Chapter 5

I don’t know what I was expecting. Maybe thousands of broken bottle laying all over the forest floor, or some dead dude, rotting to the bones.
Ok, that was a little too descriptive, but you get my point.
But it really wasn’t all that different from the rest of the forest. I mean, duh, there were a few bottles and crushed cigarettes at the very edge of the fence, but the farther we got in, the prettier it got, and the more relaxed again.
Haze and I talked about small things, mainly getting to know each other. I told him all about me, favorite color, favorite books, yada yada, and he should have really been getting bored. But he seemed to take in everything I said, and even asking about some things he didn’t understand. Thankfully, none of those questions were ever, “Wait, what did you just say? I wasn’t paying attention.”
When it was my turn to ask the questions, I learned a whole bunch of little things, like his favorite color was grey, and that he preferred moving around a lot than staying in one place. He was also a good hunter, he had said, and I had tried not to laugh out loud at that one. I mean, when you’re a vampire, ummm you should be able to hunt pretty well....
The one thing I really wanted to ask him is why my brother didn’t like him. But I mean, wouldn’t it seem just a teensy bit awkward if I just randomly blurt out, “My brother hates you. Why?”
Yeah, again, awkwaaaaaaard.
The sun started to set, but I didn’t pay any attention to it. I mean, why would I want to go home to mister -cranky-pants of a brother?
Haze did though. He had looked at the sky, now filled with stars, and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. He hadn’t stopped smiling this whole time, until now.
“You have to go back, don’t you...?” he asked, looking a bit sad, but acting casual.
I thought about it. “Well, I don’t think Shame would really be happy if I didn’t come back or anything, but I can stay out longer. I don’t really want to talk to him right now.”
This caught Haze’s surprise. Whoops. I think I might have said too much....
“Why not?”
“Weeeeeelllll.....” I was debating whether to tell him the truth( leaving out the vampiricness for the moment) or to make up a lie. I almost snorted. Seeing as how I can’t make up a lie, I guess I’m going with option number one.
“See, Shame and I got in a tiny fight, nothing big, all joking, but then I asked him about ..er, something, and he wouldn’t tell me the answer, so I got a bit ticked off, and that led to a fight here he said that he didn’t like you, but wouldn’t explain why.”
There. I’m pretty sure that was the whole story. I think.
Haze was silent for a moment. “Um....wow.”
I sighed dramatically. “I know. It’s hard being a girl.”
Haze snorted, then squeezed my hand lightly. “So your brother doesn’t like me, eh?” he chuckled, when I blushed, then went on, “It really doesn’t surprise me.”
I perked up. Maybe I could get some answers out of him.
“Really? Why?”
Haze raised an eyebrow, deliberately avoiding the question. “That’s what you and your brother were arguing about, wasn’t it?”
I blinked, going a deeper red. “Maaaaaaaaaybe. Yes.”
He laughed, startling a bird sitting in the tree above us, which in turn started me, causing me to jump, running into Haze, which caused him to laugh again.
Which made a lot less sense then I thought it would.
I stepped away from Haze, but still held onto his hand. He only stared at the night sky for a few minutes, before turning back to me, a crooked smirk planted on his face.
“I would tell you,” he said, shrugging, his red eyes getting all mischievous and junk, “But I have a felling you wouldn’t believe me.”
I snorted, and tried to lean in a casual, ‘yeah right’ position. “Try me,” I said, thrusting my chin out.
Haze smiled, but I could tell that he didn’t really think I would actually believe. Jerk.
“Ok. How about this; I’m a vampire, along with your cousin. And he’s not even your cousin; his  parents were your parents friends. I’ve been tracking you down for more than 7 years, because your brother wouldn’t let me get to you.”
He smirked at me, and I just kind of gaped at him slack-jawed. I mean, yeah. The vamp-stuff I was expecting...but he was tracking me down for seven years? Staaaaaaalker....
“Wait...wouldn’t let you get to me? What does that mean?”
