“I have an idea,” Gina said. “Why don’t we just go back to your house and watch a movie there? At least that way, you will be comfortable in your own home.”

Mark actually liked that idea. He didn’t want to disappoint her though and make her stay in with him because he wasn’t feeling well.

“If you want, I can drop you at the movies and you can meet your friends there? I don’t want to hold you back, babe,” Mark said. “Really, or, I can bring you home. You don’t have to come over and take care of me.”

“Don’t be silly, I want to be with you. I want to take care of you. Please let me,” Gina begged.

Mark felt so lucky to have such a sweet girl in his life. He didn’t know what he did to deserve a great girl like her, but he didn’t want to risk losing her.

“Ok, then you can come over. It will be fun, I promise. We can make popcorn and watch whatever movie you want,” Mark said.

The two were stopped at the stoplight in town and Mark looked over at Gina. HE couldn’t help but notice how delicious she smelled. She wondered if perhaps she’d gotten a new perfume, but felt silly asking her that. Guys aren’t supposed to notice those things and he didn’t want to come off as weird to her.

“You smell nice,” Mark said, trying to hold back his excitement.

“Oh, really?” Gina said, sounding a bit confused. “Thanks!”

“Sure!” Mark said, feeling a bit silly for saying anything at all.

The scent of her body infused the car and he could barely control himself. He didn’t know if it were his hormones raging or if it was something else. Either way, it made him feel hungry. He felt a huge hunger pain that made his stomach make a loud, grumbling noise.

“You hungry?” Gina asked, looking over at Mark’s stomach.

“Oh, yeah! Guess so!” Mark answered.

“Should we pick up some dinner?” Gina said.

“I just had dinner,” Mark said. “Not so sure why my stomach is acting up.”

“Did you have enough to eat?” Gina asked.

“Yeah, I did. I think, anyway,” Mark replied.

The light turned green and he floored the car trying to get his mind off of Gina’s scent, but he couldn’t. He put the windows down thinking it might help but that didn’t help either.

“Mark, are you ok?” Gina asked.

“Why?” Mark asked.

“It’s freezing out!” Gina replied. “What are you doing?”

“I’m sweating, I’m not sure what’s happening!” Mark said, getting all hyped up.

Gina leaned over and put her hand on Mark’s neck and then put her hand on his forehead. Mark couldn’t help but to put his tongue out and take a small lick of her skin as she moved her hand up to his forehead. She didn’t even notice he did so.

“You feel cold,” Gina said. “Are you sure you’re feeling hot?”

“Stop questioning me!” Mark yelled. “I know how I’m feeling.”

“Geez, no need to get upset, Mark. I was just trying to help.”

“Well you’re not helping me! You’re making it worse,” Mark snapped.

He couldn’t believe what was happening and he couldn’t believe this temper that was coming out of him. It was completely out of character for him, and he didn’t know what to do about it. He couldn’t control himself despite how much he tried.

“Who are you?” Gina said. “I feel like I don’t even know you.”

“I don’t know myself right now,” Mark said, as he pulled up to another red light on the outskirts of town. He looked around and realized he was the only car on the road. It was a desolate part of town, and he knew this was his opportunity. He knew he had to seize on his feeling and on his cravings for Gina. He hated to do this to her, but at the same time, he knew he had to. He knew the only way to find out what was really going on was to give in and taste her. To taste her blood and flesh.

“Gina, I’m sorry,” Mark said, as he turned to her and unbuckled his seat belt.

“What are you doing, Mark?” Gina said.

Mark didn’t answer. He climbed over the center console on the car touching Gina’s neck and face and tugging on her hair.

“Mark, you’re scaring me.”

He looked into her eyes, and his eyes became bright red.

“MARK! MARK!” Gina yelled. “PLEASE SNAP OUT OF IT!”

Mark couldn’t even hear what she was saying, all he could think about was her scent and the fact that he was about to indulge in his first feed ever. He saw Gina quickly take out her cell phone and speed dial home, but Mark didn’t care. He even heard it ringing and then, just as he was sinking his large white fangs into Gina’s neck, he heard the voice of her father on the line.

“Gina? Gina? Are you OK?”

But Mark didn’t care. He pressed the end button and indulged in the most pleasant feeding of his life.

