The rest of the day went by in a blur for Vincent, with lessons he cared nothing about. Now school was done for the day and Vincent, Rimmy, Alysia and Tyson were all walking home together, discussing plans for Vincent's birthday.

  "So that settles it." Declared Alysia. "We're going to the movies for Vin's birthday. And Tyson pays for everyone."

  "The hell?" Said Tyson. "Why do I have to pay for everyone?"

  "Me and Alysia are buying Vin a present." Answered Rimmy. "What are you getting him?"

  "Friendship." Tyson replied.

  Rimmy and Alysia shook their heads while Vincent laughed.

  "Seriously guys." Said Vincent after sobering up. "You don't have to get me anything. It's fine, really."

  He was just happy to have friends who cared about his birthday.

  Alysia walked in front of Vincent and faced him. With her hands on her hips she "Where doing this vin, and I don't wanna here anymore of your objections."

  "I wasn't  objecting. I was ju-"

  "I don't wanna hear it." Alysia said shaking her head.

  Vincent smile and shrugged. "Alright, alright." He said. "You win. No more objections."

  Alysia smiled back and spun on her heel and said, "Good."

  Tyson started laughing. "Your gonna let her push you around like that." He said.

  Rimmy giggled and said "Vincent's always a pushover when it comes to Alysia."

  "Rimmy." Vincent groaned urgently and she mouthed him a sorry.

  Tyson and Rimmy knew how Vincent felt about Alysia and frequently seemed to 'accidentally' drop hints about his feelings to Alysia. He appreciated their help but jeez, couldn't they leave it be. If Alysia didn't return his feelings, he didn't want things to be awkward Between them. He was perfectly fine just bring near her... So he kept telling himself.

  Vincent glanced at Alysia, hoping she hadn't heard Rimmy's comment.

  Alysia was staring between Rimmy and Vincent. "What's that suppose to mean?" She asked Rimmy.

  Rimmy smiled like she had a secret to tell and said "Oh, nothing."

  Alysia crossed her arms and blocked their path. "I don't believe you."

  Rimmy looked liked she was ready to spill her guts. Vincent couldn't blame her. Hell, he was about ready to tell Alysia himself.

  "Come on guys. We don't have all day. And Vincent has to go lock up the house after his mom leaves." Said Tyson to the rescue.

  Alysia checked the time on her phone. "Oh. It's already three." She said, instantly forgetting Rimmy's comment. "I'll catch you guys later." She gave each of them a quick hug, except her hug lingered on Vincent and she whispered "Love you."

  Vincent knew whenever she told him that, she meant as a friend. No matter how much he wished those words meant something more.

  When Alysia pulled back, Vincent said  "I love you too Aly."

  Alysia smiled, and for a moment of pure bliss, they stayed like that, in each others arms.

  Vincent never wanted this to end. He was perfectly content to die like this.

  Then Alysia did something that confuse Vincent. She shook her head, and her smiled became more forced. "Vincent," she said. "You don't understand."

  Vincent tilted his head slightly and looked closer at her. Was that... longing in her eyes?

  She then gently pulled out of Vincent's grasp and turned back to her normal upbeat self. "Well, Im gonna go ahead." She then rounded a corner with Vincent staring after her.

  "Vin!" Called Rimmy from the other side of the street. "Come on!"

  Vincent starred after Alysia a moment longer then crossed the street to his two friends.

        *******************

  Alysia was in her room, breathing heavily.

  She'd gone an a rampage as soon as she slammed her bedroom door with enough force to knock it off the hinges.

  She'd punched multiple holes in the walls, flipped over her queen sized bed and snapped the metal head boards. She'd ripped her closet door off its hinges, broke them in half and threw them across the room. Knocked over her lamps and punched her mahogany dresser with such force it collapsed. Then she picked up her night stand and threw it so hard, it went through the wall and landed in pieces in the room over.

  She didn't have to worry about getting in trouble by her parents. As if they actually cared about what she did.

  No, the mess didn't matter. What did matter was how close she'd come to telling Vincent the truth a few minutes ago.

  What the hell was she thinking. Wait... She wasn't thinking. She wasn't thinking at all.

  And it was all because of Vincent.

  Vincent

  Oh God it was Vincent hold on her heart, with his caramel skin, those sparkling hazel eyes, wavy brown hair, and his overall Hotness.

  She loved everything about him. From the way he looked after his mom to the way he he adores his friends.

  She especially loved the way he looked at her with so much warmth and love.

  Yeah, Alysia knew Vincent liked her... No rephrase that. She knew Vincent was in love with her. But they could never be together.

  Her people would never allow it.

  Why does love have to be so damn complicated?

  Wait... Does she love him?

  Yes. Yes she did. She was madly in love with Vincent.

  "No, no no no no no!" She yelled punching a hole in the nearest wall.

  Why did she have to love Vincent. Why couldn't she just grab someone from her clan to be with. Once Vincent finds out the truth - which he will eventually - he'll never want to be around her again.

  And once he learns who or rather what he really is... Things will only get worse. He might even come to hate her.

  She couldn't bare the thought of being a object of his hate because she knew even if he hated her, she'd still love him.

  God, it hurt how much she loves him but she just couldn't help it.

  Alysia fell to her knees, buried her face in her hands and started to cry.

  Its true what they say.

  Love's a bitch.

