Diary of a Vampeen (11 page)

We both lied side by side on my bed,
talking as our lives unfolded between us. It was an intimate
conversation about everything that passed the hours quickly. I
shared my infant travels, favorite food – Mexican, and color –
green. He divulged his little league horror stories, Boy Scout
escapades, and favorites as well – Italian, green, and he said his
favorite song was Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing.’

We laughed at classmates past, reveled
in horror over certain teachers and discussed future college plans.
Every subject we could brush upon it felt like we did. We rekindled
what hours ago I thought was non-existent or lost. It wasn’t until
my stomach growled and I peered over at the clock, 5:57pm, that I
realized how much time had elapsed. I got up and looked out my
blinds to see a darkening sky and the moon half raised.

“Wow, I can’t believe it’s almost
night,” I stated turning back to Mike who was still lying down on
my bed. I stared at him in admiration. His hair was a well groomed
mess against my pale teal pillows. I never noticed how symmetrical
his face was; his nose sloped gracefully below his brown eyes. He’s
wearing khaki cargo shorts with a long sleeved black DC brand
t-shirt and matching black skater tennis shoes. The way his shirt
hung in his flat position revealed a slightly sculpted physique
below.

He looked over at me and smiled
enticingly. “Are you hungry?” I asked.

“A little,” he admitted
sheepishly.

“Let’s go downstairs and raid the
fridge.” He got down from the bed with one leap and we wandered
down to the kitchen. I opened the side-by-side fridge and freezer
for the choices to be on display.

“What looks good to you?” he
asked.

“I’m not picky. Want to just heat up
the leftover pizza?”

“Sounds good, but I like it
cold.”

I smiled. “So do I.”

He chuckled as I grabbed the box from
the fridge. I handed him a coke and we sat at the island together
to eat.

“I wonder where my parents are.
They’ve been gone for a while now.”

“I won’t lie, I’ve enjoyed the time
alone with you. I’m glad I was impulsive and came over,” he said
between bites.

I looked over at him. He caressed my
face momentarily with his left hand, his right still holding the
slice of pizza. I smiled shyly replying, “Me too.”

My phone started buzzing on the
island. I picked it up to read a new text from Mel. ‘Where r u?!
I’ve called a million times! What happened w/ Mike?’

I backed out of my texts to an alert
showing an astronomical fifteen missed calls from Mel. “Oh my
gosh!” I exclaimed.

“What is it?”

I showed him my phone. “I must have
left my phone down here, and, being a bit preoccupied, I guess I
didn’t miss it.”

He chuckled lightly and leaned close
to me. “I can preoccupy you again if you’d like.”

“Maybe later,” I dismissed though my
heart was already increasing pace with his close
proximity.

“I’m not going to forget,” he cited
with a smirk.

I sighed and dialed Mel. I knew I
couldn’t procrastinate much longer without a visit from her
personally.

“Lexi?!” she answered with clear
fretfulness and relief in her voice.

“Yea, it’s me.” Before I could say any
more she went off on a tangent.

“Do you know how worried I’ve been?! I
called you a million times. I’ve considered everything, freaked out
that maybe he was really obsessive to the point of kidnap or
murder. Do you know how guilty I would feel for supporting that
before? And where the hell have you been this whole time?! I’m
going crazy over here contemplating calling the police!”

“Calm down Mel. I’m fine. Mike is
still here. We were up in my room talking and I’d left my phone in
the kitchen.”

She huffed dramatically. “Do you have
any idea how worried I’ve been? And it’s been over seven hours
since I last talked to you. What have you two been doing all this
time?” she demanded.

“I’m fine but he’s still here so I’ll
call you later. I promise.”

“You better or I will show up with a
posse,” she warned. Her tone at least had taken a slightly molded
edge over the hard one before.

“Ok Mel,” I laughed, “Bye.” I hung up
before she could interject any more.

“I probably should call my mom to come
get me. It’s getting late,” he said glancing at the clock on the
stove.

“Okay.”

His mom was already in the
neighborhood at a family friend’s house so she arrived within five
minutes.

“I’ve had fun today Lex,” he said as
we walked towards the door. He slid into his zip up hoodie for
added warmth against the cold October night air.

“So did I.” I blushed like the school
girl I was as he turned back towards me. “I would appreciate a
little notice first though…please.”

“I think I can handle
that.”

“Have a good night.”

“
Only if you kiss me
good-bye.” He tilted his head towards me.

I met him halfway. He reached his arms
around my waist and held me close. We kissed softly not lingering
as we had earlier.

“Ok…I think you should go before,
well…I will see you tomorrow.” I stuttered awkwardly.

He smiled wide. “See you tomorrow
babe.” He started to open the door but swiftly turned back around
and planted a quick smooch on my lips again.

Caught off guard I exclaimed,
“Hey!”

“Leaving now,” he replied and rushed
out the door closing it behind him.

I stood there frozen in the entry way
for at least five minutes. It was then that the shock set in. Today
really did happen. I had to call Mel.

I grabbed my cell and dialed Mel on my
way up the stairs. “Oh my gosh! Today was the best day of my life,”
I gushed when she answered. We talked for over an hour. She had me
give every detail and describe our earlier kiss several times as
she squealed enthusiastically.

Reliving the day with her made me
realize just how amazing and fairytale-like it was. It truly was a
perfect memory. I was on an amazing, indescribable high. I felt
like I was floating on cloud nine and never wanted to come down.
Maybe Mike and I did have a chance; maybe we were meant to
be.

Before I fell asleep Mike text me,
‘Good Nite Sexy’ to which I replied ‘Sweet Dreams.’

