Chapter 2

Nikolas, Lucky, and Liz were all outside of Kelly's waiting to start planning 
for this weekend. After school today they were all suppose to meet and plan a 
big weekend out of town to go skiing. But they all got a bad feeling about it. 
Emily had seen Katherine and Nikolas together for the last time and she hadn't 
talked to Nikolas or seen him since. Nikolas sighed, "You guys maybe I should 
leave."

Lucky felt a strange sense of anger come over him, "If you suggest it one more 
time I might agree with you." He said giving him a cold stare.

Liz hit Lucky slightly and turned to Nikolas, "Emily's going to be here. I'm 
sure of it… she's probably just… doing her hair or something."

After Elizabeth's statement Lucky, who was the only facing at in an empty 
direction while Liz and Nikolas seat were facing each other. Lucky's mouth 
dropped when he saw what he saw, "Something isn’t right." He commented and 

Nikolas & Liz followed his gaze to see Emily. Emily, and a few other kids 
approached. The four people with Emily stopped when Emily told them something 
and she walked the rest of the way. Liz's eyes widened as she looked at Emily's 
recent look change. Emily was wearing black jeans, a tight fitting gray shirt 
that left little to the imagination revealing her cleavage and waist, and a 
leather coat. Her hair seemed a little feathered and her make up was way darker 
than usual. Her lipstick such a dark purple it looked black and the rest just 
about matching. She ran a hand through her and Liz immediately noticed Emily's 
black nail polish thinking about how gothic Emily really looked. Emily didn't 
smile once while greeting them as she usually did and looked overly anxious to 
just leave as she shoved her hands in her back jeans pockets her leather coat 
slipping down and covering them. "You guys, I just thought I'd let you know I 
can't make it this weekend and to tell you guys to just go on without me." She 
explained quickly.

Lucky frowned, "Emily, what's going on?" Emily merely shrugged in response and 
began to walk away. Nikolas’ eyes were in shock the whole time. Lucky was the 
one to go after Emily, "Emily, wait!" He said stopping her from reaching her new 
"friends".

Emily spun around to him with an annoyed look, "What?"

Lucky looked at her with immense concern, "What's going on with you? Why do you 
look like this? Are you feeling ok?"

Emily grinned wickedly and bit her lower lip trying to pierce it back. She 
turned to her friends signaling for them to hold on for another minute and she 
pulled Lucky aside, "Lucky…" She took a deep breath her grin faded, "I actually 
feel better. Finally! I feel better." Her eyes grew misty, "I feel like I don't 
have to pretend anymore. I'm dressing and acting the way I feel comfortable 
instead of living up to everyone else's standard, I'm hanging out with people I 
can actually relate to and who don't make me feel like an idiot every chance, 
and I'm loving it. And to think it's just begun." She inhaled deeply, "Don't you 
worry about me, Spencer. I'll be just fine. I'm just going to start having fun 
again." She paused placing a hand on the collar of Lucky's shirt, "And nothing's 
going to stop me." She grabbed Lucky's shirt and pulled him into a strong kiss. 

Lucky was so shocked. The kiss was hard and nothing but their lips pressing 
together. Lucky's eyes widened while he waited for the kiss to end. Emily let 
him go and giggled, "See ya later, buddy." She told him and Liz gave her a 
deadly look as she walked away going back to her circle of friends. Lucky 
watched Emily leave in worry while Nikolas tried to let the whole thing sink in. 
Emily went back and wrapped her arm friendly around one of the girls and Lucky 
automatically knew… that's the girl who's behind this.

Emily looked around herself as Katrina lead her into the loft where she heard a 
party was being held. Katrina lifted the gate's door of the elevator revealing 
the packed party. Fast, rapid techno music filling the air while neon lights of 
different shades circled over head and around them. The rest of Katrina's "new 
found" friends hopped off the elevator quickly while Emily's heart pounded in 
her chest. What was she supposed to do? Just go into this place where she knew 
no one but her crazy friend? Emily swallowed hard with the thought, 'Emily, what 
the heck have you gotten yourself into this time? Katrina was about to walk in 
after her buds but stopped when she saw Emily's hesitation, "Em? What's up? You 
ok?"

Emily shook her head quickly, "I… I… I don't know if this was such a good idea."

