Vampire Moonlight, Chapter 1

I didn’t want this life.

If your reading this because you think it’s exciting and romantic, I can’t disagree with you there. But if you lived what I lived through you won’t want to be me. Trust me.

Chapter 1 : First Meet

My name is Katherine Miller.

I’m 17 years old and a student at West Coast Academy.

I live with my dad, Stephan, and my older sister, Annabelle at New York City. My mom and dad were divorced when I still wasn’t born. 2 months after the divorce my mom found out she was pregnant with me, when she found out she told my dad and told him it was his fault she was pregnant. 6 months later my mother gave birth to me, and then a few weeks later she gave me up for adoption. 2 years later, mom told dad she’d given me up for adoption. Once dad found out, he searched for me. He found me when I was already 5 years old. And I’ve been living with him since. I never heard from my mother again. All we know is she got remarried and moved to a different country.

Present day:

I woke up feeling dazed and looked at my alarm clock.

It was 10 o’clock in the morning. It was a Saturday so I can sleep in. But then Anna shook me.

“Katie, Wake up!” she yelled.

“Go away.” I mumbled sleepily.

“C’mon Katie! Get up!” she yelled, and then she hit me with my pillow.

I stood up. “What was that for?!” I asked.

She looked at me sceptically.

“You wouldn’t get up. Now, are you going to get up and go downstairs or do I have to hit you with another pillow, again?”

“Fine. I’m up. I’m up.” I surrendered. I stood up, off my bed then went downstairs. I smelled fresh pancakes and went straight to the kitchen.

“Morning, sweetie.” Dad greeted me and then handed me a mug. “Coffee?” he offered. Before I could answer, Anna took the mug from dad’s hand and took a sip.

Dad looked at her. Then, she said “What?”

“It’s ok, dad. I didn’t want any, anyway.” I reassured him.

I sat down on one of the wooden dining chairs. Dad sat next to me.

“Have you girls introduced yourselves to our new neighbours?” dad asked us.

Our former next door neighbour, Mr. and Mrs. Clarke,

had moved out a few weeks ago and the house was sold last Tuesday.

Anna shook her head.

“We haven’t met them, dad.” I answered.

“It’s polite to introduce yourselves. Maybe you could hang out with the Henderson’s kid, Katie. I hear he’s just as old as you are. Instead of locking yourself up in your room all day.” He and Anna laughed.

“Alright we’ll introduce ourselves.” I sighed then started to get up.

“After breakfast.” Dad told me. We all laughed.

After I ate 2 pancakes. I went up to my room

and then headed to the bathroom. I never really cared about vanity. I brushed my dark curls softly then brushed my teeth. I changed to a plain white t-shirt and denim shorts and my blue converse sneakers before I went downstairs I grabbed my copy of “Romeo and Juliet”. Dad was waiting for me downstairs.

“Good. You look pretty decent.” He said then smiled.

I sighed.

Just then, Anna descended down the stairs. She was wearing her white blouse and matching white skirt her brown, straight hair tied into a neat ponytail.

We went next door to greet our new neighbours.

Anna knocked on the Henderson’s door then whispered to me, “Don’t embarrass me.”

I rolled my eyes.

The Henderson’s door opened. A lady wearing a pink floral dress greeted us politely. “Hello, girls. What brings you here?”

“We just wanted to welcome you to the neighbourhood. We live in the house next door. We’re sorry if we bothered you.” Anna told her, shyly.

‘Yeah, right’ I thought to myself. ‘You just want to meet the Henderson’s kid.’

Anna nudged me. As if she knew what I was thinking, which she probably did.

“I’m Annabelle. This is my little sister, Katherine.” She informed Mrs. Henderson.

Must she call me ‘little sister’?

“Hi, Mrs. Henderson.” I greeted her then, smiled.

“Hello, girls. Thank you for the warm welcome. Why don’t you come in for some brownies?” Mrs. Henderson offered.

Anna nodded. But I said, “Actually, I have piano practice. So I can’t stay.” I explained “Anna, are you gonna stay?” I asked.

“Yeah. I’m gonna stay for a while. Tell dad where I am.” She told me, though it sounded more like a command.

I nodded.

“What a shame. I have a son the same age as you are. I think your the same age.” Mrs. Henderson informed us. She faced Anna.

“Would you like to meet my son? I’m sure he’s just up in his room.” She asked her.

