Chapter 5

My birthday was a day away and I was so excited! In all of my excitement I got ready for school a little faster than usual and my mom defiantly noticed.

"Whoa, slow down there, Adrienne. Where's the fire?" she laughed.

"Tomorrow is my 16th birthday, Mom. I can't wait," I said, jumping up and down while my mom laughed. I always did this when I was very excited.

"Do you want a party? You can make a list of friends and I can invite them while you're at school," she said, pouring a cup of coffee. I stopped jumping the moment she said "friends". Katie. Katie probably doesn't even care and she wouldn't come anyway. I didn't want to tell mom about Katie so I thought of an excuse.

"No, mom, no party. Grandma said she wanted me over her house that night for a surprise she has for me," hiding how depressed I was. I wanted a big party with all of my friends but, since I didn't have any friends my plan was crushed and this fact made me want to curl into a ball and cry.

"Oh, okay then. We'll have a special dinner for you then tonight and give you your presents," said mom, I guess she was a little disappointed to about the party, too.

"I'm going to school, Mom. See you tonight," I shouted, bolting for the door before she said anything about my birthday. Aiden met me at the end of the driveway like usual and we walked to my school hand in hand.

"What's wrong, Adrianna? You seem a depressed," said Aiden, rubbing my hand comfortly with his thumb.

"Nothing. Nothing's wrong!" I tried to put some cheer into my voice but it didn't come out that way. It sounded like you would if you were hiding something. I guess I was hiding something: my disappointment and depression.

"Adrianna, I know something's wrong. Now, please, tell me," he said, stopping on the sidewalk and looking me in the eyes as I tried not to make eye contact, a sign that I was lying.

"Adrianna, please, tell me Cherie," his beautiful eyes were full of concern and it touched me how he said Cherie. Cherie, it meant darling in French. He was buttering me up and it was working.

I sighed. "Tomorrow's my sweet 16th and mom wanted me to have a party."

"And? What's wrong with that?"

"I don't have… friends who would want to go. Katie would never come and I-I" I couldn't continue, tears were threatening to spill and I wouldn't have any tears fall, especially in front of Aiden.

"Oh, my Cherie, do not cry," he said, his French accent thick, wiping my tears away with his thumbs. "Please, continue what you were saying Beau.

"I was planning on having a big party with all of my friends but now… Now, my best friend isn't even my friend anymore," I cried. I just wanted to disappear! I was crying like a baby as Aiden pulled me into his strong arms and rubbed my back until I had stopped.

"Now, now Cherie, do not cry over someone who is not worth your tears. Your family and I are here to celebrate. Besides, tomorrow night you will be living with me."

That's right! Tomorrow I'm going to live with Aiden. Wait a second! I'm going to live with a guy! Oh My God! My brother is going to lock me up forever! No, I'm not kidding, Ben will do anything to keep me from dating anyone he deems unsuited or not the right 'type' for me. How will I break it to him? And my parents?

"Aiden, we've got a problem." He beamed when I said 'we.' Oh, boy. "How am I going to come up with an excuse for me leaving to my parents… and brother?" I flinched at 'brother.' Ben will not like the idea of his little sister leaving at a young age, much less with a boy he doesn't even know about.

"Well, what excuse did you use to get out of the party?"

"Well I- Wait! How did you what I said," I said a bit accusingly. He gave me a guilty look as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Well, Vampires have excellent hearing, much better than a dog, and I couldn't help but over hear what you said to your mother so… would you like to repeat it for me please?" The look on his face was that of a kid caught with a hand in the cookie jar, it was actually pretty cute. Wait! Did I just think that! Stop, Adrienne, Stop, stop, stop! Bad Adrienne, bad! I mentally slapped myself.

I shook my head a bit and gave Aiden a small smile. "I told my mom that Grandma wanted me over her house that night for a surprise she has for me." He pondered this.

"Hmm. That could work but, let's consult your Grandmother about this. Perhaps she can give up more ideas." I nodded and Aiden took my hand again and we continued the walk to school.

Sorry. Cliffhanger! Chapter 6 will be much longer, promise!