School days and nights passed by painfully slow sans Alexander. I tried to find comfort in Alexander's handmade bracelet, like a baby does a blanket. The wooden masterpiece remained wrapped around my wrist in the shower and during sleep, but it was no substitute for my boyfriend's arms.

I knew theSterlings hadn't seen their son for so long; perhaps they wanted him all to themselves. I didn't know too many things about them, but that much his parents and I had in common.

It was as if I were seeing a mirage when I finally saw Alexander waiting for me at the Mansion's gate. However, he wasn't his usual loving self. He appeared distant and preoccupied, staring beyond me and off into the distance.

"Shall we go inside?" I asked.

"No-my parents are out and I'd like to get some fresh air, too."

Alexander walked, his hands in his pockets, kicking the leafy branches with his boots. I took Alexander's arm.

"I thought you'd be glad to see me."

"I am." He tried to perk up. "How's school?"

"I have this English project and it's with Trevor. It's to formulate our ideas about career paths, since we're supposed to start thinking about college."

"Do you know what you'd like to become?" he asked.

"I've known for years. But you'll need to help me a bit -or should I say, 'a bite.'"

"That's not really a career, though..."

"Is a career that important?"

"To make money it is."

"You don't have to worry about that."

"Why would you say that?" he asked, stopping by an old maple tree.

"You live in a mansion.Duh."

"You think it's that easy?" he snapped. "That I can justmy whatever I want?"

I was taken aback. "I didn't mean to offend you."

"I don't have all the money in the world."

"I never said you did."

"That's not why... why you like me, is it?" The confident, content Alexander I'd seen a few days ago was nowhere in sight.

Something was troubling Alexander and I had to get to the root of it.

"What's wrong? You've never acted like this before. You really think I like you because you live in a mansion and have a butler? Besides, I don't like you-I love you."

Alexander shook his head. He took my hands and drew me near.

"So many things have changed so quickly. I just have to get things sorted out."

"You don't have to save the world every day, you know."

"We aren't going to be spending the time together that we once did."

"I know. I'm trying to deal with it, too. I get lonely and miss you like crazy. But once your parents settle in, that will change. They'll get sick of you, like my parents get sick of me."

Alexander cracked a smile.

"Besides, we have time together now. I've been waiting all day to see you. Let's talk about us."

"Or not," he said, his bad mood slowly disappearing. "We can talk later."

He leaned against a tree outside the Mansion and kissed me.

"Let's have some fun," he said.

"Wasn'tthat fun? I thought it was."

Alexander led me toEvansPark . He chased me around the jungle gym until I almost fainted from exhaustion. Out of breath, I flopped down on my back and gazed up at the stars.

"I wish every night was like this."

"If they were, then we wouldn't appreciate it."

"Maybe so.But I'd like to live this way forever."

"On your back staring at the stars?"

"With you." I stroked Alexander's hair and he playfully kissed me. "It's not too late," I said.

"For what?"

"To make me like you."

"Why do you have to be like me? Why can't you be like you?"

"Fine, have it your way. I'll be boring and mortal for the rest of my life."

"You think that I find you boring because you're not a vampire?"

I sat up. "I'm not exciting. I can't fly and I don't sleep in a coffin and except for my clothes, I guess I'm pretty normal." I hated to admit it even to myself.

"You are far from normal-you are extraordinary. You're free thinking, spirited, adventurous, and sometimes even dangerous. Not to mention irresistibly sexy!"

"Flatter me more!" I said, and gave him a huge hug. "Imagine if I slept in your coffin every day-not just a few weeks during summer break."

"I think about it every time I close the lid," I realized it was hard on Alexander, too. But he didn't complain. He kept his feelings to himself, and he seemed to dwell on the positive, not brood on the negative, like I did. I still had a lot to learn from my vampire-mate, Alexander Sterling.