Okay, for everyone who's wonder I am now in boarding school. Thus, I have an extreamely hard time finishing chapters because I have no computer of my own I have to use my roommates, who is gratefully really cool about it. So please when it takes me forever to finish something, don't come complaining because I have a valid reason. On another topic thank you for all the reviews and feedback, I really appreciate them a lot. Please continue to tell me what you think about the story and what I can do to approve. Read and enjoy, thank you again.

Chapter 9,

Vampire's Delight

If life was easy there would be no way to really have fun. After all, a good challenge once in a while was a pretty good way to pass the time. Plus if everyone got what they wanted it would be an even crueler world than we did live in. But if I was to give my opinion on the subject of the world, and right-and-wrong at this point, I would have been inclined to answer that ‘The world and everything in it can go and fuck off,’

I had known that news of mine and Lyle’s newly formed relationship (though if you didn’t see it coming you were certainly blind) would get around fast but I hadn’t expected it to have gotten to everyone already. The news had apparently spread like wildfire. Everywhere we had gone everyone stared at us. I think there were a few classes that got disrupted, if the faces in the window as we walked past were any indication. I couldn’t say I wasn’t used to it, after all I was both a trouble-maker and part of the sibling’s group, but the whole thing had started to make me embarrassed. Lyle on the other hand, was perfectly fine, not to mention obviously amused over my discomfort. If I hadn’t wanted to punch him earlier I was certainly feeling it now.

“Can it,” I had finally muttered. He responded by giving me that chuckle that always seemed to come about from my pain.

“It’s so amusing though,” he countered, as if that were a great excuse. It was then he stroked my cheek, effectively making me shiver and blush at the same time. “Besides, you’re so cute when you’re nervous.”

I just about bit his finger off. “Nervous my ass, it’s annoying!” I snarled, ignoring his feigned pout. I shoved my hands into my pockets to keep him from grabbing one again (because trust me, even when I was angry there was no way I could have been pulled away; Stupid hormonal teenage body) and refused to look at him.

Alia just sniffed from my other side. “Know you now,” she said rather prissily. “Told you I did, that you would be of discomfort to yourself in this position. That I did.” She then proceeded to walk faster, so intent on showing me she was still angry that she even succeeded in ignoring Trevor’s pleas to wait up.

Lyle gave his own snort, mimicking me in both pout and hands. “Well fine, if you don’t want me to play comforting boyfriend than I won’t. Those girls over there are actually looking really pretty today, I might go and talk to them.”

I could tell he was playing me by his sparkling eyes. He didn’t hide it well at all, almost like he was afraid that if he didn’t I would take him seriously. So I did exactly what he didn’t want me to. “Oh really?” and I could tell he was secretly smirking, awaiting my fury. “Well that’s nice. Maybe you should go and converse with them.” He hadn’t been expecting that and it was rather obvious when he almost tripped over his own feet.

It was so easy to imagine his expression, something I couldn’t see because I had succeeded in getting about seven feet ahead of him. He was probably gaping, looking like the fish I had learned to imitate quite well whenever I was with him. God how it felt so good to finally trip him up. “Well see you later,” I finally said when I couldn’t resist it anymore. I even upped the ante by giving him that nonchalant backwards wave.

He flew, that was the only way I could really describe it. But whatever the correct word for it was he was on me in a flash. I guess I could have gasped, but I was so used to this that the surprise only succeeded in getting my eyes to flash open. “You’re so not fun,” he sighed, wrapping his arms around my waist and half picking me up.

My face had to have gone beet red, if the sudden heat was any indication. I tried kicking my way out and when that didn’t work had to resign myself to getting carried once again. “And you’re not fair,” I retorted, crossing my arms in a pout.

He did smirk at this. Giving another of his famous chuckles. “All’s fair in love and war,” he purred into my hair.

“That’s plagiarism,” I pointed out. “And incredibly cheesy if I might add.” Lyle did nothing more than continue to carry me, muttering something under his breath. If I wasn’t hallucinating it was something along the lines of ’Turning me on in the wrong place’ Needless to say it got a blush out of me.

Trevor was who greeted us a few minutes later. After I had been carried all the way through the cafeteria and into the gardens that was. He burst out into laughter as soon as we had gotten near enough to see clearly. Or near enough that it would be possible for us mere mortals to see clearly, I’m pretty sure he saw me a mile away. I aimed a kick at his head and surprisingly it connected. He ended up slinking back behind Alia pouting because I had ’hurt him’. Yeah, I‘m sure. It was more likely he was just sore I had won that round, and in front of Alia no less.

Lyle set me back on my feet and gave him an elbow to the ribs. Not that it really did anything, I probably only succeeded in getting a raised eyebrow for my troubles. But I seated myself on Alia’s free side as a precaution. You never knew what he would be able to get away with in public if I wasn’t this close to a barricade. I think he noticed too because he sat down and immediately started pouting. When I ignored him he finally moved on to pretty much physically harassing me.

“So Lanie, is there some reason you brought a rather unusual lunch for yourself today?” Lyle prodded, throwing an arm over my shoulder to lean his weight on me.

I was reminded of the sack at my feet, something Alia must have gotten for me because I certainly hadn’t been able to go back to my locker to retrieve it. A blush crossed my cheeks and I refused to look him in the eye. “Not your business,” I snapped, more embarrassed than really angry with his question.

“Oliver made it for her,” Alia cut in, delicately eating a homemade french-fry. I had a sudden urge to kick her as well. She couldn’t resist making me miserable could she? All because I’d become a stupid little bride. If I had a nickel for every person that got pissed at me for some stupid reason I’d be richer than fucking Bill Gates. And that was a hell of a lot of nickels.

