CHAPTER 3:

After the diner, Jaden insists that we go to his place to talk in private. I'm wary, but if he tries anything funny, I still have my knives and stake.

"I knew it! I knew you lived near the clubs!" I tell him as we enter an apartment building. "Hey, aren't you afraid of me knowing where you live?"

"Why? Are you going to break into my apartment and take advantage of me?" he says.

"Noooo, but I could tie you up while you're sleeping and stake you," I tell him.

"I didn't know you were into bondage Kitty Cat," he says.

"Hey we're friends, right?" I ask him. When he nods, I punch him on the arm and say, "Friends do that."

"That was way harsh, Cat," he says, rubbing his shoulder. "Besides, I don't sleep here. I have another place that I rest at during the day at."

We go up the elevator to the floor his apartment is on. When we entered his apartment, I stop dead in my tracks (no pun intended). "What are you? Ten years old?"

His living room was decorated insane. He had a black and red leather sofa set. On the walls were framed posters of action movies. On the far wall, was a large bookcase, but instead of books, it was filled with action figures, still in their packages. He even had a chair that was in the shape of a multi-colored baseball mitt.

"Let me guess, you have a car bed in the bedroom?" I ask him.

He smiles and says, "Bunk beds."

"Anyways . . . Let's talk about what you know now. How do you even know I was looking for them?" I say, while sitting down on his ridiculous couch.

He sighs and sits next to me. I scoot further away from him, he moves closer. "Catalina, everyone knows you are looking for them. Every time you kill a vampire, you ask them first if they know where Jonathan and Daniel are."

"Yeah, but after I ask them, I kill them, so they're not around to tell anyone about my questions," I tell him.

"There have been witnesses when you weren't aware of it," he explains to me.

"Oh, well what do you know and how well do you know them?" I ask.

"I don't really know them at all. I know of other vampires, of course, but I don't socialize with them. They're too dark and sinister for my tastes. Jonathan and Daniel, I haven't seen around in awhile, but I did hear that they were back in the city," he says.

"Dammit, no wonder I haven't been able to find them, they haven't even been around," I say.

"Which reminds me, why are you after them? I heard four years ago that they skipped town when a group of hunters were after them. That wouldn't have anything to do with you, would it?" he asks.

I ignore his questions and ask him, "Where can I find them?"

"I'm not sure. Like I said, I don't socialize with other vamps, but I can help you find them. We'll have to be careful, though, because they are more protected now. Now let's watch a movie!" He says excitedly.

I'm beginning to realize that I'll have to be patient with Jaden. Getting information out of him is like pulling teeth, or fangs. I sit back on the couch while he picks out a DVD from his massive collection. When it starts to play, I see that he put in a Van Damme movie, "Bloodsport".

"This movie is a classic," I tell him.

"Damn straight," he says.

Despite the fact that he is a vamp, I really get into watching the movie with Jaden and we laugh over the sound effects and faces the fighters make during the Kumite fights. I find it weird that I have anything in common with a vampire, even if it is something as silly as a love of martial arts films. He pretends to act jealous when I tell him that Van Damme is hot.

I fall asleep before the end of the movie and I vaguely remember being carried to a bed. I dream of being held and kissed on the forehead before someone says, 'goodnight precious'.

When I wake up late the next morning in the bottom bunk of a bunk bed, Jaden is nowhere to be found. He did say that he doesn't sleep at this place during the day. When I'm leaving out the apartment door, I find a note taped to it. It says:

'Sorry BFF, I had to leave to sleep for the day. I'll call you later about where to pick you up for our 'friend date' tonight. You forgot to give me your cell number last time you tried to kill me, so I got it from your phone before I left. I also put my number in your phone under 'Sexy BFF'. I left a key for you to lock up behind you. Don't want anyone stealing my action figures. See you tonight! XOXO'

I find the key on a Transformers keychain hanging by the door. I roll my eyes and lock up.

When I get home, Noah is waiting on the front steps for me. Crap! We are supposed to call if we aren't going to be home by the time the sun comes up. I look at my phone, nine missed calls.

When I walk up to the front porch, Noah just sits there glaring at me and clenching his fists.

"I know I know, I forgot to call, but I didn't know I was going to fall asleep," I tell him.

He doesn't say anything for another minutes, then says, "Cat, do you realize how worried we all were. Everyone is out looking for you, while I've been sitting here hoping that you'll show up." Okay, that makes me feel like shit. "What were you doing that was so important that you couldn't punch in a couple buttons on your cell and let us know what you were up to? If you are going to act like a child, maybe you aren't ready to be out hunting. " Okay, now that pisses me the fuck off.

