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Chapter 1-Black Moon

“Raven, wake up!” The teacher called to me. I lifted my heavy head up off the desk and stared at him. “Huh?” I said. “Why must you sleep in my class?” He asked. “It makes me feel better.” I said. “Wrong answer!” He said and slammed a book down on his desk. “Today after school you can clean the classroom!” He said and crossed his arms. “What?!” I said. I could hear the other students laughing at my fate.

So later that same day, I was standing in the empty classroom. I sighed. “Why me god? Why must I be the one to stay after school and clean the class?” I asked with no answer in return. A light poured into the room and I turned to the windows. I saw a big round half moon smiling down at me.

I felt sorry for the moon because in a few days it will be invisible to us. “No...I shouldn’t say that...The moon is going to be on the other side of the world then.” I whispered. Not only did I feel sorry for it, but I was envious too. Lots of people loved the moon and maybe that’s why I want to be more like it.

In the morning, when I came to school, I went to see my bf. I found him drooling over a cheerleader and so I turned my back on everyone. Why would I love someone else only to be rejected again? I guess some people think I’m creepy because after we “broke up”; all I’ve been wearing is black.

I sighed. I went back on cleaning the classroom with little effort. My cell phone started ringing when I put the broom in the janitor’s closet. I pulled it out of my black bag and sighed. “Jake...” I whispered. I placed the phone on the desk and walked away from it.

“Seems like you could use some help, Raven.” A familiar voice said. I looked over at the windows and saw James leaning on the window. “What are you doing here James?” I asked him. He sighed. “Aren’t you glad to see me?” He asked. We both laughed at his weird joke. “Hey Ravey, you sure you’re ok?” James asked. “Don’t call me that... We’re not kids anymore.” I said to him.

“Fine, but you still didn’t answer my question!” He said. I sighed. “It hurts a little inside...The jerk even tried calling me!” I said getting angrier. “What?! Let me call him back and tell him off.” James said reaching for my phone. I quickly grabbed the phone before him. “No thanks, I don’t need your help.” I said. James sighed.

“Oh Raven, I got some news for you!” James said. “Yeah, what is it?” I asked. He pulled out a card that was painted red like blood. “Here ya go!” James said as he handed me the card. I opened it up and smiled. “Aw it’s an invitation to a party! How thoughtful.” I said. James nodded. “It’s tomorrow; it won’t be a party without my best friend.” James said.

“How sweet, I’ll have to buy a new black dress.” I said. We started laughing at my oldest joke. When we stopped laughing, James’ phone started ringing. “Hello?” He said. “Who is it?” I asked getting excited. James held up a finger at me. “Ok, I’ll tell her. Bye.” James said. “Who was it? What’s going on?” I asked.

“Slow down! That was Mike, you know from math? He just told me that Jake is going to try and crash the party tomorrow.” James said. “Oh no, don’t worry I’ll deal with him!” I said. “Thanks but no thanks Ravey; I can deal with him myself.” James said. I stared at James and for the first time, in a while, he seemed like a stranger to me.

It must have been my imagination, but from the ray of the moonlight I thought I saw fangs in his mouth.

Saturday! Today is the day when I get to dress all fancy and what not! Just kidding, I mean why would I do that anymore?

I stood in front of my closet mirror and looked at my dress. It was a black lacy dress with black boots. I took extra care into brushing my long black hair back and I even straitened it. I sighed. “No matter how hard I try I still look like a girl!” I said in exhaustion.

“Raven a gentleman is here to pick you up.” Mom said at my door. “Mom, don’t say that. Just call them guys or something!” I said as I walked past her. “Honestly Raven, I don’t see why James would want to have a party at night.” Mom said as she followed me downstairs.

“I already told you mom, he’s got very sensitive skin. James doesn’t even like going to school in the daytime, but he does so he can see his friends.” I said. “Well if you ask me, he seems too suspicious.” Mom said. “I didn’t ask you.” I said to her. When I turned to look at her she was all teary, like she was about to cry. “Mom, I didn’t mean it like that.” I said. She fixed her face and cheered up.

“I’ll be back around ten, okay?” I asked. “Ok, I’ll be here waiting for you.” Mom said and then started crying. I left the house before I started crying too. I know what she’s going through.

My dad left us for a young blonde chick and ever since then mom has been broken up about it. He happened to leave us by telling us he was going to be working on a new “project”. I could still hear what mom said, “Ok dear, I’ll be waiting right here.” Mom knows that dad will never come back but she won’t give up on him.

It’s sad really, because I also lost my bf to a blonde...but that’s in the past now. I sighed as I walked over to Mike’s car. “Ah, don’t you look lovely tonight.” He said. He held the door open for me and I was red in the face. “Thanks, I guess.” I said. He smiled as he went to the other side and got in the driver’s seat.

