The Foundlings: Book One of the Urban Fantasy Paranormal Vampire Series, The Foundlings

by R. M. Garcia

  “Everyone, say hello to my dad please,” Abbie said. “I love you Dad.”

  “I love you sweetheart!” Johan yelled from the back of the auditorium. The assembled audience and students had a collective laugh.

  “I want to start my speech by thanking my parents and my teachers for helping me get to this very spot. Without their constant encouragement and support, I am sure that I wouldn’t have made it this far. Next, I would like to thank my friends. High school can be a very hard time and place for many. Not everyone is popular, pretty or smart, and not everyone has the chance to make great friends while here. I was lucky to have friends that never let me stand alone. Without them, these four years wouldn’t have been the same. We have walked these halls for the last four years together. They have protected us from the outside world. Now, as we get ready to toss off our caps, we also get ready to fly out into the open. Some of us will go to college, and others will start careers right away. Either way, you will be exposed to new challenges and battles. A friend of mine once gave me advice. She told me not to fight for anything I didn’t want, but if I want it, to fight for it until I can’t fight anymore. It turned out to be great advice. So I pass on her wisdom to all of you. Pick your battles and win them. The challenges you decide to take on will define your character and ultimately will mold you into the great person I know is waiting inside each and every one of you. Whatever path you take, always remember how you got there. Never forget that the journey is part of the destination,” Abbie said, concluding her speech, and the seniors stood up and tossed their caps high in the air and cheered one another.

  After a round of posing and picture taking, everyone that was invited headed to Donnie’s house for the after-party. Misha had taken a great deal of effort to set things up. There was food, drink, and even a DJ. Everyone began to arrive, and Misha played the role of host very well. Once he was set up, DJ DaringD started spinning.

  “Wow! Misha, you really outdid yourself,” Donnie complimented.

  “I try. I try,” he said as he enjoyed the festivities. All of his friends had made it, and it made Donnie glad to have the house full of people again. Everyone was having such a good time. Misha, CeeCee, Trevor, Kelly, Billy, Trista, and Abbie were all in attendance. Even Mr. Simmons and his wife Linda stopped by for a few hours. Donnie couldn’t be happier.

  “What is next for you, Donnie?” Mr. Simmons asked him as he drank a coke and bobbed to the beats being blasted by the DJ.

  “For the summer, I’m going to get that car running, after Abbie goes off to college, I’m not sure,” Donnie replied.

  “You can go to school with her?” Mr. Simmons suggested. “You got an invitation to Princeton too.”

  “Not sure I want to go to school. I’m not sure I want to work either.”

  “So how will you live? I suspect you don’t have too much money left after the attorneys, paying off the house and the generous donation to Mr. Busby’s academic career.” Mr. Simmons looked at him and smiled.

  “You may be right about that or you may be wrong,” he replied. “Let’s just say that my portfolio is doing well.”

  “Portfolio, when did you start investing?” Mr. Simmons asked surprised.

  “Dad taught me about it. He had made some good investments, and they have been paying off lately,” he replied. “If I devote myself, I might become Donnie Guerrero trader extraordinaire.”

  “Good luck with that. I wish you all the best,” Mr. Simmons said. “You know what else today means?”

  “What?” he asked.

  “You are officially free from the courts,” Mr. Simmons pointed out.

  “You’re right. I hadn’t even thought about it lately,” Donnie said. “Now this is a party!” The celebration continued into the night.

  The next day, the summer officially began for Donnie and Abbie as well as a lengthy cleanup. Misha and CeeCee had stayed overnight. They had slept in Donnie’s old room. He had taken CeeCee’s words to heart and moved into his parents’ old room. It had been time. Over the summer, Abbie did little tutoring, but she did get a summer job. Donnie continued to spend as much time as possible with her. He continued to make repairs on the Thing and was close to getting it running as the summer came to an end.

  Abbie had wanted to work two jobs, but she equally wanted to be with Donnie. So she split the difference and worked only one. She realized that it was going to be close and that she may not hit her goal, but she decided not to stress over it. Over all, the summer was blissful.

  CHAPTER 15

  All Sales Are Final

  OVER THE SUMMER, Abbie had worked at a nearby diner as a waitress. Donnie would visit her often and leave obscene amounts of money as tips for her. This had been a constant point of contention between them. Abbie had made it very clear to Donnie that she wanted to earn the money for college on her own and refused his charity. She would leave the tips on his nightstand whenever she left his house. The returned money would often total hundreds of dollars. She was quite rigid on this rule and would not budge. Donnie was worried for her. He knew she would be short of her savings goal as he had calculated it weeks ago. She refused to accept any financial aid from him, and it was the only thing they fought about. So Donnie concentrated on other things besides worrying about Abbie. He focused on the Volkswagen Thing in the yard.

  “So she just keeps leaving the money?” Misha asked.

  “Yeah, and it’s pissing me off. She won’t accept any of it,” Donnie said irritated and added, “and she leaves that same stupid note with the cash. For services rendered, not even remotely funny.”

  “I think it’s funny, Donnie, the gigolo.” Misha was trying to joke around and lighten his mood.

