"Uncle....." Jared shouted as the castle doors flew open, and William stepped into the room.
"Where have you been?" William cursed. "I hope you've been looking for that girl."
Jared nodded, pushing the thought away. He didn't exactly love Shaun; he barely knew the girl. Jared thought he could love no one, especially since his family was one of the wealthiest and most powerful vampire families, so girls saw him as a meal ticket, but he cared deeply for Shaun.
"I have, uncle, and my search continues," he assured William.
William sighed and sat down in the large armchair near the window. "I still can't believe you were that careless."
Jared rolled his eyes. "Oh come on uncle, we both know you sleep around as well. No need to cast judgement."
"Yes, but with women like me and it's not as if I could get anyone pregnant and..." William stopped suddenly and just stared at the wall in front of him.
Jared said nothing. He knew his uncle always got like this whenever he was reminiscing about his past; when he was human, with a wife and a young daughter. That fateful night when he was forced to drink vampire blood, bitten, and left to turn, the only thing he could do to protect his family was to run away. He was found by Jared's father, who nursed him back to health. William often thought about visiting his family, but he was afraid of hurting them or being judged if he was exposed. Years turned into centuries and now they were long gone....just memories.
William finally came back to reality and stood up. "Your girlfriend was looking for you," he added before taking his leave.
~~
"I know I shouldn't have been pushing Shaun so hard. She was already doing her best," Lauren said as she signed the consent form.
"I told you so," Carlos remarked proudly. "Now she's one of the ten people chosen to go to study camp."
Liam smiled and nodded. It wasn't easy coming up with forms and making them seem legit, but thanks to Photoshop, he pulled it off.
"And Harvard professors would be tutoring them?!" Lauren said excitedly. "I'm appalled. But I wish Shaun could have at least said goodbye before she went on the trip."
"What trip?" Bria asked raising as she entered the lobby, walking towards the family.
"Shit," Liam said under his breath.
Carlos and Lauren looked at each other. "Bria, Shaun didn't tell you? She was one of the ten persons that were chosen to..."
"Yeah, Bria," Liam said, cutting Lauren off. He walked up to Bria and winked at her." The trip she was studying so hard to go on."
Bria finally caught the gist and played along, "Bummer!" she said sadly, "Oh, that trip, I hate remembering about it. But of course, you know the only reason I would want to go there is for the lake." Bria smiled.
Carlos and Lauren shook their heads and laughed. Lauren went up to the apartment to start dinner and Carlos went to help her.
Bria turned her attention to Liam and pulled him by the arm. "What is going on?" she demanded.
"Shaun needs to go away to deal with some things."
"What things? She's my best friend. I tell her everything, so I have the right to know."
"Why didn't Shaun tell you?" Liam grunted, "I'm forever trying to take care of her mistakes."
"Tell me what?" Bria folded her arms. She looked pissed and confused.
Liam sighed. "About her and this dude."
Bria unfolded her arms and sighed in relief. "Oh, I knew about her hook-up."
"But did she tell you the other part?"
"What other part?"
Liam sighed again. "Bria, Shaun is pregnant."