Vampire Story Ch. 4

Chapter 4

I awoke the next morning to Connor gently rubbing my back. “Mmm?” I murmured sleepily.
“It’s time to get up. You don’t want to be late on your first day of school,” he said.
“Fine, fine. Did I toss and turn last night?” I asked while trying to sit up.
“You were fine actually. You always seem better when I’m with you.”
“I am always better around you. I need you.”
“You’re really making me consider actually registering for school myself.”
I sighed. “Don’t. Do what you need to do, and I’ll manage.”
He kissed me on the cheek. “That’s all I needed to hear. Now go get dressed.”
He got up and walked out of my door. I ran into the closet and rummaged around for something to wear; hoping Lizzie’s outfit wouldn’t be identical. I found a white long-sleeve T-shirt with black sleeves and put it out. I grabbed a pair of blue jeans and my black tennis shoes and pulled them on. I ran over to the mirror and brushed my hair, finally putting on a think black headband. Then I grabbed my book bag and slung the strap over my shoulder. I belted down the stairs and nearly hit Connor, who was helping Daniel and Lizzie to try to convince Olivia to just leave her hair down. Connor smiled at me and herded all four of us out the front door. “Do you want me to drive you?” Connor asked.
“No, that’s fine. I’ll take every one in Lizzie’s and my Mercedes.”
Connor tossed me the keys, and started strapping Olivia down in the back seat.
“Driver!” I yelled.
Lizzie groaned. She walked around the car and got into the passenger seat. She was wearing a short purple dress with black leggings. She had black slipper-styled shoes on her small feet, and of course her hair was pulled up with a small black ribbon. Good. We were dressed nothing alike to day. Daniel reluctantly got into the back with Olivia. I opened the driver’s side door and turned to Connor. He checked to make sure none of the neighbors were watching us and quickly kissed me on the lips. “Be careful, and I’ll see you after school.” I scooted into the car and closed the door.
I found the small elementary school and pulled into the drop-off loop to let Olivia out. She let out a small sob and Lizzie handed her a piece of paper with her teacher’s room number on it. The high school was harder to find, but we got there with fifteen minutes to spare. I parked the car near the front office and killed the engine. All three of us stepped out of the car at the same time. Lizzie started distributing schedules. I glanced at mine then shoved it into my pocket.
Lizzie eyed me. “You know you’re going to need that, right?”
I shook my head and then tapped it. I swiveled and skipped off to my first class. I was one of the first students there so I quickly picked a seat in the back of the room. Several minutes later Lizzie came in and grabbed the seat next to me. I started looking at our new classmates and noticed some familiar brown hair. Oh, no. It was Wren. An older man started walking around the desks and noticed Lizzie and me. “You must be the new students! From England?” he asked in a gravely voice.
I sighed. Connor needed a better lie. Lizzie and I hardly looked English, and we certainly didn’t have accents.
“Yep, that’s us,” Lizzie stepped in.
“Splendid! Why don’t you introduce yourselves to the class?” Then he raised his voice so the whole class would hear. “Everyone? This is Elizabeth and Claire Evans.
“Lizzie,” Lizzie corrected.
“Yep, we just moved here from… England,” I said. Then Wren turned around and noticed Lizzie. He smiled broadly and listened intently. Crud. We really didn’t need anymore attention.
“Er, yeah…” Lizzie faltered, noticing Wren. A boy raised his hand.
“Why is your hair white?” he blurted.
“Yeah!” said another. “Are you albino?”
“Um, yea, that’s it. Albino,” I muttered. Then we sat back down and started copying down the dates that were written on the front board.  The teacher walked up to it and wrote ‘Mr. Briggs’ on the top, then underlined it twice. I couldn’t wait for today to be over. Lizzie didn’t say much during first period. She just sat tensed in her chair. I assumed it was because of Wren and didn’t question her. The second the bell rang Lizzie sprang up and skidded out the door. I grabbed my stuff and followed her. Apparently she didn’t remember that we had all the same classes. We turned a corner to see Daniel and a group of other students waiting for a young blonde woman to unlock the door. She flicked on the lights and the class filed in.
