Authors: Ellen Schreiber
If anyone knew his struggle, it had to be the gorgeous guy I was in love with. �If you�ll excuse me�,� I rose and backed out of the kitchen. �Alexander!� I called, running upstairs. Out of breath, I burst into Alexander�s attic room. I found my boyfriend sitting on his bed with a paint-brush in his hand. On his easel was a beautiful painting of Alexander, me, and Sebastian. It was the very one he�d been working on so intently and that was bringing him so much joy. The one he�d never sell or auction off�the one that was created for only his possession. �I guess I�m going to have to paint over him,� he said. �Don�t you dare.� He had a quizzical look. �I thought you�d be�� �Your best friend is downstairs, as upset as you are. You should understand him and his desires more than anyone.� �But I thought�� �I can see that he doesn�t have the same personality as you do. I know it�s not easy for you to understand how impulsive he can be.� �Why do people think it�s so easy for me, too?� �It�s not?� I prodded. But Alexander didn�t elaborate. I held his hand. He was so strong yet so vulnerable at the same time. It pained me to see him struggle in any way, whether it was with the tribulations of being a vampire or the normal conflicts of anyone with emotions. �I didn�t say it was easy for either one of you. It�s just the way you handle it. Becky is my best friend�. However, she�s the total opposite of me in many ways. She would die before she�d ever confront anyone or defend herself. She is terrified of silly things like the dark and spiders and would rather visit a mall than a graveyard. I�ve protected her for years, like you�ve protected Sebastian with his loose lips and impulsive actions. But if I didn�t have her�if she didn�t stick by me, too�then I wouldn�t have anyone.� Alexander folded his arms. �Sebastian knows he messed up. But he�s not going to leave Dullsville until he finds a way to reconcile with you. To me, that�s a best friend.� �But I thought you�d be mad at him, too. After all, he was almost stalking Becky.� �I�m not happy about it. But your friendship is more important to him than she is. I want you to have a best friend just like I do, for better or for worse.� I waited as Alexander decided on his next move. He gazed at the picture he�d painted of the three of us together. He stood up and placed the brush on the easel. He took my hand and led me downstairs. We entered the kitchen, but it was empty of vampires. I followed Alexander outside, where Sebastian was loading his final bag into his trunk. Alexander left me on the steps and walked quickly to Sebastian. I winced, prepared to see fists and fangs fly. I waited. And waited. And waited.The two began talking. I was out of earshot, burning to know the contents of their conversation. At any moment, Sebastian was going to get in his car and drive off. I wasn�t sure if I�d ever see him again. I wouldn�t even get to say good-bye. I felt a small pang in my stomach. I hated to see Alexander so upset with someone he cared about. I heard a car door close. Just then, Alexander reached into the Mustang�s trunk, put a duffel bag on his shoulder, and summoned his best friend. The two vampires returned toward the Mansion. �Jameson,� I called. �Prepare those smoothies with the tiny swords!�9 Morbid Matchmaker I met Alexander at the Evans Park covered bridge the following night. The old pedestrian bridge was unused and unkempt. Wooden slatted shingles worn off over the years had gone unfixed. Paint had chipped away. Even the birds� nests were forgotten. I always thought the bridge was beautiful. A trickling creek ran beneath it and a tiny broken bench overlooked a dead bed of flowers. Tonight, however, I found the bridge decorated with twinkling yellow and white lights, which hung like sparkling icicles, making it a truly romantic and magical scene. I crept inside to find a table with a flickering candelabra on it and two champagne glasses filled with soda. Alexander emerged from the shadows, dreamy and gorgeous. I was breathless. There wasn�t a place I�d rather be than in Alexander�s presence. I rushed to him and squeezed him with all my might. It seemed like ages since we had been alone, and I planned to take advantage of our solitude. My fingers begged to touch his skin, to feel my boyfriend close, sense his breath against mine. His strong hands grasped my smaller ones and he intently kissed them, as if he, too, had missed our moments together. I gently stroked his face and ran my fingers over his lips, my black nail polish in striking contrast to his alabaster skin and pale red mouth. Alexander and I had only a short time for our date. Becky was in the safe company of Matt and the soccer