James: "Emily!"

She slowed, but didn't turn around right away.

James: "Emily?"

She drew a shuddering breath and put on the best smile she could muster. Questions were to be avoided at all costs, she couldn't let anyone know what had happened.

Emily: "James?"
James: "What are you doing walking around in the rain?"
Emily: "I… don't know?"
James: "Do you need a ride home, sugarplum?"

Emily smiled shyly and nodded, just beginning to feel the cold. She couldn't quite remember how long she'd walked to get here, but suddenly the warm interior of James' car sounded very inviting.

James: "I'm parked just around the corner."

The ride home was mostly quiet, the only sound coming from the blast of hot air from the vents and the swishing of the wiper blades across the glass of the windshield. Emily stared blankly ahead, only vaguely aware of her surroundings. No matter how hard she tried to think of other things, her mind kept replaying the dead look in Andy's eyes; his completely emotionless facade; his perfectly casual demeanor as he brutally exorcised her from his life.

James: "Want me drop you off right at the door?"
Emily: "Actually, would you mind coming in for just a little while? It looks like Mary's not home, and I'm just not very comfortable being there on my own."
James: "Is everything ok?"

Emily: "Yeah, everything's fine. I just worry about vampires. Well, obviously you're ok."
James: "I'm not sure if I'm insulted or not."

Emily laughed shakily, the sound ringing sickly in her ears. James pulled his car into an empty spot before turning his attention back to her.

James: "You ready to make a run for it?"
Emily: "I'm already soaked to the bone, so I don't have to do any running. Maybe you should turn into a bat or something and fly to the house."
James: "If only it were that simple."

Emily: "Yet another myth debunked. Sort of disappointing."
James: "There are other perks. Ready?"
Emily: "Ready."

They sprinted quickly from the parking lot to the front door, where Emily shakily unlocked the door before quickly entering the security code for the alarm system. The house was dark and quiet, with no sign of Mary. Emily let out a sigh of relief- one less thing to worry about for the time being.