Boys That Bite (14 page)

27

Desperate Prom Dates

Jake's prompt. He's rented a limo. And he's dressed in a divine tux. What more could I want in a prom date? He comes to the door and he has a corsage. His cummerbund matches my dress. He smiles at me and calls my mom "ma'am," and he doesn't even bat an eye when she tells him to call her Susan and explains her crazy government conspiracy theory that terms like "ma'am" were put into place to keep women barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. (Yeah, I don't get her sometimes either.) In short, Jake is perfect. A dream come true. So why can't I muster any enthusiasm? He tells "Susan" he'll have me back at a decent hour. He allows me to get into the limo first. He offers me a glass of champagne in a fluted glass. If you looked up perfect prom date in the dictionary, Jake's handsome mug would be staring right back at you. So why am I stifling the urge to yawn? "To the most beautiful girl at Oakridge High School," he says, as we clink glasses. "Why are we toasting Mary Markson?" I ask with a giggle. He scrunches his eyebrows in honest confusion. "I meant you, Sunny," he stammers. "I'm sorry, I guess I should have been more clear." "Um, I know that," I assure him. "I was just making a joke." A pretty obvious one, I would have thought, but I decide to cut him some slack. I can tell he's nervous. Isn't that too funny? Oakridge High's resident Sex God is nervous around little old me. Who would have thunk it? I lean back in my seat and take a sip of my champagne. This is nice. Speeding to the prom in a deluxe limo with the most delectable guy in school sitting right across from me. I steal a quick peek. He really is so hot, with those brooding eyes and killer bod. De-lish. And he's all mine. "I'm so glad you decided to come to the prom with me," Jake continues, giving me a once-over that can only be described as reverent. "I was so scared to ask you." Imagine! Me scaring a boy! A boy like Jake Wilder scared of me! Too, too funny. "I'm glad you did," I say, dipping my eyes to appear demure. "I've liked you for a while now." "Really?" Jake looks surprised. "It's funny, I didn't know you existed until that day in drama." Ah, there's the icy water of reality dumped on my head. I take a big gulp of champagne, wishing it was blood. I realize I'd been secretly hoping he'd say he'd been lusting after me all year. Then I could report back to Rayne that he really does like me for me and not 'cause of some weird vampire mating call. But, um, not so much, it appears. Oh well. "When we were on stage and I kissed you, it was just like my whole world changed in that instant. Everything I was, everything I wanted from life—all disappeared in a flash of light. At that moment, I realized that I could easily spend all eternity with you." O-kay then. This is getting a bit on the creepy, stalkerish side, I have to admit. I mean, don't get me wrong—having the love of my life spout sonnets of devotion to me while drinking champagne in a luxury limo is extremely cool and all. But knowing he's only doing it 'cause I've inadvertently bewitched him kind of sucks. I ask you: Is it so hard for a boy to like me for me? To adore and speak passionately about the real life Sunshine McDonald, not her vampire alter ego? You mean like Magnus does} that annoying voice in my head asks. The one guy you know is not influenced by the Vampire Scent} No. Not like Magnus, I tell the stupid voice. I really hope it goes away with the rest of the vampire stuff. I want a human boy to feel that way about me. Jake reaches over and starts stroking my knee. "Did I mention how beautiful you are?" he asks. I stifle another yawn. This is going to be a long night. *** We arrive at the prom and parade around the parking lot so all the parents, who evidently have nothing better to do and a lot of film to waste, can clap and cheer and take photo after photo. Of course when they get to me, it's worse. All these balding, potbellied dads start giving me lecherous grins and making "whoo-whoo" noises, much to the chagrin of their wives. Major ew-age. The heck with free clothes; now that I've got old men leering at me, I'm thinking this Vampire Scent thing has got to go. After the processional, we walk into the hotel that is hosting the prom. It's pretty nice. Gold-accented walls, crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and a huge dance floor. On stage there's a DJ spinning Top 40 dance remixes. By the far wall there are tables piled with buffet trays and a beautiful dessert cart. Pretty class act. "Over here!" We turn to see several very popular seniors beckoning us over to their table. At first I think they must be mistaking me for someone else, and then I remember I'm with Jake. And just 'cause he's been blinded by my Vampire Scent doesn't mean that he's suddenly lost all coolness points with the in crowd. Suddenly I feel much better. I, Sunshine McDonald, somewhat geeky sophomore, will be spending