7 Love Bites (4 page)

Any normal guy could be a pest, but a vampire? He could be deadly. I held my menu out, blocking his line of sight, until the waiter finished taking our orders and the menus. �We can all use my points,� Matt offered, showing us his Hooligans game card. �Let�s go.� The gaming area was packed�filled with couples dancing, skiing, shooting, and bowling. Matt took Becky�s hand, Becky took mine, and I took Alexander�s. Matt led us through the maze of people while Sebastian followed close behind. Matt stopped in front of the only unoccupied game�a pinball machine, Nosferatu�s Nightmare. �Want to play?� he asked, challenging Sebastian. �Sure,� Sebastian replied. �Winner gets the girl.� �What girl?� Sebastian gestured to Becky, who turned bone white. �You�re joking!� Matt said. �Of course I am.� But I knew Sebastian really didn�t want to be. He appeared lovelorn for my best friend. However, Matt and Sebastian played like they were competing for more than a high score on a pinball machine. I cozied up to Alexander. �Are you having fun?� �Absolutely!� �Wouldn�t it be cool if Sebastian didn�t leave?� I asked. I was happy that Alexander had companionship� someone his own age�in the Mansion. �It would be awesome. Maybe we can convince him to stay a bit longer.� Nosferatu�s Nightmare was a ghoulish 3-D game. Silver balls shot through winding tubes with neon bats running across them, and squeaky coffin lids opened and closed in attempts to catch the ball. �Open Dracula�s coffin�one thousand points,� a monsteresque voice commanded as Sebastian hit the ball over a gravestone. Becky rested her head against Matt. Sebastian couldn�t concentrate and lost the silver ball. He relinquished the controls to Matt and stood next to Becky. Matt pulled on the lever and clicked the flippers. A graphic of fangs clenched down on a woman�s neck flashed on the video screen along with the sound of a woman screaming. �It�s not really like that,� Sebastian said to Becky. Matt was just as naive as Becky. He, like she, was missing all the obvious signs that another guy had fallen for his girlfriend. And, most important, that the other guy was a vampire. Matt scored a massive number of points and kept the ball in play like a professional gamer. Even Alexander was engrossed. Matt politely gave the controls to him. �Here�try it.� The four of us watched as Alexander clicked the flippers as if he�d been doing it his whole life. The ball hammered the bumpers, skyrocketing his score. He got multiball after multiball and racked up points in the millions. We all cheered as �Highest Bloody Scorer� came across the screen and the machine lit up with blinking red and white lights.�Alexander seems to be in heaven,� Becky said as we moved to another game. �I think it�s great that his best friend is in town. I know it�s been good for Matt, too. Since he and Trevor stopped being friends, he does seem a bit lonely. Now he has two new ones.� Two Jet Ski simulators opened just as we approached them. �Let�s do this!� I exclaimed. Becky and I each hopped on a machine. Matt gestured to Sebastian for him to ride along with Becky as Alexander sat behind me. Sebastian was tentative as he settled on the ski behind Becky. �Put your arms around my waist,� she said, lacing his hands around her. �You don�t want to fall off.� Matt swiped the card before Sebastian could change his mind. Suddenly we were off, jetting over waves and avoiding wayward motorboats. I could almost feel the heat from the Miami sun, the ride felt so authentic. I peered back at Sebastian, who was hanging on to Becky for his life. �Slow down!� he said as if we were really tearing down choppy waters. �Slow down!� Becky let go of her throttle as I passed her and a half dozen computer-generated opponents until we soared through the finish line. Alexander and I hopped off our Jet Ski, while Sebastian still clung to Becky. �It�s over,� she said. But Sebastian didn�t move. �Want to do it again?� Becky asked. �I don�t think so.� �Need some help?� Matt asked. Instead of being thrilled by the ride and embracing his crush, Sebastian was green. Matt handed him a soda he had just bought. �Here, drink this.� For the next several hours the five of us danced, boxed, and jousted our way through Hooligans. Alexander and the gang hung back at the table while Becky and I counted and cashed in our skeeball earnings tickets. Becky and I each had enough tickets to win a stuffed bear�Becky pointed to a sparkling teal blue one, and I spotted a shimmering black bear. The girl handed the blue bear to Becky. Just as the cashier was about to take the black one, another worker grabbed it. I sneered. �Hey, that was my bear!