Эллен Шрайбер: Love Bites

I was surprised by his candor.

“I’m not sure if I could be the only one in town,” he admitted to me. “That’s why I always admired

Alexander. He seems comforted by the things that frighten me the most.”

I melted at his compliment for my boyfriend. I’d always regarded Alexander with such high esteem, and I blushed knowing that others did as well. Alexander must have been touched, too, because a warm smile came over his face.

“This is a great place for someone like us,” Sebastian said, stretching out again. “If you don’t mind being the only immortal.”

Sebastian’s remark filled me with loneliness for my boyfriend. Maybe Alexander was better off not being the only vampire in town.

“Do you think you’ll move here, too?” I asked. “Then Alexander wouldn’t be the only one.”

“Actually, I’ll be taking off in a few days,” Sebastian replied. Alexander didn’t seem surprised, but I was disappointed.

“But you just got here,” I said.

“I never stay in one place too long when I travel…. Don’t want dust to collect on my casket.”

“But we’re having so much fun. Aren’t we, Alexander?”

“Yes—” But Alexander didn’t need to respond. His face showed a contentment I wasn’t sure Sebastian had ever seen.

“Besides, I’m cramping your space,” Sebastian said.

“It’s a mansion,” I said. “All it has is space.”

“Yes—you can stay as long as you like,” Alexander said. “You know that.”

Sebastian surveyed Alexander and me hand in hand, cuddling on the bench. Then he gazed off into the distance. “Perhaps I need to add a bigger city to my collection. And, who knows, I might get lucky and meet someone there like you did here.”

Sebastian took a swig of his coffee, crushed the cup in his hand, and tossed it into a garbage can. He popped in his earbuds and began dancing his way around the tombstones.

“Looking for someone you know?” I asked.

“You never know who you’ll find at one of these places.”

Where Alexander had found a moment of peace, Sebastian was restless. He was searching for himself in the many cities plastered on his coffin. But just like in Barcelona, New York, Rome, and the many other places he visited, he hadn’t found a home in Dullsville.

Not only was I caffeinated—I was confused. It was more than a giant-size caramel mocha that was creating my insomnia. I lay awake in bed, clutching Nightmare as she fell asleep in my arms. How could she sleep so peacefully when so much was going on? At first I didn’t want another visitor in the Mansion, but now, after meeting Alexander’s best friend, I wasn’t ready for him to leave Dullsville. Sure, he was disorganized and messy, but he had an insight into Alexander that I couldn’t get without him.

And I found myself feeling a little jealous that he had the freedom to fly off to the bright lights of the cities far away. I could only imagine what it would be like to have the opportunity to monster-watch at Loch Ness, search for witches in Salem, or camp beneath Dracula’s castle in Romania.

Also, I was getting a little attached to Sebastian. It wasn’t only that he was more playful than the other vampires I’d met, like Jagger or Luna, but I was concerned how Alexander would feel when his friend left him behind. I couldn’t imagine a happy existence without Becky by my side.

First Alexander’s parents left, and now his best friend would be going. Could this mean that Alexander would want to leave, too? Their visits and eventual returning to his homeland, Romania, might remind him of what he’d been missing since his own arrival in Dullsville. He had roots with his vampire family and friends. And if he didn’t turn me into a vampire, would he eventually become lonely surrounded by mere mortals? I began to wonder if I could possibly be enough reason for him to stay.

4

Vampire Love

Alexander appeared confident and content in the company of our cryptic clique as we entered Hatsy’s Diner. He hummed “Love Me Tender” as Elvis’s voice crooned throughout the fifties-themed restaurant.

Once again our odd threesome was met with glaring eyeballs, but my immortal companions appeared unaware. Sebastian seemed immediately taken with the charm and authenticity of the diner and was intrigued by the juke-boxes. While the vampires picked out a few songs, I found Becky sitting in a red vinyl booth, texting.

I plopped down across from her. “Where’s Matt?” I asked.

“He has to study. But he says hello.” She held her phone in front of my face. It displayed the words L8TR QT followed by Tel R Hi.

I waved to the phone.

Although I loved that Alexander was reclusive and shrouded himself in mystery, I did wonder what it would be like if Alexander had a phone and I could receive sweet nothings on my phone—LUV U LOTZ, Can’t W8 2

C U, A X R. I had a million girlie texts from Becky and quite a few nagging ones from my mom but nothing close to the love notes Becky was receiving from Matt.

Suddenly, Alexander and Sebastian were standing at our booth. Alexander’s black hair hung sexily over his deep, dark eyes, his white collar perched up around his neck, and he wore a dark jacket and tight jeans. His

Underworldly cohort, Sebastian, stood with his hands in his oversized pockets, sporting sparkling earrings and wildly woolly locks.

“Becky,” I began. “This is Sebastian.”

Sebastian and Becky locked eyes. They both froze for a moment that lingered like an extra heartbeat. There seemed to be an electric charge that surged between the two. His pale face flushed ruby red. She giggled without a sound.

“Come sit down,” I said, hoping to sever their strange and sudden connection.

“Oh yeah,” Sebastian said, as if coming out of a fog. Becky quickly shut her phone.

Alexander scooted next to me and placed one hand on my red-and-black-striped tighted knee and the other around my shoulder. He smelled yummy in his lightly scented Drakkar, and my pulse quickened.

Sebastian inched awkwardly onto the bench next to Becky. The seemingly self-assured guy appeared suddenly shy and smitten. He tucked his hair behind his ear and played with the rings on his fingers.

Becky held her purse tightly in her lap like a child’s teddy bear and nervously twisted the nylon strap.

“I hope you’re hungry,” I said, and handed Sebastian a menu that sat behind the tabletop jukebox.

“You know I am,” he mumbled.

Sebastian fidgeted in the booth and tapped his fingers against the menu. Becky avoided him by flipping through the jukebox songs.

Dixie, a familiar waitress, came over. She wore her hair in a black beehive, and her curvy figure was squeezed into her white uniform like a forties pinup girl’s. When she wasn’t reading a tabloid magazine at the soda counter, she was heckling her customers. She had a heart of gold but little patience for the teen clientele.

“What’ll you have?” she asked.

Sebastian hadn’t had time to open his menu; he was too busy perusing Becky. “What are you getting?” he asked Alexander.

“The malts are fabulous,” Alexander said.

“Order anything you’d like, Sebastian,” I said.

“Anything? Or anyone?” Sebastian gave a cheeky wink to my best friend.

Sebastian waited for her response. Embarrassed, Becky blushed and giggled. Sebastian took that as a positive sign and he, too, grinned.

Alexander chuckled and I sneered. I was the only one not finding any humor in his comment.

“Four chocolate malts, four burgers, and two atomic fries,” I said to Dixie.

“Sounds good to me,” Becky said.

“How do you want the burgers cooked?” Dixie cracked her gum so loud it sounded like a car backfiring.