A bright light beamed through the sheer curtains and unto my closed eyelids. I squirmed slightly as a sudden breeze hit the exposed top half of my body. 

I slowly opened my eyes, trying to adjust to the light that was now shining into my bedroom. Turning my head up slightly to take a look at the digital clock sitting on my silver bedside table, I frowned instantly.

 6:00 AM

Great, I would of had another good thirty minutes of sleep if that stupid sunlight hadn't woken me up first. 

...Wait, sunlight?

The sun was something that hardly ever shone down here at Steam Valley. Doesn't sound believable considering that this town is located in sunshiny California, but trust and believe me, it's true. 

Here in Steam Valley, we don't have the three major things that most people associate with the rest of California; beaches, amazing weather, and tons of people. You want some of that? Then I suggest you do what all the tourists who somehow wander into our small town do, and go right through here and head up to Los Angeles.

Assuming you can afford it, that is.

Realizing that I might as well get up, considering that I'm already awake, I moved the blush quilted sheet off of my lower body. My ocean blue painted toes hit the cream, plush carpet as I made my way over to the medium sized window on the far left of the room. 

I furrowed my brows in confusion when I stood in front of the slightly parted glass that I forgot to close before I went to bed last night.

 There was no wind or even the slightest breeze going on outside.

Hm? So then why did I feel a chilly gush blow in from here a short few minutes ago?

Oh well, maybe I had just dreamt that part..

Shaking off the insignificant thoughts, I quickly pulled the glass down, closing the window pane and locking it. Making my way into my small bathroom located on the far right end of my room, I began to get ready for the nightmare called high school.

I washed my hands before putting in my clear contacts. Blinking in the last lense, I took a long look at myself through the mirror in front of me. My waist length, honey blonde and low lighted hair was up in a big, messy bun. The white tank top and shorts that I woke up in were disheveled and wrinkled. My face was free of makeup and clearly needed an exfoliation.  

My ice blue eyes pierced through the smooth glass as I took in my true appearance. The real me that no one ever saw. The one that I never let anyone see. Being head cheerleader, I was expected to be flawless. Anything less was not acceptable. Not from my team, friends, and honestly not even myself. 

On the outside, I was the poster teen for the pretty, popular cheerleader. My grades were good and almost everyone loved me. Sounds amazing right?! Well would you believe me if I told you how draining and exhausting it truly was? Living up to my peers expectations and hardly my own was a life I've been living for quite some time now. Either I'm accustomed to the lifestyle or I'm just too scared to leave it.

I sighed, trying to shake off my feelings. Deeming them unimportant. As I usually do. Fixing my thoughts onto something more useful as I was putting my face on, I began planning out the new routines that I would orchestrate for cheer practice today.

An hour passed when I was finally presentable. I grabbed my phone to snap a mirror selfie. Finding the right angle, I captured the cute photo of me in my black crop top and dark blue jean short shorts.

I quickly posted the photo as I was walking down the steps, heading for the kitchen. A slight smile stretched across my face as my best friend, Lacey, had already commented about a thousand heart face emojis under the photo. Sitting my phone onto the kitchen island countertop, I noticed the yellow sticky note that was laying flat on it.

April, I had to leave for an early morning shift. I left you lunch money and washed your uniform. I should be home before dinner time. Love you, mom.

A sad smile formed as I thought of how hard my mom had been working lately. It was just the two of us, so I know it was a lot of pressure on her just to keep the bills paid. I offered to get an after school job in order to help out but she refused, saying that the only things I needed to worry about was my schoolwork and cheerleading. I reluctantly respected her wishes, seeing as she just wants me to do well in school so that I can get as many scholarships as possible, in order to get out of this little town. She also paid a lot of money throughout the years just to put me through cheer lessons and camps. There was no way I was going to let all of her hard work go to waste.

...Maybe that's why I haven't quit cheerleading by now...

Grabbing the remote on the counter, I turned on the tv before making a bowl of Froot Loops with a glass of pulp free orange juice.

'Ugh, of course the news is all that's on first thing in the morning,'  I thought, rolling my eyes.

Taking in a spoonful of the cereal, the news anchor woman was handed a sheet of paper by a man that clearly worked behind the camera. Her eyes widened as she read over the ink. Adjusting her black skirt suit, she spoke in a professional but serious manner:

"We have an update of another fatal attack on a human as of last night. The police have identified the victim as a man around 18 to 21 years of age. No identification was found on him, but the police will notify any family of the victim as soon as possible. The team discovered several bite wounds located on the neck and wrists. Speculation was of a wolf attack, seeing as the victim was found near the woods. However, the ruling of a vampire is not out of question. More information on this will be updated as the case continues."

Pressing the power button, I turned the tv off. No way was I going to listen to a murder case when I was home alone. This had to have been the fifth case this month alone and people were already starting to worry. 

Ten years ago, a treaty between humans and vampires was signed by the elders of vampires and the government. Vampires were allowed to live and roam around humans as long as they did so peacefully. Meaning, no feeding on humans. And if they did, then that vampire would be ordered to be staked.

Nowadays, when you walk into a supermarket to pick up a loaf of bread, you could also pick up a bag of blood, with your preferred blood type of choosing. Allegedly, the blood bags that the government provided for vampires tasted just like fresh blood, some saying even better.

 There was an invisible line that separated the supporters vs. non-supporters of the new law. Many who feared living amongst the cold blooded soon swayed over to the other side, seeing as the vampires posed no evident threat. We all have lived peacefully amongst each other until multiple deaths have begun surfacing around Steam Valley.

Many humans have started losing trust and have been eery of vampires lately. The police have identified the fatalities from animal attacks, but that just seemed way too convenient and sceptical to most.

Hopping off the plush stool, I walked over to the stainless steel sink to clean my dishes. Turning around, I grabbed the cash that mom left for me on the island, and grabbed my navy blue cheerleading bag that sat atop a kitchen stool. Adjusting the bag strap over my right shoulder, I fast paced my way into the living room, grabbing my keys that were hung up by the front door. After locking the worn out and slightly loose door knob, I made my way out of the modest home and to my car, ready to start the day.

Little did I know, however, this would be the day that changed my life...