Diary of a Vampeen (21 page)

“What’s up Mom?”

“You need to be careful. You will not
be the same person after Friday,” she warned. “It’s wrong of you to
knowingly break a heart.”

“I know. I’m trying not to,” I
replied.

“You can’t possibly plan on anything
after Friday,” she reminded me.

“Don’t worry Mom. I know what I need
to do.” She nodded, accepting my plans. “Which reminds me, what do
you think of my excuse being a surprise birthday
vacation?”

She stood silent for a solid sixty
seconds before agreeing. “I think that is your best option. Your
father and I have taken the entire week off starting tomorrow
afternoon. I also spoke with your guidance counselor and advised of
your absence effective tomorrow.”

“Wait, I’m going to school tomorrow,
right?” I questioned her wording.

“No. I know you mentally need to
prepare, regardless of what you are ready to argue.”

Knowing I couldn’t fight it, “I guess
I should call Mel and squeal with joy over my surprise trip to…
Where should I say we’re going?”

“A ten day cruise to Mexico should
suffice. That will explain our cars being here should she swing
by.”

“Ok. Thanks.” I gave her a quick hug
turning to go back upstairs.

“Lexi,” she called.

“Yea Mom?”

“I’m very proud of you. You’re
handling this better than I did at your age,” she lifted her lips
releasing a short smile.

“Thanks Mom. I’m trying.”

“I know,” she said walking back to the
family room.

The truth was, I really was trying. I
was struggling to wrap my brain around everything that’d been
revealed to me; at times it still seemed like I was in a fairytale
story, an on-screen movie. Was I getting Punk’d?! Where was Ashton
Kutcher?! – at least that would explain Mike.

I lied down on my bed; I was still
attempting to comprehend it all. In two days I would be a vampeen.
I’d hear across yards, run fast, smell the tiniest crumb in the
corner, and best of all, I’d be beautiful for the first time in my
life. There were no repentance cycles here; no second chances would
be permitted. Knowing all this inevitably, I might as well skip the
procrastination and put on the best show ever with Mel. I flipped
my phone open and inhaled deeply before pressing ‘send’. Too much
was on the line for me to screw this up.

Zoning in on my acting abilities, what
little there were, I sold the story to Mel without a hitch. My
enthusiasm was perfect, my surprise impeccable and my story
untouchable. She even forgot about my melodrama earlier today. I
successfully faked the entire thing without guilt… until I hung
up.

The minute I closed my phone the
twinge of guilt pegged me. I’d just lied to my best friend. Why, oh
why, did I have such a good conscience?! I said they surprised me
with a cruise, that we were leaving tomorrow morning and kept the
secret of my return as a different person, a changed thing. I
didn’t know what to classify myself as; I just knew I wouldn’t test
human. I would remain intact every way except physically, and I
assumed there were several emotional ramifications to
such.

Following my plot consistently, I
called Mike and faked it another time. He was a little upset at
first, but towards the end he was already anticipating my return
telling me to have fun. Knowing where I stood, harboring my
lingering doubts with Mike, I felt the separation was timed
impeccably.

Again, the moment I closed my phone
the guilt hit me like a ton of bricks. It was painful to lie to the
important people in my life. Ordinarily I would be rolling in
shame, and though guilt was present, I knew it had to be done;
because as much as I loved them both as my best friends, they could
never know the truth. That’s perhaps the most challenging aspect.
Knowing I would have to retain this huge part of me, secure it away
indefinitely from them.

Looking around my room, I observed
every detail as if it would disappear shortly. My white dresser
with crystal knobs sitting atop the light beige carpet held my
favorite framed picture of me and Mel. My dresser matched my
nightstand and colossal king-size canopy bed, solitaire without the
canopy – I felt claustrophobic within its white cloth-paneled
walls, so I removed them leaving the posters in place barren. Then
there was my comfy chair next to my front window. It was nestled
beside my bookshelf which was happily worn and filled with the
books I’d come to love and appreciate. There was nothing like a
relaxing evening by the window with a good book.

Looking around, I took in the light
teal walls remembering, the day before my furniture arrived. Mel,
my parents and I spent the day painting my huge 22’x26’ room. My
eyes drifted to the large 60”x84” canvas oil painting my parents
gifted me from Paris, easily recalling the struggle my dad had to
center it on the wall behind my bed. It’s gorgeous with cool colors
washed throughout the background with its depiction of the Eiffel
Tower and street cafes popping out in black and gold.

Then there was my wall-mounted 48-inch
LCD TV my parents insisted on getting me this past Christmas. I
recalled the dozens of movies me and Mel enjoyed the first week of
installation. We held a movie marathon week of our favorite
romantic comedies, or as we deemed them, ‘our dreams on the big
screen.’

Set in the far corner was my antique
white desk which housed my MacBook and lone spelling bee trophy
from second grade. Glancing around, the only other photo in my room
was my favorite picture of me and Gran. I was about a year old in
the photograph. Memorizing it now, she did look like my mother
rather than grandmother confirming the genetic constellation that
we stopped aging at twenty-five. Although recalling the picture on
Kellan’s MySpace page, the adults present, with the exception, of
about two or three, all seemed the same age.

Memories swirled me, overwhelming me.
I recalled the many sleepovers with Mel, pillow talks with my mom,
and more recent, my times with Kellan and Mike. I couldn’t remember
how many times I’d fallen asleep with books in my hand dreaming of
the science fiction world, but not once did I dream of existing
within one.

Sighing, I picked up the
remote and turned the TV on. I settled on MTV’s
True Life
. Somehow watching someone
else’s struggles with life eased the stress of my own. I looked at
the clock, shocked to find it was already 11:36pm. Let the
twenty-four hour count down begin!

