7 Love Bites (7 page)

things a normal girl gets from her boyfriend. And by going out with me�� �I�m not normal, though, no matter who I go out with,� I said with a laugh. �At least these Dullsvillians don�t think so.� He put his arm around me. �You aren�t normal to me, either. You are extraordinary.� I wrapped my arms around him. �You should have all the good things coming to you,� he continued. �All the gifts. I don�t want you to ever doubt how much I care for you.� I took his free hand in mine. �But this isn�t your thing. Technology. Modern conveniences.� �It�s not about what�s my thing,� he said with a smile. �It�s about yours.� I hugged Alexander with all my might. �But I don�t want you to change.� �It�s not about changing�it�s about growing, together,� he said, like the wise soul that he was. �I wanted to let you know�that I am with you. Always. Forever. We don�t have to be separated by the sun, school, or even the night. Now I�m just a click away.� I was deeply moved by Alexander�s present to me and rewarded my vampire boyfriend with mortal kisses.15 Party at the Mansion I spent the following day alone, toiling around in the Mansion�s backyard while Alexander and Sebastian slept in their respective tombs. No one would be able to help me set up for the party. That�s what I got for wanting to date a vampire. I hung the skeleton lights from the wrought-iron fence and put place mats on a coffin-lid table. I lined the crumbling walkway with votives and floor-length candelabras. The fake tombstones poked out from the dead grass. Sebastian had hooked up his sound system in the gazebo, and I decorated it with plastic bats and blinking skulls. By the time Alexander and Sebastian awoke, I was beat. The pair was wide-eyed and freshly groomed when they found me crashed out on a sofa in the parlor room. Alexander gently petted my hair and awakened me from my catnap. The best sight in the world was Alexander. Even blurry, he was smoldering. His deep, dark hair melted over his ears, and his smile was heavenly. �You�ve really outdone yourself,� he said. �The backyard looks great!� �What time is it?� I perked up in a hurry. �They should be here soon,� he said. �I�m not even dressed!� I exclaimed. �And I feel like I just got out of gym class.� I leaped up from the sofa and dashed to the upstairs bathroom. I only had twenty minutes to clean up. I washed, dried, primped, powdered. It was something I was used to, as I normally overslept and had to get ready for school in record time. Also, I was extra speedy because I was anxious for our party to begin, eager to see Onyx and Scarlet, and for Sebastian to fall in love with one of them so my relationship with Becky would return to normal. When I finished my fifteen-minute makeover, I descended the outside backstairs as if I were a contestant in a beauty pageant. Only, instead of stilettos, hose, and a white ball gown, I was in rubber lace-up boots, fishnets, and a black slip dress. I spun around in my outfit. �Boy�you look hot!� Alexander said. He was setting up the fire pit. �Make that double hot!� Sebastian concurred. Sebastian was tinkering with the sound system, making sure his favorite hits were loaded onto his iPod. The three of us talked for a while, but our monsterfest wasn�t going as planned. There was no sign of Onyx and Scarlet. Alexander stoked the fire. Sebastian fixed some of the skeleton lights, and I adjusted my suffocating boots. �It�s been nightfall for over an hour,� I finally commented, glancing at my watch. �Where are they?� �Maybe they got lost,� Alexander said. �Did you give them directions?� �Several times.� �Then I bet something else came up,� Sebastian lamented. �I know these girls,� I said defiantly. �If they said they�d be here�� �It�s okay, Raven,� Sebastian said. �It�s really the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. But we don�t have to wait all night. Besides, this is as good a time as any to tell you that I�ll be leaving tomorrow.� �What?� I asked. Even Alexander was surprised by his comment. �We were having a blast.� �I know�but I�ve worn out my welcome here.� �No, you haven�t,� I told him. I�d gotten used to Sebastian�s presence, and I knew it was good for Alexander to have the company. �Why don�t we go inside,� he suggested. �We can have a little band session to take it off my mind. I think you�re on your way to being a lead singer.��We can�t give up on our party yet,� I tried. Even Alexander was getting a bit fidgety. �We haven�t eaten yet and I�m feeling hungry. We�ll have Jameson make us some drinks.� �But you have a bottle out here,� I told them. �We�ll save it for something special,� Alexander said. �Fine.