She nervously cleared her throat. “Alright class. As you all know, Mrs. Webber passed away a week ago, so I’m here to take her place. My name is Ms. Varner.” Daniel, Lizzie, and I slowly shuffled to the back of the class and sat down. Ms. Varner looked around at her new class then walked over to us. “Are you three new? I used to sub here sometimes, and I’ve seen a lot of the students. Are you siblings?”
“Yeah, we’re new. Came all the way from England…” I mumbled.
“And Claire and I are obviously sisters, we’re twins. This is just our… Brother, Daniel,” Lizzie piped up.
“Yeah…” Daniel murmured.
“Wonderful, glad to have you,” said Ms. Varner.
I already liked Ms. Varner. At least she didn’t make us introduce ourselves in front of every one.
Ms. Varner walked to the front of the class. “Okay, every one. Take out your Biology textbooks and turn to page two hundred and five.”

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The only other interesting part of the day had been lunch. After Biology Lizzie and I had P.E., then math. When we finally got to the cafeteria we met up with Daniel and quickly bought lunch. We sat down at an empty table and waited. Lizzie eyed her food and poked at it with her plastic fork. Daniel was glancing around the cafeteria, and making notes of the students. I resorted to reading thoughts. There was a crowded table on the opposite side of ours with a bunch of people whispering and looking right at us.
Who are those people?
Ew, they, like, seriously need a tan.
There is something odd about those Evans…
Yeah, that was a bad idea. And I thought nobody had noticed us. I turned to another table and saw Wren. He was staring dreamily in the direction of Lizzie. I didn’t even want to know what he was thinking. I glared at him and he made a motion for me to get Lizzie’s attention, but she had already noticed him. She smiled and waved. Wren made another motion; this time one for Lizzie to go sit with him. I elbowed her in the ribs and she looked back at her food. Wren looked hurt, but turned to some one sitting next to him. “What was that for,” she hissed.
“We need to keep a low profile,” I said.
“Not from him! He’s so cute! C’mon! Let me talk to him.”
“At least wait until tomorrow. We should ask what Connor thinks about this.”
“Puh-lease. You know what Connor would have to say to this. ‘NO!’” she said, mocking Connor’s smooth voice. “C’mon! Just for today? I really like him, and if Connor finds out you know it’s not going to happen!”
I turned to Daniel. “What do you think?”
He looked up. “No way. Leave me out of this.”
“Daaaaaaniel!” I whined.
“Let her go hang with him, if she wants. You know just as well as she does that Connor will never let her.”
Lizzie smiled triumphantly. She got up and walked over to Wren. He looked up when she was halfway to him and smiled. He scooted over to make a seat for her and she sat down and smiled at him. I glared at Daniel then turned around in my seat so I could have a full view of Wren and Lizzie. When the bell rang I ran off to English and sat in the very back. Lizzie came in hand-in-hand with Wren several minutes later. I pursed my lips and drummed my fingers against the desk.
“Um, hi,” Wren said slowly.
“Hi,” I said. Maybe my voice was a little too harsh. Lizzie pulled Wren to the back with her and sat down. Daniel dashed into the room a moment later, looked around, and then sat next to me.
“That your boyfriend?” Wren asked innocently.
“No,” I hissed. “He’s my brother.”
Wren paled. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t know…”
Lizzie gave me a dagger look. “Don’t mind her. She’s just bitter…”
After that I completely ignored Lizzie. I only said a few things to Daniel, and was happy to hear he wasn’t too sure about Wren either. After English I went off to Spanish, my only class without Lizzie, and most boring. Once the bell rang I walked out the door. I walked over to the Mercedes. Daniel and Lizzie were a little ways behind me. I reached the car and pulled out my keys, lifted them to put into the lock, and then they were gone. I stared at my hand a moment then looked up. Connor was standing right next to me, smiling.
“What ever happened to nine to five workdays?” I groaned.
He chuckled. “Nice to know I was missed.”
I hugged him. “I’m sorry, you know I’ve missed you.” Then I glanced around for Lizzie. She had stopped next to Wren and was getting something out from her backpack, so I decided to tell Connor about Wren.
