The park in the afternoon, was there anything more lovely? The sun brought warmth to the day and the large oak trees offered the much needed shade. Vienna smiled as she heard the birds sing a sweet melody. Really this was a little portion of heaven on earth. It was a sweet escape.

Walking over to an empty bench she took a seat. She hadn’t been able to eat anything all day and she could already taste the tomato sandwich she had packed earlier. Taking it out of it’s container she smiled as she took a bite.

Will was walking around in the park, bored and grouchy, he hadn't fed yet. Although every now and then a passersby would cross his path and it took all his will not to grab them and tear their throats out. By the time he saw the bench he was mentally exhausted. It was then he saw the pretty girl sitting on the bench alone.

He put on his most dazzling, "mind if I join you? I've walked way too long." His stomach churned slightly at the smell of the tomato but continued smiling.

Vienna looked up and saw a man standing above her. She smiled politely at him, trying to think back to a time where she had seen him before. That was the thing with small towns, everyone knew everyone, it was only a matter of pinpointing the connection.

“I’d love some company.” She responded sweetly. “Are you hungry? I’ve packed some extra carrots.”

William smiled and sat down, he held up a hand as if to gesture stop, "no thank you, I'm more of a junk food eater." The thought of carrots made his stomach spin. He cursed himself from not eating earlier, but there was always this morsel in front of him. She was pretty enough, with her bright brown eyes and chocolate hair. He could almost smell the flowery smell of her skin.

"You sure do eat healthy don't you?" he asked jokingly.

Vienna smiled. “Well I guess you could say that. I love fresh foods, but even I have a sweet tooth. I simply love fresh baked bread or even out of the oven pumpkin pie. And like all girls, I’m a sucker for Godiva.” She replied. Vienna was used to being teased for always having something form her garden, most people would rather have something like fast food or worse.

“I’m Vienna, by the way.” She said, offering her hand to the man.

William extended his hand, "William, but you can call me Will." He smiled again and leaned back, his elbows bent and on the top of the bench. "I'm known for my sweet tooth as well, cookies, pies a good piece of cake," he laughed. At least thats how he used to be once upon a time ago. His mother had been an excellent baker and cook. His mind drifted to those times so long ago, when things had been easier.

Vienna smiled. “Well it is a pleasure to meet you Will.” She said, while shaking his hand. “Actually you would be pleasantly surprised that some things from nature can be even sweeter then baked goods. I’m definitely partial to peaches myself.” She said, always one to try to get people to embrace all things healthy.

“So Will, are you native to Little Salem?”

William nodded to her comment about things being better in nature. He had to control himself especially when he came into contact with her skin. Why did it have to be out in the middle of the park, why couldn't it be behind a building or in an alley somewhere. He swallowed, "actually yes and no. I've been here so long that it does feel like I originated here. How 'bout you? A native of Little Salem or Salem?"

Vienna smiled. “That I am, Little Salem born and raised. My parents have taken me around to travel and see gardens all over the world, but this is always the most beautiful place. Well at least to me. I’ve always been so connected to this place.” She responded.

“But really who wouldn’t love this place? It’s should a picture perfect setting and while some people here may have their… issues, mostly we all live a peaceful existence.”

Will smiled he did think Little Salem was a beautiful place, it did have some charm but he didn't think it was the most beautiful place in the world. He had left that place behind a long time ago. He longed for the warmer weather and fields of green.

"Every place has its issues I think," just maybe not the exact issues that they had, they dealt with things on a higher and more fragile scale, the issue where many could die.

Vienna smiled. “I agree. But sometimes we need the balance of issues so that people can really appreciate freedom and peace.” She said. She gave him another look over, seeing his reactions to her.

“Are you sure you aren’t hungry? I have some strawberries in my bag.”

Will put up his hand gently, "no thank you, the offer is appreciated though." He wondered if she knew what he was. If she didn't that explained why he kept offering him real food, if she did she was trying to figure out if he could eat vegetarian. It almost made him laugh if he wasn't so queasy. It didn't help that he was getting so hungry, he was really going to have to eat soon.

He smiled at the thought of balance, he didn't' feel the same way, he craved power, although it wasn't always like this. "Yes balance is nice."

Vienna shrugged; well at least she had tried to offer him something to eat. But clearly he wasn’t interested. Turning her head a little she looked off into the millions of flowers in bloom. She felt at ease her, close to the earth and the flowers.

“So Will, tell me, are you a fan of flowers?”

Will sort of stared at her for a few seconds, out of all the topics they could talk about she came up with flowers. He forced out a smile, wondering why he was staying her and talking to her rather than just ripping her throat open and drinking her blood. He blamed it on the public place but perhaps there was more to it, he forced that thought from his head.

"Sure flowers are nice, they certainly brighten up everything."

Vienna nodded. “They do, don’t they. I love how flowers in the wild just seem to mix with each other. I guess you think I’m strange for talking about flowers so much, but you could say that they give me comfort. Like the way a child clings to a blanket to hide from the things that go bump in the night.” She replied.

“Do you have anything like that?”

