Chess

It was the evening of December 12th. It was snowing. It was the third time since the first of the month. The first two melted away. This one seemed to be staying. It was white out side, it was so beautiful, and it was cold. But Willow didn’t now just how cold. Yes, Willow. She had died that September, but she didn’t stay dead. She was now sitting on her grave crying. She didn’t understand.

Her back was to the entrance of the graveyard. Her dress was far enough down her back that the tattoo of the willow tree on her right shoulder blade was visible. There was three little butterflies dancing around it. Her long black hair was over her shoulders, revealing her back. Her bare feet was buried in the snow.

This was all a dream, and awful, awful dream. Yet some how she knew it was not.

~!!~
The blond girl, named Rachel, knocked on Dimitri’s door. He opened the door, to let her in. He had force himself to keep from frowning. He didn’t really like his girlfriend, but he needed to get over Ember. She was in love, and even after death, Jeremy was still with her. He knew now he had feelings for her.

They walked up stairs to his room. A big smile on her face. He was careful to leave the door open.

After a few minutes sitting on his bed, just talking, he kissed her. His curtains were open. Yeah, he felt bad about using her.

~!!~
Michi stepped out of her room, and looked down the hall, at Draven’s door. She looked down at the floor. This was wrong, but she liked it. They had spoken a few times since that kiss, but it was nothing more then a hello.

She walked down the hall to his door, and knocked. She needed to know.

~!!~
Milo wasn’t home. Ally was confused. Here lately, he been disappearing a lot.

Milo was in Dale, walking through the snow, he was trying to remember. Anya looked said when he couldn’t remember her. He kept thinking, and thinking, he wanted to know.

Luna was looking out her window. She was watching it snow. She hadn't gone outside for long periods of tiem because it was cold, but she had been out side to walk Isis for a few minutes.

~~~~

Lia was on her bed reading again, she had just put on one of her long sleeve dresses. She kept hearing people running back and forth infront of her door. She sighed and tried to ignore it.

~~~~

Monique had made friends with Justin and enjoyed playing with him when he was getting on his mother's nerves because he wouldn't stop asking her to play. She had given Justin her bow when he had seen her shooting Massy with a arrow. She had a new one and they were running around shooting eachotehr withthe fake arrows, she had to teach him how to shoot it of course and it took a while but he eventually learned.

~~~~~

Justin was running away from Monique laughing and trying not to get shot. He looked back every now and then to see how close she was, then looked forward again before he ran into someone or something.

After that day months ago, Ember had hugged Jeremy tightly. He was there, almost as if he were alive. But he was pale; oh so pale. And probably cold, too, not that she would notice it.

She knew she didn’t love him anymore, however. Perhaps a little, but hardly like that anymore. He was her best friend, one of them, and now he was back. But he had told her that first night.

‘I don’t know why I’m here, Ember. I woke up after my death, and found myself staring at you at my burial. I don’t understand it, but I think I’m supposed to help you. After that, I don’t know where I’ll go.’

He was almost like a guardian angel. A really annoying one who kept yelling at her not to hurt herself. Yep, it was still Jeremy, alright. But she didn’t want him to go; he said he would have to soon, after he ‘helped’ her.

She didn’t need help….did she?

She was sitting on her bed, window open, looking at the open book in her lap. Ever since Dimitri had gotten a girlfriend, she had felt horrible around him. She knew now, that she was falling for him, and falling hard. She also noticed lately that he was falling back, hard, into his old habits. And he wouldn’t let her help him.

She had tried, she really had, but he just wouldn’t. She glanced over at her window in time to see him kiss her. Her. Ugh.

She walked over to her window, and yelled outside. “Hey! Close the drapes if you’re going to do that, because I don’t want to see it!!!”

She slammed the window shut, drawing the drapes closed again. She huffed and sat down on her bed again, sighing and staring at the wall. His cousin Savastyn hadn’t given up on hitting on her, either. She was ticked off, and she was still grounded. But she would be off of it by Christmas.

Christmas…..that was right around the time her father died. She shrugged it off; it didn’t matter. She hardly thought about him anymore, that was so long ago. But her mother did. She would go crazy decorating the house for Christmas again, and then bring out his picture and place it on top of the mantle as she did every year.

She glanced to her right, where Jeremy was sitting. She offered him a small smile, yet he did not return it. He was watching her worriedly.

Jeremy had figured out by now that she liked Dimitri. He had also figured out much more about her that she had never let him see. He had told her that he had been there all the time she was mourning his loss, and had tried to help, but failed. She felt horrible that he had seen her that way, and wanted to apologize, but she felt that it needed no words.

Jeremy still very much loved her, but he could see she had moved on. And he wanted to help her, yet he did not know how. He wanted to see her smile again, he wanted to see her laugh again, like she used to before all of this. He had seen her change. She had been so carefree and happy, just a normal teenage girl, almost, and then his death had caused all of that to change, and it was still changed. He was trying to bring out the good side of her again, and slowly, she was coming back. But he knew she would never be the same; it had been far too long, and everything had changed.

She looked away from him, staring at the wall again. Her CDs were stacked in complete chaos, no longer alphabetized like Dimitri had done. She layed back on her bed, and heard her mother calling her for dinner. She ran downstairs, and Jeremy followed, silent as a ghost. Oh yeah. He was one.

Ember ran into the kitchen, and saw her mom balancing the phone on one ear, trying to take something out of the oven with the other. Ember rolled her eyes and took the ovenmits, taking the pan out for her. It was burnt to a crisp.

Ember sighed and looked at her mother, who grinned sheepishly. Yeah, she was back to her old business centered self. She was convinced Ember was still in her old ways. She had no idea how bad things had been, and how worse they had gotten. Yet slowly, they seemed to be getting better.