“Really now?” Lyle’s eyebrows raised lightly, his eyes locking onto mine in curiosity. He obviously wasn’t threatened by Oliver, that was pretty clear, but he was interested in the reason that the older man had bothered to take the time. “So is there some reason? Oliver doesn’t normally grace the rest of us with his amazing cooking ability.”

I sniffed and tore at the bag furiously. Maybe if I concentrated on eating I would be able to tune him out. I obviously didn’t know the real reason, and giving him a lie (which he would see right through) was almost as bad as admitting I had no idea. The first thing I pulled out was a small tub of macaroni salad.

Lyle chuckled and leaned in to breath into my ear. “Brings back memories eh Lanie?” he teased, giving the back of my ear a small lick. I couldn’t help but shiver. It was incredibly easy to tell that Lyle was having a hard time keeping himself in check. Even without the ability to sense his feelings I could already feel his arousal just by being near him. Alia could too apparently because she gave him a rather menacing warning look.

Trevor, always the comedian and polar opposite of Alia, couldn’t help himself making a joke out of it. “Keep it together you crazy kids,” he teased, having a rather hard time holding back his laughter. “We wouldn’t want to explain your guys’ horrible sexual yearning for each other.”

If the macaroni salad hadn’t been so mouthwatering I would have thrown the Tupperware at his head then and there. But since it was so I had to resort to glaring at him. My anger apparently wasn’t without company because in another minute the werewolf’s head recoiled and a dull thud could be heard.

“Ow! Lyle you sunofabitch that was so not fair!” he whined, flipping his head back to it’s right position while he held his nose. “You probably broke my nose for a minute there.” There was an accusing undertone underneath the mock hurt. “Tell your brother off Alia.” She did nothing more than crack a smile, attempt to hide a giggle, and continue to try and eat her grilled cheese.

“By the way, can I have my shoe back?” Lyle asked, completely ignoring his companion’s irritation. “I’m pretty sure that my little sister will kill me if I get a grass stain on my sock, and it’s kind of cold for another thing.”

I had to snort at that one. “You, cold?”

He immediately nuzzled my neck again. “Not when you’re around Lanie,” he purred, earning him a rather hard elbow to the ribs. My elbow probably came out of that more bruised then he did though.

Alia sent him another glare. “You, stop now!” she ordered, stabbing her fork in our direction. “Not yours for taking Ella is, not at all.”

I had to smile at her. “Thank you Alia,” I said sunnily. “It’s about time somebody helped me through the sexual harassment.”

“I am not!” Lyle argued, but he tightened his hold on me. “And Alia if you want her you’ll have to fight. I’m not giving her up.”

The girl just twirled her utensil absentmindedly. “Forget you do that I am the one in her classes. And with her more than you. And she loves me bestest. Don’t you Ella?” she asked sweetly, going back to childish.

This was the first time she had shown that side since the bride incident. You couldn’t imagine how relieved that made me feel. I knew she wouldn’t be pissed forever, but at the rate she was going I was expecting that she would last a hell of a lot longer than a regular grudge. A hundred years sounded pretty good. “Yeah,” I ended up agreeing with her. “I do love you best.”

Lyle snorted, giving a mock growl. “No fair Lanie,” he said, “You’re mine.”

I shrugged and popped opened the Tupperware container. “No one said I had to put you above everyone else,” I pointed out, shoving a piece of the salad into my mouth. They weren’t kidding when they said Oliver was a good cook. If he wasn’t a vampire he could probably become one of the greatest chefs ever. Maybe he’d do a show with Emeril. I almost laughed at that one. “Besides,” I continued, “Alia doesn’t try to seduce me.”

It was his turn to chuckle, and he did it quite well. “Well now,” he started, pulling me further onto his lap. A feat that I found rather amazing since I was already so far back. “At least it seems to be working. Or rather it would have if we had thought to shut the curtains before we had acquired such an, amusing audience to say the least.”

It was impossible not to blush at that one. Trevor burst out laughing, falling over backwards in his hysterics. Alia winced and stuck her tongue out in disgust. “Nasty that was,” she sniffed. “Preferred I would, you have not to say that.” I didn’t blame her in the least, I would have preferred he would have kept his mouth shut too.

“Well you all certainly are lively.”

I jumped and shot my head up immediately to stare into the eyes of Rachel. “So I see,” she said, gesturing to the gauze patch on my neck. “I guess it was only a matter of time. He was rather attached to you, I think it would have been suicide to try and take you away.”

I had to blush again. Had it been obvious the whole time we were together that we would eventually end up this way? If so then I had been more of a giggling girl about the whole thing than I had thought. Damn my grandma and her excessive pushiness, damn my feminine hormones, and damn Lyle for being sexy in the first place.

And then the thought occurred to me. “Wait a minute!” I almost shouted, making everyone stop where they were. “How in god’s name do you know about that?” She herself had paused mid-sentence. Her expression went from confused to guilty in half a second. This only encouraged me to glare harder at her.

“Ah, ha ha, I though they,” she gave another nervous laugh as she scratched the back of her neck. She swallowed, and her throat sounded dry. Rachel bent down and grabbed Trevor’s water bottle (in which he protested quite nicely) and took a long gulp. She had nearly drained the bottle by the time she finished. Trevor gave a rather sarcastic ‘Thanks’ when she gave it back. “Um, how do I explain this?” I think she might have wanted me to answer that because she paused for another minute. I wasn’t moving. “I’m with them,” she finally said, her voice and face going monotone.

My eyes widened. I hadn’t been expecting that one. Another thought came and I couldn’t help but ask. “What about Kevin?” After all the two of them were pretty much a pair.

“Right here,” he said, popping up behind her. “Did I miss something?” When I glared at him his mouth formed a near perfect ’O’. “Um, about that, I’m really sorry,” he apologized, trying his best not to anger me further. “It wasn’t like we didn’t want to tell you, it’s just easier you know, if someone doesn’t figure us all out. Like security.”

