The next day was shining bright and blistering hot. Even with my sunglasses on, I could tell there wasn't a single pack of clouds in the sky. Standing before the sensors of the Ultara gate, I kept telling myself for a zillionth time that no one knew it, no one expected it."You look nervous," a melodious voice uttered behind me. I almost jumped out of my skin. I craned my head around to see Octavia in her usual dazzling self. She smiled innocently at me."What do you want?" I snapped."Viv, I just want to apologize about yesterday," she said, using my short name as if she owned it."Apology unaccepted," I muttered back. And when the laser scanners flashed green and the steel door slid open, I quickly walked off without giving a second

 After lunch, I told Cammie that I wasn't ready to pick up Karate yet, and she believed me without a doubt. And that was because I had unfolded Octavia's note and read what she said in the finest penmanship I've ever seen.Meet me at the library,—O I cringed. What makes the girl think I would answer her call whenever she wants? She also drew a smiley face with fangs popping out. I was going to rip the note, but then I remember she had saved me with a tube of sunblock. I sighed in defeat. Besides I also wanted to go to the library in the first place. Maybe I should just go and get it over with. A moment later, I found myself wrapped in the crispy smell of gazillions books and dried wooden shelv

 We gathered at my house after school. Cammie and Alyssa had got the wildest decoration I'd ever seen in my house. I had to keep saying 'No' to five tiers of king-size cake that Alyssa was trying to get for me. Cammie had put sunflowers and balloons and a dozen birthday hats and tooter things, even though there were only a few of us attending the party. But the most ridiculous thing of all was, my two best friends spent a good portion of time dressing me! "Please, don't tell me to look at myself when you're done," I said while Cammie was applying some eyeliners and lip gloss on my face. "You have to be a Cinderella tonight," Cammie told me. "Well, then you both can be my stepsisters."          

Once I got out of the Ancient Hall, I started to run out of the Ultara campus and into the wood. I didn't know where I was heading, but when I was sure, I was out of anyone's sight, I sprinted up like a cheetah. Suddenly all the trees faded into blurry walls on either side of me.The blinding sunlight no longer stung my eyes as it seemed to have less effect now, or maybe the high pressure of my emotional wrench made me reject the pain. I felt numb all over as hot air hit my face and dried away my tears. I wanted to keep running like that until I reach the edge of the universe. This world didn't belong to me.Suddenly, there were two strong arms grabbed me by the waist, pulling my body to a stop, but the gravity took its course, and we both fell to the ground, rolling ourselves over the grass and dry leaves. As the falling momentum stopp

After the little mishap that had led me to find the last diary, Octavia seemed to be strolling on a memory lane whenever she held the book. Sometimes she read to me back in the garden. Sometimes she pulled out her flute and played a sad song that could break every creature's heart. That must be how she mourns her grief. "My mom taught me how to play this song," she had told me one evening and couldn't continue her words further. I put my arms around her and she rested her head on mine. I just knew how it felt to come home to only one parent for all those years. The least I could do was to be there for Octavia as she was there for me. After school, I decided to borrow a few vampire-related books from the library. Maybe I should do my independent research without my vampire guru this time.