She put the pan down, fanning the smoke away. Her mom hung up the phone, and looked at her.

“Pizza?” She asked, handing her the phone. Ember just nodded and took it from her, ignoring Jeremy’s soft chuckles in the background.
~!!~
Anya was sitting outside in the snow, letting it fall mindlessly through her pale fingers. She had been acting strange ever since that day she had told Milo who she really was. But she didn’t know why; what had she been expecting, him to just remember? And even if he had, what difference would it make? He had had so many maids, and she could bet she wasn’t the only one who had fallen for him.

Fallen. She was in love with him…she knew that now. Wasn’t the afterlife supposed to be peaceful? Simple? She remembered laying on her bed that day, thinking that it would all get so much easier. She would just be….gone. That she wouldn’t ever have to deal with any more pain, sadness, sorrow, heartache, anything. But she had been wrong. Oh boy had she been wrong.

She stood up, wiping her now wet hands off on the bottom of her dress. She still wore dresses; the clothes as of lately scared her. Far too much skin showing and all. Plus, now it was cold.

She sighed, and pushed a strand of long, black hair out of her eyes. She had seen Milo wandering around lately, and wanted to talk to him. But she had never been a big talker, which was perhaps why all of this had happened. Maybe he would have remembered her if she had spoken more. But it was all too late for that now. And besides, even if he did remember her, that meant nothing. She meant nothing. She never had.

Anya sighed, and shivered lightly. She had left her jacket inside. But she didn’t feel like going to get it; she couldn’t die. Why bother? Besides, she preferred the cold much more than the heat. After all, it was a fever that had killed her……
~!!~
Sam blamed himself for everything.

He had spent the past few months in a sort of depression. All his life, he had been a flirt. And when he had finally found the girl who could change him, and who had changed him, she was ripped out of his hands right in front of him.

He had come home that night, and his father had asked him what was wrong. He wouldn’t answer him. He didn’t speak for at least two days, and when he did ask again, all he said was ‘she’s gone’.

She’s gone. She’s gone. You killed her.

That was all that would go through his mind, and each time he closed his eyes he saw her dead face. He visited her grave once or twice, but it soon became far too much for him to handle. He couldn’t take it. He felt horrible; he was heartbroken.

And her last words; those had truly killed him.

I love you. That was what she had said. I love you.

He had never said that to any of his girlfriends before. Love was a foreign thing to him, but after she had said that, he thought about it. He thought about it for days on end while he cried, and he soon realized; he had loved her, too. He still did. And she was gone.

He cried out in frustration, banging a fist against the wall of his bedroom. He spent most of his time there now, staring out his window. He hadn’t cried for a while; he felt as though all his tears were gone. He just missed her. So, so much.

He didn’t know how much longer he could take this. Each day went by in a blur. School meant nothing anymore, and seeing Winney everyday only broke his heart more. And this was all his fault; why didn’t he go to her that first day?! He had been so stupid!!! He was so stubborn and stupid, and instead of his own death, it had brought about Willow’s.

He fell back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, eyes blank and almost dead. He only wished he could have died in her place. This pain, this guilt….surely death was better than that. And she didn’t deserve any of this. He did.
~!!~
Vivian was staring at the ceiling of her bed, thinking. Her parents were getting onto her about college daily now. School was horrible; she didn’t understand. She just didn’t. She had smiled and waved at some girls, who had scoffed and made fun of her. Some of them pulled her chair out from underneath her, tripped her in the hallway, everything. She was older than most of them, but they didn’t seem to care. They knew she wouldn’t do a thing about it; and they were right. She was just confused.

All her life it had been this way. She had one friend once in a while. They moved a lot. She had always been so focused on her studies that she didn’t have much time for people, though. Her parents were constantly pushing her to do better and better, and work harder and harder. She was sick of it! What about what she wanted?

She sighed, and pulled her knees up to her chest. She wanted to see Sergei again; he was the only one who was nice to her here, even if it was so long ago. She doubted he even remembered her. She had talked to him a few times since then, but not much.
~!!~
Leanne was plotting.

She missed her friends, sure, but they were gone. But they were coming back in January! And that hardly seemed so far away anymore.

She still woke up, scared, every few nights, seeing images of her mother’s death or the night she was changed. She hid behind the mask that everything was okay, but she had a feeling that at least Patrick new better.

But right now, none of that mattered. It was almost Christmas, and she was determined to make it a good one.

She doubted that vampires decorated trees, gave out presents, or anything. She knew they didn’t drink hot chocolate or eat gingerbread men. But she was going to make this fun for them, and that meant a present for everyone (using her college funds; she wouldn’t need it anymore), and going out to buy a tree. She could make decorations, or find some around the house. She was going to get something from everyone and put it on the tree, though some people would be more troublesome than others; mainly, Draven and Andrew.

She was smiling just thinking about it. And the snow outside was so beautiful! She was going out to get the tree today. She just had to get Patrick to drive her. He knew nothing of her planning yet; she hoped he would support her. She just wanted to show the vampires that Christmas can be bright, even if you are….well….undead. A nice old fashioned snowball fight sounded fun, but she wanted to wait until January 2, when her friends were coming, to do that.

She stood up off the bed, her boots clunking on the floor. She opened her door with her gloved hand, and walked across the hall to Patrick’s room, where she knocked on the door.
~!!~
Elianna was sitting by her window, Isabel in her lap. She had gone back to their old town for their things already, and they were now here to stay. Isabel even had her own room, but she often snuck into Elianna’s room at night when she had nightmares.