the evening with the A-list. "Hi Jake, hi Sunny," the aforementioned A-list cries as we sit down at their table. Wow. They even know my name. How cool is that? "Sunny, you look beautiful," says Rick, the captain of the football team, who sits to my left. "Yes, you're like the most beautiful girl in Oakridge," agrees Sam, the basketball player across the table. I can feel my face heat. Wow. These A-listers are so nice. So welcoming. So . .. So pissing off their girlfriends. Uh-oh. I look around the table. All the guys are drooling and all the girls are giving me the most evil stares known to humankind. Crap. This Vampire Scent thing can really backfire if you're not careful. Free dresses from smitten clerks—good. Making the entire cheerleading squad want to kick your ass—very, very bad. "Jake, let's dance," I say, even though we've just arrived and there's barely anyone on the dance floor. I mean, dancing before dinner? How uncool can you get? But I'm desperate to get away from this table before the girls go all Charlie's An-gels on me. Luckily Jake is, of course, still bewitched by me and will do anything I say, even if it's social suicide. So though I'm positive we look absolutely ridiculous all alone on the dance floor, he obeys my command. Even more luckily, Jake's still the most popular guy at Oakridge. So as soon as he gets up to dance, half the senior class follows suit. Me. A trendsetter. I could get used to this. The DJ throws on a slow song and Jake proceeds to pull me close. I nestle my cheek in his chest, enjoying the feel of his lanky, muscular body pressed against mine, his chest rising and falling with his breath. Ah. This is nice. Normal high school stuff. Exactly what I've been craving. Well, that and the pulsating vein on the side of Jake's neck. But I won't go there. I will not, under any circumstances, bite my prom date. At least not in public. "You're so beautiful," Jake murmurs into my ear. "So, so beautiful. You've got me completely addicted." Sigh. Great, here he goes again. I wish he'd just shut up. I mean, I like hearing that he thinks I'm beautiful, don't get me wrong. It's just that every time he says it, I'm painfully reminded of the fact that in real life he's, as the self-help book says, just not that into me. That, in reality, this is all an illusion that will end as soon as I drink the Grail blood and turn back into a pumpkin. Cinderella, I feel for you, girl. Whoa! My head spins as Jake suddenly decides to get creative on the dance floor. He dips me backward without any kind of warning. As I scramble to keep my balance, my eyes fall on a surprising prom guest. Make that two very surprising prom guests. I regain my balance and break away from Jake's embrace. "I'll be back," I tell him, patting him on the arm and trying to appear composed. "I just want to go say hi to someone." Say "hi" or "what the hell do you think you're doing here and why did you bring him?" to be exact, but Jake doesn't need to know the sordid details of my upcoming convo. "Hurry up, babe," he says, dipping his head to plant an unexpected, way-too-PDA kiss on my lips. "I'll miss you every second you are gone." "Hurry. Right. Okay," I agree as I back away. Once I'm at a safe distance, I turn and make great strides to the punch bowl. I'm going to kill her. I'm going to kill her. I'm going to kill her. I'd kill him, too, if he weren't already dead. "What are you doing here?" I hiss at my sister, who's dressed (surprise, surprise) in a lacy black Gothic princess dress that's completely inappropriate for prom. Rayne scowls. "Nice to see you, too, sis," she says. "You're not a senior. You're not on the guest list." "Really. Go figure. Maybe I—ohhh," she makes an overly dramatic shriek, "maybe I sneaked in." She fans her face with her hands. "Oh, shock, horror. Call the police. I broke into Oakridge's senior class prom. Past all the teachers and Homeland Security spies. All the way to the punchbowl. Watch out, senior class . . . there's an evil sophomore in your hotel." I roll my eyes. "You're so not funny. And you still haven't answered my question." "Which was?" Rayne asks sweetly. I hate her. I absolutely hate her. Can you emancipate yourself from your twin sister? If so, I'm definitely filing the paperwork Monday morning. "Why. Are. You. Here?" I ask, spelling it out slowly, through clenched teeth. "And. Why. Did. You. Bring. Him?" "Him?" Rayne asks in a ridiculously innocent voice. As if she hasn't a clue who I'm talking about. "Oh, you mean Magnus?" she concludes. "Well, I needed a date and he wasn't doing anything and ..." I squeeze my hands into fists, not quite convinced I shouldn't wind up and smack her. The proximity of the senior class advisor, Mr. Moody, is the only thing that's stopping me at the moment. "This is my night," I growl at her. "Mine. I am on a date with the hottest guy from Oakridge High. And I refuse to let you spoil this for me." "I'm not spoiling anything. We're just here to