My heart thudded as I waited around for six-thirty to arrive. The table was set, dinner was almost ready, and things seemed to be going pretty smoothly. Or so I had thought.
"Hey Em, can you get that?" my mom called from upstairs as the phone rang. I picked it up and said, "Hello?"
"We have a problem." Derek huffed into the phone. Suddenly a million different ideas swarmed into my mind.
"What is it?"
"I over looked one little detail…"
"And?" I took the phone outside and paced up and down the steps.
"I'm a vampire… we don't eat." I stopped walking.
"Derek, are you kidding me? We planned to have a dinner. How could you have overlooked something like that?!"
"I don't know… I was just so excited and… I just wanted everything to be perfect…" I sighed.
"Okay… its okay…" he didn't say anything. "Don't beat yourself up about it, okay?"
"Too late." He mumbled.
"Well… we can get through this…. don't worry."
"How…"
"Just… try to eat… you can say you're not very hungry because you're nervous or something…"
"Maybe…" he sighed.
"Is it that big of a problem to eat food?"
"Well… I don't know…"
"Then just try, that's all you have to do. If things aren't working out I'll come up with something to tell my parents."
"Good luck with that…"
"Thanks," I said dryly. "Now when are you coming?"
"How about right now?" Suddenly his hands were around my waist. I almost screamed, but held it in. "Oh my god, don't do that…" I gasped.
"What? Can't I have any fun?" he grinned.
"No… not if that's your definition of fun." I glared at him. "Come on… let's get this over with."
"Okay little miss grumpy…" he tickled my side, forcing me to giggle. I opened the door and let Derek inside.
"Emily, is Derek here yet?"
"Yes…" he said loudly. My mom poked her head out of the kitchen.
"Oh hi, Derek. It's so nice to finally meet you." My mom smiled and ushered him into the kitchen. My dad came up and greeted him as well. Then shook hands how all fathers and new boyfriends do… in a friendly firm grasp.
Derek played his part well. He had been right; he does to well with parents. The fake 'I'm not very hungry' excuse worked too well. But somehow he managed to take a few bites that made it look like he had eaten a lot. Afterwards we played a game of scrabble, since my dad kept insisting. It was interesting. Somehow I ended up spelling vampire… I almost couldn't stop myself from laughing. After Derek left it was the moment of truth.
"So, what do you think?" I smiled.
"Well, he's very polite, very sweet…" My mom glanced at my dad. He smiled, and she smiled back.
"I guess we approve." I almost couldn't contain my joy.
"Oh thank you." I squealed, hugging both of them. Then I raced upstairs and showered. "Goodnight." I called down the stairs as I headed to my room.
"Night Em," My mom said.
"Night," my dad replied. I sighed and closed my door. After a while I closed my eyes and curled into a ball.
A few minutes passed when suddenly there was a quiet knocking at my window. I pulled the covers back and went over to my window, drawing the curtains back. Derek grinned at me. I opened the window and he climbed in.
"So this is how he got in here…" Derek murmured to himself.
"I told you he came through the window…" I said quietly.
"Yes, but I'm surprised he was able to be so quiet…"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well Skinwalkers aren't the stealthiest creatures…" he shrugged.
"Well I guess he was one of the rare ones." I sighed, sitting on my bed. Derek sat next to me.
"So what did they say?" his voice was suddenly very deep.
"You weren't listening in?"
"No, I had to go home for a little."
"Oh… well," I stared at the floor.
"What? Tell me!" he urged.
"They approve." I grinned. His arms were suddenly around me, squeezing me tightly.
"Good." He brushed his lips against my cheek.
"Did you actually think they would say no?"
"Well, I had my doubts…"
"Yeah right, you're too perfect for them to disapprove."
"I'm not perfect." he laughed, shaking his head.
"You're perfect to me…" He smiled and kissed my forehead.
"There's no such thing as someone being 'perfect', especially not a vampire."
"How could you say that?"
"Huh, I don't know, maybe because we're killers?" he spoke with an angry tone and stood, looking out the window. I watched him silently. He sighed and turned back to me. "Just… I wish I could be perfect. Perfect for you…"
"Derek…"
"I can be better than him," he gestured out the window to a place unknown… "I won't leave you… I can always be here for you." He took my hands in his. I stood, looking into his eyes. "You know I care about you… You know I love you…"
"Derek, is something wrong?" I whispered.
"I just… if they had said no… I wouldn't be able to do this anymore… I… I don't know…" I pulled him into a hug.
"It's okay Derek, it's going to be okay…" I whispered in his ear. "You don't need to worry any more." I pulled away and smiled. He smiled back and hugged me warmly.
"Emily? What are you doing up there?" my mom's voice drifted upstairs.
"Hold on," Derek whispered and suddenly disappeared. Suddenly the door opened. My mom gave me a confused look.
"What are you doing?"
"I… I was just practicing for a presentation I have to do for… English." I hesitated.
"Oh… I just heard you talking and…"
"Well, I'm done now…"
"Okay, night sweetheart." She smiled and closed the door again. Right as it shut Derek's hands were on my waist.
"Where did you hide?" I whispered.
"On the top bunk." His lips pulled into a half smile.
"Well I guess it's time for goodnight." I sighed and sat on my bed again.
"If you say so." His hand brushed my cheek as he kneeled down next to me. "Lay down." His voice was only a soft whisper. I obeyed and rested my head on my pillows. He smiled and slowly leaned over me, kissing me softly. "Goodnight my angel…" he pulled away and went over to the window. "Just… remember… I'll always be here for you."
"I know." I smiled.
"Night," he crawled out the window and closed it behind him. I turned over and closed my eyes. A sudden wave of peace washed over me as I began to fall asleep. My heart was heavy with joy and my mind was buzzing with memories of the last few hours.
Suddenly I awoke. It was only one in the morning. I sighed and glanced around my dark room. Then my eyes drifted to the window and I wondered if Derek was there, watching me… protecting me. I thought about what he had said before he left. "Goodnight my angel…" I suddenly had the urge to cry… Memories of Conner flooded my mind and I couldn't hold in the pain. I wouldn't be able to do this much longer…
I wouldn't be able to live without Conner in my life…
\"Shh… its okay, it's alright…" Derek breathed in my ear. I turned to him and began to weep into his shirt. "Just cry sweetheart… I'm here for you." He kissed my forehead. "I'm always here for you…"