“Wow, I can’t believe it’s almost night,” I stated turning back to Mike who was still lying down on my bed. I stared at him in admiration. His hair was a well groomed mess against my pale teal pillows. I never noticed how symmetrical his face was; his nose sloped gracefully below his brown eyes. He’s wearing khaki cargo shorts with a long sleeved black DC brand t-shirt and matching black skater tennis shoes. The way his shirt hung in his flat position revealed a slightly sculpted physique below.
He looked over at me and smiled enticingly. “Are you hungry?” I asked.
“A little,” he admitted sheepishly.
“Let’s go downstairs and raid the fridge.” He got down from the bed with one leap and we wandered down to the kitchen. I opened the side-by-side fridge and freezer for the choices to be on display.
“What looks good to you?” he asked.
“I’m not picky. Want to just heat up the leftover pizza?”
“Sounds good, but I like it cold.”
I smiled. “So do I.”
He chuckled as I grabbed the box from the fridge. I handed him a coke and we sat at the island together to eat.
“I wonder where my parents are. They’ve been gone for a while now.”
“I won’t lie, I’ve enjoyed the time alone with you. I’m glad I was impulsive and came over,” he said between bites.
I looked over at him. He caressed my face momentarily with his left hand, his right still holding the slice of pizza. I smiled shyly replying, “Me too.”
My phone started buzzing on the island. I picked it up to read a new text from Mel. ‘Where r u?! I’ve called a million times! What happened w/ Mike?’
I backed out of my texts to an alert showing an astronomical fifteen missed calls from Mel. “Oh my gosh!” I exclaimed.
“What is it?”
I showed him my phone. “I must have left my phone down here, and, being a bit preoccupied, I guess I didn’t miss it.”
He chuckled lightly and leaned close to me. “I can preoccupy you again if you’d like.”
“Maybe later,” I dismissed though my heart was already increasing pace with his close proximity.
“I’m not going to forget,” he cited with a smirk.
I sighed and dialed Mel. I knew I couldn’t procrastinate much longer without a visit from her personally.
“Lexi?!” she answered with clear fretfulness and relief in her voice.
“Yea, it’s me.” Before I could say any more she went off on a tangent.
“Do you know how worried I’ve been?! I called you a million times. I’ve considered everything, freaked out that maybe he was really obsessive to the point of kidnap or murder. Do you know how guilty I would feel for supporting that before? And where the hell have you been this whole time?! I’m going crazy over here contemplating calling the police!”
“Calm down Mel. I’m fine. Mike is still here. We were up in my room talking and I’d left my phone in the kitchen.”
She huffed dramatically. “Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been? And it’s been over seven hours since I last talked to you. What have you two been doing all this time?” she demanded.
“I’m fine but he’s still here so I’ll call you later. I promise.”
“You better or I will show up with a posse,” she warned. Her tone at least had taken a slightly molded edge over the hard one before.
“Ok Mel,” I laughed, “Bye.” I hung up before she could interject any more.
“I probably should call my mom to come get me. It’s getting late,” he said glancing at the clock on the stove.
“Okay.”
His mom was already in the neighborhood at a family friend’s house so she arrived within five minutes.
“I’ve had fun today Lex,” he said as we walked towards the door. He slid into his zip up hoodie for added warmth against the cold October night air.
“So did I.” I blushed like the school girl I was as he turned back towards me. “I would appreciate a little notice first though…please.”
“I think I can handle that.”
“Have a good night.”
“Only if you kiss me good-bye.” He tilted his head towards me.
I met him halfway. He reached his arms around my waist and held me close. We kissed softly not lingering as we had earlier.
“Ok…I think you should go before, well…I will see you tomorrow.” I stuttered awkwardly.
He smiled wide. “See you tomorrow babe.” He started to open the door but swiftly turned back around and planted a quick smooch on my lips again.
Caught off guard I exclaimed, “Hey!”
