Near the center of an old city sat a dance studio that had been there since the city was first being made. Every evening, around sunset, ball-room dancing classes would start.
   The class had a fair amount of students from the ages of fourteen to thirty-five.
   “It’s never too late to learn a new dance.” Is what this dance instructor would always say, and it was true.




Class was about to start when a new girl walked in. She had reddish-brown hair, brown eyes, and was tall and thin. She walked with grace to the instructor and said, “Hi. Do you think I could join your class? I heard about it and decided to join. I have the money needed to take a five week course.”
   “Of course! Do you have any experience dancing before this?” The instructor asked with a smile.
   “Yes, I was in ballet for six years and before I moved here I took a two week course in ball-room dancing.” The new girl stated.
   “Well that’s great! We finally have an even amount of students now. I’m Ms. Dylan. You can call me Joyce. What’s your name?” The instructor asked the girl, holding her hand out for her to shake.
   “I’m Holly, nice to meet you. Thank-you for letting me join.” The girl shook Joyce’s hand.
   “A pleasure to meet you, Holly. How old are you? I need to know so I can find you a partner around your age.”
   “I’m six-teen.” Holly said calmly, but quietly.
   “Oh goody! I have a boy student just a year older than you, but it seems he’s not here yet, as usual.”
   Holly blushed, her shyness taking over, “Oh really? Is he usually here?”
   “Yes. I imagine he’ll be here in about five minutes. How about you go put your dancing shoes on and talk with the other students.” Joyce smiled as she pointed to the other side of the large room.
   “Okay. Thanks.” Holly said as she walked nervously, but still gracefully, to the other side of the room.
   “Hi! You’re new! I’m Sara, what’s your name?” A peppy girl that was a little shorter than Holly asked as she came to the group.
   “Um, I’m Holly, nice to meet you.” Holly stammered.
   “Well, aren’t you pretty? You have the perfect build to dance. Have you danced before?” Sara said quickly, a big grin on her face.
   “Thanks. I took ballet before when I as younger and a two week course of ball-room dancing before I came here.” Holly said as she looked down at herself.
   Holly never thought much of herself and was modest. She knew she was thin, in shape, and her breasts were about the right size, but she didn’t think she had a perfect build for anything.
   “Oh! That’s cool! You’re going to like it here! Ms. Joyce is a very nice teacher! Who are you partnered with?” Sara squealed, interrupting Holly’s thoughts.
   “Um, I think some boy that’s usually late.”
   “Oh…” Sara said, going into thought.
   At that moment the bell on the door rang as a boy stepped in.
   Holly looked over and was frozen with shock. It was the most handsome boy she had ever seen.
   He was tall, in perfect shape, shockingly grey eyes, and jet-black spiked hair. His skin was of a pale complexion, but went perfectly with the rest of him. He wore jeans, a T-shirt, gloves and a necklace with a dagger pendant on it.
   Sara saw her staring at the boy and smiled, “That’s Drake. Every girl I know has a crush on him, but I don’t think he dates. Cute isn’t he?”
   Holly nodded and looked away when he made eye-contact with her. His cold grey eyes seemed to hold no emotion, and yet he was smiling faintly as he approached her.
   Holly blushed and whispered to Sara, “Is it just me or is he walking over here?”
   “I think he is! It looks like he’s interested in knowing who you are.” Sara said a hint of jealousy in her voice.
   Drake the walked up to them and smiled at Holly, “I have an understanding that you are to be my dance partner, correct?”
   “Um…Are you the one that is usually late?” Holly asked, her face pink, as she looked to the floor.
   “I suppose so. I’m Drake, who are you?” Drake asked, bowing shallowly.
   “I’m, um, Holly.” Holly stuttered, curtsying a bit.
   Drake too her right hand in his, bowed, and kissed it, “A pleasure to meet you, Holly. And what a pretty name it is.”
   Holly blushed even more wildly and tripped over her words, “I, um, well…Thanks.”
   Drake let her hand go, stood straight and chuckled, “You’re very welcome.”
   As Drake walked to the rest of the group, Sara pushed Holly playfully and squealed quietly, “He kissed your hand! How romantic?!”
   “What? He doesn’t do that to every girl?” Holly said, gaining her normality back.
   “No! He must like you! Lucky!” Sara hissed, the jealousy in her voice growing stronger.
   Holly shrugged and walked to a chair, changing out of her tennis shoes and into dancing heels.
   A few minutes later, Joyce clapped and called everyone to the center of the room. “Find your partners everyone!” Joyce called happiness in her voice.
   Everyone bustled around and got in groups of two, according to gander and age range. There was one pair of two girl twins, but that was because of the lack of boys.
   Holly stood and watched the pairs form, lost in thought, when someone whispered in her ear, “I’m right here.”
   Holly jerked around, her eyes wide, her breathing quickly, “Oh, Drake. I didn’t hear you coming.”
   “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” Drake admitted, a calm smile on his face as she stared into her brown eyes.
