They all walked back to the hole and Joan used a couple of plastic bags they had gotten from the store to load up some dirt from the grave. The rest of the dirt they put back into the hole and patted it down lightly, not too much though, they wanted to make it look normal, not like a lot of dirt was missing.

They cleaned up as best as they could and put back the flowers and panda bear. To anyone passing by, it would look normal. But if Bex's family came to visit, or Lyssa. They would know something wasn't right.

"Now what?" Aron asked.

"Now we wait." Joan sat down on the ground.

"She needs to get here before sunrise." Rooney sat next to Joan.

"What happens if she doesn't. I thought the sun had no effect on vampires." Darci sat next to her.

Mike quickly sat next to Daric, Jaden was behind her, and Aron sat across from her.

"Only if they aren't fresh reborn. Newly transformed vampires have a lot more issues. Their body is still fresh, their skin cells though dead are still very sensitive to the sun. She can get burned very easily because her body can't protect itself yet. It's hard to explain, just know that new vampires can't go out in the sun. It takes them about a couple or so months before their bodies fully adapt to being dead." Rooney explained.

"Wow, sounds like Bex better get here fast," Jaden said.

They all hummed in agreement.

"Man, my hands are killing me," Mike complained as he looked at his freshly blistered palms.

Everyone gave hums in agreement.

The friends talked amongst themselves. Talking about normal topics like homework, and prom plans, what they wanted to do for spring break. Etc. Joan had zoned out after about five minutes. She just stared off into space, her eyes distant, her expression unreadable.

Rooney eyed her in worry.

After Bex's death, Joan could often be found looking like what she was looking like now. Just out of it, dazed and distant. When anyone tried to get her to talk about what she was feeling, she'd just pretend she was fine.

Rooney sighed and placed her hand on top of Joan's. Joan blinked back to reality and turned her head to look at Rooney. Rooney forced a small smile for her, interlocking her fingers with Joan's.

Joan pulled her hand away and got up off the ground.

Everyone looked at her.

"I'm going to go for a walk around the perimeter, see if Bex is lurking somewhere. She might be afraid to come out." Joan dusted herself off.

"I'll go with you." Rooney quickly got up.

"No. I need to do this alone. Just wait here." Joan walked off.

"Joan! Joan, it's dangerous!" Rooney called after her, but Joan ignored her.

"Just give her some space, her head is reeling right now," Darci said.

"And I get that, but she's being reckless." Rooney huffed.

"Joan can protect herself if she has to. Just let her process this." Mike added.

"I'm worried she'll let her guard down. That thing isn't Rebecca. I know you all want it to be, but it isn't. I'm just trying to protect her." Rooney began to pace around.

"She doesn't need your protection; she needs your support. We have to be there for her, try and see it her way. She lost her dad and her best friend in the span of a few months. That's a lot for anyone to process. Now she has a chance to get one of them back. This is her chance to get a do-over. At least that's probably how Joan sees it." Jaden said.

"You guys don't get it, that isn't Rebecca! That's a monster taking advantage of an emotionally distraught girl. Joan can't just keep her as a pet. What if she kills Joan, what if she turns Joan? I can't let that happen."

"Rooney, it's okay. We are going to figure this out. We won't let Joan get hurt, promise." Darci walked over to Rooney and pat her on the shoulder.

Rooney ran a hand through her hair and let out a frustrated sigh.

Joan walked the fence line, her eyes scanning the area for any sign on Bex. She was about halfway across the cemetery when she saw it. Off in the distance, behind a stone statue of an angel was a pair of glowing red eyes, following her every movement.

For a moment Joan froze. Her heart racing between a mixture of fear and excitement. She glanced back at everyone, she could see Rooney pacing around and Darci talking to her. They were distracted. This was her chance.

She quickly walked off towards the statue, straying from the normal path and moving into the shadowed area of the graveyard. Bex backed away when Joan got too close.

"Hey, it's okay. It's just me, see." Joan spun around to prove she was unarmed.

"I don't have any weapons; I'm not going to hurt you," Joan assured her.

Bex remained crouched behind the statue.

"I want to show you something." Joan pulled the picture from her pocket.

She inched closer, careful not to make any sudden movements. She could hear a faint hissing sound when she got closer and realized the knife was still firmly wedged into Bex's back.

"Let me get that out for you." Joan moved to help her.

Bex backed away and bared her fangs at Joan.

"I just want to help." Joan held up her hands in surrender.

The closer Joan got the more Bex coward to the ground, almost tucking her head between her arms like a dog tucks its tail. Joan reached for the knife and barley touched it before Bex jerked away with a yelp in pain.