“Leaving now,” he replied and rushed out the door closing it behind him.
I stood there frozen in the entry way for at least five minutes. It was then that the shock set in. Today really did happen. I had to call Mel.
I grabbed my cell and dialed Mel on my way up the stairs. “Oh my gosh! Today was the best day of my life,” I gushed when she answered. We talked for over an hour. She had me give every detail and describe our earlier kiss several times as she squealed enthusiastically.
Reliving the day with her made me realize just how amazing and fairytale-like it was. It truly was a perfect memory. I was on an amazing, indescribable high. I felt like I was floating on cloud nine and never wanted to come down. Maybe Mike and I did have a chance; maybe we were meant to be.
Before I fell asleep Mike text me, ‘Good Nite Sexy’ to which I replied ‘Sweet Dreams.’
Chapter 7
It’s ironic how things work out. First and third period I was with Mike; second and fourth I shared with Kellan. The two men I was fawning over at the moment, though only one of them knowledgeably liked me back in that way, intermingled with me throughout every school day.
Mike was waiting for me when I walked through the doors at school with Mel. He greeted me with a smile, and pulled me in with his arm to kiss me lightly before he walked us to class.
“How was your morning?” he asked on the way.
“Good. How was yours?”
“It’s better now that you’re here.”
“Oh, give me a break,” Mel interjected sarcastically faking sickness.
“Hey. I put up with you and Ben for over a year,” I reminded her.
“Yea, yea.”
First period dragged by. It usually did since math was my worst subject. I’d never been a numbers person; Mel on the other hand exceled at it. She had to tutor me last year but this year I was slipping by with a B+ on my own. When the bell rang, Mike resumed his station next to me.
Mike walked me and Mel halfway to our next class. He gave a tug at my hand when he split from us but didn’t say anything, which was surprising for him. Thinking back though, I don’t think Mel gave him the opportunity to.
As soon as he was out of site, Mel drilled me. “So are you two staying together or what?”
“I think so.”
“It’s like overnight you two became a hot item again. Before he would touch you, but you were never giddy about it like today.”
“You think?”
“Ugh, hello?! Did you not have a major make-out session yesterday? And look at how you are today with him versus Friday. Black and white, day and night.”
“Hmm, I guess,” I shrugged. I realized she was right though. Friday we were normal then Sunday we kissed and spilled our guts with new fascination and attraction, and boom! Today we were more ambitious in our PDAs. Well, actually I supposed I was more receptive. Before I always held up this invisible barrier not wanting to draw any attention to myself. Today I didn’t care. Wow. Mel was right. It all happened so fast though. One minute I thought we were over; the next I had renewed interest. It didn’t erase my attraction to Kellan, but removed my finger from the stop button.
My life seemed like such a blur these days. New emotions and feelings had been awakened within me which were causing me to be confused. I wasn’t thinking clearly because I was usually sharp, on my game.
If I wasn’t a mental mess, I would have figured out Kellan’s secret by now, and I probably wouldn’t have been such a weakling when it came to Mike. I felt like I melted into a puddle around him now. Ugh! Pull yourself together Lexi!
We entered the classroom, Mel was still babbling on about something as we took our seats. I was in a daze, off in my own world trying to figure things out unsuccessfully. Class began and the first note was passed from Kellan.
Hey
Hey
How was your weekend?
Good, yours?
The same. Did you have fun with Mike yesterday?
How did you know about that?
I heard him in the background when I called.
How?
Let’s just say I have good hearing.
Ok??
So did you have fun?
Yes, what did you do yesterday?
I wrote.
I didn’t know you write…what did you write?
I’ll let you read it one day.
I’m going 2 hold you to that!
I didn’t say when…
So unfair!
I think there is a saying about that.
Oh, aren’t we smart today?!
Today? Try always!
Cocky at all?!
I just state the facts.
Facts or fiction?
Good one. It looks like I’m already increasing your IQ with my presence.