Haze blinked, and stared at me for a second. Instead of answering, he only shook his head, and tugged on my hand to pull me closer, until he towered over me, his red gaze penetrating into mine.
“You’re not freaking out, laughing, or telling me, ‘good one’. Do you actually...believe what I just said?”
I just nodded, and tried to ask my question again, but Haze interrupted me. Again.
“Even me being a vampire?”
At this, I tried to blink innocently, and looked unashamed, and not sheepish. Didn’t work too well, from Haze’s expression.
“Well...” I started when Haze started to glower at me. I felt like shrinking back from his gaze; he  could be intimidating. “Shame...kinda...told me that part.”
Haze looked at me, before snorting and raising an eyebrow. “Of course. He would do that...” he muttered to himself.
But then he looked back at me, and his eyes turned like the devil’s.  Scaaaaary.
“And your not afraid?” he leaned closer, and I remained innocent looking, you know, blinking my big-blue eyes and all that.
“Of course not.”
Haze just smiled. “Don’t bat your eyes; it only makes you look freaked out.”
I huffed indignantly, and pulled away. “Says you. Works fine on my brother.”
Haze wrapped his hand around mine again. “Yes, but not me.”
His red eyes were back to being cheerful and lazy, along with his smile. “You really aren’t afraid.” he checked himself, “Or at least you don’t act it.”
I rolled my eyes.  But then, I looked back at Haze strangely.
“Now...about the whole thing where you weren’t able to get to me....what?”
Haze smirked again, tilting his head to the side. He opened his mouth, but then closed it, smiling. He stared at me through half lidded eyes, and said, “I would tell you, but...”
“But what?” I whined. Haze snickered, tilting his head even more until his straight, ink black hair fell into his face.
“But...I promised your cousin I wouldn’t tell you until you were seventeen.” his grin widened and he leaned forward, his face only a couple inches from mine. I couldn’t help but remember how much distrust I’d had against him in the living room...and wondering if I should not trust him...
But he hadn’t seemed like a terrible/sadistic/complete-psycho yet...
Course, my sense of judgment ain’t the best...
“I guess you’ll just have to wait till then,” he breathed, and his hand brushed a lock of my brown hair behind my ear.
Ok, so I don’t think he can be too crazy. He’s too...I don’t know, but if he’s crazy, then I’m attracted to weird guys, I guess.
I blushed, of cooooooourse, and Haze grinned. But then he leaned back, and said in the most off-hand, lazy, total-guy-tone, “I think you should be heading back anyways. I thought you didn’t like this part of the forest.” he teased.
And of course, he didn’t wait for my answer; he just turned me around, and started leading me back the way we came. We were going faster, mainly because Haze didn’t have to avoid any sun-spots yet.
However, I decided that Haze had had the right idea. We started passing junkies and drunks when we were only half way to the fence; by that point, I was pratically running and towing Haze along.
He, of course, only laughed.
I didn’t really relate when we were safely on the other side; I still wanted to get to his car soon. Though, I wasn’t sure what scared me more; the way Haze drove like he was a complete maniac, or a bunch of drunk party-goer’s. I decided, with the situation, I would just kiss my seatbelt and hope to survive another journey on the road of death.
Whoa. That was poetic.
And that was stupid sounding.
When we reached the car (FINALLY!!!) Haze became all gentlemen-like again, and was opening the door for me, smiling without being sarcastic, that kind of stuff.
The drive to my house was interesting; Haze talked to me about being a vampire. It was weird; he wasn’t worried about me throwing objects at his head like Shame was.
Still. I can’t say I wasn’t happy when we were safely at my house.
When I opened the door to get out, however, Haze reached over to grab my wrist. I blushed bright red, but Haze only smirked and said, “I’ll see you later. And soon.”
Just like the last time.
I nodded, still blushing, and stepped out when he let go of my wrist. He flashed me another smirk, before peeling out of my driveway, and roaring down the streets.
I turned to go inside...
And walked into a very angry Shame.