Benny and Ethan were walking out of the school, Benny freaking out that Reagan hasn't been answering him since he found out that they abandoned her last night. But Ethan was reassuring him that she was alright, but it didn't help his case.
"Guys, wassup!"
The two look in front of them to see Rory. He was wearing several layers of clothing and sunglasses.
"Rory?" Benny questions.
"We thought you were dead," Ethan says.
"Dude, I feel amazing. I woke up the morning after the party with no asthma, no need for glasses, and I barely have to sleep anymore.
"You're a fledgling, too?" Benny asks.
"Heck no! I'm rocking the full vampire action, my dude. The big V! Can I get a what-what?" Rory holds up his hand for a high five.
"What? You drank human blood?" Ethan asks, looking at Benny for help, but he just shrugs.
"They said that if I didn't, I'd die."
"Do you have any idea what you've just done to yourself?" Benny says.
"I'm immortal and all-powerful, dude. Ka-chow!" Rory exclaims.
Benny and Ethan look at each other in confusion. Rory turns around to see the upperclassmen vampires, motioning for him.
"Sorry, guys. Gotta go to church." Rory says.
"Church? Vampires don't go to church." Ethan says.
"Jesse says we have to. He's been so bossy. He's all like 'blah blah, we have to do this, we have to find the Cuban animals--"
"Cuban animals?" The two repeat.
"What are you talking about?" Benny questions.
"Sorry, maybe we can hang out later, or fang out," Rory says, flashing his fangs. "Zing! See ya." He starts to walk away before Benny stops him.
"Wait, Rory!" The blonde-haired boy turns around. "Have you seen Reagan at all?"
"I would be glad to be surrounded by her presence. But I haven't seen her since the party last night." Rory shrugs before walking away.
"She'll be okay, Benny," Ethan says before gripping the strap of his backpack. "Grab your backpack. We're going to church."
*
Reagan Sullivan was freaking out.
It has been twenty-four hours since she became a vampire.
At first, she thought it was going to be awesome. She thought she wouldn't have to care about Benny or any of them anymore, but ever since she became a vampire, her emotions have been heightened. So whatever thoughts she had before, they have increased.
She was still furious at the thought of the people who have once cared about her left her in the dust. To practically become vampire lunch, but instead, she transformed into this whole new person.
She didn't know if she liked it or not.
Her phone goes off and she quickly picks it up to see it's another message from Benny. Ever since the night she became a vampire, it's like a light went off in Benny's head, that he left her there, and now he won't leave her alone.
And suddenly, her anger returned.
Why should she care about what he thinks?
He has now abandoned her.
Scoffing, she puts her phone in her back pocket before heading off to school to meet Jesse and the others.
*
Sarah was sitting on a bench when she saw the school doors open to reveal Erica and Reagan walking in with the vampires. Erica was dressed in different clothing, clothing that would've definitely gotten her dress coded. Reagan was dressed how she normally was, but her demeanor was different. And Sarah knew why.
"Hey, Sarah. What's wrong? You're looking a little underfed." Erica smirks towards Reagan and she returns one.
"What happened to you two?" Sarah asks, eyeing the two girls who seemed attached to the hip.
"Oh, you know. Just the best thing ever." Erica says. "It's not too late, you know. Join us. Then, we can be best friends forever."
Sarah doesn't say a word, letting them know her answer.
"You're making the biggest mistake of your life. Well, what's left of it." Jesse says.
"Isn't that cute?" Erica runs her fingers through Jesse's hair. "I think she still has a thing for you."
Sarah scoffs. "I got something for both of you, and it's made of wood and really sharp."
Jesse laughs. "Sarah, you've been replaced." He and Erica turn to each other and have a heavy makeout session.
"You're still coming to the Dusk premiere, right?" Erica asks once she and Jesse were done with their makeout.
Sarah doesn't answer but throws a glance at Reagan, whose expression was unreadable. Then, she turns around and walks away from the group of vampires.