"You want to know what I was doing?" I yell at him. "I met a guy at a club, watched a movie with him, spent the night at his place and now I have a date with him tonight! So there! Isn't that what you wanted me to do?" Maybe I made it sound more serious than it really was, but like I said, he's pissed me the fuck off.

I march past him, through the front door, but before I can head upstairs, he grabs me and flips me around against a wall. He presses is body against mine, so that I can't move and says, "I meant a date with me," then he kisses me roughly. This is only my second kiss, but I'm shocked to find that his aggressiveness turns me on. I kiss him back roughly and without realizing what I'm doing, I wrap my legs around his waist. He is still pressed up against me and in this position, I can feel that he is definitely happy that I made it home safe.

When we both stop to catch our breath Noah says, "Cancel your date tonight."

I say, "I can't." When I try to pull him back in for another kiss, he drops me on the floor and I say, "Fucker!" Then, while still on the floor, I kick my foot out to trip him and kick his legs out from under him. He lands flat on his back.

"What the hell Cat?" he says.

"That's for dropping me on my butt!" I say, laughing and quickly run up the stairs.

When I get to my room, I take a quick shower, change into some pajamas and go back to sleep. I'll need the energy to deal with Jaden and his antics tonight.

I wake up to the sound of my phone ringing. I answer it with a groggy, "hello?"

"Kitty Cat! Are you ready for our date?" Jaden says.

"Ugh! What time is it?" I ask.

"It's seven o'clock, where can I pick you up?" he asks. We prefer vamps not to know where we live, so I tell him a gas station that is a ten minute walk from my house. "Okay, BFF, see you there in thirty minutes."

I drag myself out of bed and get dressed in a pair of blue jeans, with a white tank top, black menswear vest over it and black slouchy books, that are perfect for hiding weapons in.

I sneak out of the house again without anyone noticing and walk to the gas station. I am standing out front waiting when an orange 1969 Dodge Charger, with the numbers '01' painted on the side, pulls up in front of me. There is even a confederate flag painted on the roof. Jaden reaches over to open the passenger door for me and says, "Get in."

"You know, I may not be African-American, but I am half Mexican-American and I'm not so sure I want to get into a car with a confederate flag painted on the top of it," I tell him.

"Come on Cat, this car is a classic! This car is 'The General Lee' from the Dukes of Hazzard!" he says.

"Sorry, I didn't see that movie," I say.

"Psh! The movie sucked! The T.V. show, however, was awesome. I have all the seasons on DVD, we'll have to watch them sometime." he says.

"Sorry, I don't watch T.V. shows that are older than me, old man," I say laughing, but I do get into the car.

"We'll see," he says.

He starts driving and I ask him, "So, where are we going?"

"To the movies," he says, looking over at me.

"Another movie?" I ask him.

"Yes, another movie. I've been dying to see this one, I just didn't have anyone to go with me," he says pitifully.

When we get to the movies, Jaden gives me money to get snacks while he buys the tickets. We meet up at the ticket podium and when I see what movie we are seeing, I am a little surprised.

"You've been dying to see the new Twilight movie?" I ask him skeptically.

"Yeah, so what? I'm a fan," he says defensively.

"Nevermind," I say, but when we take our seats, he unzips his jacket and takes it off. He is wearing a 'Team Jacob' shirt underneath. "Okay, now I'm embarrassed to be seen with you. Plus, aren't you supposed to be Team Edward? He is a vampire like you afterall."

"No way am I on the team of a hundred-year-old virgin," he says, as if his reasoning makes sense.

I roll my eyes at him and say, "Pervert."

After the movie is over, I ask Jaden if it lived up to his expectations, "The book was better," is all he says.

"So," I ask him, "When do we start hunting down your buddies?"

He doesn't say anything until we are back in his obnoxious car. "Listen Catalina, they are not my buddies and I would appreciate it, if you would stop grouping me together with all the other vampires. I'm not like them."

"Uh-huh, sure," I say sarcastically.

He turns in his seat to face me. "How many vampires have you killed Cat?"

"Over fifty," I tell him.

"Well, I've never killed a human, EVER," he says.

"You say you've never killed a human, does that mean you've killed a vamp?"

He looks at me seriously and says, "Yes, and I'm going to help you kill the two that you are after. And I'm hoping that you'll eventually realize that I'm a person and give me a chance."