dance and drink punch." "Yeah, right. I know you too well, sis," I spit out. My stomach is churning with fury. "You came to rub it in. To flaunt it in my face." "Really, Sunny, you should work out these anger issues of yours," Rayne says with a tsk-tsk. "I have no idea what you're talking about, but you sound like you need some serious help." She grabs the ladle and pours herself a cup of punch. "Go back to your date and enjoy the prom. Magnus and I will stay out of your hair." "Yes, don't worry, we'd never want to ruin your dream night," Magnus agrees, coming up from behind Rayne. The second I lay eyes on him everything inside me starts doing crazy things all at once and I feel like I'm going to pass out. My hands start shaking. My stomach is nauseated. My heart aches. Tears form at the back of my eyes and I suddenly find it difficult to breathe. He looks so good. Dressed to the nines in a dashing tux. He's chopped his long hair to ear length, long layers in the front hanging casually in his face. His amazing blue eyes look even bluer, if that's even possible. But the warmth I've found comfort in is long gone. Instead he gazes at me with an icy stare. Gulp. It takes everything inside me not to throw myself in his arms and cry and cry and hope that he'll hold me and comfort me and tell me everything will be okay. But he won't tell me that this time. He'll shove me away and wrap his arm around Rayne's waist to show me that she's his new blood mate now. And later they'll go back to the coven and giggle at how ridiculous I acted at the prom and how clearly I'm still holding a torch for Magnus, even though I'm the one who technically broke up with him first. I glance back at Jake. My dream date. He and his buddies are slapping each other on the back, having a grand old time. One guy passes around a silver flask filled with God knows what kind of alcohol and Jake takes a long swig. Then they giggle some more, evidently oh-so-pleased by their juvenile delinquency. I cringe, wondering what Magnus thinks of their immature behavior. I suddenly feel very old and jaded. I look back at Magnus and Rayne, blinking back tears. How could I have been so stupid? How could I have let Magnus go? He's everything I ever wanted in a boyfriend. He's sweet and loyal and nice and funny and oh-so-handsome. He did everything in his power to assist me on my quest to regain my humanity, even though it was against his best interests. And I've been so ungrateful. In fact, I didn't even properly thank him for all he's done. I just said, "Thanks for the memories, dude," and ditched him like a bad habit as soon as I got what I wanted and he could no longer help me. I wouldn't even agree to meet up with him tonight, for a proper good-bye. I am the biggest loser on the planet. I don't deserve him. In fact, I don't deserve anyone. I deserve to be an old maid, living all alone, with fifty cats to take care of. I steal another look at Magnus and suddenly all the stupid excuses I've been making about why it'd never work out between us seem ridiculous and naive. And suddenly all the reasons I've wanted to stay human seem inconsequential. I want to be with Magnus. No matter what I have to give up. It'd be worth everything. Even my soul. But it's too late. Isn't it? Rayne looks from Magnus to me and back to Magnus again, her expression unreadable. "I've got to pee," she suddenly announces, without ceremony. And before I can say, "Do what you have to do," she's already gone. Leaving me alone with Magnus. Was this her plan all along? Could my evil boyfriend-stealing twin actually be a saint in disguise? I wonder . . . I stare at Magnus. He stares back at me. You could cut the tension in the room with a knife. I realize it's up to me to make the first move. I was the rejecter in this whole mess. He opened himself up to me. Told me how he felt. And I threw it all back in his face. I am the one who needs to make serious amends. And I'm ready to do so now. "Magnus, I'm—" "Sunny, there you are!" Before I can protest, arms wrap around my waist from behind. I whirl around. Jake grins at me, looking like a lost, slightly drunk puppy dog. I look back at Magnus, who is watching the scene with cool eyes. This is not good. "I've been looking everywhere for you, my love," Jake says, squeezing me tight. Gah! Go away, dude! You're screwing up everything. But Jake doesn't go away. Instead he leans into me and starts messily kissing my neck. "Oh God, I love you so much, Sunny," he murmurs too loudly. Way too loudly. Magnus's eyes narrow. "I've got to get going," he mumbles. "No Mag, wait!" I cry. But he's already halfway out of the room. Vampires can really move when they want to. I've got to reach him. To tell him how I feel before it's too late! "I beg of you, Sunny, my love, please never leave me!" "Oh, eff off, Jake!" I cry, while squirming to get away. I know full well I'm damning my one and only chance to be A-list in high school. To date a Sex God and be the envy of all my friends. But I totally don't care. In fact, I don't care if I