He looked at what she was looking at, when she was that they just seemed to mix together it suddenly clicked in his brain, he guessed he hadn't really noticed flowers in that way before, to him they were just splashes of color here and there.

He shook his head, "not really, its weird isn't' it?" he asked with a smile. There was no reason for him to lie, he couldn't' even remember that warm feeling when he was human but he was sure there was one.

Vienna laughed. “Well I doubt I’m the ideal judge when it comes to something being weird… seeing how in the big scheme of things I’m pretty weird myself.” She admitted. It was true, she loved plants and for a person of her age she was far too focused on them. Her friends often teased her about it and those who did not know her just thought she was a ‘dork.’ But Vi was always one to stay true to herself.

“Still even when you were a small child, didn’t you cling to something?”

William shook his head, there was nothing, not a object or a feeling, like his mother's skirt when he was frightened or hitting his first home run, there was nothing but an empty spot full of coldness. It didn't bother him as much as it should of . "I think I've been grown up for too long, sometimes you have to let things like that go in order to move on."

Vienna couldn’t stop the sad smile from spreading on her face. The idea that in order to grow up you would have to give up a little bit of comfort was not one that she would be willing to entertain. She was still very much a child in her thoughts and actions, so perhaps she knew little about it but still.

“I never did understand why everyone is always in such a hurry to grow up. Personally I’d rather fly of to Neverland then face adulthood.” She replied with a chuckle.

"Yes or you could be like me and never grow up," he chuckled not knowing if she knew he was a Vampire or not, it could be taken either way. "There are worse things I suppose, you could grow up to be a cranky old lady or grow up and not forget what its like to be young." He smiled, trying to imagine her face old and wrinkly, he smiled again, she would still be beautiful either way. "So is it to Neverland before your 18th or 21st birthday?" he asked jokingly.

Vienna laughed. Maybe it was her youth but she could not even picture growing up past twenty five let alone to become a cranky old woman. In fact at her age she thought forty to be middle age, which was fair because to a child their parents were always old and Vi’s parents were fairly young for having a high school student.

"So is it to Neverland before your 18th or 21st birthday?"

“Oh now that is a predicament. Would you say that at 21 you would still consider yourself to be a child? Or maybe Neverland will be like Europe, there 18 is like our 21.” She said. Then she couldn’t help but laugh at herself for turning his simple question into something bigger.

“Sorry my imagination runs crazy at times. But what about you, have you forgotten what is is like to be young?”

William smiled as she described the age. Three years didn't matter to him, well not anymore. When he was human the years seemed slow but now that he wasn't getting any older they flew by in blinks. Three years was nothing to him anymore.

He laughed, "sometimes I guess. How awful is it for a young person to feel so old." He laughed still playing on the issue of her not knowing he was a vampire, "I guess sometimes I feel too responsible that I feel old."

Vienna smiled. She enjoyed taking to Will but it did seem that he had a lot of things hidden inside of him. But that was the way of most of the town’s population. It didn’t matter what species they were, there was always something or things kept shut away in a little hiding place, skeletons in the closet.

“Well see then you need one full day of no responsibilities and just good old fashion fun. I’m sure that there is something you used to love to do, even if it was way back when. Gardening or maybe just laying on a swing reading a book. But all you need is one day of that to feel young again.” She replied cheerfully.

William chuckled, he had not felt young in a very long time. It was hard leaving the place you only knew, the people around you growing old while you were forced into hiding because you never aged. He sat thinking for a few moments, what did he used to enjoy doing, most of the time he couldn't remember, nor did he care too. He too often longed for the past, a silly thing to do and he made himself forget, almost too successfully.

"Well I guess a nice walk in the park would do me just fine, care to join me?" he asked standing and extending his hand.

Vienna smiled up at William, before taking his hand. She was happy that she had decided to have a lunch in the park, after all Will seemed very nice and she loved the chance to get to know more people.

“I’d be delighted to join you. Besides I’ve been sitting here for so long, the exercise will do me some good.” She replied.

He smiled as he stood up and extended his hand to help her up. They began strolling around the concrete path that lined the lake. "I think this is my favorite season, autumn. I love the colors of the leaves," he replied making small chat. It was nice to walk around and stretch his muscles.

Vienna smiled. She couldn’t agree more with William. The season for her was the time that all the plants gave a last push. The Earth was rewarding them with such beauty. It was truly a gift. She walked slowly next to him and couldn’t help but steal a quick glance. When they had first started this conversation nobody would have guessed that they would be here walking together.

“I agree. I look forward to the start of this season every year. It does seem that so much happens now, the colors change and the wind grows colder. School start and instead of cookouts there are people sitting inside cooking all day. Plus the air is full of spice.” She replied, a smile planted on her face.

William smiled, knowing exactly what Vienna meant. "Its like nature gives one last show before being buried in snow and ice." That much he remembered from his human life, he had always like the fall. He loved watching the fields turn yellow and the leaves change and fall. It always saddened him when the trees were bare, skeletons of what life they had during the summer. "It makes me want apple cider."