“She can’t be serious,” he whispered after I’d finished.
“She is,” I mumbled. “And another thing, since when do any of us look English?”
“Well, I had to think of something…”
Lizzie walked over with Wren’s hand in her own, and Daniel by there side.
“Connor,” Lizzie said. “This is Wren.”
Connor shook Wren’s hand.
Wren jumped. “What’s with you Evans and cold hands?”
Connor pulled his hand away.
Wren looked over in my direction now. “Is he your boyfriend?”
I looked over at Connor, but before I could say anything he stepped in. “No, Claire is my little sister.” He playfully put his arm around my shoulders. I looked at my feet. I still sort of wanted people to know that I was dating Connor.
Wren pulled Lizzie into a quick hug. Well, I got to go, Liz. See you tomorrow?”
“Of course,” she said simply.
Connor opened the driver’s door and sat down. I walked around to the passenger’s seat and scooted into the car. Lizzie and Daniel came in a minute later. Connor didn’t say anything the entire ride to Olivia’s school, and back home. Even Olivia wasn’t chatty. When we picked her up she merely mumbled “worst day ever,” and buckled her seatbelt.
Connor pulled into the driveway and I got out. I went up to my room and finished my three pages of homework in five minutes. Then I took out a book from my shelf, wrapped myself up in a blanket, and sat down on my couch. Lizzie came in and asked me how I’d liked the first day. I growled at her. She said she’d invited Wren over later, and I’d be seeing him a lot. “You do realize you just met him, right?”
“Hey! Don’t judge. You kissed Connor only a few days after he nearly killed us!” she said sharply. We bickered about this for several minutes before Lizzie left. Then Connor came in. He sat down on the couch next to me and took my book.
“Tuck Everlasting?” He asked.
“I just picked one at random.”
He threw it aside and sat there. He looked tired. He had purple lines etched under his eyes, which were almost black.
“Connor? Are you okay?”
“Fine, fine…”
I inched closer to him and put my head on his shoulder. “Tell me.”
“It’s nothing, I’m sure. I just don’t know what to do with that Wren character. He seems serious.”
“So do we.”
He put his arm around me and kissed my ear. “That’s different. I love you. I don’t know how much Lizzie likes Wren.”
I conceded. “He seems nice enough. Liz said he’s coming over here later.”
“Is she mental?” He roared. “She’s bringing her boyfriend into a house full of vampires!”
“We can control ourselves.”
“Just as long as he doesn’t bleed. What happens if he finds us out?”
“Connor?”
“Hmm?”
“Live in the present,” I mumbled.
He sighed. “I knew I’d regret telling you that. Oh, I almost forgot.” He reached over and kissed me on the mouth, hugging me tight.
“What was that for?”
“Isn’t that what normal couples do when they’re reunited? I couldn’t when I picked you up; didn’t want to risk any one seeing. And I sort I had to tell Wren you’re my little sister. I know that made you uneasy.”
“I know, it’s just now I can practically never be seen in public with you. And who knows when we’ll be alone if Lizzie keeps bringing Wren over here.”
He kissed me again. “We’ll find time, darling, we’ll find time. You never know. If Wren becomes a part of our family, too, then I can take you wherever you want. He’s the only one I’ve told we’re siblings.”
I snuggled into his icy chest. “I hope you’re right.”
Suddenly the door flew open, and Wren and Lizzie were standing on the other side.
“Damn,” Connor muttered. We had been kissing, and I knew Wren had seen.
“Whoa,” Wren muttered. “Are you sure you’re siblings?”
Lizzie spoke up. “No, only Claire and I are related. We are an adopted family.”
“Oh! Why didn’t you just say so?” Wren asked.
“It’s more complicated that you think,” I mumbled and wiped my lower lip.
“Yes, and now that our secret is out, can you please get out? I promised my girlfriend this time,” Connor said and pulled me onto his lap.
Lizzie widened her eyes and Wren paled. It was pretty funny actually. Lizzie pulled Wren out of the room and closed the door. Connor chuckled and started kissing me again. And I almost forgot all my worries. Almost.

