Except for our frequent phone calls and the band rehearsals we hadn’t seen each other over the past two or three weeks. Our cinema date had not yet taken place. Sherinia was busy with her studies and rehearsing with the students’ orchestra. They were giving a concert next weekend and she had invited the band members for her appearance. I was also quite busy with studying for my final tests that were due in a few weeks. I also did some extra shifts at “The Mirror”, because another waitress had called in sick.
I dialed her number, but only reached voicemail and thus left her a message. Only then I noticed that it was late already and that she might be sleeping.
+++
During that night my vampire dream returned, but it differed greatly from its earlier versions from a few weeks ago. I hadn’t had this cursed dream for a while.
I lay in my bed as a vampire suddenly stood in my room. It was a male. Max Stauder? He was tall and totally clad in black clothes. The vampire had an evil grin on his face and the glances from his bloodshot eyes seemed like daggers, as he slowly approached my bed. I sat up and drew the blanket up to my chin. I was unable to turn my eyes away. He stood next to my bed and I began to tremble with fear. Without speaking a word he produced images in my mind and I knew he would kill me, but it was not only that. He would hurt me and rape me in the most unspeakable ways. I opened my mouth to cry for help, but no sound came out of it.
Suddenly there was a movement in my room. There was a second person there and I realized it was vampiress Sherinia. She was the most beautiful and terrifying creature I had ever seen. Her eyes were like flames and her mouth was blood red. She wore a black cloak over the corset she had worn for our concert. She had on skimpy black pants, black stockings and boots. She looked sexy, but her hands were like claws and there was an air of evil around her.
Vampire Max turned around to face her. They were staring at each other for what seemed like an eternity, until the male vampire bowed his head and went down on one knee. Sherinia slowly raised her arm and pointed to the window with her long, claw-like index finger. The male vampire rose to his feet, turned around, and with a terrible shriek he jumped out of the window, which burst into a thousand splinters.
I sat in my bed, trembling with fear and horror. There was an evil smile on Sherinia’s face and I could see her fangs. She took a step closer to my bed and my trembling suddenly stopped. Instead of fear a wave of sexual arousal shot through my body and I desired Sherinia more than anything. I wanted this beautiful vampire woman, even though I knew she would kill me. I threw my blanket away, closed my eyes, and opened my arms to welcome her in my bed. My whole body was on fire and screamed yes, please take me.
Just as Sherinia, the vampiress, closed the final distance to my bed, I felt another presence in my room. Sherinia whirled around to look at the latest intruder. I opened my eyes and could not believe what I saw. It was not another vampiress who was standing in my room – it was Emilia, and she was human like me. She was more beautiful than I had ever seen her. Her red hair curled like flames around her pale face. Her blues eyes were blazing. She wore a crimson cloak, a black velvet corset, and black velvet pants. But the most amazing thing was – in her left hand she held a large silver-cross, and in her right hand a sword.
I cried out in fear, disappointment, and despair. Would they kill each other? Vampiress Sherinia growled like a wildcat and crouched as if she wanted to jump. Emilia was unafraid, her flaming eyes on Sherinia, she took a step forward. She raised the shiny cross and cried, “Be gone, you creature of the night, you have no claim on her!”
Vampiress Sherinia raised an arm before her eyes as if the light emanating from the cross blinded her. With a terrible shriek she ran to the window and jumped out of it. Emilia put the cross down on the windowsill and came to me.
“My poor darling, are you okay?”
I broke down completely and began to cry my heart out. Emilia sat down on my bed and took me in her arms. I laid my forehead on her shoulder and cried and cried.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN – LET THE ORCHESTRA BEGIN
“Where the hell are you going?” My mother stood in the kitchen entrance, cigarette in hand.
“Martin is going to pick me up in a few minutes. We are going to a classic concert.”
“A classic concert? You and Martin? Don’t bullshit me. You will stay here for dinner tonight. A visitor is coming.” There was a broad grin on her face.
I remembered I hadn’t seen the Gnome around for a while. So she was expecting another man for dinner and wanted her kids as a nice decoration.
