Part Three: Coming together & falling apart

Dear Diary,

Today has been an interesting day! It's been a week since I ran out on Lara. She called me once to chat, but I couldn't quite forget the way she glared at me, so the conversation fell a little flat.
I have been picking away at my big old alchemy book, and making slow progress. Today I finally went across town to a shop that specializes in alchemy and elixirs, and I came home with two newer books and a few odds and ends.

They sell elixirs there, too, but unfortunately they didn't have anything potent enough to cure me. The guy behind the counter told me it's difficult to create, and ends up costing a lot of simoleons.
I did blow a little cash on a procreation elixir, though. I saw it sitting there and thought it could be my reward for when I'm finally human again, and ready to start my own family. I want twin girls, just like next door has.

I was pleased to discover I'm already at an intermediate level of alchemy. It feels so slow going sometimes, I didn't even recognize my own progress! I was feeling so cheered up, I decided to call up my neighbour Goodwin. After falling out with Lara, I craved the safeness of his less magnetic attraction.

The flirting began immediately. He came to my place, claiming he needed to get away from Sinbad, his roommate. I loved his simplicity, he wanted all the same things I did. Romance, family, faithfulness. I felt a little weird about how open things with Lara were left, but I decided not to worry. We spent one night together, no promises were made. Why shouldn't I flirt with Goodwin?

After our last meeting, I expected stealing a kiss from him to be easy. I found myself pouring on compliments, hints, and even giving him a massage without a single opportunity for a kiss arising.
It must be that old fashioned romantic streak, I told myself. He probably doesn't want to kiss me unless he knows we're more than just neighbours.

As I suspected, the minute I suggested we could begin seeing each other, he was ready to move to the next level. Goodwin, I have to say, is an excellent kisser. Maybe that's what made me so reckless?

We ended up in my creaky old bed, without any, uhm... protection, in sight. Goodwin fell fast asleep after, and when I awoke the next morning he was downstairs eating cereal in front of the TV. I don't know where he got it, since I only drink plasma juice, but I was happy to see him sitting there.

I joined him, we kissed, and the cycle started all over again. I decided I needed a shower, and the trouble maker followed me right in!

I'm pretty sure being dead means I can't get pregnant though... I hope. It's honestly one of those things I never thought to research in advance! I'm not going to dwell on it. It's nice with Goodwin, things feel safe. Being with Lara was like standing on the edge of an emotional cliff, exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. I hope that, getting to know Goodwin, I might fall for him eventually.
I mean, I'm already so fond... and we both want the exact same things in life. Maybe it's for the best?

He went off to work and I got back to my alchemy. The elixirs I'm learning about are becoming more potent and important every day!

Dear Diary,

I can't believe what's happened! I feel like it's all my fault, but I don't know how I could have changed it..
The worst part is, I feel relieved. I guess I should start where I left off two weeks ago.
Goodwin is impossible to pin down. He's never home, always out working or with friends. Avoiding Sinbad, pretty much. We spent a little time together, though, getting to know one another more. I began to get comfortable with him.
That's when \I heard from Lara again. She called me up out of the blue, all friendliness and laughter. Seeing her name on my call display got the butterflies going in my stomach in seconds. She called to invite me to a party at her house, "way better than that snore-fest we met at!" she promised. She told me she felt bad about snapping at me, and was certain that's why I hadn't wanted to "hang out" with her again.

I felt all the anxiety from three weeks ago melt away, and told her I'd be there at 9pm sharp. I didn't want to tell her about Goodwin on the phone... I'd try to bring it up in person. At least at a party, lots of people would be around and it would feel much less awkward than telling her one-on-one.

So I found myself outside her house that night, wearing the only fancy dress I own. She wanted everyone in formal attire, just for fun.

