“Or hiring escorts or something.”
Alexander shot me a look.
“I watch cable. I see what guys do.” And these guys weren’t like most others—these guys were vampires.
“One of you might get hungry,” I inferred.
“Don’t worry. I’m the same guy with him as I am with you,” he reassured.
And with that, Alexander gave me a quick good-night peck on the cheek, a stark contrast to the passionate, long lip-lock we had just shared in the cellar.
Reluctantly, I jumped into the Mercedes and Jameson drove me at a creeping pace toward my house. I caught a glimpse of myself in the rearview mirror. Reflected back was a scowl not unlike that of a four-year-old child who hadn’t gotten her way.
It wasn’t fair. Two guys partying at the Mansion while I had to go home to bed. If I was a vampire, I’d be able to hang out with them all night and chill out during the day near them in my coffin. I’d fit in and not have any reason to be excluded—no longer a mere mortal with a reflection and a curfew.
I fantasized that Alexander would bite me and take me into his exciting and mysterious darkened world. It had been a dream of mine to become a vampire long before I’d even met him. But now that I was dating a vampire—this particular vampire—my broad childhood desire about joining the Underworld had morphed into a specific desire—to be turned by Alexander. But so far that hadn’t happened. I knew in my heart that there was the possibility that Alexander might not ever turn me, that maybe we would share life side by side but separated by our two worlds. I knew the reason he hadn’t bitten me was as much out of love as it would be if he had bitten me. I’d fallen for the one vampire in the world who didn’t put his needs above his morals. This only made me love him more. And I couldn’t imagine that Alexander’s fear might be right—that I might not like being a vampire after all, that something I’d desired all my life in its reality might not live up to my grandiose expectations. But how could that world be bad if I was sharing it with him?
And now, with the arrival of Sebastian, two immortals were partying it up in the Mansion without me.
At this point, as I was being driven home by Jameson, I was as much disappointed about not being a vampire as I was just being me and not being included in my boyfriend and his best friend’s sudden plans.
This situation would have to be fixed—sooner rather than later.
2
The Heart of a Vampire
The following day, I was bursting to tell my best friend, Becky, the news of Alexander’s surprise visitor. I waited impatiently by the swings in Evans Park until I finally saw her heading down the hill.
“Where have you been?” I asked, catching up to her.
“I had to drive Matt to practice. I hate saying good-bye. And yet I love saying good-bye—if you know what I mean.” She giggled, still in swoon mode.
I knew what she meant and how she felt about kissing her favorite guy. But for once, I had other things on my mind.
I intently led her toward the bottom of the yellow plastic double-wide slide.
“What’s so urgent?” she asked as we sat down.
“First it was Alexander’s parents. Although you know I adored them….”
“Yes…. What’s up?”
“Now Alexander’s best friend has invaded the Mansion.”
Becky was puzzled. “I didn’t know he had a best friend.”
“Neither did I.” I sighed.
“Wow…Alexander’s so mysterious.”
“Evasive.”
“Reclusive,” she added.
“Tell me about it—”
“Just like a vampire,” my best friend said. “I think that’s why he’s the perfect match for you.”
“You really think so?” I asked.
“Of course.”
“A perfect match? Or a vampire?”
“A perfect match, silly. But if anyone was a vampire—Alexander could be one.”
“You think so? You honestly think so?” I prodded.
“He is from Romania and has a butler. Come to think of it, I’ve only seen him at night,” she said, and laughed. “And that garlic allergy…”
But I wasn’t laughing.
“Did I say something wrong?” she asked.
No. In fact, you said something right, I wanted to say. Could I finally bare all the secrets to my best friend?
Would she realize this time that her statements were true, instead of laughing at me when I suggested the very same thing? At last I’d be able to unleash the truth about Jagger, Luna, Alexander’s parents, Onyx and Scarlet from the Coffin Club, and, most important, my boyfriend. The load I’d been carrying in silence was too heavy on my temporarily rose-tattooed shoulders.
I weighed my thoughts. If Becky knew Alexander’s true identity, then she’d surely blab the facts to Matt. I knew he was more tight-lipped than Becky. Guys didn’t gossip—I didn’t even know Alexander had a best friend! But this news was bigger than a footnote to a byline. This was front-page Dullsville Gazette breaking news. “Vampires Alive—or Undead—Atop Benson Hill.” And if this information did slip out at practice or a game, then Trevor Mitchell would know. Not only would Alexander have to return to Romania, but it would be imperative that he never inhabit Dullsville again.
“What’s wrong?” Becky asked.
“Alexander is a perfect match,” I said with a sigh. “I was just thinking how I didn’t want Sebastian to crowd us.”
“That’s totally normal. I get bummed when I have to share Matt with the entire soccer team. They talk about the most inane subjects, like ESPN and computer sports games. But I imagine Sebastian and Alexander are different from guys here. Is he an artist, too?”
“I don’t know.”
“They probably talk about world events,” she imagined aloud.
“I don’t even know what they talk about,” I answered, clueless.
“Well, what’s he like?”
“He is hot—there’s no doubt about that. But other than that, I don’t know. He’s a total flirt and he likes electricity.”