Anna nodded, grinning hugely.

‘Of course she would’ I thought, wryly.

“I’ll get going then.” I told them.

I turned and bumped into someone. I fell on the ground.

“Oh. I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” he held out his hand.

I took it. He helped me stand up.

“Thanks. I’m okay. Excuse me. I’m really late for something.” I said then, walked past him.

I ran back home and saw Claire, my piano teacher,

Was waiting for me and Anna by the pianos.

“Your late.” Claire said to me then smiled.

“Sorry. Dad said to introduce ourselves to our new neighbours.”

“That’s okay. Where’s Anna?” she asked, looking behind me.

“She’s still at the Henderson’s, our new neighbours.” I informed her.

We sighed. Dad was probably upstairs in his room, watching a football game on TV since he can’t watch here.

“Alright. I guess we’ll have to start with out her then.”

2 hours passed...

I heard the door open. Anna was probably home. She kept

screaming, “I’m home.”, so it wasn’t that easy ignoring her. When Anna arrived at the living room, she wasn’t alone. She was with a boy who looked very familiar. He had brown tousled hair, beautiful gray eyes, and pale skin. He wore a gray V-neck shirt with a light blue jacket, gray pants and black sneakers. He was holding a copy of “Romeo and Juliet”. Then I remembered why he was so familiar.

‘He was the boy I bumped into at the Henderson’s place.’ I realized

“Hey! It’s you.” He told me. “I’m Cedric, Cedric Henderson.”

‘Oh, he was the Henderson’s kid.’ I realized with a shock.

He handed me the book he was holding. I looked at it, confused.

“It’s yours. You dropped it at my place.” He told me then smiled.

I took the book then mumbled, “Thanks.”

Claire cleared her throat. “Annabelle, your late. Katie, you can go.”

I nodded.

Annabelle whined. “Do I still have to practice?”

“Yes.” Claire told her. I chuckled.

I turned and was about to climb upstairs. When

someone grabbed my hand. It was Cedric.

“Do you want to hang out for a while?” he asked me politely, smiling.

I looked at him confused. ‘Why would he want to hang out with me?’

“Um... No. Thank you.” I said awkwardly.

He let go of my hand. I began climbing upstairs. But he called after me,

“Can I at least know your name?” he asked.

I turned around and smiled.

“Katherine. Katherine Miller.” I told him but, then added. “But you can call me ‘Katie’.” I smiled at him.

He blushed. “Okay. It was nice to meet you.. Katie.” He smiled back.

I ran up to my room and put my book on top of my desk. Just then someone knocked on my door.

“Can I come in?” it was dad.

“Sure.” I answered. He opened the door and saw me standing right next to my desk.

“How’d it go?”

I knew he meant about meeting the Henderson’s and not how my piano practice went.

“Fine. Nothing interesting really. I met Mrs. Henderson, she’s a really nice lady and I met her son, Cedric. He’s downstairs.” His eyes widened as I said the last sentence. He stared at me with confusion.

‘He must think I invited him over.’ I thought to myself and laughed at my private joke.

“Anna invited him. Not me.” I explained.

Understanding filled his eyes and then he smiled.

“Where is Anna, anyway?” he asked.

“She was late for practice so Claire’s holding her prisoner.” I informed him.

We both laughed.

“Why don’t you go hang out with him?”

“No, Thanks.”

He raised his eyebrows. “C’mon, Katie. Get out of your room for once. Your like a vampire, always hiding in your room with the windows and curtains closed.” he told me then laughed.

“Ha-ha.” I told him sarcastically.

“Seriously, you should hang out with him. And, if you don’t I’ll ground you for the rest of your life.” He threatened.

“But, dad-” I complained

He cut me off. “No ‘buts’. Now you get your butt downstairs, young lady.”

“Fine.” I knew I had no chances in winning that argument, and if I continued it I’d probably just end up grounded for the rest of my boring life.

I marched downstairs and saw Cedric sitting on

the couch. I tapped his shoulders. He turned around.

“Hey.” He greeted me.

“Hey. You still wanna hang out?” I asked

‘Please say no.. Please say no.’

“Sure.”

I sighed.

“It’s ok if you don’t want to.”

“No, it’s ok.” I lied.

“I thought you wanted to go upstairs.” He asked, raising one of his eyebrows.