Elianna hugged her daughter tighter, resting her chin on top of her head.

“What’s wrong, mommy?” Isabel asked. How many times had she asked her that? And how many times had Elianna lied?

“Nothing,” She said. She didn’t know, but that was once more.

Lately, Elianna had been thinking about her late husband so much more. She missed him more than anything in this world, but she knew him. He wouldn’t want this for her; he’d want her and Isabel to move on, be happy. But it was hard. Oh so hard.

She held her daughter tighter, and kissed the top of her head. “Nothing,” She whispered again.

Isabel was in a good mood; it was snowing a lot, and she loved snow. She kept trying to get Elianna, Draven, and Tobias to help her build a snowman. Elianna wasn’t angry at Draven anymore, but just didn’t speak as much lately.

She was happy that her brother’s ice cold heart was slowly melting, but also worried. Michi didn’t seem like the best match for him; after all, her brothers had taken away his throne. Not that she minded; she didn’t miss it. But she remembered how upset he had been, and now she saw him falling in love with her. Nto that she ddin’t trust her; she did. But she didn’t’ want to see her brother get hurt. She had all but forgotten about her comment to him before, about wanting his love to be taken away. She had just been upset then; it had meant nothing.
~!!~
Draven was sitting on his bed, a book open in his lap. He was confused. So very confused.

Lately, he had been feeling….different, and it showed in his actions. He talked to Isabel more, felt bad about what he had said to Elianna still, he felt bad for being so mean to Leanne, he just wanted to hold Michi……

He was going crazy. That had to be it. Clinically insane. It would explain everything.

Or perhaps Elianna had been right. He was falling in love.

No. That was preposterous. Michi was one of the enemy; at least, that was what he had been led to believing. But then she had helped them, he had kissed her, and……

Everything had changed.

He set the book down as he heard a knock on his door. He answered it, and who should stand there but Michi?

Despite himself, he was smiling. “How can I help you?” He asked, leaning against the doorframe.
~!!~
Alex had spent at least two days holed up in that tree. And when she had finally come out, she had gone to the graveyard, and spent at least three days there. All that time, she had been thinking. Thinking, thinking, and thinking, yet she always came to the same conclusion. That her life…well, afterlife, basically sucked.

First her friend had come back, changed, and then she had fought with him and kicked him out of her home. Then Issac had broken up with her, and left her alone, scared, and confused. Her violent nature was back now, the kind girl that Issac and Dominic had seen, and that Dominic once knew, gone once again, perhaps never to come out again.

She had come home to Ella then, and she had been crying, which only made her feel worse. Things were pretty much back to normal now. Alex smiled when appropriate, laughed with her sister, listening to any troubles she may have had, and did whatever she could to help her. And in turn, Ella had done the same for her. They were normal again. But some things just could not be erased.

Even now, as Alex stood in her front yard with Ella, she knew that. Ella was making a snowball, and Alex was staring off into the distance. She kept up her act in front of Ella, but she had a feeling that she knew better. Her sister knew her far too well to be fooled just by a play of emotions.

Ella suddenly threw a snowball at the back of her head, bringing her out of her thoughts. Alex turned around, and laughed as Ella did. It was almost real; she was with her sister, however. But anyone could tell that something was off with it.

Alex chased after her sister, finally tackling her down to the snow, where she smiled at her. Ella laughed, and smeared snow in her face before jumping up, giving a victory cry, and running around the side of the house. Alex laughed and chased after her. Maybe she really could get over all of this. But when she was alone, things looked much, much different. Darker. More hopeless. She had always been somewhat of a pessimist, but lately things had been looking so bad for her. She felt guilty for what she had done to Dominic, but then she felt angry at him for being right and telling it straight to her face, when in truth that was what she had needed. And then there was Issac again.

As she played with her sister in the snow, throwing snowballs back and forth, she found herself wondering. What had she ever seen in him? He was just a selfish, stuck up, prideful flirt. But she had seen more in him, the caring side. But now that was gone, along with him, from her life.

She threw another snowball at her sister and ducked as she threw one back, then dumped snow down her shirt.
~!!~
December missed her old life.

Before any of this; her old life where it was just her and Brooke against the world, not worrying about anything else, just them. But that was all gone now, and for how long she did not know. She had long ago given up hope of Brooke regaining her memory. It would be forever, she thought. She would never remember.

She was laying on her bed right now, her mind all over the place. Her parents, the ones who had given their life for her. She turned on her side, face blank, but eyes full of emotion. What she would have given to see them now! Would they be proud of her, and how she had turned out? Probably not, at least not now. Not after what she had done. She just wanted to turn back the clock.

Suddenly, she had an idea. Luke! She could get him to take her back in time, and she could stop Brooke, and then maybe none of this would have ever happened, and-----

But then what? She never would have fallen for Simon. Would she remember this if she went back and time and changed things? If she wouldn’t, then did she really want to?

She was so selfish. So very selfish. She turned on her stomach, and buried her face in her pillow. It probably wouldn’t have worked, anyways.

It was almost her birthday now. She would be 19. 19….Simon was 17 now. She had wanted to get him a present, and in fact still had it under her bed. She didn't know why, but she had chickened out on giving it to him. Things had been strange between them ever since that day that she had told him how she felt, and she just couldn't bring herself to face him. And once January came around, she fully intended to apply to more colleges, though she would not leave until the beginning of the year or get her acceptance letters if she was accepted until then, either. She still had her mind set on that one college. But none of that seemed important anymore. She just wanted to get away from this place, and leave it all behind. Her once friend, the boy she had fallen so very hard for, and the memories of her parents who had died for her. She didn’t want any of it anymore. If she could give up her memories right now, she would.