       *******************

  Vincent closed the door behind himself as he entered his house.

  "Mom!" He called. "I'm home!"

  When he didn't receive an answer he walked into the living room and called for his mother again.

  Now Vincent was getting worried. His mother should be home by now.

  He walked swiftly into the kitchen and turned on the lights.

  "Surprise!!!"

  Vincent nearly jumped out of his skin.

  "Mom!" He said "You almost gave me a heart attack."

  "I'm sorry baby." Said Trisha from across the kitchen counter. "I couldn't help myself."

  Vincent crossed his arms over his chest.

  "Aww don't be like that Vinny boo." Said Trisha with a grin. "I've brought ice cream cake."

  Vincent glanced at the chocolate ice cream cake on the counter and a wide grin spread across his face. "All is forgiven, mother." He said.

  Trisha giggled, then said "Come get a slice."

  Vincent sat at the counter and observed the cake. It was chocolate all around, except the Happy Birthday Vinny boo that was written on the cake in white chocolate.

  "Really mom?" Asked Vincent. "Vinny boo."

  "Fine." Said Trisha. "Don't eat it."

  "Hold up. I never said i wasn't gonna eat it."

  Trisha cut a slice of the cake, put it on a paper plate, then sat it in front of Vincent. "Then stop complaining."

  Vincent shrugged then dug into his cake.

  Trisha cut herself a slice then sat across from Vincent.

  "Did you have a good day at school?" Asked Vincent's mom.

  No

  "Yeah." Lied Vincent.

  He hated lying to his mom but he didn't want her to worry. She already had enough on her plate. If she found out how the kids at school called him crazy, retard, or demon child, she'd flip.

  Before Trisha could say anything else Vincent ask, "How was work?"

  She shrugged. "It was okay. Oh everyone at work says happy birthday."

  "Tell them I said thanks and to send me some birthday vodka."

  Trisha laughed and said, "Vincent. You better not ever let me catch you drinking until your 21. You got that?"

  Even though she was laughing, Vincent knew his mom was dead serious. And he didn't want to imagine what would happen if he ever tested her.

  For the next thirty minutes Vincent and his mom eat, talked and laughed with each other. Now Trisha was at the front door hugging her son.

  "Sorry baby," she said. "I wish I could be with you longer but I've got to work the late shift."

  Vincent cursed inwardly. He hated his mom's job period. But he especially hated it when she worked the night shift. And it was worse on Fridays because that's when some of the guys get real bold.

  He wanted to argue that she should quit that job and let him get a second one. But Vincent knew she'd just refuse him.

  So he tried another approach. "How about I come with you to work." He said.

  Trisha smiled and shook her head. "How much do you love your mother?" She asked.

  Here we go Vincent thought. She was about to pull out her best move on Vincent. Which sucks because he knew it was coming but hadn't found a way to counter it.

  "I love you very much mom." He said. "Please don-"

   "And what would you do to make your mother happy?" Trisha interrupted.

  "Any and everything."

  "Do you want to know what would make me very happy?"

  "Yes."

  "If you spent the day having fun with your friends."

  "But -"

  "Vincent, please." Trisha pleaded.

"For me."

  Vincent sighed and said "Fine. But if anyone of those guys touches you, looks at you, or even looks like he wants to approach you, you gotta call me, okay?"

  "Okay Vincent." Said Trisha.

  Then she stood on her toes to kiss Vincent on the forehead. Then she put her hand on his cheek and said "I love you baby."

  Vincent put a hand over hers and said "I love you too, mama."

  Trisha smiled. "I know Vinny boo." She turned to the door, opened it then said "Happy birthday." Then she walked out the house, closing the door behind herself.

  Vincent waited till he heard the car pull off before he let his thoughts wonder.

  His mom deserved better.

  If it wasn't for him, she'd have better.

  He could never think that with his mom close by. Its like she knew when his mind wondered to that particular subject because whenever his thoughts went to that matter, she'd come from nowhere and say something like "I wouldn't change anything in my life" or "Your the only worth living for."

  She'd tell him nothing was his fault except the smiles she made and the joy he caused her to feel.

  But Vincent knew the truth.

  Because of him, his grandparents abandoned his mom. She was on her own with a newborn child at fifth-teen.

  Yet even at a young age, Trisha managed to move to England. How, he still doesn't know to this day.

  Vincent hated his dad for abandoning his mother with a child to raise by herself. He decided if he ever met the guy he'd punch him in the face.

  There was a knock on the door, pulling Vincent from his thoughts.

  Vincent opened the door to see Rimmy, Alysia and Tyson standing on his porch.

  "Hey guys." Vincent said. "Come on in."

  As they entered Alysia and Rimmy hugged him, while Tyson gave him a fist bump.

  Vincent led them to the kitchen and asked if they wanted cake.

  They all said yes and minutes later everyone had finished there slice.

  "Alright." Said Rimmy. "Let's go. I don't want to be late for the movie."

"Yeah." Said Alysia. "If we leave now we can make it just after the previews."

  Everyone headed for the door except Vincent, who stared after his friends.

  “You coming, Vinny boo?" Mocked Tyson.

  Vincent looked at the cake with the words Vinny boo still intact.

  How'd he miss that?

  Vincent looked at his friend and smiled.

  "Yeah." He said.

  And together with his friends, he left the house.