Seeing Red (The Dark Love Series) (24 page)

             
I walk over to her and hug her tight. “She loves you regardless of what you are. She's going to be so happy to see you.”

             
I grab Caroline's hand, and we walk into our house together. I see my mom about to walk to the living room, and her eyes meet ours. Ali's jaw drops and the glass she is holding shatters on the ground into thousands of pieces. She stands there staring at us. “Caroline?”

             
“Hi, mom,” Caroline says in almost a whisper.

             
They run toward each other and embrace with a hug. Tears start to fall from all of our faces. My mother has a huge smile on her face. “My baby! Oh my sweet, sweet, baby!”

             
“I've missed you so much. I'm so sorry for leaving. I'm so sorry, mom! I had to leave,” Caroline cries.

             
“Sweetheart, it's fine. I'm just glad you're here and you're safe. That's all that matters right now.”

             
“I thought you weren't going to want me here because of what I am.” They continue to hug.

             
“Vampire or not, you're my daughter and I will always love you.”

             
“I'm so happy to finally be home.”

* * * *

Caroline, Ali, and I sit on the couch in the living room and talk. I'm so happy to have my sister back home. I sit and look at Caroline. She's much paler than usual, but she looks so perfect, so beautiful. She doesn't seem like she's changed much. She only seems more mature now that she's a vampire. Other than that, you can't tell there is a difference in the person she was seven months ago.

              “Why did you leave?” Ali asks, breaking the silence.

             
Caroline looks at me and then back to Ali. “I didn't want Nina to change herself into a vampire-healer to protect me. I couldn't let her to that to herself. I wouldn't be able to live knowing my sister
sacrifice
d
her human life for me.” Lynns looks at me, smiling slightly. “And, I left because William and I had to spy on the Sulivic Brothers without them finding out. The best way was making my runaway plan seem as real as possible.”

             
“Where did you go? Where did you stay?” Ali asks with concern.

             
Caroline's eyes meet Ali's. “We were always close to town, just in case we were absolutely needed. We stayed in different hotels and Inns.”

             
“I'm so glad William kept you safe, honey!”

             
Caroline smiles. “William is such a wonderful being. He was teaching me how to control my blood cravings. He taught me how to hunt and be a good vampire. I'm so in love with him, he's my everything. I never knew I had the ability to love one person so much. He's so perfect.”

             
“Two sisters fall in love with two brothers. How cute!” Ali laughs.

             
“How's Andrew doing?” I change the subject.

             
Caroline's eyes find mine. “He's not doing so well. He started drinking lately. He's so lost, Nina. He feels like he's going to let you down. He thinks he's going to lose you forever because of what Lucian did.”

             
“True love always finds a way,” Ali interrupts.

             
“She's right,” Caroline agrees.

             
Maybe Ali's right. Maybe true love does always find a way, no matter what. I read more of my journal, and it seems like Andrew and I have been through so much together. It's seems like we've conquered so many obstacles together, and fought off anyone or anything that stood in our way. Isn't that what you do for someone you love?

             
“I think I'm going to take a run and let you two catch up,” I blurt out.

             
Before I leave the living room, Caroline grabs my arm. “It's going to be okay, sis. You're going to get through this.”

             
My eyes find the ground. “I really hope so.” I look up and see her smiling. “I'm so happy to finally have you home!”

Chapter 28

Trying To Be Normal

Dear Diary,

              I woke up to the sun shining through the window and onto my face. I looked out and saw that it's a beautiful day outside. The sun is shining
bright, and the wind is blowing gently.

             
Staring out the
window, I think, "today's going to be a good day."
My sister is back home. My mom was overly excited to see her youngest daughter. Caroline was overwhelmed with joy, especially since she was finally home safe.

             
I need to stay optimistic. I know I'm dealing with memory loss for the “love of my life”, but I have my beautiful, happy mother and my caring, loving sister back together. I have been waiting for this moment for a really long time, and it's finally here. I have my family back.

Love, Nina

* * * *

I hear banging sounds coming from Lynns' room.
I jump up, run to her room, and open the door. I immediately burst out laughing. Caroline is
digging through her closet and throwing shoes everywhere. She looks up to see me hysterically laughing. “What's so funny? Have you see my white shirt with the big blue flower on it?” She asks.

             
I continue to laugh. “It's good to finally have you home.”

             
Caroline starts laughing for a minute and then stops. “But, seriously, have you seen my white shirt with the big blue flower on it?”

             
I shake my head and walk out of her room. I've missed her so much. I missed her losing things and looking like a mad woman trying to find them. I swear, her room swallows her things, and never gives them back until it wants to.

             
I begin to get ready in the bathroom while Lynns frantically runs around the house looking for this and that. It's highly amusing.

             
I walk down the stairs and see my mother glowing with happiness. She's dancing around the kitchen while she makes food. “It smells delicious in here. Whatcha' making?”

