• "5! 4! 3! 2! 1!!!" They screamed in union. "Happy New Year!!" The teenagers all hugged each other in awkward half hugs making sure they didn't spill their alcohol. But when Jason came up to Belle' he swung his arms so forcefully that his beer splashed behind them and splashed Carla on the back. She gave a impish "Ah!" and tried to look at her back.
    Jason with his arms still holding Belle' in an awkward bear like embrace started to laugh. The laugh was so hard that it shook him and Belle''s body in an odd shake. "God Damn it!" Carla screeched. "The first minute of the New Year and I get dumped by beer!!" Her words were barley understandable, she had drank a hole bottle of Gin thirty minutes ago and she was the most wasted here. Belle' was the one who laughed this time.
    "Yea, Carla, that's what you get. You crashed the party!" Carla snorted in resonance, she knew Belle' never liked her. Ever since Belle' moved here a year ago, she had never been nice to her, but never mean either so Belle' was OK. Plus who could ever get mad at a girl like Belle'? She was small and cute and everything but her attitude was like a pretty porcelain doll. The guys at the school were so protective over her it was scary. Carla tried to step forward but her feet got tangled in mid air by some unseen fores, she tumbled face first into the grass. She cussed some more while others laughed and plopped down on the grass where they made a loose circle around the small bon fire.
    They had come to the park to drink, they even brought, like, 20 bottles of alcohol, and figured the park would be the best place. Most of their parents were here for the holidays and would flip to see their 'perfect Navy brats' to be seen drinking. Belle' looked around the park. They were sitting in the middle of the park, which was a football soccer ball field. On one end was a set of stairs that led to another ,smaller, park which led to Slavery St. On the other end was the opening to the park, were she could easily see the road, the sidewalk, and the large hill that had houses going up and down it.
    Belle' was probably the less drunk out of her friends. They had picked that park because it was in the middle of were they all lived, so it was easier for them all to get there. In the center of the Navy housing- San Diego Navy housing. Her dad was a commander on the U.S.S Jefferson Aircraft carer-, he had hardly ever been home and Belle's mom was always at Navy Wives partys. So Belle' had manly raised herself since she was 5, with the occasional nanny's.
    She had felt unimportant in her parents lives so she had gotten into drinking, to get there attention (she had said ''hell, I'm not doing drugs so its OK" wink she had become addicted, with 5 DUI's and 2 she didn't even remember. It wasn't like she was a bad girl. Sure when she was 9 she was just an arrogant smart a**, but she really just wanted to have fun.
    Plus, an officer who patrolled the housing had been given special orders to look after her. Ever since she heard of that she had tried to quit- and failed miserably- so now she was just prepared to flee at any moment.
    All of a sudden Kyle's loud laugh interrupted Belle's thoughts. She turned toward him and he was apparently trying to moon Sheridan. At the same time Sheridan was trying to take away Jason's beer. Belle' laughed, too. It was like watching a comedy show about moneys who looked like teenagers to her.
    The scene was interrupted by a headlight rounding the corner, Belle' tensed and the others stopped fooling around and looked at the head lights too. Soon a cop car was visible. Belle' shot up immediately, throwing a cupped bottles of Whiskey, Gin, and Vodka into the bon fire. The flames irrupted into a shower of sprats and the flames ticked the edge of the grass farther. Most of the teens we already up and running for there lives. But most tripped halfway there.
    Belle' cursed and ran toward the stairs, away from the cop car. The officer who had stepped out of the car with a taiser, Nelson, had a grudge against her. Apparently she had kicked him in the groin to try and escape him. "Hey!" Said a deep voice. Belle' dared a look behind her and sure enough officer Nelson was by a couple of teenagers holding them down. Another officer was getting out of the car and spotting her, ran in the direction of the stairs.
    Belle' had gotten to the stairs and started to run down them, 2 at a time. The stairs hadn't been clipped by maintenance in a while, due to non-use. So there were sharp shrubs and brushes that were leaning in on Belle'. Most were to high and was above her head looking more like a ark of brushes then over grown weeds. But one was her shoulders length, with sharp thorns. She ran into it and a searing pain followed. She clutched her arm but kept running. The officer finally got to the stairs when she got to the bottom, he yelled at her as she ran threw the park and turned a right -away from her house.
    The housing was infested with parks, of all kind. And at the end of Slavery St. was a small park, at a sharp turn. Belle' ran there as fast as she could. And hid in the shadows. Her back against a brown fence line.
    The park was dark, no street lights were hitting it. Soon the officer came and scanned the park and then left. She walked over to the teeter tot, knowing that unless he came back with knight vision (she could see very well in the dark) or a flash light he would not be able to see her. Belle' looked down at her arm, it was twinged in red, with dark red lines flowing out of the cut, dropping down to her slender fingers and steadily dripping to the ground. She ground it would leave a scare...