Katrina's mouth dropped, "God, Em! What did those rich kids do to you?" She 
shouted over the music. Emily just continued to survey the situation in front of 
her.


Meanwhile…

He looked around the place with slight boredom. This place would have been a lot 
nicer if he actually saw someone he was interested in. He sighed running a hand 
through his black spiked hair. The whole party was growing old. He was ready to 
hit another spot but knew he couldn't when he saw his friend grinding with some 
girl on the dance floor. He made his way to the wall trying to observe the room 
hoping to see something he hadn't seen before. Then he saw it. His green eyes 
fixed on the one thing he hadn't seen before. There was a two girls on the 
elevator. One looked like a complete party girl but the other looked like a new 
girl. She stood at the back of the elevator shaking her head while the party 
girl tried to talk calmly. He made his way through the crowd slowly hoping to 
catch her. Hoping to get her name. She was beautiful and he had to know her. As 
he approached he heard the conversation between the two girls…

"Em, you have gotta relax! This is the best part of the change!" Katrina 
insisted with a laugh taking Emily's hand in hers. Emily still hesitated but 
their conversation was stopped when he came up to them.

"Is there a problem?" He asked grinning as he observed Emily's looks.

Emily grew defensive quickly, "Even if there was it's none of your business! You 
should just…”

"Yes!" Katrina cut Emily off and approached the guy, "My friend Emily over here 
is a party girl. "She told the guy running a hand through her hair, "But because 
of her family and old friends she completely forgot her roots." Katrina smiled 
and stuck out her hand, "My name's Katrina." She introduced shaking her hand. 

"Ethan." He replied they barely heard each other over the music.

"Well, Ethan, Do you think you can help my friend?" Katrina asked giving him a 
helpless look, "I really want to party but I can't just leave her all by her 
lonesome."

"It's fine! Really! Katrina, go have fun! I'll go home! No biggie." Emily yelled 
over the music so they could both hear her and began to walk toward the 
elevator's button.

"No!" Ethan said quickly stepping in front of Emily forcing her to take a step 
back in surprise. Katrina felt a sense of satisfaction as she saw Ethan's look 
toward Emily. Ethan smiled nervously, "You can't leave yet. I mean you haven't 
even had a drink."

"I don't drink." Emily said angrily crossing her arms while Katrina rolled her 
eyes.

Ethan frowned, "Really? Then how do you live? I mean you must drink something… 
water? Coke? Anything? Otherwise you'd be dead… unless!" He grinned and looked 
deeply into her eyes, "You're not human. If your like a vampire or something. 
But," He paused speaking softly to her while she tried not to smile, “Then you'd 
still have to drink blood, right? So, if you come in and talk to me for just 
ten-fifteen minutes I'll let you drink some of mine." He offered jokingly. 

Emily gave him a look. She held her head high as she circled him a few times 
looking at his whole body. He was wearing blue jeans with a black belt, a white 
T-shirt with a flannel red shirt over that, and a leather coat on top of it all. 
Emily didn't even she how he could keep cool in the outfit! But he didn't show 
any sign that he was uncomfortable. Not even when he knew she was staring at
him. Finally she stood in front of him face to face and shrugged, "You're not my 
type." She told him seriously but when his grin widened they both laughed.

Katrina gave her a pat on the back, 'You did good, girl.' She thought before 
going over to Ethan and prying him away signaling to Emily to give her second. 
Emily nodded trying not to let her happy mood fade. Ethan kept gazing back at 
Emily while Katrina pulled him aside, "Alright, let's get something straight." 
She ordered and Ethan turned his full attention to her, "Emily's is my friend. 
Which makes anything that happens to her MY responsibility. So, if you plan to 
take her into this party and show her a good time… I'm fine." She leaned over to 
whisper into his ear while Emily watched curiously, "But if anything happens to 
that girl, I swear I'll kill you." Katrina stood straight again to see Ethan's 
surprised look. She lightly smacked his cheek, "Have fun!" She insisted walking 
into the party and dancing with the first free guy she saw. 

Ethan made a bothered expression but lost it when walking back to Emily, "Shall 
we?" He said sticking out his hand. Emily bit her lower lip in thought, 'Was 
this guy safe?' Ethan saw her look and laughed, "I won't bite. I promise." She 
looked at him and smiled taking his hand graciously letting him lead her into 
the party.