The night before school started, I was stroking my kitten, Nightmare, and surfing the Net when she began to glare at my window and hiss. Her back arched and her fur stood straight up. I couldn't contain her in my arms. She bolted across my bed and jumped on the windowsill. She batted the glass with her paw.

"It's probably a bird, Nightmare. Calm down."

Then I heard a tinyping,like something had hit the outside glass. Nightmare freaked. She dashed across my room and pushed through the cracked open door.

I peeked out into the darkness. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust.

I didn't see anything unusual around the garage or the swing set that was a few yardsaway .

But a shadowy figure was leaning against the tree. I pressed my face to the window.

There he was. My Gothic Guy, my Knight of the Night, my Vampire Prince.

My heart throbbed.

I raced out of my room, down the stairs, out the back door, and into my boyfriend's arms.

Alexander greeted me with a long kiss. It sent shivers down my spine.

"I had to see you," he said. "I can't stay long but I wanted,to wish you luck before school."

"I've missed you so much."

"Me, too. I think even the Mansion misses you."

" Howare your parents?"

"Fine."

"What are they like?" I probed.

"I don't know...The same as any others."

"Are they happy to be home?"

"My mom says the Mansion smells like flowers."

"Did you tell her I placed them around?" I asked.

"I think she guessed."

"I bet you're glad to see them."

Alexander shrugged his shoulders.

"It'sokay-I know you had to have missed them."

He hesitated and then began as if he were revealing a national secret. "It's been great to talk to my dad. He's an art dealer. He's very interesting and has so much to share about the art world. He brought me a painting from a rising artist inFrance ."

"Does he like your artwork?"

"I'm not sure he takes me seriously yet. He thinks I just I -.tint for fun."

"And your mom?"

Alexander's eyes couldn't help but twinkle.

"I bet she dotes on you," I said.

"She's my mom. She's insisting that I haven't eaten and I us promised to fatten me up."

"When will I meet them?"

"Hopefully soon."

"I think you're hiding me."

"It's true... I want you all to myself." He squeezed me hard and swung me around.

"Do they know everything?"

"I don't tell my parentseverything. Do you?"

Alexander had a point. I certainly didn't tell my parents I hat we had dates in the cemetery and I slept during the day with him in a coffin.

"Do they know Tm not a vampire?" I asked.

"Do your parents know Iam one?"

I was shocked. Did Alexander have to hide my identity like I had to hide his? I thought maybe they knew already or they'd gotten wind of it from Jameson or theMaxwells .hut eitherJagger and his siblings, Luna and Valentine, hadn't returned toRomania or they hadn't wanted to sharei hat Alexander had preferred a mortal to Luna.

And maybe Alexander chose not to tell his parents that L was mortal-like I'd chosen not to tell mine that he was a vampire. It didn't occur to me that he couldn't tell them the truth about me, I never realized how painful it must be for him that I couldn't disclose his reality to my parents or even my best friend.

"You don't want me to meet them, do you?" I asked. "Then they'll know."

"What?"

"You are ashamed of me."

"Why would I be ashamed?"

"That I'm mortal."

"All they know is that I have a girlfriend and that I'm happy."

I wasn't mad at Alexander. How could I beangty with him, when I hadn't shared him with my family, who I saw every day and he hadn't seen his in months?

But I was disappointed. I assumed Alexander would have told his parents every detail about finding the girl of his dreams in Dullsville and our adventures. But then, Alexander was a guy. I knew Billy Boy hadn't shared with my mom any crush he'd had on a very unlucky girl. I couldn't imagine Trevor spilling his guts about every girl he dated to Mrs. Mitchell-though he probably told the entire soccer team. Not only didn't Alexander talk to his parents, but he didn't have a friend in Dullsville besides me.

I felt a pang of loneliness for Alexander. He didn't have anyone to share his thoughts with. I guess that's why he spent so much of his waking hours painting.

Instead of being impatient as I normally was, I knew I needed to give Alexander space to reunite with his family.

"I have to go now. But I wanted to say hi," he said suddenly.

"I wish you could come to school with me tomorrow. I might be more motivated to get a better education if you were in my classes.Especially if I got to pass you in the way for a quick kiss."

"How about this to keep you company, since I can't be there with you?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a dark-stained wooden bracelet with a dangling silver heart.

"I love it!" I said, putting it on.

Alexander gave me a long squeeze and a tender good-night kiss.

"When will I see you?" I asked, wrapping my arms around his waist like a giant handcuff.

"Sooner than you think."He gently pried my hands apart, stepped into the shadows, and disappeared.

Alexander was still a mystery. I ached to know everything about him, and his evasiveness only made me want him more.