Forbidden Romance

Chapter 1

For once it wasn't raining and the sun shone out my classroom window. It was the perfect day to end school, too. I was about to be a senior, I just had to survive my last class, algebra two. It was a great day to go to the beach as well and that's what most of the future seniors were planning on doing anyways. But all I was looking forward to was that last bell and being able to see to bestie again. Brriinngg!! Yes! Schools out!!

"Hey Jen," my best friend Amber yelled out. She came running down the hallway to meet me, her auburn hair flying in the wind. She was tall unlike me and what every boy would call beautiful. Classes were done and school was finally out for summer vacation!

"Hey Amber," I yelled back. We shared a laugh and hooked arms as we left Melburn High for the summer. We walked the couple blocks to our houses, chatting all the way. We lived in the same neighborhood for our whole lives. Her and I grew up next door and lived in the only two two-story houses on our street.

"So, any plans," she questioned me. I thought about it and answered, "Nope. Nothing is planned that I know of. What about you girly?" She was always the one to go on some enormous trip with her parents for two weeks. She smiled and broke the news, "Nope! I didn't want to tell you until it was final. My dad has some business trip he has to take to New York in July and Mom has to plan this huge meeting that will be at the end of the month. So I'm staying here this summer!" I was shocked. This would be the first real summer that her and I could spend together. Finally! "Amber, that's perfect! We have to make sooo many plans," I practically screamed at her. She laughed and pulled me along.

We made it to our houses and she ran inside to tell her parents she'd be over at mine. Then we raced into my house and up to my room. My little brother wouldn't be home for another hour or so since he was in Junior High. We climbed onto my bed and she pulled out the latest issue of Super Star magazine out of her backpack. "You are not seriously still reading that are you," I asked her. I thought it was stupid. It was suppose to be a "glimpse into the world of our celebrities" but what was different about our celebrities was the fact that they were either a vampire or werewolf. Crazy, I know. Amber rolled her eyes at me and continued to read. She eventually nudged me and said, "hey, look at this. It says here that there will be a new show were you could possibly be matched with one of the stars!" This time, it was my turn to roll my eyes which only earned me a glare from her. "I know you've been crushing hard for, oh what's his name? That werewolf dude," she could be such a great actress. She knew exactly who I was crushing on since his brother was who she was crushing on at the moment. "Oh, yea. Caleb," she said mockingly. I pushed her playfully and looked at the magazine to read the rules of the new show. I walked over to my computer and waited for it to wake up. I quickly pulled up the Internet and looked up the show to see who the celebrities would be. "Amber, look at this. It's the list of the celebs. Caleb and his brother will be there," I squealed with delight.

He was truly adorable! Cameron and Caleb were actually twin brothers, but they looked and acted nothing alike. "Hey, that looks a lot like your dad, Jen," Amber said. I looked at the picture she had pointed out. I didn't know I could feel so much pain and anger at the same time. He had left us when my brother Andrew and I were really young. Andrew was only two and I was six when he left in a rush. Mom had told me later on that he left us for some hot vampire model. That asshole. I slammed my laptop shut and tried to block out his image with that blonde. "Jen, I'm sorry. I should've kept my mouth shut. Jen, I'm-" My glare silenced her. I didn't care that she had pointed him out and by her look she knew that. She hugged me and then told me that she needed to get home to do some chores. "I'll text you later, ok girly," she asked me. I nodded and waved bye. She left and I heard the click of the front door closing.

I glanced over at my phone and saw that I had a text from mom. 'Make dinner for your brother and yourself. I'll be home really late tonight. Hope school was good, love you' I sighed. I was terrible at cooking. I went downstairs and walked into the kitchen. I made my way to the refrigerator and opened it up the freezer side. I saw that we still had a frozen pizza. Perfect, no cooking for me. I quickly opened the refrigerator to check for a snack for Andrew when he got home in a little bit. Thankfully there are some leftover chicken nuggets that I can heat up for him. I closed the door and walked back upstairs. I closed my bedroom door and turned on my phones music app to my newest song obsession. As soon as I heard Luke Bryan's sexy voice start singing I walked back over to my computer. I opened it back up to the picture of my dad and the blonde. I ignored it the best I could and looked for how to get signed up. I could care less that he was hosting it. I just wanted to see if I could be paired with Caleb.

I caught myself staring at a picture of Caleb shirtless when my brothers secret knock sounded on my door. I quickly closed my computer and turned down the music on my phone. I opened my door and was greeted by my little monster. He wasn't very little anymore. He was almost taller than me and soon would be by the end of summer. "Hey you. How was the last day in Junior High," I asked him. He pulled away and smiled. "I had a lot of fun. My friends and I've made plans to go to the waterpark this weekend. Think mom will allow that? How's highschool? I want the whole scoop on how everything works for the upcoming school year," he replied excitedly. It was nice that he and I were so close. With mom not always around we just grew close and I am practically raising him now that she's working three jobs. I guided him back down the stairs and into the kitchen. I made him a snack while he talked about his day and all the plans he and his friends had. I placed the plate of chicken nuggets in front of him. Man, that boy could talk your ear off.

