Bloodmoon

This is based off of the saga Twilight by Stephanie Meyers.

Rose - Main character, half-human, half vampire. Black hair, amber eyes. 16.

Derek - Vampire. Black hair. Tawny gold eyes. 17.

Marian - Rose's best friend, human. Dark brown hair, hazelnut eyes. 16.

Ginger - Derek's sister. Vampire. Black hair. Silver eyes. 17.

Cadence - Rose's mother, human. Graying blond hair, blue eyes. 45.

Arnold - Rose's father. Vampire. 46.

I scowled. "Yes, mom, I have everything." I replied.

"Toothbrush and toothpaste? Clothes? Jacket? Hair spray?"

"Mom! Yes! Stop it!" I groaned, zipping my suitcase shut.

"I can't believe you're leaving!" She wailed, stretching out her arms.

I turned and hugged her halfheartedly. I can't say I was excited to go, but it was better than staying with my mom.

I didn't have a problem with my mother, but it was her new husband.

"Carl! Is the car ready?" My mom yelled.

"Yeah," Carl boomed back.

I rolled my eyes. Carl was my stepfather.

He was obnoxious, annoying, and lazy.

"Alright, goodbye, honey." My mom said, squeezing me one last time.

"Bye, mom."

"Email me as soon as you get there!"

"Mom, you know Grandpa doesn't have internet."

"I'll pay for your data plan," My mom insisted.

"Mom, please. You can't afford that. I'll be fine, and I'll call using the house phone."

Cadence wiped away tears. "Goodbye, Rosalita."

I winced at the nickname, but smiled at my mom. "Bye, mom."

I shrugged on my coat, and picked up my suitcase.

I kissed her on the cheek and jogged down the stairs.

"C'mon, kid..." Carl muttered, so my mother couldn't hear.

I shot him a dirty glare and slammed the porch door.

"Rose!" My mom scolded from upstairs.

I rolled my eyes again.

Maybe moving to North Carolina wouldn't be so bad.

I slouched into Carl's Toyota and clicked the seatbelt.

He revved the engine and shot out of the driveway. I stared bleakly out of the window, my eyes glassy.

I was moving to North Carolina to live with my grandfather.

I was *moving.* To *North Carolina.*

Not Charlotte, or any other major cities.

I was moving to Highlands, a small town on the mountains.

I hated it there.

There was no wifi, no connection, and everyone knew everyone else. And there was a bear problem.

It was a 30 minute drive from Falls Church, Virginia, to the airport, and it was a two-hour flight to Atlanta, Georgia. After that, it was a one-and-a-half hour drive to Highlands, NC.

Everything, and I mean everything, was a blur.

Every flight is the same, so I didn't pay attention.

The next thing I knew, I was in my grandfather's Toyota Land Cruiser, and we were zooming down the freeway.

"So, Rosie," My grandfather called. "How are you doing?"

"I'm okay," I replied.

"Good to hear!" He said cheerfully.

"Hey, grandpa?" I asked suddenly. "Did you look into cars up here for me?"

He smiled slightly. "Well... I was thinking, and..."

"Grandpa, what did you do?" I asked nervously.

"I bought a new car, and I'm giving you this one." He said finally.

My jaw dropped. "Really? Thank you!" I squealed.

He chuckled. "I thought you'd be excited."

I grinned. "I'm more than excited."

He parked the car in front of the house.

I had always loved the house, even if I hated Highlands itself.

I got out carefully, the ground in these parts was notoriously treacherous. My grandfather stepped out, and tossed me the car keys.

"Yes!" I hissed to myself, pumping my fist in the air.

"Well, why don't you get unpacked, and we can go out for dinner?"

"I can cook," I offered.

"Alright, then." He said, although he looked wary.

My mother and I were notoriously *experimental* with our cuisine, and they didn't always end up being... ah, *edible.*

I hoisted my duffel, backpack, and suitcase, and meandered inside. Even though I hadn't been here in years, everything was familiar and in the same place. I'd have been lying if I said the place wasn't huge, because it really was.

"How can you live here alone?" I asked.

He waved his hand, saying. "Eh, I get by." Even I, the one who really *couldn't* lie, could see he was lonely.

### Chapter Two - Fire

The next two weeks passed in a blur. The only thing I clearly remembered was the last-minute shopping spree me and Gramps went on to buy school supplies and clothes on Sunday.

I woke up on Monday morning irritably, the blaring noise of my alarm clock waking me up rudely.

I opened the curtains, glancing outside. It was misty, but not yet raining.

Unlike Virginia, high-school here didn't have a uniform, so I could wear anything I wanted.