“If one goes down they don’t all have to,” I said, finishing his thought. He nodded at once. I gave another sigh before I just gave up. Could I only really make friends with freaks? Was I that messed up that I couldn’t hang around with anyone normal? The whole thing wore me out.

Lyle flicked my nose teasingly. “You’ll never be able to escape us Lanie,” he teased. “You just seem to attract us.” It was like he had been reading my mind, which wouldn’t have been so bad if the rest of them didn’t laughingly agree with him.

I pouted. There really wasn’t anything else I could do at that moment. It was either sit there and pout or argue with them and risk losing the macaroni salad, and that was something I wouldn’t dare. As someone who had to constantly dig through the cupboards for something edible (Gram and Gramps definitely weren’t the greatest cooks, though Grandma had her days) and when that didn’t work eat out, home cooking like this was the closest thing to heaven.

Lyle had to ruin my mood yet again. “You’re smelling awfully nice,” he purred again, trailing his cool finger down the other side of my neck. “It’s making me hungry.”

It was my turn to shove a fork in his mouth. He almost choked before chomping down on the plastic and ripping it out of my hand. “Not fair!” he snarled around the fork, his tone more annoyed than angry.

“You ate a few days ago,” I snorted, grabbing the plastic again. He let me remove it and I resumed eating my salad. “I don’t really think you’re in that much need of food,” I told him, ignoring the others’ amused glances. “Besides I really think my neck needs a break, it won’t heal if you abuse it everyday.”

Trevor gave a snort of laughter. “Don’t be shy Ellie,” he teased happily, “all newlyweds need some time alone. A honeymoon just wasn’t in store for you.” He was silenced by another of Lyle’s shoes. I gave a small grin before curling my leg over to allow him access to one of mine if need be. He took it, easing the sneaker off to set aside for later use.

“I still haven’t gotten my other shoe back,” Lyle taunted, resting his chin on the top of my head. “I’m starting to miss it.” My grin turned even more smug. Not because he was pretty much cuddling with me I had and would have plenty of my fill of that, but because for once it wasn’t me who the whole group was ganged up against, but it was mister joker himself. That was enough to make my day.

But like everything else that made me happy it wasn’t going to last very long.

“Oh hey Trevor, so glad to have you back.”

I groaned and rolled my eyes. Alia’s face lost it’s earlier giddiness, putting up the cold front from earlier, and Rachel and Kevin both ducked their heads to hide their faces. It probably was unusual for them to be seen with us. Even Lyle, the one who usually didn’t mind the occasional banter with a female, gave a rather annoyed sigh. I felt it anyway, I suppose you couldn’t really see it. Trevor was the only one who really appeared happy at all. Of course his smile was unusually forced, so he was probably doing a better job since he was the one she had addressed.

“Thanks Maria. It’s been a while since I’ve been gone. It’s great to have someone who missed me so much.” He was definitely faking it now. I’d spent so much time in their presence that it was hard not to notice their emotions. Especially when the lot of them never bothered to hide most of them.

Maria gave a girlish giggle and tapped her manicured nails against her lips. “Oh you’re so sweet.” She gasped as if she had forgotten something, and since I was still pondering whether there was a brain or a balloon in her head I wasn’t sure if she was faking it or if she had really just forgotten. “Oh dear me, I just forgot. I had something that I urgently needed to speak to dear Elaina about.”

I snorted which alerted her to my position. She didn’t look too happy to be staring down at me, seated in the hottest boy she ever had, and ever would meet. Needless to say that fact alone was making me even more smug than I had already been. “That’s an awful big word for you dear,” I said, mocking her a bit. This got a small sneer out of her but she covered it when she remember who’s arms it was that I was currently in. “Are you sure that it doesn’t hurt to use it?”

“Ha ha, you’re such a silly girl Elaina dear,” she giggled, her eyes glaring daggers at me. “Now could we speak in private, it’s so embarrassing talking in front of everyone else.”

Lyle strengthened his hold on me which of course made me both giddy and embarrassed. Stupid idiotic girly-thoughts. I hushed him and slipped out of his arms, patting his shoulder on the way up to show I would be fine. Even if she did try anything I was physically stronger than her and any other crony she managed to round up. “But of course you silly thing,” I replied, clapping my hands together and batting my eyes. A perfect imitation of her. I think I got a chuckle out of Trevor since he was the only one not afraid for me or of getting caught to do so.

Maria let another giggle out, though this one was even more forced than her other. “Funny,” she snipped, grabbing my wrist and pulling me out into the crowded hall.

I couldn’t help but notice the crowd we were generating. It must have been quite the sight to see. The now not-so-new girl, and Lyle’s new girl, pitted against the queen bee and leader of Lyle’s fan club. Maria was leader for a reason, she had captured the hearts of almost the whole school, or at least the people who mattered to anyone in the school, and was by far the prettiest, so of course she would be the one paired with the sexiest boy. It was high school nature, and you didn’t disturb that. I had done the taboo thing and didn’t seem to give a shit. That had upset them quite a lot, even for just figuring it out. It kind of made me wonder how bad it would have been if they had time to stew over how exactly I had stolen him from them all.

“You were at the club.” My eyes widened, more startled than really afraid or anything. I had completely forgotten that they were all going to be there, and the fact that I was the one who was supposed to get the siblings there as well. That wasn’t exactly the first thing I would have thought she’d bring up but now that I thought about it it was probably a good idea for her to start with the beginning of my crimes. After all, I had refused to do so, and then I had ended up showing up anyway. Not that I was exactly doing it on purpose, or that I had even remembered they were going to be there. She carried on before I could think anymore. “You specifically told us that you were not going to come and you were not going to make them come with you,” she snipped, rather shrilly if I might add.

