Chapter 25
Surprise

We waltzed back into the apartment loaded with purchases from top designers. Ian had spent an obscene amount of money on my new clothes, even buying me new lingerie.

"Put on something nice," he said to me, "we're going out."

"Alright," I said partially confused, I still had no idea what was going through his mind. I went into the bedroom and put on the black dress, pausing to fix my make up. When I finally emerged Ian gave me one longing look up and down.

"You look spectacular," he said engulfing me in his arms.

"I know," I said smiling just before he gave me a gentle peck on the lips. Being human, this had been sufficient; but I was different now, and therefore wanted different things. I did not let this on to Ian, and made no attempt to push him further. I let him whisk me out the door and back onto the streets of LA. He took my hand and guided me down the street after street until we finally reached our destination.

"It's beautiful," I said staring around at the landscape of the beach laid out before me. The sand extended as far as I could see on both sides and was almost glowing in the moonlight. The water was calm and the moon made it appear as if the water was winking at me. I took in a sharp breath, amazed at the sight I saw before me.

"Come on," he said, pulling me out of my stupor. I followed him still mesmerized but the ocean, of course I had seen it before but it looked so much different at night. "What's wrong?" he asked me because I still hadn't said anything.

"Nothing, I'm just speechless," I said blushing and feeling more than a little embarrassed.

"Come on," he said again, tugging on my hand like an excited child. I smiled at him and he was staring at me. I let him lead me down onto the beach and we stopped on the wet sand, near the water. The sound of the waves crashing echoed in my ears and I smiled just soaking in the moment. Ian slipped his hand out of mine and wrapped his arms around me from behind. "I always feel... peaceful here. I thought you would like it because I know that you are upset over the change, your mother, and even Jason though you don't seem to want to admit it."

"I'm not upset over Jason. He's an ex-boyfriend. Emphasis on the ex. Besides, I'm not the same person I was with him," I said quietly. I felt Ian smile.

"I agree, you've definitely changed into something much more beautiful and graceful," Ian said, making me look up at him. I was speechless again because of him.

"Oh," was all I could muster before I turned my attention back to the ocean. I was still aware of Ian; it just took less effort to be aware as a vampire. Ian kissed my neck and I felt goosebumps run up my body like a chill.

"I used to come out here to think," Ian said quietly even though we were alone. "Before I knew you and even after I saved you from those things," he said with a sneer.

"The beach always made me feel calm and at peace," I said still keeping my gaze fixed on the water as if it was going to leave some time soon.

"Yeah, same here," Ian said with a kind of disappointment in his voice. I couldn't comprehend how he could possibly be sad at this moment but I disregarded it as some memory from his past. We stayed at the beach for hours; sometimes sitting sometimes laying but it was just relaxing. I loved the feel of the cold sand massaging my feet and getting in between my toes.

.

When I woke up the next morning Ian wasn't beside me and I started to panic before I saw the note he left me on his pillow. I picked it up and read it.

Good morning beautiful,

I just had to pop out and do a couple errands.

Wish I didn't have to miss waking up with you.

Love.

I smiled as I read the note and remembered that there was something I wanted to do today and it involved not being around Ian for a period of time which happened to be okay with me, he was starting to smother me a bit recently, but that didn't mean I loved him any less. I got out of bed and didn't bother to have a shower because I didn't know when he would be home. I rushed around putting on suitable clothes and had a hard time because they all looked so formal. Another reason why I had to go out today. The clothes Ian had bought me were beautiful but they weren't me. At least not yet. But I wanted my old comfy clothes; not that he wouldn't notice that I had gone to my place, but I wanted my own clothes. I didn't think that was so wrong.

I was in front of my old building before I knew it and I had just realized; what if one of my neighbors saw me and told my mother?

I decided I didn't care before I could get my feet to move and I walked into the building. I didn't see anyone on the way up to my apartment and I knew it would be empty but I still had a sigh of relief when I found no one in my old home. I went straight to my room and tears welled up in my eyes when I saw that my room was no different than the day that I had left. Either my mother hoped I would come back or it was just too painful for her to tidy my room. Both thoughts sent a tear rolling down either cheek. I grabbed my favorite clothes and put them in my purple duffle bag that I had for going away on a school trip a couple years ago.

Instead of leaving the way I had come in, I opened my window and looked around. There was no one on the street so I jumped out, knowing that I would be able to land safely. I walked back in the sunlight, even though it was pretty uncomfortable, I had remembered my shades so I put them on and my eyes instantly stopped burning so bad. I had to blink a couple times because they felt really dry. I didn't even really think about what I was missing out on as a human, all the adjustments that had to be made now that I was a vampire seemed like nothing now.