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Lizzie and Wren steadily dated for several weeks, well, Lizzie wouldn’t qualify it as dating… After Wren had seen Connor and me in my room Connor was pretty hard on him, almost always watching him out of the corner of his eye. Things are still the same around here. Cyril hasn’t attacked yet, but I know he’s keeping Connor from sleeping.
I yawned and looked up. “Hi, Connor.”
He gently kissed my neck. “Bad dream? You were screaming again.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t remember the dream though… I just remember something about Wren…”
Connor grimaced. “Wren…”
I grabbed his arm and pulled him downstairs.
Wren and Lizzie were sitting at the table. Lizzie pulled out some cereal for Wren, but he didn’t touch it. “Oh, yeah,” Lizzie mumbled, putting the cereal away. “I forgot.”
I yawned. “Forgot what?”
Lizzie looked over at Wren. “Can I tell her, please?”
Wren nodded.
“Wren is a vampire, too! Isn’t that amazing? I knew his skin was too pale!” Lizzie squealed.
“What?” Connor yelled. “He knows we’re vampires?”
Lizzie nodded. “Duh. He’s one, too.”
I gawked at Wren. “But your eyes are green!”
Wren brought his finger to his right eye and touched it. Then he put his finger to my face revealing a thin, clear material. “Contacts,” he said simply. “I didn’t exactly want to stand out.” Sure enough, the eye he had touched was now a deep red.
Connor glared.
“Can he stay here, then?” Lizzie pleaded. “It’s not like we’ll be taking him away from his family!”
“Fine!” Connor growled, then stormed off back upstairs.
I turned to Wren. “He’ll come around. You can have the room across from Olivia’s.” Then I ran upstairs after Connor. I found him sitting on his couch and sat down next to him. “What’s wrong? He’s a vampire, just like us.”
“Maybe so, but I don’t trust him.”
“Connor… Lizzie likes him. And she trusts you.”
“That’s why I’m letting him stay here.” He sat up and walked out of the room.
I sighed and went to go find Lizzie. She was still with Wren, so I pulled her outside and started walking down the rocky path. Then I told her what Connor said. “Your boyfriend really needs to be on best behavior.”
Lizzie snorted. “Please, he’ll be fine. He’s not a dog!”
“Try and convince Connor that.”
Then we walked back inside. Lizzie sat back down with Wren and I walked to my room. Today was a Saturday, so there wasn’t very much I could do. I tried to compose a song, but got sick of the noise and grabbed a book. When I finished it I grabbed another. Then I groaned and finished the rest of the homework I had been assigned. Nobody came to my door, though I hoped at least Connor would. I sat in silence for several more minutes then tried to read again. When I had finished that book too, I peeked out my window and was very happy to see that the sun had almost set. That meant Connor had to be coming soon. I waited on my couch but Connor never came. I felt crushed. He couldn’t be that mad about Wren, right? I began to fall asleep, but woke up screaming what felt like only moments later. I stalked out of my room and was about to knock on Connor’s door when I remembered he was mad at me. I almost knocked on Lizzie’s door, but I thought Wren might be in there. I closed my eyes. “Ew,” I murmured.
Finally I went downstairs, started a small fire and tried to sleep on the small couch. Surprisingly I didn’t have any nightmares, so I decided to spend the night there. I grabbed a pillow and wrapped my arms around it and started to drift off into sleep. Suddenly I heard a door open and close and immediately remembered Cyril. I jumped up, wide awake. I scanned the room. It was only Wren. He was standing right outside his bedroom door and smiling at me.
“Hi, Wren…” I mumbled.
He started walking towards me. “What’s the matter? Can’t sleep?” he said in a singsong voice.
“I’m fine.”
“Nonsense, Lizzie. Let me take care of you.”
