The bright sun mirrored my feelings the next morning. I was so happy. Me and Nick would be spending the day with each other. I just hoped I didn't do something to embarrass myself, and maybe he would ask me out. Emphasis, on the maybe because it was more than certainly, never going to happen.

Before going down stairs for some breakfast, I decided to get in the shower. It didn't take me long. I returned to my room and put on my shorts and a t-shirt. After I had finished getting dressed, I went downstairs which was empty. Mum must have gone to work. I went to the kitchen cupboard and took out my favourite cereal; Cheerios I was about to get out a bowl when there came a knock on the door so I shut the cupboard and went to go answer it.

Behind the door stood Nick. He was wearing a dark blue long sleeve top and black sunglasses. "You're early," I said.

"It's not early. It's eleven," he said.

"Right. I didn't know what time you were coming so I thought you were coming later," I told him.

"Are you still getting ready?" He asked.

"No, I was just about to have breakfast, but you can come in if you want to." I let him in and he followed me to the kitchen.

"Do you like tea?" I asked him.

"I like tea," he answered.

"Would you like some?"

"Yes, please." I filled up the kettle and put it on. Then I got a bowl for my cereal.

"Do you want me to get the milk out for you?" he asked me.

"Yes, please." He opened the fridge and closed it once he had the milk. He handed it to me and our hands touched slightly. I felt butterflies in my stomach again but these were different. I could feel my self-blushing. He quickly let go of the carton. "Biscuits. Do you want biscuits with your tea?" I stuttered.

"Yeah, sure," he said just as the kettle switch went up. I put some tea bags into the mugs and poured on the water. Then I put in the milk. "Two sugars please," he told me. I put in the sugar then took out the tea bags and put them in the bin. I picked up my bowl and tried to pick up my tea.

"Let me carry it," Nick said and picked it up for me.

"Thank you." We went into the living room and put them down on the table. "I will go get you some biscuits." I went back to the kitchen and picked up the tin. I walked back out and put in front of Nick. Then I sat down to eat my breakfast. He opened the tin and took one out.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" He asked me when he finished eating.

"No, I don't. Why?" I said.

"Just that I thought that a girl like you would have one," he replied.

"What do you mean a girl like me?"

"Smart, beautiful and kind, I mean. I hope I didn't upset you or anything. I didn't mean anything by it," he said.

"You didn't upset me. What about you, do you have a girlfriend?"

"No we broke up," he answered.

"I know it isn't any of my business but how come?"

"It was complicated. She was half soul snatcher," he said.

"So she almost took your soul?"

"No. They don't take your soul but they can. She was sort of making me weak without her knowing. But I couldn't see it but everyone else could. She couldn't control her power. She would have ended up killing me so Bella told her to break up with me," he explained.

"So she broke up with you?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry," I said.

"It's okay. It hurt at the time but I'm over it now." He said smiling and looked into the biscuit tin. "I think I have nearly eaten all of your biscuits. I will buy you some more."

"It's fine you don't have to buy any," I said. "Do you want to go for a walk I have finished my breakfast?"

"Yeah, sounds good but I want to go home first. I have something to show you," he replied.

"Show me what?"

"Do you like animals?" he asked. You couldn't answer a question with another question.

"I love animals," I said.

"What about horses?"

"You have a horse?" I said excitedly, contradicting what I previously stated about answering a question with a question. I always wanted a horse ever since I saw one in a field where I used to live, but because I lived in the city I couldn't have one.

"Yes," he answered.

"That is so awesome. Can I go see it?" I said.

"Of course. That is what I wanted to show you."

"I know but I thought I would ask anyway," I told him and then I took my bowl and mug into the kitchen. Nick followed me with his mug and the biscuit tin. We placed the mugs and bowl in the sink. I told Nick to leave the tin on the side and we left the cottage. I locked the door behind us.

"Why did you ask me to hang out with you anyway?" I wondered.

"Because we are friends and I erm... thought maybe we could get to know each other better," he said.

"That's a good idea. I would love to get to know you better," I agreed.

"Good because today you're going to find out how much of a freak I actually am."

"You're not a freak," I said.

"Wait till you have spent the day with me to see if you still can say that," he said and bent down. "Get on my back."

"What for?" I asked him.

"So I can give you a piggy back."

"I'm not a pig so I refuse to be carried like one on your back," I joked.

He laughed and then said, "you're just as strange as me."

"Maybe that's why we are friends," I said.

"Maybe. Now get on little piggy, " he joked.

I jumped up onto his back and he caught my legs. I put my arms around him. Then he stood up. "Don't ever call me that again or I will knock you out and I am being serious," I said. I wouldn't be able to but I would try.

"So I can't call you little miss piggy then?" He carried on joking.

