Guardian

******************Author's Note**********

To:

Misawo-well, if I wasn't a little sadistic, how could I create someone like Matt? Hehe, but I suppose this should help out a little. XD

cbarkins-yes, yes. All shall be revealed in time *author says in corny mysterious voice* >P

firebreather-probably no revelations this chapter, but there is a little revenge, hehe ;P

MnMs-Wow, I'm so glad you decided to log in. I love reviews! XD This chapter might give you a little insight, but probably there will be more questions, teehee.

Please enjoy~

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His hand moved, cupping my cheek, cool and light as the mist surrounding us. The world was becoming opaque; the only thing left in my sight was him.

A soothing thumb stroked the blush heating my face. I wanted to be anywhere but there, but I didn’t want him to stop, either.

“I won’t leave you alone,” he said. “I’ve never tasted anything like you.”

What was I supposed to say? *Thank you. I’ve never been told I make a great supper before?*

His slow smile made my insides quake. “Do you like games, Andy?”

“Not really.”

What was he saying? Games? Games sounded dangerous. He was dangerous…and I still wanted to know if that mouth was as soft as it looked.

I bit my lips to keep from acting on the impulse.

“I do,” I couldn’t breathe as he leaned in. I barely felt it as he placed a cool, chaste kiss against my mouth.

It lasted for only a moment, and when my eyes opened he was gone. I was left blinking, alone, in the gathering dark.

……………………………..

“Where did you go?” Daisy asked, dumping noodles into the pot. Her tone was unexpectedly serious.

“Nowhere. Just for a drive,” I said, ditching my backpack and starting up the stairs.

“Wait,” she called, and after a moment continued, “I spoke to the principal. What’s this about you destroying a bathroom?”

“It was…” I ground my teeth together. I didn’t know what was happening anymore. “Nothing.”

She came around the corner, face stern. I felt pinned by her blue eyes. “Andy, it’s not nothing. You’ve never done anything like this before. What if you were expelled?”

“I’d rejoice.” I said the truth, baldly. The pent-up frustration came rushing back as she shook her head. I wanted her to understand.

“Andy—”

“I am so sick of their bullshit,” I said, horrified that a lump was forming in my throat. It made my voice tremble. I was not going to cry over Them.

“They never leave me alone, Daisy. Not one fucking day!” I growled, a bit ashamed after the curse left my mouth, but I didn’t stop. “I didn’t do anything to deserve this!”

I swallowed hard, when Daisy came up the stairs, trying to force the lump down. It stayed stubbornly in place when she wrapped her arms around me. My nose was filled with her comforting scent—flowers and home. The hot tears wouldn’t stop as she held me. They never had.

For years Daisy had been holding me, when I came home covered in scrapes and bruises or dumped in glue. Her shoulder was the only witness to my tears, because she was the only mother I ever knew.

I suddenly felt guilty.

Daisy didn’t deserve to have me yelling at her.

I stood back and wiped my face.

“Sorry, “ I mumbled.

She sighed before her mouth turned into a smile, “Next time don’t get caught.” I gave her a look. “I don’t think I could call you my sister anymore, I’d be so ashamed.”

I knew she was trying to cheer me up with the joke, but I had to explain. “It was an accident,” I said, slumping down on the stair. “They just got me so mad, and then…”

I trailed off, remembering my image in the mirror. Should I tell her about that? No…

Something told me there would be a lot of worry and fuss if I did. It was probably just a side effect of the medicine, right? I’d have to ask Dr. Sanchez tomorrow.

“Then?”

“The mirror blew up.”

Daisy let out another sigh. “It’s probably stress. You were sick, and then all the trouble at school…it isn’t really a surprise.” A small laugh escaped her. “Once, during a Calculus exam, I actually turned everyone’s pencils into earth worms. It was disgusting.”

I let out a chuckle, imagining the chaos that ensued. There was a moment of silence before she continued.

“And just remember, Andy, this is your last year. Next spring you’re going to graduate, so don’t get too down, okay?”

I looked up at her concerned expression and couldn’t tell her that I was planning on running away, that I couldn’t wait until June to get out.

I gave her a weary smile instead. “Sure, okay.”

“Good, then you’re probably hungry, huh?”

“Yep,” I agreed, still smiling.

Daisy flashed an unaware grin and headed back to the kitchen. I followed her at a more sedate pace, feeling guilty all over again at having to keep secrets from my sister.

