Mary
pulled into my shared driveway and lowered her sunglasses. “Wow. Can you say
ripped?”
I
glanced toward the next door neighbor’s side of the yard. From the passenger’s
seat, I had an uninhibited view. The rubber ping of a basketball resounded as
Brandon—shirtless and sweaty—bounced it against the cement.
Mary
was still ogling.
I
rolled my eyes. “You can’t stand him.”
“Yes
I can.”
“Can’t.”
“Candy,
there’s a fine line between jealousy and hatred.”
“Oh.”
I laughed as I opened the passenger door. “So all this time you’ve been jealous
that Brandon and I were such good friends? Because I have a million emails and
text messages that say otherwise.”
“That’s
what I’m trying to clear up. If you wanted to hang out with me and Brandon at
the same time … now I’d be okay with it.”
“Yeah,
because now he’s hot.” I slammed the passenger door of her silver Malibu and
opened the rear door to collect my bags. How Mary made me spend so much money
on frivolity I had no idea, but she was right, I’d look super cute in that
black and white checkered pencil skirt tomorrow. “You and Brandon don’t like any of the same
things.”
“Candy,
don’t doom our relationship before it’s even started.”
I
laughed. “And when is this relationship going to start?”
“Set
it up for me?”
I
leaned in the open window of the passenger side. “No.”
“Why
not? It’s not like you want him.”
I
glanced over my shoulder. Brandon took another shot, seemingly oblivious to the
girls staring at him thirty feet away. “We haven’t exactly been hanging out
lately.”
“That’s
probably because he’s been throwing himself at you for like five years—he’s
tired of the rejection.”
“Rejec—he
has not been throwing himself at me. I would have noticed that.”
“So
you do like him?”
“No!”
Mary
narrowed her contact-created blue eyes, then pushed her sunglasses back on. “Methinks
thou protesteth too much.”
“Half
the words in that sentence aren’t even real anymore.”
“Well,
I’ll see you tomorrow. Wear the pencil skirt and I guarantee Brandon will have
forgotten he’s sworn you off. Just be sure to make good on any advances.” Mary
batted her false eyelashes. “You might only have one shot left to snag his
heart.”
I
waved as my melodramatic friend backed down the driveway. Then I turned to my
neighbor. My best friend. Yeah, I could shop with Mary, and talk girl talk, but
Brandon and I used to be inseparable. I deposited my shopping evidence just
inside the back door and wandered over. “Hey.”
He
nodded in my direction. “Candy.”
“How’ve
you been?”
His
eyes focused on the bouncing ball in front of him. “Busy.”
“With
your new friends?”
That
comment earned me a quick glance. “I guess.”
“Well
if you can schedule some time for your old friend tonight, I was hoping for a
couple hour marathon of last season’s supernatural. You know something to take
my mind off of the fact that summer officially ends in sixteen hours.”
Brandon
smiled—was I supposed to miss a smile that much? “You making popcorn?”
“My
dad will.”
“So
we’ll actually be able to eat it then?”
I
swiped the ball. “Oh, you wanna go there?”
“I
already did.”
I
shot. Net. I crouched, waiting for his move. “So, you coming?”
“Sure.”
Subwoofers
blared vibrating the ground between my house and Brandon’s as a black 80’s
Stang rushed up the driveway. The Binder brothers—all three of them. Brandon’s
new friends. He’d never liked them before. The twins, Luke and Carter, were
already in college. Max was our age—a senior this year. None of them really
talked to anyone, but for some reason, six weeks ago, they swarmed around
Brandon while I was in the bathroom at the movie theater. Now whenever they
showed up, he raced out to meet them like some adopted puppy. He was starting
to look like them too. Buff, dark circles under his eyes, and that cross ring
on his thumb.
“Hey,
Brandon. Up for a little last-night-of-summer fun? I heard it’s ladies night at
Kit’s end of summer party. We’re invited.”
“Sure.
Let me change.”
I
tossed the ball onto the grass. “Sounds fun, can I come?”
“Why
not?” Carter shot me a smile.
Brandon glared at me. “I thought you had plans
tonight, Candy.”
I
wasn’t about to let his saying my name through clenched teeth stop me. These
wolves in boys clothing were not going to steal my best friend. Not if I could
help it. “With you. Since you’re going out …” I shrugged.
Brandon’s
eyes darted toward the brothers then back to me. “Okay. Go change.”
“She
looks fine.” Carter opened the door, slid out and motioned to the back seat.
Brandon
cocked an eyebrow. “Maybe you should let your dad know.”
