AJ snuck into the castle without being detected and tried to sneak into his room.
"Alex!"
AJ jumped and turned around.
"Val! Thank God you're ok! What happened?!"
"We stopped their advances. I was looking all over for you. Where were you?"
AJ quickly thought up a lame answer to her question.
"Um, uh, I was, I was around…the castle! Where else would I be?"
"I didn't see you."
"Well, I…we probably went opposite ways or something. Good night! Day! Whatever!"
He rushed into his room and closed the door, leaving Valencia alone and baffled in the hallway.
"Strange child," she said to herself, shaking her head, then walked to her room. She sat down on her bed and ran her fingers through her hair. 'What am I going to do? I should tell him. He has every right to know! But I can't! What if they try to hurt him? No doubt, they will. What if they find out and take him away from me? I can't let that happen. I'm not going to tell him. I can handle it. I can handle it.' She finally made up her mind after an all night inner-struggle. She lied down on her bed.
"I'm sorry, Alex," she whispered before falling to sleep.
The next night, Valencia went somewhere and AJ snuck out once again to meet Antonia at the spot. But when he got there, no one was in sight.
"Toni?" AJ hissed. "Toni, are you here?"
Suddenly, a pair of cold hands covered his eyes.
"Guess who!"
"Very cute, Toni!"
"I thought so," she giggled.
"Ok. We're both here. Now what?"
"I have an idea. Follow me."
"Where?"
"Just do it!"
She grabbed his hand and led him through the forest.
"Toni, where are you taking me?"
"You'll see."
AJ had no idea where they were going, but the farther they walked, the louder the beeping of cars and noises of life became. Soon, they approached a highway.
"We are NOT going to cross that! The cars are going like fifty million miles an hour! They can never stop in time!"
"AJ! Are you forgetting who you are?! Come on! On the count of three, we'll dash across the street! Ok, 1…2……3!"
They ran like the wind across the busy highway, almost causing a traffic accident. When they finally reached the otherside, they found themselves laughing and feeling silly.
"Wow! We made it through alive! I mean---nevermind! Anyway, why are we here? In civilization?"
"Follow me and I'll show you."
"Oh come on! Not more of this mysterious crap! Are we gonna cross some alligator infested river this time?!" AJ asked joking.
Antonia slapped his arm. "Don't be silly! We simply have to turn the corner and then you'll get your surprise!"
"A surprise?! For moi?! Oh, I can just feel the love!"
"Come on, dork." They went around the corner and AJ's eyes lit up. There stood…a McDonald's!!! *it's glowing and church music is playing*
"Alright! Fatty, artery-clogging, meaty goodness, here I come!" He ran through the door.
"Hey, wait for me!" yelled Antonia, running after him.
It was a quarter after twelve, so only the people who had night shifts were eating their lunch there, which were not many.
"Umm, Toni? Can you order for me? I don't think this guy knows English."
"Oh, yeah, sure."
"Thanks."
Antonia ordered AJ's favorite meal, # 6, and she just ordered herself a strawberry milkshake. AJ carried the tray to a nearby window seat.
"This is great! You want some? It's nummy, nummy, nummy!"
"No, thank you. I'm satisfied with my milkshake."
"Is it because it reminds you of blood with milk?"
"No, I just like strawberries."
Ok."
AJ happily devoured his food. He wiped his mouth with a napkin after he was finished.
"Oh that hit the spot!"
" *lol* I'm glad you enjoyed it! You seemed like you haven't eaten for days!"
"I haven't! Well, REAL food, anyway."
"So where in America are you from?"
"A sunny little state called Florida. More specifically, West Palm Beach. It's really nice there."
"Do you miss it?"
"Yeah, I do. I mean, it's beautiful here and everything, but there's no place like home. Especially when everyone you know is there. I miss all my friends and my mom."
"I'm your friend."
AJ looked at her and smiled.
"Yeah, you are. You're my only friend. Thanks."
"Really? What about your clan?"
"There more like parents, especially Valencia. They're always checking up on me and telling me not to do this or that. I'm 21 for heaven's sakes! I don't need people breathing down my neck 24/7! I need to go out and have fun! I need to enjoy my eternal youth!"
"That's why I'm here! I'm gonna show you a night on the town and help you have fun!"
" *lol* Man, have I been wrong about vamps all this time! I always used to think vampires were evil, demonic blood-thirsty monsters who just care about taking over the world! I never thought that they can actually be kind and generous and…real people."
"A few bad apples gave us bad reputations. But you know, there are some people who are just as savage."
"I know. You seem to have a pretty good life. With your brother and your clan who really care about you. Why do you want to become friends with a total stranger A.K.A. me?"
"Because you're different. I love my clan, but they're boring. I want to see the world through your eyes. You're so much fun! Besides, you're so cuuuute!" she said pinching his cheeks.
"Ow! Stop it!" he said blushing.
"Come on.” she laughed, “Let's split this joint!"