snobs at a scrimmage, and Jameson was doing his best to keep Sebastian entertained with a newly purchased Guitar Hero. I curled up in Alexander�s arms. The electricity between the two of us seemed unbreakable. When he kissed my neck, I wondered if it was as much a torture for him as it was for me. Alexander had the power at any moment to turn me�whether I wanted him to or not. Was he thinking what it would be like to pierce his fangs into me and take my blood into his? But Alexander was thoughtful and cautious. If I were in the arms of another kind of vampire, perhaps like Jagger or Sebastian, I might have blood dripping down my neck. I wondered and admired how he could be so different. �I don�t know how you do it. Sebastian can�t.� �It�s not easy. I�m sitting with the most gorgeous girl I�ve ever seen in my life and she wants to be a vampire.� I melted at his compliment. �It seems easy to me�.� I couldn�t help but want to be bitten�if only to become a vampire before my best friend did. A few pings of raindrops began to hit the roof of the bridge. A few moments later, it began to pour. It only added to our magically romantic night. I snuggled even closer to Alexander. �Imagine it,� I began. �We�d live in the Mansion together. I�d make you smoothies, and if we ran out�then you�d have me. �We�d have a beautiful coffin together,� I continued. �I�d decorate it with the most comfy pillows and blankets and tiny portraits that you�d paint of us. And we could wire it so we could listen to morbidly melodic music.� �I could take you to Romania and you could see my home,� Alexander added. �We would dine outside on our balcony overlooking the twinkling city lights with my parents, and I�d take you into town and we�d dance until dawn.� I was excited by Alexander�s enthusiasm. �You�d become a famous painter and I�d be an editor of a gothic magazine,� I continued. �We�d travel to Paris for your showings and we�d attend gothic fashion shows. We�d hang out all night long and sleep all day.� �But you do that now,� he joked. �By myself. But if I were like you�we�d never have to be apart again,� I said. �We�d be together, hidden away from the sunlight.� �And holding hands in the moonlight,� he imagined.�You�d never be alone. Not for a moment.� �Not for one moment?� he asked coyly. �Well, maybe one. If you wanted some space.� �Forget it,� he assured me. �I�ve been waiting for you all my life.� Alexander kissed me again. �We wouldn�t only have stolen moments like tonight,� I urged. �We�d be together longer.� Raindrops continued to fall against the roof as he kissed my wrist. My vein showed prominently. Alexander�s attention was drawn to my blue blood vessel. �Are you ready?� I asked. �We�re not on sacred ground, but we could go to the cemetery. We could finally be together.� Alexander paused. He stared deeply into my eyes, and so intently, I felt as if I were staring back into his soul. Then suddenly he turned away. �It�s not fair,� I said, clasping my hands. �Sebastian wants to turn Becky and you don�t want to turn me.� Alexander sat up. �First of all, he doesn�t. He feels strongly for her�and now that he�s crossed the line he�s put all of us in jeopardy. He tasted her blood. He has a stronger pull to her than he already had.� It was a mistake to have brought up Sebastian. Now I�d distracted Alexander from his thoughts about me. �I know,� I said. �It�s just that sometimes�� �Raven, it�s hard enough for me�with you, as we are right now.� I couldn�t push him any further. I�d already spoiled his mood and the gorgeous night he�d created for me. I could tell he was just as concerned for Sebastian as he was for himself. �I guess I shouldn�t have let him in,� he lamented. �Are you kidding? He�s your best friend. Sebastian is a sweetie,� I reassured Alexander. �He�s much more impulsive than I am. Kind of like someone else I know,� he said, lightening up. �He�s just fallen for the wrong girl,� I said with a sigh. �Then we have to find someone else for Sebastian to fall for,� Alexander thought aloud. �That�s a great idea.� �He hasn�t really had a steady girlfriend. Not only would this be helpful for Becky, but it would truly be helpful to him.� I was so touched�not only that Alexander was concerned for the welfare of my best friend, but that he felt such responsibility and loyalty for his own. �Another mortal?� I asked. I thought about the Dullsvillian girls who had plagued me all my life. �There�s a bunch of cheerleaders at school that I certainly wouldn�t miss,� I offered. �But on second thought, I refuse to let one of them be turned before I am.� �No,� my boyfriend said. �She has to be a vampire.� �I�m afraid I�m short on vampire girls here,� I said. But then I had a thought. �But in Hipsterville, there�s a whole club full!