“Center of attention… We’re the center of attention,” I murmured as we entered the restaurant Fiona had chosen to eat at. “Or should I say you guys are.”

Literally every customer glanced up from his or her table at us as we passed. It felt like I was walking around with a group of famous people. I was actually expecting someone to jump up and ask for our autographs. So much for vampires not being ostentatious. Vincent and Sebastian trailed a few feet behind Fiona and myself, Vincent with a moody expression on his face, Sebastian taking in his surroundings. Every few seconds he’d wrinkle his nose and make a face. I figured it was due to the thousands of aromas lingering around the restaurant from the dishes.

Fiona, who looked like she was having the time of her life, smiled flirtatiously at a few of the men we passed. “Come on, Em! Flirt a little bit!”

I shook my head at once. “No way! I wouldn’t flirt when I already have a guy I like. It makes me feel like I’m betraying him.”

“Ah,” she responded, the smile slipping off her face. “Do you really think that?”

“How would you feel if Sebastian started flirting with other girls?”

She did a double take at me, but because she moved her head so fast it seemed like she only spared me a quick glance. “S-Seb?”

I grinned evilly. “Are you blushing?”

“I’m not!” she cried, her cheeks blossoming with color, betraying her words. “W-what are you even talking about?”

“Oh, come on, Fiona. Don’t act so innocent. I know you like him—”

“Shh!” she silenced me, pressing a soft hand over my mouth.

I blinked at her.

“He can hear you,” she whispered, removing her hand.

“Oh, yeah, oops,” I responded, scratching the back of my head in embarrassment. “Sorry, Fiona.”

She suddenly snatched up my hand, dragging me in the opposite direction we were headed. “Come with me.”

“H-hey!” I protested, stumbling over my feet. “I thought we were eating?”

“Where are you going?” Sebastian questioned as Fiona tried to move by him. He easily blocked her way.

“Lady’s room,” she answered easily, “Emily said she had to pee really bad.”

My eyes widened. “What I—”

“Right?” she interjected sharply.

“I-I… Yeah, guess so,” I muttered, lowering my gaze to my feet. “S’pose I have a bad bladder or something.

Vincent snorted and I quickly shot him a glare. “We’ll meet you guys at the table. Order our drinks. I want a Coke.”

“I’ll have a Sprite,” Fiona added, hooking her arm through mine. “Our table says Rutherford.”

“Eh? We have reservations?”

“You didn’t know what?” Sebastian inquired, furrowing his eyebrows.

I shook my head. “Nope.”

“Does this restaurant seem like a place you can eat at without one?” Vincent asked, smirking at me.

I puffed out my cheeks. “Whatever. I don’t know if I brought enough money for this—”

“You’re not paying at all,” Sebastian cut me off. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle your bill.”

“No, I will,” Vincent told me, crossing his arms. “You pay for Fiona.”

Sebastian frowned a tiny bit, but shrugged. “Okay, sure.”

“We’ll be back then,” Fiona stated, dragging me forward. “Have a nice conversation while you wait.”

I sent Vincent a helpless look to which he replied with a smirk. After narrowing my eyes at him, I turned myself around so I wouldn’t stumble over my feet while Fiona was towing me toward the restroom. A few people gave us amused glances as we hastened between tables at an unusually quick pace. Instead of having a multi-stalled bathroom like most restaurants, it only had single person one. Fiona grabbed the handle, ready to wing it open.

“Wait, it might be—”

“Hey!”

“Oops, sorry!”

“—Occupied,” I finished, grimacing as she shut the door again, a silly grin crossing her face. Sighing, I covered my face with my hand. “Don’t just walk into bathrooms like that, Fiona. You’re supposed to knock.”

She sniffed. “I’m a Princess. I don’t have to.”

My jaw nearly dropped. “Fiona,” I started in a scolding voice. “You—”

“I’m kidding,” she laughed, waving her hand in my face. “You actually believed me? I’m not that awful.”

Just then the bathroom door opened and an elderly gentleman came out of the room, avoiding all eye contact with Fiona. It was an awkward moment. Fiona briskly swept me into the room and closed the door behind us. Swallowing nervously, I eyed her as she locked it. Somewhere in the back of my mind I felt like she was about to murder me.

“What am I going to do, Emily?”

“Huh?”