*
Later that night, Benny was getting to leave for Ethan's and the Dusk premiere, and he opens the front door to reveal Reagan who held out a fist like she was about to knock on the door.
"Reagan!" Benny jumps. He and Ethan were informed by Sarah about Reagan's transformation. He's been wanting to talk to her, but when she was actually right in front of him, he was scared that she was gonna go off on him for abandoning her.
"Can we talk?" Reagan asks.
"You're not gonna eat me, are you?"
A small smile forms on her lips. "Just don't piss me off more than you have."
Benny's eyes slightly widen. "Right."
He sets his bag down on the nightstand by the door and he and Reagan head over to the couch. His palms start to sweat as his nerves were taken over.
"So... what do you want to talk about?" Benny questions as the girl next to him were silent.
"About why I became a vampire." She simply says. "That night, after the three of you managed to escape. I was still in the arms of Jesse, and I couldn't even think about how they might've killed me. All I thought about was that you abandoned me, to survive on my own with a house full of vampires." Reagan pauses as a tear falls down her cheek. She looks up to meet his hazel eyes. "Did you purposely do that? W-Was it because I abandoned you two years ago, so you decided to give me a taste of my own medicine? Because I regret that, Benny, I really do. You were my best friend, and all you wanted to do was be there for me, but I pushed you away."
Benny quickly grabs ahold of Reagan's hand. "I would NEVER do that to you, Reagan. I didn't do it to be a jerk or anything, I was focused on getting out of there, but that's no excuse to leave you behind. You're a vampire because of me. Because you felt so hurt, that you believed changing who you were would help the pain. And I'm so sorry." He reaches up to wipe the fallen tear off Reagan's cheek with his thumb. Then he cups her cheek and she leans to his touch, craving it.
"I'm sorry for leaving you," Reagan says.
"So am I." Benny whispers.
The two stared into each other's eyes, not needing to say anything. The moment they were in was perfect. Well, that was until a cough interrupted.
"Well, don't mind me."
The two teens pull away, jumping at the sudden voice. They turn their heads to see Benny's grandma smiling at them.
"Grandma!" Benny groans.
"Hi, Ms. Weir." Reagan awkwardly waves.
"Come on, you two. Let's get you to Ethan's."
*
The three arrived at Ethan's house, and Ethan and Sarah were surprised to see Reagan with Benny, but they shrugged it off as they could tell there was something between the two.
The four teens said their goodbyes to Jane and Ms. Weir.
"All right, Jane. We'll be back soon, okay?" Ethan reassures his little sister.
"If we don't get sucked dry," Benny adds.
"What?!" Jane exclaims.
"Nothing!" Reagan quickly says. "Benny's hoping that he doesn't cry during the movie." She slaps him upside the head.
Benny groans. "See you, grandma."
Ms. Weir enters the room. "Wait, dear, I have something for you kids."
"Uh, oh, grandma. We really gotta go. Um, I already ate. I don't really think we need any--" He cut himself off as his grandma hands sharp daggers wrapped in cloth. "--decorative knives."
"If you're going to be battling those bloodsuckers, you're gonna need these." She says, handing the daggers to Ethan.
"Where'd you get those?" Benny asks confused.
"Spend almost a century in this town, and you pick up a few things." Ms. Weir replies. "Oh, and this." She turns towards the table. "I have something else for you." She says to her grandson. She hands him a brown, leather book with bookmakers between the pages. "Now, I marked a few spells for you to use, but be careful. They don't always do what they tell you to when you haven't practiced."
"Are you a witch?" Jane asks.
"Oh, goodness no, not a witch, honey. I'm an earth priestess. Very different and much more fun. And Ethan here," She turns to the Morgan boy. "He's a seer. That's his path." Ethan looks at the woman confused. "You get visions, don't you? They're supposed to start around puberty."
"Grandma!" Benny exclaims while Reagan and Sarah laugh.
"Oh, all right. Off you go." She motions them out. "If you scratch my car, I'll turn you into a toad!"