� Alexander lit up. �I know two very eligible ones. Onyx and Scarlet. One of them could be a perfect match!� �How do we get them here?� he wondered aloud. �That, I have no idea.� �Let�s think�.� �They are party girls,� I said. �Then we�ll have a party.� �That�s awesome! I love parties. Though truth be told, I haven�t hosted many�or, in fact, any. No one would show up besides Becky.� �It will be a small, intimate gathering.� �Shall we have it at the cemetery?� Alexander disagreed. �We�ll have it at the Mansion. That way it will be discreet and no one will find out about it.� I gave Alexander a huge hug. I was excited to be hosting a party and thrilled at the prospect of seeing Scarlet and Onyx again. �But how are we going to invite them?� he finally asked.I reached into my purse and took out my cell phone. �I have them on speed dial.� After a few minutes of canoodling, I strolled outside the covered bridge to get more light from the streetlamp. I avoided a few puddles, as the rain had ceased. I scrolled to Scarlet�s contact number and pressed send. The line began to ring. And ring. And ring. �Is she there?� Alexander asked impatiently. I shook my head. Just then, someone picked up. I could hear the pounding of loud music with overloaded bass in the background. �Scarlet?� I said. �Hello?� I barely heard her voice. �Hello?� Then the phone went dead. �I don�t think she wants to speak to me,� I said. �I think she probably can�t hear you. That club can be deafening.� �I�ll try again.� I pushed redial and waited. This time she picked up right away. �Raven, is that you?� �Yes! Can you hear me?� �Raven�is that you?� �Yes!� I yelled. �I think it�s Raven�but I can�t hear her,� she said to someone. �Scarlet? Onyx? Are you there?� The call was dropped. All I heard was my own voice shouting. �I guess we�ll have to try later,� Alexander said, resigned. He wiped off the damp bench with a tissue he had in his pocket and sat down. �If she can�t hear my invite, then maybe she can see it.� �What do you mean?� I sat down next to Alexander and texted as fast as I could. He peered over my shoulder, curious. Onyx and Scarlet� Mansion Mayhem! Mansion on top of Benson Hill only a few towns away. Saturday Night @ Sunset Raven �Now what?� he asked. �We wait.� �How long?� �If she sees the message, it could be within a minute. If she doesn�t, it could take days.� �We don�t have days.� �I know�.� We sat in silence, his arm around me, my cell phone in my lap. We both were zoned out when we heard a few beeps. I showed Alexander my phone. Can�t W8 2 party w/u! X, S & OAlexander gave me a huge squeeze, and we spent the rest of the evening pressed against each other�s black and pale red lips.10 Interview with a Vampire The party at the Mansion was going to have to be top secret. I couldn�t even invite Becky and Matt. I hated having an intimate party and not inviting my best friend. However, I had to remind myself of the motivation for the party�to get Sebastian�s mind off Becky and onto a vampire girl. Becky and I sat at a side entrance to the school, she intently eating her lunch on a step while I was perched on a half wall, doodling a macabre party in my notebook. A figure stood next to me. �What�s that?� Trevor said, snatching my notebook. �Wouldn�t you like to know.� �It looks like a sketch for a funeral.� �And if you�re lucky�or rather, I am�you could be the guest of honor.� I tried swiping it back, but he held it out of reach. �You and your friends are having some gathering where you try to bring back the dead�� �We call it a party,� I said back to him. �A party? And when should I be there?� he asked. �A party? Who�s having a party?� Becky asked, placing her trash into her brown lunch bag. �Uh, no one. Trevor�s just mouthing off.� �Well, your sketch looked exactly like a party to me.� �There isn�t a party�not now, not ever! C�mon, Becky, let�s go. This location is suddenly very unappetizing.� Trevor remained at the half wall, puzzled, as Becky and I escaped into school. Sebastian and Alexander were hanging out in the gazebo when I arrived. �We�re going to have a party,� I said to Sebastian. �I know, Alexander told me all about it. I do appreciate the lengths you guys are going to to repair my broken heart,� he said dramatically, his hand over his chest. �You never know where you might meet the perfect person,� I said. �Listen, I�ve been traveling all my life and I haven�t found her yet. Well, I thought I had, but I�ve resigned myself to my fate. Becky will marry Matt and I�ll be alone for eternity.� Alexander and I were chuckling at his histrionics when we heard the sound of a car coming up the Mansion�s long driveway. �Are the guests arriving already?� Sebastian asked sarcastically. No one drove up to the