� My first party, and it was a disaster. They headed inside. I remained at the table and sulked for a few moments until I heard a car in the distance. I took off around the side of the grassy Mansion lawn, doing my best to avoid uneven patches of soil. When I reached the driveway, I saw two headlights shining on the street. The streetlamp illuminated a car. When I got closer I noticed a bright white Beetle, the headlights highlighted with black paint, the hood with a dark circle, and vertical white stripes adorning the bumper. It looked like a giant human skull. �They�re here!� I exclaimed. �They�re here.� I raced down the long driveway as if I were competing for a gold medal. When I reached the Mansion�s gate, exiting the cryptic car were two amazingly stellar party girls�Scarlet and Onyx. Scarlet wore her curly red hair long with a black bow; she had on a cream-colored velvet dress, black lace gloves, and stilettos. Onyx, with her jet black, blade-straight hair, wore a corset top, knee-length skirt, ripped stockings, and wicked witchy boots. We all screamed like children, and they engulfed me in a tight embrace. �We thought we�d never see you again,� Scarlet said. �I thought so, too,� I said. �When we saw your message, we knew we had to come,� Onyx said. �No matter what.� �I love your car!� I proclaimed. I could only dream of driving that up to my house in the burbs. I thought I was lucky to have a black bike. �I just got it. Isn�t it ghoulish?� Scarlet grinned. The two girls linked arms with me and we ascended the steep and winding drive. It was as if we were miniature dolls in comparison to the stately Mansion that loomed above us. �Is this where you live?� Onyx asked, aghast. �No, my boyfriend does,� I replied. �Are his parents out for the weekend?� Scarlet wondered, assessing the situation. �Well�for a while longer,� I said. �They live in Romania.� �He lives here by himself?� Onyx asked. �How lonely.� �He has a butler.� �You go, girl!� Scarlet said. �He must be a millionaire,� Onyx stated. �Almost,� I said. �Is he�a V?� Onyx asked. �A what?� I wondered aloud. �A Coffin Club member,� Scarlet whispered. �You know�one of us�� �Oh�a V.� I nodded proudly. �And more important, so is his friend.� �He has a friend?� Scarlet hinted. �Yes, and he�s single and very hot,� I replied. �Love it!� the two girls shrieked. �We never see that Phoenix guy anymore,� Scarlet said. �We thought maybe you�d have hooked up with him.� �Really?� I asked. �Well�I haven�t either. But I think you�ll like Alexander, too.� �Judging from that Mansion? I like him already,� Scarlet declared. Alexander didn�t realize that the girls had arrived. The backyard was empty of male vampires. I was slightly miffed at the pair for giving up so easily. �Where is everyone?� Scarlet said. �They went inside.�I felt awful. Should I leave my guests alone? Or take them inside? I had never hosted a party before and wasn�t sure of the etiquette. I knew my mother would know exactly what to do, so I did my best impression of her. �Why don�t you two wait here while I get you something to drink,� I asked. �No�stay with us,� Onyx said, grasping my wrist. �We traveled all this way to see you, so we�re not letting you out of our sight.� �Yes,� Scarlet said. �This way we can have some girl time.� I wanted the girls to feel the full effects of our haunting happening, but without Alexander and Sebastian it wasn�t happening at all. Maybe Alexander would get worried and come find me. We sat at the tomb-shaped table. A Romanian bottle was chilling on ice, and the twinkling candelabra was still dripping hot wax. �So how�s the Coffin Club?� I asked. �I miss it.� �It�s the best,� Onyx said. �There isn�t anywhere we�ve found that�s like it,� Scarlet added. �And since Phoenix usurped Jagger�s authority and made the club about us and not him, it�s been running smoothly. But we haven�t seen Phoenix at all. It�s quite odd.� �We thought you might have seen him,� Onyx began, �since you got on so well with him.� �I haven�t seen anybody.� �Not even Jagger?� Onyx asked. �No�and for that I�m grateful.� �Really? I think he�s kind of hot,� Onyx confessed. Scarlet and I were surprised by her admission of admiration for the alluring, but menacing, vampire. �I mean in a lonely sort of way,� Onyx continued. �I think he might just be misunderstood�.� �So�,� Scarlet said. �You�re dating a vampire. Then you�ll become a vampire, too!� Scarlet was beside herself with glee. �Uh�we�re waiting for the right time,� I answered. �But don�t you want to be like us?� Scarlet asked. �Of course,� I replied. �It�s been my life�s dream.� �Then what are you waiting for�� �It�s a big decision,� Onyx defended. �I don�t know that I�d turn someone. It is a lot of responsibility.