Brynne, Non-Vampire (The Non-Vampire Series Book 1)

by Jennie Taylor

  “And... well... I mean my refrigerator doesn’t have a lot of normal food in it.”

  “Good tip. Avoid the fridge, got it.” she said.

  “And I have really heavy curtains.”

  “Of course.”

  “And... there’s a couple of guns.”

  “I didn’t know you were into guns.” She leaned back to look into my face. “I always thought you were sort of the non-violent type.”

  “I am. Look, I’m not... I’m a girl living alone, okay.”

  “So you, what, get scared?” She laughed. “Seriously?” I nodded. “Oh.” Her arm went around my shoulders. “I didn’t think you were scared of anything, honey.”

  “I’m scared of a lot of things.”

  “I thought you were stronger than everyone, and you can’t be killed, so why be scared?”

  “I just...” I shrugged. “Sometimes I get scared, okay. Wouldn’t you? And I can be killed.”

  When the chicken was finished, we all sat around the table and Mr. Sloan said grace. We ate our food, and they chatted like they always do when I’m here. And then I was cutting a watermelon, and I glanced over at the newspaper Mr. Sloan was reading. There was a story on the front page about someone being attacked. A witness saw a girl either licking or sucking on open wounds on a man who later died from blood loss.

  “Oh, ow.” I slipped and cut my hand with the knife. Blood was going everywhere.

  “Good heavens, Brynne!” Mrs. Sloan said. “Oh, that looks bad, honey.”

  “No,” I wrapped a paper towel tightly around it. “It’s just a little nick.”

  “Let me look at it.”

  “No, it’s fine Mrs. Sloan. Um, Jess, can you help me clean it out and put a bandage on it?”

  “I really think we should check it, you might need stitches.” Mrs. Sloan said. She was over beside me now.

  “No, really, it’s just a little cut. I’ll be fine.”

  “Do you want me to call your parents so they can take you to the emergency room?”

  “No, I’m fine. Jess?”

  I grabbed the watermelon, telling them I’d throw it in the trash, it was ruined after me bleeding on it. I dropped it in the trash on our way to the restroom. I ran my hand under the water. It had already almost stopped bleeding.

  “That was so stupid!” I said. “I... I should be more careful. Especially when handling someone’s food.”

  “Everyone slips now and then, chill.”

  “No, you don’t get it. If they got a little of that on their food, it would be bad.”

  “Bad how?”

  “Just bad.”

  “Bad.” she said. Her eyes went wide. “Would it make them a vampire, too?”

  “I’m not a vampire!”

  “Sorry.”

  “And no, not that much. That much would just make them really sick. Probably.”

  “Probably, why probably?”

  “Look, I don’t know exactly. Alejandro, all he ever told me was that a little will make them sick, a lot will change them, too much will kill them. And then also if they don’t get enough to change them, it could make them sick enough to die, maybe.”

  “Wow.”

  She backed away from me and sat on the side of the tub. She’s getting it now, getting how dangerous I am to her. I should never have told her, I should have just gone away. But I couldn't bring myself to. I don't know if I could get by without her now. Not feeling the way I do.

  “I wouldn’t ever let that happen.” I told her.

  “What? Oh, I know.”

  “Look, do you want me to leave?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” she said. “Mom and Dad would be upset if you didn’t stick around for dessert. Although we could tell her you wanted to go home so your Mom could check your cut.”

  “No, Jess, I mean... I mean do you want me to leave? Leave forever. So you don’t have to deal with all this.”

  “No way. Un-uh. You’re not bailing on me. Not now.” She got up and came over to me. “I’m sorry if I’m not handling this well, but it’s not every day you find out your best friend and favorite person in the world is a vam... sort of like a vampire.”

  “So you’re not freaked?”

  “Of course I am. But come on, you’re still my Brynne. Still my best friend. I’ll deal.”

  “Thanks Jess.”

  “Come on, stop that.”

  “Stop what?”

  “Crying. You’re not a big crier, kind of freaks me out when you do it.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, so let’s see what we can do with your cut.”

  We wrapped it in a bandage, which I guess I’ll have to wear for a few days now. If I don’t then they’re going to see that the cut isn’t there anymore. Or won’t be in a few hours, anyway.

  “They’re taking an awful long time.” Mrs. Sloan complained to her husband. I could hear Barney grunt.

  “Well tell me one thing,” Mr. Sloan said. “How is it Jessica has a boyfriend, and Brynne doesn’t?”

  “That’s your daughter.” She reminded him.

  “Well, yes, but her friend...”

  “Is hot.” Barney said.

  “That's not what I was going to say.” he told Barney. “I’m just curious what it is about her we don’t know. Why is it she doesn’t have a boyfriend also. Is there something wrong with her that we don’t know about? Is she into drugs, or in a gang, or something that would keep her away from boys?”

  “That’s just stupid. Brynne’s a nice girl, Dad.” Barney said. “Maybe she’s gay.”

  “Maybe she really doesn’t like boys. You're right.” Mr. Sloan said. I could imagine him nodding.

  “You two stop it!” Mrs. Sloan said. “A girl doesn't need a boyfriend to be happy. And besides, some girls are just a bit shy. And we should not be having this conversation.”