turn into the biggest social reject Oakridge High has ever seen. As long as I get to talk to Magnus. But Jake isn't letting go without a fight, so I give him a little persuasion. In other words, I stamp on his foot. Hard. With spiky heels. And vampire strength. He lets go, yelping in pain. I hope I haven't put an actual hole in his foot. Oh well, no time to check now. I sprint to the ballroom exit. This is like Cinderella in reverse, though I'm sure Magnus isn't going to leave a glass slipper behind. Maybe a Prada loafer . . . ? I'm outside before I catch up to him. He's walking through the parking lot, his head bowed and his steps slow. He looks like he's lost his best friend. What he doesn't know is that his best friend wants him back. Badly. "Magnus!" I cry. He stops in his tracks, not turning around. I rush over to him, grab his hands. I'm so out of breath it isn't even funny. I really need to clock in some quality time at the gym when all this is over. "Magnus," I repeat, panting. We lock eyes. His look so sad, it breaks my heart. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean—" "Sunny, I—" he says. And suddenly we're talking and crying and laughing all at the same time. Apologizing, explaining, begging for forgiveness. "I love you, Magnus," I say after we both pause for breath. "I didn't realize it. Or maybe I did, but I didn't want it to be true. I thought it would be way too complicated. And I was too concerned with being normal. But I don't care anymore. I love you. And I want to be with you. Forever. No matter what it takes." "I love you, too, Sunny," he says, reaching over and brushing a bloody tear from my eye. "Accidentally biting you was the best mistake I've ever made in my life." Aw. He's so sweet. So wonderful. So— So kissing me. Our mouths clumsily find one another, desperately seeking everything from the other person. Seeking and finding, I might add. Finding acceptance. Desire. Love. The works. It's so wonderful I can barely stand it. He loves me. Magnus loves me. It's unbelievable for me to even comprehend how great that is. As we kiss, his arms wrap around me and pull me close to him. We fit perfectly together. Like we were made for one another. And maybe we were. After all, I know we have compatible DNA. I honestly wouldn't mind kissing him all night. Never going back into the prom. Never having to face my crazy, obsessed date. Make this my new reality and forget everything about the world. If I had Magnus at my side, I'm sure I could do it in style. Then Magnus pulls away, glancing at his watch. At first I'm irritated. Like, hello? Does he have somewhere he needs to be or something? "It's almost time," he says. I cock my head in confusion. "Time? For what?" "For you to drink the Grail blood." "But..." I scrunch my eyes. "I'm not..." Didn't he listen to a word I just said? I love him. I want to be with him. And that means giving up my humanity for him, obviously. Doesn't he want me to? "Not?" His turn for the confused look. "No, Magnus." I shake my head. "Don't you get it? I'm not going to drink it. I'm going to stay a vampire so I can be with you." He frowns and takes my hands in his, bringing them up to his chest. I can't feel his heart beating, but that's probably only because he doesn't have one. "No, Sunny," he says firmly. "Huh? What do you mean, no?" "I won't allow you to remain a vampire for my sake." "But..." Doesn't he want to be with me? Or was this all ' some kind of sham? I can feel my heart tearing apart inside. "But I love you," I say, almost afraid to admit it again. He smiles softly and leans forward to kiss me on the forehead. "I love you, too," he whispers. "That's why I can't allow you to remain a cursed creature of the night. I want you to have the gift of life I never had." "But I thought you said you liked being a vampire." “It has its moments," he says with a shrug. "But at the same time, it can be a lonely life. And forever is a long time to live." He pulls me tight into an embrace. "I don't want you to suffer like I have. I want you to be you. The human you that I love." "But then, but then ..." I can't seem to form a sentence. This is not going the way I had planned at all. Not that I had really planned it out, but if I had, this wouldn't be the scenario. In my planned version, he'd be thrilled that I wanted to stay a vampire. We'd crush the blood vial and retreat to his coven and be one with one another, forever. That's it! That's what I need to do. I pull out the vial from my purse and before I can have second thoughts, I slam it on the ground. Then I smash it with my foot. Blood and glass go flying, staining my once-adorable stilettos. I swallow hard. There. It's done. Over. Finito. No turning back now. I am a teenage vampire. "Why did you do that?" Magnus cries, looking horrified. "Because I want to be a vampire," I say stubbornly. Oh God, what have I done? What possessed