I
walked toward the car and pulled out my phone, fingers flying over my qwerty
keyboard. After a quick chirp I flashed my phone at Brandon so he could read
Dad’s response. Have fun. Be back before
curfew.
He
squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. I walked past him and slid into the
back seat next to Max who bobbed his head at me. “Hey, Candy.”
“Hey.”
The interior smelled like spearmint.
Brandon
rushed up to Carter, their chests almost touched. The Stang’s roof blocked my
view of their faces, but Brandon’s hushed voice traveled. “If she gets hurt—”
“She
won’t. Tonight is harmless.”
Whatever
that meant. I ventured to look at Max still smiling next to me and Luke who turned
around and nodded once. His eyebrow ring glinted in the setting sunlight.
I
felt suddenly insecure. “You’re sure it’s okay that I show up uninvited?”
Luke
chuckled. “You’re hot enough.”
“Are
you sure I shouldn’t change first?”
“Second
thoughts?”
Well,
kinda.
Brandon
finally climbed into the backseat smelling amazing. Since when did he wear
cologne?
*
Strobe
lights danced off the walls, and shirts, and couches. I’d heard about Kit
Wheeler’s mansion, but it seriously exceeded expectation. A pool in the yard
surrounded by statues? Check. I sat on the white leather couch with a perfect
view of the backyard—alone. Where had Brandon gone to anyway? They left me with
Max who was pretty content to suck face with the girl on his lap. I stood up.
“Leaving
so soon?”
I
spun on my heel. Whoa. I had never, in all my life, seen anyone as hot as this
guy. Dark eyes, golden hair, he didn’t even have a summer tan, but he was
rocking the pale face. I pointed toward the patio. “Actually, I was just—” Just
what? My cheeks flushed.
“I
thought I’d better come over and introduce myself before someone else got brave
enough to approach an angel.”
He
actually lifted my hand and kissed it. My knees melted.
“Hey,
Candy. Wanna dance?”
Brandon?
Where had he been? I turned toward him, but his eyes locked on tall, pale and
gorgeous.
“Back
off, Leo, she’s with us.”
Carter?
Where did he get off sounding so … protective? Tension built a wall around us
and I wanted out. “You guys know each other?”
Leo
stared at Carter and a smile stretched his lips. “We’ve met. In passing.” Leo
looked into my eyes again. “I didn’t know you were taken.”
I
stepped away from Brandon, casting him a glance over my shoulder. His eyes
widened. Before he could speak, I held my hand out for Leo to take. “I’m not. I’m
just here with some friends.”
*
“I
told you the checkered skirt was awesome. You look amazing.”
I
slammed my locker door and listened to Mary jabber as I walked toward my third
hour. My head was pounding. I scanned the halls like some hunted mouse. Leo said
he was a new student at Beech High this year, but I hadn’t seen him yet. I
nearly tripped in my heels as Mary grabbed my sleeve and yanked me back a step.
“Who.
Is. That?”
“Leo.”
My voice came out in a whisper.
“You
know him?”
“Yup.”
I tugged Mary along.
She
resisted. “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
“Ummm,
no.”
“Candy,
why not?”
Someone
placed a hand on my shoulder. “Because it’s best to stay away from guys like
him.”
Brandon.
Mary
stared at Brandon a second before she pointed to her eye and winced. “Nice
shiner.”
I
pulled her sleeve. This time she let me tow her along.
“What
is going on here, Candy? And where were you last night? I must have texted ten
times.”
“Twelve.”
We
took our seats just before the bell rang. I turned to Mary when Ms. Kilne’s
back was turned. “I think you’re right about Brandon. He got all jealous last
night when I was dancing with Leo.”
Mary’s
eyebrows raised. “You danced with hot Adonis man? You’re claiming both of them
now, aren’t you? Isn’t one enough?”
I
shook my head. “Leo is bad news. Brandon’s right, stay away from him.”
“Care
to share some details?”
I
sighed and my breath came out shaky. “If I could remember them I would.”
Mary
sat up and leaned closer. Concern creased her forehead. “Spill.”
“I
think he drugged me.”
“Leo?”
“Yeah.
I went to Kit Wheeler’s party last night with Brandon and the Binder brothers.
Leo was there. I danced with him. I remember something about feeling a little
scared, then things got really blurry. The next I knew, I was in the backseat
of Luke’s car with my head in Brandon’s lap and a bucket of vomit on the
floor.”
“Whoa.
Did Leo give you a drink?”
I
put my head in my hands trying to remember. Mrs. Kilne’s droning voice seemed
to pull something to the surface. “The only one who gave me a drink was Max.”