"I look nothing like her and I am not a pig." I felt insulted.

"I never said you were," he said.

"Yes, you did you called me miss piggy you Muppet"

"What Muppet am I then?"

"Just shut up," I said and he laughed again.

We reached his house and I jumped off of his back.

"Come on Vicky time to meet my fourth favourite girl in the whole world," Nick said as he opened the door and pulled me into his house.

"Who's that?"

"My horse," he answered. I wondered who his first favourite girl was. I bet it was his ex-girlfriend. He said he was over it but maybe he still loved her. It wasn't any of my business anyway so I just forgot about it and followed him out the back door. I followed him to the horse stables and there was a black horse sticking his head out. He was black as night. As dark as midnight to be exact and he was such a good looking horse. I reached out to stroke him but Nick pushed me away.

"Don't get too close or he will bite you," he said.

"Horses don't bite."

"You haven't met midnight. The horse who nearly caused me brain damage more times than I can count." He sounded serious. I never knew a horse to be that violent.

"Who's horse is it?" I asked him.

"Bella's and he hates everyone besides her," he said.

"What's your horse like?" I asked.

"She is very friendly," he said and went to another stable. " Lunar," he called and a light brown horse stood up. She was so beautiful. I had never seen a horse like her before.

She neighed very loudly at the sight of Nick. I could tell she loved him a lot. Nick stroked her nose and she fell silent. He motioned for me to go over so I walked to him. "This is Vicky," he said and the horse looked to me. Did it really understand what he was saying? I thought. I didn't think a horse could understand you but I bet they could. Dogs could understand up to about 20 words so why not horses. I wanted to stroke her but I didn't know if I could so I didn't.

"It's okay. You can stroke her," he said. I held out my hand and she moved her head closer. I slowly put my hand on her head started to stroke her. She felt softer and smoother than the horses on the fields in the city. She was cleaner, more looked after.

"Come on let's go," Nick said and Lunar made a sad sounding neigh." I will be back later Lunar." He petted her and then we walked away.

He locked his door before we left. We were walking down the street side by side. I don't know how he kept pace with me because his legs were huge. He must have been walking slower to match my own steps.

"So did you like Lunar?" he asked me. I looked at him and was thankful that he was wearing sun glasses because I wouldn't get caught in their beauty so I wouldn't stare at him.

"Yes, she is very beautiful. I have never seen a horse quite like her before," I answered.

"I knew you would like her," he said.

"Where are we going now?"

"Where ever you want," he replied.

"To the park," I said.

"Race you," he said and started to run.

"That's not fair. You're a vampire so you are so much faster than me," I said and started to run after him.

"Some people are faster than me but I guess you are going to lose in that case," he shouted back to me.

"You're horrible. You know I don't have a chance to beat you," I shouted back. He didn't reply.

I was running after him when someone grabbed me from behind, I screamed. The person put their hand over my mouth.

"Shush, you're coming with me," the person said. I recognised the voice. It was the headmaster of that school. Think, Vicky think, I told myself. There must be a spell I remember from the book to help me.

Time is precious
it passes by so soon
but time I don't have now
slow it down for the person near by.

I chanted it in my head but I was unsure if they were even the right words. Just as I finished saying the last word, I saw Nick running over to me. He began to help me get out of the grip of the man. I turned around to face the vampire he was stood still as a statue. Nick and I ran away leaving him stood there.

Finally, I reached the park a little after Nick did, but I couldn't see him anywhere.

"Boo," someone said as they jumped in front of me. I jumped in shock because I thought it was someone else trying to kidnap me. When I turned around, I saw that it was Nick. He started to laugh.

"It isn't funny. You scared me. I thought you were one of his friends," I said.

"I'm sorry," he said. "And I'm sorry for going too far ahead before. I didn't know."

"It's okay."

"Come on then, let's go enjoy this fine British weather," he said.

"Like there is anything fine about it. It's nearly always cold," I told him and we began to walk down the path.
         ***

We had spent ages on the park just walking around or sat down on the grass talking.

"How was your life in the city? I bet it was a lot better than living here," he wondered.

"Not really," I replied, picking at the lush grass in my fingers.

"What do you mean not really? I'm sure you had lots of friends," he asked.

"I wish. I only have one friend from where I use to live and that's Emilee," I answered.

"Then the kids at your schools were lacking sense," he said.

"I don't think that they lack sense because I really don't believe, that they ever had any reason to be my friend," I told him.

"What do you mean?"

"Because I never spoke to them and hate crowds. I'm also shy and clumsy," I replied.

"You've never been shy around me and that is no excuse to not to get to know you, but who am I kidding I'm terrible at making friends too," he pointed out.

"Trust me I was extremely nervous talking to you at first. Sometimes even now I get a little shy around you," I said. "You just may not have noticed."