� �I�m sure it�s going to a nice kid, though,� Becky said, trying to ease my disappointment. Just then, we saw it was Trevor holding the black bear. �Kid, yes�nice, no,� I remarked. �That was our last one,� the girl said. �They weren�t very popular, so we stopped ordering them. We have tons of pink ones.� �I ought to rip it out of his hand,� I told Becky. Alexander, Sebastian, and Matt were mesmerized watching two men battle it out on Lazer Wars. I didn�t want to bother Alexander with my swiped winnings. �Haggling over children�s toys, are we?� Trevor said, sidling up to me. �So is that Alexander�s competition? I guess he hasn�t heard of a brush before.� �I didn�t want this one,� the Pradabee whimpered to Trevor, tugging on his Polo. �I told you I wanted a pink one.� The Pradabee�s voice was like black fingernails on a chalkboard�and not in a good way. Trevor glared at me and flung the black bear on the counter as his date retrieved a new plush. I grabbed the bear, which had landed on its back, and dusted it off. �You�re lucky you�re going home with Raven,� Becky said to the bear. �The alternative would have been disaster.� Matt and Alexander were settling the bill while Becky, Sebastian, and I headed outside. Sebastian engaged Becky in conversation. He fawned over her in a genuine love-struck manner, complimenting her hair andcomparing her beauty to that of a famous actress. She was so mesmerized by his attention, she didn�t see a small row of bushes in front of her and tripped and fell onto the sidewalk. Sebastian and I immediately rushed to her side. �I�m okay,� she said with an embarrassed laugh. �Are you sure?� I asked, picking up her bear and handing it to her. �Who put that bush there, anyway?� I joked. Becky wiped off a few leaves and raised up her skirt just above her knee to expose a small wound. There was blood. I shielded her knee and gazed up at Sebastian. He stood, frozen as if now he was the one in a trance. �It�s nothing,� Becky said. Then she noticed Sebastian�s odd behavior. �It�s just a scratch. I hope you aren�t the kind to faint around blood.� �I don�t think he�s going to faint,� I said, watching Sebastian. �Do you have a Band-Aid?� she asked me. I wasn�t sure what was in my Corpse Bride bag. I kept my gaze on Sebastian at the same time feeling my way through my purse�I recognized a pen, lip gloss, mascara, and loose change. Finally, I pulled out a piece of paper. �We can cover it with this.� It was an old detention slip. �That�s not sterile. Do you mind checking with the hostess inside?� Sebastian was still fixated on Becky�s wound. �I�m not leaving you here.� I tried to block her from Sebastian�s sight line. �We need a tourniquet. Immediately.� I took off my Olivia Outcast hoodie and attempted to tie it around her knee. �Raven�it�s hardly even a cut!� Before I knew it, Sebastian was crouched down next to Becky. He took her leg and placed her sandaled foot on his knee. Her pink toes sparkled against his black pants like tiny stars. It was like Prince Charming trying to fit the glass slipper�only this Prince Charming was a vampire. Becky giggled awkwardly, her leg in Sebastian�s grasp. �I�m all right,� Becky said. �It�s just a scratch.� Sebastian examined her wound as a jeweler would a diamond ring. �Why are you two making such a fuss?� Becky asked. Before I could do anything, Sebastian took his index finger and wiped her wound. �Oooh�that�s gross!� Becky screeched, closing her eyes. Droplets hung on his finger like red wine. His fangs flashed. He reached his finger to his mouth. I knew what he was about to do next, and though I wanted to see it for myself�a firsthand account of a vampire following his instincts�I knew if Becky saw it we could never undo the damage that would incur. His finger was about to pass his lips. �No�!� I exclaimed. I pushed Sebastian as hard as I could away from Becky, and the two of us tumbled to the ground. �Raven�what are you doing?� Becky asked. Sebastian and I lay on the grass, for a moment disoriented. I regained my bearings and rose to my feet to find Sebastian already standing. His pale face was cherry red. I grabbed his hand and held it toward the light. The blood on his finger was gone. He gazed at me with childish horror, like a toddler who has broken into a candy jar. Becky took out a crumbled tissue from her pocket and dabbed it on her wound. Then she showed me. �See? The blood is gone.� Alexander and Matt suddenly were standing behind us. �What�s going on?