Moses….this was all his fault! If only she could get her hands on him, she would---

What? What could she do? Brooke had some sort of feelings for him…she would only hurt her by hurting him. And it would do her no good; her memories would not return. She would probably only come to hate December.

December groaned, and sat up suddenly. She no longer had the nightmares of the blood colored snow. They had vanished as she regained her memory of those events. But she would take those back if she could only erase all of this.
~!!~
Samantha was breaking down. She could feel it.

Every night she would look at the newspaper clipping under her pillow, and think about how that should have been her who died that night, not him. But there was no turning back the clock. Guilt ate away at her every day. She shouldn’t be alive. She shouldn’t have such a nice family, who actually cared about her. She should be dead and buried, and it should have happened long ago.

She had almost the same reputation as before at school, minus the stupid boyfriend. She was the ice queen, the one who bit your head off if you came too close. She had only talked to Ash a few times, though she wasn’t sure why. She just couldn’t bring herself to yell at him that much. But oh, she knew why. He reminded her of him. John Matthews.

She felt like she was hiding some huge secret from her family. She had felt like this before, but not like this….not so strongly.

She had found a gym, however, and went there every day after school, just like before. She was paying for it with money from a part time job she had gotten as a waitress. She had almost gotten fired several times for yelling at customers.

She was getting most of her anger out that way, but it was still there. Anger at herself, anger at her life. Anger at everything and everyone around her, though it all led back to her. If she had been smarter that night….if she hadn’t convinced her friends to go….if she had been thinking straight…..none of this would have happened.

Still, no one noticed the differences in her, though her sort of depression grew worse and worse every day. Her family was all caught up in their own things to even pay her a second glance. She wasn’t sure if she was glad for this or not. What would she do if they found out? She would go to jail, for one. At least she thought so. Two, they would hate her. That thought scared her more than even going to jail.

She felt herself coming undone at the seams. She couldn’t last much longer like this.

Now it was just a matter of time.

She sat up straight on her bed, staring out the window again. The snow was beautiful. Suddenly she saw herself, Kaitlyn, Roxanne, and Misty playing in it as little kids. Laughter, happiness….none of the troubles that that night had brought into her life. She shook her head, and the image was gone.
~!!~
Seth was finally going to do it. He had to; he had to break things off with Cinder.

It just wasn’t fair to her. He was dead. She was going to want someone alive. She would grow older, and she wouldn’t want him anymore. Wouldn’t he be doing her a favor if he just….left? But he was so selfish, because he just couldn’t bring himself to do it. He had tried so many times, but lost the nerve after seeing her face. He was falling in love with her, if he hadn’t already.

But he couldn’t! This wasn’t fair to her. That stupid hunter had been right.

He closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the wall. Okay. He would stay until the hunter was dead, protect her until then, then leave. It was the only thing he could do. But could he make it until then? Wouldn’t he just fall for her more?

He looked over at her, making himself visible and offering a small smile. He was such a coward.
~!!~
Gem was at the Manor, in the library, as usual. She spent almost all of her time here. But the books…they reminded her far too much of Drake.

Drake. She hadn’t seen him since that night in the woods that seemed like a lifetime ago now. She didn’t understand. She felt responsible for what had happened to him, whatever that was. He was different now, and she was alone here.

She liked hanging out with Christen, though. He was nice. They were friends, at least she thought so. She was worried about him, though. Damian hadn’t gone back for him or his mother, at least not that she knew of, but she knew that he would. He had come back once to see her, but she had made a ruckus and he had left when Leanne came running in.

She didn’t really like Leanne; Andrew had changed her. She liked Andrew, as a brother. She had been using him as a replacement for Drake, but Drake was back now, but now it only hurt worse. She stood up. She wanted to see Andrew now.

She put the book she had been reading back on the shelf, and walked down the halls toward his room.
~!!~
Damian had not given up on his goal. To kill Prize and Christen, and erase his mistakes. He didn’t understand why he felt this way, but he did. He needed to get rid of his past. He couldn’t explain it, but he didn’t want anything from it here now. He didn’t like to think that he had a…..child. Just the word made him shudder!

He was staying in the abandoned house on the edge of the woods. Tonight, he would end it all. For good.
~!!~
Anne knew her medicine had almost run out. She had found out before they told her. She wasn’t dumb. She could tell, even if they hadn’t come to tell her. She was getting sicker and sicker every day. Right now she was laying in bed. Her body felt weaker than ever, she had a fever, and kept drifting in and out of sleep. She wasn’t afraid, though. She knew very well that she could die. She had lain sick in bed on her birthday this year. She was now 17. But that hardly seemed to matter now. Sandra came to see her almost every day, and she cheered her up and made her laugh. But she was worried about Tony, so much. He wasn’t being himself, ever since her medicine had run out. She missed her old brother, not this depressed version of him.

She wanted this all to be over, whatever that meant, death or getting better. But she knew what her death would do to her brother. She didn’t want that, either.
~!!~
Sandra was at home, getting dressed. She was going to see Anne again, weather or not Tony liked it. She was worried about her, and knew she could die. And she was worried about Tony, too. She wouldn’t give up on them. She refused to, either of them.

She was soon outside as soon as her jacket was on, and knocking on his door. She was exhausted, and looked even worse than last time. She had 80 dollars this time, hardly anything compared to what they probably needed. But it was all she could do. It was Christmas break, but she hardly felt like celebrating. She knocked again, louder this time. She looked like she hadn’t slept in nights. And she hadn’t; this was all taking its toll on her almost as much as him. Except she refused to give up hope or get depressed, if only for Anne. She wished he would d the dame. Anne had told her how worried she was about him during one of their many talks. She was worried about him, more than about herself. Sandra loved that about her, how kind she was. They had become good friends, and Sandra just wanted to help. Both of them. Now Tony just had to let her.