"Oh, I've noticed but you've managed to talk to me many times," he said.

"You. You have?" I mumbled after a little awkward silence.

"Yeah, you mumble your words sometimes, as if you are trying to get them out as quickly as possible because you're nervous."

I looked down to the floor and let the broken blades of grass fall to the ground.

"There is no reason to be shy or nervous around me because I would never judge you. I've been judged many times so I know what it's like, and you can't be any stranger than me," he said and I looked up to him to see him looking straight at me.

"I can't help it. If I could change, I would," I said.

"You don't need to change. Embrace who you are. Your good and bad qualities are apart of who you are, so just embrace them," he said as he lifted his hands to the back of his head and laid down.

"Is that what you have done; embraced every quality and flaw?"

"No but everything takes time," he replied.

"It does but time's only limited," I said.

"Time is infinite it's the time we are given to live that is limited."

"That's true," I agreed.

"Let's walk," he said standing up. I stood up too.

"What do you want to do with the limited time that we have?" He asked me as we walked.

"I don't know. I haven't really thought about it," I replied.

"You must have some ultimate goal in life. Something that you really want to do," he said.

"Well, I'd really like to get a job that pays well so that I can travel and see the world. The world is such a beautiful place, filled with lots of places to explore, reserved history and wonderful diverse cultures. It would be a shame to have lived here and not seen all the marvels of it. I would also like a family maybe. Someone to share my adventures with. Children to tell my stories to," I told him.

"I would love to travel too. There are so many beautiful countries that I would love to visit," he said.

"I would love to see France and climb the Eiffel Tower."

"Ah, the country of love and romantic accents. Of course, that would be one of the places you want to visit."

"I don't want to go just because of the accents," I told him.

"I know that and I would love to go there too but I don't care for walking up the Eiffel Tower I'm scared of heights," he told me. " Maybe, one day me and you Miss Vicky can travel there together."

"That would be delightful, Sir Nick," I said.

"Sir? I feel so honoured," he said.

We spent the rest of the day like that. Just talking and having fun. It was surprising how much we had in common and we got on so well. I never met a boy that I could talk with like I could talk with him. My crush on him seemed to have grown. I just wished he liked me back.

It would start to get dark soon and it was time to go home. He walked me to my house.

"I will see you later," I said when we reached my door.

"See you later, Vicky. I had so much fun," he said.

"So did I."

"We should do it again," he said.

"We should."

"You do know that I was joking? I don't think that you look like a pig," he said.

"I know you were," I told him. "Don't worry about it I know it was a joke. Goodbye, Nick," I said.

"Bye," he said back and I went inside.

"You're home. I wondered where you went," Mum wondered as I shut the door.

"I was at the park with Nick," I told her and then I saw Emilee sat on the sofa next to her. I didn't know she was coming today.

"How come you're here Emilee?" I asked.

"I came over to sleep," she answered.

"I will go make dinner," mum told us. I was looking forward to it. I was starving. She went into the kitchen and I sat down next to Emilee.

A few minutes later my mum called from the kitchen. "Dinner's ready."

Me and Emilee went to the kitchen and took our plates off of her. We took them to the living room and sat down at the table. Once we had all finished eating we watched TV for a bit. "Do you know Robbie?" Emilee asked.

"Who you like?" I asked her.

"Yes. He asked me out," she said.

"Did you say yes?"

"I did. We are going out next Saturday What about you and Nick?" she asked.

"What do you mean me and Nick? I have told you that we are just friends," I replied.

"I know. I mean what is he like? Do you like him?"

"Yeah I like him but I think he just likes me as a friend," I told her.

"Have you told him you like him?"

"No. I don't want to ruin our friendship and I haven't known him that long," I answered.

"I understand," she said.

"I'm tired. Do you want to go to bed?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'm tired too," she said.

We said goodnight to my mum and went upstairs to my bedroom. She had already laid out the mattress on the floor and had made the blankets. "You can have my bed. I will have the mattress," I said and she nodded. We got ready for bed.

"Goodnight," Emilee said.

"Goodnight," I said back and laid down.

 I fell to sleep and I found myself stood in an amazing field of flowers. I looked down and saw that I was wearing a pure white long sleeveless dress. The green grass seemed to be glowing with gold shimmers. Something felt heavy on my back so I turned to the side and saw giant white feathery wings. They were golden feathers surrounding the edges. I was an angel. Was I dreaming or was it a vision? Everything seemed bright like my visions but I couldn't be an angel. It must have been a dream but it was such a happy dream. I tried to fly and I went up in the air. This was the most amazing dream I ever had. I flew across the field and I never felt more alive. I wished I had dreams like this more often. I would feel so disappointed when I woke up.