  “Dude, that’s not funny man.”

  “I thought she was half-Jewish?” Misha said jokingly.

  “Fuck you Misha! I’m half American Indian. Are you worried I will take back everything I have given you!” Donnie screamed.

  “Dude, I’m sorry I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just trying to help you relax,” Misha said defensively. Donnie took a few deep breaths and calmed down.

  “I’m sorry Misha. She’s so worried about not having enough, and she won’t let me help her. It’s just so frustrating.”

  “Why’s she being like that?”

  “She wants to do it on her own, but she isn’t going to make it. Even with all the extra shifts she has been taking lately, it won’t be enough.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Weird brain shit remember, I have done the figures in my head. She’s going to be short by at least two thousand dollars.”

  “That much, huh, what will she do if she doesn’t have enough?”

  “She doesn’t know. I even offered to get us an apartment close to school, but she said no to that too.” Donnie was getting upset again at the predicament.

  “She doesn’t want it just given to her. I can get that.”

  “I just don’t understand,” Donnie said as Cecilia walked out back with some lemonade for the guys to drink.

  “Her parents aren’t wealthy. They had to work for everything they have. She’s getting a scholarship. I bet she feels that if you pay for her apartment, she won’t be earning some part of the education she’s getting,” Cecilia said as she handed drinks to Misha and Donnie.

  “So what am I supposed to do? She’s crying herself to sleep worrying. I feel so helpless.” Donnie had felt the same when his mother died, a feeling he didn’t care to relive.

  “I have an idea that might work, but she isn’t going to like it,” Cecilia said. Donnie and Misha listened intently.

  A week before she was supposed to start school, Abbie took stock of her savings. She realized she was just under two thousand dollars from her goal. As she stared at the high ceiling in her room, she began to cry. Her dream of going to Princeton would not be happening. She didn’t want to ask Donnie for any money, but at this point, she would just need to swallow her pride. She would consider it a loan and
pay him back with interest. It was a miserable compromise. There was a knock on her door.

  “Come in,” Abbie said, drying her eyes. Her mother entered her room.

  “Donnie is here to see you,” Camille said.

  “OK. Tell him to come up,” Abbie said.

  “He is downstairs with your father. They are talking. Your father wants to see you too,” Camille said. Abbie took a deep breath and went downstairs. Donnie and Johan were outside laughing. Abbie came outside and hugged Donnie and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

  “What are you two up to?” Abbie said, picking up on something between them.

  “Business,” Johan said and smiled.

  “What type of business?” she asked.

  “Well, since you have been so stubbornly refusing my help, I had to find a way to circumvent your rules.” Donnie stood there with a little smug smile, and she immediately knew they were plotting something.

  “What rules?” she asked.

  “You refused any money I wanted to give you, and you refused me paying for your apartment. So I went to a higher power,” Donnie said smiling and looked at Johan.

  “No. You are not giving my dad any money,” Abbie said getting upset.

  “I wouldn’t dream of it. In fact your dad is giving me money.” Donnie’s grinning continued.

  “I don’t understand,” Abbie said suspiciously. Johan motioned to something down the street. Misha pulled up in a powder blue 1967 Volkswagen Thing. Misha got out and walked over to Johan and tossed him the keys.

  “She’s running smooth. Thanks for the test drive, Mr. Gottlieb.”

  “Wait. What?” Abbie was confused.

  “I have just bought this car from Donnie,” Johan said. Abbie just stood there stunned.

  “I already have a car, I didn’t need another one,” Donnie said.

  “Well, give it to Misha then,” Abbie said.

  “I won’t need a car. I’ll be in the city,” Misha said enjoying this immensely. He too was smiling.

  “Donnie! You rebuilt that car for you,” Abbie accused.

  “Correction, I built it for my dad. It was the last thing he left unfinished. I never meant to keep it. I just wanted to fulfill his last wish.” Donnie’s answer had been truthful, and Abbie knew it.

  “Dad, how much did you pay for it?” Abbie turned around to look at her father. Donnie’s eyes widened and he motioned to Johan not to tell her.

  “That’s man business. You don’t worry about it,” Johan said sternly to his daughter. Abbie looked around and spotted the car title on the table and ran to it. She snatched it up before Camille could reach it.

  “Five hundred dollars, he let you have that car for five hundred dollars?” Abbie said to her parents. “Do you realize that he spent well over ten thousand dollars and hundreds of man-hours restoring it?!” Johan got a look of surprise and looked at Donnie.

  “Well, too bad,” Donnie said quickly. “All sales are final.” Abbie was furious.

  “Honey, that amount of money is a lot for us. It was all your father could afford,” Camille said. “We still cannot afford the insurance. So if you want to drive it, you will need to pay for the insurance.” Everything became crystal clear to Abbie. The light had now been shed on the conspiracy.

  “That was your plan all along, wasn’t it, Donnie?!” Abbie said as she got right in his face.

  “Hey, you don’t have to do anything. I didn’t give you anything. No money, no rent, nada. I sold your dad a car I didn’t need. I gave him a really good deal, because I like him and no other reason,” Donnie said to her, leaning in so that they were face-to-face. Her angry face looked so cute; he had to hold back a smile.