Dimitri was nineteen now. Dimitri pulled back, and glance out his window just as she closed the draps. He felt like he was doing something wrong to her. He looked down at the girl. The much younger girl. He offered her a sad smile. It wasn't that he didn't like her, it was just that he didn't like her in the that way. He wanted to hold Ember, and kiss Ember, the way he did Rachel. But she was in love with another. He wouldn't let himself forget that. He hated to admit it, but he was jealous of Jeremy. He was Jealous of a ghost!

~!!~
Willow finally looked up, and looked around. Tears was still steaming down her face.

This was all a dream. Oh, but no, She was in her best dress, the one that sat in the back of her closet for two years, never been worn before. When she had woken up, it took her a while to reconize it. And no matter how many times she said it was a dream, somehow she never it was not.

She wanted Sam. But she was dead. What would he say. He would think he was crazy.

Then she remembered her last words. She wondered if he would of have said them back to her. When she had said them, she had hoped she would live long enough to hear what he said. But it turned out that she had only enough life in her to say the only words that had been keeping her alive. It was almost as if that was her final mission of life, and when that was done, her life ended. Only now did she think about what they must of have done to him.

~!!~
Sergei knocked at Viven's door. Roza was hopping around. "Hurry." She said in Russian.

Sergei smiled widely, and knocked on the door again. They were going to drag her iceskateing. Yeah, Dale had a small ice rink, but it was much funner on an lake. He and Roza had found a frozen lake yesterday, not to deep in the woods. Roza had brought her extra iceskates, as well as hers and Sergei's, they were in a bag. This was all going to be a surpise.

~!!~
Patrick opened the door, smileing widely. "Hellooo." He said, with a smirk. "What's up?" He asked leaning against the door frame.

~!!~
Michi's impasstive face suddenly grew wram, a smile. Then she looked away. She almost forgot why she was here. "I wanted to ask you something." She said. She wanted to know why he kissed her. She knew why she kissed him back, but she never saw Draven as the one to fall for her.

~!!~
Cinder looked up at him, and smiled. She was on her laptop. "Hey." She said slightly. Then she frowned. He had been actting stange lately, but wouldn't tell her why. "Seth?" She asked quietly. "What's wrong?" She tried again. "You seem dead, lately." She frowned again. "No pun intended."

~!!~
Tony stood up, from beside Anne, and walked down stairs. He opened the door quietly. "Yeah?" He asked, he too didn't look like he slept in days.

~!!~
Simon was out side, with his gurtair. He loved music. Right now he was playing the music to December's Song. He couldn't get it out of his head, most likely because he couldn't get her out of his head. There was words to it, but he wasn't singing them.

Ember soon answered the door, and payed for the pizza with the money her mom had handed her moments before. She walked back into the living room, and handed her mom one of the pizzas, taking the other for herself. She sat down on the ground in the living room, and began to eat slowly. Evenutally her mom finished, and stood up and threw away her box.

"Do you have homework to do?" She asked.

"It's Christmas Break, mom," Ember said. Her mom nodded. "I know, but you need to stay ahead," She said. Ember rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'll do some," She said. Soon her mom was gone. Ember took the rest of her pizza up to her room, where she closed the door behind her. She opened her drapes, and saw them still there. Ugh.

She sat down on her bed, placing the pizza box on her lap. She opened her window and turned her radio on and up loud. Very loud, loud enough for them to hear thorugh the window, like he had done to her before. She then sat down on her bed.

"Real mature, Ember," Jeremy shotued over the blasting music. She ignored him, and took out her homework.
~!!~
Sam had his eyes closed, trying not to think. Normally most would say that would be easy for him. He usually never thought, usually acting on impulse instead, which usually only got him into trouble. Oh he knew that. He sat up a few moments later, and walked downstairs and outside, taking a deep breathe of fresh air. Even that didn't seem to help him anymore.
~!!~
Vivian heard a knock on the door. Her parents weren't home; they had gone off for their anniversery, and wouldn't be back for another few days. She looked through the peephole, and saw Sergei. Her heart sped up and she opened the door.

"Hey!" She said, grinning widely. "What are you doing here??" She asked.
~!!~
Leanne grinned. "I need your help," she said. "No questions right now. Just get Andrew's keys," She said. "We're going on a mission."
~!!~
Draven saw the smile, and his imemdiatly went away. When she spoke, he frowned. "What is it?" He asked, though he felt he might know already.
~!!~
Seth smirked slightly at her 'pun', but shook his head. "Nothing's wrong," He lied, putting on a fake smile. And it wasn't really fake; he really was happy to be around her.
~!!~
"I'm here to see Anne," Sandra said quietly. "I also have this." She handed him the envelope. "No arguing," she warned. "I haven't slept in days, so I'm not really in the mood for it."

"Tony!" Anne's frail voice called down the stairs. "Who is it??"
~!!~
December heard music penetrate her thoughts, and she slowly looked up, opening her window. The music came in clearer now. She frowned, and looked outside. There, next door, was Simon, playing on his guitar. She quickly pulled her head back in, hoping he hadn't seen her. She didn't want him to stop playing. It was beautiful.

Rachel stood up suddenly and leaned down and kissed him again, he didn't kiss her back. She pulled back, and walked out, saying the music was giveing her a headahce.

When she was gone he opened his window. He was frowning.

~!!~
Willow was still stareing at her grave, her arms wrapped around her. Her back was to the wrold. She was deep in thought, her tears had finally stopped.

