Chapter 1
It was just after Zoe's 18th birthday and she was packing her things to go to Orlando. Cole was over helping her and Michael was going to drive her to the airport since Alexis and James were both on business trips.
"When are you coming to Orlando?" Zoe asked Cole.
"I'll be there in a few days. I promise." he answered. "Is this all you're taking?" he asked her.
"Yeah, for now. If I need anything else I'll have mom and dad send it to me." she said.
"I don't know why you call them 'mom and dad'." Cole commented. "They aren't."
"Well they took me in as their own. They raised me. Yes I did at one time have my own natural parents. But they're dead now. They died 14 years ago, Cole. I'll always love them but I have new parents now." she said.
"Yeah I guess you're right." he agreed.
"Of course I'm right. Aren't I always?" she smiled sweetly.
"Yeah." he said smiling. They leaned in and kissed. Soft and gentle. Since the year before they had become more than friends. Michael knew they eventually would. Zoe had liked him since the first day they met. She was just waiting for him to come around. They loaded the car and drove to the airport.
"Goodluck and be very careful. It's not for sure what all Kevin knows. There are many dangers and you have to be alert at all times." Michael warned Zoe. "Remember the sunscreen and it might be helpful if you got some sunglasses to get rid of the glare. If anyone asks about your eyes, you wear contacts."
Just then her flight was called. Zoe and Michael hugged goodbye.
"Please be careful Zoe. I'll have Cole there as soon as possible." said Michael.
"I will be, I promise. Goodbye Michael." Zoe said.
"I'll see you soon?" she asked Cole.
"Yeah, baby. Soon. I'll be there tomorrow night if I can." he assured her. He held her close. She loved being this close to him. She could feel his blood pulsing through his body. It made her thirsty. She wouldn't be able to feed until he got to Orlando. She was forbidden to go out alone. Michael wouldn't allow it after what happened to her parents. The final call for her flight came over the intercom.
"I have to go." she said. "I'll see you when you get there."
"Bye, baby. I love you." Cole told her.
"I love you too. Bye." she said and then she walked away. She got on the plane and put her headphones on. She looked through some Backstreet Boys pictures. She studied Kevin and tried to picture what his father may have looked like. She wasn't even sure if he looked like his father. What was he like? What were all of them like? She carefully looked at each one of them and tried to imagine what their personalities were. Brian looked sweet and gentle. The kind of guy you just want to cuddle with. Nick was a cutie. He had that innocent boyish look but you knew better. Howie was a charmer. Those chocolate brown eyes would lure any girl into his web. AJ was different from them all. She didn't know what it was, there was something about him. But what? He had this look. She couldn't explain it. What ever it was she would find out soon enough. She put the pictures away and went to sleep. Since she wouldn't be feeding for a night or two she would need as much rest as possible. She awoke when the plane landed in Orlando. She got off, got her luggage, and hailed a cab. She got to the university and found her room. A few guys helped her get her stuff inside. They went to the university too and they were pretty cute. One of them was hitting on her pretty good but she blew him off. She knew how jealous Cole got. He would kill someone over her. Literally. But she would never cheat on him anyways. She loved him. They belonged together. She had gotten halfway through her packing when a girl who looked to be about her age came in.
"Hi, can I help you?" Zoe asked.
"Oh hi, I'm Celina Lopez. You must be Zoe Abercrombie. We're room mates." Celina answered.
"How did you know my name?" Zoe asked.
"The lady who checked me in told me." Celina answered.
"Do you need some help getting your stuff in here?" Zoe asked her.
"Yeah, I've got a few bags here and a couple of boxes downstairs in the lobby." Celina said.
"You don't travel light do you?" said Zoe.
"Not usually." said Celina with a laugh.
Zoe helped her get the bags in and then the two girls went downstairs to get the boxes. It was 4:00 pm by the time they got all their stuff in the dorm and they spent the next 2 hours unpacking. Zoe finished hers first and then went to help Celina. As they were unpacking Celina's things some familiar faces caught Zoe's eye. She picked up the posters and turned to Celina and said "You know these guys?"
