Chapter 1- Her Greatest Dream, His greatest Nightmare

Susan Loraine had always been the nerd. She didn't look like one, but she was. Head always in a book, trying to explain the many theories of physics to everybody, et cetera. She had never had a boyfriend before, and never thought she'd ever find one. But, with one look, it all changed.
It was love at first sight. She had met him in gym. It seemed to be an accident, but the fates had aligned it so. She sat out, knowing she was no use in dodgeball. She pulled out "Twilight", reading it in the hope that she, too, would find her Edward, her one. Then, it hit her. Literally! A dodgeball came soaring at her head as fast as lightning, and she fell from the top of the bleachers. He was there in an instant.
Jonathan Windle, the jock of the class, caught her just in time. Her red hair fell around her face, blocking her face. Hiding her blush. He parted her hair gently, smiling. She looked up at him, her emerald eyes twinkling. He set her down, his sapphire eyes staring at her. He tossed his blonde hair back gently and flashed her another smile, backing away. He turned around, leaving her in awe. She stared after him, taking in his every detail. His white shorts and shirt, his white shoes, every small detail. Even the way he seemed to float when he walked.
She tried to remember every detail of what happened. She remembered reading her book, at the part where Bella explained to herself what Edward was. She was going over the myths and what she'd experienced with him. How he was strong, his skin was as cold as ice, and his amazing speed. He had run from across the lot to catch her, to save her. She remembered how Jonathan was nowhere near her. He was on the other side of the gym…No way! It wasn't possible! But then again, she had considered flapping her arms to fly like a bird and howling at the moon to become a werewolf. She was shocked at this new development. She waited all class, then ran up to him.
"I know what you are!" she said with the upmost certainty. His face twisted in horror, shocked by her knowing. How could she? He said, "Come with me." He grabbed her by the arm fiercely and dragged her behind the bleachers.
Her heart pounded, thinking that he was either going to feed off of her, or kiss her. Either way, she wasn't ready for it.
"How do you know? What am I?" His stare went ice cold and he stared into her eyes.
"You're a vampire. You're incredibly fast and you caught me to prevent bloodshed so you wouldn't go insane from the bloodlust." She smiled. "And…I love you." She stood, tip-toed, in front of him, trying to kiss him.
He laughed and flicked her bangs back from her eyes. "Not even close," he whispered to her. He walked off slowly, his eyes going back to their normal sapphire. Susan stood, dumbstruck, on the verge of tears. "Of course he wouldn't love me…" She sat on the ground and cried. He turned around to look at her. He ran to her side and hugged her tightly. "It's okay. I don't know about the love part yet, but I do know you're wrong about my being. I'm here to keep you safe, and that's why i caught you."
"What do you mean, 'Keep me safe'?" She stared into his eyes, and he cowered back a little.
"Nothing." He smiled and kissed her on the cheek. "I'm not ready for a relationship, but I'll think about this." He picked her up, set her on her feet, and ran back to the hall, seeming to float as he went.
She just stood there, thinking. What could he be? If he's not a vampire, what is he? The thoughts puzzled her fro quite some time, and she walked to her locker, still thinking about him. What is he? Not even David from the track team is that fast!