� Matt asked, concerned. I shot Alexander a stern glare. �Nothing really. I tripped and skinned my knee,� Becky said. �Sebastian was very brave and wiped the blood off with his fingers.� Matt led Becky into her truck while Alexander�s contentment slowly turned to anger. Alexander�s best friend was leaning against his car. A wicked grin overcame him as he licked his pale blue lips.As Sebastian drove toward my house, I tried to mask the severity of the situation by chatting about the upcoming weather forecast. I didn�t want to snitch on Sebastian�to condone or deny what had just taken place �if only not to spoil Alexander�s evening. My boyfriend had been so happy to be out of the Mansion with his best friend by his side�a fellow vampire, a childhood playmate, his next-door neighbor. A guy with whom Alexander could be his true self�no longer having to wear the disguise of a rebellious mortal but instead that of a sensitive vampire. But Alexander was keen to Sebastian�s ill conduct. The two friends rode in silence. When we finally parked in front of my house, Sebastian, along with Alexander and I, got out of the car. Alexander didn�t bother to shut his door. He avoided Sebastian altogether and started for my driveway. Sebastian tapped his boot against his tire in disgust. �He didn�t mean to do it,� I defended. Alexander chewed on his lip. �Alexander�� Sebastian said bravely, confronting his best friend. �I don�t know what happened. I�m truly �� Alexander faced his friend. �You crossed the line,� he said in a tone that couldn�t hide his disappointment. �I didn�t plan on it. It wasn�t like I hurt her. I couldn�t help myself; I�m not restrained�like you,� he said sincerely. �You can�t stay here,� Alexander said firmly. His voice was strong, but it couldn�t mask how it pained him to say it. �I�m sorry, Alexander. I won�t go near her again.� �Becky didn�t see anything,� I said. I wasn�t sure why I was defending Sebastian. Perhaps it was because the hapless vampire, like me, seemed to get in trouble just by breathing. �Tomorrow night,� Alexander started, �when you wake up, Jameson will have your things packed.� Sebastian slunk back into the Mustang, and Alexander silently escorted me to my front steps. �I�m sure he�� I began, but Alexander wasn�t listening. Instead, he gave me a quick kiss on the lips. I opened the front door and reluctantly entered my house. I heard the sound of a car door slamming and a Mustang peeling away from the curb. I struggled as usual to sleep. The only time I�d seen Alexander this upset was when we went to the SnowBall last winter and Trevor told him the only reason I liked him was that I thought he was a vampire. Instead of hanging out in bed, I sat on my desk and stared out my window. I hoped I�d find Alexander resting against our tree or sitting on the swings. All I saw was a lonely maple and an empty swing set. I replayed Sebastian�s obsession with Becky over in my mind. I imagined what would happen if Alexander and I were placed in a similar position. Alexander was chasing me through the tombstones. The grass was wet with fresh rain, and the air filled with a gentle mist. I dodged a grave marker and then jumped over another as Alexander drew close. Fatigued yet exhilarated, I sprang over a third headstone. It caught the heel of my Mary Janes, I lost my balance, and I tumbled to the ground with a thud. I felt a little stupefied. I sat up to find a sharp pain emanating from my right arm. Alexander leaped to my aide. I raised my elbow. He held it softly. �Is it broken?� �Just bruised.� He blew off the dirt and gently picked the wet blades of grass from my skin and examined it closely. A large gash, the size of a pencil, raced up my forearm. We both watched as blood began to fill the slender wound. �We are on sacred ground,� I said, raising my wound toward his mouth. Two fangs pierced through the break in his lips. He tried to cover them with the back of his hand.�You need me as much as I need you,� I said, pulling his hand away. �It�s okay. You don�t have to fight it anymore. You don�t have to be strong.� I could see in his eyes that Alexander struggled, wondering what it would be like to finally taste my blood, as Sebastian had tasted Becky�s. �I�d still have to bite you. To turn you, like me.� �Perhaps it�s time. We�d finally be together. Like I�ve always wanted. I�ve always needed you, Alexander.� �I need you too, Raven.� He took my arm and drew it up to his mouth. He closed his eyes, and I watched as he licked his lips and opened his mouth. Suddenly, Nightmare jumped in front of the window and I was so startled, I was lucky I didn�t fall off my desk and really bust my arm. I wanted the reassurance that Alexander needed me just as much as I needed him. That he craved me, as Sebastian craved Becky. But I knew Alexander wasn�t about to make that decision lightly. And did I want it, after all? I�d put so much of my thought into this magical and darkened world when right before me I was seeing vampires struggle with their lifestyle, as I struggled with mine. At this point, I could only imagine Alexander biting me and taking me into his world. The fantasy of it thrilled me. I could only hope the reality, should it ever show itself, would be as good.8