Lara was excited, the house was already filling up and the music was blasting. She greeted me with a big smile, and ran off to use the bathroom. She looked beautiful, her hair up in a cute little bun and a turquoise dress flattering her skin tone. I watched her go, feeling conflicted. That's when I saw Goodwin coming towards me, and he did NOT look happy. My mouth dropped open in shock. How did Goodwin know Lara? Why hadn't I suspected, in such a small town, that they might know each other somehow?

"Harriet! How could you?!" he hissed at me. "I can't believe you have something going on with Lara! You're a cheater!"
I gasped, and anger flooded me.
"Really, Goodwin? A cheater? We've only been dating for TWO WEEKS, and I never made any promises to Lara. We weren't even a couple, we just.. had a connection!" Even as I spoke, I saw him rolling his eyes at me.
"I don't think you understand what a relationship MEANS, Harriet. I need to know that if we're together, I'm the only one in your heart. I mean, Lara's a woman! How do I trust you if you're sleeping with women, too?"

That was the last straw. I liked Goodwin, before, but now I didn't even want to look at him.
"Well, Goodwin, maybe you would have been the only one for me, if we had a chance. I'm not sleeping with women. I slept with ONE woman, before you and I got together. It's totally irrelevant, now. You and I are through."
Goodwin stalked off into the kitchen and I sighed, looking around. Nobody seemed to notice the drama unfolding, thankfully. But maybe it was time for me to go.

Part two: distractions & drama

Dear Diary,

I woke up this morning full of ridiculous hope. All I can think about is Lara, and I barely know her. I really need to focus on my studies, I've only managed to decipher a few recipes so far, and they're all for mundane things like sleep potions and skill boosting elixirs. Every time I try to buckle down, I feel a phantom vibration from my phone and think it's her.

I sat at the kitchen table, taking a break to drink some plasma juice. I needed to get out of the house, but my options during the daytime are limited. I decided to go over to the neighbours I hadn't met yet and introduce myself. When squatting in an empty house, being on good terms with your neighbours is important.

I didn't realize what type of trouble I was inviting when I knocked on that door. Goodwin Good (what a ridiculous name!) was young, handsome, and giving me eyes the second we were introduced. He was open and flirtatious, but surprisingly old-fashioned at the same time. He was definitely a hopeless romantic. I was flattered by his attention. He didn't fill me up with butterflies the way Lara did, and so I was much more composed.

However, when I decided it was time to go, he snuck in a quick kiss!

I let it happen, but excused myself immediately after. Obviously my hormones weren't dead, even if I was! I needed to get back to alchemy. Unfortunately, the next few recipes I learned were all equally useless to me: mixtures to cause discord, bliss, and zombification.

I mixed up a vial of bliss anyway, for practice, and maybe I can give it to Lara next time I see her?

Dear Diary: 

I slept pretty well last night, but I woke up this morning in a bit of a funk. I spent a solid 10 minutes staring at my phone before I finally decided to text Lara. She responded quickly, inviting me to her place in the afternoon. I was ecstatic, and left my house at 12:00 on the dot. When I arrived, I was charmed by her home: an old stone cottage with pretty flowers growing at the front. Lara met me at the door with a smile and the tension between us was electric. I hadn't imagined it at the party, we had undeniable chemistry.

After chatting and drinking tea in her sitting room, we finally gave up the pretense of small talk and kissed. I hid my blush against her neck as I admitted my attraction.

I stayed for hours, and we ended up outside gazing at the stars. I knew I should be at home studying, but I was drunk on her presence. 

Instead of thinking about when I should go, I could only wonder how long I could stay. Eventually, Lara leaned in close and whispered that she'd love to show me her secret love-nest. I laughed, and she led me into the back yard and up the ladder to a rickety old treehouse. 

"This house was my grandmother's, but the treehouse has always been mine" she smiled.

I was a virgin going into that treehouse, but definitely not coming out! Lara invited me to stay the night at her cottage, and I happily accepted. We slept in her bed, and I felt happier than I thought possible, in my vampiric form.