She grabbed her stuff, heading home from school. It was a weird day, to say the least. Everything had been messed up from day one at her school, but it had never been like this.
She thought of Jonathan when she hit the door. She fought past siblings fighting over the cookie jar and her dad talking about kung-fu. Her mind was completely set on him.
Susan rested on her bed in her upstairs room. It was covered in furry blankets and pillows. Feathers hung from the walls and ceiling, making the room look like a fluffy cloud. Almost like heaven. She pulled out her book and tried to read, but he was still on her mind. He flooded into her brain, drowning all other thought and destroying her concentration. Her heart ached for him. What was happening to her?!
She knew the answer. She was in love. Not a crush, not gratitude for his saving her, but true love. She walked over the the open window, a window that almost took up the whole wall. A ventilation scheme thought up by her father. To her and her mother, it was a danger zone.
He flooded through her thoughts again, and she could've sworn she saw him. She took a step forward, and thought it to be her last. She fell from the third floor to the ground, screaming all the way. Once again, miraculously, John was there to save her.
"Do I have to stay by your side to keep you safe? That's the second time this hour! Suzy, you better stay focused!" He laughed and set her down.
Thoughts swarmed through her head like angry bees. What? How? Why? He was so fast…He knew I was in danger! How?! She stared at him as if he were some ancient art, examining and cautious. She wanted to figure him out.
She halted his escape and walked toward him, slowly but surely. She hugged him and took him to the cellar. She lit some candles to show him the beauty of the place.
It wasn't like a typical basement- not at all dreary or scary. It was a pleasant, calm place. There was a small couch, a mini-fridge, a TV, and a small circular bed, covered in down feathers.
She blushed slightly at his wonder struck expression. "It was my get-away when I was sad or lonely. Everything was put here by me, by myself. Even the bed."
Jonathan marveled at it. That bed should have been too heavy for her to lift! She was just a tiny thing! He smirked and looked at her. "Lift it! I dare you." The smirk did not fade, but was tinted with a slight anticipation.
Eager to prove to him her worth, she grabbed the bed with two hands and lifted it up to her chest. Jonathan's jaw dropped.
"HOW?!" he cried in surprise. He walked around her, staring at her in astonishment. "Wow. Just…wow."
She blushed deep red and set the bed down gently. She picked up the feathers and placed them in their appropriate spots on the mattress. She plopped down on the bed, still blushing. She laid back, resting on the soft pillows of down. Jonathan walked over to sit with her. She placed her hand on his. His warm skin, tanned by the sun, seemed to be even darker compared with hers. She pulled him down close, not wanting him to leave in the blink of eye as he appeared.
Jonathan shuddered, not wanting this, but somehow, he felt comforted by her gentle touch. He snuggled closer, feeling her presence stronger than before. He was only here to protect her, but he felt a stronger bond. But if he was to love her, it could hurt her worse than anything else. He decided that he was there on Earth to do his job, so he might as well enjoy it. Even when the job was done, he decided, he would stay here for her. This love would go on. Even if it was like a bad dream, her loving him. Bad for him because it could go bad for her. But they would find a way. No matter what it took. Her dream would become reality.