             
“Blueberry pancakes, eggs, bacon, and fruit in a bowl. I hope you're hungry,” Ali replies with a smile.

             
“I'm starving,” I state, as I inhale the scrumptious smell.

             
Ali beams a smile at me. She looks so happy right now, it makes me happy. “Here's your favorite. Blueberry pancakes with a side of fruit.”

             
I begin eating and then hear a big thump. I look up at Ali and she's looking at me. We both stare at each other for a few seconds and then burst into laughter. “Caroline's home,” Ali laughs.

             
“I bet you she'll find that blue shirt she's looking for. She always does,” I continue to laugh.

             
Caroline comes running down the stairs. “I found it. Are we going to be late?”

             
Ali and I start laughing. “We knew you would, you always do,” Ali says. “You have about ten minutes before you have to leave. Are you nervous for your first day back to school in seven months?”

             
The smile fades on Lynns' face. “I'm so nervous. I don't know why.”

             
“Here,” Ali hands Caroline a glass of red liquid. “William stocked me up on blood for you. You should probably eat before you go to school.” That's going to take some getting used to.

             
Caroline takes the glass and gulps it all down within seconds. “Done! Now, let's go before we're late, Nina!” Lynns yells with enthusiasm.

* * * *

We pull into the parking lot at school, and I see Lynns getting even more nervous. There is no smile on her face, and her fingernail is tapping on the side of the door. Her legs are shaking wildly. I've never seen her so nervous. “Can you stop that,” I laugh. “What's wrong with you? Why are you so nervous?”

             
Caroline looks at me with a serious face. “I just don't want to kill anyone today.”

             
I begin to laugh and she joins me. “It will be fine. If you feel the need to feed, then just leave. I'm sure mom can come up with an excuse for
you, and if you need me, I'll be around here somewhere.”

             
She looks away and takes a deep breath. “Don't feed on anyone,” she mutters to herself. “Don't do it. Don't do it. It will be fine.”

             
“Caroline, look at me,” I say, and wait for her eyes to find mine. “It's going to be all right. Everything will be fine. I know you can do this. If you're not ready, then it's okay.”

             
“No,” she says quickly. “I'm ready. Kali's going to freak when she sees me,” she changes the subject.

             
Kali is going to start screaming the Kali scream and jump up and down when she sees Caroline. Maybe this means I won't have to go shopping with her all the time and attend all the fundraisers. A smile crosses my face. Finally.

             
I turn the car off, and we both get out at the same time. I look over at the front entrance, and see the Madsen brothers standing there. I start checking Andrew out. Damn. Oh my God, he's so beautiful. His pale white skin, his dark mysterious eyes, his black v-neck shirt. He's so breathtaking, so sexy. This guy is in love with me. Wow.

             
Caroline runs to William and hugs him tightly. “Baby!” She yells. “I didn't know you were coming to school today!”

             
“Of course! I couldn't miss your first day back, baby,” William tells her, with obvious love on his face.

             
I walk over to Andrew and smile at him. “Hey,” is all I manage to say to him.

             
“You look beautiful today,” Andrew tells me with a sweet smile on his face.

             
I feel my cheeks start to turn red. I hope he can't see. “Thank you.”

             
I hear someone start to scream. I immediately cover my ears. It's Kali. She must have spotted Caroline. “I didn't know you were coming back to school! Why didn't you tell me? Oh my God! Yay! I have my best friend back!” Kali screams. They both begin to
jump up and down, smiling and screaming.
I haven't seen Kali this happy in a long time.

             
“Please tell me you're going to come back and cheer?” Kali screams.

             
“Obviously,” Caroline screams back.

             
“You need to help me with the basketball tournament this weekend!”

             
“What's that?” Caroline asks.

             
“There's two parts to the tournament. The first part is the testing part, and it's open to boys and girls.
It's twenty-five dollars to enter.
It's to test your ability on how many free throws you can make, how fast you can run, and etc. There will be a winner for each category. The winners will receive a fifty dollar gift certificate to our local sporting goods store."

             
"Ooh, that sounds like fun! What's the second part?" Lynns asks.

             
"Yes, it is!" Kali shouts. "The second part is the most fun. You pay an entry fee of fifty dollars for your team, consisting of only five players. The teams play in a regular basketball game against another team for fifteen minutes each. The two remaining teams will go head to head for twenty minutes. The winning team will receive a trophy, a two hundred dollar gift certificate to our local sporting goods store, and bragging rights."

             
"Ooh, sounds like a blast! I'm so excited to help," Caroline says as she hugs Kali again. “I've missed you so much, best friend!”

             
“I've missed you so much, too!” Kali screams as the bell rings. Is she ever going to stop that? “Let me walk you to class!” Kali looks back at me and smiles. “See you at lunch, bestie!”

             
“See you then,” I smile and hug her.

             
I watch as Caroline, Kali, and William walk inside the school. I start to follow them, until Andrew grabs my hand. “Can I talk to you for a second?”