Alexander was only partially relieved. Now he was confused. “Why would he do that?” he asked softly.
“You heard him last night. He said he loved her….”
“I know, but I didn’t think he meant it. Besides, he’s copying my moves. Leaving surprises in your locker—
well, Becky’s.”
“He has to stop, Alexander. Becky isn’t used to this kind of attention. And he is, after all…”
“Like me?” he asked with a hint of sadness.
“No one is like you,” I said, taking his hand.
“Sebastian has never acted like this before….”
“To make matters worse…Matt wants to meet him. He has no idea the flowers were for her. He thinks they were for me.”
“Who gave him that idea?” he asked, slightly accusatory.
“Well—”
“So now everyone at school thinks my best friend is hitting on my girlfriend?”
“First of all, he’s not. And second, no one knows.”
“You’re sure?”
“Of course. How would they, anyway? No one talks to me—just about me.”
He glanced away. I knew it was painful for Alexander to imagine me at school without him. “I just wish—”
“Just say the word and I’ll quit,” I said, wide-eyed.
Before Alexander could remind me of the importance of my education, I pulled him close. “Matt wants the five of us to go to Hooligans.”
Jameson shuffled into the room with a tray of two bloodred smoothies, each garnished with a tiny blue plastic sword and three cherries. Alexander took one and I picked up the other.
Jameson’s bulging eyes bulged out even more. “Miss Raven, that is for—”
“I’ll save you the trip.”
I marched up the staircase, followed by Alexander, careful not to spill the bloody concoction, and pressed my ear to Sebastian’s bedroom door. I could hear the sounds of footsteps on the squeaky floors, followed by a thud.
“Room service,” I called.
The door creaked open. Sebastian’s hair was sticking up like a starburst. He was sitting on his closed coffin in boxers, a black wrinkled shirt, and unlaced boots and was staring at the cell phone in his hand. Socks, T-
shirts, and bandannas were scattered around his coffin like the dirt from his homeland.
“What happened to you?” Alexander asked.
“I didn’t sleep. I’ve been up all day.”
“Well, here’s your breakfast,” I offered, almost shoving the drink at him.
“I’m not thirsty.”
“Oh, yes you are. I need you well nourished.”
He examined the smoothie and fiddled with the tiny sword.
“Try it, you’ll like it,” I encouraged him.
He made a face. “Anybody, is there a vein in the house?” he called.
Alexander laughed.
“It was never fun dining with the Sterlings,” Sebastian continued. “When the Camdens had people over for dinner—we really had them for dinner,” he joked like a vaudevillian comic.
“Drink up,” I demanded.
I watched Sebastian as the red liquid slowly made its way up the straw, past his full lips, and into his mouth.
I thought he’d be repulsed, as one would be tasting sour milk. But he appeared to enjoy it just as any mortal might a strawberry shake.
“Raven tells me you sent flowers to Becky at school?” Alexander asked.
“I didn’t send them,” he emphasized.
“Whatever—however,” Alexander said. “The point is…”
“I know…. It’s just…I’ve never felt this way. Really. I see how you two are. I feel that way about Becky.”
“May I remind you that Becky has a boyfriend?” I said firmly.
“What would you have done if you thought Raven had a boyfriend?” Sebastian challenged Alexander.
Alexander had experienced that kind of situation when he saw me with Trevor outside the Mansion last
Halloween. My boyfriend thought carefully before he spoke. “It’s not the point what I’d do….”
“See?” Sebastian said. “I can’t forget her. Besides, people break up all the time.”
“Becky and Matt will never break up.” I hadn’t imagined that scenario before, and I shuddered at the thought.
“She’s going to get married to him.”
“Married? She’s still in high school.”
“When she gets out. And she certainly isn’t going to date a vampire!”
They both looked at me. I had just stuck my combat-booted foot in my black-lipsticked mouth.
“I mean that in a good way,” I said. “I’m the one who likes vampires,” I declared. “But Becky has a thing for mortals.”
“I’m sorry, Raven, I can’t change my feelings,” Sebastian said sincerely. “What am I supposed to do?” he asked with an almost childlike quality.
“You can change what you do about them,” Alexander said. “Raven’s right. You have to back off.”
Sebastian cooled down. “I know. I just couldn’t sleep all day…waiting and wondering when I could see her again.”
“Well, you’ll get to see her tomorrow night,” Alexander revealed.
“Really?”
“Matt wants the five of us to hang out,” Alexander said.
“Who’s Matt?”
“Becky’s boyfriend,” I stressed
Sebastian turned toward the window. The moonlight cast a glow against his sad and almost lonely expression.
Perhaps once he saw how happy Becky was with Matt he’d be cured of his feelings for her.
Sebastian snapped back with a wicked grin. “Great! I’ll be on my best behavior.”
6
Becky and the Barn
The students at Dullsville High treated me more oddly than usual the next day when I arrived at school. Apart from the usual shifty glances thrown my way, I heard more whispers and mutterings than normal. I was throwing my coffee in the trash when I felt a person standing behind me.
“Your secret admirer is not so secret anymore,” a male voice said.
I tried to ignore the demon in khakis and inch around the trash can, but he blocked my escape. Cornered, I spun around.
Trevor towered over me. His golden locks were combed perfectly, as if he’d just been primped for a photo shoot. I didn’t have the energy for one of his trivial confrontations.
“Do you mind? Littering is illegal, you know. Be my guest and do us all a favor,” I said, gesturing toward the can. “Throw yourself in.”
“I love it when you talk dirty,” he said, not budging. He placed his hand against the wall, blocking my exit.
“I really don’t have time for you today,” I said, and slipped underneath his human barricade.
“Two-timing your boyfriend takes a lot of time and energy, does it?”
This time I stopped and faced him squarely. “What are you talking about?”
“Word has it there’s a new monster in town and he’s leaving gifts in your locker—candy, jewelry, love notes.”
I was always amazed at how fast rumors spread throughout Dullsville and how grossly incorrect they could become.
“No one is leaving me anything.”
“Is that so? Then what were those flowers doing on Mrs. Hathaway’s desk?”
“Teacher Appreciation Day.”
“That’s not until…”
“I was planning ahead.”
“I’m not going to even react to your lies. I thought when you ditched your boyfriend, the least you could do was come to me. After all, I’m much better-looking.”
“I didn’t ditch Alexander!”
“Then he doesn’t know?” he asked as if he was unraveling a mystery. “You are two-timing him.”
“You’ve wasted enough of my time….”
“Or are you having a monster threesome up there in that filthy mansion? You always seemed the kinky type with your studs and boots.” He sidled up to me, so close I could feel his warm breath against my neck.