    "Well, it was, uh, nice seeing you again," The man lied on the front porch of his house. He patted his son's shoulder awkwardly. He then removed it fast like he had been burnt. Christian sighed. He hadn't visited his father since he'd turned into a vampire. Since the Navy Housing only let vampires in at holiday, and this was the first holiday his dad hadn't been working.
    "Yea, by dad." Christian said.
    He walked down the walkway, and as soon as he took 2 steps the door shut behind him and was locked. Christian sighed. How come his dad had to be against vampires? No better yet, why did half the world have to be against vampires? Christian shook his head.
    Vampires had made them self none in the early 1900's, when a mad mad had made a virus causing its victim to turn and crave blood. The name was just a coincidence. But soon 1/4 of the world had turned vampire, never aging,(again a coincidence) kneading blood to survive- even though most prayed on animals. Over a year the virus stopped making people insane, and soon people were asking to become vampires. Not that Christian had asked, no. He was one of the unlucky few who had been attacked by a vampire, thus becoming one.
    He had had his hole future planned out for him, he was going to go to college. Get a degree in law. And live a happy life with his high school sweet heart- Meridith. But nooo. Christian had been bitten, and changed. His college options reduced to the colleges who let in vampires, and even then most offices didn't let vampires in. Even Meredith, whom he'd known since he was 5, ran scared of him. Even though he was the same Christian he'd always been... plus fangs.
    He sighed again, walking past a groove in the houses that led to stairs and a park. He stopped dead in his tracks. That scent! It was so beautiful, it was sweet, but it had spice. It was the most beautiful scent he'd ever smelled. And it was fresh! He followed the trait to the right, without thinking. The trail led to yet another park- the parks seemed to infest the hole place-, but this one was dark and sat in a gap in a sharp corner. Breathing deeply he opened his eyes- he hadn't realized he's closed them till now- and saw the park.
    It was a simple park, with a teeter tot in the middle. And on one end sat a girl. She was beautiful, in her own way. With blond hair tucked into a loose bun and a tight tank top on, he couldn't see what her bottom half was wearing but her legs were bare and long....
    But the most interesting thing about her was that she was clutching her arm. On that arm sat the delicious blood, trickling down into a wasteful pile on the park floor. She cursed. Not yet noticing him. "Why the freak won't you just stop bleeding already you stupid good for nothing arm!" She said to herself.
    No. Don't stop bleeding. Never stop bleeding. Christian thought to himself half crazed. He walked closer to the girl. She stiffened. Then slowly turned her head toward Christian. How had she known he was there? He thought. He hadn't made a sound.
    The girls head was fully toward him now. Her eyes skimmed his face, then his appearance. He simply had a blue Holster T-shirt and jeans on. Her eyes looked back at his, and he mentally gasped. She had such surprising eyes. They were a neon blue. And the color in them seemed to move, without her eyes moving. They made her face beautiful and otherworldly doll. How odd, he thought.
    "Are you a vampire?" She asked him. She didn't seem afraid, only intrigued.
    "Yes, I am." He said simply.
    "Oh... I thought they weren't allowed in the housing." She said bluntly, her eyes never leaving his.
    "Yea, they do on holidays."
    "Who did you visit?" He had no idea why she was being so nosy. Normally he would say "none of your business!" Then turn and walk away. But he looked at the girl, and felt sort of protective of her. And he knew he would mentally kill himself to be rude to the girl, even in the slightest bit.
    "Petty Officer Barker." He answered. To his surprise she laughed. It was a bubbly laugh that seemed to echo off the walls of his head, ringing pleasantly.
    "He's an a**, but you probably already know that. He kicked you out right when he could, hu?"
    He was shocked. But he answered. "Yea. I'm the son of an a**..." He trailed off at the end. Then he started to wonder if this would hurt her feelings. Happily, she laughed again.
    "I would have never know."
    "Thanks. I was wondering if anything rubbed off."
    "Don't worry your a** free." She smiled.
    Christian then found himself hovering over her. How had he gotten here? She looked at him, unafraid. He leaned in closer. But his head was tilted to her shoulder. She seemed to notice and reached her arm to bare the mark on he shoulder. It was an ugly mark, and very deep. The blood flowing out of it freely. Christian licked his lips. From here the smell was over powering, all he had to do was lean a little closer. He wouldn't hurt her...
    He found himself drinking before he finished his last sentence. The blood was even better than the fragrance. The blood was hot in his mouth and flowed down easily. He found himself clutching her to him. Making her stand.