CHAPTER 13

Rob knew he was close to Rachel now, and knew he was only minutes away from finding her in her school. As he approached her Pennsylvania high school, he could tell she was close. He knew there were a lot of schools in the area, but he thought he smelled he scent in the air that morning and followed it to a school off a winding country road.

He walked into the school like he owned the place. His head held high and his gait stern and steady. He wore a black trench coat and black combat boots, which actually made him look a little bit like a terrorist, but he didn’t care. He refused to wear anything else and this look had become his daily uniform. He didn’t care how he came off to people, though, he meant business and he wasn’t going to let anything get in his way.

He couldn’t wait to find Rachel to tell him his true feelings about her. He knew it would sweep her off her feet and they would live happily ever after. At least that’s the way he saw this fairy tale ending.

He tramped through the halls, the sound of his boots clomping loudly on the floor. He could feel the stares he was getting by the kids and the teachers as he breezed by them, following his nose to Rachel. He didn’t care what people thought of him, in fact, he kind of wished they were a little scared of him. He enjoyed their intimidation and he enjoyed his Napoleon complex. He only had one thing on his mind, and that was to get Rachel and whisk her off with him.

As he came down the hall, he passed a bunch of lockers, putting his nose up to them and then moving onto the next one. Then when he came to locker number 198 he stopped and touched it with his hands. He knew it was hers and he could tell she had recently been there. He quickly turned his body around, and pushed through the crowd that had swarmed around him as he continued searching for her.

“Um, what are you doing?” Brian asked, watching him smell Rachel’s locker.

“Excuse me! I’m talking to you,” Brian repeated.

“Yeah, well I’m not talking to you!” Rob said, with beady eyes.

“What is your problem? Who are you anyway?” Brian asked.

“Who are you?” Rob asked back, although he could care less who this guy was.

“Brian. Rachel’s boyfriend!”

Rob stopped in his tracks at the sound of that word. “Boyfriend?” he asked, quickly turning to face Brian.

“You heard me!” Brian said.

Rob walked over to him and looked him up and down. He couldn’t imagine Rachel would ever go for a guy like Brian, but then again, he could see the similarities between the two of them. His body began to sweat, as he got angrier and angrier with Brian.

“What do you mean you’re her boyfriend?” Rob asked.

“Who are you anyway?” Brian said. “I don’t owe you any explanation!”

“Well you kinda do, because I’m her boyfriend, too!” Rob said.

“What are you talking about? You are delusional!” Brian said. “She has never once mentioned your name. So that leads me to believe she doesn’t have feelings for you. Not to mention, we had a hot date last night. So what are you gonna do about it?”

Rob was getting livid as Brian continued to speak. He could barely control himself. He wanted this kid gone and out of Rachel’s life forever. He didn’t need any more competition. He couldn’t stand it.

“Why don’t we talk about this outside?” Rob asked.

“Oh yeah!” Brian said.

A crowd of kids surrounded them as they started throwing punches at each other. The kids all cheered, “Go Brian, Go Brian!” but Rob didn’t care. He wasn’t here to get people on his side. He was here to win the heart of his one true love back, and he knew the only way to do that would be to eradicate this Brian character. He was no good, and didn’t want him in Rachel’s life anymore.

RING RING

The bell rang and the kids that surrounded them scurried off to their classes. The only people that remained in the halls were he and Brian and he knew he had to take this outside. If he were really going to get ride of him, he couldn’t do it in the middle of the hallway of this high school.

“Come outside!” Rob said. “This isn’t the place for this. Be a man.”

“A man?” Brian questioned. “The only man here is me! Who do you think you are for questioning me?”

Rob started walking out the double doors at the end of the hallway, which led to the back of the school. He saw Brian following him, seething at his words. As the two got outside, Rob turned to Brian to continue their conversation.

“So if she’s really your girlfriend, why don’t you tell me where she is?” Rob asked.

“I just got to school and she’s not here yet! So how am I supposed to know?” Brian replied.

Rob’s body started shaking and his eyes grew wide with envy. Then, out of nowhere, he reached over with his fist and clenched it around Brian’s throat. Brian stood there gasping for air as his face turned red and then purple. His body fell to the ground and then Rob let go.

“That’s what you get for going out with my girl!” Rob said.