They laughed, but I was serious.
“You are so different from other girls I meet,” Sebastian said.
Becky slunk down. “I know—I’ve never been to Europe or even New York.”
“No—I mean that as a compliment,” he continued.
Becky lit up. She wasn’t used to being paid so much attention by a good-looking stranger.
“Yes, Becky’s the greatest,” I praised. “Not like those other girls in school who are obsessed with everything
Gucci. We’ve been friends since the third grade.”
“I can see why you like it so much here,” Sebastian said to Alexander. “The people are really genuine. And cute.”
Becky turned as red as the bottle of ketchup she was reaching for. She squeezed it over her fries but then left them untouched.
“So, Alexander,” I said, taking over. “Now we know what we do all day. What do you do?”
Alexander sat up as we waited for his response.
“I spend it thinking about you, of course.”
After stuffing our faces with burgers and chocolate malts, Alexander gallantly paid Dixie and we headed for the parking lot.
We escorted Becky to her truck underneath a star-filled night sky.
“It was great meeting you, Sebastian.” She opened her arms to give him a friendly hug. Alexander cleared his throat when Sebastian squeezed her a bit too long.
“When will I have the pleasure of seeing you again?” Sebastian asked. Clearly, Sebastian didn’t want our visit to end.
Becky twisted her hair and shrugged her shoulders. She gave me a quick hug, hopped into her truck, and rolled down the window.
“Good night, Raven,” she said. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Good night, Alexander.”
We watched and waved as Becky drove out of the parking lot and down the street.
“So now what do you want to do?” I asked. “Hang out at the cemetery again?”
“I guess we should be dropping you off,” Alexander said.
“Me? But the night is so young,” I moaned.
Alexander put his arm around me and we headed for the Mustang, but Sebastian continued to stare in the direction Becky had just driven.
“What’s up?” Alexander asked him, tripping him out of his trance.
Sebastian was silent.
“Hello…. Are you in there?” Alexander prompted again. “Is something wrong?”
“I don’t know,” Sebastian said. “I’ve never felt like this before.”
“Are you sick?” I wondered.
“I think…I’m in love,” Sebastian announced, as if it was just occurring to him.
“With who?” I asked. “Dixie?”
“I can see why you like it here, dude,” he said to Alexander. “You found your soul mate, and now I’ve found mine.”
“Who are you talking about?” Alexander asked.
“Becky.”
I laughed. But then I could see that Sebastian was dead serious.
“She has a boyfriend,” I said.
“She does?”
“Yes,” I said emphatically.
“Of course she does. Someone as pretty as her. But does that matter—in the long run?” Sebastian mused.
“It matters. Besides, she’s not really your type.”
“AB negative? I like all kinds.” Sebastian didn’t seem to be joking, but Alexander broke a smile.
“It’s not funny,” I said. “I think it’s time to go—”
“I’m not laughing,” Sebastian said. “It aches in here,” he said, pointing to his heart.
“That’s not love, that’s indigestion,” I said. “Hatsy’s is known for it.”
“I can’t shake it.”
“We can stop at the pharmacy and get you some Rolaids,” I offered.
Sebastian faced me intently. “This isn’t heartburn. Don’t you see?”
“All right,” Alexander said, putting his hands on Sebastian’s shoulders. “It’s time we head out.”
“Did you see how into me she was?” Sebastian asked. “Asking me all sorts of questions?”
“She was just being polite,” I told him.
“I like that. Most girls I meet are into themselves. Can you give me her number?”
“Her number?” I asked, alarmed. “But she already has a boyfriend!”
“Something I can overlook. For now.”
“I really don’t think…”
“One cannot dodge Cupid’s arrow,” Sebastian proclaimed.
I rolled my eyes. “Cupid isn’t the only one with an arrow.” I scowled.
Alexander rubbed my neck. “It’s okay. He’s just playing.”
We got into the Mustang, and as Sebastian drove me home, the ghostly duo boisterously sang to tunes blasted from his speakers. I pretended to not be disturbed by Sebastian’s off-key singing or his sudden proclamation.
Sebastian waited in the car while Alexander escorted me up the front steps.
“Why didn’t you say anything about Becky?” I asked when we reached the door.
“He’s harmless. He falls for girls all the time and whines when they don’t fall back. I was surprised he didn’t declare his love for you.” Alexander fingered my belt loops and drew me to him.
“Yeah, why didn’t he?” I asked, gazing up at him.
“I’m sure he did,” he said, brushing my hair away from my face. “He just knows what I’d do to him if he did anything about it.”
“You think he’d really like me?”
For a moment, I too was as giddy as Becky had been. Not because I liked Sebastian but because I liked the idea of being admired. I spent so much of my life in Dullsville being ostracized, it was exhilarating to know that
I might be attractive to the male species, especially when the male species was the vampire kind.
“How could he miss the most beautiful girl in Dullsville—or the world, for that matter?” Alexander asked.
