|THREE|
DATES AND JEALOUSY

      Eira was excited.

      Two days passed and the boy she'd given her number had contacted her. She was finally going on a date. She'd never been on a date before but the idea of it made her giddy.

       It was the evening of her date and she was currently at Fangtasia. She was with Pam who she went to for fashion advice. They took over the office Eric had while Pam had her try on many outfits to find the right one.

        "Isn't this too flashy?" Eira commented as she looked down at the dress she was wearing that was far too revealing.

            "It isn't if you want him to get frisky by the end of the night," Pam smirked.

            Eira furrowed her eyebrows, "Frisky?"

          "How has no one taught you any of this?" Pam rolled her eyes before she smirked. "Frisky. To cop a feel on that marvelous body you keep hidden all the time."

            "This is the first date, Pam," Eira frowned. "Ew."

             "Someone doesn't like to work fast," Pam said before sighing. "But, fine. I think I have something more conservative for your delicate little senses."

             "Thanks, Pam," Eira beamed.

         Pam couldn't help but form a small smile, "Of course."

           Pam brought out a pale, green dress with a sweetheart neckline. She immediately smiled as she saw it before she started to put it on; she wasn't exactly concerned with Pam seeing her dress and undress as they were both girls. Plus, she was sort of used to being a model for Pam.

               As she was putting the dress on, the door opened. It was Eric and her heart rate jumped as Pam vamp sped in front of her so he wouldn't see anything.

           "It's been hours, Pam. I need my office back," Eric complained. "And Eira isn't your play thing."

            "I was just helping a girl out," Pam crossed her arms with a small smirk.

          "She was helping me, Eric," Eira finished getting the dress on as she stepped out from behind Pam nervously. "With this. How do you think I look?"

             The way his eyes danced over her made her feel butterflies before he commented simply like it was a constant fact, "Beautiful."

              She blushed before he furrowed his eyebrows, "But why are you dressed like that?"

              "Haven't you heard?" Pam smirked. "She's going on a date."

             His eyes darkened as he looked at Eira, "You most certainly are not."

              Eira crossed her arms, "You can't tell me what to do, Eric."

           Pam chuckled as she watched the feud that was about to start. She was enjoying it immensely.

         "You're mine. Of course I can," Eric said as he stepped in front of her before staring her down. "And I said no."

           She glared up at him, "My blood is yours. Not me. I'm going."

            "Not everyone in the world has good intentions, Eira," Eric said angrily as he started to shout. "He's just going to use you."

            "I guess I'll find out, won't I?" she said stubbornly.

              They held a staring match as they glared at each other. Eric clenched his jaw before he stepped back and looked away like he was unbothered, "Fine. Go. See if I care when it doesn't work out but don't say I didn't warn you...."

_____

Eira went on her date.

She had gone back home first where her date had picked her up. Her mother did meet him and completely embarrassed her before she had to go to work at another night shift.

But Daren had taken her to a fancy restaurant and she loved every second of it. He asked her all sorts of questions about herself that made her feel like she was really wanted and that he was truly interested in her.

It felt like the perfect night until he brought her home. She was opening her front door while he asked from behind her, "So your mother is gone?"

"Yes. At work," she answered as she turned around but as soon as she did, she was surprised by him immediately kissing her.

She pulled away, "I'm sorry but I'm just not ready for that."

"Come on, it's just a little taste. You're totally hot," his arms snaked around her waist as his hands grabbed her ass.

"Please, don't touch me," she startled at his touch.

"You'll like it," he smirked before he was suddenly thrown back into the wall and held there by his neck. Eric.

"She said no," Eric bared his fangs.

"Holy shit," Daren commented in fear. "Please don't kill me."

"You'll leave here and never see her again...or I will," Eric warned as he let him go and Daren ran to his car while stumbling.

          Eira watched him go with tears in her eyes as Eric was right. He just wanted to use her. It made her heart ache as she uttered, "You were right."

          "I did warn you," Eric retracted his fangs as he looked at her gently. He saw those teary eyes and he couldn't stand it as he sighed. "Come here."

           Eira immediately clung to him in a hug and Eric wrapped his arms around her. She stayed in his embrace for a long moment before she pulled away. She sniffled before she furrowed her eyebrows, "Does this mean you...followed me?"

              Eric was silent for a moment before he put his hands in his pockets before he revealed quietly, "I wanted to make sure he didn't mistreat you."

      Eira smiled brightly at his words before she leaned over and placed a small, lingering kiss on his cheek that Eric closed his eyes to as she muttered so softly, "Thank you."

        Once she pulled away, Eric merely nodded before he went to leave but she grabbed his hand, "Eric, will you stay?"

          "If you want me to."

          "I want you to," she said as she tugged on his hand and he followed her into her home. As he did so, he noticed a strange mark on her bare shoulder. He reached out and ran his fingers over it, making her shiver as he did so.

             She looked back at him as he asked, "What is this?"

             "It's a birthmark."

            "Of the sun?" Eric asked curiously.

           "Yes," Eira answered as she started up the stairs as he followed. "My mother says it'll be my strongest power."

           "Light?"

           "Fire," she corrected as she walked into her room.

             He stared at her curiously before she went to the bathroom to change. When she came out, she got into bed before patting the space next to her. He chuckled as he stared at it; he'd never even used a bed if it wasn't for sex.

            "What?" she asked.

            "Nothing," he said as he laid beside her before she surprised him by scooting over and snuggling into his side. He stared in bewilderment before he slowly wrapped an arm around and decided he quite liked her body pressed up against his even if it was very innocently.

           "Eric," she said sadly. "Am I undateable? Would everyone just want to use me?"

          "Don't be stupid," he said immediately. "You just need someone older."

            She giggled a bit, "What? Like you?"

             He frowned and he was silent for a moment before he asked, "Would that be so bad?"

           Eira lifted her head to stare down at him softly as she answered with a small smile, "No."

           She always had a little crush on Eric. She never thought he might feel the same way. Yet the way he looked at her made her think he did and it made her blush.

            She rested her head back down to hide it. Eric started to smile before he laid a chaste kiss on the top of her head. She fell asleep that night with Eric holding her in his arms and playing softly with the strands of her hair.