So...My childhood friend was a vampire. (well...half-blood). All those years ago when I was 16 and he was 23, he attacked me during his inevitable "awakening" with thirst for blood. Despite my understanding in the end that it wasn't his fault, his father put no trust in my promise to stay quiet and so, erased all my memory of the Jackson family (Or so he thought). My parent's memories were erased too. They were made to believe that my father was to work only privately with Michael's father. There, ending the friendship that had blossomed between myself and Michael. But, Michael never gave up hope. He decided that when the time was right, he would help me to remember him and he did. I couldn't have been happier...

I was sat next to Michael in his limo on the way to my parent's house after we left his house. We talked a lot about when we were younger with our whole lives ahead of us. How we laughed and cried together...and all the time we'd missed growing up...

As we conversed for nearly 2 hours (Michael had made the poor driver take us every which way so that we'd have more time to talk), I couldn't help but feel the sadness deep inside. For all those years, I'd been missing someone so important to me and so had he. I could feel it and tell.

"You know, all those tutor sessions didn't go to waste. Although I didn't remember you, I remembered what you taught me strangely enough." I said with a shy smile.

It was true too. Thanks to all the "random" information I knew, I was top of my class at university. 

"That's great, Scar, but you know...I always knew."

"Knew what?"

"Everything. I kept a close eye on you all these years...I know it's a bit weird but..." He sighed and rubbed his head. "After my father erased your memory, he was just so sceptical. I wanted to keep you safe in case he changed his mind and--and..."

His voice cracked slightly. I placed my hand atop his trembling one and looked into his eyes as he turned to look at me.

"I understand..."

Michael smiled softly, blinking away tears as he shifted our hands and laced our fingers. He lifted our joined hands and kissed mine so gently as if I was a delicate china doll.

When I looked up into his eyes, I could see the boy I'd once known. He was still there, ready and willing to protect me with his life...I still had feelings for him and they were stronger than ever...

"You know something?" He smiled boyishly, cupping my cheek.

"Hmm...?"

"You taught me more than I could ever teach you, Scar..."

The caress of his fingers against my cheek made me feel all tingly inside. I had to hold back the fit of girlish giggles threatening to spew out from my lips.

"Like what?" I countered, leaning into his touch a little more.

Michael thought for a minute then looked back into my eyes.

"You taught me that it's ok to be "different". You taught me, that I didn't have to be pressured to do what I didn't want to and that I don't have to go down the path that's chosen for me because if I put my mind to it, I can make my own, and I did! All thanks to you. You were the one human I could trust with my secret and you proved to me that my father was wrong. You proved that there are good people in this world...You just...You're amazing, Scar..."

He stared deeply into my eyes and I stared back, feeling mesmerised by not only his beauty, but also, by his heart. He'd let me see him from a perspective that nobody else could, even now. He still could put his trust in me even after all these years of being apart, except now, things were different. He was still the boy I knew, only he'd now grown into a man with a heart of gold even bigger and more beautiful than all those years ago. God, he'd changed so much...

How could someone as beautiful as that 17-year-old boy become any more beautiful? I could just look at him all night...but...

I turned my face away from his intense stare with heated cheeks.

"I-I didn't do anything special, Mike. I was just a little girl with a lot of words." I giggled nervously.

Why am I nervous? I know Michael...Well...I do now.

"Well that "little girl with a lot of words" Changed my life for the better." He said.

I felt my cheeks get hotter as I stared down at my lap. Thank God, we got there shortly after he said that because I was starting to feel all kinds of confused with all these strange feelings creeping up on me so suddenly.

Michael jumped out the limo and ran to my side to open the door for me. He took my brief case in one hand, then offered me his free arm which I took gladly.

Still such a gentleman.

He walked me to the front door and as we reached it, I turned to address Michael.

"Well...This is me." I said gesturing towards the front door.

I sighed then opened my arms.

"Oh, come here!" I said impatiently with a giggle as tears pooled in my eyes.

We wrapped our arms around each other and held on tight, savouring the moment. We'd heard the thud of my brief case as it made contact with the floor, but we didn't care. We needed this.

"I'm so glad I remembered. I've spent too many years feeling like someone was missing from my life, Michael. Much too long." I murmured against his shoulder.

"I know. I missed you so much..." Michael said squeezing me tighter.

We pulled away from our embrace but kept a hold of each other's forearms as we looked at one another.

Michael chuckled lightly.

"May I kiss you...again?" He asked sweetly.

I raised an amused brow and he laughed.

"On the cheek!" He assured through laughter.

"You may." I said as I turned my cheek to him and patted the spot for him to kiss with my index finger.

He leaned in and placed a soft peck on my cheek which made me feel that tingly and warm sensation all over again.

"Well, I'll see you in my office bright and early on Monday, okay? Get some rest over the weekend." 

"Will do...Boss."

Michael chuckled then winked before making his way back to his limo. A content sigh left my lips as I waved to him whilst leaning against the porch shelter.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard a squeal from behind me.