haunted-looking Mansion at night, and I didn�t recognize the car. The three of us headed back inside through the kitchen and waited in the dining room as Jameson answered the door. �I�m Giles Lunken with the Gazette,� we heard a voice say. Giles Lunken? He was a well-known writer throughout Dullsville who had a column showcasing local and international talent. �I was wondering if I could speak with Alexander Sterling,� he continued. �May I ask what this is regarding?� Jameson asked like a strict butler. �Is he the artist that painted the canvases sold in last month�s auction? We were thinking of doing an article about him for the Gazette. He�s so young�it�s amazing he�s so talented. Also, I�d love to come back with my photographer.� �I�m afraid that�s impossible.� �Why?� His voice was accusatory. �He�s not the artist?� �Uh�You will have to come back at another time.��Then it was another artist?� Mr. Lunken prompted. �I�m not saying that,� Jameson answered firmly. �Then what are you saying? Did he paint those paintings?� �Of course he did�� �Then does he have a personal phone or cell number?� Mr. Lunken pulled out a PDA. �I�m afraid he doesn�t.� �An e-mail?� Mr. Lunken questioned. �No.� �He doesn�t have e-mail?� Jameson shook his bald head. �Does he have a Web site? I couldn�t find any information on him.� �You can leave your card with me,� Jameson suggested. �Uh�I don�t have one.� �You don�t have a card?� Jameson asked. �Interesting�� I couldn�t help but snicker. Alexander put his hand gently over my mouth. �I�ll come back in a few days.� �That would be best.� Jameson passed us, and Alexander gave him the thumbs-up sign. The Creepy Man headed for the kitchen as we settled in the living room. Sebastian plopped down on the antique sofa. �Dude!� Sebastian said with an impressed tone. �You are famous. Soon we�ll have to invest in a security system to weed out the paparazzi.� �Funny,� Alexander said. �Shouldn�t we have heard his car take off by now?� Sebastian leaned back and peeked out the worn velvet curtain. �He didn�t leave.� Alexander and I jumped onto the sofa and the three of us peered out. Giles�s car was still in the driveway, but he was nowhere to be found. He soon emerged from the side of the Mansion with a notepad. He continued walking, staring up at the attic window. Finally, he examined the Mustang, jotting down a few notes. Several minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Sebastian fingered his dreadlocks, straightened his shirt, and opened the door. �Alexander?� we heard Mr. Lunken say. �No, I�m Mr. Sterling�s assistant.� �I was just here a moment ago�speaking with an older gentleman. And I noticed a light in the upstairs window and this car�I just thought�� �He has a very busy schedule,� Sebastian said. �I can do the story without your help.� Sebastian paused. �Fine. I think we can work you in. He�ll meet you at Javalicious�� �I�d like to meet here,� the reporter insisted. Sebastian turned to Alexander, who shook his head adamantly. �Please come back in two days after sunset.� �After sunset?� Giles asked. �I mean early evening. He�ll be waiting.� Sebastian closed the door. �What are you doing?� Alexander asked. �We already discussed that I need to remain private. It would be dire to have a reporter see the real Mansion and discover the real me.� �Then he won�t meet the real you�or the real Mansion. But we can�t put him off. He could write anything.� �So what is your big plan?� �He was snooping around anyway�who knows what he might say on his own. We have to show him you�re just like everyone else. Mortal.� �But you�ve invited him here. And why in two days? We might as well get it over with.� �He doesn�t need to see the whole house. Just the first floor.� �Have you seen the first floor?� I said. �It would make a ghost scream.� Sebastian thought for a moment. �Not when it gets a Sebastian Camden makeover. It will look like everyone else�s home. And you won�t be bothered again.�Alexander�s stern mood quickly lightened up. �There�s a reason he�s my best friend,� he said, slapping his arm around Sebastian�s shoulder.11 Creepy Man and Monster Girl Mom�I need you!� I declared when Alexander dropped me off at my house. �Where are you?� I found my parents sitting in the family room. My mom was finishing a scrapbook and my dad was channel surfing. �I need your help�� I continued. �I already gave you your allowance,� my mother said, gluing a border on a photograph. �I don�t need money.� �I�m not signing a note asking for you to be dismissed early because you want to watch Dark Shadows. I told you to DVR it.� �Mom. This is way important.� �Are you suspended?� she asked. �No.