“And that was not the only thing!” I hadn’t expected her to stop there, but I had to resist saying anything right then. It wasn’t like I was the most loved kid in the school and the crowd we had generated looked like they wanted more action than they did my sarcasm. I wasn’t ready to get another detention yet and if she hit me I wouldn’t be able to resist. “You stole him away from all the girls!” she accused, pointing her finger at me like it wasn’t obvious I was the one. “Lyle is for all of us. Not one of us is allowed to steal him you hear. But of course you couldn’t have that, Miss I’m-so-much-better than-everyone-else.” I actually had to laugh at that. It got me a rather pissed glare though.

Maria opened her mouth to speak but I held a hand up to stop her. She probably had a right, after all I had just swooped in and stolen the school’s prince, but I really didn’t want to stand and listen to insults and accusations that she would lose for much longer. The others would be wondering where I went. Lyle would just be a pain though, which was my main reason for wanting to get out of here early. Though I had to admit the crowd was making me a little anxious. “Okay I get it, I stole your pretty boy out from under your nose,” she sniffed, as if doing so would make me see she had quite a pretty nose. “But trust me when I say that you really don’t want him. I’m telling the honest to God truth that you would not be able to handle the whole situation. Plus he‘s really physical.”

That got a flush out of her. She was angry not embarrassed though so it wasn’t exactly a safe red. “How dare you say that!” she shrieked, startling me a bit. “You think you’re so high and mighty! Flitting around with your nose in the air. But what you don’t understand is that no one here really likes you! I’m sure Lyle only hangs around with you because he feels sorry for you!”

The halls went silent. No one had expected her to go that far. Some fist fighting yes but saying what almost everyone thought hadn’t been figured into the equation. Maria even looked like she hadn’t expected to say it. I didn’t doubt for a moment that she hadn‘t. So now everyone expected me to be all huffy. Start shedding tears and screaming right back about how she was a whore and everyone only liked her because she was easy. Don’t get me wrong, she probably was one, but I wasn’t exactly going to stoop that low. So I did the next best thing. I laughed.

It was so hard not to so I pulled a Trevor and just let myself go. It definitely wasn’t everyday that I was screamed at like that, as I said I had pretty much been the amazing one back in Nevada. Sort of refreshing to be treated differently. At least they all didn’t smother me.

Of course my laughing fit fizzled quickly as soon as I felt a pair of arms wrap around my shoulders. Only one person could do that without fearing I’d rip their head off, not to mention no one else had skin that cool. I couldn’t help it, I groaned.

Lyle removed his arms for the slightest second to hug my waist to him. “Don’t whine love, you should be happy I’ve come to save you.”

“Happy my ass,” I said, though it was halfhearted and I noted that I was leaning back into him. “Go find someone else’s day to fuck with.”

He smirked and gently lifted me from the floor for a moment. “I could, but it wouldn’t be as much fun.” He then leaned his head closer to whisper into my ear. “Plus the only one I really want to fuck is you.”

Now that certainly got a blush. “Sh-shut up! You’re such an annoying idiot!” I stuttered. You don’t know how desperate I was to get out of his arms then. Not only was it embarrassing, but it was sending a clear message to everyone that I truly was his. Alia hadn’t been shitting me when she told me vampires were possessive, he was all but grinning smugly at all the guys. “And I don’t need saving. Go screw around with Trevor or something. Get your shoes back, I’m sure he’s playing keep away with them right now.”

Lyle smirked before he set me back down. He wasn’t planning on letting go anytime soon though because his arms were still clamped around my waist. “I already found them. He’s not all that good at hiding.” After that he looked up, his face suddenly serious. I couldn’t really see it but I could feel the wave of coldness coming from him. I felt sorry for whoever it was directed at. “Maria.”

Oh shit, that wasn’t going to be good.

She looked up at him like she was a lost puppy. Her eyes were big and loveable, the perfect image of the perfect girl. It made me want to smack her, but I also couldn’t really fault her for trying. It wasn’t her fault that Lyle went for the weird ones. “Yes Lyle?” she asked. I could tell by her voice she thought something good was going to happen. His voice was too sugary sweet for anything good to come about though.

“I want to know why you were trying to abuse Lanie,” he said, his sweet voice letting in a hint of anger. Maria was taken aback, probably from the use of my nickname. “She’s a poor soul this one,” that made me snort, “and she doesn’t take well to abuse.” Maria opened her mouth to say something but Lyle silenced her at once. “I would also appreciate it if you would leave her alone, permanently.” Now that made her cry. Maria didn’t even try to argue, she instead covered her face with her hands and ducked into the crowd. You could hear her sobs still when she rushed into the nearest bathroom.

The halls had been silent earlier, but now you could hear a pin drop. Everyone was not only surprised that I had won the confrontation, but they were thrown for a loop when Lyle dug the nail in harder. I knew he wasn’t known for taking sides in an argument, especially against a girl. If I thought I knew awkward I had another thing coming.

His smugness had increased tenfold. It was so heavy it made me want to gag. “Oh yes, I forgot,” he started and I immediately tensed. You always had to watch out when he did that, it always meant trouble for you. “For everyone who is aroused at my lovely girl’s appearance I would think twice before you think anything about it. I will come after you.” That had definitely got a shock out of me. Who in their right mind would be aroused by me?

I got my answer pretty soon though. Several of the guys flushed pink before lowering their heads in an attempt to hide it. Some in the back of the crowd, farthest away from Lyle anyway, took their chances of ducking out and disappearing. I had never known anyone thought I was cute, let alone cute enough to get aroused. I would have said it was flattering if it wasn’t so weird. Plus I wasn’t exactly one to be flattered by a few guys slobbering over me. And while I was at it, damn Alia and her inability to just wash my clothes and let me re-wear them. Her and her stupid skirts (of which one of the more short ones she had forced me into that morning. I, being half asleep, hadn’t really been able to fight back) could go to hell.