Before I could tell him I was Claire, he smiled devilishly and covered my mouth with his hand. For a minute I was confused. Then I realized what he was doing and tried to scream, but no noise escaped through his muscular hand. He sat on top of me and leaned his chest against mine. I started to squirm as hard as I could. Sadly, he was stronger than me. With one hand he pulled off his shirt, and then started to unbutton mine. I felt sick. I tried to roll over on my stomach, but it was no use. He eventually got my shirt off and then leaned into me again. I felt his ice-cold fingers running up and down my bare stomach, and then my chest. He kissed me on the neck, then the ear, and then his mouth was on my chest. I stopped thinking. I closed my sharp teeth on his hand as hard as I possibly could.
He screamed. “What the Hell?”
I tried to knock him off of me. Then I saw Connor standing at the top of the stairs. He looked at me; still pinned helplessly to the couch. Then he looked over at Wren. His eyes became hard. His face contorted with anger. “No,” he said in disbelief. He was down the stairs and next to the couch in a blink of an eye. “Get your grimy little hands off of my girlfriend!” he screeched. Then without another word, he lifted Wren off of me and threw him out of our large window. “Are you okay?”
I nodded.
“Stay where you are. I’ll deal with him.”
With that he took a step out through the window. After a minute I heard violent slamming and pounding. Every once in a while I could hear a pained “Oof.”
Then Lizzie was at the base of the stairs. She looked over at me and her eyes widened. The she looked at the broken window. “What the heck is going on down here? First I hear glass breaking, and now this pounding!”
I closed my eyes. “Wren was t-trying to r-r…” I couldn’t say the word. But Lizzie understood. The blood drained from her face. “No!” She screamed. “He tried to do that to you? Does he not realize I’m your sister? Where is he?”
I pointed over to the broken window.
Lizzie nodded. “I’ll kill him,” she murmured.
Without another word Lizzie darted out the broken glass window. I grabbed my shirt and feverishly pulled it on. Then I walked over to the window to watch the show. Wren was going to get what he deserved. Connor was pounding him into the rocks over by the lake. Then he picked him up and threw him a ways. There was a giant hole where Wren’s body had just been. In an instant Connor was on top of Wren again, beating his fist into Wren’s bare stomach. Lizzie ran up to them.
“Get off!” she yelled to Connor.
“Like Hell! I’m going to make him sorry he was ever born!” Connor replied as he punched Wren in the face.
Lizzie didn’t wait. She knocked Connor off of Wren and stared down at him. “How could you do that to my sister!”
Wren opened his eyes. “I thought it was you!”
Lizzie’s face hardened. “You were going to do that to me?! Like that’s much better! I want you out of my house! I was so stupid to not listen to Connor!” Then she looked down at Wren. His whole frame started to shake and he began to scream violently. Lizzie smiled evilly and kept torturing him. I smiled too.
“What are you doing?” Wren screamed at her.
Lizzie didn’t answer. She just stared down at his cringing body and smirked. Connor got up and looked over at Wren. He smiled too, then walked back through the window. He walked right past me and down the corridor into Wren’s room. Suddenly another window crashed and all of Wren’s things flew out into the yard. His lamp almost hit him in the face. Lizzie didn’t move an inch. After about fifteen minutes of this, she sighed and walked back to the house. In an instant Connor was on top of him again. Suddenly there was an ear-shattering crunch and I realized Connor had broken all of Wren’s bones. Connor got up and looked at Wren. “If I ever see you again, I will kill you!” Then he picked Wren up and threw him off into the distance. Connor turned around and walked over to me.
“Claire!” he cried. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry. I swear I will never let that happen to you again!” He pulled me into his arms and rubbed my back.
“It’s okay, Connor. I’m fine, thanks to you.”
“But it’s my fault! I shouldn’t have been mad at you! If I hadn’t have been, you would be sleeping up in my room right now!”
“It’s not your fault. We should have listened to you about Wren. And thanks to you he didn’t get very far with me.” I shuddered, and he pulled me closer.
“I’m so sorry.” Then he took my hand and pulled me up the stairs into his room.
He positioned himself on the couch then opened his arms wide for me. I walked over and curled myself up on top of him. I looked over to the clock. 1:13 a.m. Connor started stroking my hair and I fell asleep a moment later. When I woke up the next morning Connor was gone, so I walked out of his room and knocked on Lizzie’s door.