“Max
drugged you? You better tell Brandon.”
I
sighed. Brandon did not have a black eye when he’d dropped me off last night.
That meant despite my warning, he’d gone back out with those brothers. “I don’t
think he’ll listen.”
When
I reached my fifth hour class my head was throbbing. I had no time for the anal
Mr. Peck. He sent me to seat twelve B. I rolled my eyes and counted twelve
rows.
“Nice
skirt.”
Leo.
My stomach twisted. “Hey.”
“Are
you feeling any better?”
“Better?”
“Last
night while we were dancing you got dizzy. You almost collapsed on the floor.
Don’t you remember?”
“Oh.
Yeah. The details are a little foggy.”
“I
trust your friends got you home safe and sound?”
“Yeah.”
“Odd
lot, huh?”
That
comment rubbed me the wrong way. “Pardon?”
Leo
held up hinds hands. “Calm down. I’m sorry. I just meant they’re the protective
type. I mean, a girl can make her own decisions, right?”
My
head felt heavy. “Right.”
“You
wanted me to drive you home, but they practically pulled you out of my car. Not
that I really blame them. But still.”
“Well,
I wasn’t feeling myself. I’m sure they were just watching out for me.”
“Right.
That’s what friends are for.”
“What
are you saying?”
“I’m
saying you seemed a little uncomfortable with those guys and I was offering you
a way out. Truly, if it weren’t for the way you latched on to that Brayden
character—”
“His
name is Brandon.”
Leo
chuckled. “Okay Brandon. I would have thought they dragged you there without
your consent.”
I
suppose it could have looked that way to an outsider. The rest of class Leo
made it clear that he was nothing but a gentleman. There was no way he was the
offender of last night’s dizzying episode. That left a myriad of questions for
Brandon.
*
When
I pulled into the driveway he was home and trying to skirt into his house.
“Brandon!” I stormed up to him. In the daylight his cheek was purple too. I
lifted a hand to his face. He pulled away. Had the Binder brothers done this?
“What happened?”
“I
got in a fight.”
“Spill.”
“Please
stay away from Leo.”
“He
did this?”
“I
accused him of trying to hurt you.”
“Your
new friends couldn’t help you out?”
“Leo
had friends waiting too.”
He
did? “Why did you even go back?”
He
just stared at me.
“Well,
could we hang out tonight?”
“I’m
busy.”
“Brandon—”
His
cell cut me off. He didn’t even apologize, just answered it and walked away.
“Yeah, I’ll be ready.”
So
I’d lost him. Was it because I’d chosen Leo? Hadn’t Mary warned me not to mess
up?
*
“Hello?”
I
turned back to Mary and focused on my locker comm.
“Don’t
you get enough of that eye candy from your bedroom window?”
“What?”
“Come
on. I’m your only remaining best friend. You can’t expect me to fall for the I-wasn’t-staring-at-Brandon
crap.”
“We
haven’t hung out in almost two months.”
“Candy,
you have to stop. That ship has sailed.”
“All
the ships have sailed.”
“Leo?
I thought you were okay with him moving on.”
“Yeah.
Sort of. When I wanted something else.”
“You’ve
got to stop putting off that vibe.”
“Vibe?”
“Mark
says you’ve got this I’m-not-interested vibe. Just let it fall for a minute and
I’m sure Leo will be glued to you.” Mary wiggled her eyebrows.
“Speaking
of glue, here comes Mark.”
Mary
let out a silent squee and turned to face him.
I
rolled my eyes, but happily. It was good to see Mary so on cloud nine. I opened
my locker door and an envelope fluttered to the floor. I picked it up, peeled it
open, and pulled out the card. There was a cute little basset hound puppy in
the front. Inside, big droopy ears arranged the letters to spell ‘sorry’.
Beneath it, in handwriting I couldn’t identify, read: Candy, I’m sorry I’ve
been distant lately. I want to make it up to you. Will you meet me at 1271 Cogdon
street tonight at nine?
Hmmm.
A Halloween date? Brandon had always wanted to take me out on Halloween.
I
looked over my shoulder to see if he was still there. He was, talking to Max
and the couple girls who had
flocked their way. At least Brandon didn’t dress
like the brothers. He’d kept his button down flannel shirts and brown boots. He
glanced my way and sent me a soft, almost rueful, smile. My breath caught.
Maybe it was from him. Maybe I had one chance left. I smiled back. Then I
plugged the address into my phone and headed out.