I helped her finish cooking dinner, and we ate as she talked and I listened. She told some more stories about magic “accidents” she had had in school. They made me laugh, but inside I was still cold where worry was settling in the pit of my stomach. It made the spaghetti sit uncomfortably along side it.

After dinner, I went upstairs and tried to do my homework. It wasn’t long before I gave up and collapsed back onto my pillows.

In all of her stories, Daisy never once mentioned blowing things up, or having trouble connecting to her powers. She had transformed things, stuff had disappeared, and then reappeared at awkward times, but nothing had exploded.

Of course, she hadn’t had any fits of anger either. She also hadn’t mentioned seeing things, or hearing voices…

The worry knotted in my belly as I remembered the hole and the squirming shadows. At the end, one had called me…sister. I rubbed my tired eyes with a growl. It probably didn’t mean anything.

It was probably just gremlins or hobs looking for a meal. That drawing feeling I had felt must have been some sort of snare. I shivered, thinking how close I had come to being put on a fire.

Of course, my savior also wanted to eat me.

Ugh, I hid my face behind a pillow, thinking of the double meaning behind those words. Heat flooded into my cheeks for the umpteenth time as my imagination gave me some decidedly dirty images.

“Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad,” I mused out loud, flinging the pillow across the room. “It sure would piss Matt off.”

With a snort, I glanced at the clock. It was only just passed ten and I was ready to pass out for the night. But why not? I thought, sitting up and setting my alarm early. I would probably need all my strength for tomorrow.

However, when the lights were out and there was no sound but my breath and the ticking clock, I had nothing to do but think. More images flooded my brain, as my mind rolled over the days events. It always stumbled over the smooth words of the vampire.

He knew my name. He knew my past. He said he knew everything about me. But I didn’t know the first thing about him. I didn’t even have his name, and he had already tasted my blood.

He had kissed me.

I didn’t not like it…

Those awkward thoughts were with me as I drifted to sleep and it was them that I blamed for the unnatural dream that followed.

……………………………..

I dreamed I was in a bed, enjoying the warm sunshine that was drifting over the sheets. The blankets were soft and the pillow cradled my head like a cloud. Through the door behind me, I could hear water running, but it didn’t bother me as I shut my eyes.

Even the water shutting off and the sound of feet padding across the floor couldn’t stir me.

Weight dipped the mattress as a warm body settled in behind me. An arm dropped around my waist as a soft sigh shifted my hair. I decided I was too comfortable to care. For what seemed like a happy eternity we lay there, listening to each other breathe and the birds sing outside.

“Aren’t you ever going to get up?” he asked, chuckling.

“Don’t want to,” I answered, snuggling more securely into the blankets.

Deep, male laughter reverberated through me, and the arm tightened around my waist. I frowned as it reminded me of something.

“You’re going to stay in bed all day?” I could feel his lips brush against my neck.

“Mmmm,” I agreed.

“Then I’m going to stay with you,” he said, moving on to nibble my ear. I shook my head in annoyance. “But if I do, I don’t think you’ll be sleeping.”

With a puff of irritation I rolled over, ready to shove him over the side, but he was too quick for me. His arms wrapped tightly behind my back, so that there wasn’t enough leverage for such a maneuver. It left me staring right at him…

…at those messy caramel locks. At a straight nose and the satisfied smile curling beneath it. At brown eyes that glittered victoriously as he spoke.

“Got you,” Matt said.

………………………………

I glared tiredly at the shiny silver car. It gleamed, haughty, putting my scratched and dinged Nova to shame. Its foreign lines spoke of luxury and a high price tag.

Exhaustion made me grumpy. The fact that the car belonged to the star of my nightmare made me even grumpier. But the car being parked in my spot just pissed me off.

He must of gotten here incredibly early to do that, I thought, nails scratching absently over the unmarred finish—there wasn’t even a single foggy fingerprint. I had gotten here early, too. I was unable to sleep again after the dream. I had been too disgusted with my subconscious for creating that…thing.

He had left the top down, too, I noticed, distracting myself. That was incredibly cocky. He had a right to be, I mused. Really, who would be dumb enough to steal from him?

I ran a hand over the smooth leather seat—brand new, unblemished extravagance.

With a smirk, I glanced to my left where a flock of birds was making a meal of someone’s old lunch.

I could so fix that, I thought, pulling out my own brown paper sack.