“He’d have to be blinder than a bat.”
My boyfriend stared at me, his chocolate eyes burning through me. He leaned into me and gave me a five-star kiss.
5
Grave Situation
The following morning, I was lumbering around my room in a towel and Jack Skellington slippers like a lost zombie, vacuously trying to figure out what to wear to school, when I heard Becky repeatedly blast her truck’s horn. I threw on the first thing I saw, a charcoal-colored T-shirt dress, and layered it with a ripped Wicked
Wiccas tank, gathered my backpack, and haphazardly dragged myself out of my house. When I got into her truck, Becky was sporting an overblown grin.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“He texted me like a hundred times.” She blurted out the words as if she’d been holding them in for a decade.
“Who?” I asked. But I already knew the answer. “Sebastian?”
She tried to hide the smile that crept across her face by chewing on her sparkling pink lip and drove us toward school. “How did you know?”
“A hundred?” I asked flatly.
“Well…not exactly. But I’m going to have to buy more minutes.”
“What did he say?”
“He wanted to know what I was doing…what I liked to do…what were my favorite flowers.” Becky beamed.
“Did you answer?”
“I did until Matt texted in. Then I told him I had to go.”
“You shouldn’t be texting Sebastian.”
“Why?”
“Why? Because you have a boyfriend.”
“I know that. But it’s no big deal.”
“Are you kidding?” Becky was as serious as she was naive. She was so amazed that Matt liked her, she couldn’t fathom that another guy might possibly feel the same. “Texting another guy? In some countries you could be jailed.”
“Raven, I think you’re totally overreacting.”
“Me? Overreact? Promise me you won’t text him anymore.”
“He was just being nice.”
“He’s not being nice. He’s dangerous,” I blurted out.
“He’s a criminal?” Becky squealed.
“Of course not,” I said, and sighed.
Becky was being unusually stubborn. I knew it was because she simply didn’t think I wasn’t going to leave her in the dark anymore. I had to use all my ammunition.
“He’s dangerous for different reasons than you think. He’s in love with you!”
Becky almost slammed on the brakes. “You’re joking.”
“No—it’s true.”
“No one’s ever been in love with me. Not even Matt.”
“What? Of course Matt loves you.”
“Well, he’s never said it.”
I was surprised. I figured Matt told her all the time, as Alexander told me.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. I would have told you the minute he told me.”
“I just assumed he already had. But clearly, he doesn’t need to. It’s written all over his face.”
“You think so?” she asked with doughy eyes. “You know how I feel about him.”
“Of course he loves you. That’s why you have to stay away from Sebastian. So you don’t spoil your relationship with Matt.”
“I’d never let that happen. But I don’t believe you about Sebastian. Truly, he was being totally innocent.”
“Guys don’t want to be just friends. Haven’t you seen When Harry Met Sally?”
“No.”
“Well, perhaps it’s time you watched it.”
“I’ll rent it tonight.”
“Perfect. Then we’re done with the subject,” I ordered. “He’s supposed to be leaving soon anyway, so there’s no need to mention his name.”
“Mention whose name?” she asked with a cute grin.
Becky parked the truck in the student parking lot. We dashed up the front stairs through the bustling hallways and hurried to our lockers. She opened hers to find a glass vase tied with a white ribbon and filled with tiny pink roses.
“Wow—Matt never gave me roses before,” she exclaimed. “Didn’t I tell you I had the best boyfriend ever?”
My stomach tied itself in a bigger knot than was on her bow.
“My guess is they aren’t from him,” I mumbled.
“What?”
“Uh…nothing. Is there a card?”
“Oh…” She picked through the flowers. “Here it is. ‘Until we meet again…Sebastian,’” she read aloud.
“Sebastian?” My best friend was as shocked as she was flattered. She stuck the card back in the vase.
Suddenly Matt appeared behind us. Becky gasped and turned corpse white.
“Did you miss me last night?” he asked with a churlish wink.
“I did,” I said truthfully.
“Thanks, Raven.”
Becky tried to envelop the flowers in her unbuttoned paisley cardigan, but her sweater was too small and a few buds peeked out from her neckline.
“Where did you get those?” Matt asked. “You don’t have a secret admirer, do you?”
Becky froze. She never lied to Matt—or anyone, for that matter.
“They are mine actually,” I fibbed for her. “She was holding them while I shut my locker.” I held out my hand.
Becky opened her sweater and I took the vase.
The bell rang and Mrs. Hathaway, our history teacher, opened the door for class.
“I didn’t think pink was your color,” Matt said, bewildered.
“Uh…It’s not. I’m regifting.”
“I can’t believe you’d give away flowers from Alexander,” he charged.
“They aren’t from him—” I said, trying to defend my actions. Then I realized what I’d said.
Matt spotted the card poking out of the vase. He snatched it before I could stop him.
“Sebastian?” he read. “Alexander’s friend? Why is he giving you flowers?”