� �I would!� Scarlet said. �It�s in our blood.� �To change someone�s life forever?� Onxy proposed. �We were born into this. We didn�t have a choice. And for Raven, it would be changing everything about her life as she knows it. It is something that should be thought through really carefully. Not so casual or in the moment,� Onyx argued, reassuring me. �It�s okay, Raven, to take your time.� �There is nothing wrong with being a vampire,� Scarlet said. �I didn�t say there was,� Onyx retorted. �But would you want to be mortal�if you found your true love?� Scarlet thought for a moment. �I guess you�re right. It is a big decision.� I smiled in agreement. It was hard�these two girls took for granted a lifestyle I wanted so badly. They weren�t becoming vampires because of someone they loved or something they wanted to be�they were vampires because they were born vampires. It was then I remembered why I�d invited them. �Speaking of true love�,� I began. �I�ve got a really great guy I want you to meet.� �Yes, tell us about Alexander�s friend,� Onxy said. �He�s really hot,� I repeated. �And he�s looking for someone special.� �We�re special,� Scarlet said. �Exactly! That was what I was thinking.� I scooted close. �He was enamored with my best friend,� I confided. �Only, she�s mortal and has a boyfriend. And I don�t want anyone in this town being bitten before me,� I joked. �Yes, that wouldn�t be fair,� Onyx said. �I�d die if some cheerleader showed up to a game with fangs,� I told them.�That would be wrong on so many levels!� Scarlet snorted. �She wouldn�t be deserving,� Onyx said. �Not like you.� �So I thought it would be wonderful if he could meet a nice vampire girl,� I went on. �And Dullsville is short on those.� �So where is this Prince Charming?� Scarlet asked. The faint sound of a guitar wailing screeched from the Mansion. �Is that your boyfriend playing?� Scarlet asked tentatively. �No�that�s his friend.� �I hope he kisses better than he plays,� she teased. The three of us laughed. A figure was standing by the window. I knew Alexander would eventually wonder where I�d gone. Within a moment, Alexander and Sebastian were hanging out on the back steps. Both girls� mouths dropped when they saw the handsome pair. �Which is the available one?� Onyx asked softly. �I don�t care�they are both gorgeous,� Scarlet declared. �Raven�you don�t mind sharing, do you?� she teased. �Onyx and Scarlet, this is my boyfriend, Alexander.� �Wow�you are so lucky!� Scarlet whispered to me. �We should have been hanging out here instead of at the Coffin Club.� Alexander blushed and shook both of their hands. Sebastian cleared his throat. He was frustrated he wasn�t getting any attention. �And this is Sebastian,� I said. As if on cue, both girls held their hands out to him. He took each one and tenderly kissed them. Each girl giggled. �I hope that�s just a prelude of what�s to come,� Scarlet said. The girls broke their gaze with Sebastian and he gave Alexander the thumbs-up sign. �Would you like something to drink?� I asked. �Uh. Sure. I guess I�ll have a soda.� �No, we have the real thing,� Sebastian said, pointing to the bottle on the table. �Transylvania 1972,� Alexander said as Jameson came outside to assist us. �I heard that was a good year,� Sebastian said. �Why don�t you sit here,� I encouraged Sebastian, deliberately placing him between the two girls. Alexander stuck a corkscrew in the bottle and turned it slowly. He pried the cork and it easily slipped out. Jameson began filling the goblets. �It�s rare to find something authentic�outside the Coffin Club,� Scarlet said. �In a bottle, anyway.� We all laughed. �Well, you are in rare company,� Sebastian flirted. As Jameson continued to fill the goblets, Alexander poured me a soda and then himself one. �You can have some,� I said. �Don�t miss this on account of me.� But Alexander politely refused. Sebastian held the goblet to his nose and took a deep breath in. �Um�perfect,� Sebastian said. �I think it�s a mixture of A positive and AB negative.� �Wow�you are quite the connoisseur,� Onyx praised. �I can never tell.� �Here�s to us.� Sebastian raised his glass and we all clinked ours together. I watched as the three vampires put the blood-filled goblets to their lips and sipped as if they were consuming a rare vintage wine. �This is delicious,� Scarlet said. �Very smooth.� �We are just happy you joined us,� Alexander said. �We know you came a long way.� �It was worth it,� Scarlet said. �Very smooth,� Onyx added. �Yet sweet. Just like you,� she said, her eyes locking with Sebastian�s. Surprised by her remark, she began to giggle and spilled a bit of her drink. I had