“Now that could be considered a challenge.”

I groaned and Lyle tensed. Derek emerged from the crowd, a gang of not-so-giggling girls following him right until he stepped out of the safety of the mob. Now I was glad Lyle hadn’t taken his hands off me. I wasn’t sure how quickly or bloody Derek’s death would be if Lyle had the chance to enact it. Plus I didn’t know how fast or how far I would end up running if I didn’t have a support beam there. Derek had planted a pretty good picture of how he did things earlier. I was pretty sure I didn’t want to stick around and experience any more of it.

Lyle growled (probably not a good thing to do, the guy was a hunter I guess) and if the guy had stepped any closer I’m sure he would have bared his teeth. Definitely protective. “Stay away you bastard,” he snarled, taking a step back as he pulled me with him. “You’ve already screwed with her, leave her alone.”

Derek feigned hurt. “Oh that wounds me really it does,” he snapped back. “But like I said before she’s going to leave you if you keep up this possessive act.”

Lyle growled again as he took another step closer. Did the idiot get that he was the reason Lyle was so possessive? No one else would threaten his bride, but he obviously had no problem with it and was making that very clear. “She knows, she understands!” he growled, bending his head to curl my shoulder in his neck, like he was trying to protect me without making it obvious to the others around us. “You obviously don’t though. Do you know how much you scared her earlier?” that really was a snarl.

I could feel his emotions, so heavy. He was angry, there was no getting around that. But there was something else that I had never thought I would see in him again. Lyle was near terrified. I could only imagine how feral his eyes were right then. I’m sure you could see the black underneath the contacts, it was apparent earlier and he wasn’t as angry as he was now. He thought I would leave him, he really did. He thought it with everything he had and it terrified him to no end. It made me anxious, I didn’t want them to be found out, not because I wouldn’t be able to go with them but because of the chaos it would cause everyone around me. I also didn’t want him to think I would leave. That was probably what pained me the most.

I’m not sure if what I did next was pure genius or pure stupidity. I twisted and squirmed, almost gagging because at first he increased his hold over me, and eventually succeeded in turning fully around. Lyle had stopped growling only to stare at me in surprise and confusion. I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled myself up, I collided with his mouth soon after. The crowd around us had probably gone into shock, nothing moved, nothing spoke. If I had been able to look I was pretty sure that no one would have been blinking. I broke away after a moment, leaving Lyle in a rather surprised stupor. If the situation had been any different I would have felt awful smug. I turned again, facing Derek now, god knows how awkward I felt at that moment. His face was a mixture of shock and horror.

The sonofabitch actually thought I was being held hostage or something. He thought he was going to be some knight in shining armor, stealing away the girl from her abusive captor. That really pissed me off. Not even one day here and he thought he would be making a name for himself. A name using my heart as the plate to engrave it on.

It hadn’t been when I had kissed Lyle, but my face really flushed now. I couldn’t help the sneer that crossed it either, I was that angry. “If anyone doesn’t understand it’s you,” I said, glaring the best I could at him. It seemed to be working because he gave a small start. “Lyle can say whatever he wants about me, he really does own me.” That got a couple of gasps, like that was any surprise, most of the girls wouldn’t mind being owned by him. To tear another hole in his stupid little illusion I leaned back into Lyle and purposefully wrapped his arms tighter around me. “Besides, it’s an amazingly fun life. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

He went pale, almost as pale as the siblings were. That made me smug all over again. “You’ve been seduced!” Derek shouted. It was obvious he was holding himself back from running after Lyle. Something he would lose and certainly regret. “Can’t you see, all he wants is your body!”

That got a few raised eyebrows and muttering from the crowd. I myself had to arch an eyebrow. I opened my mouth to say something but was interrupted by a couple of bodies. Alia stood statue still in front of me, surprisingly intimidating in her frilly skirt and blouse. “You leave Ellie alone,” she ground out. I could only imagine how creepy her eyes looked at the moment.

Trevor snickered from next to her. “Sheesh, twice in one day I have to see you. And trying to steal away our little Ells at that,” he tsked. He was turned sideways so I got a clear view of his arrogant smirk. I had to admit that it was more teasing than anything else. He was having fun and he wanted Derek to know it. “Now I like a fight as much as the next guy, but we all know how this one’s going to end up. Personally I think that’s rather boring. Plus who do you think is going to get Lyle’s anger turned on him if you decide to come after our princess? Hmm? That would be me, and I’ll be the last to tell you that our man’s gentle when he’s angry.” He gave a rather weary sigh and crossed his arms for dramatic effect. “On another note, if we lost our little Ella, who else is going to be around to pick on?”

“Gee thanks for the support,” I snarled sarcastically.

He cracked a grin and gave me a mock salute. “No problem chief,” he teased.

Derek paused for a moment, his eyes squinting as he took a sniff at the air. Alia tensed and the moment where I myself was confused passed. Especially when he moved his glare from Lyle to Trevor. “You smell like wolf,” he snapped.

Trevor gave a small start before he chuckled. “You have a good nose. I’m a dog person though, so you’re smelling the canine species.” Joking again, he was always joking. It was hard, for me anyway, not to miss the strain in his voice though. He was trying to be careful, trying not to give everything away in front of our classmates.

Derek wasn’t taking the bait. He pointed an accusing finger at Trevor, jabbed it a few times for dramatic effect. “You reek of the one who murdered my grandfather!” There were a few gasps and the boy smirked. “Didn’t you all here about the man who was murdered in that knife fight?” A few nods and murmurs agreed. “Well the guy who killed him liked dogs. He left a few hairs too.”