  “Well, I don’t want it!” she said yelling and turned her back on him. “Your dad had crappy taste in cars anyway.” Donnie went silent and just blinked repeatedly; her words had wounded him deeply.

  “Fine, don’t drive it!” Donnie yelled at the back of her head. “Walk to Princeton for all I care!” Donnie turned and exited the house. He glanced at Camille; she was holding her hand over her mouth. He shook Johan’s hand on the way out. Johan looked disappointedly at Abbie as Donnie left. He and Misha got into his Karmann Ghia and drove off.

  “That was awesome!” Misha said laughing.

  “What are you talking about? She is angrier than a beehive right now.”

  “Yeah, you said it, right now. I caught her eyeballing the car. She’s just being stubborn. She really wants the car.”

  “I hope so. That was the worst fight we’ve ever had.”

  “First off, that was not a fight. That was a tiff. It’s not a real fight unless you break things.”

  “You’re the expert.”

  “Yeah, I have had a lot of fights with girlfriends and learned from each and every one of them,” Misha agreed. “Plus, I am a keen observer.”

  “What did I miss?”

  “You were too busy arguing to notice she had the title in her hands. She could have ripped it up. The fact that she didn’t told me she was putting up a front.”

  “Ha, so she’ll take the car then you think?”

  “Without a doubt, my friend, and you’re in for a bonus.”

  “I am afraid to ask, but what bonus?”

  “Makeup sex,” Misha said. “There is nothing better after a fight.” Misha had been right about Abbie. She spent the next day getting car quotes in secret. She even called her dad’s agent to get a quote, and that one had been the best. Having two cars on the family policy made the rate considerably lower. She eventually came to her parents and apologized. She offered to pay for the insurance on the car, and they consented. Now Abbie had a harder task in front of her. She had to face Donnie.

  Donnie had not spoken to Abbie for a few days now, and she missed him terribly. She decided to go see him and drove out to his house. The new car ran perfectly, and it had been painted in her favorite color. When she arrived, she took a deep breath and walked up to the door. She stood there for a few minutes, not sure what to do. She wasn’t sure what she was going to say. She had been so angry at him for manipulating the situation that she wasn’t sure how to apologize now. She just wasn’t sure if he would forgive her for the comment she made about his father. She regretted it the second after she said it. She knocked on the door softly and waited. Donnie came downstairs unsure if he had heard someone at the door. He could see that someone was on his porch. He went up to the door and turned on the porch light and opened the door when he saw who it was.

  “Hi,” Abbie said softly with her head down. Donnie stood there silently and just looked at her. She was searching for words, and Donnie could see her turmoil. He reached out his hand and raised her chin and met her gaze.

  “It’s still you and me forever, and I’m still madly in love with you.”

  “I will always love you, Donnie, no matter what,” Abbie said cracking a small smile.

  “Come here,” Donnie said opening his arms. Abbie and Donnie embraced. He smothered her in his arms and leaned his head atop of hers. She hugged him around his abdomen and placed her ear on her favorite spot on his chest. She closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat. They went inside, and once again Misha was right. Makeup sex was hard to surpass.

  After school started, Donnie was feeling extremely lonely. With Abbie taking four classes, she had even less time to spend with Donnie now. Misha and Cecilia were in New York now as well. He was alone most of the time now and hated it. A year ago, this is how he would have liked things, but now it would not do. The only things he had to look forward to was spending fleeting moments with Abbie and Thanksgiving and Christmas when his friends would be back. On top of being lonely, Donnie was going stir-crazy, so he decided to get a job. There had been several outstanding offers on the table for him, but he didn’t want any of them. He instead took a job at Mayhak’s Mechanic shop as an apprentice mechanic. The paycheck was laughable, but he was doing something he really liked. So this was how it went for the next several months.
Donnie worked, Abbie studied, and whenever they got a moment they could share, they did.

  Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years were very joyous times for Donnie and Abbie. The previous year, Donnie had spent it completely alone. If it hadn’t been for Misha, Donnie wasn’t sure if he would have made it through that holiday season, but this season was completely different. Donnie was surrounded by friends and family. He made up for last year and lavished gifts on his friends and Abbie’s family. He was careful not to overdo the price tag on the gifts. He didn’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable gifting him with whatever they could afford. It had been a wonderful time.

  Trista and Billy came up from Florida, and Kelly and Trevor came up and visited from DC. Donnie was glad that everyone was still together. For New Year’s, the old gang got together at Donnie’s house. It was good to have everyone together one more time. Donnie could see that everyone was drifting apart and was not sure how long these friendships would last. Until then, he would cherish every moment.

  After the holidays, everyone went back in school. Donnie resumed his mechanical duties and Abbie her studies. She constantly urged him to either go to school or take a better job. He heard much the same from Cecilia. Donnie knew they meant well, but it was honest work, and it kept him grounded. Several months passed, and spring was once again upon Donnie and Abbie. They celebrated their one-year anniversary along with Johan’s and Camille’s twentieth. Donnie decided to take the biggest step of his life. “I’m doing it,” he said to Misha over his phone.