~!!~
"A surpise." Sergei said. "Can you come out?"

~!!~
Michi looked at him. Suddenly she felt sad, his msile was gone. She shook off. "I wated to know why you . . ." She paused. "Kissed me." She fially said.

~!!~
Cinder shook her head. "When did you start lieing?" She asked.

~!!~
Tony looked at it, but said nothing. They needed it. He stepped back to let her in.

~!!~
Simon didn;t see her. He just keept playing. He was lost in the music. Suddenly he stopped, he had to, he was crying softly.

Ember looked over in time to see her kiss him again, and wrinkled her nose, looking away. She didn't even turn off her music as he opened his window and looked over at her. She remembered the present she had given him before, on his birthday. It was a few new CDs, the kinds of bands she thought he would like. She wondered if he ever listened to them.

She looked away. He had been her only friend, and now they didn't talk much. She didn't know what to do. Sure, she had Jermey, but.....she didn't know, something was wrong. More than the obvious answer, that he was dead.

She returned his frown with a scowl, before looking back down at her homework.
~!!~
Sam looked up, and saw a girl standing near the graveyard. He frowned, and stood up. It was more his curiousity and his lack of anything else to do that made him walk over there. He came up behind her, frowning. Something was familiar about her. He saw a tattoo on her back, but didn't recognize it, nor her.

"....Excuse me?" He asked. "Miss?"
~!!~
Vivian nodded. She grabbed her jacket and slipped it on, stepping out and closing the door behind her. She smiled at him, then Roza. She didn't recognize her. "So what is it?" She asked, still smiling.
~!!~
Draven frowned. He knew this question would come, and he had been trying to come up with some sort of answer in his mind. He had none.

"I.....don't know," he said finally. But he did; he just didn't want to say it aloud, for then he would know it was true. Really true.
~!!~
Seth shook his head. "I'm not lying," he protested. "Trust me."
~!!~
Sandra sighed in relief and stepped in. She was shivering lightly, though she did have a jacket on. "Thanks," She mumbled. She brushed the snow off and then looked at him for a moment.

"....How are you, Tony?" She asked finally, quietly. "I mean for real."
~!!~
December heard him stop, and then the sound of crying. She looked out the window, and flinched. He was crying; but why? She kept her head out the window this time, her elbows resting on the windowsill, watching him silently, face pained and sad. She didn't even realize he could see her if he just looked up.

He had listened to them, one was still in his CD player. He shook his head, and closed the window, and then the drapes.

~!!~
Willow froze, as if her bare feet were stuck to the sidewalk. She looked down, eyes wide. She didn't turn around, yet. Slowly she turned to face him, but said nothing, she didn't even look up at him.

~!!~
"My cousin." He said, and started to walk towards the woods, Roza followed. "Roza." She said.

~!!~
"Oh." She said very slowly. What had she been expecting? Sadness flashed in her eyes, but is was gone just as quick, she had hiddened it. She took a step back. "I'll leave you alone noe." She said, turning to walk away.

~!!~
Cinder frowned. "Okay." She said quietly, and turned back to her laptop. She was frowning slighly.

~!!~
"I feel like I'm dieing along with her." He said.

~!!~
After a few moments he did look up. "Decemeber?"

"You don't know if that will even happen," Sandra said quietly. "Don't think that way. Don't give up hope." She turned to the stairs then, and walked up quickly to Anne's room. Anne sat up in bed, grinning at her. Sandra returned her smile.

"Hey, Anne," She said quietly, sitting down next to her bed.
~!!~
Sam didn't recognize her, not with her face down like that. "Miss?" He repeated. "Are you okay?"

Something was annoying him. She seemed so familiar. If she would just look up at him, he could see....
~!!~
December jumped, and hit her head on the top of the window. She groaned and rubbed her head, then offered him a half-hearted smile.
~!!~
Seth kept his smile, even as she frowned. He refused to let her know that something was wrong.
~!!~
Vivian followed quickly. "Nice to meet you," She said quickly. "So uhm...where are we going again?" She asked. "Not that I'm not glad and all, but....where?" She asked.
~!!~
Ember did the same as he did. She could feel Jeremy watching her, but ignored him. She went back to her homework, which was typing up a paper for English. She was finding it somewhat hard to concentrate with Jeremy looking over her shoulder the whole time.

Tony sighed and sat on th sofa.

~!!~
Willow shook her head, not looking up, not saying anything. She quickly took a step back. It was almost as if she was scared.

~!!~
:How long were you there?" He asked, not returning it.

~!!~
Cinder started typeing again.

~!!~
Patrick smiled, and walked out of his room, and toward Andrew's.

~!!~
"It's a surprise." Sergei said over his shoulder.

Draven frowned.

"Wait," he called after her without thinking. "I do know," He said suddenly. "Why I kissed you."
~!!~
Sam frowned. "Miss?" he asked. "Are you alright?" He took a step forward.
~!!~
December shrugged. "I live here, remember?" She asked, her attempt at a joke.
~!!~
Leanne grinned and followed after grabbing her wallet out of her room.
~!!~
Vivian bit her lip but slowly nodded, her smile returning. Her boring day had just gotten a whole lot better.
~!!~
Sandra and Anne began to talk, about anything and everything. Sandra told her about what she had been doing, leaving out all of the sleepless nights and endless work.

Michi truned around. "Why?" SHe asked. She needed to know.

~!!~
"N-- no." Willow said in a shakey voice, looking up slowly, her hair hiding half her face.

~!!~
Simon sighed, and stood up, picking up his gurtar.

~!!~
Patrick kicked open Andrew's door, and a set of keys were flaying at him.