� �Expelled?� I shook my head. �Arrested?� I folded my arms in disgust. �Are you finished?� �I�m all ears,� my mom said. �Alexander needs some new furniture for the Mansion.� �Hmm�I suppose you want something Victorian? You never know what you might find at a yard sale.� �We don�t have time to wait for the weekend.� �How about Annie�s Antiques?� �No, we�re doing a makeover. We need to make the Mansion look like our home. Or the neighbors�. Or the Mitchells�.� My dad came out of his TV coma. �What�s going on?� �Raven needs some tips on making the Mansion appear more�normal. She wants it to look more like our home.� My father was confused. �Our home? But we don�t have bats.� �Or spiderwebs,� my mom said. �Or creaking floors,� my dad added. �We do have those upstairs,� my mom corrected. �That�s true.� �Are you through?� I asked, disgusted with my parents� teasing. �This has to be done immediately. Where are all your catalogs?� �Why all of a sudden do you want to do this makeover?� my mom asked. �Alexander is going to have an interview.� �How exciting,� she replied. But I wasn�t as thrilled. �Once the reporter sees what the Mansion looks like, Alexander will be the laughingstock of this town.� �I hardly think that will happen.� �You just did it yourself. You both were making fun of it. How will he feel�with some reporter�s comments published throughout town?� For once I had silenced my parents. �See our problem?� I asked. �Your father and I were just kidding. You�re right�we really shouldn�t have said those things.� �But the town�they won�t be fooling around. They�ll mean it. You see how I�ve been treated for years.��That�s what I don�t understand,� my dad said. �I thought you were all about being yourself�no matter what.� �I am.� �Then I figured Alexander would be, too.� �Of course he is,� I said emphatically. �There is no reason, then,� my mom said, �that Alexander should change who he is�or where he lives.� She had a point. �So where is our nonconforming daughter?� my dad asked. �What has happened to you?� We don�t want the whole town to know my boyfriend�s a vampire. That he sleeps in a coffin and has a cellar filled with bottles of blood, okay? I wanted to say. I was on trial in front of my parents. They waited for the accused to speak�to declare if I was guilty of trading in my own belief system. I was asking them to understand why I was changing my whole character in order to impress the very town from which I�d been an outcast my entire life. They were correct. Under normal circumstances, I�d never go along with Alexander trying to change who he was. But if the town knew he was a vampire, he�d be the one in danger. �Maybe Alexander doesn�t want the town to see his real image,� I began. �Why?� my mom asked. �It�s an invasion of his space.� �How do you figure that?� �The Mansion is his studio, his home, his family. He�s already shared his soul in his paintings�does he have to share it in a newspaper, too?� My parents agreed. I was beginning to get through to them. �Besides, it�s not my decision,� I said. �It�s Alexander�s. And he wants the Mansion to appear like any other home in Dullsville.� My mother�s bewilderment turned to joy. �Then I guess I�m forced to help you shop.� �Jameson and I are going to pick up the furniture after school. I just don�t know where to begin, and I thought you�d be great in giving me some ideas.� �Come into my private stash.� I followed my mom into her bedroom. Where a man might have stashed Playboys, my mom had hidden her Pottery Barns. She reached underneath her bed and pulled out a large plastic container. �I have every issue from every home store.� We hunkered down on her bed like two girls at a sleepover. We spread out the catalogs and pored over the slick pages. �Rugs are a great accent. Framed pictures can make a statement. Clocks can really be striking.� She noted pages with Post-its, and with a thick black marker I circled items that reminded me of Trevor�s home. �I was hoping for a day like this since you were a little girl,� she said, �for decorating your room�but I�ll settle for decorating Alexander�s.� Jameson and I were armed with catalogs and a credit card. We had to go to the one place I�d never imagined the Creepy Man would ever escort me to�the mall. It was an understatement to say that we were an odd pair. Elderly mall walkers, tweens with cell phones and Vera Bradley backpacks, kissing couples, and families filled the food court. There was only one bald butler and morbidly dressed girl. We entered a home store I�d only been in when I was being dragged by my mother and the mall benches were already occupied. We were immediately confronted by a friendly woman with a rock star headset. �Do you need help?