“What?”
“Can I come in?”
“Sure.”
I opened the door. She was laying limp on her bed, and tears were streaming down her face.
“Are you okay, Liz?”
“No! I should have listened to Connor. He was right. All I did was let Wren hurt me and you.”
“I’m fine.”
“Good. I am never dating again.”
I rolled my eyes, then sympathetically rubbed Lizzie’s back. “Nah. Wren was just a jerk. You’ll find some one.”
When she didn’t answer I got up and walked out the door. Downstairs Olivia was chatty as usual. She was talking to Daniel, who seemed to not be paying any attention. Olivia looked up and noticed me.
“Hi, Claire. What happened last night? You and Lizzie get into some epic battle?”
I grimaced. “No, it was nothing.”
Daniel looked up. “Didn’t sound like nothing.”
I gave him a warning look, then walked into the kitchen. Connor was sitting on a stool, eyes closed, and rubbing his temples.
“Are you okay, Connor?”
“Fine, fine…”
“Did you talk to Lizzie at all? She’s up in her room, crying.”
“I know.”
“Then what’s the matter?”
“We need to go hunting soon. I can’t stand it much longer.”
“Let’s just go today, then.”
“Cyril is out there.”
“It’s five against one. We’ll be fine.”
He sighed. “Go tell the others.”

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When we got back it was ten at night. Our eyes were red, and we were all tired. No one had seen Cyril, and we were all starting to relax.
“So… t-tired…” Olivia murmured. Connor swept her up into his arms and walked her into the house. Lizzie, Daniel, and I followed slowly. When we reached the house, Daniel merely walked down the corridor to his room. Lizzie sleepily tried to climb the stairs, and almost fell twice. I decided to just lie down on the couch, but then Connor was there.
“You’re not sleeping here again.”
I closed my eyes. “Too tired…”
He picked me up and carried me into my room. He laid me down on the couch and then sat down at the foot of the couch. I yawned and rolled over. Then I started to dream. We were in the forest. Cyril was there. And so was… Wren. I looked over to my right and saw Connor take my hand. Then I looked at my left and saw Lizzie. Cyril and Wren looked at each other then and, as if on cue, they pounced. Cyril landed of top of Connor and tore his hand away from mine. Cyril started slashing at Connor, and Connor let out an agonized scream. I ran to help him, but then Lizzie screamed. Wren was on her, with one hand he held a knife to her neck, and the other hand was sliding up her shirt… I cringed and looked back to Connor. He was bleeding everywhere and looked at me with pleading eyes. I tried to run to him, but my feet were secured firmly to the ground. Then I tried to help Lizzie, but I still couldn’t move. The two people I loved most were being hurt right in front of me, and I couldn’t help them. Tears started streaming from my eyes.
Suddenly I woke up, in a cold sweat. Connor was eyeing me nervously. “Claire, it’s okay. It’s okay, you were dreaming.”
I sighed in relief.
“What happened? That was the first nightmare you’ve had in a while…” Connor said.
I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
He still looked worried, but he nodded. “Try and get back to sleep. School is in a few hours.”
The rest of my night was dreamless. I woke up at seven, and went to get ready. I threw on a denim mini-skirt and black leggings. Then I found a new deep blue shirt with three-quarter sleeves and a lacey black undershirt. I put them on and ran over to Lizzie’s room.
I knocked three times before she opened. “Hey.”
“What’s up?”
“Can I borrow those black slipper shoes you have?”
“Sure, they’re in the closet.”
I ran over to her closet and pulled them on. Then I walked over to Lizzie and linked arms with her. “You ready?”
She grabbed a white long-sleeve shirt and pulled it over her purple striped camisole. Then she looked in the mirror and put on fuzzy white boots over her blue jeans. “Yep. Actually, nope.” She ran over to her bathroom and swiftly pulled her hair up with another purple ribbon. “Okay, now I’m ready.”
I smiled and pulled her out of the room. When we got downstairs every one was sitting at the kitchen table.
Lizzie looked around. “I’m driving!”
Daniel stood up a pushed in his chair. “I’m taking the Volvo.”