  Okay, so I was listening again. And Jess was staring at me, wondering what it was I was doing. And now I feel horrible, because she caught me snooping. Great. And I have to tell her.

  “I was listening, okay?” I said. “To your parents.”

  “Do that often?”

  “Look, have you ever been in a room where someone was talking, and you couldn’t stop listening, even if you didn’t want to hear it? That’s what it’s like for me a lot of times. That’s also why my house has been insulated against sound, so I can get some peace.”

  “Okay. So what were they saying?”

  “You want me to snitch on your parents? Jess, I am so shocked.” I said mockingly.

  “Fine, whatever.”

  “Your dad was wondering why I don’t like boys. Barney was speculating that I’m gay. Your mother was telling them to shut up.”

  “He thinks you don’t like boys. Wow. Shocking that anyone would come to that conclusion.” she said, rolling her eyes. “Anyway, we should go back out. This time I’ll cut the watermelon.”

  “Make sure you wash the knife.” I told her. “I forgot to grab it.”

  “Got it. And then after dessert, let’s go check out your house.”

  “You still want to go?”

  “Sure. Why wouldn't I?”

  We went back out and everyone was staring at me, waiting for me to tell them how bad the cut was. I held my bandaged finger up and wiggled it and smiled, which calmed them down. You’d be surprised how much a smile calms people.

  Jess took the knife inside and washed it, and she brought a different knife out with her to cut into the second watermelon. She managed to slice it without damaging herself. While we ate, I kept looking around trying to find the newspaper that Mr. Sloan was reading. I had to misread that, this can't be happening. I’m supposed to be the only one left.

  “So, um, is it okay if Jess comes to spend the night at my house tonight?” I asked Mrs. Sloan.

  “Did your parents okay it?”

  “They’re not in town this weekend.”

  “They left you alone?” Mr. Sloan asked.

  �
��She’s seventeen, Dad, not five.” Jessica said. “They leave her alone all the time.”

  “We’re not going anywhere or anything, just watching movies or listening to music.” I said.

  “I don’t see why it would be a problem.” Mrs. Sloan said. “As long as you girls behave.”

  “No boys.” Mr. Sloan said. He was eyeing me when he said it.

  “Not a problem.” I said. “All the boys I like happen to be big stars that wouldn’t be caught dead in this town.”

  Let them chew on that. Maybe that will stop their speculation. Hey, at least it lets them know that nobody here interests me in the least. And Barney can stop imagining me and him ever being together in any way. Creep.

  We gathered some of Jess’ stuff and headed off to my house. We walked, since she doesn’t have a license yet, either. We’re like the last losers in school who can’t drive. I’ve never driven. Not once in all my years.

  “So how much did you actually feel that cut? Like, at all?” she asked.

  “You have this idea that I’m some kind of super human, and I’m not. I mean... I’m not normal, but I do feel pain, ya know. And it hurt. Bad.”

  “So if I punched you...”

  “Wouldn’t hurt a bit.”

  “But...”

  “I said I feel pain.” I smiled at her. “You can’t hit hard enough to cause any.”

  “Oh you are so dead, Campbell.” She swung at me, giving me a fake punch on the arm.

  “So seriously,” I stopped and grabbed her arm. “Do you want to know how to really hurt me?”

  “Why would I...”

  “Because then you’d know. So you wouldn’t have to be so scared.”

  “Brynne, I’m not scared of you.”

  “You are. But it’s okay.”

  “So stake through the heart?”

  “Well, that’s a start. It wouldn’t kill me, but it would hurt a lot.”

  “So how do I kill you?” she asked. She was smiling and kind of rocking from one foot to the other. She wasn’t being serious, and didn’t expect me to give her an answer.

  “Do anything you can to hurt me. Shoot me, deep cuts, the stake, all those are good. Then lots of salt.”

  “Salt?”

  “Yeah. It stops me from healing so fast. Then you have options. You can burn me, you could cut me up, and the very easiest way is to behead me.”

  “Wow, um, Brynne, I don’t really want to think about this.”

  “Sorry. Just... so you know how to hurt me now.”

  “Got it.”

  “Look, I’m not good at this, but I’m trying to tell you... I trust you, Jess. With my life.”

  “Okay. Got it.”

  “No, you don’t. Seriously, in over a century I have never trusted anyone until now.”

  “Creeping me out, hon.” she said.

  “Sorry. Let’s... sorry.”

  It’s so awkward trying to explain to her that I think she’s the best friend anyone could ever have. I mean I can say it, but it doesn’t really mean anything if she doesn’t understand. Like truly, deeply understand.

  “Don’t make fun of me.” I said. I unlocked the door and opened it for her.

  She walked inside and spun around, taking in the whole room. She walked over to some posters I had and spent a while staring at Jo Banner, an amazing pop singer. Then she stopped at the coffee table and stared down at my dolls, at the little dinner party from the previous night.

  “Cute.” she said. “Wow, this place is so... pink.”

  “I like pink.”

  “I always thought va... your kind liked dark colors.”

