Cryptic Cravings

The following day, Becky caught up to me after Language Arts class.

She ranup and grabbed myarm, bursting to tell me major news. "Iheard that Dullsville is getting a new club!" she said.

I was shocked. Gossip traveled so fast in Dullsville it was scary. But this breaking news had found its way to Becky particularly fast. I had to wonder if Jagger was spreading it himself.

"What did youhear?" Iasked.

"Just that there's going to be a club--for us!"

"A club? Here?" Iacted surprised, but reallyIwas. Not that there was going to be a club--but that the word was out about it already.

"Yes.And you don't have to be twenty-one to get in. It's going to be awesome!"

"Did youhear where it's going to be?"

"No, but as soonas Ifind out, I'll let youknow."

The irony was that Becky was telling me about the club I should have been telling her about all along. She was going to scavenge for information that I already knew. I felt guilty not telling her, but until I knew for sure about Jagger's true intentions, I didn't want to add gossip to the mill.

"I can't wait," Beckysaid. "It will be funto have a place to hang out and dance withMatt."

I froze. Myinnocent best friend was planning oncoming to the club--the one that Jagger would be inviting unknown vampires to?

"You can't go--" I blurted out. "I mean, I don't think it will be your type of club."

"Why not? It's open to everyone."

That's the problem, Ithought. Mortals and vampires, too.

Would I have to protect Becky from the modern vampire world forever? It appeared I would, at least for the near future.

"I'm just saying," Ibegan, "if the popular crowd is hanging out there, thenit's not going to be a funplace for us."

"It's supposed to be awesome. Matt and his friends will be going. I'm sure it will be fine--we canhang with just us.

We'll just keep to ourselves.And besides, clubs are dark and loud. I've seenthem on TV."

"Did you hear that there's going to be a place to rave?" a Prada-bee a few lockers away said to her friend.

"I've heard about it," the friend said. "But I don't have any info."

"It would be so cool. We don't have anywhere we candance.At least not without a fake ID." The Prada-bee laughed a snorty laugh.

"Where is it going to be?" her friend asked.

"I heard it's going to be in that abandoned church." The Prada-bee spoke ina whisper.

"I was told they're renting out the country club on Friday nights," her friend gushed.

"Who is `they'?" the Prada-bee asked.

I leaned in.

"I heard they're going to have it in the graveyard. Surely you'd show up," Trevor said, spotting me eavesdropping.

"Last to know, as usual?" he asked.

Ididn't evenbother witha response.

"Perhaps another highlyanticipated event youwon't be invited to?"

"What? Youhave to be invited?" Iasked, breaking myshort silence.

"For the opening, of course," mynemesis said. "Theyaren't going to let just anyone in."

"The yare my friends, not yours," I said. "Believe me, I can make sure you don't get past the bouncer." I shut my locker.

"Don't be so sure," he said. "I'm onthe VIP list." He slithered up to me so close Icould smell the peppermint gum he was chewing. "And if there is a new hot spot club, you'll be needing a date," he said coyly. He took my hand and before I could withdraw it, he wrote his number on my palm.

Becky passed me hand sanitizer and I did my best to rub it off.

So the Crypt's grand opening was byinvitationonly? Jagger was killer ongetting the buzzstarted. He hadn't even started to decorate. By the time he did open, he'd have the whole highschool lined up around the block waiting to get in.

And I wasn't sure that was sucha great thing after all. The students here would be exposed to unknownvampires.

Once the drinks were flowing and the heat of the dance floor kicked up, who knew which of these mortals would be hanging out with, kissing on, or being driven home by vampires from other towns? And though most of the students had contempt for me and had made my life here in Dullsville hell by either ignoring or teasing me, I couldn't let their materialistic lives be indanger.And if anyone inthis townwas going to fall preyto a handsome vampire, it was going to be me.

Beckyand Iwere hanging out onthe soccer field's bleachers shortlyafter the sunset. Iwas doodling inmyjournal,drawing pictures of what Iwanted the club to be like and ideas for gifts forAlexander's upcoming birthday. I was set to meet him inanhour, after he'd awokenand had dinner. Iwas killing time bydoodling as the soccer snobs competitively kicked the black-and-white ball up and down the field against the opposing Tigers.

"Remember whenwe were here at the game withSebastian?" Beckyasked, referring to whenAlexander's best friend first arrived in Dullsville.

"Uh-huh. . ."

