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"Are you okay, Evie?"

I shifted from one foot to the other. "I'm fine."

My poetry teacher's eyes squinted and sat back in her chair. I glanced at Rachel who was waiting by the door patiently and brought my attention back to her. 

"Are you sure?"

"I'm pretty sure, Miss. Clarke." I mumbled.

She pursed her lips. She was, apart from Michael, one of my favourite teachers here. She was probably in her late thirties maybe in between thirty-five and forty. She was so nice. 

"You seem a bit distracted lately. Your essay on Beethoven's Letters was tremendous but now you just seem like you're in a far away land."

"It's nothing important. It'll blow over soon." I muttered.

She waited a moment as if I'd carry on but then nodded. "Well, I'm here to talk if you need to."

I nodded my thanks and follows Rachel out of the room. "She's right, Evie. You have been distracted."

"It'll blow over soon." I repeated as we walked down the halls.

Rachel shrugged. "Alright. Just hope it isn't something too bad."

"Its not, it's just..." I sighed and started to chew on my bottom lip in thought. 

"Don't burst a blood vessel thinking about it, Eve." She patted my back as we stopped in front of the library. "I'm also here if you need to talk about anything."

"Thanks, Rachel, but it's nothing you'll understand."

"Hey, my parents have gone through divorce too."

"Nothing like that."

"Oh.... Then I got nothin'."

I smiled light heatedly at the girl.

"Anyway, I have to study for my geography exam. But I'll be at George's party later. See you there?"

I nodded and turned on my heels to stroll down the hall. I slowed as I neared Michael's room and flinched when I heard his sharp shout. 

Last night had taken a toll on his self control I could tell. From waking up beside him this morning to the moment he dropped me home he'd been slightly quiet and rigid; what tipped me off was the way he leaned slightly away from me or didn't really touch me. I'd told him straight away to go out and feed but he only said it was too late to call in sick on a Friday. So he'd been left to his moody self. 

Poor students.

I walked around and out of the building to get back home. It was three o'clock and the girls and I decided to dig around our wardrobes for something casual to wear tonight. Tonight for me and Kate would be a bit of a load off but then again we were being as careful as possible. We can't walk to George's otherwise we'd draw attention to ourselves and I wasn't allowed to be by myself at any point in time tonight.

But I wanted to.

I wanted to get close to the vampire again to speak with him. I wanted to hear why he was following us. I wanted to know why he's still drawing so much attention to the attacks and stupidly leaving people to tell others. He wasn't the only one to blame but still. He was the only one I could communicate with. 

I wasn't sure whether Kate knew I was going to do this but as I walked into the house, she gave me a disapproving look from the living room sofa so I assumed she had an idea. 

"Should we all just go up in jeans, it's too cold to function now." Laura said as she dropped her magazine.

I nodded but kept my eyes glued to Kate. "Sure."

She sighed. "Oh, good we don't need to bomb our wardrobes. I'd been not looking forward to it all day."

Kate broke eye contact and I let out a small sigh. "I did mine earlier. I'm just wearing my tee and jeans. Like I can be bothered to actually dress up anyway."

"Are we taking your car up there?" Laura asked me.

I was about to say no but Katherine said, "Yes we are. I think it'd be best."

I smiled tightly. "Right, fine. Anyway, I'm going to order a pizza for six o'clock what does everyone want?"

"Just pepperoni." Laura mumbled and she swung her legs onto the couch. 

"Same." Kate mumbled.

Time passed quite fast after I settled into my comfortable sweatpants and t-shirt. Kate didn't try to pull me aside to ask about my plan but she had disappeared for a few minutes upstairs. The pizzas came at six on the dot and by then, Lucas was home at eight-thirty walking straight past us and upstairs to shower as he did most Fridays.

"Me and Damien?" Laura asked outraged dropping her pizza crust. 

Kate rolled her eyes. "Evie and I and probably the rest of the world know that you're completely in lust with him. You want to slather his body in chocolate and eat him."

I snorted but turned it into a fake cough when Laura glared at me. "That was the past. Forget about it."

"Never," Kate replied. "Why don't you get on it tonight?"

