-and-mixed-doubles- filled retirement plans.
"Why can't I be homeschooled like Alexander?" I whined.
"I think I saw Alexander's parents," Billy said suddenly.
"You did?" I asked. "You're not supposed to see them before I do!"
"Henry and I left Shirley's Bakery," he said, rolling dice, "and were cutting through the square when we spotted a lady anda man, dressed from head to toe in black, enter the Main Street Gallery."
I jumped up from my chair and faced my brother. "Did you see them up close?"
"I was too far away," he said, focused on his army. He was preparing to overtakeSiberia . "But I'm sure it was them. No one in town is that ghost white. Their skin was so pale you could almost see through it."
"I'm looking forward to meeting them. I have to admit, I'm quite curious about them, too," my father said, moving his troops.
"You?"I asked. "What about me? Alexander hasn't even invited me over. There must be something wrong with me."
"Duh," Billy mumbled under his breath. "I've been telling you that for years."
I was gearing up to wipe out his Asian invasion when he covered his pieces with his scrawny body.
"You think it's me?" I asked my mother.
"Of course not…They just arrived in town. They're probably still settling in."
"I'm not so sure… Something seems odd. Alexander never breaks dates."
"What happened to the confident girl Iraised ?" she asked. "You never cared what anyone thought of you. Not teachers, classmates, or even us."
My mom was right. But these people weren't regular people. These were the love of my life's parents.
And they were vampires.
"Relax," my dad said as I started for my room. "Alexander's not keeping you a secret. Perhaps he's concerned about what you'll think of his parents" I took my dad's words to heart. I had never thought of this situation from Alexander's perspective before. I remembered how embarrassed I was when Alexander first met my totally conservative mom and dad the night of the Snow Ball.
I surprised my dad and gave him a big hug. Though my dad was totally old school, at times like this he was the hippestguy on the planet.
6
A WALK IN THE PARK
School days and nights passed by painfully slow sans Alexander. I tried to find comfort in Alexander's handmade bracelet, like a baby does a blanket. The wooden masterpiece remained wrapped around my wrist in the shower and during sleep, but it was no substitute for my boyfriend's arms.
I knew the Sterlings hadn't seen their son for so long; perhaps they wanted him all to themselves. I didn't know too many things about them, but that much his parents and I had in common.
It was as if I were seeing a mirage when I finally saw Alexander waiting for me at the Mansion's gate.
However, he wasn't his usual loving self. He appeared distant and preoccupied, staring beyond me and off into the distance.
"Shall we go inside?" I asked.
"No-my parents are out and I'd like to get some fresh air, too."
Alexander walked, his hands in his pockets, kicking the leafy branches with his boots. I took Alexander's arm.
"I thought you'd be glad to see me."
"I am." He tried to perk up. "How's school?"
"I have this English project and it's with Trevor. It's to formulate our ideas about career paths, since we're supposed to start thinking about college."
"Do you know what you'd like to become?" he asked.
"I've known for years. But you'll need to help me a bit -or should I say, 'a bite.'" "That's not really a career, though…"
"Is a career that important?"
"To make money it is."
"You don't have to worry about that."
"Why would you say that?" he asked, stopping by an old maple tree.
"You live in a mansion.Duh."
"You think it's that easy?" he snapped. "That I can justmy whatever I want?"
I was taken aback. "I didn't mean to offend you."
"I don't have all the money in the world."
"I never said you did."
"That's not why… why you like me, is it?" The confident, content Alexander I'd seen a few days ago was nowhere in sight.
Something was troubling Alexander and I had to get to the root of it.
"What's wrong? You've never acted like this before. You really think I like you because you live in a mansion and have a butler? Besides, I don't like you-I love you."
Alexander shook his head. He took my hands and drew me near.
"So many things have changed so quickly. I just have to get things sorted out."
"You don't have to save the world every day, you know."
"We aren't going to be spending the time together that we once did."