    Belle' gasped. A beautiful vampire boy had appeared, apparently after visiting his father, who was a major a**, to anyone. They had made conversation but he was now holding her in a tight embrace, and sucking her blood from the cut she had made not even 20 minutes ago.
    He had grabbed her, and bared his lips around her wound. Clutching her waist and pulling her off the tatter tot so he didn't have to bend. Her head was held back, to look at the sky... and the stars.... they were all starting to blur.....

    She woke up, still being clutched to the guy, but this time in an embrace of security. He was also no longer sucking her blood. He looked at her sad. "I-" She cut him off by groaning. "What? Are you hurt? Let me see? Is it your arm? Are you light headed? Whats-"
    I cut him off again by saying, "I'm not hurt..." He looked at her confused. "I'm... lightheaded." Yea that was it. She thought. Well it was it. She had now just seen his face (before it had been hidden in shadows). He was gorges! Deep green eyes that seemed to glow, hansom blond hair that was a little long, but rapped around his face perfectly like even it, couldn't bare to be without touching him. She wasn't light headed. She was utterly happy for this god who was holding her.
    "I'm sorry. I didn't realize what I was doing, till you fainted." He said. He sound sorry, at least to Belle's ears.
    "Fine, fine. I know I was acting like a stupid girl, and I swooned!!" Ops. The words had flushed out of Belle's mouth. She wished desperately that she could take them back. She was afraid he would set her down at walk away 'cus he thought she was just another freaking out human girl.
    To Belle's horror he laughed. Like with Jason the laugh vibrated the both of them, but this felt oddly nicer to Belle'. He stopped and said, "You think you were being stupid? I wasn't paying attention and I attacked you!" He laughed again.
    "So..." She mumbled and pushed out her lips in a pout. She actually hadn't minded that part... but the swooning!!
    He chuckled and set her feet on the ground, but didn't let go of her waist. He was tall! She probably came up to his shoulders, and she was 5'6. It sort of made her feel small and doll like. Unthinkingly she said what she thought. "Holy s**t! Your tall. I feel so small like a freaking doll." She blushed at her inability to not say what she was thinking.
    He chuckled and release a hand from Belle's waist. Cupping it over the side of her face instead. He lead down toward her and breathed in her ear, "You look like a doll. A small pretty porcelain doll." Belle' smiled. She had never liked being called a doll before- whitch she had been, a lot- but from him. It was sweet in a twisted way.
    "Tell me, little doll. Whats is your name?" He pulled back so he was looking down at her.
    "Belle', Belle' Saunders." He smiled at her name.
    "Your name even sounds like a doll's."
    Belle' rolled her eyes, "Watch it. I don't act like a doll."
    His smile grew wider, "I can tell."
    She chuckled slightly. "Well Mr. Vampire. Whats your name?" She didn't know why but he frowned slightly when she the word vampire. Hmmm. Interesting. A vampire with a conscience, I like it. She thought.
    "Christian Barker." He said. It sounded right. Petty Officer Barker was his his father, and he had mentioned his son, who was named Christian, had turned into a vampire. Belle' winced. Petty Officer Barker was one of the many men in the housing that hatted vampires with a passion. Somehow, Belle' saw Officer Barker chasing his son with a pitch fork. Again she winced.
    "Whats wrong?" Christian asked. He had watched while Belle' babbled in her head. Was she in pain? Or did she feel uncomfortable? He thought.
    "Nothing." She said. "It must suck, having half the world hate you because of something uncontrollable." She would hate it. Or else she would have been a vampire by now, asking for it. A permeation escape from her parents. But people hating her? She could handle a select number of people at school but not half the world.
    "Yea," Christian agreed. "It does." Belle' started to wonder if she had hurt his feelings. She mentally kicked herself for the probability. She didn't want to hurt Christian. She wanted him to laugh and smile.
    "I'm sorry!" She blurted. "I didn't mean to if I hurt your feeling!" She said.
    He chuckled at that. "I don't think you could, even if you tried."
    She made a face. "Watch it. I can be mean."
    He was about to say something when he saw a flash of light out of the corner of his eyes. Belle' saw it to. "It must be officer Nelson. He never gives up!" Belle' hissed.
    Christian looked at her, tilting his head and asking, "Why are you running from a cop?"
    "I'll explain it latter," She said. She didn't really wont to, but she had a feeling that she would tell him anything he wanted. "I need to hide!" Nelson had a flashlight so Christian would need to hide her with his body, she thought. Yea!
    Christian was thinking the same thing. He flinted to the other end of the park with her, leaned her gentally against the brown wooden planks. "OK, I think this is good," He said and looked back.
    "Ohh," She challenged. "And what are we doing out here?"
    His face turned thoughtful, a small v forming in between his eyebrows. "I'm going-"
    "Hey!" Nelson yelled.