“No, mom, I’m not staying here for dinner. It is important for my graduation to be at the concert.
My mother looked at me as if I was an alien.
“Since when do you need classic concerts for graduation?”
“Since I need good grades in musical education.”
The doorbell rang - it had to be Martin. I turned around and quickly opened the door. It was Martin. He was wearing dark blue jeans, a white button-down shirt and a blue jacket. He had even replaced his usual tennis shoes by brown city shoes.
“Hi Martin, please come in and tell my mother that I need to attend this classic music concert for my graduation.”
Martin hesitated for a moment, but then he took a few steps forward, and shook hands with my mother.
“Good evening, Mrs. Meier, good to see you. You look good.”
My mother’s face lit up immediately.
“Hi Martin, long time no see. How are you?”
“Very well, Mrs. Meier, thank you. It’s true what Jenny said. It’s a concert of the university students’ orchestra and it’s obligatory for High School seniors to attend it.”
My mother looked at Martin, then at me, and back at Martin.
“Okay, then, go. Have fun. And Martin?”
“Yes, Mrs. Meier?”
“Take good care of Jenny, she seems to be a bit out of her mind lately.”
“I promise, Mrs. Meier. I will bring her back safely.”
My mother smiled and waved good-bye as we left the flat. Outside the door I hugged Martin.
“Thank you for saving my ass. She didn’t want to let me go. Seems she has a new lover and she wanted to impress him with his kids.”
Martin frowned. “A new lover? Again? Jesus Christ, your mother must be really hot.”
I glared at him.
“Sorry, Blacky, please excuse me for saying so. Jesus, you look stunning tonight.”
He gave me an appreciative look. I had on my best black jeans, a dark-green button-down shirt, a black jacket, and my high-heeled ankle boots. My hair was in a bun and on top I was wearing a fancy black hat, which I had recently bought on a flea market.
“Thank you.”
+++
Twenty minutes later we entered the foyer of the municipal theater. I saw her at once; it was like a sixth sense. Sherinia was clad in tight, black, bell-bottomed slacks, stilettos, and a black top with spaghetti straps. She was in conversation with a man and a woman, most likely her parents. Our glances met immediately and her face lit up. She said something to her parents and sashayed to us with wide-open arms.
“Hi Jenny, you came,” she beamed as she took me in her arms and kissed me on my cheeks.
“Martin, so good to see you.” She hugged Martin and kissed him on his cheeks, too.
“Please come and meet my parents. Oh, wait a moment,” Sherinia said. I turned around and saw Robin and Marlon with their girlfriends joining us. Sherinia greeted them as well and led us to her parents.
Her mother was a tall blond woman in her forties. She was pretty, but nothing extraordinary. Her father however was. Like Sherinia, he had those shining eyes of an indefinable color between blue and green. He was tall, handsome, with short brown hair, and he had the air of a man who always got what he wanted. So, this was the distinguished head physician and professor of medicine Sherinia had told me about.
He greeted us politely, but at the same time he seemed
to be completely detached. His wife was similarly polite, but far more interested in us. After a little small talk Sherinia disappeared backstage and we went to our seats in the theater. I didn’t know how she made it, but she managed to get us seats in the very front row, just a few steps away from the orchestra that was now entering the stage. Sherinia’s eyes immediately met mine and she smiled as she sat down with her cello between her legs. Again, my heart skipped a beat as I saw her play. I don’t remember what pieces of music the orchestra played I was too fascinated by Sherinia. How she focused on her play, how she sometimes bit her lower lip, how she blew away a loose strand of her hair that covered her eyes. Every now and then she looked up from her sheet of music and her eyes immediately met mine. And I realized I had butterflies in my stomach. And I also realized that I became more and more familiar with the thought that I might be a lesbian.
Okay then, I’m a freak anyway, so why not be a lesbian freak?