   “Um…It’s okay. No big deal.” Holly gasped, his eyes capturing her.
   “Okay class, I’ll start the music and we’ll all practice the first five movements together.” Joyce said as she walked over to the boom-box and pressed play.
   The music started and all the male dancers bowed, then took the girls into the dancing position.
   Drake did this so fluently that it shocked Holly, but not enough to catch her off guard.
   Luckily she had learned this song and dance before, so she followed Drake how she was supposed to.
   “Have you danced this dance before? Or are you just that good?” Drake asked, smiling and making eye contact with her again.
   “I’ve danced it before.” Holly said while looking away from him.
   “I see.” Drake said, continuing to dance.
   They danced in silence for the rest of the class, doing as the instructor told. When class was over Holly rushed to her bag and changed back into her tennis shoes.
   “You’re a pretty good dancer, Holly. I can’t wait to see you tomorrow night.” Joyce said as she walked up to her.
   “What? Oh yeah. Okay. Do you want the money now?” Holly asked, distracted.
   “If you don’t mind, I would.” Joyce said with a smile.
   “Okay, here you go.” Holly said as she handed Joyce an envelope of money, and stood to leave.
   “Thank-you. See you tomorrow same time?” Joyce said as she said as she put the money in her pocket.
   “Sure, bye.” Holly said as she hurried towards the door. As Holly opened the door and left, the bell on the door rang. Holly stepped out into the night air and sighed, finally her head cleared.   
   “It isn’t safe for a girl such as you to be walking home alone at night.” Drake said with no emotion in his voice as he walked out of the shadows.
   Holly jumped a little and said, “I’ll be fine, but thank-you, Drake.”
   “Oh, but please let me escort you home. It would make me feel so much better.” Drake smiled.
   Holly sighed and turned to look at him, “Do you really want to walk me home that bad?”
   “If you wouldn’t mind.” Drake smiled through the dark.
   “Fine, I’ll let you.” Holly smiled as she turned back towards the direction of her house.
   They walked silently for a couple of minutes, then Drake broke the silence, “It’s a wonderful night out, isn’t it?”
   “I suppose so, though I can’t see as many stars as I would like.” Holly said as she shifted the weight of her bag on her shoulder and looked to the sky.
   “Yes, the lights of the city block them out. I know a perfect spot to see them up on that mountain over there, though.” Drake said with a smile, “I’ll have to show you sometime.”
   “Me? Have you shown anyone else before?” Holly asked, curious.
   “No.”
   “Then why me?”
   “Well…I like you. You’re different from the others.” Drake said with a sly smile.
   “Really? How am I different?” Holly asked, blushing when he admitted to liking her.
   “Well, if I told you I’d have to kill you.” Drake laughed.
   Holly laughed with him, “Really now? Why is that?”
   “It’s a secret.”
   “Oh. Well, here’s my house. Thanks for walking me home. You didn’t have to you know?” Holly said as she stopped in front of a white picket fence with a two-story house that’s light was on.
   “I wanted to. Goodnight, Holly. I’ll see you tomorrow evening?” Drake said, touching the middle of her back ever-so lightly.
   “Yes. I can’t wait to dance with you again.” Holly smiled while looking him in the eyes.
   “Good.” Drake whispered so quietly that Holly barely heard him.
   Holly paused before opening her gate, and looked back as Drake, “Um…Drake?”
   “Yes, Holly?” Drake asked in his polite manner.
   “You…I really like your eyes.” Holly giggled quietly.
   “Thank-you. And I yours.” Drake said with a perfect smile.
   Holly turned and walked up her side-walk to the door. She turned to say goodnight one last time, but he was no where to be found. “Hmm…Oh well.” Holly shrugged.


That night Holly dreamed about him. His face appearing time and time again- His gorgeous grey eyes staring at her, and his entire flawlessness beckoning to her. In her dream she was walked her home again, and instead of turning onto her street he took her down a dirt road, towards the mountain he had told her about. When they reached the top, there was a beautiful clearing looking out over the city and the forest beyond that. And on the other side of the clearing she could see the vast forest and the small towns nestled within it.
   Holly tried to say something, but Drake put a finger over her mouth and shushed her. He didn’t seem right, h seemed different. Drake slowly put his finger down and pulled her closer to him.
   “Don’t worry…Everything will be alright.” Drake whispered, his words smooth and calming.
   He lightly moved her hair away from Holly’s neck and bent down closer to her.
   All of the sudden images of Drake with burning red eyes, long fangs, and blood dripping down his chin flashed in her mind, waking her.
   Holly sat straight up, breathing heavy and sweating, “Drake…”
   She looked at her window and saw her curtains flapping in the wind, “I…Don’t remember opening that.” Holly whispered to herself as she got up slowly and closed her window.
   Holly slept late, since it was summer, and that evening she walked back to the dance studio.


                                   To be continued...