Vienna’s smiled widened. It seemed that in many ways she and William had a lot in common. And when he had mentioned apple cider she felt a little bit of excitement run through her body.

“Well if it’s apple cider you want, then you should come over to my house. I make it homemade, from the apple tress in my backyard.” She said. Then realizing how overzealous she was about fresh fruits and vegetables she blushed.

“Sorry, sometimes I go a little nature crazy. I try to work on it. My friends Ryan and Brad tease me about it all the time.” She added.

William smiled and chuckled, this girl was one of the few who didn't get on his nerves, infact her presence was soothing in a way. Sure she was a little more excited about plants than most but it was interesting in a way. "A cup of cider sounds just perfect."

Vienna smiled. “Good, I knew eventually you would want something I had to offer.” She joked with a slight chuckle.

“If you don’t mind it, we can just walk to my house. I have some fresh cider there and of course some other things from my garden, if you get hungry. I don’t live too far, just a few minutes from here.” She added, smiling up at him.

"Sure," William replied with a smile. He felt a warm feeling he hadn't felt in a very long time welling up in his chest. It was almost like warm metal spreading out from the center. It surprised him and made him curious, he almost felt human again. "It would be nice to get out of the park, the air is getting colder. He pulled his scarf tighter around his neck and adjusted his black wool coat. He wasn't' really cold, but didn't want her to know what he was if she didn't already. "Lead the way," he gestured with his hand towards the edge of the park.

Vienna smiled and started walking through the park. For a moment she just walked in silence, enjoying just walking with William. The air had grown scientifically cooler and each breath she took was a crisp and cool.

“I’m surprised we haven’t run into each other before.” She stated, breaking the brief silence between them. It was a small island, and unusual for two people to have not interacted at all.

“Do you go to school at LSHS?” She asked, looking at him for a moment. She didn’t know why, but just allowing her eyes to take him in made her blush.

"I do," William answered with a smile, he saw the faint pink glow of Vienna's face and if he had been alive himself would have done the same. "I guess I only go for the education, I don't really do anything extracurricular. When the last bell rings I'm out of there as fast as I can," he shrugged. It had to be at least the tenth time that he attended highschool It was starting to bore him.

"Its not surprising that you haven't run into to me, I usually don't stay in the town much."

Vienna smiled. “Really? I do a few things after school, it looks good on college applications. Plus to be honest I like to keep busy. Still I’ve started to do less now that I am a senior. It means that I am able to spend more time with my garden or with friends.” She said. She wasn’t sure if it really mattered to him, she always gave so much information about herself, without a thought. But now she was very conscious of what she told him.

“Really? I don’t mean to pry but why not? And where do you go?” She asked, interested in knowing.

"I usually take off on my own, into the forest or to the cliffs. Its quieter out there, more peaceful," he replied, not mentioning that he also goes out there to feed. By the time schools over hes usually starving and staying in town isn't a good idea with the Treaty and all. "So what colleges have you applied to?" he asked slightly curious. He had done college a handful of times, but was looking forward to it for some reason, maybe because he was becoming so bored of highschool.

Vienna smiled. “I love the forest. But then again, it goes back to my love for plants. But there is something magical about the forests here on the island. You know?” she said with a smile.

"So what colleges have you applied to?"

“Well Berkeley, Georgetown, Duke, Cornell. Just to name a few.” She replied with a chuckle. She had gone a little overboard when it came to apply for colleges but her parents had insisted that she apply to many. They had hoped she would leave the island, even if for two semesters at a time. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t leave her Coven. They were stronger together.

“But I plan to go to Salem College. So I guess I shouldn’t have applied to so many others. Still it was fun to get the acceptance letters.” She added with a blush. It was silly to enjoy it, but she couldn’t help it.

“Do you have plans for college?”

"Actually I do," Will replied with a small smile on his lips, "I too have decided to go to Salem College, at least for a little while. I guess I like this place too much to leave it right away." Actually he didn't think Braeden would let him and didn't want to ask, his 'father' seemed to preoccupied with destroying everyone at the moment and now that the hunter had attacked him it would be easier for Braeden to push forward with his plans. "Those are some top schools, why would you plan to stay here?"

Honestly she had wanted to leave, a part of her did. But she did love the island so much and most of her friends were staying local. But the main reason she didn’t go was her Coven. Like all Covens, they were stronger when they were together. Plus she needed to stay, to keep the peace.

“You know what they say… there’s no place like home.” She answered. Most people would think she was crazy to pass the chance to go to some of her options, but she had no choice really.

“Besides, Salem College is a really good school too. And I’m more of a small school girl anyway. I’m sure I’ll be overwhelmed otherwise.” She added. “Besides maybe we’ll have some of the same classes. Do you know what you want to study?”

"Oh...well..."William hadn't really thought his new plan through. He knew he wanted to go to college but really didn't give much thought on what he was going to study. He racked his brain for topics he had heard other people discuss about college but didn't really want to make anything up. "Well I guess I haven't figured that part out. I haven't the faintest idea of what I would like to do."