Chapter 7

It’s ironic how things work out. First
and third period I was with Mike; second and fourth I shared with
Kellan. The two men I was fawning over at the moment, though only
one of them knowledgeably liked me back in that way, intermingled
with me throughout every school day.

Mike was waiting for me when I walked
through the doors at school with Mel. He greeted me with a smile,
and pulled me in with his arm to kiss me lightly before he walked
us to class.

“How was your morning?” he asked on
the way.

“Good. How was yours?”

“It’s better now that you’re
here.”

“Oh, give me a break,” Mel interjected
sarcastically faking sickness.

“Hey. I put up with you and Ben for
over a year,” I reminded her.

“Yea, yea.”

First period dragged by. It usually
did since math was my worst subject. I’d never been a numbers
person; Mel on the other hand exceled at it. She had to tutor me
last year but this year I was slipping by with a B+ on my own. When
the bell rang, Mike resumed his station next to me.

Mike walked me and Mel halfway to our
next class. He gave a tug at my hand when he split from us but
didn’t say anything, which was surprising for him. Thinking back
though, I don’t think Mel gave him the opportunity to.

As soon as he was out of site, Mel
drilled me. “So are you two staying together or what?”

“I think so.”

“It’s like overnight you two became a
hot item again. Before he would touch you, but you were never giddy
about it like today.”

“You think?”

“Ugh, hello?! Did you not have a major
make-out session yesterday? And look at how you are today with him
versus Friday. Black and white, day and night.”

“Hmm, I guess,” I shrugged. I realized
she was right though. Friday we were normal then Sunday we kissed
and spilled our guts with new fascination and attraction, and boom!
Today we were more ambitious in our PDAs. Well, actually I supposed
I was more receptive. Before I always held up this invisible
barrier not wanting to draw any attention to myself. Today I didn’t
care. Wow. Mel was right. It all happened so fast though. One
minute I thought we were over; the next I had renewed interest. It
didn’t erase my attraction to Kellan, but removed my finger from
the stop button.

My life seemed like such a
blur these days. New emotions and feelings had been awakened within
me which were causing me to be confused. I wasn’t thinking clearly
because I was usually sharp, on my game. If I wasn’t a mental mess,
I would have figured out Kellan’s secret by now, and I probably
wouldn’t have been such a weakling when it came to Mike. I felt
like I melted into a puddle around him now.
Ugh! Pull yourself together Lexi!

We entered the classroom, Mel was
still babbling on about something as we took our seats. I was in a
daze, off in my own world trying to figure things out
unsuccessfully. Class began and the first note was passed from
Kellan.

Hey

Hey

How was your weekend?

Good, yours?

The same. Did you have fun with Mike
yesterday?

How did you know about that?

I heard him in the background when I
called.

How?

Let’s just say I have good
hearing.

Ok??

So did you have fun?

Yes, what did you do yesterday?

I wrote.

I didn’t know you write…what did you
write?

I’ll let you read it one
day.

I’m going 2 hold you to that!

I didn’t say when…

So unfair!

I think there is a saying about
that.

Oh, aren’t we smart today?!

Today? Try always!

Cocky at all?!

I just state the facts.

Facts or fiction?

Good one. It looks like I’m already
increasing your IQ with my presence.

You really are cocky…

You still like me though. You can’t
hide that.

Is it that obvious?
– I don’t know why I didn’t just deny
it…

No, but I’m very observant. I notice
the things other overlook.

What else have you observed about me?

When you are deep in thought, you walk
with your head down and stare at nothing below you.

That was too easy… tell me something Mel
doesn’t know

You would pick me over Mike if given
the chance.

I stared at the paper in astonishment.
As much as I would have liked to deny this claim, I couldn’t. He
had me. I liked Mike and was enthusiastic about the attention he
gave me, but I had this strong connection with Kellan that I
couldn’t make sense of and also couldn’t ignore. I had this
stranger beside me who knew my secrets yet held my interest beyond
that too. I didn’t like him having the upper hand; he seemed
powerful in a subdued way, intimidating.

The only thing I could
respond with was –
why?

You feel obligated to like Mike, but
you freely like me.

Once again, I was taken
aback by his answer. I kept it simple –
interesting observation, doesn’t mean you’re
right…

But you’re not saying I’m wrong
either.

I was angry, frustrated and flustered.
I didn’t like vulnerability and I felt weak and exposed with Kellan
in this moment. I didn’t want to lie to my new gorgeous friend, but
I didn’t want him to know the truth. I suppose I was a little late
since he already knew; there was no sense in denying it. He
probably wouldn’t believe me even if I did. So I was stuck; stuck
feeling embarrassed since I liked him, he knew it and clearly
didn’t feel the same towards me, but also because I had a boyfriend
that I’d just renewed my bond with, or so I thought I had anyways.
And worse, he made a statement I couldn’t deny, but why? Why would
I pick him over Mike? Thus far, Mike was clearly the better
man.

Luckily I didn’t have to respond to
his last jab since the bell rang for lunch. Mel quizzed me all the
way to the cafeteria on our chat. I told her we were just flirting
back and forth, but it’s nothing trivial or worth blowing into
speculation.

Perhaps I was a bit bi-polar given my
attitude this morning, but I was annoyed throughout lunch. Mike was
extra clingy and always felt the need to be touching me. Not one
second went by that he wasn’t caressing me, holding my hand, or
dangling his arm around me. I liked the attention, but Mike was
borderline overbearing at times. Or maybe I was just extra
irritable because of Kellan. He hit the nail on the head, but how
did he figure out what even my best friend didn’t know? It’s
maddening how he was a big mystery to me, yet I was an open book so
easy to read to him.