~!!~
Soon they came to the frozen lake. Roza dropped the bag and pulled out three pairs of iceslakes.

"I liked your song," December called, in an attempt to get him to stay. She didn't want him to go.
~!!~
Sam's eyes widened. No. This wasn't real; it couldn't be. Willow was dead. He had been the cause of her death, he had watched her die.

He stumbled back, falling to the ground, eyes wide.
~!!~
Leanne stifled a laugh. "Hurry!" She said, grinning. "I think they close soon." She was getting excited.
~!!~
Vivian's eyes widened. "I can't skate," She said suddenly. "I trip over flat surfaces...." She mumbled. "My balance is horrible!"
~!!~
Draven smiled slightly. "I like you," He said simply. In his mind, he was yelling at himself.

Simon looked up at her, face red. "It's just a silly song. It means nothing." He said. But that was a lie. It was more then just a silly song.

~!!~
"Sam." She siad quietly. She took a step foreward. "I don't understand what is going on." She said. "But I'm real." She said, then she looked away, and stepped bacl.

~!!~
Patrick glanced at her. "Okay." He said leading her down the stairs. "Where are we going?"

~!!~
Sewrgei laughed. "Then we'll teach you." He said, sitting in the snow and putting his skates on one at a time. "My older sister thought me when I was little, and Roza use to compate before she came here." He said, as Roza handed Viven an extra pair of skates.

~!!~
Michi's smile returned, then it disappeared. "Draven, I have to tell you the truth, I like you too." She looked down.

"That's a lie," December said. "When you were playing it, I could see that you really cared about it," She said quietly.
~!!~
Sam stumbled to his feet, shaking his head. "That's not true," He said. "You're dead; I watched you die, and then I watched you get buried."
~!!~
"To get a tree!" Leanne said, turning around once she was at the bottom of the stairs. "I'm determined to make this an awesome Christmas," She said. "I don't know if vampires celebrate it, but this year, we're going to have a tree, lights on the tree, decorations, everything!" She exclaimed. She grinned at him, hands on her hips once she was at the door.
~!!~
Vivian smiled nervously, and nodded. She took the skates from Roza, and put them on quickly, her hands fumbling as she slipped them on, setting her sneakers down in the snow.
~!!~
Draven found himself smiling. He stepped towards her, then paused. Finally he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

"I'm glad to hear that," He said. What was wrong with him?!

Simon looked down. "It doesn't matter if I care about it or not. In the ned it's just silly."

~!!~
"A christmas tree?" Patrick looked confused. Then he laughed. "It's true mix bloods tend to celebrate Christmas. And some pure bloods too. In fact there are some vampire communes that celebrate Christmas together. 'It builds family vaules.' They say." He paused, walking out side. "But this isn't a commune, Leanne." He said seriously. "This is a safe house. We aren't really a big happy family. Most everyone has an aweful reason why they are here. The Wishbones because they were chased from their country. Mickey Mars was a noble's son. His father disowned him when he made, and mated with Julliette. Michi's brother wants her dead. Gem is here because her creator left her all alone on the woods. Even I have a reason for being here." He knew he didn't need to say it. "And you . . . " He stopped. "It's a safe house, people here basicly hate each other. Isn't Christmas about love, or something?" He was smileing widly. "And not everyone celebrates Christmas." He was still smileing, shook his head, and opened the car door for her. "How big of a tree you want?" He asked. "Where are you going to put it? We can put it in the 'family' room. Or in one of the dining rooms. How are you going to devorate it?" He asked. "When I was little we use to decorate the tree along the cliffs with colorful things the animals could eat, we would do that on the 21st of every December. Since it's going to be inside, we can't do that. And do you need to go any other place?"

~!!~
Both of them pulled her to her feet, and on to the ice. "Careful." Sergei said.

~!!~
Michi arms slowly found themselves around Draven. She rested her head on his chest.

~!!~
Willow frowned and grabbed his wrist, and placed his hand over hre heart. It wasn't beating, she had no pluse.

Leanne listened to Patrick, but refused to be brought down by him. She smiled at him.

"I'm going to change that," She said. "Christmas is about love. And we don't even have to call it that, if they don't want to! We'll just have a tree, and we can decorate it, and just...have fun being together," She said. "It's true, that most of us aren't here for good reasons," She said. "But," She added. "If they're going to be here for a while, then why not learn to like those around them? And as for decorations, well....I have an idea for that," She grinned. "And I also need to stop at....well....home," She mumbled. She looked sad for a moment, but it was gone just as quickly. "And not too big of a tree. But I'm paying for it," She added, holding up her wallet. "We should put it in the familiy room," She smiled. "So everyone can see it. This is going to be a great Christmas, just wait and see!" She said, getting into the car finally.
~!!~
Vivian nodded. In her head she was actually calcuating the mathmatical probablity that she would fall and slip and crack her head open. It was pretty high.

She was smiling, but also really nervous.
~!!~
Draven rested his chin on top of her head, and was smiling. Elianna stepped out into the hall, saw them, and smiled slightly before stepping back into her room.
~!!~
December shook her head. "That's not true," She protested. She suddenly sighed, changing the subject. "How is she?" She asked quietly.
~!!~
Sandra soon came back downstairs. She looked at Tony. "She fell asleep," She said quietly. "Her fever is getting worse."

Sandra looked close to tears now, but tried to hide it.
~!!~
Sam's eyes widened. "But...you're not breathing," He whispered. "You---You can't be here," He mumbled. "You just can't be. No matter how much I want you to." He pulled his hand back quickly now.

Patrick smiled. "This sounds intersting." He said. "And are you going to get presents for everyone?" He asked, driveing through the woods. "Where to fisrt?"