Chapter 14

Opening my eyes, I took in
the light in my room. Squinting, still trying to adjust, I lifted
my head to view my bedside clock, which claimed it was only 8:38am.
“Ugh,” I groaned stretching as I rolled over to see why my room was
so bright – my curtains and blinds were open.
Hmm… that’s strange. Mom never opens my windows…

“Good morning,” Kellan greeted
entering my room as if he lived there.

Caught off guard I fumbled with the
covers trying to get them as high up over me as possible. “Umm…
What are you doing here?”

“Your parents asked me to guard you
for the day,” he explained sitting on the chair next to my
bookshelf and front facing window.

“Guard me? Sounds more like babysit,”
I grumbled.

I was still angry with Kellan for the
other night. So I was frustrated that I had to spend my last human
day with him. At the same time though, he’s the only one who knew
fully what I was going through. My encounters with him over the
past week had only strengthened my dependency upon his knowledge
and experience.

“So how would you like to spend your
last human day?”

“Umm… I’m not really sure yet. Any
suggestions?” I fiddled with my hands atop my comforter. I assumed
I would be subjected to school until the last waking moment I had
as a human and therefore neglected an alternate balooza of
want-to-do’s.

“Well, you should definitely eat your
favorite meals. They don’t taste the same after. Other than that,
so far, it’s all better than when I was human.”

“How so?”

“Well… a rose’s alluring scent is
intensified now so I enjoy it longer. Sports aren’t a challenge
anymore; I could beat any opponent one-handedly. My days are
twenty-four hours now versus sixteen or less before. I have more
time to do what I want now. I can read a five-hundred page book in
two hours with my photographic memory; that’s how I get straight
A’s. Life is enhanced when you transform. It’s simpler in most
ways, but complex when crossed with other worlds. Best way I can
put it is your day time life is fantastic, it’s the one you create
for yourself at night that tends to induce a migraine,” he
explained.

“I guess I’ll find out soon enough,
right?” I lowered my head attempting to allow his words to settle.
The creeping stop watch was the symbol I wished to avoid currently,
yet the only thing I could think of.

“Hey, what’s your favorite breakfast?”
he shot with a gleam of excitement, flashing his dimple.

“Chic-fil-a chicken biscuit,” I
answered without hesitation. Ninth grade year, Mel and I made a pit
stop once a week for the hearty entrée.

“Get dressed and let’s go. My
treat.”

Quickly forgetting my anger, I hopped
out of bed and into the closet for clothes. At the very least I’d
like to venture outside my walls on my final day of freedom, or
first depending on how you looked at it.

“Nice PJs,” Kellan commented as I
walked towards my closet.

Looking down at my green Victoria
Secret size XL Capri sweats and favorite comfy white tee, I smiled
modestly before saying, “Umm, thanks.”

I grabbed my blue men’s American Eagle
hoodie Mel bought me for Christmas. Our inside joke over the name
brand automatically qualifying me for the preppy clique kept me
from wearing it to school. I was quite happy in my artsy group of
dramatics like Mel and didn’t want to blur any lines though I was
sure Jenny would protest any consideration. This intrigued me, for
the repercussions of my physical changes were on the positive
spectrum alone. If I was as beautiful as everyone claimed I’d soon
be, a rivalry truly would spark spontaneously.

“You mind if I bum-it?” I asked Kellan
grabbing a bra and clean panties on my way to the bathroom. I
wasn’t out to impress anyone. Kellan had already seen me at my
worst anyways.

“No.”

Something about him seemed different
this morning. He was acting kind of arrogant but in a nice way
though. He also was out of his shell more, lighter in atmosphere.
If I had to guess, I would say he’s mimicking Mike in some ways. He
appeared relaxed, no longer stiffened by a cold world.

Giving up on my comparison, I put on
my clean undergarments along with deodorant and re-clothed with the
same sweats and tee I covered with my jacket. I quickly brushed my
teeth and threw my hair back in a messy semi-bun style.

“My shoes are… umm…” I was searching
my room when I saw they were conveniently absent from my closet.
I’d been unusually disorganized lately; my discipline was slacking
in many realms.

“Here,” Kellan answered dangling my
tennis shoes in his left hand.

“Thanks,” I offered grabbing
them.

“Now where is my cell phone?” I
wondered aloud scanning my bed.

“Here, with a text from both Mel and
Mike,” he announced tossing it in my direction.

“Nosy at all?” I pressed sarcastically
scrolling to read. They both said for me to have a good trip. Mike
of course added, ‘I miss you already babe!!’

I sighed reminding myself
once again that I’d lied because I had to, not because I wanted to.
Allowing it to sink in, a semi-yoga moment on my part, I replied
with a safe, ‘Thanks. I’ll try not to have too much fun without
you.

’ to
both.

“It gets easier,” Kellan said after
observing my dip in mood.

“I assumed so, but that doesn’t make
me feel less guilty.”

“Lexi, you’re doing what you have to
do to protect everyone. If word spread to an unauthorized human,
they would be killed within twenty-four hours.”

“What do you mean unauthorized? And
who would kill them?”

“Unauthorized as in not married to a
vampire or vampeen but knowing our secrets. And we have vampers
throughout our worlds to enforce our vow of secrecy and
discretion.”

“English please. What the heck is a
vamper?”

“It’s what they call military vampires
and vampeens. They literally camp out amidst our circles in secret
ensuring we keep quiet – which explains the title
‘vamper’.”

“Wait. We have our own military? And
these vampers, do they work together? You know, vampire and
vampeen? Cause I thought they hated each other after the other
night.” I scrambled to obtain as much information as I
could.

“The vamp army is the only branch
where both kinds work in unison. Vampires and vampeens have secret
militaries as well ready to attack on any kind caught rebelling.
That is partially how the rivalry began and how it continues to be
fueled,” he explained.