I picked a green turtleneck sweater and black jeans. My limp black curls looked slightly better with green.

My pale leather bookbag was crammed with books, supplies, a jacket, and my schedule.

I shrugged it on and quickly jogged out of the house.

I unlocked the car, swinging inside.

Quickly, I zoomed out of the driveway. There was no speed limit out here, and I wanted to push the car as far as it would go.

The car bounced on the dirt road as it raced over the path. Dirt splattered the windshield. I allowed myself one *woop!* of pleasure, and then focused on the map I had memorized last night.

I headed into town, then took a left.

The school was a group of small buildings. One had a sign saying 'Administration'.

There were no cars, but I figured I could get away with it, being new, after all.

I parked and stepped out of the car, locking it as I did so.

I meandered into the office, looking around. There was a secretary sitting behind a desk, she looked up as I entered. "Oh, hello there, dearie." She said, in a ridiculous old person voice that wasn't faked.

"Hi, I'm Rose White. I'm supposed to be getting my locker number?"

She nodded, and slowly lifted up spectacles to cataract-plagued eyes.

"Ah, here we go," She said, pointing a withered finger to a number after what seemed like an eternity.

"Locker 42A8. You have your lock, right?" She asked slowly.

"Yes, I do. Thank you for your help."

I rolled my eyes once I was in the hallway. It had become suddenly populated, and kids stared at me as I passed through the halls.

I got to my locker, cramming books, spare papers, and assigned books into it. I had memorized my schedule, so I kept my book for Trigonometry.

Trig was in class 318, which wasn't far from here. I began scanning the halls and the plaques above the doors.

Finally, I got to the classroom. I found a desk in the back of the classroom, feeling everyone's stare on my skin.

I shivered, hanging up my bag on my chair.

A girl with curly brown hair sitting next to me leaned over. "Hi, I'm Marian."

I smiled. "Rose."

The teacher hadn't arrived yet, and Marian started chattering about how I was going to love the school. I only half-listened, instead doodling on the cover on my notebook.

The teacher, an elderly man named Mr. Serne, entered the classroom.

The class passed slowly. I noticed that now the only ones staring at me were the guys sitting near me.

After class, one of them approached me. He was scrawny, with foggy red glasses and beige khakis. He was wearing a *chess jersey* (That existed, apparently.) "Hello, I'm Dave."

"Hi, Dave. My name's -"

"Rose." He interrupted.

I gave him a puzzled smile. "Yes, actually. How did you..."

"Ah, sorry. I overheard you talking to Marian."

"No harm, no foul," I said breezily.

"Which class do you have next?" He asked, walking by me.

"Um, English."

"Oh, I have Gym, but English is on the way. I can walk you,"

I nodded. "Yeah, that sounds nice."

He walked me, talking about his family. "I have two brothers and a sister," He began. "My parents got divorced when I was three."

"Really?" I looked surprised. "My parents got divorced before I was born."

He nodded. "It's not that bad if you can't remember them, honestly."

I nodded eagerly, smiling brightly. "That's what I thought!"

"If you don't mind me asking, who did you live with before you moved here?"

"Well, I was going to go with my dad once I was born, but then he died in a car accident, so I stayed with my mom. I moved here to live with my grandpa, since Mom and her new husband," I wrinkled my nose, "are going to tour the world in search of exotic cuisine."

Dave smiled. "Not a fan of your step-parent either, huh?"

I shook my head. "Carl is the worst! He's belligerent, stubborn, lazy-" I complained, before realizing that Dave was laughing.

"I know, they suck. My step-mom's name is Billie Jean, but my brothers and I call her Bully Jean."

"Clever! Any suggestions for Carl?"

"How about... Snarl? And you can call him Bear." He suggested.

I laughed. "Yeah! Thanks."

He stopped. "Well, this is English. See you tomorrow in Trig?"

"You can count on it," I said, grinning, before stepping inside the classroom.

I was late, and the teacher narrowed her eyes at me.

"Hello, Miss White."

I flushed a magnificent scarlet.

"So glad you could finally join us."

Snickers.

I scurried towards the one available seat, not seeing who else was sitting at the desk, until I looked up when I was sure my face was no longer crimson.

I couldn't contain a gasp.

Sitting next to me was the most handsome person I had ever seen. He had wavy black, eyes as bluey-black as tar, and off-white skin. He was extremely muscular, with deep, purple circles under his eyes.

The weird thing, though, was his expression.

He was glaring at me. Chair angled away, fists clenched, eyes glittering with hatred.

I looked away quickly, not knowing what to say or do.

A note landed on my desk when the teacher wasn't looking.

*Stay away from me. -Derek*