It's Fordidden... So Why Do I Like Him? 25

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Elouise-That may just be the best comment I've ever heard. Thank you, really. I'm not sure about my other stories. I'd started Midnight Iris Bloom when I was, like, twelve and I never really thought half of it through. Half of it doesn't really make sense. I'm not sure which ones I'm going to finish or leave off.

Darlyn V-Thanks!

KATRANIGHT-Thanks!

Real Me Leotie-Lol, thanks!

LovelyPalacios-Thanks!

Kristina C-His name is Kendall, and I figured it would be a nice touch for him to notice, even if they're oblivious!

Tiffy-Lol.

Rachel T.-Eh, I've felt worse. Probably just one of those days. But thanks for the concern.

Ani-Aw, thanks. It happens again today.
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Belle

I sat on the cold swing, slowly rocking forward and back, watching as snow slowly fell around me, though the sun was shining up above through the clouds. I stared up, moving my bangs, at the sky. It was gray and blue, covered in lumpy clouds that looked like they were painted with water colors, and I never thought anything could be so beautiful. Except maybe the sunset I saw with Declan.

"Why'd you have to go, Jeanie?" I murmured, looking down. A little giggle woke me out of my dark thoughts. I looked at saw two citrus orange eyes staring at me.

The baby was staring at me from over her mother's shoulder, orange eyes huge, a toothless smile aimed at me. She had a head of light brown hair, and she seemed innocent in every way. She was a little newborn vampire.

With every death comes new life, Jeanie had said.

Tears suddenly filled my eyes as I smiled. I waved back at her softly. "Hi, Jeanie," I whispered, barely able to her myself.

The baby squealed and waved it's little arm proudly before her mother took her away from my view and into another room.

I wiped my eyes and smiled, suddenly feeling cleansed ad without hurt, like I always felt around Declan.

I bit my lip again, feeling like Jeanie was watching me from Heaven or wherever she was, and she was happy. "You deserve to be," I murmured. "You deserve every happiness you could ever have had here, and more, Jeanie."

I took out my cell and called Declan.

He answered on the second ring. "Hello?"

"It's me," I murmured, feeling a bit self-conscious.

"Oh, hey, you want me to pick you up?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm at the park."

"You have your revelations pretty quick, you know."

"Yeah, well, I just know Jeanie's okay and loved. She deserves to be."

"Absolutely. So, at the park?"

"Yep."

"Be there in a few."

I hung up, swinging with more enthusiasm now. The poor thing squeaked and groaned, but it held my weight just fine. I smiled as little snowflakes slowly covered my clothes and stuck to my eyelashes, melting on my cheeks. I laughed freely, knowing somehow, even though we hadn't left town like we would tomorrow, that everything would be okay.

"Everything's going to be okay!" I yelled to myself, laughing and swinging higher.

A car pulled into the driveway. Declan came out and walked toward me, one eyebrow arched in amusement and confusion. "Dare I ask why you are so enthused all of a sudden? Did you take some magic mushrooms?"

I laughed. "Nope. I just know everything's going to be okay, even if it still hurts that she's gone."

Declan smiled slightly. "Glad somebody knows everything is going to be okay. I worry."

I watched as he sat down on the swing beside me, rocking just slightly. "Why?"

"We're probably going to have to relocate, all of us. And they're going to hunt us down, now that we killed the Boss, and well..." When Declan didn't continue, I put both of my feet down and the swing stopped after a moment. He sighed. "I just don't want to be away from you. There. I said it."

I couldn't deny that little burst of pleasure that I felt when he said that. God, was I pathetic. How do people survive this love stuff?

"We probably won't be able to talk either, because people can track this stuff on phones and computers. And mail takes forever. So we'll get different names, and by the time the hunter's give up and I'll be able to see you again you'll already be married with kids and would have forgotten old, horrible Declan." His teeth were grit together. I smiled at the thought of him being jealous, when there was absolutely no reason to be. He was always going to be there; vampires didn't let go of things easily, even if we accepted death rather well. "So... I'll be some old guy with a sack of emotional baggage and live alone except for the occasional visit from Desirae or Michael."

I laughed. "None of that would happen. I couldn't forget about you, Declan, not even if I tried."

"I'm sure nobody would; I'm screwed up beyond being forgotten," he murmured bitterly.

I giggled a little, swinging a little again. "No, you're just one of the people that's always been there for me. You made sure I was okay when Marco's blood was poison to me, you made sure I made it home okay all those time. Alumit used to take care of me, but he couldn't even look me in the eye when I was in denial about Jeanie. Face it, through Kharis, Marco, the hunters, and Jeanie, you've always been there. I couldn't forget about that. Never."

I could see Declan was smiling slightly, touched, but he probably didn't get it like I meant for him. As long as he's happy, I sighed. Then I'm happy. That's what real love is. Even if they don't want you, you will always want the best for them. That doesn't mean that it won't hurt. That doesn't mean you won't suffer a few tears and get angry along the way. But as long as you see them happy and you feel the same way suddenly, you truly love them.

I smiled. Yeah, my love for Declan did feel like a horrible ache in my heart that would probably never be filled again, but if he was happy and content with being my friend, and continuing as my friend...

I would deal with it. He deserved to be happy, with or without me.
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Triple post! Look for 26 and 27!