I felt my phone buzz and pulled it out of my pocket. It was a text from Amber. 'I signed us both up for that new show! Hope we make the first cut! Love you and see you tomorrow girly!' I had to love that girl. I sighed and turned my attention back to my brother as he popped the last nugget into his mouth. I took his plate to the sink and washed it off and stuck it into the dishwasher. "What time will mom be home," he asked me. I turned to him and handed over my phone so he could read her text. He sighed and looked at me. He hesitated and I knew he wanted to know what I'll cook since he and I both knew that I could barely boil water without burning the house down, let alone cook dinner. "Don't worry. I'll make pizza. As in the frozen kind where I can put it in the oven. Sound good," I asked him. He nodded enthusiastically and we laughed.

I turned the tv on for him and went back upstairs. I fell onto my bed and looked out my window. It looked directly into Amber's room. She was currently in her room jamming out to some song. I couldn't help but laugh. She finally caught me watching and stuck her tongue out like she was three. I laughed and opened my window and she did the same. "You are so goofy," I told her, trying to hold back my laughter. She glared at me then laughed. It was nice having such a wonderful bestie. "What are you doing Jen," she asked me. I rested my arms on my window sill and looked at her. "Just chilling. Mom won't be home until late so I'm on dinner duty," I replied. She looked shocked and said, "I think I still have nine-one-one on speed dial just in case you burn it." I glared at her and it was her turn to laugh. I had a known reputation for accidentally burning food. "Amber! Get down here," her mom called. She sighed and waved goodbye before closing her window and running to her mom. I closed my window too and crawled back onto my bed.

I must have fallen asleep since I woke up to Andrew shaking me awake. "I'm up! What's wrong Andy," I said, using my old nickname for him. He pointed to his stomach and right on que his stomach growled. I laughed and got up and followed him downstairs. I preheated the oven and pulled the pizza out. I set the timer and walked over to him where he sat on the couch. "Whatcha watching," I asked him. "Some superhero movie, I think," he replied, uninterested. The timer went off and we raced to the kitchen. I pulled the pizza out and was surprised that it was a pretty golden brown. "Yay, you didn't burn it," Andrew cheered. I laughed and dug around for the pizza cutter. I finally found it in one of the drawers by the sink and cut and served. When we were finished I put our dishes in the sink and walked back into the entertainment room. We finished the superhero movie and by then it was time for bed. He changed and hugged me goodnight.

As I was getting ready for a shower I heard a noise downstairs. I glanced at my clock, it read 10:00. It wasn't time for mom to be home yet. I checked on Andy and he was sound asleep. I heard a crash that sounded like it came from the kitchen. Who could it be and why? I quickly grabbed the switch blade I hid in my room and turned the hall light on. I didn't see anybody at the bottom of the stairs. The front door was to the left and kitchen to the right of the stairs. Another crash and I jumped. It still was in the kitchen. I quietly made my way down the stairs. When I reached the bottom I glanced to my left and the door was wide open. 'Why hadn't I locked it?' I thought to myself. I quickly looked into the kitchen and saw a figure moving around, like it was looking for something. But what?

That's when it suddenly stopped. I froze with fear. It turned around and bared it's fangs. 's**t, it's a vampire' I ran up the stairs as it ran to me. It grabbed my leg and pulled me down, the knife bouncing out of my grasp. I kicked it in the face but it only held on tighter. Bringing my face close to his. 'He's kinda cute with his red eyes and brown hair. Wait, what?' I thought. He smirked like he had heard what I had just thought. He suddenly let me up, like he was finally coming to his senses. That was strange. His looks turned serious and asked me, "where's your mom?" "Clearly not home," I replied, sarcasm dripping from my comment. "How did he even know my mom," I thought. He grew angry, his eyes looking like dancing flames. Just then the familiar lights of her Mazda turning into the driveway danced along the walls. It didn't take her long to see the front door was open, signaling a break in.

"Jen! Andrew! Are you ok," she screamed hysterically. She was inside in no time, her business outfit in disarray and her short brown hair everywhere. She stopped when she saw the vampire and me. We must have been a sight for her eyes. She examined the scene from where she stood in the doorway and then collected her composure and walked up to the vampire. "Catharine," he said calmly, as he sauntered over to her. She looked at him like he was a long lost friend. She hugged him and whispered something into his ear. She then glanced at me and made her way over. She crouched down and looked me over. "You didn't hurt her right Jay," she said softly. He walked over to me and replied with a smirk, "Of course not Cat. Just scared her. But it's not safe here anymore. You're husband and his new wife are in town. You know what you need to do, but make sure you bring a weapon to protect yourselves. I couldn't find anything of particular use, you're learning how to hide things better I'm guessing. Get them out of here and to the safe house. I'll meet you there tomorrow night with some more protection." With that he left.

She looked after him and sighed. She looked at the floor and got up. She seamed so defeated. "Mom, why don't you lie down. You must be exhausted." I walked her over to the couch. She sat down and looked at me with a steely gaze. "Get your brother and pack a suitcase for you both. I'll pack some food and then we are leaving. You heard Jay, it's not safe anymore." With that she got up and walked into the kitchen, I'm guessing for the 'protection' that vampire was looking for. I couldn't think about how I was attacked by a vampire or how he knew my mom. I didn't have time to think about anything other than that we were in danger. I walked up the stairs and packed some clothes and walked to Andrews room to wake him up. He was still sound asleep so I packed his clothes and brought it downstairs. I wanted to give him a little more time to sleep, he will be grumpy later. I walked back upstairs when it was all packed into the Mazda and we were ready to go. He woke with a start and asked what was going on. I decided to tell him that it was a surprise mom had planned and he could sleep in the car. I spared him all the details he didn't need to know. I didn't want him worried. I walked with him to the car. We silently climbed in and left.