As I was parking at my usual space at the full, Steam Valley High School parking lot, I noticed an unusual vibe that was omitting off of everyone.

My suspicions were definitely correct as I saw the strange, cheery behaviors of my peers. Normally, everyone wouldn't be so gleeful and friendly as they were today. I took notice of the groups of people laughing and sitting on the freshly cut grass. I even caught some Varsity members of the soccer team having a conversation with a few of the band geeks. Today was definitely going to be weird.

Shaking my head, I walked down the long hallway to my locker that was identical to the other hundreds of dark blue ones. As I was putting a few books on the gray shelf, two hands covered my eyes from the back of me.

"Guess who?" A feminine voice that was trying to sound masculine spoke up.

A smirk tugged on the upper corner of my full, light pink glossed lips. I instantly knew who the culprit was.

"You're gonna have to do better than that if you want to fool me, Lacey."

"Ugh, whatever," she scoffed.

I turned around to see the petite, perky, dark brunette standing in front of me. Lacey and I have been best friends since we met at cheer camp ten years ago. We both had the same interests and likings. For instance, we both agreed that chocolate chip ice cream was the best flavor hands down, with strawberry coming in at a close second. Radio stations were also never a quarrel in the car, as we both had the same taste in music, deeming that pop punk is elite. Oh, and let's not forget that we are both competitive athletes who's 'bad leg' is the one on the right. 

"Hey. Have you noticed how everyone is so chipper today?" I asked.

She looked her big, auburn eyes up at me-- giving that I'm about two inches taller than her 5'1 frame.

"Yeah. Just take a look outside, would ya? We finally have SUNLIGHT instead of the usual gloom and doom."

I squinted slightly. "Well yeah, but is that really all it takes to change someone's entire mood?" I asked unbelievably.

"... Yeah, I take it you're obviously not affected by the beautiful weather," she stared blankly.

I folded my arms under my chest. "Nope. It's gonna take a lot more than a bright and sunny, perfect 73 degree weather forecast to make everything perfect for me."

"Well, anyway," she said as she tucked a few loose strands behind her ear, reaching into her black, shoulder purse. "You left your earbuds at my place yesterday."

"Thanks," I replied, taking the small white box from her. "I was just about to ask if you found them too. See, I told you we have twin telepathy."

A short giggle escaped her clear, glossed lips. "Well I don't know about twins, but we definitely could be sisters. You've never actually met your other parent."

I rolled my eyes at her comment while shutting my locker. "Ha, ha, very funny."

"What?" She shrugged. "I mean come on, how awesome would that be though right? Us actually becoming sisters!"

I arched an eyebrow at her amusement. "Yeah, but imagine how devastating that would be for your parents' marriage. I mean, do you honestly believe that your dad would have ever became a donor without telling your mom first?"

A look of fright soon hit her features, along with a shiver. "Ugh, you're right. Who knows how many half siblings I would have then."

"Come on," I giggled at her, pulling her arm slightly. "let's go check ourselves in the mirror."

We entered the girls' bathroom that was a few feet away. A group of girls exited as we made our way over to the mirrors. Pulling out my small makeup bag, I reapplied more pink gloss to my already drying out lips. 

"Ugh, this brand sucks. It hardly stays on for an hour," I complained, looking at my reflection.

"Well at least your eyeliner pencil didn't just break," Lacey pouted. 

Pulling away from my lip wand, I looked over my left shoulder at her. A smirk forming. "I told you to get the mechanical one like I did."

Rolling her eyes, she noticed a girl standing in the corner of the wall through the mirror. Her back facing us.

"Excuse me? You wouldn't happen to have an eyeliner sharpener by any chance, would you?" Lacey questioned.

My eyes darted to the reflection of the girl in the mirror. A quiet slurping sound coming off from her. As she slowly turned around, there was a thick, red substance dripping down from her stained lips to her chin.

"Uh, yeah. Just one sec."

My vision traveled down to her left hand. An almost empty blood bag was grasped between her fingers. This had been the first time I'd ever seen a vampire eating right in front of me. Sure I'd seen it on tv, and have noticed the blood bags in almost every store I've been into, but this in person experience was just..surreal.

She wiped the bottom half of her face off with a paper towel from the dispenser next to her. After tossing it in the trash, she dug into her large, jean crossbody bag that was covered in assorted buttons.

"Sorry about that," she giggled shyly. She pulled out a small black sharpener. "I didn't have time for breakfast this morning, so I just ran in here for a quick bite before class."

I turned my head to see the shocked and slightly horrified look in Lacey's eyes. She must have become aware of how her appearance was coming off, because her composure soon came back after a short moment.

"Uh, you know what? I totally don't need it anymore. I just remembered that I left one in my locker..."

I narrowed my eyes slightly at her obvious lie. She was just complaining about needing a sharpener and would have been willing to take one from me, but then again, I'm not a vampire. I know how Lacey feels about them.

The girl blinked a few times before retracting her hand back. "..Oh, okay." 

She whispered a soft "excuse me." before making her way past us and heading out the swaying door.

I felt slightly bad for the girl. She seemed sweet. But no matter how nice a vampire came across, Lacey deemed them all the same. 

Monsters who were just waiting to attack.

"Ugh. Can you believe her?" Lacey asked, her tone omitting how freaked out she was. "She could have at least went into a stall if she was gonna do that."

I raised a brow and shrugged. "Well we didn't even notice her at first."

"Yeah that's the thing," Lacey scoffed. "We may live amongst these creatures, but we've gotta keep a closer eye out. Who knows what she could have done with our backs turned."

Her once soft features were now scrunched up in disgust and slight anger. The natural medium tan of hers was getting slightly red, as if her blood was actually boiling. I knew she hated the night walkers, but this was another level that I'd ever seen her at. 

She pulled out a paddle brush and briefly stroked her thick, mid-back length hair. This somehow seems to calm her down a bit.

"Anyways. I'll see you at practice. I'm just going to go to class early. My morning is already ruined," she dramatically sighed.

"Uh, okay. See you," I replied as I watched her exit the bathroom.

I wonder how I truly felt about vampires. I've personally never had a problem with any of them. But then again, I do stay within my own circle of cheerleaders and jocks. None that I'm aware of, are blood drinkers. I will say that the emerging cases of "animal attacks" have caused me to watch my back a little closer though. 

Oh well. I guess it's safe to say I really don't have to worry about them, considering I don't converse with the cold blooded anyway.

Hearing the warning bell go off, I quickly stuffed my mini makeup bag into my purse, and walked to the exit. Not paying attention to how hard the door swayed out, I hit something. Something really hard.

I stepped out to see what the damage was, and that's when I first met...

HIM.