*
Twelve
seventy-one Cogdon was an abandoned house. The dark kind. Snow draped the
rooftop contrasting the pitch black exterior. No tire tracks dented the snow
outside. I made sure it was the place—again—then headed out of my car.
I
slammed the door and walked toward the dilapidated iron fence. A thump thump
sounded behind me. I froze. My heart sped. Reluctantly I turned back. A black
cat sat on the trunk of my car licking her paw. Catching my breath and
reminding myself that there’s no such thing as ghosts, I clicked the unlock on
my fob. Hearing the noise, kitty hissed and dismounted. I opened the trunk and grabbed
my Maglite. It might just be too dark in there.
The
iron gate was unlocked. I pushed through it and it squealed. I was going to
kill Brandon for this. He was forever begging me to go with him to a haunted
house. He better have something truly romantic planned.
Snow
crunched under my black heeled boots as I walked up the winding walkway. There
were no tracks on the snow-covered steps. The porch light was conveniently out.
No doorbell. Dark green paint chipped off the door revealing dry, sepia wood
beneath. The handle was an ornate brass piece molded in the shape of a dragon.
Right at my eye level sat a brass door knocker. Its dragon eyes stared at me. I
curled my fingers around the ring between its jaws. It was cold even in my
gloved hand. The first knock echoed. A click followed the second and the door
creaked open. Clutching my Maglite, I stepped over the threshold.
My
boot tapped against the wooden floor sending a loud clack into the empty space
ahead. I pushed the door open wider to fit through. It groaned. My stomach
squeezed. This was not a good idea. I headed backward through the door, pulling
it with me. The door protested and the dragon handle slipped through my grip.
Strong fingers closed around my left wrist and pulled me aside. A hand cupped
over my mouth. Panic seized my chest.
I
swung the flashlight behind my head and missed. I stomped with my heeled boot
on my captor’s foot as I bit down on the tiny bit of skin I could catch of the
rough palm over my mouth. He swore. Released, I fell forward with force. The Maglite
thunked down and rolled away from me.
Light
flicked on, blinding me. I shook.
“Candy?”
The light turned off.
I
knew that whisper. “Brandon?”
“Are
you okay?” He helped me up.
I
latched onto him. “Yeah, you?”
He
was close enough for me to make out his features in the dark. The circles under
his eyes looked darker, but a smile warmed his face. “I’ll live. Sorry about
grabbing you.”
“Didn’t
you expect me?”
“No.”
No?
“Did
you follow me or something?” He peered out the front door. “It’s not safe for
you to be here.” He took my arm in his hand and guided me toward the rear of
the house. I resisted. I had no intention of going any deeper into this house
without an explanation. “At least let me get you upstairs.”
I
eyed the two staircases flanking the balcony just beyond the entryway. If the
chandelier lit this room it was probably beautiful. Right now it looked
dangerous and creaky.
I
turned to face Brandon and grabbed both of his arms. “What’s going on here?”
Something sticky, warm and wet seeped through my glove. I looked down. “You’re
bleeding.”
“I
know. Listen, Max has a car out back. Let me get you closer and you can make a
run for it.”
“A
run?”
“You
shouldn’t be here.”
So
he’d said. “I was invited here.”
“You?
I should have known. How stupid—I thought he’d given up on you.”
“You’re
not making any sense.” I looked down at the floor and caught sight of something
glimmer. A razor blade. “Bran!” I grabbed his arm and shoved up his sleeve. A
long, thin cut. “What the hell?”
“It’s
not what you think.” He pushed me closer to the staircase and into the darkest
corner.
I
pushed back against him. “Not what I think?”
“Shhh.”
His eyes, scared and wild, implored me to take him seriously. “There’s not time
to get you out of here now. Take off your shoes and give me your coat.”
“What?”
“Please,
Candy. You don’t know what you’re up against.”
I
pulled my jeans up to my knee and unzipped my boot. When my foot hit the cold
floor, I wished I’d worn socks instead of panty hose. “And what am I up
against.”
“You
wouldn’t believe me.”
I
slid out of my coat and handed it to him. “Tell me.”
“Leo
is a vampire.”
“You
seriously brought me here to play a prank on me?”
Brandon
stuck out his bleeding arm. “Does this look like a joke to you?” He squeezed
his arm and blood oozed from the long cut and dripped to the floor. He moved behind
the staircase and I stared at the liquid on the floor.
My
knees trembled. He wasn’t kidding. He wasn’t … “Holy—”
“Water.”
“What?”
He
handed me a super soaker. “Holy water kills them. Squirt anything that moves.
If it screams, unload on it. Fast.”