Chapter 2- First Love and First Spite

Susan couldn't believe what had happened in just one day. She had faced death twice and was saved by the same man, he new boyfriend, Jonathan. He already had a name for her. It was really cheesy. He called her Suzy-Q, because she was "so sweet".
Of course the cheerleaders were angry. "Why the hell would Jonathan date Susan?! She is just a nerdy little outcast who nobody likes!" They thought themselves to be the best of them all, but really they were all just spoiled little girls who never expected less than what they wanted.
Susan was in the cafeteria, walking with her tray to the secluded booth at the farthest corner of the place, her sanctuary. As she sat down, a shadow covered the wall and table. His shadow.
"Jonathan!" She blushed and smiled. "What're you doing here?"
"I'm here to eat with you, Suzy-Q!" He sat beside her, smiling.
Susan blushed deeper, to a scarlet red, and looked at him shyly. He looked back, his eyes overflowing with love, and he kissed her on the lips for everyone to see.
Susan's eyes went wide with surprise. She smiled and pulled him closer, deepening the kiss. Her hands grabbed his golden locks, entwining her fingers with every follicle she could touch.
He smiled and pushed her off gently. His arms wrapped around her waist, keeping her close to him. "You have a lot of passion," he whispered to her.
Gasps of shock resonated through the whole room, some of them were even the childish "OOOOO!"
She whispered back, "It comes with true love…." She blushed and noticed that Morgan, a cheerleader, was fuming angry. "What's her deal?" she asked.
He turned her away from Morgan. "Nothing. She's just jealous." He smirked and kissed her head.
Giggling, she ate some of her bologna sandwich and some Doritos. He smiled and opened a soda. Mountain Dew, crisp and fresh like, well, dew from a mountain. Hence the name. She giggled again, looking at his expression when he drank the pop. It was as cold as ice, and it gave him a slight brain freeze. He set the soda down and stole one of her Doritos.
"Hey!" She playfully punched him on the arm, making him laugh. He smiled.
"Sorry, Suzy." He laughed some more, opening his PB&J sandwich. She bit off of it, laughing.
"Sorry, Johnny, but all's fair in love and war. Especially love." She smiled and finished her food, eating with a large smile on her face.
They finished eating at the same time, and, holding hands, they walked to dispose of the wrappers and have the trays washed. Since they had extra time, they went to the gymnasium.
They sat behind the bleachers, laughing and talking. Everyone else thought that they were making out or engaging in inappropriate behavior. The rumors spread like wild fire, building up a mass of jealousy and outrage.
Jonathan and Susan knew what they were thinking and just ignored it. It didn't matter to them. All that mattered was what was happening right there, right then. In due time, the rumors and accusations would fade, leaving nothing but the truth.
By the time lunch period had passed, they had exchanged ten secrets, told their most private and personal thoughts and dreams, and had even made some confessions of their worst doings. They ran to the office, requesting that they have their classes changed. She wanted third period biology with him, and he wanted second period math and first period science with her. Little did the school's staff know that. So, the classes changed. They headed for P.E., smiling all the way.
She thought about sitting out, but he urged her to play. It was another game of dodgeball. He said he's protect her, and she trusted him with every part of her being. So, she would play.
It was a long gym period, but it didn't bother them. Any time together was a blessing in their eyes. After gym, Susan pulled out her crap cell phone, flipping through her contacts. Jonathan stuck by her side, trying to kiss her. She pressed a finger to his lips, stopping his approach. "No, not yet. Gotta call my mom." She dialed and waited, hearing the kids in the background when her mother finally answered.
"Hey sweetie! Is something wrong? What happened!?" Already she was making wild assumptions. She wanted to say, Nothing could be wrong with John here, but her mother would freak out and question her. Who's John? What's he like? What do you mean nothing could be wrong? The river of inquiries flooded through her mind already.
"Nothing mom. Just wanted to call and say I might be late. I've got some…" she hesitated and thought of an excuse, then one hit like lightning, "I've got some studying to do. Big test. Love you mom. Bye!" She put hung up and put the phone in her pocket.
As soon as the phone was out of her hands, Jonathan pulled her to him and kissed her. She struggled, but not of her own free will. She had been shocked by the suddenness of the lip-lock, and the surprise faded. She gave in, a wicked smile spreading across her face.
Susan pulled him behind the bleachers, keeping him inches from her body. She despised the near non-existent proximity of space between them, and she closed the gap. He smiled, but this time something wasn't right in his eyes. There seemed to be a fire in them, but not one of anger; his eyes were filled with the fires of passion. Their lips touched once, then again. Over and over their lips came together, and with each kiss all faded away. With each kiss, they were no longer bound to this world. It was only them and love. Love enveloping every fiber of their beings in this other place, this sanctuary where they would disappear to.
Jonathan somehow found a way to be even closer to his true love, to his Susan. She shivered, but she was not cold; rather, she was shivering from anticipation, excitement, and even fear. Fear of losing him in the blink of an eye. Fear that this was all just a dream, a dream too sweet to be real. Her eyes closed, she ran her hand from his hair to his neck. She brought her hands around the the front and ran them up his chest, then into his shirt, along his muscles. He had a sculpted body, and she wanted to explore every part of it, to know him better.
Her hands ran along his chest, and moved to his back. She moved her fingers slowly along his spine and traced his shoulder blades. Everything was perfect. From the tiniest detail, he was like a figure from her dreams. Every pore of his skin was unblemished, and his lips were as soft as the clouds themselves. She took the time to stop kissing him and looked deep into his eyes.
"What?" he asked, as if he had done something wrong.
"Nothing. Everything is just perfect." SHe smiled and stood up. "We should go home. My parents will be upset if I spend any more time here."
"But it's only been five minutes…." He checked his watch. "Oh." Time had passed so much that, in the course of an hour, they felt only the pass of a couple minutes.
They both kissed one last time and walked, hand in hand, out of the school.

Imprint

Publication Date: 11-27-2011

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
To Ariana Mendez, my main inspiration in this book. Also to the Lord, our God, for bringing me to this. But mainly Ariana, 'cause it was she whose heart touched mine the most, and who has given me so much to work with.