Fiona was wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand, sniffling quietly. Completely thrown off guard, I could only stand in my spot and gawk at her. Her change of emotion had happened way too fast! Awkwardly, I moved a little closer to her and put my hand on her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“On Friday,” she snuffled. “Sebastian…”

Realization dawned on me. Sebastian was going to find a wife. “Fiona…”

“It’s not fair!” she exclaimed, her eyes catching mine. Even with tears in them, she still managed to look stunning. “I didn’t even hear of this until a few days ago! No one told me! Even Sebastian! Why would they keep something like that a secret?”

“You do still have feelings for him!”

“I’ve never stopped loving him!” she confessed, gesticulating wildly. “Why else do you think I’ve stayed with the Rutherfords? I don’t belong there at all, Emily. No one likes me in that family aside from the immediate family— Luella, Solomon, Sebastian, and Vincent. The only reason I’ve stayed is to be close to Sebastian!”

Still a little bit shocked, it took me a second to respond. “Have you told him this?”

“No! I couldn’t! Because of me… Everything that’s happened with Vincent… I couldn’t put him in such a position, Emily. But with the marriage…” Tears spilled over the edges of her eyelids again, rolling down her cheeks. “Why didn’t he tell me?”

“Fiona, I think—”

“Is he going to marry someone else?” she cut me off. “I can’t live in that house anymore, Emily.”

“Fiona, calm down,” I demanded, putting both my hands on her shoulders. “Sebastian won’t marry someone else.”

She shook her head. “He has to, Emily! He’s the next king!”

“No, Fiona—”

“Yes, Emily! You don’t understand! Do you know who I am? I was human. It’s impossible for me to become queen!”

“Fiona!”

“You don’t get it! Even if we tried—”

“Fiona!”

She flinched back at the sound of my voice. “W-what?”

“What is with you vampires?” I demanded, scowling at her. “You and Sebastian! You’re so negative all the time! What if this? What if that? Guess what? Have you ever watched the Princess Diaries? What’s-Her-Face was supposed to get married to a man, but she didn’t! She ran the country on her own! Sebastian could do that too! You guys can start something new! Screw the rest of the world! You haven’t been waiting this whole damn time for nothing, Fiona! Don’t give up so easily! Stop crying!”

With wide eyes, she nodded her head, wiping her eyes again. “O-okay.”

Breathing a little heavier than usual, I could feel my cheeks starting to heat up from my words. “Honestly, Fiona. If you’re in love, don’t let anything stop you. I don’t know much about your world, but you can’t just give up so easily. Sebastian loves you too— don’t give up so easily!”

“How do you know?” she whispered.

“Sebastian and I are really close,” I answered with a wink. “But both of you two are so… so meek. Stop being pushed around by those above you. If Sebastian is going to be king, he can do something about this. King is higher than Court, right?”

She slowly nodded her head. “Y-yeah, I guess.”

“Don’t worry about the ball. Sebastian won’t enjoy it one bit,” I told her confidently. “Just get on the dance floor and make him jealous.”

A grin broke across her face. “Isn’t that evil?”

“Well I think it’s a fair trade. Him being forced to dance with women he doesn’t have feelings for… You have to watch it.”

She laughed. “That doesn’t sound very fair to him.”

“Make sure to tell him you love him.”

Her eyes widened. “What? No way! I told you I can’t do that!”

“He needs to hear it, Fiona. He doesn’t believe me when I tell him you still have feelings for him.”

“How did you know I did?”

I rolled my eyes. “I can just tell. It’s not that hard. Well, actually, it’s a little more difficult with you than Sebastian, but you have signs.”

“Signs?”

“The way you still call him Seb is one,” I informed her, pursing my lips. “And how you’ve never dated any of the guys at my school…”

She blushed. “I-It’s not like I rejected everyone because of him…”

“Yes you did. Just say it.”

“Say what?”

“Say you love him.”

“No way!” she cried, waving her hands in front of her body. “I can’t do that! Emily, that’s too embarrassing—”

I gave her a flat look. “Don’t you think it’ll be harder saying it to his face?”

She became more flustered, whipping her head back and forth. “It’s impossible to say that to his face!”

“If you don’t say it he might think you don’t care and find someone to marry at the ball.”

Silence filled the room after my comment. It looked like Fiona was struggling on what to do. Finally she sighed, tugging at a piece of her hair. “Fine… I… I love Sebastian,” she rushed.

I shook my head, grinning like a maniac. It was fun playing Cupid. “Nope, say it louder.”

“I love Sebastian.”

“What? I can’t hear you?”

She glowered at me. “Really?”

“What?”