Alia flashed a furious glare at Trevor who just continued to look incredulous. “What are you talking about man?” he asked, now completely serious. “I wasn’t anywhere near there on Friday. And even if I had done it, which I didn’t, how would a few hairs point at me. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one in the world with a dog.” His eyes were even cold now, his back ramrod straight. I swore I had never seen Trevor so serious. Which really wasn’t all that amazing or anything since I had only known him for a weekend, but even when he was near death that first day he still seemed like he was cracking a few jokes.

A hand gently set itself on my shoulder and I couldn’t help but give a little jump. Lyle himself gave a start, probably since I was surprised, and gave a low snarl. If it hadn’t been Rachel I’m pretty sure Lyle would have bitten her. “Let me take Elaina,” she whispered, trying to be inconspicuous. “It’ll keep her out of more trouble. Plus it’ll lesson the chances that you guys are caught.”

He thought a moment, I could feel his emotions fighting with each other. “Fine,” he finally agreed, letting go of me and stepping away. The bickering between the two guys continued in the middle of the circle. I think it was when Derek made that one comment that I really snapped. “Why would anyone believe you? All I’ve heard all day is that you’ve been gone for about a month. You’ve had time to do whatever you wanted without anyone knowing. Plus you hang around with that Sullivan kid and it’s obvious that he just seduces girls.”

I stopped short right then. Rachel was obviously surprised when I slipped my wrist out of her hold and turned around once again. I bent down and gently undid the laces of my sneaker, then stuck my finger in the back and tore it off. When no one’s attention was on me I wound up and threw the thing as hard as I could. It successfully collided with Derek’s head, making him whip back and stagger into the crowd. The shoe itself had changed course and probably succeeded in hitting someone else’s head as well. Anyway the poor thing was lost in the crowd. Chaos erupted and the whole fight had been immediately forgotten. The good thing was no one suspected me.

The only evidence that I had done it was my naked foot (which would change quickly because Alia had already disappeared, and when that happened she was normally looking for something) and Lyle’s laugh. He grabbed my shoulders, spun me around and kissed me long and hard. “God I love you,” he laughed when he finally let me breath again.

&

We had fled as soon as the bell rang. Derek had been in both my gym and chemistry classes but since Lyle was in there, and all three of the Sullivan brigade (Trevor was counted with them) was in gym with me, there wasn’t any problems. The only thing the enemy was inclined to do was to glare at Lyle like he was trying to kill him with his eyes, and occasionally stare at me longingly. I had to say it was rather creepy, the only one I would allow to do that would never do it, what with him getting everything he wanted and all.

It was safe to say that we had been the first out. Rachel and Kevin hadn’t been counted with us and were saved from the boring eyes of the beast, so they had chosen to stay back and wait a few more minutes before bolting out the door.

So that’s where we were now, or the group minus Trevor, who had gone back to warn Oliver of beastie boy. I was in front, Lyle not even half a step behind me, muttering under his breath which was rather hot and was sending shivers up and down my spine. Alia was in her own little world, dancing off about fourteen feet behind us. I was rather confused as to what she was doing. But I couldn’t exactly pay that much attention to her, I had spent the whole weekend being screwed over and thrown around, the stress had made me forgot the way back to grandma’s house from school. This was extremely embarrassing so I wasn’t going to admit it to the two, especially since Lyle would suggest something nasty and if word got to Trevor he would never let me live it down.

I think they were getting suspicious by the time we finally turned onto my street. Alia hadn’t stopped dancing the whole time, but whenever I looked back I noticed she was giving me strange looks. Lyle on the other hand would start to ask questions every so often, each of which I shut him up half way through. I was not going to be taken for a fool.

Being the stubborn person I was it took us a whole extra twenty minutes to get to the house then it normally would. It was actually only when we got to the front door that I even bothered to remember the fact that the two of them really were there. I turned and glared at Lyle, who in turn gave me a rather surprised look. “Go away, I’m home now.”

He blinked a few times before shaking his head, “Nope, I don’t think I will.” He smirked at this, challenging me to think otherwise.

I snorted and turned back around to open the door. There wasn’t any use arguing with him, I had learned that pretty well, the only thing I would succeed in was making a complete idiot of myself. Plus Alia was here this time so nothing should go too out of hand. I just about kicked the damn door open by the time I was finished, stalking inside all in the hopes that if anyone was home it would be grandpa. Unfortunately my silent pleas of mercy went unheard.

“It’s nice to see you finally home from school.”

I just about cried, Lyle on the other hand had to restrain his bloodlust, something I could tell even without the link between us. Derek sat in the living room, delicately sipping tea from a china cup that grandma had just gotten three days after I arrived. Grandma herself was sitting across from him, smiling gaily. The only move she made was when she finally realized that I had made it home.

“Oh Elaina dear, how wonderful to finally have you back,” she cooed. Her eyes lit up like sparklers when she saw who exactly was behind me. “And you brought that lovely Sullivan boy from before. How wonderful to have you back, you know Elaina talks about you all the time.” She winked at my flush and I could see Lyle give a rather triumphant smile. No one listened to my ‘Do not.’

It was masked at once though by one that was less a sneer and more a teasing smile. “Really?” he asked, sounding pleased. I noted that he was in fact, extremely pleased she had said that. “I never knew that she liked me that much. It’s a pleasure to meet you ma’am, I don’t believe we were really introduced last time. I’m Lyle Sullivan.”

Grandmother just about died, the only thing that could have made her any more ecstatic was if he had just kissed her hand, or proposed to me, whatever came first. “Oh my, such a nice boy. I’m Elaina’s grandmother, her grandfather isn’t here right now, had to go to the hospital, some ear infection or something.” She giggled and clasped a hand to her cheek, “You’re such a sweet boy. Elaina made such a good choice when she picked you.”

Lyle gave another triumphant smirk, one of which didn’t go unseen by Derek. “Well I’m grateful that you think of me that way.”