"I'm sorry, but it's going to hurt. Let me do it." Joan moved closer.

Joan once again grabbed hold of the knife, except this time when Bex jerked away, the knife came out with one harsh tug. Bex yelled in pain and tackled Joan to the floor, pinning her down, her red eyes glowing in anger.

Rooney turned her head after she had heard the scream, her eyes scanning for Joan. But she didn't see her anywhere.

"Shit, I lost track of her, come on!" Rooney took off running in the direction Joan went in.

"Rebecca it's me, you don't want to hurt me," Joan said slowly and softly.

"I don't know you." Bex hissed.

"Yes you do, look," Joan moved her hand but Bex slammed it back to the ground, being as it was the same hand with the knife.

"Ow, watch it." Joan snapped at her.

Bex didn't let up.

"Look I'm dropping it, see." Joan dropped the knife.

Bex narrowed her eyes.

"I want to show you something but I need my arms please."

Bex slowly let go of Joan's arms but stayed on top of her, straddling her so Joan couldn't get up. Joan reached once again to her pocket and pulled out the photos.

"Look." She handed them to Bex.

Bex grabbed them and eyed them in confusion. It was clear she knew Joan somehow, but couldn't recall when this photo was taken at all. They looked close. Still, she had no recognition of Joan or the photo. Which only confused the vampire even more, because it was clear to her that Joan knew her. Somehow, though how exactly was still a mystery to Bex.

"See, you know me," Joan said.

Bex shook her head no.

"Bex, it's me. Your best friend?"

Bex eyed Joan closely. She felt something stir inside of her but didn't know what.

"Joan! Where are you!" Rooney called.

"Joan!" Darci and the others began to shout her name.

Bex tensed up and looked over to them.

"Hey, it's okay. Just look at me, forget about them." Joan caressed Bex's face once again drawing the vampire's attention.

Bex looked back down at Joan. Joan just smiled up at her as if she was the happiest person on earth. Bex eyed her in confusion. Then she bent down close to Joan's neck and smelled the air. With her vampire senses, she could smell things on a whole new level. And people, as she quickly discovered, had their own unique scent. She breathed Joan in deeply, loving the sweet homey scent she found.

Joan's heart beat faster and faster, her cheeks turning pink.

Bex nuzzled her head into Joan's neck, rubbing her nose on Joan's skin.

"W-what are you doing?" Joan asked.

She could feel Bex's lips brushing against her skin, then Bex's sharp fangs. Just grazing her skin, as if she was searching for the perfect spot to bite down.

Joan closed her eyes, ready for the vampire to feed on her again. She wanted it, wanted to be connected to Bex on that deeper level.

"Joan!" Rooney ran over to them.

Bex flinched back and got up and into a defensive stance. Joan's own eyes shot open.

"Get away from her!" Rooney shouted.

"No! Leave her alone, she wasn't hurting me." Joan quickly got up to protect Bex.

"Joan are you okay?" Mike and the others ran over to her.

"I'm fine, we were just talking, right Rebecca?" Joan looked to Bex.

Bex stayed crouched in a defensive stance.

"Joan, come on this is crazy." Rooney tried to reason.

"Everyone just back up! I got this." Joan shouted.

Then she turned back to Bex.

"It's okay, come on. I won't hurt you." Joan outstretched her hand.

Bex eyed her cautiously.

"I want you to come with me, I am going to take you to a safe space. A place where you won't have to run and hide from the sun. A place you know. Come on." Joan inched closer to her.

Bex slowly relaxed and inched towards Joan.

"That's it, come on. I'm going to help you. I'm going to get you all cleaned up and stuff. Come on." Joan said as if she was trying to coax an animal out of hiding.

Rooney clenched her jaw and stood at the ready. Darci held her breath while the guys looked on with mixtures of fascination and horror.

When Bex took Joan's hand there was a collected sigh of relief.

Joan smiled.

"Come on, let's get you away from this place. From now on I'm going to take care of you okay. You don't have to be afraid of me."

Bex cocked her head to the side like a dog listening to a human talk to them. Her eyes trained on Joan in fascination. Rooney eyed her. It was clear what Joan saw as friendly recognition, Bex saw as an opportunity for her next meal.

"I don't like this," Rooney voiced.

"And I don't care, come on, let's get her out of here before someone sees us." Joan pulled Bex towards the parking lot.

"Hi Bex," Darci smiled at her.

Bex bared her fangs and moved closer to Joan. Darci frowned. Rooney sighed.

It was going to be a long night.