AJ dumped out the tray and they left the place.
"So…what are we gonna do now? Any more surprises?" AJ asked, smirking.
"I'm fresh out of ideas."
"Ok. How about we go to the beach?"
"It's kinda far."
"Yeah, but I can fly!"
"Yeah, but I can't!"
"That's not a problem!"
AJ scooped her up and floated off the ground.
"AJ! What are you doing?!" yelled Antonia with her arms wrapped around AJ's neck tightly.
"I'm taking you to the beach! Hold on tight!"
"B-b-b-but---AAAAAJJJJJJJJJ!!!!!!!!" She closed her eyes and dug her head into his shoulder as he took off full speed ahead.
"Relax! I'm not going to drop you!"
Antonia slowly opened her eyes one at a time and looked down.
"Wow! We're pretty high up! But it is…kinda nice!"
"Told ya there was nothing to worry about!"
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the beach. AJ made a perfect landing and gently put her down. Her eyes widened and she gazed around.
"I've never been to the shore before! This is wonderful!"
"Are you serious?! In your 210 years of existence, you never came to the beach?!"
Her expression grew somber. She sat down on the sand.
"No. I've lived a very sheltered life."
AJ felt there was a story behind all of this and sat down next to her, ready to listen.
"Why?"
"John. He never lets me do anything on my own. I've hardly ever left our haven. And when I actually did, I was always accompanied by John. I love my brother, with all my heart, but it was just too much. I finally decided I had enough, so I left yesterday, when I ran into you."
"You were running away?"
"Not really. I just snuck out for the night. I would've returned before dawn. They wouldn't have noticed."
"Oh, so you're doing the same thing I'm doing."
"Yup. Except I think my punishment, if we ever got caught, would be worse than yours."
"Why is that?"
"Because, I've been ordered to never associate with the Desmondontidae."
"But we're not bad people. I would never hurt you."
"I know that. But John doesn't understand. He has nothing against you, personally, but he doesn't want me to get close to you because you're involved in the war. He's afraid if the Daemoniacus see me with their enemy, they'll hurt me. I'm all he's got."
"Oh. So you're taking a big risk in seeing me. Not just with getting your ass kicked by your brother, but with your life. I'm sorry. If I knew, I would have never---"
"AJ, don't finish that sentence. It's a risk I'm willing to take. I'm probably the one putting your life in danger by asking you to meet me places. You're their target, you know."
"Nah. If they want me, they should just come and get me. I can whoop their ugly asses!"
" No, you can't!"
"Maybe, but I'll die trying!"
"That's what Valencia's afraid of."
He sighed. "I know."
"So…you really like the beach, huh."
"Yeah. But I have a love/hate relationship with this particular beach."
"What? Why?"
"Because I died here."
"I'm sorry."
"It's ok. I've learned to live with it."
"How did it happen? If you don't mind me asking."
"I don't mind. Well, it all began when my mom and I came here for vacation. Everything was fine and dandy until we decided to spend a wonderful day at the Black Sea. I enjoyed myself very much, by the way. We were on our way home, when I heard a girl scream. Being the hero that I am, I went to help her. My mom begged me not to go. I should've listened to her, but I was stupid. So there I go, dashing to my doom. When I got to the scene, the girl was already dead. Suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind and started chewing on my neck. The last thing I remember is Valencia looking down at me, then I blacked out. I woke up in a coffin in Florida."
"How did you get there?"
"My mom probably found me and flew me back home."
"Oh my goodness!
"I know. Here I am having the time of my after-life, while my mother is unecessarily mourning my death."
"That sucks."
"Major ass. I miss her so much and I really want to see her! But I can't risk her life. I won't."
"Oh, come here."
She opened her arms and he fell right into them.
"I feel so lost," he whimpered, "and alone."
She stroked his hair.
"It's ok. You're not alone. I'm here. And if it's lost you feel, I'll help you find your way."
He looked up at her sheepishly. "I'm sorry."
"It's ok, AJ. That's why I'm here."
"Thank you."
Their intimate moment was broken up by two very angry voices.
"Alex!"
"Antonia!"
Startled, they pulled apart and turned around. There stood a tall brunette whose furious eyes burned a hole through AJ's heart and Valencia.
"Val!"
"John!"
"We were just, um, uh---"
"I was, uh---"
"Nothing happened!"
"We swear!"
"Alex, I thought I told you not to leave the castle alone!"
"B-b-but I'm not alone! I'm with her!" he defended himself, pointing to Antonia.
"Antonia, what are you doing with , with, with, with him?!"
"I-I-I," she stuttered trying to think of an explanation.
"Let's go home, Alex!"
"Antonia, come!"
They both looked at each other with terror in their faces. Boy,
were
they in trouble! They got up and slowly walked over to their guardians
with
their heads bowed in shame. They left still looking at each other. AJ
mouthed the words 'I'm sorry' and Antonia answered with a silent 'Me,
too.'
Then, they disappeared in opposite directions.
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