There were standing ovations when the concert ended. Sherinia motioned me to wait for her in the foyer. We were pushed outside along with the crowd. In the foyer we waited for Sherinia. Martin was as enthusiastic as the rest of us. I recognized the dreamy look in his eyes and I knew his crush on her and increased another bit.
Sherinia joined us in the foyer, a big smile on her face. The band members gave her High Five and we congratulated her on her excellent performance.
After a while Sherinia took my arm and led me a few steps away from our group so that we could not be overheard.
“Now that the concert is over I have more time. Are you still in for another date with me?” Sherinia asked.
If you knew how much I want to.
“Yes, certainly, Sherinia.”
“Good. What about tomorrow? Are you free?”
I considered it for a moment. Tomorrow was Saturday, but this Saturday I didn’t have to work at “The Mirror”.
“Yes, let’s meet tomorrow.”
“Super. Can you come to my place tomorrow afternoon? Let’s say around 4 pm? We could have a coffee and then we’d go for a walk, and later have dinner together.” She was totally enthusiastic and my pulse quickened when I realized that it was because of me.
“Okay then, tomorrow at 4 pm. I need your address though.”
“Of course.” She rummaged in her purse and gave me a card with her address, which I put into my jeans pocket.
“I’m sorry, sweetie, but I have to go. Tonight I’m celebrating with my fellow musicians of the orchestra.”
She kissed me on my cheeks and left. I touched my cheek and it felt as if her lips where still lingering there.
+++
“Do you think Sherinia would go out with me?” Martin asked me during our drive home.
She has a date with me.
“Oh, I guess you have to ask her,” I answered.
“I thought you might have an idea if she liked me. You seem to get along well.”
“Yes, I mean, I think so, we seem to get along well. But no, I don’t know if she likes you the same way you seem to like her.”
“Do you happen to know if she is single?”
That was a good question. Even I didn’t know. I only knew she wanted to date me.
“Sorry Martin, but I don’t know. At least she never told me anything about a boyfriend.”
And this was the truth.
+++
It was a few minutes before 4 pm the next day when I arrived at the modern apartment house where Sherinia lived. It was a much more elegant city district compared to where I lived. In fact it was one of the most elegant and stylish parts of the city. I was pretty nervous and my heart raced when I stood at the entrance of the building. Judging from the nameplates there were only six apartments in this house. I found Sherinia’s name and rang the bell button.
“Come in, Jenny, my apartment is on the uppermost floor,” Sherinia’s melodious voice sounded from the speaker. I pushed the door open and began to climb the stairs to the third floor.
At home I had spent hours in the bathroom with showering, shaving, and making myself up. Since I did not have many choices with my clothes I wore my usual black jeans, a green denim shirt, and my warm black jacket. The weather was sunny and nice, but still not spring temperatures.
“Hi sweetie,” Sherinia said as I climbed the final steps of the staircase. She was standing on the landing, a big smile on her face. She wore faded denim jeans and a light-green V-neck t-shirt that revealed a hint of cleavage. Her hair hung loosely over her shoulders. It struck me that she was barefooted.
She hugged me and kissed me on my cheeks, as it seemed to be her habit. Her lips were so soft and tender, and I could smell her perfume. The combination of it made me giddy.
“Hi Sherinia,” I said with difficulties since my throat was very dry. “How come you are barefoot?”
“Oh, there is floor heating in my apartment and it’s always a bit too warm.”
I had never been in an apartment with floor heating. Sherinia invited me into the small hallway.
“We can quickly take the tour, otherwise it will be a bit late for coffee. Please come in.”
She opened the door to her room and my mouth dropped open. Her open space living room seemed to be nearly as big as our own apartment at home. The high ceiling was corresponding to the slanting roof. There were several roof-lights and windows that let the daylight in. There was a huge flat screen TV on one wall. Underneath were a stereo, a blue ray player, a turntable, and huge speakers.
In the middle of the room were a large leather sofa, two armchairs, and a coffee table.
The kitchen unit and a counter with two barstools dominated one part of the room. In a corner there was her desk, a bookshelf, and her cello leaning against the wall.