"Because I thought about the logic of my actions. If he and I were to ever be involved, it would end badly and then we'd have to live with each other thus creating a horrible atmosphere for Lucas and Evie to live in."

I shrugged. "I can live with that."

"Evie!"

"Laura, I'm playing. Kate, you know she's right." I said truthfully.

"Oh wow, Kate's wrong or the first time. Nice one, Eve."

Kate smiled and I leaned back into my chair. It was one of those smiles. Those ones I told her never to show me. The ones that say, 'When am I ever wrong?'

"Why don't you go on upstairs and see how right I always am." She winked.

I hesitated. There was only one thing that could be upstairs and if it was what I thought it was I was in a lot of trouble.

I stood up slowly and made my way up the stairs, passing a clean Lucas in the process and walking up to my closed door. I pressed my forehead against it and counted to three then I opened it. 

I sighed with relief when it was empty. 

I stepped in slowly but gasped when a hand grabbed the side of my shirt to pull me in further.

"Obviously you're off your nut if you think I'm going to let you go tonight," Michael circled around me to close and lock my door.

As he turned around, I narrowed my gaze to examine his stance and eyes. His green eyes weren't liquid and warm like they usually were; they were as hard as I'd ever seen them. His stance rigid and almost strained.

"You haven't fed." I scolded.

"I didn't particularly get a chance from coming straight here after my last lecture." His voice even sounded harder.

I crossed my arms over my chest. "I am not going to talk to you when you're like this."

He rolled his eyes. "Well I'm so sorry Evangeline, but you don't have much of a choice."

"What do you want?" I demanded.

"You're not looking for this vampire."

"Like hell I'm not." I retorted.

He stepped forward but faltered as if stopping himself. "You'll get yourself killed."

"I told you that this vampire isn't going to hurt me."

This time he did come forward. His hand curled around my upper arms. "Fine. Say you bump into the other one, who says they're not going to hurt you, huh? Katherine is only one witch, yes she is strong bur there is no telling how strong or old this vampire is."

I paused. I didn't think about that. But then I thought is it the man that's following me and the other one following him? They haven't been together in a while, that's what John and everyone said when they found their scents.

"The other one shouldn't be around."

"Evie, you don't know that," He whispered. His hand cupped my cheek gingerly but enough to send warm tingles through me. "I don't know what I'll do if something happened to you."

I closed my eyes and sighed. "Michael..."

The door opened. Michael's hand dropped from my face and he scowled toward Kate's entering body.

"I locked that." I said not turning my gaze away from Michael.

"Well, that was pointless in my opinion. And yes, Michael."

I finally looked at Kate. "What?"

"Michael hasn't asked me yet but he's about to."

I swung my head back around.

Michael looked between us. "If she hadn't of burst in before, I would have said fine. Because you're too stubborn for me to change your mind, go. But you're not going without protection. Sam is going."

I clenched my jaw.

"I was going to ask Kate if Sam was free tonight."

"Hence my answer, yes. He is. He'll be here in half hour before we leave."

"Good." He gave me one last disappointed glance before walking toward my door. 

I gave him a puzzled look before he opened it and went to walk out.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I asked him in outrage.

"Leaving. Through the front door." He stated as if it were obvious.

I sighed angrily and walked toward him to grab the front of his button shirt. "Have you lost your mind?"

His hands cupped my face with a smile. "No"

"You're being an ass."

"You're being stubborn."

"You can't threaten me, Michael. If you walk through that front door you're just getting yourself in trouble."

"No, it's opening a line of questions for you actually. I can live with it because in about two years they'll be long gone." He shrugged nonchalantly which made me even angrier.

"Michael!" I whisper yelled.

"Evie?" Laura shouted from downstairs. "Are you alright? Who are you yelling at?"

I cursed quietly. "I'm on the phone." 

"...Alright!" She replied. 

Michael's lips suddenly pressed against mine briefly but sweetly. I inhaled deeply when his always attractive scent floated around me making my mind blank and my body tingle.

"Alright. You'll eat her. Go feed." 

He removed his lips leaving them to linger for a second. I opened my eyes slowly and shook my head to clear it. 

"Be safe. And don't be stupid."

My mind focused enough for me to scowl at him. "Love you too." I mumbled sarcastically.