to remind myself that some Romanian�s hemoglobin, not fermented grapes, had just dripped on my friend.�She can�t hold her blood,� Scarlet playfully scolded. �I tell her that all the time.� �I guess I drank it too fast,� Onyx said. Red liquid dripped down her neck and began leaking toward the lace border of her neckline. �Here, let me,� Sebastian said, wiping the spillage with his napkin. There was a moment between Onyx and Sebastian. He was doting on her as he had Becky. Our plan was already working. I gave Alexander a quick wink. Scarlet sensed competition. And though the two girls were best friends, it was obvious Scarlet didn�t want to be the one without a vampire. She leaned her elbow onto Sebastian�s shoulder, her bracelets dangling next to his goatee. She tapped her fingers against his brown and blond dreadlocks as if they were batting eyelashes, then brushed her plum-colored fingernails along his neck. �No recent marks�,� she noted. �Interesting,� Onyx said, almost scorned. �And you?� Sebastian asked Scarlet. �It isn�t polite to ask a girl, is it?� she asked coquettishly. �Well, I just thought.� Scarlet displayed her wrist. Two purple marks were embedded on her slight, chalk white arm. �But it didn�t really mean anything,� she confessed. �He wasn�t nearly as handsome as you.� �Or as clever,� Onyx added. The girls were intoxicated by Sebastian�s charm, and he was relishing the attention. I figured this was mine and Alexander�s cue to leave the three single vampires alone. �Alexander, I think we left a few snacks in the house,� I said. �Oh yeah,� my boyfriend agreed, taking my hint. �I�ll help you.� But before we could rise, Scarlet stopped us. �Where is everyone else?� �Oh�they�ll be coming later,� Sebastian said. �Yeah. We just wanted it to be us for a little while,� I added. �Then sit down and enjoy yourselves,� Scarlet insisted. Alexander and I returned to our seats. I guess the girls expected a Mansion-size party. I couldn�t break the news to them that they were the guest list. �How about we crank up the tunes,� Sebastian suggested. �Yes, we love to dance,� Scarlet said. Sebastian turned up the music and the five of us rocked as hard as we could. �It looks like you�re having a great time,� I said to Sebastian as I danced next to him. �I am.� �Do you think you�d like to ask one of them out?� �I guess.� But Sebastian�s voice wasn�t confident. Even though he was having a blast, I sensed Sebastian was still carrying a torch for Becky. The music�s volume suddenly lowered. We stopped to discover Jameson standing by the sound system. �Complaints from the neighbors?� Alexander asked, concerned. �Alexander,� Jameson announced, �you have some guests.� �Guests?� I asked. Alexander was just as confused. �I�ll only be a moment,� he said, excusing himself. �I guess they�re here,� Scarlet said. �We�ll chat later.� I was curious what guests were arriving. Since Onyx, Scarlet, and Sebastian were engaged in conversation, I, too, excused myself. I sped through the kitchen, down the long, haunting hallway, and found Alexander at the front door. I couldn�t tell whom he was talking to, so I sneaked up close and peered out. I spotted Becky�s truck in the driveway. What was she doing here? Was she in trouble? It was then I noticed Trevor�s Camaro parked behind the truck. I wedged myself between the entranceway and Alexander to find Matt fuming at the foot of the stoop.�What�s going on?� I asked. �Are you all right?� Matt, normally upbeat and smiling, was brandishing a frown. Behind him was Trevor and a team of soccer snobs. �What are they doing here?� I asked Alexander. Matt glared at me coldly. �It�s okay,� Alexander said to me. �Where�s Becky?� I asked. �Is she all right?� �I thought you were my friend, Alexander,� Matt said sternly. Alexander didn�t move. �I am,� he said calmly. �What�s this all about, Matt?� �Your houseguest.� �He�s out back.� �Well, he better stay there.� �Is something wrong?� Alexander asked. �You bet. Your best friend has been hitting on my girlfriend,� Matt challenged. Alexander shook his head. His best friend had gotten him into a mess. �That�s just Sebastian�s way. He didn�t mean any harm.� �Did you know that after Sebastian met Becky at Hatsy�s he texted her all night?� Matt asked. �Not at the time. I�m not with him every minute.� �Sebastian sent the flowers to Becky. Not Raven. Did you know that?� �No�or I would have stopped him.� �But you did find out.� �Yes.� �So were you going to tell me?� �There wasn�t a need to. We had it resolved.� �Really? Did you know he had the nerve to show up at her house?� �He did?� Alexander said. �I thought he bumped into her in town.