  “I like pink. You’ve got to stop believing that I’m like one of those characters in your books.”

  “Obviously you are not.” She was looking down at my dolls. “So let’s see the rest of the house.”

  “Not much to see. I don’t use the bedrooms, except to store clothes.”

  “Where do you sleep?”

  “On the sofa. Which, by the way, I guess you can sleep on tonight. I’ll just toss a blanket on the floor.”

  “You don’t have a bed?”

  “Never really seemed necessary before now.”

  “You’re so weird, Brynne.”

  “Yeah, anyway, just come in here.” I said.

  I took her into the kitchen. I want to get this out of the way, so she isn’t scared of what she’ll find. I dragged her over to the refrigerator. After our talk earlier, I knew she’d have a problem with this, and she’s kind of nervous now, I can tell.

  “In the freezer,” I opened it up. “Is ice-cream. I love the stuff. There’s like five kinds in here, if you want any.”

  “Good to know.”

  “And,” I opened the refrigerator, and she closed her eyes.

  “Brynne, I really...”

  “Just look.” She opened her eyes. I have one little bag of blood, and I held it up. “See, it’s nothing. Don’t freak out about it. Seriously.”

  “But... that’s... human blood?”

  “Yeah. Um,” I looked at the bag. “Type A, if you want to know.”

  “Oh. Um...” Her eyes are fixed on it. “I guess that’s no big deal. I mean it’s not like you killed someone. Though there could be someone with type A that needs a transfusion, and you took the last of it.”

  “I try to be careful to only take what there’s plenty of.”

  “Oh.” She swallowed hard and grabbed onto the refrigerator door. She’s really nervous. “So do the different blood types taste different?”

  “Not that I’ve ever noticed. Though you can sometimes tell if a lot of it comes from someone who eats a lot of fat, or from a vegetarian.”

  “Which do you prefer?”

  “I actually try not to think about it either way.”

  “Why?”

  “Well,” I stuck the bag back in the door. “I don’t like that I have to have it at all.”

  “You don’t? So you think it makes you a monster?”

  “No. Hun-uh. I’m just a girl that has to have a different kind of food. It’s no different than someone who has to have constant transfusions, ya know. I just have to get the blood in a different way.”

  “I didn’t really think of it that way. Yeah, I guess that makes sense.” She sighed, then smiled at me. “It actually helps to think of it like that.”

  “You can put your pop in here. It’s not like the refrigerator is contaminated or anything.”

  “Yeah, okay. I guess.”

  “Ya know, I know this is all a lot to take in, Jess. I mean... I mean if you want to just take off and do this some other time, I’d understand. You won’t hurt my feelings.” Okay, that’s just a lie.

  “No, honey, it’s okay. I’m fine. So, let’s see what kind of channels you get on the television.”

  “Everything that is available on the satellite.”

  “Cool. So we could watch some steamy porn movie, huh?” She was joking with me, I think.

  “Um... if you really want.”

  “What, you don’t watch that stuff?”

  “Not really my thing.”

  “What would you rather watch?”

  “Um, I like a lot of stuff. But... I watch Disney a lot.” I think I’m blushing.

  “Seriously? What kind of vampire watches Disney?”

  “I’m not a vampire!”

  “Yeah, well, basically.” she said. She reached up and ruffled my hair. She keeps doing that.

  “Ya know, the soundproofing in this house works both ways. Nobody would hear your screams.”

  I shouldn’t have said that. That was exactly the wrong thing to say to her when I know she’s a little scared and very nervous. Even though she should know I’m joking, it’s still going to be in her head now.

  “We should go get some snacks.” I said. “I’m in the mood for chocolate.”

  “Why does it make me so nervous when a vampire talks about going out for a snack?” She smiled. “Okay, okay, you’re not a v
ampire.” She ruffled my hair again.

  “You confuse me.” I told her. “Your reaction to this, I mean.”

  “Did you expect me to run away screaming?”

  “Maybe. At least that would make sense. But you seem mostly okay.”

  “You’re still my best friend, honey. And it’s going to stay that way, no matter what.”

  “But... what about when you go off to college?” I asked her.

  “Well you’re going too.”

  “Jess, I can’t. I... I’ve done that, it doesn’t work so well.”

  “Well then you come along and do something else. You can even go to high school there, if you want, since you seem to like it so much.” She ruffled my hair again. She’s starting to annoy me with that. “And then we can hang out after school.”

  “That won’t work, Jess. You’re getting older, you’re going to want to go out with the people you go to school with. You can’t drag a kid around with you. Besides, you’re going to want to do more in your life. Things I’ll never be able to do.”

  “You’re my best friend, and you’re always going to be my best friend. No matter what.”

  “What about years from now, when you meet a guy you really love, and you two get serious? If you’re together with him for more than a couple of years he’s going to start asking who this weird girl is that keeps coming around, the one who doesn’t seem to get any older.”

  “If that were to happen then we’d just have to explain.” she said, as if it were that simple.

  “But Jess,” She doesn’t seem to understand that I can’t have a lot of people know this. Maybe I could tell a guy, if she were really going to marry him. Someone she trusted that much. “I guess we’ll deal with that later.” I told her.