He pressed his lips to my forehead and walked back into my room to open my window. "I do love you." 

I smiled. "And I love you. Even when you're thirsty and an absolute asswi--"

"Goodnight, Evie." He interrupted right before putting his hands on the ledge and jumping out. 

I walked to my bed and sat down. I was tired already and we weren't leaving for another half hour. Well, technically the party started at eight but we weren't going to turn up on time. Kate went home to change and I put on my light blue skinny jeans, a plain white t-shirt underneath a dark plain blue button up shirt. I rolled the sleeves up and pulled my hair out of its ponytail. I applied a tiny bit of make-up and grabbed my jacket.

"Ready?" 

I turned to the door as I grabbed my phone off my table. "Hello Sam and yes."

He crossed his large arms over his chest. He was in a body hugging black v-neck and black jeans. "I'm sorry I'm..."

"Don't be sorry. You're not overprotective."

"He's thinking about your safety. And I think he's right."

I sighed. "Here we go."

"You're stupid for going after this vampire. You don't know what could happen. He could be playing tricks on you."

I shrugged but didn't comment on it.

"Fine. Continue to be a stubborn ass." I frowned at him. "Come on, let's go."

Damien had returned as Michael left earlier and he was lucky he didn't get caught. Then again, with Michael in his thirsty state he was probably in stealth mode. Sam drove my car with Lucas and I. Kate drove Sam's car with Damien and Laura. 

George lived in a house at the edge of campus on the other side which was more like a fraternity because about six other boys lived there. Unfortunately, this Uni doesn't allow fraternities so this party was kept under the hat. George said they didn't name themselves but they may as well.

We made it to the other side of campus in less than ten minutes feeling the bass of the music through the car. We parked quite far from the three story house. 

As we got out someone ran right up to me and engulfed me in a hug.

I grunted and wrapped my arms around the girl. "Rachel--?"

"Oh, Evie..." 

"Are you drunk, honey?" I chuckled and pulled back to look at her. Her eyes were slightly bloodshot but she didn't look drunk. Maybe she was slightly tipsy. "How long have you been here it's like nine-thirty?"

"Since nine."

"I'm appalled, Rache."

She giggled and stepped back. "Well, I've got all night to watch you grow more and more appalled."

She ran back down the road to meet her friend and walked into house vibrating with life.

As we all grew closer, I noticed the balcony was filled with young adults drinking or attacking each others mouths. There were people hanging about the front yard, the door was closed but all the windows were open. All of the first years were probably here.

Sam's gloved hand covered mine. "We're going to probably get separated at some point."

"Most likely. Because tonight, I'm going to be having some fun. And don't even think about being a big brother and keeping me away from the alcohol, Samuel."

He laughed. "Hey, you do what you want. Just don't even think about running off." He let go of my hand and put his hand to my back. "Now, lets party."

As soon as we opened the door the madness began. The song that started playing as we walked in was Breakneck Speed by Tokyo Police Club. 

There were people dancing, playing drinking games in the living room and more dancing in the kitchen. Kate had already disappeared to do her thing and mingle around. Damien and Laura had partnered off to the living room and Sam stuck with Luke and me. 

"Hey guys!" 

I turned my head to a smiling George. "Hi."

"Here let me take your coat." I shrugged it off and handed it to him

He then glanced at Sam and sized him up briefly but obviously. 

"Oh, this is Sam, Kate's brother. He's here to keep an eye on Kate." I lied. "We all know what she's like." 

He chuckled nervously but kept his eyes on Sam. "Right yeah, I'm George." He held out his hand.

I sent Sam a warning look and he rolled his eyes. He shook his hand with his glove on thankfully and had a full on conversation about football.

Lucas had wondered off to God knows where. So I decided to have a little fun myself. 

I found Laura in the kitchen laughing at something someone said. She saw me and grabbed my hand only to place a shot glass in it. A song I recognised by AWOLNATION called Sail came on. Laura and I took it at the same time and received a few cheers. I wasn't going to get drunk, hell no, and neither am I getting tipsy. A few drinks or a little tiny buzz that could last a few hours will be fine. 