� �And all the time you both were laughing and encouraging him,� Matt said, annoyed. �Now, take it easy. I never laughed, and I most certainly didn�t encourage him. It was just the opposite.� Now I was mad. It was one thing to accuse me, and now Sebastian, of causing trouble, but quite another to accuse Alexander. �You have it wrong, Matt. Alexander�� �It�s okay, Raven,� Alexander said, trying to calm me down. �I understand you might be mad, Matt. But it�s not as bad as it sounds.� �And to think I included him at Hooligans.� �You are misunderstanding what happened.� �Am I?� Matt stepped forward. I was ready to pounce on anyone who charged at Alexander�though he was quite capable of defending himself. Alexander held out his arm. �It�s okay.� �Now you�re having a party,� Matt said. Then he fixed on me. �And Raven�you don�t invite your best friend?� Trevor stood behind Matt, arms folded, smiling gleefully. �What�s he doing here?� I charged. �I thought you weren�t his shadow anymore.� �He�s the one who told me,� Matt said. �Seems Trevor is a good friend after all.� The soccer snobs surrounded Alexander. I rushed in, but Alexander held me at bay. �I don�t think you know who you are dealing with here,� I said to the gang of athletes. Alexander appeared concerned for Matt�s situation, but he wasn�t worried about the threat from the others. He was confident in his own power, and I knew he wouldn�t use it unless it was to defend me. �Is Becky with Sebastian?� Alexander asked. �No�she�s with me,� Matt said. �Then isn�t that your answer?� Alexander assured Matt. �After all the texts, the flowers, and the visits, she�s still with you.�Matt�s anger changed to relief. He even broke a smile. Sebastian suddenly appeared beside us. �What�s going on?� When he saw Matt, he knew he must have found out about his feelings for Becky. �I�m the one you have a beef with,� Sebastian said. �This isn�t about Alexander.� �I know that now,� Matt said. �Let�s talk calmly,� Sebastian urged. �I know how you feel about Becky�but I�m the one who loves her,� Matt suddenly proclaimed. Becky hopped out of the truck. She raced to Matt and clutched him around the waist. He�d declared his love for her in front of everyone. She gazed up at me with an almost thankful smile. I was surprised by Matt�s sudden passion and proud that he was standing up for Becky. However, I didn�t want this conflict to continue. �And just so you know,� Sebastian defended, �Alexander ordered me to leave the Mansion.� �He did?� Matt asked. �But I was the one who wanted to stay in town. Raven and Alexander went out of their way to arrange a party for me�to find my own Becky. So they really are better friends to you than you might think.� Matt was speechless. �Yeah�so you might have Becky,� Sebastian began, �but I have Raven and Alexander.� Matt was stunned. �I feel awful,� he said. �I do, too,� Becky added. Matt glared at Trevor. �You started this, didn�t you? Just like always.� But Trevor�s attention was on a few cars that had pulled up to the Mansion�s gate. Within a few minutes, vehicles began to line the street. Students came up the driveway and the lawn, decked out in their Saturday-night best and carrying bags of beverages. �What�s going on?� I asked. �You know how news travels in this town,� Trevor said. �Everyone likes a party. Not just you guys.� �Where�s the coffin guy?� a Pradabee asked. �Is that him?� another asked, pointing to Alexander. �He�s gorgeous!� �I wonder if he has a dungeon,� the Pradabee commented. �Or a secret room. I wouldn�t mind if he locked me up in one.� The pair laughed and followed the others to the backyard. �What are we going to do?� I asked frantically. �Call the police?� �No�it�s fine.� Alexander beamed. Alexander surveyed his uninvited guests and their festive mood. �Well, we don�t have enough drinks,� I said. �I mean, the non-Romanian kind.� �Doesn�t seem to matter. Looks like they are bringing their own,� Alexander commented. Sebastian lit up. �Now, this is a real party. This is what we�re missing by being homeschooled. Look at these girls. They�re all hot!� We arrived in the backyard to a full-fledged happening. The backyard began to fill up with every teen in town. �Here�s some liquor,� a soccer snob said, holding the unfinished Transylvania 1972. He lifted it to his lips and leaned back to take a huge swig. �No�� I yanked it out of his hands. �That�s an import!� I chastised. I grabbed the goblets and carried them into the house like a seasoned waitress. As I exited, I met an anxious Jameson in the doorway, examining the expanding party. �Miss Raven, what has happened?� �We had a few party crashers.� �A few? More like a hundred. I must go to the basement. I know we have more stock.