“I love Sebastian!”

Taken aback by her sudden shouting, I jolted back. Her face was completely red and her shoulders were heaving. Without warning, the door to the bathroom opened. I turned my head to tell the person it was occupied, but my breath caught when I noticed it was Sebastian.

How cliché…

“Oh my god!” Fiona cried, her eyes widening.

“Fiona,” he started, his face completely blank.

She turned on me. “Emily!”

“I didn’t know he was there!”

“Fiona!” Sebastian repeated, moving toward her.

“I’m sorry!” she cried, putting her hand down. “Excuse me—”

“Fiona, wait!” Sebastian demanded, twisting on his heel as Fiona disappeared from the bathroom.

I stared after her, my mouth hanging open. That wasn’t exactly what I planned. Sebastian was staring at me, flabbergasted. I shooed him with my hands. “Go! Go get her! I told you, Sebastian! Now get!”

After a moment he nodded, stepping back into the restaurant. With his hand on the doorframe, he paused, turning back to me. “Thank you, Emily…”

“It’s no problem,” I responded with a smile, mocking saluting him. “Go get her back.”

He grinned. “Vincent’s alone at the table. The waitress is trying to flirt with him.”

Nodding, I quickly hurried out of the bathroom, shutting the door after me. It only took a few moments for me to locate our reserved table. Vincent was sitting at his, crossing his arms, a grumpy expression on his face. Grinning at the sight, I slowed my pace to a crawl to keep him waiting. When he noticed me, he beckoned with his finger for me to hurry up.

“What took so long?” he demanded as soon as I was close enough.

“Oh, you know, just helping a friend out,” I responded with a smirk.

He frowned. “Don’t tell me…”

“Don’t you think Fiona and Sebastian are meant to be?”

He dropped his head back and groaned. “I knew it.”

“What? You should be happy for them!”

“I am,” he told me gruffly, avoiding my gaze, “but I also know what this is going to cause. I’ve had enough trouble for a lifetime.”

I stuck out my chest. “Good thing you have plenty of those.”

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever. This is a good thing I guess. No more awkward tension between the two.”

“Don’t you think they’re just so cute together?” I gushed excitedly. “It’s like a fairytale! They get to live together happily for forever! You know, because they’re both vampires! If Fiona was still a human, she’d die…” I trailed off, realizing my words. An uncomfortable feeling washed through me. Human’s died…

Vincent seemed to be guessing my thoughts. “Are you afraid of dying?”

His question took me by surprise. “Huh?”

“Are you afraid to die?” he repeated.

“Oh, um, yeah. Who isn’t?” I responded, cupping my elbow with my hand. “It isn’t a pleasant idea, but it happens to everyone.”

He hummed his response, his sapphire eyes smoldering into mine. “Do you want to die?”

My heart skipped a beat. What was he thinking? Was he planning on asking me if I wanted to become a vampire? Was that what was hidden behind his words? “N-no I don’t, but I-I mean I guess I have to one day. I hope it’s when I’m old and wrinkly.”

“I see,” he said, grinning. “Old and wrinkly? Ew. I won’t want you then.”

“Hey!”

“It’s true.”

I fake scowled at him. “You could be at least friendly about it!”

“You want me to lie?”

“You’re so annoying!”

“Wouldn’t it be creepy if I said I wanted an old woman?” he pointed out, giving me an eye roll. “Think about that seriously, Stupid.”

Crossing my arms, I let out a huff of annoyance. “Whatever. I don’t want to think about getting older. I’m still a ripe, prime seventeen year old.”

Vincent suddenly grinned maliciously. “Jail bait, huh?”

“How old are you again?” Was it mean that I couldn’t remember?

“I’m—”

“In human years!” I added quickly.

He smirked. “Nineteen. I do believe I told you that before.”

“I forgot,” I admitted bashfully. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” he told me, reaching over to gently knock his fist against my head. “Humans have weak minds.”

I wrinkled my nose at him. “I don’t, remember? You can’t erase my mind.”

He shrugged. “You’re a Blue Blood, remember? You’re already different than everyone else.”

“I still age the same.”

“Yeah.”

My stomach twisted. Yes, I still aged the same. That meant I’d look much older than Vincent one day. When I was thirty, he’d probably still appear to be at the same age as he was now. But I couldn’t become a vampire. I couldn’t change into one of them! I didn’t belong with them. But…

“What?” Vincent demanded when he caught me staring at him.