“Relax; everything’s been taken care off.” Mike said. “Huh?” I replied. I looked at him and he smiled back at me. “You’ll see...” He whispered. I was left dumbfounded while Mike drove the car towards James’ house.

I always did love his house; it’s so old fashioned and it’s almost always warm inside. Mike also opened the door for me again and we both walked up to James’ house. Mike was about to open the front door for me but I refused. “I can handle this one Mike.” I said. He sighed. Once I opened the door I was shocked.

Everyone here was wearing all black like me! I saw James leaning against the wall when we came in. He quickly came over when he saw us. “Ravey, you made it!” James said. I sighed. “Still calling me that I see...” I whispered. James nodded. “We’ve been waiting for you.” James said. “We, whose we?” I asked. When I said “we” everyone in the room turned and waved at me. “They’re the “we” silly!” James said.

I saw some of my favorite food on a table so I headed over to it. “Have fun, sweetie.” James said. James then turned to Mike and whispered something to him. I was too far away to hear anything. When I finished eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I walked over to James. “What was that all about?” I asked.

“Nothing Ravey, we’re just waiting for the last guest.” He said. “Ok...” I whispered. “Are you having fun?” He asked I nodded. “That’s good.” He whispered. I yawned. “What’s wrong?” James asked. “I’m kind of tired; I’m not used to staying up this late.” I said. “If you sleepy you can take a nap in one of the guest rooms.” James said. “That sounds nice.” I said.

James led me up stairs but he had to pick me up and carrying the rest of the way. He laid me down on the bed and headed towards the door. I yawned again. “Night Ravey...” James said. “Night...” I whispered. I rolled over on my side and fell asleep.

When I woke up it was still dark outside. I yawned. I walked over to a window and looked up to search for the moon. I sighed. I didn’t think the moon would disappear today, but it did. I walked out of the guest room and looked for James.

“James, where are you?” I asked. I still felt a little dizzy from the deep sleep. I wander around until I ended up in the dinner room. I sniffed the air but all I could smell was fresh blood. “Ew!” I said. Behind me I felt a chill like someone passing by me. I turned around but I only saw the shadows move.

I saw a puddle by the end of the table so I walked over to it. I screamed when I saw Jake’s body laying dead, lifeless. I felt a pair of arms grab me and hold me up. “Ravey, I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner, about what I am...” I heard James whisper into my ear. My head was spinning so fast I couldn’t see the floor anymore.

Even though I hated Jake to death, I could never wish for him to die. I felt really sick, but James wouldn’t let me go so I was stuck smelling all the blood and seeing Jake’s white eyes staring up at me. Some point, while still in his arm, I started crying. Not for Jake, but because I knew what James was before he said it.

“Raven, I’m a vampire...” He whispered. I think that was the only time he ever called me by my real name...

Ever since that day I’ve never wanted to see a black sky, stars with no moon. I also never went after dark; which reminds me after James told me his little secret I never seen him since that day.

He calls me every second but I won’t answer my phone anymore. After that day everyone found about Jake sneaking into James’ party and ended up being killed. The police believe that someone who went to the party did it. Not only do the cops know about Jake’s death but his parents know too.

I was the first one they questioned because I was his ex-girlfriend. Everyone at the party though already told the cops that I fell right asleep when I got there, so I was cleared. I kind of feel bad for James, because he’s the one who did it and I’m stuck with knowing what he did!

I sighed. My curtains were closed and I was laying in bed even though the sun was up. Mom knocked on my door. “Honey, James is here to see you.” She said. “Tell him to go away!” I replied. Mom sighed. “I’m coming in anyway!” James said. I heard the door open so I pulled the covers above my head. “Raven, you can’t stay in here all the time.” He said. “Since when do you call me Raven?” I asked.

Tears were forming around my eyes. James sat next to me on my bed. “Can you come out of there so I can talk to you?” He asked. I sighed. I pulled the covers off my head and sat up. James surprised me by hugging me in his warm arms. I couldn’t stop the tears from falling down my face. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked. “I couldn’t tell anyone. It would cause trouble even for you. I just want you to understand that I didn’t do it on purpose.” James said.

I knew that he was talking about killing Jake. “I was only going to mess with his head but then he started talking about how much he loved you and how he wanted to get back with you.” James said. My heart almost stopped beating. “I knew he was lying because he left his girlfriend behind the house.” James said.

I could tell that he was angry with this topic because he was practically growling through his teeth. I sighed. “James if you don’t want to talk about him, then don’t.” I said. “It’s ok now, since he’s out of the picture forever.” James whispered.

Just then I felt something spark from inside me. Like a little voice telling me from right and wrong. It was saying, “You fool can’t you see he loves you?” I just sat there in his hug and ignored the little voice.