"I don't think I can do this," Alexander whispered when he caught me focusing on the picnic tables instead of the movie screen.
"Of course you can." I could see the concern in his eyes. I leaned over and gave him a kiss on the mouth.
"Hey, we can't see," Matt and Becky said.
Alexander and I laughed, a great relief from the nervous tension that had been building up in us. I cuddled next to him and, for a while, forgot about Jagger. We got lost in the moment, and Alexander and I recited the lines of the movie together.
Three-quarters of the way through the film, at the moment that the vampire Vladimir was bringing Jenny to a graveyard wedding, the screen turned yellow, and the film burned and crumbled. We could hear a flapping sound.
The crowd began yelling "Boo!"
"Aw, man," I heard Matt say.
"It's all a conspiracy to make us buy more popcorn," I said.
We climbed out of the car and stretched.
"I could use a drink. You guys want anything?" Matt asked.
"Thanks anyway," I said.
"I'll go with you," Becky offered. Matt grabbed her hand, and they left for the snack bar.
"Should we be concerned about them?" I asked, feeling uneasy.
"Jagger wants you, not a soccer match."
I looked around. My heart started to race.
"Now I'm getting nervous," I said.
"Why don't you relax in the car. I'll stand guard."
I opened the driver's-side door, jumped in, and quickly locked the door.
I turned to lock the passenger door and gasped.
Jagger was sitting next to me!
"You thought I wouldn't recognize you with blond hair," he sneered.
I tried to open the door, but he grabbed my arm.
"I've come to collect what I didn't collect before," he said, looking into my eyes, his fangs primed. I pushed him away just as I heard a banging on my window. I looked up to see an enraged Alexander.
He tried to open my door as I struggled to keep Jagger's fangs at bay.
Frustrated, Alexander ran to the other side as Jagger automatically locked all the doors.
"Help!" I cried, pushing him at arm's length.
Alexander returned to my window, balling his fist to punch through the glass, when I managed to wedge my feet in front of Jagger. I stretched one hand toward the window, my fingers reaching as far as they could, and barely touched the lock. With all my might, I managed to lift the knob with my index finger.
My door flung open, but Jagger pulled me out the passenger door before Alexander could reach me.
He dragged me away from the car and toward the back of the drive-in.
But before Jagger reached the exit, Alexander caught up and grabbed his arm. "Let her go," he demanded, "before I—"
Jagger's grip remained tight around my wrist.
"I came to do what you could never do," Jagger said.
"What does he mean?" I asked.
Alexander flashed his fangs at Jagger and stepped in between us. "Don't make me do this in front of those people," Alexander said, referring to a few patrons in the distance who were looking at us curiously.
I backed away, out of reach of Jagger.
"This would never have happened," Jagger continued. "My sister just wanted to be like everyone else. She could have had anyone. But we chose you! And you left her standing all alone!"
"You know why. I never meant to hurt her or your family," Alexander defended.
"You'll do the same thing to Raven. You really were never like one of us. You may deny who you are," Jagger yelled, "but I won't deny who I am!"
He ran toward me and grabbed my arm just as Alexander grabbed the other.
Then Jagger flashed his fangs and lunged at my neck.
"It's too late!" I hollered, ducking away. "Alexander already has me." I leaned in and bit Jagger's arm.
Suddenly the parking lot lights dimmed and the movie started again. The vampire Vladimir was leading Jenny by the hand through the cemetery. A gang of vampires was following them, trying in vain to stop the ceremony and take the ingenue for their own.
Jagger howled out in pain as I pulled Alexander toward the movie screen.
Alexander resisted. "Where are you going? We can't turn our backs on him."
I gazed up at the screen. Vladimir was leading Jenny to the tombs. "We don't have much time."
But Alexander stared back at Jagger, whose pale face was turning red.
"Just like we planned. Please, trust me," I begged him, tugging his hand.
Alexander glanced over his shoulder. Jagger was heading straight for us.
I could see Becky and Matt coming through the parking lot with drinks in their hands.