"Yeah, they're the Backstreet Boys silly. They're huge. Are you a fan?" she asked.
"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm a big fan. I'm hoping to get to meet them while I'm here. Especially this one." Zoe said pointing to Kevin.
"He's your favorite?" Celina asked.
"No I just want to meet him." Zoe said.
"Well, let's hurry and finish so we can go eat. I'm starved." Celina said.
"Ok, all we have is one more box." said Zoe.
They finished quickly and decided to go to McDonalds for dinner. It was almost dark.
"I'm gonna go get ready." said Zoe heading for the bathroom.
"Yeah, me too." said Celina.
Fifteen minutes later it was completely dark. Zoe's eyes changed color and her teeth came out. She practiced hiding them in the mirror.
"Zoe, are you ready yet?" called Celina.
"Yeah I'm coming." she called back.
She walked out of the bathroom hoping Celina wouldn't notice her teeth. Celina and Zoe got a cab and went to McDonalds. It was pouring outside and the rain made it freezing cold. Inside McDonalds they sat down with their food and started talking.
"Wow, you're eyes are cool. Are those contacts?" Celina asked.
"Yeah, I have had them since I was 16. You like them?" Zoe asked.
"Yeah, I should get me some." Celina said.
Zoe kind of laughed and thought to herself "If only you really knew."
Changing the subject Zoe said "My boyfriend is coming in tomorrow night."
"Really?" Celina asked. "What's his name?"
"Cole. He said he would try to be here by tomorrow night but it might be another day or two." said Zoe.
"I wish I had a boyfriend." said Celina.
"Knowing Cole he'll bring along Eric. I swear that guy is Cole's shadow. But I don't think you'd like him very much." said Zoe.
"Why not?" Celina asked.
"He's just different." Zoe said. "Oh boy" Zoe thought. "I've really done it this time. What if Cole does bring Eric and Celina likes him? They can't be together. It's forbidden for a mortal to be with a vampire."
"Zoe, hey Zoe!" said Celina.
"Huh?" said Zoe.
"Are you ready to go?" Celina asked.
"Yeah, I'm tired." Zoe said.
They walked outside and Zoe looked at the storm. She quietly said a few magical verses and the storm immediatly cleared and the stars shown bright.
"What are you saying?" Celina asked.
"Oh nothing. Look the storm cleared." said Zoe.
"Yeah, I see. That was weird. It's gone just like that." Celina said astonished.
"Come on, lets get a cab and go back to the dorm." said Zoe.
Later at the dorm: Zoe layed in bed unable to sleep. She was so thirsty. Finally she got up and went into the kitchen. She got a big glass of water and drank the whole thing. Then she filled it up again and drank more. She was on the fourth glass when Celina walked in.
"Hey Zoe. Thirsty?" she asked sarcastically when she saw how much Zoe was drinking.
"Very." said Zoe.
She finished off seven glasses before she finally gave up. The thirst wouldn't go away. Celina got a glass of water and then said goodnight and went back to bed. Zoe picked up the phone and called Cole hoping he would be home. He picked up after the fifth ring.
"Hello?" he said grogily.
"Hey, sorry for waking you." said Zoe quietly.
"No, it's alright. Is anything wrong?" he asked alarmed.
"No, I'm just thirsty. You've gotta get here soon, Cole. I can't do this another night." she said.
"I'm trying to get there. Just hang on. You'll make it through tonight. Oh and by the way, I was thinking of bringing Eric along with me. Is that okay?" he asked.
"I figured you'd bring your shadow boy along. Just keep him away from Celina. She's looking for a boyfriend and she's mortal." Zoe said.
"Who's Celina? She doesn't know anything does she?" he asked.
"She's my room mate and no she doesn't suspect a thing." Zoe assured him.
"Ok, well baby I'm gonna go back to bed now. Goodnight. I love you." he said.
"Goodnight I love you too." she whispered. Zoe hung up and phone and went back to bed.
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