"Mi bebé!" My mother cried.

"Mamá!" I whined playfully as she pulled me into a hug and kissed me all over my face.

"You just look prettier every time I see you, mi Cariño. Come on, Scarlet. Let's get you inside." She said excitedly pulling me into the house.

My mother is so beautiful. She looks more like she could be in her early 30's than in her 50's. She is short like me and has the most gorgeous long, jet black hair that she always wears in a braid. I remember when I was a little girl, she'd let me help her with her hair whenever my father was taking her out. Speaking of my father--

When we got inside, I was greeted by my father's warm embrace and suddenly, I felt like a little girl again.

I'll always be a daddy's girl.

"My little girl!"

"Papá!" I squealed as he lifted me off the ground.

My father. Probably the most hardworking man on the planet. He went from the bottom trying to find odd carpentry jobs to feed his family to the world-renowned architect, Miguel Jimenez of Manhattan and I admired him. Not only as a father, but as a role model. He was very handsome too with his charming smile, handsome face and the apparent years of labour shown by his muscular build. 

"How's my Rapunzel?" He asked holding my face in both of his hands, roughened from years of hard work.

"I'm great Papá and I have some great news too. I got the job which means I'm moving back to Manhattan!"

My mother screamed and did her little happy dance and my father hugged me again letting me know how proud of me he was.

I love my parents dearly and knowing that they were proud of me was always something that made me feel good on the inside. Not for the praise, but just knowing that I can show them what a wonderful daughter they had raised was enough for me.

The job was a great opportunity. I got to be back home with my folks for a while and spend some time with them until I found my own place in Manhattan to be closer to work. Michael told me that I'd be staying with him at his home a lot because he needed a full-time assistant. He went on a lot of business trips which meant that I was definitely going to be kept busy, but that's how I liked things. I liked to be productive.

After talking for a while with my folks, I headed up to my old room.

Thank God, I'd texted Rosa earlier to cancel dinner because I was so exhausted! I had to get up early to start moving my stuff from my apartment in Harlem. It was all boxed up and ready to move. I didn't have a lot of things other than my clothes (Gotta look good).

I was almost ready for bed. A nice hot shower and some comfy jammies after the crazy day I'd had was just what I needed.

Looking around my old bedroom made me giggle to myself as my eyes grazed over my large collection of books. While all the girls of my generation were crushing on boybands and squealing over the latest new albums, I was crushing on the intellect of fictional characters in my vast book collection. 

Just as I was climbing into my small double, my phone started ringing. I looked at the caller ID which read "Withheld number". I wouldn't usually answer but having just taken on a new job, it could've been somebody important so, I picked up.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hey baby." A familiar voice purred into the phone.

I was unsure of who the caller was or why they were calling me "baby" but I certainly did not appreciate it.

"Who is this?" I asked furrowing my brows.

"Your worst nightmare." The man whispered then cackled to himself.

"I'm sorry to embarrass you, sir, but I do believe you have the wrong number." I suggested growing slightly agitated by this man and my lack of sleep.

"Oh, I believe I do in fact have the right number...Scarlet Jimenez."

A chill ran through me as he uttered my name slowly and I quieted, trying my hardest to think of who this could possibly be.

"Listen you bastard! This isn't fucking funny! I am not to be fucked with, you asshole!"

"Aww! That's a shame. I wouldn't mind fucking with you one bit. Your ass looks mighty fine in those blue bed shorts."

I went silent once again as I slowly looked down at my polka dotted...blue...bed shorts.

"You know. The ones with the white polka dots on em. Cute." He specified as I suddenly felt cold through and through. "Why don't you turn around for me, baby? Let me get a good look at you."

The line was silent as I stood in the same spot with my back to the window, frozen in place.

"I don't get a little peak? What a shame. Oh well. I'm sure I'll get the full package when I come for a little "visit"." He chuckled menacingly. "And don't think that half-blood boss of yours or anyone else can protect you." He hissed.

I could only picture the worst in my head. With Michael and I reunited, I had not suspected that I would be in danger again so suddenly. There's only one type of being I could have been dealing with at that very moment and he was surely the immortal kind...

"Who the fuck are you?!" I screamed, losing control of myself as tears began to spill from my eyes.

"I told you, baby. I'm your worst nightmare...unpleasant dreams." He said then hung up without another word.

What just happened?

The phone slipped through my fingers and hit the floor with a thud.

What have I gotten myself into?

I looked around then rushed over to my window, carefully looking around for a figure, stalking about somewhere before shutting the curtains in a frightened rush. I got into my bed and got under the covers like a scared child. I was afraid to close my eyes as thoughts of the mysterious man came to mind and scared me shitless. What made it worse was that there was nothing I could do. I knew what he was and so police were completely out of the question. They'd be useless anyway.

Who was he?

How did he know so much?

Is he still watching me?

Should I...tell Michael?