A/N: Okay, so here's the deal with this story: It was my NaNoWriMo for this year, but I started to like it too much to half ass my way through it. So, I decided to slow down, break it up and post it on here. I'd love you for eternity if you gave it a chance. I know, I know, it's a vampire story and we're all so sick of people writing those, but give it a go, huh? Much appreciated.

The night was dark. The air was still. Time ticked by slower and slower with each unnecessary breath I took. I whipped my head around at any and every miniscule sound. A gust of wind picked up the leaves on the ground and made my long black hair thrash around my face as my senses locked on the scent I'd been searching for. I could feel my pupils dilating and my stomach clench. I slid from behind the building and quickly slithered to the next as I saw what I needed to appease my rapidly increasing hunger. I focused all my power on keeping self-control as I made my way to the sidewalk and started at a slow pace in the direction of my victim. With my fantastic skill, I made the fake tears slide down my cheeks and feigned anguish as I had many times before. As he got closer and closer, the sweet, irresistible tang of blood grew stronger and stronger. I could already taste it. I wrapped my scarf around my face to control myself.

"Excuse me?" He said as he approached in perfect timing with the streetlight. "Ma'am, are you okay?"

I looked up and let a few more tears drip off of my alluring eyelashes. I yanked my scarf down to my neck and sighed dramatically. "Oh, yes, I'm all right."

He looked at me sympathetically. Pity, he was an attractive one. Such a waste of such a pretty face, perfect for a vampire. But it was too late, I wasn't in for the turn, I was in for the kill.

"You're crying. You can't be all right. You know, it's unsafe for you to be out alone on these streets at night."

He didn't say it in an uncomfortable way. He said it with genuine concern, almost paternal. I tend to forget how ironically young I look. Damn, he must be a father. Probably married, too. I thought to myself. I looked at his left hand and indeed there was a wedding band.

"Yes, I know," I said with the most immature voice I could sum up. "My father has told me that many times."

"He's right, too. I tell my kids that every day." He smiled. "Do you want me to call you a cab? I can give you some money so that you can get home."

Shit, he was kind too. I had to do it fast before he started telling me about how he donates to charities and works at the Soup Kitchen on Sunday mornings. I went with another approach.

"Oh thank yo–," I cut off my breathing and grabbed my chest with one hand and staggered to the bench next to me gasping for air.

He ran over to me and put a hand on my back. The warmth seared my skin even through the unnecessarily thick jacket I was wearing. "Miss! What's wrong?"

It was almost unbearable. I'd had enough reeling him in. I collapsed to the ground and let him try to help me up. He picked me up and tucked my head in the hollow between his head and shoulder, just as I knew he would. My fangs ached for the jugular vein that pulsated just under my chin.

I turned my face and then in one swift movement, I knocked him over, pinned him to the ground and bit him. All guilt disappeared as I was rewarded for a job well done with sweet, hot blood flowing past my lips and down into my body. He didn't even have time to struggle, poor bloke. When I felt his heart stop beating, I reluctantly pulled my lips from his neck and wiped them on his scarf. I closed my eyes for a few moments, allowing my body to fully appreciate its nourishment. I opened my eyes and looked at his lifeless body lying there in peace.

"I'm sorry." I whispered. I stood up, threw him over my shoulder, and headed to Stoker.

On the way, the guilt returned as I heard his cell phone ring knowing that it was probably a member of his family that would never see him again. It was a constant cycle with me. I'd go in for the kill, be satisfied, and then feel bad until I got to school where I had to keep up my callous, ruthless killer reputation.

The night was gorgeous. The wind had picked up and leaves danced across the ground like prima ballerinas. The trees shook and whistled with applause. Flowers swayed gracefully to the sound. All I could smell was the familiar stench of death. A vampire's life is so cruelly ironic.

When I got to the school's gate, I put in the code and tapped my foot impatiently as the ancient gates took their sweet time opening.

I approached the school, went around to the back and tossed my victim's body down the chute to the incinerator, throwing my guilt down there with him. I looked up at the bell tower's clock. It read 2:35 A.M. My chemistry class was set to start at 3:00 so I decided to go pick up my books from my room and sit in the courtyard to finish my Calculus homework.

Before I started, I lay down in the grass and closed my eyes. My body was so much happier after getting something to eat. I let myself stop breathing so that I could just feel the still, cold world around me. The soft whistle of the wind sang me a lullaby like the long lost mother I'd rightfully forgotten.

I snapped out of my dream like state when I heard a twig break in the near distance. My eyes flew open and I jumped to my feet with my fangs bared.

I heard a chuckle behind me and I turned to see Alexander smirking at me. "Scarlett, you are a funny one."

I relaxed my stance, but glared at him with my fangs still exposed. "What do you want, Alexander?"

His smirk grew. "I don't want anything, Scarlett. This is my school too, you know. Just enjoying the brisk air before my next class. I assume you're doing the same."

"What I do in my spare time is far from your business. I'd appreciate it if you left this part of the courtyard, please."

