Temper, Temper

Anna

"We have a surprise for you, Anna" Mum and dad peeked their heads in my room as I lay on my bed reading an OK magazine.

I looked up and motioned for them to come in.

"What is it?" I grinned like a big kid, having not expected anything since it's not a big occasion.

A second later Sophie appeared from around the corner. I immediately jumped off the bed and into her arms the minute I saw her.

"Sophie!" She looked startled at my response but once she knew I wasn't going to attack her, and that I was infact hugging her, she soon relaxed.

"Anna," She had such a big grin on her face when I let go I thought she was going to split her face. "Your dad told me that you'd like the company." We both looked at my parents who were still standing by the door, looking really pleased with themselves.

"It's no problem, sweetheart." Mum said when I gave her a look of thanks.

I looked between them. "Erm you can leave now, thanks."

They quickly made a hasty retreat, and I turned to look back at Sophie.

"I can't believe i actually have a friend over!" I exclaimed and bouncing on my bed. She joined me in the joy but didn't sit on the bed.

"You can sit on the bed you know, i won't bite!" I said jokingly, but Sophie didn't laugh.

She shuffled around on the chair by my laptop, acting slightly nervous. I didn't know how to react to this.

I sighed, "Look, you've got nothing to worry about. Honestly!" I said, trying my best to get her to believe it. How could I prove to her that I wouldn't hurt her. She was my best friend for crying out loud. I'd known her for years, I was hardly going to end that here and now. I'm not a monster. Wait, that was a turn around.

"No, I believe you. I just �" I just need time to come to grips with how much you've, you know, changed."

She slowly stood up and walked over to me and with a few face pullings, sat next to me on the bed.

"There, see. Not so hard, was it?" We both laughed together. It was the most beautiful sound I'd heard in a long time and I don't think I ever wanted it to leave.

"No, actually. This is fun. so.." She sat up straight and smiled wildly, "What's new?"

My face must have looked guilty for a moment because she suddenly froze and her face fell.

"Oh, no. what?"

I shrugged off the thoughts and smiled back, "Oh nothing. Umm, i've missed so much. It's more like, what's new with you!" I giggled.

Her smile reappeared and a roll of the eyes told me there was lots of news.

"Well..." she hesitated, adding to the suspense. I nudged her to carry on. "Steve's dating Nancy now." I gasped while Sophie laughed at my reaction.

"Never!" I breathed out, "I so never saw that coming." I kept on shaking my head like it was such a shock. Truthfully, as much as I deny it, I had a feeling Steve, who was my boyfriend before I got house-arrested with vampirism, would end up with Nancy. Nancy is a full on flirt. So it was only a matter of time before they paired up.

"What else?" I urged.

She shifted, and wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Come on, it can't be that bad." I could tell it wasn't exactly going to be Anna friendly.

"Well... um... Steve's been, kinda, telling everyone..." She paused again. I sighed.

"Come on. Spill! I can handle it, trust me!"

"He's been telling everyone at school that you..." For some reason, she couldn't finish.

I took a guess. "...that I'm a vampire? Well, that's not exactly false. But still, I hope no one believes him." i cringed at the thought of people suddenly planning on killing me. I shivered.

"No, no. It's nothing like that." she muttered, "Would be easier if it was" she finished in a mumble.

I could hear her though.

"He's saying you're dead." The words came out in a rush.

At first I didn't realise what she'd said. It was like being hit with a book and not really understanding what happened until you feel the pain. A delayed reaction, so to speak.

"What?" I whispered. I just couldn't get why Steve, the boy I once claimed as my love, would spread such a horrible lie. And one that, apart from Sophie, everyone could well believe.

"I said, he's been saying you're -" I cut her off.

"YEAH I KNOW WHAT YOU SAID!" I shouted. I didn't mean to. But my temper was escalating and Sophie was so near. I gripped the bed to keep from jumping at anything. My knuckles felt raw from the hanging on. I took several deep breaths in and out. Slowly. Gradually, my temper died.

Sophie, on the other hand, was now a startled scarecrow. She was looking at me like I'd suddenly grown wings. I didn't think I'd done anything wrong. Anyone would get upset if they'd found out that someone was saying they were dead. I mean, that's just cruelty.

"Sophie, you can blink now. I'm not going to hurt you." I soothed. She blinked, but still held the scared position. She got off the bed and backed away towards the wall opposite.

"Please, sit back down. I was just upset. You caught me off-guard. Please, I won't hurt you." I freed my hands and flexed my fingers. I tried to give off trust, but she wasn't believing.

I gave up.

"Fine. If you're not going to believe me, then just believe them. Obviously you'd rather me dead too if you can't even understand trust. So just leave"

I dumped myself face down on the bed. After a few minutes I heard movement, so I lifted my face to find Sophie now sat back on the chair by the desk.

She looked content but also sad. I smiled apologetically.

"Sorry, I-" She raised a hand to stop me.

"No, you listen now. I have stuck by you for years. Through school, through the boy trouble, and I've been understanding and supportive though your ordeal with this, thing. I'm not about to leave you now." She said proudly. "Just remember that we all have tempers, but some of us aren't quite as strong as you." I laughed a little.

"Well, granted. I am stronger. But I really didn't mean to scare you." I admitted. I opened my arms for a hug. Sophie hesitated then gave in.

"There, all better." We stopped all ths soppy act and we went back to gossip.

"Okay so back to whats up with you. How's your family? I mean, I know about your parents, but what about Joel? I miss him. Is he in?" She looked at the door.

I flinched at the name. I missed him too, come to think of it.

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