Connor looked up and tossed Daniel the keys.
Daniel grabbed Olivia’s arm. “C’mon!”
“Keys, Connor?” Lizzie asked.
He got up and tossed them at her and gave me a quick hug. “Be careful, you two.”
Lizzie smiled, grabbed our book bags off the table and pulled me out the front door.

As usual, school was very interesting… All of the student watched us at lunch. Wren wasn’t there today, and I could tell Lizzie was glad. Instead, there was a new student. He was a small, thin boy named Aron. His eyes were intelligent and bright green. His hair was a very dirty blonde color. He only had one class with me, biology. Aron seemed like the type of person who could see right through you, and that made me nervous. At lunch Daniel, Lizzie, and I sat at out usual empty table, not touching our food.
Aron slowly walked over to us. “Can I sit here? All the other tables are full, and…”
Lizzie looked uneasy. “Uh, sure…”
Aron took a seat next to me. “Hey, you are in my biology class, right?”
Daniel nodded.
Aron studied us. “I’ve heard lots of things about you three. You’re siblings, huh?”
I was afraid of where this was going. “Well, kind of. We’re adopted siblings.”
“What have you heard?” Lizzie asked.
“Oh, you know… People think you guys are freaks just because you’re different. Mostly, they just gossip over nothing. A lot of guys are mad because their girlfriends like you,” Aron pointed at Daniel. “And no one can tell apart the twins. They think you’re models. And that’s why you’re loners. They think you don’t want anyone to recognize you.”
Lizzie snorted. “Models? As if!”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.
Daniel stuck out his right arm. “Aron, right?”
Aron took his outstretched hand and shook it. “Yeah. And you’re… Daniel?”
“Yep.”
Lizzie raised her eyebrow in challenge for Aron to name her.
“Lizzie, right?”
“Wow,” Lizzie replied. “That’s a first, besides Connor.”
“Who’s Connor?”
I rolled my eyes. “Thanks, Lizzie. He’s my boyfriend.”
“Ah. Does he go to this school?”
“Nah. He’s 19.”
Aron smirked. “Older guy. Nice.”
Lizzie chuckled.
I ignored her and shook Aron’s hand. “Claire. Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
After a short conversation, Aron got up and left. Lizzie looked over at me. “He’s actually human, right? I don’t need another Wren incident.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Wren was a jerk. Get over it. You weren’t the one he touched, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t keep bringing it up. Anyways, Aron is definitely human. I could even feel his pulse.”
“Some one’s touchy today…”
“I’m nervous, okay?” I sighed. “Now there are two vampires hiding somewhere that want to hurt us! And I never want to be pinned by Wren again! I can only imagine what Cyril is like.” I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. Truth be told, I was freaking out about the dream I had.
Lizzie’s eye’s widened. “Would Wren come back and try to do that?”
“I don’t know. Connor nearly killed him. Would he want revenge?”
Lizzie smirked, as if suddenly recalling the image of Connor pounding Wren’s body into the rocks. “Does he want to take a beating again?”
“Very funny, Lizzie.”
Then the bell rang and we got up and threw away our uneaten food. We ran to the locker rooms and tried to change while ignoring all of the eyes on us. We were playing basketball in P.E. now. As vampires our aim was much more accurate and we scored every time we had the ball.
“Is there anything they can’t do?” I heard a blonde girl ask her friend.
When P.E. finally ended Lizzie and I ran to the locker rooms and tried to change before every one else came in. I finished before Lizzie and ran out the door. “I’ll see you in math!” I called out behind me. I skirted around the corner and nearly ran into Aron.
“Whoa, what’s the rush?”
“Eh, I think Mr. Travis would kill me if I was late.”
Aron smiled. “Where’s your sister?”
“Still changing out of her gym clothes.”
“I see. Tell her I said hi, and have fun in math!” He turned around the corner.
I stared after him for a minute then walked the rest of the way to math. Lizzie caught up with me right before I reached Mr. Travis’s room.
“Hey.”
“Hey. Aron says hi, by the way.”
Lizzie smiled. “Thanks.” Then she walked into the classroom.

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