He chuckled again and shook his head.

"You know, you've always had this vicious undertone, Scar. Even before…" he trailed off, knowing it was better not to approach the subject.

"Is that so? Then why did you feel the need to pursue me?" I asked, bitterly.

He smirked and cocked his head. "I wanted you. That desire surpassed any feelings of intimidation or annoyance with you."

"Wonderful," I interjected, feeling the air tense and his intentions change. "Like I said, I'd appreciate it if you'd relocate somewhere far away from me."

He stepped in closer to me. "Come on, Scarlett. You used to not mind me being close to you. Very close, I do recall."

I felt a quick gust of wind next to me and looked to find Zack leaning against a near statue. "Having a problem understanding English, are you Alexander?"

His smirk slid off his face and was replaced with a grave look. "Not at all, Zack."

Zack pushed off the statue and began walked towards Alexander. "Good, so you'll be leaving, then?" Alexander growled low in his throat and stepped back. "That's what I thought. Run along now."

"Oh, don't flatter yourself, Knox," Alexander spat before he disappeared.

Zack snorted and turned to me. "You have a knack for trouble, don't you Scar?"

"I'm friends with you, aren't I?" I replied as I sat back down in the grass.

He laughed and sat next to me. He sniffed the air and looked at me. "Freshly fed, are you?"

I grinned, "Yeah."

"That's my girl." He lay back and put his arms behind his head.

"How'd you know Alexander was bothering me?"

He closed his eyes. "I have a sixth sense for you, Scar. No need to thank me."

I smiled, "I'm so glad to know you think I need protection."

He laughed loudly, eyes still closed. "I know you don't need protection, I mess with Alexander for my own personal entertainment."

"Scarlett!"

I looked up to see Bridgett Pierce walking our way. "Fantastic." I groaned.

"Bitch." Zack smiled, peeking at me with one eye. I shot him a dirty look and he closed it again.

"Hi Bridgett." I said as she reached us.

"Okay, so did you do the Chemistry homework, I really didn't understand it."

"I did. You should talk to Bauer about it." I uncrossed and re-crossed my legs, irritatedly. I didn't hate Bridgett; there were just little things about her that irritated me, one of them being the fact that she asks me for help on Chemistry homework daily.

"Yeah, you're probably right. Thanks Scarlett." She looked down at Zack and if she could blush, she would have. "Hi, Zack."

Zack opened one eye, said, "Hey, Bridgett," and then closed it again.

She grinned and walked towards the Science building. I looked down at Zack. "What was that all about?"

He opened his eyes. "What was what all about?"

I grabbed his arm, batted my eyelashes and said, "'Hi, Zack,'" In a mocking seductive voice.

He yanked his arm back and sat up. "Oh, shut up. That wasn't anything."

"Uh huh…"

He rolled his eyes. "You know, for someone your age, you can be pretty immature."

"For someone your age, you can be pretty stupid."

He stood up and brushed off his pants. "Well, thank you for the slightly obnoxious company, but I have to get to Physics."

I stood up next to him and playfully punched him on the shoulder. "Later, Zack."

***

After Chemistry, it was around 4:00. I walked to my dorm to prepare to turn in for the day.

The dorms at Stoker weren't like the dorms at a normal, human college. A more appropriate name would probably be suite. They're lavished with rich, polished cherry wood furniture, soft, ancient rugs and stained glass windows and tables. We have human maids that come in and clean as we sleep during the day, thinking we're just a normal night school. We do not, however, have kitchens, for obvious reasons. We do have bathrooms, but we only have toilets to keep suspicions at a minimum. If you build a school with no plumbing, it looks kind of strange to the maids.

I walked into the room and flipped on the lights. Everything was still, and I could hear voices coming from the room that belonged to my roommate and best friend, Evie. I knocked on the door and it opened to reveal my beautiful immortal best friend.

Her hazel eyes looked up at me and her fiery red hair glowed in the dim lighting of her room. "Hey Scarlett!" she grinned. Her boyfriend Will walked up behind her and flashed a smile at me.

"So sorry, was I interrupting?"

"Yeah, so if you wouldn't mind…" Will joked, wrapping his arms around Evie.

"Oh, shut up, Will." She shook him off playfully. "We were actually about to go grab a bite to eat before sunrise." Her voice tightened as she said it. Evie has a thing with killing. Ironic, seeing as she's a vampire, I know. "Would you like to join us?"

I grinned and shook my head, placing my hand on my stomach. "I've already eaten."

"Of course you have, you vicious killer, you." Deep down, she was scolding me, but she smiled. "Okay, well, I'll see you tonight. Crack of dusk, right? We're going to that club in town still, aren't we?"

"Of course. I never miss a good party." I winked and stepped out of the doorframe. "Good morning." Before she could answer, I was in my room shutting the windows and drawing the heavy curtains. I settled down into my bed, closed my eyes and fell asleep to the sound of roaring silence.