Unfortunately, that happiness was to be short-lived. I woke up early in the morning and thought it would be nice to make some waffles for Lara. I didn't really know how to cook, but it couldn't be that difficult. However, I had only just begun to pull ingredients out of cupboards when I heard her standing in the doorway behind me. I turned around and my stomach dropped.

"You know, I don't really like you going through my stuff like this. I am perfectly capable of cooking breakfast."

"Lara, I... I'm sorry. I didn't think... I just wanted to.. try." I could barely stumble through the apology without bursting into tears. Where was this anger coming from?

She accepted my apology, but I could see the tension in her shoulders and made an excuse to get the hell out of there. I was hurt by her reaction, and feeling totally foolish. I took a taxi home and promised myself I'd spend the rest of the day on alchemy, and take a break from getting mixed up in the lives of the people around me.

Part One: Running Away

Dear Diary,

I can't believe this is my life. Last week I was living at my parents house, dreaming of college and days at the beach with my best friends. 

3 days ago, I was attacked on my way home from the corner store. I was terrified that this stranger was going to kidnap me, and worse. Instead he bit me! I was faint from the shock, and seeing my blood splattered across the pavement. Instead of dragging me into an alley or a waiting car, he just stood over me, grinning a sinister grin. I'll never forget his eyes - glowing red. 

"See you soon," he whispered, before vanishing in a blur of motion. 

My memories after that are hazy. I know I ran home, one hand pressed against the fresh puncture wounds on my neck. My parents were out of town for a few days, and I wanted to call the police, but a fever set in almost immediately and all I could manage was trying to take care of myself. One the 3rd morning after the attack, I woke up feeling better. After looking in the mirror, I understood why.

I had turned into a vampire. When the monster that attacked me had said he'd see me soon, he must have known it would take awhile for me to turn. Well, I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me like this. I wouldn't break my parents hearts that way, either. They were due home the following morning. I would run away from home, find a cure, and return to my family as soon as I could.

I'm Harriet, and I'll use this diary to keep track of my journey.

I'm not proud of what I had to do, but I stole a car to make my escape. An old man on my street kept this old lemon collecting dust in his garage, even though he couldn't drive it anymore. I know it was wrong, but I was too scared to take a bus or a train. I didn't know a thing about vampires! What if I lost control and killed someone? I drove for hours, through tiny hamlets and bustling cities, until I found a moderately sized village that suited my needs. I found an abandoned house in decent shape and moved myself in, hoping I wouldn't have to stay long. There was some furniture left behind, and I used what little money I had saved to add a few items I couldn't bring in the lemon: a cheap television, a large mirror, a bookcase (I'm a total bookworm) and an alchemy bench.

According to certain websites, my only chance at returning to normal was learning the art of alchemy. There were rumours of a potent elixir that could cure any supernatural condition. My new goal was to discover that cure. 

I also had to teach myself all about vampirism. Luckily, there were drinks available that meant I didn't have to feed on humans. I needed to avoid the sun as much as possible, and I should be okay.

On one of my first nights in town, my neighbour threw a party. I wandered over, hoping to get in without causing a scene. I was lonely in my big echoing house, and being around people again was too tempting to resist.

My neighbour turned out to be very friendly, and father to adorable twin daughters. Seeing their tiny hands and sweet faces, my longing to be human again was overwhelming. I had always wanted a big family of my own, and I wanted it more than ever now that it felt so far out of reach! I struggled to keep smiling as bitterness swept over me.

That's when I saw her.

She was looking bored across the room, obviously unimpressed with the tameness of the party we were both at. I don't know if vampires have heartbeats, but I definitely felt something inside of me jump. She was gorgeous - creamy skin, honey coloured hair, and warm brown eyes. She looked a little older than me (I was 18 when I was turned), but considering I was currently immortal, age seemed unimportant. 

Her name was Lara, and I couldn't take my eyes off her. I introduced myself and we hit it off, despite my nervousness. She was friendly, and before leaving she gave me her number. I floated home that night, all thoughts of alchemy and elixirs absent from my mind.