs, not letting my heartbeat slow I took off running down the hallway. Endless doors, I was running past. My breath seemed to become louder and louder. I stopped at the end of the hallway. Dark blue, and navy shadows framed around the end of the hallway. A faint smell of blood filled the air, along with a small scent of roses. I heard someone scream, I jumped and slammed my body againest the end of the hallway. The cold walls hurt my back, but I didn't care. Alexis came out of the closest door, grinning. Her face glowed in the faint light, Her hair perfectly straight, Makeup dark colors, a black liquid dripped slowly from her mouth. The liquid dripped in slow motion, my eyes glued themselves to the small drop of black liquid. My breath let out a slow heavy sigh...Now everything was in slow motion, only making it more scary. As if I could be any more scared then I already was. By the time my sigh stopped the liquid hit the floor. It burst into a bloody red mess, then it filled the entire floor of the hallway. Then blood looked as If it dried and only dyed the floors. When I was finally able to un-glue my eyes from the floor Alexis was looking up at me, grinning. Her sharp fangs shined brightly with her un-humanly white teeth. I was shocked at my own feelings, from frighten to angry. I wanted to rip her throat out. She seemed amused watching my puzzled exspressions. I opened my mouth to speak. Theres no way im letting her win...
''I hope your happy...Thinking you'll win, because your stronger.'' I said, trying to keep my tone casual and act like she wasen't even bothering me. This all reminded me of a school girl standing up to a bully. Instead it was Human VS. Vampire.
Her puzzled exspression was almost fasinating. I couldn't help but laugh. She looked even more puzzled when I laughed, I knew she was trying to think of somthing to say, but then I knew I was so mad I could top anything she throws at me. And so I continued...
''Answer this...Can you do that? I mean we're both here, might aswell.'' I said, knowing that I was winning. Her face looked as if she had just excepted a challenge, a small grin appeared on her face. She crossed her arms across her chest and shifted her weight to her right side. Then she let out a light laugh.
''Sure.'' She said simply. And then continued. ''And uh, by the way. I'm just gonna throw this out there even though I'm sure you already know this. But uh, I can and will break your neck in one swift fluid movement so...'' She said while, she took one of her hands out, and looked at her nails. I rolled my eyes and continued speaking.
''Why do you think you can just...win, so easily?'' I asked honestly. Her eyebrows came together. Her face looked as if I had asked a dumb question.
''Uhh Hello? Human-'' Her hands motioned toward me then herself... ''-Vampire. I can kill you right now if I wanted to.'' She said, thinking she was explaining it to me. But I didn't care. I had no idea where this courage came to me from, but I felt stronger than her. Then I continued.
''True. But what if I could kill you?'' I asked.
She looked at me for about three seconds then burst into laughter.
''In your dreams. Only if you were a vampire could you do that. And even if you were...-'' She paused and laughed, then continued. ''-I doubt that a preppy cheerleader like you could even have a chance with a girl like me.''
''Yes because a girl like you is sooo special right?'' I said sarcasticly, I was now insulting her...
''And what does that mean?'' She said challengingly.
''It means you just look tough...'' I said. Then I began to mock her. ''Ooh look at me Alexis Contante, I'm a Vampire and I'm a gothic freak who acts like a jerk for attention.'' I said in a high voice. She looked astonished at me.
''And I-'' I stepped toward her and lifted my arms to her shoulders...''-Win'' I said and pushed her down. She fell into a black hole. I felt strong. But then reality came to me, and I woke up...


I woke up coughing. Trying to get loose of the dream. Only if I could beat Alexis, even if it was a verbal fight like that. And now just thinking of having to face her made me shiver. Where is all that courage now? , I thought. I wondered about Austin...I wondered what he was doing right about now. Was he thinking of me too?
As I let my mind wonder, my thoughts came right back to Alexis. What was she doing now?
All of this was such a rush that I had almost forgotten all my friends. Well my Ex-Friends. Amanda and I haven't spoken alot at all, Alex and I haven't spoken since that day at the pool, but with that one I was sort of okay with it. Last but not least, Kelsey. Kelsey and I had spoken just a few nights ago, which did make me feel better. When I started to think about it, I hadn't really made any new friends here. Austin and Alexis's rival after ending and saving my life had completely ocupied all of my time and thoughts. Other than Taylor, and his big group of guy friends, I was a loner. I had no Girl-friends at all. Well except Peyton, a girl in my english class, and we didn't even talk that much. Cheerleading practice were on Wednesday. Which gives me a perfect opertunity to make new friends. I stopped my thoughts all together and put them off till after school. Hopefully the teachers won't load me down with too much homework. I walked silently to my dresser. And got dressed...



2 WEEKS LATER

I sighed as i sat in the car listening to the radio. My mom drove, singing along happily to the music;her hands tapping along with the beat on the steering wheel. I looked down at my lap, my jean shorts looked faded in the sun's rays coming through the window; my white top looked like it had been bleached white. It was a friday afternoon, and it was about 96 or 97 degrees out. I was on my way to Aunt Linda's house for the weekend. Spring break. I sighed at the thought. Nothing but relaxing for 2 weeks, not having to worry about School Work, or Alexis's big ego. Alexis had decreased her attitude ever since her cousin arived. I think his name was Kenneth. I had seen him a little but not alot. He had black hair, like her's, dressed almost similar, had the same scalely white teeth, same pale skin, but however he did not have her ego. Everyone said he was nice. Austin said he was nice but about 10 times as dangerous as Alexis will every get. He said he was basicly the Coltendant of 4 covens. I remembered Austin telling me about the entire Vampire Society, and how Vampire's were actually very civilized creatures, only thrown off by wild ones of their own. He also told me about how family's of Vampires are usually always related. Austin said that all it takes is for 1 human to get biten to start a coven. And how it was basicly a natured tradition for one to bite the members of the family and then reproduce by biting a stranger to keep it all fresh. And how Contendant Vampire's were basicly Royalty, with un-imagineble beauty. And they were also rich, which mean't they would be even more beautiful as if they were drenchen in gold. I laughed at my self silently. I turned and looked at my mom, she was still singing happily to the radio. I listened to the song, and couldn't help but sing along.

''Hun' can you had me that?'' Aunt Linda asked pointing to a red suitcase of my Mom's.
''Yeah sure.'' I said picking it up and lightly handing it to her. She smiled at me, turned around and walked back into the house. Her bleach blonde hair shone lightly underneath her hat. She wore a yellow flower pattern sundress which hung lightly around her shin's as she walked up the stone tiled sidewalk of her house. Her house was huge. Heck, the entire neighborhood was huge. Aunt Linda said there was at least 30 kids living here. But to her I was a kid instead of a teen so she could be talking about 5 year old's. The sun was blazing hot, and so was the wind, making the heat even worse. My mom grabbed 2 suitcases and walked up the sidewalk, leaving me alone with the last bag. I picked it up and followed her into the huge house. When I walked in I let out a huge sigh because the air was so cool in here.
''Man, it's hot out there.'' I said wiping my forhead.
''Haha, wait till' it's Summa time, then you'll sweat like a pig before it rolls in mud.'' She said in her southern accent. I laughed with her. I couldn't help but wonder why my mom didn't have an accent like her's.
''Well Hun', your room is upstairs second door on the left.''She said with a smile.
''Thanks.'' I said as I walked up the stairs. And to my room. This will be a long weekend...