~!!~
Sergei linked his arm through hers. "I can't believe you ca't skate!" He said. Roza was doing firgure eights.

~!!~
Michi was smileing again. "Draven." She loved how the sound of his name tasted on her lips. "You changed." She noted.

~!!~
"She's fine." He said. "Asking about you."

~!!~
Yony looked at her. "Okay." He said standing up.

~!!~
Willow stepped back. "I'm sorry Sam." She said quietly. "I was weak. I couldn't survive, I hurt you."

"Yep!" Leanne said. "But you can't come for that; I'm getting one for you, too," She said. "And we should probably stop at the place that sells the trees first; I think it closes soon," She said. "It's outside, and according to my laptop, it's pretty close to my house," She said.
~!!~
December flinched. "What about me?" She asked quietly.
~!!~
Sam shook his head. "I don't understand how you're here," He said quietly.
~!!~
Draven frowned, but then slowly nodded. She was right; he had changed. Normally this would have made him angry, but right now, with Michi in his arms, change seemed almost....good.
~!!~
Sandra nodded. "Tony...." she said quietly. "Get some rest. She needs you now more than ever, and you're not doing her any favors by killing yourself over this," She said quietly. "There's still hope; I haven't given up yet, and neither should you."
~!!~
Vivian clung to him, watching Roza with wide eyes. When he spoke she looked at him instead.

"Well, my parents never took me here....or anywhere, really," She said quietly. She was trying not to fall just standing there.

Soon he pulled out on to a main road. "How do we get there?" He asked.

~!!~
He shurged. "Where you were at."

~!!~
Willow frowned. "I wish I could tell you." She said.

~!!~
Michi laughed slightly. "May I ask you another qustion?" She asked.

~!!~
Tony shook his head. "I had hope for 17 years now. I had more hope then anyone." He said. "I knew this would one dy happen, and I had hope. But I didn't know how soon. I hoped for 17 years, to suddenly have it shoved back in my face. I'm out of hope." Tony said.

~!!~
Sergei frowned, and started to skate slowly, dragging her along. Roza was doing different tricks.

Vivian kept her eyes on her feet, trying not to lose her balance, clinging to his arm as she did so. Slowly, she moved her feet, and lost her balance almost immediatly. She yelped as she hit the ice, bringing Sergei down with her with her grip on his arm.
~!!~
Ember soon finished her paper, and closed her laptop, her eyes tired. She opened her window, and looked over at Dimitri's closed window.

Jeremy was behind her, visible to her. "You like him, don't you?" He asked.

Ember spun around, glaring at him. "As if," She mumbled, but it didn't sound very convincing at all.
~!!~
"You just....woke up here?" Sam asked slowly. He couldn't believe he believed her, or was starting to. He was still waiting for her to just disappear.
~!!~
Draven nodded, his arms still around her. "What is it?" He asked.
~!!~
December just nodded. She looked down at him, then disappeared back into her room. She came back a few moments later with a small package. She threw it down at him, after telling him to catch.

"Happy late birthday," She mumbled, and closed her window and her drapes. In the box was a small package, which held his present. After much thought and frustration, she had gotten him a CD and a guitar pick that she hoped he would like, along with a note. The note said:

"Dear Simon,

Happy birthday! I hope that by the time you get this things are alright again. I haven't talked to you in a while. I miss you. I wish you'd at least come by to say hey once in a while. But all of that aside, I hope today is a great day for you. Enjoy being 17 while you can! 18 will be here before you know it.

Love,
December

She had crossed this last part out, and just put December.
~!!~
Sandra shook her head. "I can't imagine what you must be going through," She said quietly. "But I know that there is always hope. It's just hard to find, and you have to look really hard, but it's there. Sometimes in the strangest of places," She said.

Tony sighed. "Anne was my hope." He said, and walked up stairs.

~!!~
Simon picked the box in looked inside. He smiled slightly, then went inside.

~!!~
"In July, I believe, you were acting werid. You kept bugging me, why?" She asked softly.

~!!~
Willow nodded slowly.

~!!~
Sergei was laughing. "It's better if you don't look down."

After a while Monique and Justin were picking up the arrows and put them back in the bag she hid them in. She looked down at the little kid. "Want to go out side and play in the snow?", she asked.

Justin nodded smiling. "Yeah", he said and ranout of the room and downstairs.

Monique laughed and ran after him. When they got ouside Justin ran through the snow hearing it crunch in certain spots where he stepped.

Monique threw a snowball at him when he wasn't looking, and smiled.

Draven frowned. "Andrew made a bet with me. He would leave, if I could get you to fall in love with me." He realized how this must sound now.
~!!~
Sandra flinched. She walked out the door, went next door, and into her garage. She grabbed her skateboard and headed outside, even though it was dark out. Her mom was out at some stupid Christmas party for her work, so she was alone. She rode down the driveway and onto the sidewalk, pushing herself faster as she went, letting the breeze blow back her hair from her face. She looked almost peaceful. That is, until the crack in the sidewalk came. She went flying, coming to a stop about five feet away, facedown in the sidewalk, a mouth full of gravel.
~!!~
Vivian laughed and nodded. "Got it," She said, and pushed herself back up. She had to admit, this was fun. She had never thought of doing it before. She was on wobbly legs, but she was smiling.
~!!~
"Oh, uhm....here, I wrote down the directioins," Leanne said, handing him a piece of paper. "From here."
~!!~
Sam reached out and placed a hand on her cheek. He trailed it down her arm, then looked back at her.

"I....I don't understand," He whispered.
~!!~
December sat down on her bed, turning the TV off. She layed down and closed her eyes, soon falling into a restless sleep.