I shuddered as the sun hoisted itself higher and higher in the sky. Tony looked at me, cocking an eyebrow at me while I sat completely still, clutching onto my hot chocolate for dear life.

“You know, we can do the sun thing another time.” He suggested with a small laugh. I must’ve looked ridiculous because my eyes were wide and I was breathing heavily.

A part of me wanted to run away and flee to the darkness of my apartment, but the other part of me—which was surprisingly becoming a little more dominant—wanted to stand in the sun. My pasty skin was in dire need of some vitamin D.

“What do you usually do during the day?” I asked curiously. I wasn’t ready to go home just yet, and I was too wide awake from all my confessing I did earlier to even consider going to sleep.

Tony raised his eyebrows while smiling broadly back at me. He cleared his throat before speaking. “Well, I have to meet up with the band today. You wanna come?” He asked with a toothy grin.

“I don’t think I should just show up to your bands meeting unannounced.” I remarked.

“Believe me, the guys will love you.” Tony gushed while grabbing a hold of my hand.

Even with the sun rising higher into the sky, I haven’t felt more at ease than being here with Tony.

“Fine, I’ll go.” I muttered while standing to my feet.

Tony looked up at me quizzically before asking “I’m not meeting them till later on in the afternoon.”

“I figured.” I answered with a smile. “But I was thinking, how’s about we do something we’ve never done in our lives.”

With Tony I felt daring, like the last few bits of my anxieties were slowly dissipating. I was still scared of the daylight exposing my secrets and feeling vulnerable, but somehow—as if this was a possibility—Tony haled curb my fears.

“What do you mean?” Tony asked curiously.

“Well, due to my vampire ways I’ve missed out on a lot of daytime activities, and I was wondering—well if it’d be okay—if you were to show me the ropes on being…normal, I guess.” I answered while stumbling over my words. To say my sentence was a train wreck would be an understatement. I shifted my eyes to my hands and fiddle with the mug of hot chocolate.

“That sounds like a great idea.” Tony exclaimed, smiling brightly at me. “Maybe I can take you down to South Pier near the beach, and introduce you to the ocean again.” He added sarcastically while motioning to my pale skin.

I narrowed my eyes playfully at him. “The pre-requisite for vampirism is to have pale skin, you know.” I joked.

Tony let out a low chuckle while saying “Well, you succeeded in that department.”

I just rolled my eyes in return, unable to think of a witty comeback at the moment. “C’mon let’s get lost in the daylight.” I said with a smile, while standing to my feet.

“You’re not tired at all?” He asked with concern melting in his voice.

“With you, no. In fact, I’ve never felt more awake than right now.” I replied, and it was the truth.

My entire life was like being trapped in a stage of sleepwalking. I’d drift from town to town, city to city, never once experiencing what the place could offer. I’d work the nights and sleep throughout the days. I was stuck in the dark, thinking I was safely hidden from my nightmares, from my demons, but all I was doing was running from myself. That was my life, or that’s how it used to be until I met Tony. Tony was the person who shook me awake and turned my life upside down. He made me open my eyes, showing me the light that no longer seemed as intimidating anymore.

Tony grabbed my hand—something that assured my safety beneath the light of day—and led me to his car.

---

“So this is the girl you’ve been gushing about.” A tall lanky guy said with a knowing smirk crossing his lips.

After we left the diner, Tony took me to South Pier just like he promised. We walked along the shoreline, discussing our past, present, and future with each other as we allowed the cool ocean to lap onto our feet. We sat in the sand and built mediocre sand castles that crumbled once the wave licked its grainy side. All the while Tony held onto my hand, reassuring me every time that I was okay even with the San Diego sun beaming down on us. Not long after our rendezvous at the beach Tony had to meet up with his friends for the band meeting. I was still apprehensive about tagging along because I didn’t want to intrude in their business. But Tony assured me—after calling Vic, one of the guys in the band, up—that my presence was alright.

I blushed as I looked back at the guy.

“I’m Mike by the way.” He introduced himself while holding his hand out to me.

I shook it while saying “I’m Effie.”

“Oh, we know. Tony wouldn’t shut up about you.” Another guy with unruly spike hair chimed in with a broad smile on his face, showing off the deep dimples carved into his cheeks.

“Jaime, shut up.” Tony muttered then turned to me “So yeah, that’s Mike and this loud mouth here is Jaime.” He introduced while gesturing to the guy with effortlessly spiky hair. “And this shorty is Vic, he’s the singer in the band.” Tony finished as Vic walked up to me and gave me a hug.

“Seriously though, Tony kept talking about you. I think he’s in love.” Vic joked making my cheeks ignite with a deep crimson blush.

“Oh God, I hope he didn't say anything bad.” I mumbled while hiding my face behind my hands.

“No, it was all good.” Mike assured me.

“Anyway, the reason we’re all gathered here is to not embarrass the hell out of me.” Tony chimed in while clasping his hands together.

“So touchy.” Jaime joked.

“Right, well it’s about our upcoming album drop. We need to start recording…”

I was barely tuning in while the guys were discussing their music, but instead I was in awe about the group of friends, or more like brother’s, Tony had for himself. I barely knew any of them and I could feel the strong bond they had for each other. It was a beautiful thing to see the depth of love these guys had for each other, and it made me nostalgic. I didn’t have anything like this, not for a very long time. It was then I was beginning to feel that Tony being with me, being near me might’ve been a terrible decision. I have nothing to lose, which I why I drift into a new place whenever I have the chance. I don’t cultivate friendships, I don’t make any commitments because I don’t ever plan to stay in one place. I realized that being here with Tony was a mistake. I let him in, I let him get close, and that was a bad decision on my part. I could feel my old self creeping back into my skin. You’d think that after spending nearly an entire day in the sun would’ve cured my anxieties and hushed my fears, but it didn’t. Instead I could feel the vice grip of needing to escape wrap around me.

“Effie are you alright?” I heard Mike ask.

It was then I realized I was in a tense stance with a tear trailing down my cheek. Without looking in a mirror, I knew my expression wasn’t a pleasant one, but rather a look of fear.

“I think—um—I think I need to go.” I stuttered while scrambling to my feet. I was, once again running from anything that could’ve meant something to me. I head the guys call out to me, but legs quickened, carrying me out into the sunlight. I was exposed and vulnerable, but I pushed all of that aside as I kept running down the street. I couldn’t stay with Tony. If I did then I’d drag him down with me. I couldn’t afford to love anyone, and no one should be punished to love me. I ran and ran until I waved a taxi down. From there I planned my exit strategy. I needed to leave this place behind, and I needed to leave quick.

Notes

I don't know where this chapter came from, but I assure that I wasn't aiming for this. It just happened haha. Sorry @lostinthemusic if this chapter was a bad jumping off point. I tried to write better hun, but this is what happened. #Ugh! haha

Please comment and tell us what you think of the story :D