“Jesus Christ, Sherinia, how can you afford all this as a student?”
“Oh, that’s no problem, my dad owns the whole apartment here. My old man pays for everything. It’s his way to show me that he cares.” She laughed lightly. She opened a door on one side of the room.
“This is the bedroom.”
I followed her to look into the room. There was a Queen-size bed, a nightstand, a giant closet with mirrors facing the bed, and a dresser with another TV set and a stereo on top.
I was dumbfounded. Sherinia opened another door in the living room.
“That’s the bathroom.”
There was not only a shower cubicle, but also a huge bathtub.
“Do you like it, Jenny?”
“Like it? This is amazing, the fanciest apartment I’ve ever seen.” Not that I had seen many.
“I’m just putting on my shoes and jacket and we’re ready to go.”
We left her apartment and took the lift down to the garage. Sherinia opened the passenger door of her SUV for me and I climbed in.
I was too confused to say anything as Sherinia drove down to the river, crossed the bridge to the other side, and finally stopped the car in front of a trendy coffee bar.
“Here we go. I bet you have never been here before. I’m sure you will like it.”
We hopped off her SUV and entered the coffee bar. It was a stylish lounge and we sat down at a small window table, from which we had a wonderful view of the river.
“What’s up with you, Jenny, why don’t you say anything?”
“I’m completely flabbergasted, Sherinia. I didn’t expect all this.”
She patted my hand. It felt good.
“Don’t worry, you’ll easily get used to it.”
The waitress came and we ordered cappuccino. As Sherinia talked easily about the concert yesterday and about the after-show party, I slowly chilled down. I didn’t get much of what she said, but I couldn’t keep my eyes from her lips, her eyes, and her cleavage.
“Let’s go then, before it gets completely dark,” I heard her say at some point.
We paid our coffee and left the lounge. We crossed the street and took the promenade along the river for a walk. Suddenly Sherinia took my hand and we
walked hand-in-hand. I briefly wondered why I didn’t withdraw my hand. I briefly thought of Emilia and how she had moved on with three-day stubble Jason. Holding Sherinia’s hand simply felt too good and the butterflies in my stomach were doing somersaults.
I was like in a haze and still didn’t get much of what she babbled. I was too much focused on the sensations that shot through my body. Some people looked at us curiously, but most of them didn’t seem to take notice.
It was getting dark and Sherinia suddenly stopped. We stood in the shadows of a large willow tree as she put her arms around me and drew me close. I didn’t resist for a moment. In the next second I felt her warm and tender lips on mine. She put her hand on the nape of my neck and I opened my mouth to welcome her tongue.
This is it; this must be heaven.
I thought it was one of the best kisses I had ever had in my life. I was on fire, my legs threatened to give in, but I was afraid to end this kiss. I hoped it would last forever. Finally, we broke the kiss to breathe.
“Jesus Christ, Jenny, you can kiss,” Sherinia said in a husky voice.
“You’re not bad yourself,” I managed to reply.
Sherinia laughed.
“I somehow knew you were a good kisser. But that good, wow. You nearly blew my mind. Anyway, I think we had better go now, it’s getting dark and cold. Where do you want to go for dinner, honey?” Sherinia asked as we made our way back to her car. “I know you love Italian, so we could go to an Italian restaurant. Is there anything else you like?”
“I’m fine with Italian. I’m really hungry now,” I replied.
Sherinia looked at me and laughed.
“You’re so cute, Jenny, it’s too bad you don’t know it yourself, do you?”
I looked at her in confusion.
“Never mind. Let’s go to an Italian restaurant then. We can stay on this side of the river. There’s an Italian restaurant near by, it’s even in walking distance, which is good, and I don’t have to look for a parking lot.”
The restaurant was only a few steps away from the coffee lounge. As soon as we entered the restaurant, the waiter appeared and greeted Sherinia like an old acquaintance. It seemed she was known everywhere. There was something in the way the waiter looked at me I didn’t understand. What was it? Regret? Concern?
Jennifer's Crush Page 11