You really are cocky…
You still like me though. You can’t hide that.
Is it that obvious? – I don’t know why I didn’t just deny it…
No, but I’m very observant. I notice the things other overlook.
What else have you observed about me?
When you are deep in thought, you walk with your head down and stare at nothing below you.
That was too easy… tell me something Mel doesn’t know
You would pick me over Mike if given the chance.
I stared at the paper in astonishment. As much as I would have liked to deny this claim, I couldn’t. He had me. I liked Mike and was enthusiastic about the attention he gave me, but I had this strong connection with Kellan that I couldn’t make sense of and also couldn’t ignore. I had this stranger beside me who knew my secrets yet held my interest beyond that too. I didn’t like him having the upper hand; he seemed powerful in a subdued way, intimidating.
The only thing I could respond with was – why?
You feel obligated to like Mike, but you freely like me.
Once again, I was taken aback by his answer. I kept it simple – interesting observation, doesn’t mean you’re right…
But you’re not saying I’m wrong either.
I was angry, frustrated and flustered. I didn’t like vulnerability and I felt weak and exposed with Kellan in this moment. I didn’t want to lie to my new gorgeous friend, but I didn’t want him to know the truth. I suppose I was a little late since he already knew; there was no sense in denying it. He probably wouldn’t believe me even if I did. So I was stuck; stuck feeling embarrassed since I liked him, he knew it and clearly didn’t feel the same towards me, but also because I had a boyfriend that I’d just renewed my bond with, or so I thought I had anyways. And worse, he made a statement I couldn’t deny, but why? Why would I pick him over Mike? Thus far, Mike was clearly the better man.
Luckily I didn’t have to respond to his last jab since the bell rang for lunch. Mel quizzed me all the way to the cafeteria on our chat. I told her we were just flirting back and forth, but it’s nothing trivial or worth blowing into speculation.
Perhaps I was a bit bi-polar given my attitude this morning, but I was annoyed throughout lunch. Mike was extra clingy and always felt the need to be touching me. Not one second went by that he wasn’t caressing me, holding my hand, or dangling his arm around me. I liked the attention, but Mike was borderline overbearing at times. Or maybe I was just extra irritable because of Kellan. He hit the nail on the head, but how did he figure out what even my best friend didn’t know? It’s maddening how he was a big mystery to me, yet I was an open book so easy to read to him.
I couldn’t even eat at lunch amidst my disheartening run through of facts. I sipped water while quietly declining Mike’s continual insistence upon me eating, which, for some reason, brought to my attention that Kellan never ate lunch. He went missing for the forty-five minutes we got mid-day. I couldn’t believe I’d missed that detail before considering how aware of his presence, or lack thereof, I seemed to be now.
History flew by as usual. Mike stared at me the entire time we were supposed to be watching a civil war documentary. It made me feel self-conscious and awkward yet adored and happy at the same time. Each time I looked beside me, he was goofily grinning at.
Mike walked me and Mel to English. We were hand in hand until the door when he released me with a kiss on the cheek.
“Talk to you later,” I said as Mel and I began to stroll towards our seats.
“Call you!” Mike said rushing to his last class.
It’s so hard to distance myself from Mike or decline his advancements. He’s always so happy and carried this charm that was hard to resist when he laid it on thick. The lure he had was opposite of Kellan’s. Mike was open, outgoing and charismatic; he didn’t give me the option to say ‘no’. Kellan was quiet, mysterious and charming in a dark way. They’re both good-looking, carrying perfect physiques, though I found Kellan more attractive.
Mel was still carrying on about party planning – she was insistent upon this for my birthday – and had been all day long. Most of the day, sadly, I’d been a bad friend tuning her out to mull over other topics. Plus, after the tid-bit Kellan had revealed, I could not even be up for a party.
Mrs. Henderson gave us another free period today, this time to begin reading our next assignment – Pride and Prejudice - so from Romeo & Juliet to Mr. Darcy & Elizabeth. I couldn’t concentrate on the book before me though.