My horror story was spinning out of control. I wasn’t even sure what I was saying anymore.
“Uh…we’re going to be late for class,” I said.
“Yes,” Becky agreed. She took Matt’s hand and led him into class before our story got any more fictional.
I handed Mrs. Hathaway the bouquet. She was quite surprised and a little skeptical of my gift but happily placed the vase on her desk.
Becky and I glared at the bouquet. Even under normal circumstances I couldn’t focus too long on history.
Now, with Sebastian’s roses prominently displayed in class, both Becky and I were distracted. For once, neither of us learned a thing.
The sky over Dullsville was picture perfect—beautifully blue and dotted with bright, puffy clouds. It didn’t match the storm I felt brewing inside me during lunch as Matt questioned Becky and me about Sebastian on the bleachers.
“I have to meet this dude,” Matt said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “He’s either a real gentleman or a real snake. Giving flowers to another guy’s girl? If he did that to my girlfriend, I’d have to take him out.”
Matt had grown up as Trevor’s shadow. Now that he’d broken away from Trevor’s clutches and started dating Becky, he showed a confidence I didn’t know existed. That said, he still was far from the type of guy to throw the first punch—or the last, for that matter.
“Why don’t we talk about something else?” I suggested. I was trying to eat organic peanut butter and jelly on a million-grain roll my mother had bought at some overpriced health food store. Becky fingered her gluten- and flour-friendly roast beef sandwich. She noticed my distaste and happily traded lunches with me.
“Does Alexander know Sebastian gave you flowers?” Matt asked skeptically.
“No, he doesn’t,” I said.
“Are you going to tell him?”
“Uh…I guess.”
“I think it’s important to be honest in a relationship,” Matt said. “Becky and I always tell each other everything. No secrets.”
Becky hid her face in her hands. “Matt, there’s something you should know—”
“Did I tell you Sebastian won’t be in town much longer?” I suddenly asked. “He’s just passing through. So surely we can talk about something else.”
Becky paused. “Yes,” she agreed. “Let’s talk about—”
“That’s a shame,” Matt said. “I would like to meet Alexander’s best friend. I imagine he’s pretty cool. What’s he into?”
He’s into Becky, I wanted to say.
“Gaming,” Becky said. “He looks like a modern-day pirate,” she said, half dreaming. “All he is missing is an eye patch and a pegleg.”
“Maybe I should be the one worried about him honing in on my girlfriend.”
Matt gave her a bear hug as she blushed.
“How about the five of us hang out tomorrow?” he continued. “The team is going to Hooligans and you guys can come, too.”
Hooligans was a grown-up version of Chuck E. Cheese—without the oversized rat. I’d gone there on a few occasions when Billy was still being called Nerd Boy. My little brother loved the video games and I loved a night out.
I wasn’t sure if Hooligans was going to be Alexander and Sebastian’s idea of fun, but I was more concerned with Becky being in the magnetic vampire’s presence again.
“I’d rather spend time with just us,” Becky said. “I haven’t seen you—”
“Yeah—the guys have been keeping late nights,” I said truthfully. “They might want a night off. And more important, who wants to see Trevor?”
“It’s a big place. You won’t even run into him,” Matt said encouragingly. “Besides, if Sebastian is leaving, when will you get a chance to see him again?” Matt asked, excited by his idea.
“I was hoping not anytime soon,” Becky whispered to me.
“Awesome,” Matt declared. “We’ll meet this week. But I’m warning you, Raven, if you open your locker this afternoon and find a ring, then I’m telling Alexander.”
As soon as th
e sun set, I hopped on my bike and motored toward the Mansion. It was imperative I get to
Alexander posthaste, and this time I wasn’t going to let anyone stand in my way—not even a handsome soccer snob. I was fortunate that all I had to dodge were a few cars and a woman walking her poodle.
I pounded on the door until Jameson politely let me in. I paced on the squeaky parlor floorboards for what seemed like an hour until Alexander finally entered the room.
Alexander was dreamy, standing in the doorway, his long black hair tousled and slightly damp from his shower.
“You have to talk to him…,” I exclaimed. “I have to talk to him.”
“What? Talk to who?” he asked.
“Sebastian,” I said, racing over to him.
I was so harried, the note card fell out of my hoodie pocket and onto the floor. Alexander picked it up before
I could place my boot over it.
“‘Until we meet again…Sebastian’?” he read aloud.
Alexander’s dark eyes turned angry red. “What is my best friend doing giving you cards?” he asked, his brow furrowing.
“It wasn’t a card, Alexander. It was flowers.”
Alexander looked shocked, then angry. He couldn’t hide a feeling of betrayal as his expression tightened.
“Sebastian!” he began to call.
I grasped his arm. “They weren’t for me.”
“Then who were they for?” he asked skeptically.
“Becky. He texted her all night and then had roses waiting for her in her locker.”
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?”
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