“I want to know what’s he doing here?” Alia butted in, jumping onto her brother’s back in an attempt to get a better look without being obvious.

Derek took his chance to make himself heard. “I’m a family friend,” he smiled, making sure Lyle saw it. “I used to mow Mrs. Shrerief”s lawn for her. Elaina and I go way back.” He really grinned now, one that told me that he was going to say something horrible next. “In fact,” he started, and Lyle snatched at my hand at once. “I believe I remember Ella telling me that she wanted to marry me once.”

“Lies!” I shouted, going red then pale in under two seconds. “I don’t even remember you! Grandma it’s a lie!”

Grandma did nothing but giggle again. “I don’t know sweetie, you two did hang out a lot. It’s possible. Though I do remember you hit him quite often.” Derek winced and shot a hand to the back of his head, as if anticipating I would hit him again. I didn’t blame him, I felt like doing more than hitting him at that moment.

Lyle squeezed my hand before shrugging off Alia (who was rather sore at that) and turning me around. I was about to ask him what was wrong when he kissed me. If you could call that kissing, it was like mouth sex or something. I only found out I had wrapped my arms around his neck when he finally let me breathe again, I was that lost. Grandmother chuckled in the background, “Now that’s a boy who knows what he wants.” I would have hit her if I was in the right mind.

“Let’s go,” he muttered, pulling me with him.

I didn’t have to ask where we were going, I already knew. Lyle wasn’t that hard to read even when I was out of my mind. He shot one, “Explain,” behind his back before we disappeared into the darkness of my bedroom. “Now this is a familiar sight,” he chuckled as he gently laid me down on the bed. I snorted and halfheartedly tried to push him off. Needless to say it wasn’t working. “Don’t try and get out of it Lainie,” he purred, “You know you want this as much as I do.”

Now there was something that he finally got right. I did want that, very much at that moment. What I didn’t want, was to have sex in the same house as my grandmother and possibly Kaitlynn. Plus I was afraid that if we really did Derek would walk in and shoot Lyle or something. “You just have bad timing,” I said, still breathless from the kiss.

He chuckled again and bent down to give his attention to my neck. “Really now? If I’m correct you’re not putting up much of a fight.” He was right, like almost always when it came to this stuff, I was kind of hating myself for trying to deny him his right. “Now let’s see,” he mumbled as he took the gauze pad in his mouth and gently peeled it off. “Now that we got rid of that distraction.”

I gently tugged at the bottom of his shirt to release the small portion tucked into his jeans. “You’re going to murder my neck. Keep that up and there won’t be anything left for you to eat.” He licked me in response and I almost moaned.

“You are so easy to arouse you know that,” he grinned into my neck. “It makes you way to cute for your own good.

“Well then stop doing things to me that make me cute,” I argued. “Then again it’s near impossible for you. You crave sex almost as much as you crave food.” He paused a moment to evaluate what I said, and when finding it in his advantage continued. I slipped my hands under his shirt to let my hands roam across his chest. He really had some nice abs, I didn’t think I’d ever find a guy with a better sculpted body as Lyle had. “By the way, when you strip me of my virginity how are you expecting to tell Alia the exciting news.”

Lyle groaned and stopped his gnawing for a moment. “Please give me one chance to enjoy yourself before reminding me that the beast must be let loose.” I chuckled and pulled at the shirt some more, only stopping when he finally lifted his arms to allow me to slip it off. “Now who’s the feisty one?” he teased, leaning down to breathe heavily on me. His breath smelled like lemons, something I was really beginning to enjoy.

“It’s either that or fight and we all know where that will lead me,” I said, letting my finger draw circles on his chest. “Besides, don’t you like that I’m finally allowing you all the breathing room you can get?”

“Don’t I,” he replied, kissing me again. His hands went to my shirt and it was his turn to fight to get it off.

It was only after he had gotten it past my bra did the door finally open. “Forgive me for interrupting,” Alia droned, and both of us shot up as fast as we could. “I wouldn’t have come in if I had known it was such a precious moment.” She didn’t sound sorry at all, in fact she sounded rather furious. “By the way, your so-called family friend is out there pitching a fit like a two year old.” I heard Lyle snort happily at that one, no doubt proud that he had gotten that reaction out of him.

I myself was actually angry. Angry at Alia for coming in, angry at Lyle for seducing me, but mostly angry at myself for letting him. I was in my grandparents house for god’s sakes, how the hell was I going to explain to my grandmother that I was having sex with a boy under her nose. Then again I wasn’t really sure if she would mind that part that much, she would probably think I was pregnant and wave that in Lyle’s face in an attempt to get him to marry me. Such a sad strange world it was when your own grandmother wants you to have sex.

“Thanks Alia,” I muttered, too embarrassed to do much anything else. When Lyle tried to argue I threw his shirt at him, “Shut up and get that on before someone else comes in and freaks out over us.”

He snorted but did as he was told. “You know very well I’ll get what I want soon,” he purred into my ear when he was finished. “And you also know that you’ll welcome it with open arms.”I blushed and hit him gently. “You just have the worst timing with these things,” I hissed, backing away when I saw the kiss coming. Lyle pursued his lips in annoyance but gave up.

Alia sniffed and shoved her hands onto her hips, she looked like an angry child to say the least. “Love affair done now,” she ordered, and I could tell she was debating whether to shove herself between the two of us in an attempt to get the arousal out. “Explained, pack bags that you will,” she said, pointing a finger at me and then to the suitcase in her left hand.

“Where the hell did you get that?” I asked. I don’t know why, I already knew what was going on now.

Lyle felt that and smirked anyway. “Silly girl, you’re now part of the Sullivan house.” I opened my mouth to protest but she stopped me short with his hand. “Grandma dear fully approves,” he said, smiling sweetly. I wanted to kick his teeth in.