“Do you want— ah!” I gasped, cutting myself off. I couldn’t ask him that! What was I doing? What was I thinking? There was no way I was ever going to become a vampire! Even if Vincent wanted me to change… it just couldn’t happen! “Sorry, it’s nothing,” I finished lamely.

He gave me a suspicious look. “You sure?”

“I… Yeah,” I murmured, sending my eyes downcast. “It’s nothing important…”

“Whatever.”

“Vincent?”

“What?”

“Would you like me even if I was thirty years old?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “No?”

I chuckled in relief. “Oh, okay.”

“Why would you even ask that?”

“I just figured if you were like Edward I’d be too creeped out to keep dating you,” I explained.

He scoffed. “Please don’t ever compare us. You would have to be crazy to be attracted to an old lady.”

“What if you really loved me?”

“I couldn’t ever love you that much.”

I gaped at him in disbelief. “Wow! You really are a jerk!”

He snickered. “Yeah, and?”

“I can’t believe you! That’s so mean!”

“Look,” he said flatly. “If I really loved you, do you think I’d let you continue living on as a human?”

I opened my mouth to reply to him, but found I couldn’t say anything. For some reason, I felt disappointed. Did that mean he didn’t love me? No, I thought, shaking my head. Of course he didn’t love me. We’d just become a couple. That would be silly…

But still I felt a little put out.

“Of course,” he continued when he realized I wasn’t going to say anything, “you’re still a little young, so I’d wait until your face matured before I did anything.”

“Yeah, we wouldn’t want you looking like a pedophile,” I remarked slyly, smirking again.

He shot me a dirty look. “I don’t look that old.”

“Or do you?”

“If I did, would you really think I’m handsome?”

“Who said I thought you’re handsome?”

“You don’t have to say it. It’s obvious. I’ve looked in a mirror before.”

Laughing, I shook my head at him. “Try not to be too pompous.”

He suddenly flicked something at me. “Here.”

I glanced down at the table, startled to see a red rose on it. For a moment I was too stunned to move. “A rose?”

“Haven’t you read the story? A Rose for Emily?”

I shook my head, picking up the fragile flower. “This is unexpectedly romantic.”

“It was Sebastian’s idea.”

“Figures.”

“Doesn’t it count that I went along with it?”

Well, since it was Vincent… “It does,” I decided. “I wouldn’t expect you to come up with something like this. What’s the story about?”

He smiled wickedly, an amused glint to his eyes. “An old lady sleeping next to a dead body.”

Immediately I tossed the rose away from me. “Ew!”

He chuckled. “I’m kidding, it’s just a creepy love story. That’s just the ending part.”

“What do you read?” I muttered, snatching up the rose again. It didn’t relate to the story… and it was too pretty to waste. “Thank you though.”

“Your welcome,” he mumbled, looking away from me. “Oh look who it is,” he said before I could comment about his embarrassment. “The future King and Queen have returned.”

Following his gaze, my eyes landed on the two vampires who, to my great satisfaction, were holding hands. My heart jumped a little in joy. Fiona caught my gaze and grinned happily. I just smiled back at her.

“Have our drinks came yet?” Sebastian asked, trying to act like nothing happened. “It’s been awhile.”

“No, they haven’t,” Vincent told him. “It’s a good thing too. Maybe you’d like to share one with Fiona instead.”

Sebastian scowled at his brother while Fiona blushed. I nudged Vincent in the side disapprovingly. He just laughed to himself.

“I’m sure you wouldn’t mind sharing one with Emily, since you two have shared spit before,” Sebastian retorted casually, obviously proud of his smart comeback.

This time it was Vincent who glared at his brother while I felt my face heat up. I could tell it was going to be a very long night.

____________________________________________________

Sorry this came at such a random time xD 1:00AM... I was planning to start at eight, but Hell's Kitchen was on. And then Master Chef was on, and I really love those shows. I got really confused at first because that white haired guy is in both so while watching MC I was like D: Did the Oli Sykes look alike go home? And I got all worried, but then I realized it was two different shows lol. Anyway... 

Enjoy these next few light chapters because then I'm going to do something that will make not only you cry, but myself. Even thinking about it my hearts beating a mile a minute :s THIS SUCKS. BUT I PROMISED MYSELF I HAD TO DO IT. <-- Convincing myself. 

I'm still undecided about one thing though... I'm sure you can tell what it is. I want to be different than all the other stories, but I also want to have at least somewhat of a happy ending. It's so difficult -.-