� she asked sincerely. �You could say that,� I said. �We�d like to purchase a few things for the home.� Her forehead wrinkled as she tried to assess the couple who stood before her. Uncle and niece? Father and daughter? Boyfriend and young girlfriend?By the expression on her face, I think she settled for Creepy Man and Monster Girl. �It�s not for my home,� I reassured her. �It�s for his home.� �All right, then.� The saleswoman did her best to hide her discomfort. �Miss�?� Jameson asked. �Lauren.� �Miss Lauren,� he began in a soft and velvety Romanian accent, �I am so delighted that you will be helping us. I can tell you have impeccable taste.� Lauren was immediately captured by the Creepy Man�s compliment. �Thank you,� she gushed. �And, Miss Lauren, we need to have these delivered quickly,� Jameson told her. �If it�s in stock, we can have it delivered the next day.� �Then lead me to those items,� he said. Lauren guided us around the store like a docent in a fine arts museum. We picked out a few rugs, a desk and hutch, and furniture covers. She showed us a dozen lamps and pushed one long hanging rug after another until Jameson found one he liked. I had a blast shopping with the Creepy Man. My mom usually took ages to decide between two varieties of the same item, then, after deciding on the most perfect one, went to another store, only to finally come back to the original and buy it, while Jameson instantaneously picked out furniture, rugs, and accessories. Lauren rang up our purchases and Jameson handed over his credit card and signed his name. We left the store with oversized shopping bags like any other normal Dullsvillian. Now all we needed was a cleaning company. Alexander wouldn�t let me inside until the Mansion�s makeover was complete. I heard bustling and tried to peek into the window, but the dirt blocked my view. I was seated on the stoop when I received a text. Hey Hottie, What are you doing? The sender was from an unavailable number. I dismissed the call, and as I waited on the stoop, the Mansion�s door finally creaked open. Alexander stood as I�d never seen him before. He was wearing pressed jeans and an oxford shirt, a brown leather belt and shiny loafers. He was unbearably handsome. �Where is Alexander?� I asked. �What do you think?� he asked, nervous about my response. �You are gorgeous! I�d never imagined you as an �insider,�� I said, checking him out. �You look like you belong in a prep school.� �Good, that�s the look we�re going for.� The Mansion had been transformed into a spread from Homes & Gardens. Everything seemed completely wrong. With the new slipcovers, the couches appeared brand new and the room clean, sweet-smelling, and free of any unwanted eight-legged insects. Hurricane lamps and framed flowers lined the mantel. Bright yellow and white pillows popped out against white linen-covered chairs. �It looks like someone else lives here,� I said. �You think so?� Sebastian asked, pleased with the results. �Alexander will be like any other person living in town�only he�ll have a butler instead of a few parents. That will accentuate his trust-fund status,� he said, thinking out loud. �You�ve covered all your bases,� I said, noticing that a floor-length candelabra had been replaced with a silver floor lamp. �Giles Lunken won�t have anything to say, except �He�s one of our own.�� �And,� Sebastian began, �it gets better. Now there�s no need for a photographer.� I followed Sebastian into a room�formerly the parlor, now a studio with desk, computer, and easel. �It�s almost finished. I just have to print it out,� he said. Sebastian went to the printer tray and handed me a glossy photo. I held it in my hand. It was a picture of Alexander! �This will be his artist�s headshot,� Sebastian boasted.I was amazed. For the first time in my life, I held a picture of my vampire boyfriend. �I love it! It looks exactly like you!� �I used one of my image-enhancement software programs,� Sebastian proudly said, �and played around with some photographs I found online. I used Johnny Depp and made a few tweaks to bone structure and added pale skin, and voil�! Alexander.� �It looks like a real photograph. And it looks like you! Can I keep it?� �We have to give it to Mr. Lunken for the article. But I can print you another one.� �Print a hundred!� I ordered. I was so distracted by finally possessing a photograph of Alexander, I almost forgot that the preppy guy standing in front of me was him. My boyfriend tugged at the collar of his shirt and fiddled with his shoes. I watched him as he uncomfortably tried to adapt to his new image. He was trying his best to fool even himself. We returned to the living room, where he put a log in the fireplace. �You hate it, don�t you,� I