The little girl giggled and dropped the suitcase to gently kick it open. “Yes Ella, you are, now pack since slow you take.” She was back to her girly self which I was happy for. It was hard to do everything while she was in her angry mood. “Now, get water please you may,” she told Lyle in more of an order than the request she might have intended it to be. When he tried to protest she shot him a glare that could kill, so he threw his hands up and walked to the door. Muttering all the while. A few moments after he left there was a squeal and desperate chatter. Kaitlynn I knew, had found herself some new prey.

Alia nudged me before she dropped a pile of clothes into the trunk. “It might be good to be careful around that Derek boy,” she said, her expression and tone grim. “Lyle may be making the right decision in ensuring that you’re linked to him, but he’s being reckless about it. That boy out there is not a reasonable hunter. He has skills but uses them to his own advantage.” She bit her lip and stifled a growl. “He has a thing for you already, whether he was lying about your childhood or not. He will come for Lyle, whether he thinks him monster or not, without a second thought if he catches any wind of what you’re letting him do.”

I nodded, joining her in packing the suitcase with the rest of my clothes. I hadn’t brought anything else really, and whatever I did you could find at any convenience store. Alia seemed to know that because when we finished she stood the suitcase up and nodded. “Done, now we have to collect Lyle and leave. The hunter will catch a whiff of something sooner or later and we can’t have that. Plus if we stay any longer we might have to invite someone over and that would be disastrous.”

As if on cue there was a knock on the door. I went over to open it and came face to face with Lyle and Kaitlynn. “I think you have a growth,” I snorted, ignoring Kaitlynn now completely. Any more attention would only encourage her to continue on with her clinging.

He gave a weak chuckle before nodding at his hands. “Thanks for pointing that out. By the way, I’ve got your water.”

Alia skipped over and snatched the plastic cup away from his hands. “Thanks much for you,” she sang, drinking the whole thing in one gulp. She looked around for a moment and when I realized what she was doing I pointed to the dresser. She gave me an odd look before shrugging it off and delicately setting the cup on the polished wood of the dresser. “Now,” she said, jabbing a finger first at Lyle then the suitcase. “Carry we will not. The man polite has to be, will do it for.”

Lyle rolled his eyes and stepped over to the suitcase. “Like I didn’t already know that,” he snorted, being careful to watch both his language and his wording. “I wouldn’t make Lanie do it, and god forbid anyone believe you’d do anything.”

Kaitlynn giggled and clapped her hands to her face. “Oh you’re so manly,” she cooed, biting her lip in excitement. Remembering I was in the room, she smiled again and danced over to me. “Big sister,” she sang, getting that glint in her eyes that always meant she wanted something of me. “Grandma said it was okay, so could I possibly spend the night tonight?”

Alia almost fell, Lyle let out a low groan and I myself went pale. “Kaitlynn it’s a school night,” I argued, knowing full well that it wouldn’t deter her in the least. “Besides you wouldn’t want to come over, it’ll be awkward for you. And it’s not even my house.”

Lyle threw an arm around my shoulders and clucked his tongue. “Now now Lainie. When you move in with someone it is considered your house.”

“Is this how you assembled your freakish family?” I snapped, refusing to look at him. There went that side of the argument.

My sister was such a selfish pain, so selfish that she took that as a yes. “Oh thank you!” she squealed, “I already have my overnight bag packed, I’ll go get it.” With that she fled from the room.

I glared long and hard at Lyle, who seemed to be ignoring me. “Thanks,” I muttered sarcastically. He shrugged and removed his hand to take better hold of the suitcase.

“Better she gets a taste before you cut her all the way out,” he said, nodding his head to me. “You do know that sooner or later you must die to your family. You can’t exactly let out that you’re part of the “living dead” now.”

He sounded like he thought I was stupid. I sniffed and nodded my head, “I figured that much. I can’t exactly go parading around like that.” With that I stalked out of the room.

Alia held back a giggle, “Me thinks you just lost bedroom privileges.”

“Thanks bunches grandma,” I said when we had assembled in the living room again. “I know this is really awkward, sending your granddaughter to live with complete strangers, but I assure you that it’s in everyone’s best interest.” I was hoping that this would win her over completely, anything would help me at this moment, anything but Derek’s glaring eyes though. Of course they weren’t directed at me, but when someone glares at the person you almost had sex with (twice but who’s counting) you’d feel awkward too.

So I went to take my leave at that moment, Kaitlynn was in tow and it wasn’t like the other two wanted to stay any longer if they could help it. It was as I was reaching for the handle that the door just opened. I couldn’t help it, I screamed. Derek jumped up, and Lyle dropped the suitcase and was at me in a flash. The whole room paused and only eased back when Lyle sighed and dropped his guard.

Oliver held his hands up in surrender and was staring at me awkwardly. “I’m terribly sorry I scared you. It was not meant to happen.” I could feel the sincerity in his voice and that alone put me at ease. You know that someone’s not human when their voice alone makes you want to do everything for them.

“It’s okay Oliver,” I assured him, “It was my fault.”

Lyle snorted and moved closer to me. Oliver gave me a knowing look. “I’ll take that son,” Oliver said, motioning towards the suitcase. They were trying to appear as much as a family as they could. I was grateful for it, all except for the fact that now Derek knew about Oliver, something I had wanted to keep from him as long as possible. “Thank you very much ma’am,” he nodded towards my grandmother when he finally wrestled the suitcase from Lyle. “I know this much be very inconvenient, but I promise I will take good care of your lovely granddaughter here.” Derek snorted and grandma chortled in response.

We took our leave then, running almost as soon as we got out of the door. Of course that didn’t hold up for long since we had forgotten about Kaitlynn and only remembered when she started screaming to wait up. God only knows how the night was going to be.