    Christian cursed, they had no time. Belle' watched as his face got closer and closer to his. Suddenly something soft was on her lips. She felt him move to hide her hurt shoulder, but otherwise leaned against her, causing her to be squished between the fence and his hard body. I don't mine, she thought.
    "What are you kids doing? Its past curfew!" Nelson yelled. He hadn't made a move to come closer.
    Christian realist his lips from hers. He only kissed Belle' for a second, but to them it felt like a minutes. "It's New Years! I didn't know there was a curfew. Plus were 18." He yelled, never looking away from Belle's eyes.
    Belle' heard officer Nealson hmmph. "No ones above the law, splashily not 18 year old."
    "Your not my law." He said bluntly. Were was he going with this? Belle' though.
    "Ohh?"
    Christian turned around, facing Nealson but never raveling Belle'. Nealson backed away looking uncomfortable. "That's right. I'm a vampire. Now unless your a vampire too, which your not. Leave me alone before I bite you." There was a tone of amusement in his voice, and Belle' knew that he thought that little joke was funny. And it made her giggle.
    Belle' knew the last part was a cruel joke to make Nealson leave. But Nealson didn't know that. He screamed, dropped the flashlight and ran away.
    Christian turned back to Belle'. She laughed. "Nice-"
    She was cut off by the same soft lips that had touched hers not even a minute ago. This time, the lips had more time. They softly crushed hers, moving with hers. By the time they pulled apart to breath, there breaths were ragged and uneven. "Wow..." Belle' managed to say.
    But again she couldn't say more. This kiss was longer. He grabbed her waist and pulled him to her as she draped her good hand around his neck. They were in an odd potion, because of there size difference. He was leaning over her while her head was tipped up toward him, her toes pointed like a ballerina in her sneakers. He was clutching her waist to his while her shoulders and top half of her back were still leaning against the fence.
    When they pulled away this time Christian said, "I- I'm sorry I should have never-"
    But this time she cut him off, to kiss him.
    When they were done he said, "Aren't you afraid of me?"
    She laughed, "Honestly theirs nothing to be afraid of."
    Christian snorted, "All right." He looked around. "Where do you live?"
    "Over there," she said tilting her head to the right, towards her house.
    He picked her up, draping her over his wide shoulders. She screeched playfully. She had been held like this a while ago, but never liked it. Somehow it was nice with him.
    "Alright lets go." He said.
    She laughed and felt the blood rush to her head, "Ohh... And how will you know were your going?"
    "Simple. Your smell, I'll go to the house that smells like you and then I'll eat you." He said his voice heavily sarcastic. He'd never joked about what he was before. It seemed nice, like he used to be when he was still human.
    She laughed too. "Yea, but I don't think Ill struggle much." Any death in his arms was a right death, she thought.
    He chuckled and put her down. Oddly it was in front of her drive way. "How..." She trailed off. She'd rather not know. She grabbed his hand in hers and walked up the drive way.
    Belle's mom was probably asleep and she wouldn't like to be woken to see her "perfect child" cover in blood and hauling around a vampire, so she took the side root. She walked to the side of the house, wear there was a while ladder thingy that led to the second floor. She climbed it, careful not to move her damaged arm to much. Even though it was hard and she almost fell.
    Thankfully Christian was right behind her. He caught her when she almost dropped two times. One time accidentally trusting his hand up her butt. She screech playfully and looked down at him, "Hey, watch the merchandise." She said teasingly and kept climbing.
    When she finally got to the roof she trust herself up with one arm and walked to her open window. She stepped threw the window, careful not to put her shoe on her window seat. She looked at were he crouched, by the window seal. "What do you have to be asked in?" She said sarcastically.
    "It the polite thing to do when entering a lady's room." He said in a fake English accent.
    She snorted and he entered her room.
    He looked around. She had an odd room, tidy but not to tidy. She had a window seal behind her, in front of her was a low black bed with a large head rest. The comforter was large and blue with a lot of fluffy blue pillows. The her left was a black dresser with an expensive looking stereo system on top and a book shelf, full of books next to the dresser. There was a door that led into the hallway at the opposite wall.
    "Nice," he said.
    She laughed. "Well you can stay or leave, I need to take a shower so I can get this off my arm." She looked down at her bad arm. It had stopped bleeding when Christian had sucked it, so now all the blood was dry and grotesque.
    "Hmmm," He said and leaned into her. "That an invitation?" He asked and wagged his eyebrows at her.
    She laughed and said sorry, "still a virgin." God! How stupid can I get? She thought. But he laughed and sat on her bed, waiting.
    She sighed and grabbed new clothes and walked out into the hall, toward her bathroom.