"I took a picture. Of you and him."

"Yes . . . I remember," I said. Then it hit me what Beckyhad just told me.

"Well, the weirdest thing happened. Iwas flipping throughthe photos onmyphone and he's not there."

"You must not have saved the picture," I said. "I do that all the time."

"No--that's not what Imean. He isn't inthe picture."

That was what I was a fraid of. "You probably moved it," I told her.

She picked up the phone and showed me. "Look."

I saw a picture of me, smiling and angled, as if I was leaning my body against someone. Only there wasn't anyone else in the picture.

"Isn't that odd?" she said, perplexed.

"Well . . . maybe he shifted out of view."

"I don't remember him doing that."

"Or maybe youmoved the camera. That happens to me all the time."

"I know. But the wayyouare sitting--if he had moved, youwould have fallenover.And there is still this space.And if I moved--thenthere wouldn't be all this blank space where he'd been. Ican't figure it out."

"Looks like they are going to score . . ." I said, attempting to change the subject.

"Don't youadmit it's weird?" she stressed.

What was I going to say? You took a picture of a vampire. What do you expect?

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Ithought youof all people would freak out. It's almost like out of a scarymovie."

Becky shoved the picture in front of me again.

"Yes. It is weird. But I'm sure he just moved awayat the last minute. That's all."

I returned to doodling in my journal.

"I guess," Becky said. "But I'm saving this picture. I was hoping to have a picture of Sebastian.At least I have a cool one of you."

The game was over and I saw Trevor hanging out by the trees. He was resting his arm against a trunk and was posing in a seductive way that led me to believe whomever he was talking to was of the female persuasion, and of the pretty kind. It was unlike Trevor to be secretive with his women, so I became curious. As he continued to talk and pose, the girl remained hidden in the shadows. After a few minutes I noticed something illuminated by the field lights--bright scarlet hair--the kind that came from a bottle, not used on any of the girls at our high school.

"Where are yougoing?" Beckyasked as Ileaped over the bleachers and raced downthe metal stairs.

So that's who's leaking the info. Jagger must have put her up to it, Iimmediatelysurmised. If Trevor's onboard,then Jagger is sure to have a crowd. Jagger knows Trevor will tell the whole school, along with the whole town.

"Oh, Scarlet!" I said.

She looked surprised to see me, and stepped even further back into the shadows. Trevor also seemed taken aback by my presence.

Just then Matt called to him as the team headed toward the gym. Trevor paused. It was odd for him to have two goth girls in his company. He was used to being surrounded by preppy, conservative types. He was reveling in his rebellious attraction to us.

"I've got to go. . . ." Trevor said reluctantly. I knew he wanted to staywithus, but it would have to remaina fantasy for him.

The way he lingered in front of us by the tree, it was as if he wanted to kiss one or both of us, but he wasn't brave enough to make a move on Scarlet in front of me. And he knew if he kissed me, I would slug him.

"Is that Trevor's number?" she asked, noticing the smudged digits onmypalm.

"Yes, and Itried to burnthem off. Itold you--he's not what youthink he is." Ipaused for a moment.

Whenwe were alone, Isaid to her, "AfterAlexander's party, youall just left."

"Yes. I'm so sorryit ended so quickly."

"So, are youintownlong? Will the others be joining you?" Iasked withpretend innocence.

"Ican't lie to you, Raven. We're all still here."

I was so relieved my friend was confiding in me about what I already knew. I would have hated for her to have turned out to be a false friend. She had accepted me as a vampire, and then when she found out my true identity,she accepted me for being a mortal. She was a better friend to me thanI'd beento her.And because she and Onyxdidn't have the historywithAlexander or the cunning actions and animosityof Luna, they were the type of vampire girl friends I'd longed for all mylife.

"I was so sad whenyouguys left," Isaid. "Iknew youhad to, but Iwas reallybummed. Iam relieved knowing you're still here."

"I wishwe could hang out," she said sincerely. "But don't tell Jagger you saw me if you run into him. Please."

"I won't," I said. I hated that he had a hold on her. He was providing her and her best friend withroom and board,and I'm sure she didn't want to jeopardize that. But Iwanted to hang out withthem and didn't want him to get in the way of my fun. "Why don't you and Onyx meet me tonight at the cemetery?"

"Yes, that's a great idea! We can have some girl time!" she said, giving me a hug.

Then Scarlet disappeared into the night.