“Nah. My room’s getting a little stuffy.” I lied.

He smiled at me. “Okay. Wanna go for a walk?” he asked.

“Sure.”

We walked outside. I turned to close the door.

Cedric looked at the sky.

“It’s getting pretty hot.” He told me

“ Yeah.”

“How bout we just hang out at my parent’s gazebo at our backyard?”

he suggested.

“Whatever you want.” I told him, uninterested.

He frowned. “We could go somewhere else.” He told me.

“No. Your place is fine.” I told him then smiled.

“Alright then.”

We walked next door. He opened the door for

me. I blushed. He led me toward the kitchen. I saw Mrs. Henderson sitting on the couch, drinking tea. She saw us as well. She looked up and smiled. She looked at Cedric, who is standing right next to me.

“Cedric, it seems that you’ve met Annabelle’s sister.” She told him.

“Hello, Katherine.” She greeted me, warmly.

“Hello again, Mrs. Henderson.” I greeted her.

“Yes. We’ll be at the back.” Cedric informed her.

“Alright, then.” She looked at both of us and smiled. “Have fun you two.”

We went to their backyard. I saw the beautiful

Gazebo surrounded by beautiful roses. I gasped.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, worried.

“No. It’s just...” I was speechless. “It’s beautiful.”

“It’s the place my mother’s most proud of.” He told me.

“I can see why. It’s so beautiful. It’s definitely something to be proud of.’’ I told him.

“Why don’t we go sit down?” he offered. He took my hand then pulled me all the way into the gazebo. We sat on the two beautiful white chairs.

“So...” he said.

I laughed. “So...”

“What do you do all day?” we asked each other, at the same time.

We both laughed.

“You first.” He told me then smiled.

“Okay. I play the piano and at the afternoon I go up to my room and listen to music and read novels.” I told him then smiled. I blushed and looked at my hands on my lap. Cedric brushed my hair away from my face. I looked up. We smiled at each other and then I blushed.

“How about you?” I asked him, breaking the silence.

“I do the same things you do. But I sleep most of the afternoon. I’ve been a pianist since I was a kid.”

“So, what school do you go to? How old are you? Do you have siblings?” I blurted.

He laughed. “Whoa. Slow down.” He laughed again.

His laugh sounded like a beautiful melody.

“I just got enrolled into West Coast Academy. I start on Monday. I’m 17 years old. And no I have no siblings.” He smiled.

I laughed.

He looked at me confused then asked, “What?”

“Nothing. I just realized we have a lot in common.” I told him then smiled. He smiled back.

“So your starting mid-semester?” I asked.

“Yeah.” He smiled then picked a rose from one of the rose bushes surrounding the gazebo and then gave it to me. “You must get flowers even more beautiful from your boyfriend.”

I laughed. “Wow! I didn’t even know I have a boyfriend.”

He looked at me shocked and confused. “You don’t have one?” he asked shocked.

“No! I don’t have a boyfriend. Why would you think that?” I asked him, shocked myself.

How could he think that? I just met him.

“Your sister, Annabelle, told me.” He informed me. “She told me not to tell you that she told me.” He continued.

‘Why would Anna tell Cedric I have a boyfriend?’ I asked myself, puzzled.

I was staring at Cedric.

“Katie, are you okay?” his question snapped me out of my deep thoughts.

I looked at him. “Yeah. I’m fine.” Although I’m not sure if the words I said were true.

“It’s getting pretty dark. I’d better get you home.” He told me.

I just nodded.

He held out his hand to me. I took it. He smiled. I tripped over a rock and fell on top of Cedric. We looked at each other and laughed. We saw Mrs. Henderson watching us on the doorstep of their back door.

“Mom!” Cedric complained.

Mrs. Henderson and I laughed. I got up and helped Cedric stand up.

Mrs. Henderson was watching us.

“Mom!” Cedric complained, again.

She smiled then winked at me. I laughed.

“C’mon let’s get you home.” He said, his face was red of embarrassment. I laughed then said “Okay.”

Cedric walked me all the way to our front door step.

“So I’ll see you tomorrow?” he asked, hopefully.

“Um.. actually no. I have to go grocery shopping.” I said.

I could see the disappointment on his face.

“Will you take all day?” he asked.

“No. But I have a lot of errands to run.” I told him.

“Oh.” Was all he said.