In no time I had reached Ian's apartment and when I opened the door he stuck his head out of the kitchen. "Hey," he said before turning back to whatever he was doing.

"Hey," I said back as if he was right in front of me.

"Where were you?" he said from the kitchen.

"I went home to get some of my old clothes, like pyjamas and stuff," I said as if it meant nothing to me. And honestly, getting pyjamas from my house seemed like the move to Ian's apartment was permanent.

"Your mother wasn't home?" Ian asked returning to whatever he was doing in the kitchen.

"No, the apartment was empty," I said quietly walking to the bedroom with anxiety. I knew that Ian wasn't mad but I half expected him to be upset with me.

"That's good, your mother wouldn't be ready to see you changed," he said calmly. I was still expecting a showdown, any moment now...

"I didn't think that I was that different," I said coming back into the living room; getting comfy on his couch. I folded my legs under me and sat on them.

"You would be to her," Ian said coming out with a mug of something. "Here," he said handing it to me.

"Thanks," I said and he sat down beside me, placing a hand on my leg. There was silence for a while and I sipped the blood in the mug appreciatively. "Umm..." I said breaking the silence. "Would we be able to go to Jason's funeral tomorrow?" I asked Ian expecting a 'no' but I thought it was worth a try.

"If you want to we can," Ian said calmly. "It's up to you but we might be noticed."

"I just want to pay my respects and leave, me and him... it doesn't feel right for me not to go. At least not with the way things ended," I said looking into my mug like it was hypnotizing me. Ian just nodded understanding why I needed to go, to close the file on Jason permanently.

...

I dressed in all black, in preparation for Jason's funeral. Black was almost all that I had in my wardrobe; so I probably would've worn it anyways. I was practically bouncing off the walls with nervous jitters. I didn't like going outside during the day and I didn't know who I was going to see at that funeral. Ian walked into the room and paused.

"Are you alright?" he asked me before starting to walk over closer to me. "Do I need to calm you down?" he whispered in my ear like a dirty little secret. He ran both hands down my sides and for an instant I was perfectly still. He snaked them around my waist and nuzzled his face in my hair.

"If we had more time I would say you need to calm me down a lot, but we need to leave," I said turning around in his arms and kissing him.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" he said as I grabbed my purse and was about to walk out the bedroom door. I glanced at him and he was dangling my sunglasses from his index finger.

"Oh right," I said feeling like an idiot. It was Ian's only condition, I had to wear sunglasses. I placed them on and he smiled.

"There, now you look perfect," Ian said stroking my face. I let out a small sound that reminded me of a cat purring and paused with Ian's hand on my chin. I turned around and was digging into the closet looking for a good pair of shoes to match my dress.

"Are you ready to go?" I asked strapping on my favorite pair of shoes.

"Whenever you are, my lady," Ian said holding out his arm like a gentleman.

"Then let's go," I said taking his arm and he guided me out the door.

...

The service was crowded and my eyes were currently burning from the walk to the funeral home. I was feeling very uncomfortable, like my skin was going to burst into flames but I stood at the back, listening to the priest and some of my old peers talk about Jason. I wanted to cry, tears were welling up in my eyes because one of the girls that I had gotten close to in the months before my change was talking about Jason and I, how she knew he and I were destined to be together. Or not.

I looked around because I couldn't pay attention to her when she was talking about something that was so very much in the past. With my first glance around I noticed Felix standing on the opposite wall but much closer than Ian and I were to the front of the service. I nudged Ian and motioned for him to look at Felix, who at the moment wasn't looking our way. I got the feeling that Morte had sent someone to check up on me and Ian without breaking into his apartment. Just then Felix looked over and we both averted our gazes.

All of a sudded people started standing up and Ian and I got out of the room first before people noticed who we were, because did they ever notice two abnormally beautiful people at a funeral.

...

Ian and I stayed in the apartment for the rest of the afternoon and watched tv and the occasional movie. I was getting tired and by five o'clock I was ready for bed. I jumped into my old pyjamas and snuggled into bed. Ian joined me a couple minutes after and molded his body to mine.

I don't even remember being awake that long before sinking into a deep oblivion.

...

I woke with a start and reached to the other side of the bed for Ian but he wasn't there. On his pillow was a note, most likely just saying that he was out doing errands or bringing me home breakfast. I smiled as I read the note and half way through a tear rolled down both sides of my face.

Dayna,

I'm sorry but this is goodbye.

Don't try to look for me. I'm not coming back.

Ian.

And just like that, my world came crashing down around me. He was gone? It didn't seem real, no it couldn't be, Ian loved me. He had changed me, he...

He was gone. And just like that my life had turned upside down.

...