I
grabbed the toy. It had been painted black, but seemed otherwise unremarkable.
“Where’s yours?”
“I
wasn’t expecting company.”
“I’m
not taking your weapon.”
“Relax.
I’ve got this.” He held up something that resembled a railroad spike.
I
reached out to touch it. “A woodchip.”
“Go
hide behind the railing and wait. I’ll move your jacket so he thinks you’ve
wandered farther into the house. Then I’ll lead him away with this.” He pointed
to his bloodied arm.
“What
if it doesn’t work?”
“He’s
not my first vamp, Candy. I’ve been training with the Binders. It’s kind of a
long story and—”
“If
they’re so seasoned how come they’re not in here bleeding?”
Brandon
put his palm on my arm. Was I supposed to love the warmth of his hand that
much? He whispered,
“Leo hates me.”
“Why?”
His
smile was crooked. “He thinks I’m competition. He thinks you’re in love with me
or something absurd like that.”
“Absurd?”
Brandon’s
eyes rounded. “Your guy’s here.” He towed me back to the stairs. “Stay here.
Please.”
I
watched him leave. Then I sank onto the third step, super soaker ready to fire,
in the absolute quiet. The door creaked. I had to tell myself it was just the
wind. It seeped under the threshold and chilled my feet. Another groan upset
the floorboards. Did old houses always have to be so creepy?
“His
blood smells enticing, but not as sweet as you.”
Leo.
I
shook. In the dark I swore I saw a form move in front of me. An ice cold hand
touched my shoulder. I screamed. I aimed. He was too close! The nozzle of the
gun wouldn’t fit between us. I struggled to back away, but tripped over the
stairs. His thumb found the pressure point at the base of my neck and he
squeezed while he extracted the gun from my grip.
“Good
girl.”
He
led me into the center of the room, right under the chandelier in front of the
balcony. Brandon’s body was placed prostrate between the two staircases. Blood
caked his temple. My knees gave out. Leo held me up. “I thought you might like
the surprise. He almost had me.” Leo faced me and pointed to a gaping, bloodied
hole in his shirt. “Unfortunately, the stake didn’t penetrate deep enough
before I pulled it out. Don’t worry. He’s not dead yet. I’m a sucker for
romance. Tragedy really. This looks like the perfect place for a little Romeo
and Juliet. Don’t you think? I’ve always wanted to rewrite that one.”
Brandon
moved.
My
heart thudded against my ribs.
The
vampire’s eyes narrowed. He turned around to catch Brandon reaching toward the
super soaker. Leo grabbed me in his vice grip and pulled me to him. “Let’s see
if you’re fast enough to reach the water gun before I drain your girlfriend’s
blood.”
Brandon
lunged for the weapon. Leo tossed me aside. I flew backward. A squeal pierced
the quiet. The skin of my bare arms shrieked against the wood floor. Leo sat on
top of Brandon, pinning his arms down. The vampire kicked the super soaker across
the room.
“Any
… time …” Brandon choked.
I
scrambled to get up and my hand grazed something cold. The Maglite. I sent it
spinning at Leo’s head. It clunked off of him. His eyes landed on me. I stood
weaponless. He lunged at me. Water sprayed from over the balcony. Leo screamed,
falling to the floor at my feet. Steam rose off of him.
“Take
that, bastard!” Max unloaded the whole gun.
Leo’s
screams resounded off the naked walls until nothing remained of him but a
puddle of ash like the wicked witch from the Wizard of Oz.
I
slumped to the floor, mouth open, and stared at the pile of wet ash.
Max
slid down the banister and landed in front of me. He put up his hand for a high
five. “You were awesome.”
Brandon
pushed Max’s shoulder. “You were a little late. Did you see how close his teeth
got to Candy’s neck?”
“Relax,
I had to wait until he couldn’t see me. Your plan to move was brilliant.” Max
turned toward me again. “And you were awesome! Maglite to the head. I mean
bam!”
Brandon
took my hands in his and helped me up. “You okay?” He chuckled.
“What
are you laughing at?”
“Max
is right, the Maglite thing was awesome.”
“You
idiot.” I wrapped my arms around him and pulled him close.
Max
picked up the flashlight. “You should have seen Leo’s face. Dude, she can come
with us anytime.”
Brandon
hugged me tight. “No. She can’t.”
I
buried my head in his chest and peeked at the mound of black on the floor. “So,
my boyfriend is a vampire slayer? How awesome is that?”
He
stopped breathing for a moment. “Did you just call me your boyfriend?”
“Are
you complaining?”
“Absolutely
not.”
