Эллен Шрайбер - Vampire Kisses

Now that my parents were going to meet my date, my hands began to shake. I was hoping he wouldn't freak out sitting on their perky pastel furniture.

When the doorbell rang, I dashed to greet him. Alexander looked amazing. He was wearing a glossy, chic black three-piece suit and a red silk tie. He looked like one of the billion-dollar basketball players that I see on television interviews. He held a box wrapped in flowered paper.

"Wow!" he said, looking me over. My father nodded to me to put on the sports coat with a scolding eye. Instead I draped it over a chair.

"I should have worn a knit hat or snow boots," he said awkwardly. "I didn't really keep with the theme."

"Forget it! You'll be the best-looking guy there," I complimented, pulling him into the living room. "These are my parents, Sarah and Paul Madison."

"It's wonderful to meet both of you," Alexander said nervously, extending his hand.

"We've heard so much about you." My mother glowed, taking his hand.

I gave her a cold stare.

"Please sit down," she went on. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No, thank you."

"Make yourself comfortable," my dad said, motioning to the sofa, and settled into his beige recliner.

Uh-oh. I'd never had a guy over before. I could feel my dad taking full advantage. The "goals" inquisition. I prayed it went quickly.

"So, Alexander, how are you finding our town?"

"It's been great since I met Raven," he answered politely and smiled at me.

"So how did you two meet since you don't attend school? Raven neglected to tell us that part."

Oh, no! I started to squirm in my chair.

"Well, I guess we just ran into each other. I mean, it was just one of those things, the right place at the right time. Like they say, everything is about timing and luck. And I'd have to say that I have been very lucky since I met your daughter."

My dad glared at him.

"Oh, no, that's not what I meant," Alexander added.

He turned to me, his ghostlike face bright red. I tried not to laugh.

"What do your parents do exactly? They aren't in town much, are they?"

"My father is an art dealer. He has galleries in Romania, London, and New York."

"That sounds very exciting."

"It's great, but he's never home," Alexander said. "He's always flying around somewhere."

My mom and dad looked at each other.

"Time to go or we'll be late!" I quickly interjected.

"I almost forgot," Alexander said, awkwardly standing up. "Raven, this is for you."

He handed me the flowered box.

"Thank you!" I smiled anxiously and tore it open, revealing a gorgeous red rose corsage. "It's beautiful!" I gave my mom and dad a look of "See? I told you so."

"How lovely!" my mom gushed.

I held the corsage over my heart as Alexander tried to pin it on. He fumbled out of nervousness.

"Ouch!"

"Did I stick you?" he asked.

"My finger got pricked, but it's okay."

He stared intensely at the drop of blood on the tip of my finger.

My mom stepped between us with a tissue she grabbed from the coffee table.

"It's nothing, Mom, just a little blood. I'm okay." I quickly stuck the pricked finger in my mouth.

"We better go," I said.

"Paul!" my mom pleaded.

But my dad knew better. There was nothing he could do. "Don't forget the coat" was all he said.

I grabbed the coat and Alexander's hand and dragged him out the door, afraid my mom would try to ward him off by making the sign of the cross.

We could hear dance music from the parking lot. No red Camaro anywhere. We were safe—for now.

"Don't forget your jacket," Alexander reminded me as I stepped out of the car.

"You'll have to keep me warm." I winked, leaving it on the backseat.

Two cheerleaders dressed for arctic temperatures stared at us with looks of horror.

I led Alexander away and we paused outside the main entrance. Alexander was like a child, inquisitive and nervous. He looked at the building with interest, like he'd never seen a school before.

"We don't have to go inside," I offered.

"No, that's okay," he said, squeezing my fingers.

Two jocks in the hallway stopped talking the instant they saw us and stared.

"You can pick up your eyeballs off the floor now," I said as I led Alexander past the gawkers.

Alexander examined everything: the Snow Ball signs, the bulletin board announcements, the trophy case. He ran his hand against the lockers, touching the cold metal. "It's just like on TV!"

"Haven't you ever been in a school?" I wondered.

"No."

"Gosh! You're the luckiest guy in the world. You never had to eat a school lunch. Your intestines must be in great shape!"

"But if I went here we would have met sooner."

I hugged him close underneath the same Snow Ball banner that Trevor and I had argued beneath the day before.

Monica Havers and Jodie Carter passed us and did a double take. I thought their eyes were going to bulge right out of their pom-pom heads.

I was ready to fight if they said anything. But I could tell by the pressure on my wrist that Alexander wanted me to remain calm. The girls whispered and giggled to themselves and went on their gossipy way toward the gym.

"Here's where I don't learn chemistry," I said, opening the unlocked door to my chemistry lab. "I usually have to sneak into places. This is a breeze."

"By the way, I've always wanted to know why you snuck in—"

"Look at these!" I interrupted, pointing out the beakers on the lab table. "Lots of mysterious potions and explosions, but that wouldn't bother you, right?"

"I love it!" He was holding a beaker like it was a fine wine.

I pushed him into a desk, then wrote his name on the blackboard.

"Does anybody know the symbol for potassium? Raise your hand."

He raised his hand to the ceiling. "I do!"

"Yes, Alexander?"

"K."

"Correct, you pass the whole year!"

"Miss Madison?" he said, raising his hand again.

"Yes?"

"Can you come here for a moment? I think I need some tutoring. Do you think you can help me?"

"But I just gave you an A!"

"It's more along the lines of anatomy."

I stepped over. He pulled me onto his lap and kissed me softly on the mouth.

We heard some giggling girls run past the open door. "We better go," he suggested.

"No, it's okay."

"I don't want you to get expelled. Besides, we have a dance to attend," he said, making us both stand up.

I walked out hand-in-hand with the guy I had the most chemistry with, his name still etched on the blackboard.

As we approached the gym, I could already feel the cold stares. Everyone was looking at Alexander like he had come from another planet and at me like they always looked at me.

Miss Fay, my nosy algebra teacher, was collecting tickets by the door. "I see you arrived at the dance on time, Raven. Too bad you can't do the same for algebra. I've never seen this gentleman at school," she added, scrutinizing Alexander.

"That's because he doesn't go here." Just take the tickets, lady! I skipped the introductions and pulled Alexander inside.

We walked into the Snow Ball. I didn't know if it was because I was with Alexander, or because it was my first dance, but white had never looked so wonderful. Plastic icicles and snowflakes hung from the ceiling, and the floor was covered with powdery snow. Artificial snow softly sprinkled down from the ceiling. Everyone was dressed in shimmering winter dresses or corduroys with sweaters, mittens, scarves, and hats. The blasting air conditioning sent chills through me.

Even the rock band, The Push-ups, fit the theme with their stocking caps and winter boots. Refreshments were set up underneath the scoreboard—snow cones, cider, and hot chocolate.

I could hear whispers, laughs, and gasps as we walked past the bundled-up students. The band, too, was looking at us.