me to do that? Panic-sets in fast and furious. "But you don't," Magnus insists, not making it any easier. Why can't he just be happy? Why can't he throw his arms around me and say he was hoping I'd do that? That I've made him the happiest vampire alive and he can't wait to spend eternity with me. Or do something besides stare at me with an incredulous look on his face, saying things like, "But you hate being a vampire." "I've changed my mind," I say firmly. No need to show him my doubts and fears and overall freak-out. "I've grown to enjoy the whole vampire thing over the past few days. And I think it'd be a charming way to spend eternity." "You're just saying that because you think that's what I want to hear," Magnus says, sighing deeply. "But you don't really mean it. Sunny, I know you too well." Jeez. This is not turning out how I'd hoped it would. At all. Where are all the tender embraces? The taking me back to the coven and celebrating my new unlife? "Well, what's done is done," I say, attempting a casual shrug. "No turning back now." I stare down at the Grail splatter on the pavement. I wonder if I got on my knees and licked . .. No. That's ridiculous. It's gone. It's done. I'm a vampire and I'm more than thrilled about it. "Do you want to go . . . inside?" Magnus asks abruptly. "Maybe dance or something?" Dance? I stare at him in disbelief. How can he think of dancing at a time like this? I've just sacrificed my whole humanity and all he can think of is getting his groove on? I shake my head, too depressed for words. "No, I'm good," I say, though, of course, I'm not really. Not really good at all, if you want to know the truth. "Okay," he says. "Do you mind if I do? I have to . . . use the little vampire's room." I smile halfheartedly. "I'll wait here." I lean against a nearby car, watching him as he heads back inside. I love him. So, so much. I have no doubts about that, And I really do want to be with him forever. So why am I so depressed? I made my decision. There's no turning back now. Sure I sacrificed my humanity, but it was for the guy I loved. So totally worth it. I'll probably learn to love being a vampire. I'll get assigned my own Donor Chicks. (Or maybe hot Donor Males, heh, heh!) I'll travel the world. Rule as queen by Magnus's side. We'll vanquish evil slayers, etc. Sounds like a blast. Much better than high school. Of course transitioning is going to be a bit difficult. I can never tell my mom—she'd just lock me up in a place where doctors would stick tons of needles in me and do all sorts of crazy experiments like I'm some kind of lab rat. Ugh. No, it'd be better if my mom thinks I'm dead. I'll fake a car crash or something. Those always seem to happen around prom time anyhow. Sure, she'll be sad at first. But then she'll eventually grow to accept life without her daughter. And anyhow, she'll still have Rayne. Well, until Rayne gets to the top of the waiting list again and becomes a vampire herself. Sigh. At least I'll get out of going to high school, I remember, brightening a bit. All those pop quizzes and complicated projects? Never again. Though I will miss performing the starring role in Bye Bye Birdie. Wow, my being dead is going to really screw up the play. As far as I know there's no understudy to the understudy. I may have inadvertently caused the whole school play and everyone's hard work to collapse. They'd to-tally kill me, if I weren't already pretending to be dead. And then there's field hockey. But my teammates will be fine without me. Well at least against everyone but Salem. Salem's pretty tough. And lastly there's Audrey. My best friend. She's going to be really shocked when she comes back from Disney World on Monday and finds out I've dropped out of school, field hockey, and drama. Oh, and that I'm dead, too, of course. Wow. Who would have thought so many lives would change if I weren't around? Go figure. Nice of me to suddenly come to this realization after it's too late. "Sunny, are you okay?" I look up. Magnus has returned from his trip to the bath-room and is staring at me with a very concerned look on his face. At first I have no idea why, then I realize I'm crying. Stupid blood tears. "I'm fine. Wonderful. Very happy," I say, swiping at my face. I don't want him to think I'm having second thoughts. Not that I am, really. At least not about him. He closes the gap between us and takes my head in his hands. Running his fingers through my hair, he pulls me close and kisses me. Suddenly, I'm feeling much better. Concerns about school and parents and friends evaporate as I enjoy the sensation of his lips on mine. I can do this. I can stay a vampire. Stay with Magnus. Be happy and live a fulfilling eternal life. His kisses trail down my face to my neck. I love neck kissing. And being a vampire's girlfriend, I figure I'll get to experience a lot of it. And then a searing pain shoots through my entire body. "Ow!" I cry, pulling away. "Why the hell did you just bite me?"