� �Not the cellar, Jameson,� I said. �It�s not that kind of party.� �Of course, I meant in the downstairs pantry.� Jameson fretted. �Oh, I wish I had time to prepare!� I�d watched plenty of movies. Couples using pieces of furniture and empty bedrooms for makeout sessions while others used the furniture as coasters. I didn�t want the Mansion trashed and, more important, Alexander�sand Sebastian�s identity revealed. �Don�t let anyone in the house,� I told Jameson before he started off. �If they find Sebastian�s bed�� �I understand, Miss Raven.� Just then two girls came up to the door. �Which way to the bathroom?� one asked. �That way,� I said, pointing to the street. �There is one at the gas station. Or, better yet, I bet there�s a goldenseated one at your home�.� The girls glowered at me and returned to their boyfriends. �I�ll stand watch as soon as I get back,� he said nervously. Jameson wasn�t the only one upset. I returned to find my party�like my life�out of control. Couples were mashing. Some were hanging out by the fire pit. Others were dancing. I spotted Onyx and Scarlet hovering on either side of Trevor. The girls were fawning over his beefy physique. Where was Sebastian? The girls were supposed to be drooling over him. But none of the vampires seemed interested in the others at this point. I stormed through the crowd and toward the girls. Scarlet pretended to arm-wrestle with Trevor and then turned his wrist to examine it. I saw Scarlet�s fang catch the light of the fire pit. Onyx�s onyx tattooed fang sparkled when she grinned. Trevor was in heaven. But if Onyx and Scarlet had their way, he might be somewhere else. Scarlet lifted his wrist to her mouth. �Scarlet!� I called. �Onyx.� �Not so fast,� Trevor warned, holding Onyx by the waist. �They are doing just fine. You aren�t the only one interested in threesomes.� �First of all, I�m not. And second of all, this isn�t that kind of party.� �Is jealousy the only emotion you feel?� Trevor charged. �Even in front of Monster Boy?� he said. �But it appears he�s already busy,� he said, gesturing to a few girls who were talking to Alexander. �But don�t worry. You can join in with us�. I won�t tell.� I wasn�t pleased that my schoolmates were fawning over my boyfriend, but I had more urgent matters to attend to. �Save it for school.� I wrangled the girls away from Trevor and whispered in Onyx�s ear. �He�s not a V.� �Not a V?� He had overheard me. �What does that mean? Virgin?� �Oh, really?� Onyx said softly. They were shocked. �Funny, we both sensed he was,� Scarlet whispered. �It�s not the first time we�ve made a mistake,� she said, alluding to me. �Remember why I invited you guys�for Sebastian,� I urged. But Scarlet wasn�t walking away. She was charmed by Trevor and continued to hold on to his hand. �You can have Sebastian,� she said in a low voice to Onyx. �She can�t like Trevor,� I said. �That�s not an option. Remember what we discussed,� I warned through gritted teeth. �No one gets�� �Don�t worry, Raven. She�s just having fun,� Onyx said, stopping me. �And I plan to do the same.� Onyx flipped back her jet black locks and disappeared into the crowd. This party was getting out of hand. Vampires mixing with unsuspecting mortals. I had to make sure no one was bitten�especially Trevor Mitchell. I looked to Alexander and Sebastian for help. Sebastian was now talking to the girls who were interested in Alexander, and Alexander was entranced by his rocking party. I turned to go back to Trevor and I bumped into Becky. �I�m so sorry, Raven,� she said. �Can you forgive me?� �Uh, yes�but I have something else I have to deal with right now.� �Please�listen,� Becky pleaded. �You�re the one who always talks about being in trouble, but I�m the one who keeps getting you there. You are my best friend. Now and always�and I don�t want anything to get in the way of that.��I hated not telling you about the party,� I said. �I did feel like a sneak. But I had to protect you.� �I totally understand. You and Alexander are so kind to Sebastian�and to me. And look what we�ve done. We brought Trevor and the entire school to the Mansion.� Becky sat on a bench lined with plastic skeletons. �I�m so ashamed.� �It�s okay, Becky.� I gave her a hug. �Alexander�s having the time of his life. Babes dancing in his backyard. Jocks hanging out. It�s an image I never imagined. It�s a blessing, really. He�s so isolated being homeschooled, and now he�s more popular than Trevor.� Becky managed a small grimace. �You don�t hate me?� �Of course I don�t hate you. You�d have to do a lot worse than bringing Trevor to the Mansion for me to not like you. But speaking of Trevor�I