For three hours, I partied like any other eighteen year old would. I danced with Kate; I danced with Laura and even danced with drunk Rachel. Sam was watching from a distance sometimes smiling or talking to a few people around him. I watched and laughed as girls attempted to hit on him. Kate laughed with me more than a few times. He'd only scowl at us deeply and walk off. Poor guy. Time always goes fast when you're having fun. 

By around twelve-thirty a few people were unconscious on the couches or had migrated upstairs. I, on the other hand was left to pull Rachel's unconscious body onto the spare couch. 

George came downstairs and dodged in and out of groups of people to get to me. "She's a lightweight. She had, like, two shots and she was tipsy."

I laughed. "Poor Rache. She'll be regretting this."

"Probably." He sighed. "I'm going to go outside for some air, join me?"

I shrugged. "Sure."

I followed him out into the back yard and walked to the bench near the end of the garden. "Wow. Nice garden. Does it connect to the forest out back?" 

"Yeah but we keep the gate door locked. With all those attacks going on we'd rather keep everything all tight lipped." We sat down in unison with a small sigh.

The mention of the attacks had me thinking about the fact there'd been one last night three miles from campus. And this time they left him alive. He wasn't as bad the rest, but he was still traumatised.

"Party was a success, huh?" George asked.

"Sure was."

"Not too much?"

"No, it wasn't. It was great, thanks for inviting me, George." I smiled.

"Glad Damien introduced us at the Hockey game?" He asked with a nudge of his shoulder.

"Yep. If I hadn't of met you a lot of things wouldn't have happened."

Like the fact that Michael got extremely jealous that I was with George at the hockey game. We wouldn't have argued then kissed, thus not leaving his hockey jersey on the floor, thus me not returning it to him. It's like a butterfly effect.

"Like...?" He pressed.

I looked up into the dark star covered sky. "You wouldn't believe me if I even tried to explain it."

He laughed quietly and there was a sudden loud smash inside. "For crying out loud." George mumbled. "I'll be back in a few depending on whether I kill my room mates or guests."

I watched as he ran inside the house that was still loud with music. It was slightly chilly now and I wished I had my coat. I hope I don't catch a cold otherwise I'd miss lectures.

There was a sudden change to the music and I started deliberating what song it was. There was a creepy and haunting edge to it that made me shiver adding it to the cold shiver that travelled up my spine.

I stared down the end of the garden leading to the woods and pushed my sleeves down when a breeze picked up my hair and swung it around my shoulders.

I glanced back at the house briefly before standing up and slowly walking down the garden. At the back of my mind, there was a slight buzz but it had nothing to do with the alcohol. I could feel something. Like a sudden charge. 

As I neared the door another breeze blew past me and I inhaled deeply as a familiar sweet toffee scent filled my nose.

I looked down at the locked door that was now in front of me and bent down to slide the lock across and click it back. I did the top one as well and swung the door open to come face to face with him.

His grey eyes were bright, hard and vigilant. His large body slightly leaning away from me as if... He was trying to put as much distance between us as possible.... As if... He hadn't fed.

He took a small step back but I followed closing the door behind me.

Although, inside, my body was filled with that unmistakeable fear and my heart was pounding in my ears just like the first time I'd seen him, I was still here, still stupidly standing in front of him.

I hadn't planned past this bit because I hadn't expected to actually find him so easily.

I was still choked with fear and yet I was still standing here in front of him staring. He hadn't moved since he took a step back. The haunting music was still prominent even though it was a few yards back now.

I needed to say something. I couldn't just stand here and neither could he. I still didn't know what approach to take. I didn't know how to start or what to say...

So I took a deep breath and came out with the one word and question that should say everything:

"Why?" My voice shook slightly.

He finally blinked his long eyelashes and parted his lips. He didn't speak or attempt to, he just continued to stare at me.

"Why?" I said this time with more confidence. 

Still no answer.

But his shoulders did relax a little and his gaze faltered from mine to look at his feet.

I tilted my head toward him. "Why won't you speak?"

His straight jaw clenched and I could see his fingers twitching. And yet he still didn't say a word.

I sighed sharply and glanced at his visible pale shoulder that had a faint scar I saw last time. His hand covered it quickly before I could properly