“But I’ll see you on Monday. We go to the same school, anyway.” I smiled, warmly at him.

“Yeah, okay. See you on Monday. I hope we have lots of classes together.” He sounded like he really did want us to have classes together.

I nodded and then turned.

“Hey, Katie?” he called after me.

I turned around to face him.

“Yeah?” I replied.

“I’m sorry you had to spend your whole day with me.” He looked upset.

“Why are you sorry?” I asked him, confused.

“I know your dad forced you to hang out with me.” He frowned.

“Yeah. But I had a really good time.” I told him sincerely.

“Really?” he asked, hopefully.

“Really.” I smiled at him. He smiled back.

“You’d better go inside.”

“Yeah.”

I turned for the door but he called after me, again.
“Katie..”

“Yeah?”

“Sweet dreams.” He whispered then ran back to his place.

“Sweet dreams, Cedric.” I whispered then blushed.

I entered the house and went to the living room. Dad and Anna stared at me, speechless.

“What?” I asked them.

“Your face...” dad said, shocked.

“it’s red!” Anna exclaimed then laughed. “Where have you been all day?” she asked.

“None of your business.” I muttered then walked away.

“I thought you were hanging out with the Henderson’s kid?” dad asked.

‘Dammit!’ I cursed under my breath.

“You were what?!” Anna exploded, she looked at me coldly.

“We were just at their backyard, talking.” I told her then asked, “What’s so wrong with that?”

She grabbed my wrist and dragged me upstairs to my room.

“What’s wrong with you?” she demanded.

“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you?” I screamed at her. “Why did you tell Cedric I have a boyfriend?!”

“Because... because I like him!”she told me though I know she was lying. She winced as soon as she got the words out. Anna always winces every time she lies.

I raised my eyebrows at her.

“Really? Is that really why, Anna?”

“Alright,” she sighed. “I don’t like him. I don’t even find him interesting.” She confessed.

“Then why would you lie to us?”

“Because I know you like each other. Well he does. You like him too, don’t you?” she asked

“He’s just a friend. Anna.” I explained.

“Yeah, right. Anyway, I knew if I told him that, you two won’t end up together. I was sort of jealous of you, actually.” She admitted.

“Why would you be jealous of me?”

“Because you seem to get everything you want. I just wanted to prove to myself that you can’t have everything you want.”

“Okay. I understand.” I reassured her.

“You like him don’t you?” she giggled. “It’s ok you can tell me these things. I’m your sister. You can trust me.” When she said those words her voice was filled with so much trust.

“He really is just a friend, Anna.”

“Okay.” She winked at me.

I rolled my eyes.

“Let’s go to bed. I have to go grocery shopping tomorrow.” I told her.

She laughed. “Alright.” She looked down.

“Hey, Katie?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m really sorry.” She apologized.

‘Did Anna just apologized to me? To me?’

“Why are you apologizing to me?” I asked her.

“Because I lied to you and Cedric. I’ll tell Cedric tomorrow.”

She reassured me.

“You don’t have to do that.”

She smiled, warmly at me. “Sure I do.”

I didn’t know what to say to that.

“Um.... Thanks, Anna.”

She smiled. “Hey, your my little sister. I’m sorry if I haven’t been acting

like the older sister you always wanted. But I promise you, I’ll make it

all up to you.”

“Thanks.” I hugged her.

She hugged me, tightly. The way she hugged me it was almost like

receiving a hug from my mom. A few seconds passed and then pulled

away.

“Go on to bed. Your gonna see him tomorrow, anyway.”

“Actually, no I won’t.”

“What? Why? Is he avoiding you?” she asked me.

“No, no, no.” I reassured her. “ I told you I’m going grocery shopping

tomorrow and I still have a lot of errands.”

“Then, I’ll do it.” She offered.

I smiled but said, “No thanks. I have to buy a new book to read, too.

But you can help me do my errands, so I can finish early. If you want.”

“Sure. Goodnight. See you in the morning.” She told me then went to her room.

I smiled then entered my room. I changed

to my pyjamas and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I went back to my room. I yawned.

‘Today was certainly...interesting. Different but I liked how it turned out.’ I smiled.

I turned off the lights and opened my night lamp. I collapsed on top of my bed and thought about what happened today. I smiled when I remembered when Cedric and I were in the gazebo. I sighed happily and fell immediately asleep.