My hands clench around the comforter of my bed as I slowly freak out inside. Grandma is sitting cross-legged next to me with a silver platter of ginger snap cookies in her lap. Her pink fuzzy socks are tickling my leg, but I ignore it. I've been waiting for this exact time, nine forty-seven, and it has finally come. I didn't want to make it look like I was too eager, or that I planned out when to call him.

You know, even though I am and I have. But I digress...

I pick up my cell that Paul had forced me to take and, with one last encouraging look from Grandma, I begin to type in a number.

The phone is ringing.

And ringing.

And ringing.

"Hello?" a muffled voice asks from the other side. My heart jumps into my throat; I can't breathe.

"Um, B-Blake?" I ask in a timid voice.

"Ash." His voice sounds warm in my ears and makes my cheeks blush. Grandma chomps on a cookie, watching me slowly through her dog tree glasses.

"Hi," I say in a small voice.

"Hi," he says back.

Wait, what am I doing? Stop acting like an idiot, Ash! "I-I can practice with you guys on Wednesday," I tell him, my fingers tightening around the comforter. Here comes the painful part. The part where he takes my heart and shoves it on the ground with a laugh, while saying "haha. Like I'd ever want to practice with YOU."

"Cool. Lauren called me just a second ago to tell me she couldn't, but it's nice to know that I have at least one person able to hang," he rambles. I giggle inwardly like a crushing school girl. Wait, I am a crushing school girl.

"Oh, that's sad." Not.

"Yeah, well, what are you doing?" he asks. Wait, is he trying to have an actually conversation with me?! Oh, my gods, this is amazing.

Paul suddenly walks in with a big bowl of popcorn before he freezes. He makes a giant deal out of tip-toeing to the opposite side of the bed and jumping on, holding the bowl steady. His hair is thrown up in a pony tail to keep it out of his face, and since it isn't jelled, it falls on his tan scalp like a weeping willow and a bank of a pond.

"Oh, you know, just hanging with Paul," I state indescriptably. Grandma cocks an eyebrow as to say "why wasn't I included", but I just give her a wink and pat her leg.

"That's cool. He seems like a good guy," Blake murmurs. I immediately start beaming.

"I'm glad you think so; most guys are intimidated by him." I can feel my heart gushing with joy. If this doesn't prove that we're meant to be, I don't know what will.

"Oh, no, he scares me shitless, but he does really seem like a good guy," he amends. I snicker at his honesty. "Would you like to know what I'm doing?"

"What are you doing?" I ask with a grin.

There is a small chuckle on the other end before he whispers into the receiver, "I'm labeling the insides of a worm. Isn't it strange that it's making me think of you?"

My entire body freeze and blushes bright purple at the same time. I can tell Paul and Grandma want to know, but I can't find the words to phrase it back to Blake without it sounding stupid. "Most girls would be offended, I think," I reply, feeling breathless. He's thinking about ME! Sure, it's because a worm bounced off my boobs today, but he's thinking about me! He's really thinking about me! It's actually one of those moments you see in movies where the star-crossed lovers both look at the moon and think about each other at the same time!

You know, kind of.

"I promise you, Ash. You are not at all like any other girl I've ever met," he says in an off-setting, serious voice. My heart thumps.

"Is that good or bad?"

I can hear a smile in his voice when he answers. "Good. Always good."

We say out goodbyes and 'see you tomorrow's before I flip my shit. I start screaming into my pillow as soon as I hang up, making Grandma and Paul exchange looks. They jump on me immediately for details that I undoubtedly dish. Paul burst into tearing laughter as I explain the worm fiasco and Grandma chuckles to herself.

"Dear Ash, why must you be so clumsy?"

"It wasn't my fault, Gran! Honestly!" I cry indigently. Paul just laughs harder.

"Wow, that's unexpected," a voice mutters behind me. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I turn and give Liam a large smile.

"You won't believe what just happened, Liam! It was so crazy! I can't believe I called him! He was thinking about me! He called me special. Well, kinda sorta. Oh, my lord, it was so amazing! I will never forget this moment!" I boast. I fall back on my shockingly light blue bed and let my head sink into the soft fabric. "Oh, my god."

My mind is reeling. Did I really just do that? Did he really just say that? I can't breathe for a moment before my phone starts ringing near my head. I grab it and answer the call without looking at caller ID.

"Hello?" I ask in a cheerful voice, my eyes still closed.

"Don't you sound happy, Queen of the Dead," a gruff voice snaps. Que my happy mood to exit through my ears and mouth as I exhale.

"Well, I WAS. Why are you calling me, Taylor?" I growl.

"Just thought I should remind you that we have to... Bondon Monday," he hisses. It sounds a bit feral, but I remember how he is as unhappy about this arrangement as I am. But, really, by the way he says 'bond', it sounds like he means 'chop each other's important limbs off'. What an over-dramatic pussy.

"Aw, you sound like someone snatched your bone away," I taunt. He growls again, making me smile to myself in a cynical way.

"Shut your mouth, you stupid corpse."

My jaw drops. "Corpse? I am NOT a corpse! Excuse me, but that's absolutely ridiculous! I-"

A snicker on the other end sounds off and the line dies. I slam my phone onto the comforter and screech. What a douche bag! What a fucker! He doesn't even KNOW what any of this feels like! You know what, I don't care if he is the only other paranormal for miles around; I will have nothing to do with him.

"You're pouting," Paul points out. I cross my arms and look into my lap.

Liam just sighs. "Marcus has very mixed feelings and thoughts. Don't take him too seriously, Ash."

Grandma just smiles cheerfully. "I'm glad you'll be spending some time with the boy." I send my glare her way, but she doesn't notice. "He's so lost, Ash, he needs someone who can relate to him."

"I'm not even close to relatable with the likes of Mark Taylor, werewolf or no werewolf," I bark at them all. Paul gives my grandmother a look that says 'oh, sweet god, she's gone stuborn' and Liam pokes me in the side.

"Chill out, sweetheart," he whispers, raising the hair on my neck. "You've still got Wednesday."

Oh, SHIT.

Yeah, I wrote another chapter. I really feel like getting this story done.
I don't know how long this feeling will last, but please, bear with me yet.
Thank you, Imminent Paradox[[Ria]]. Your review was encouraging.
I have yet a chance at getting my old readers back! :D

Review! :]