Friend and Feuds The hours ticked away painfully slowly during school. I was tormented as Becky raved incessantly about our previous evening at Hooligans. She went on about how she and Matt had a blast hanging out with the three of us, how we all could be �best buds,� and what a shame it was Sebastian was going to leave. She had no idea the evening had ended with a nightmare�one caused by Sebastian. I was in a fog all day. I couldn�t get my mind off of Alexander and Sebastian�s falling-out. Did they make amends? Had Sebastian left Dullsville? I begged for the sun to set as fast as it could, but it seemed to toy with me as it hung over the trees. When it lowered below the rooftops, I jumped on my bike and took off. I had no idea what I might find when I reached the Mansion. The Mustang was still in the driveway, but the front door of the Mansion was open. �Jameson? Alexander?� I called. But no one answered. The house was eerily quiet. I scaled the main staircase and passed a half dozen rooms until I came to Sebastian�s. I tapped the door and it squeaked open. The room was spotless. There were no signs that Alexander�s best friend had even visited the Mansion. No coffin. No iPod, boxer shorts, or wallet. Not even a trace of Romanian dirt remained. I felt as hollow as the empty room. I ran throughout the Mansion. �Alexander!� No response. �Jameson?� I called. The Creepy Man was nowhere in sight. I entered the kitchen and found Alexander�s best friend sitting alone at a rustic dinette, staring vapidly at a tiny plastic sword in his hand. His hair was unkempt, his eyelids droopy. I stood for a moment. Sebastian wasn�t talking. He didn�t even acknowledge my presence. I approached him tentatively. �I�m sorry you�re leaving,� I finally said. �Apart from the fact that you want to break up my best friend and her boyfriend, we actually got along pretty well.� �Are you really?� he asked, gazing up at me. �Sure. You brought light to the Mansion�literally,� I teased. But Sebastian didn�t even smirk. �Raven�what have I done? How could I have been so reckless�so selfish? A girl should never come between friends. I�m sorry things didn�t turn out better than this.� �Alexander�s still mad at you? I was hoping�� �Not only didn�t I find true love, I lost my best friend.� It pained me to see Sebastian hurting. He wasn�t as controlled as Alexander, or as menacing as Jagger. But like all the vampires I�d met, he struggled with his place in the mortal world�just as I struggled. �I�ll talk to Alexander. I�m sure you�ll be able to repair things�with some time. When are you heading back to Romania?� �I�m not sure�. I can�t return like this. What do I say to my parents? To his? I thought I might stay nearby for a few more days.� �Then you�re not leaving town?� I was happy at the thought. �I�m not sure. I might just take a few days to think things through. And figure out how to make amends.� �Does Alexander know?� �We didn�t talk much,� he said with a nervous chuckle. I pulled out a chair and sat by him. �Where are you going to stay?��I�m still not sure�.� �Are you planning to crash in a hotel with a coffin?� I asked exasperatedly. �I thought somewhere more obscure. In the woods�or perhaps in an old barn.� We both paused with dead concern. �No�not that barn!� he corrected. �Not anywhere near that barn!� he said. �That�s what has gotten me here in the first place.� For a moment I deliberated taking him into my house. But I knew it wouldn�t work. Not only would I feel awkward getting in the middle of the two guys� feud, but how on earth could I hide his coffin bed? �I�d invite you to my house�,� I said, wanting him to know I was trying to help, �but I think you might understand the massive complications in that plan.� �That�s very kind of you�even after I did that to your friend? Well, both friends really�� I sympathized with Sebastian�s dilemma. He was a vampire�for better or for worse�and Alexander�s best friend.