My mind was still racing uncontrollably. Mid-Mike speculation, a folded piece of paper was set in front of me. I looked up at Mel, but her back was still to me. I turned back, but Chris was reading motionless. I then directed my attention to Kellan whose eyes, though his head was down towards the book in his hands, locked with mine. It was a powerful moment when our eyes connected. He again controlled me entirely in that moment; I couldn’t breathe or think for myself. Alas, he returned to his book and I collected myself.
I opened the paper in front of me quietly. It revealed the unimaginable from Kellan. I like you too. Shock and surprise set in quickly. Did I really have a chance with mysterious perfection? It seemed impossible. The words were in front of me, but I still didn’t believe them.
Suddenly frustrated, I crumpled the paper and threw it in my bag. It couldn’t be true, and I didn’t want to play games with my heart this way. I would be fine with Mike; he made me happy. Granted I would choose Kellan if he was an option, but he wasn’t, so Mike would do. I could grow to adore Mike in the same manifestations I did with Kellan. I could suppress my attraction to Kellan, forget my mindless wonder over him with Mike consistently at my side to entice me the way he did Sunday. Couldn’t I? Either way I had to try. Kellan would never happen, but Mike was. And I liked Mike enough to stick with him for now.
Giving up on my mental rationalization of my love life, I began reading once again. I must have slipped off because moments later I was daydreaming. I was in a large open field in an ancient dress with a cinched waist held tightly by a corset and a flared puff of fabric from my hips down. I was holding hands with a gentleman I didn’t recognize. He appeared to be Kellan, but his skin wore a darker hue and his eyes were brown, not the vibrant green I adored. My trance was disturbed by a tap on my left shoulder.
I shook my head, returning to reality. I turned around. Chris was still seated though he was doodling aimlessly rather than reading. I immediately looked beyond him, but Kellan wasn’t in his seat. His desk was empty and his bag vanished with him. Where
could he have disappeared to?
I glanced up at the clock; we still had fifty minutes left. I shrugged, dismissing responsibility over his whereabouts, and turned back to the front. A torn piece of paper now lay on top of the page I was reading in my book. I recognized the handwriting as Kellan’s. Meet me outside in 5 minutes.
Outside? Outside where? The hall, the parking lot, the bus station? I sighed heavily debating the ploy. Did I leave and wander or stay and miss it? I was curious as to what he wanted, but frightened by it simultaneously.
A minute of consideration flew by. I walked to Mrs. Henderson’s desk and told her I needed a potty break. She nodded once in approval and I gathered my belongings to slip out the door. I gave a note to Mel saying I would call her later and explain.
As soon as I entered the hall, I spotted him a few feet down leaning against the lockers. I couldn’t read his expression so I approached with caution. He read my face.
“Follow me,” he spoke calmly.
I obeyed, falling into step silently to his car in the parking lot. He held the passenger door open; I hesitated but eventually climbed in. I had my cell and could call someone if necessary, I rationalized.
Though mentally I was a bit frazzled, my heart didn’t react with a sprint. He slid in the driver’s seat and started the car.
He looked over at me. “You may want to call your mom and let her know you’ll be late. I’ll leave it up to you whether or not you tell her who you’re with,” he smirked sending off a devilish vibe. Kellan always appeared dark and mysterious despite his beauty, but he seemed different today. I was actually frightened by him. Nonetheless I complied with his terms. I did tell my mother I was with him, more as a safety precaution on my part. She didn’t seem to mind though.
“Where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see,” he replied as he drifted onto the interstate towards downtown Charleston.
I watched out the window as he drove. Given the feeling in the air and my mental anguish, I should have been a mess by now, but oddly I still trusted him. The time passed quickly on the drive, but then again, Kellan had a lead foot, which helped when I wasn’t holding on for dear life.
Diary of a Vampeen Page 8
