Lost in Starlight (Starlight Saga) (20 page)

Welcome, Snarklings!

Today’s post is about scary film clichés that make me wanna punch my teddy bear! Why go to Disneyland when you can head off to the creepiest place imaginable, which is the spooky house you’ve just inherited?

A sure sign that your home is haunted is to study the reactions of your dog. If he whines, growls, or howls, there’s a ghost lurking inside. Pay attention!

If your child’s “imaginary friend” turns out to be real and he tells you that it’s an ax-wielding bride left at the altar, it’s time to move, folks.

Worst cliché? A character hears giggling upstairs. They find a child in the hallway, staring at them through stringy black hair. So what does the character do to the creepy kid? Oh, right. Kick them in the head. Unfortunately, the undead don’t like it when people try to take them down with a roundhouse! So the ghost scares them, and the person tumbles down the stairs. Just once, I want a ghost to say, “Oops! My bad.”

Peace, love, and horror flicks,

Zombie Queen aka Sloane

I pass Agent Dixon’s black Yukon on the way home. Must be a reason he’s still hanging around. Maybe he doesn’t believe Hayden about our non-romantic friendship. I’ll have to be sure to ditch him before meeting up with my secret boyfriend tonight.

When I enter the house, I find my dad in the living room. The low buzz of CNN from the TV is mingled with the muffled sounds of gunfire coming from Jonah’s bedroom upstairs.

“Do you know whose SUV that is?” my dad asks the minute I shut the door. “It’s been parked across the street for hours.”

I lean against the archway and cross my arms. “Didn’t we already have this conversation and you blew me off?”

“This isn’t a joke, Sloane,” he says through gritted teeth. “Why are you being so flippant?”

“Me? You’re the one who’s been treating my stalker as insignificant.”

He looks away, eyes closed and brows creased. “It’s
been
insignificant.”

“Yeah. Weird men lurking around. People stalking me—completely okay. Gotcha.”

My dad goes to the window and pulls back the drape, his fingers crushing the thick fabric. “I meant—”

“You meant I usually blow things out of proportion. All because you
think
I watch too many scary movies. Well, now you know, I wasn’t making this up.”

His spine appears unnaturally stiff. “I’m sorry. I should’ve listened…” My dad looks healthy and trim, but he must be under a lot of stress at work because he sighs heavily and wrings his hands. “Did this man ever approach you? Ask you any questions?”

I frown and unfold my arms. “About what?”

My dad’s eyes meet mine. “Anything. Me or your mother?”

“He just watches.” I chew on a piece of hair. “Dad, is something wrong?”

A weak smile flits across his lips. “What? No. Of course not, honey.” His voice is steady, but his shoulders stiffen.

I stand there awkwardly for a few seconds, then say, “I’m going upstairs to do my homework.”

He nods distractedly and peers out the window again.

In my room, I lie on the bed and pet Jinx while staring up at the ceiling and pondering the weird conversation I just had with my dad. Why did he look so freaked? No way my dad knows about Agent Dixon or the hybrids…

Shelving the weirdness, I do my homework, and then go downstairs for dinner. My dad’s a pretty good cook and he’s made lasagna, garlic bread, and a salad. I’ve missed his home cooked meals and tonight everything smells delish. I scoop a good-sized portion onto my plate.

“Where’s Mom?” I ask.

My dad bends to take a tray out of the oven. “At the gallery. I’ll save her a plate.”

As I make my way to the dining room table, I pass the tray of tater tots cooling on the stove. My dad joins me with his plate and a glass of red wine.

Jonah shambles through the room, looking like the undead, his eyes glassy and bloodshot from hours of playing video games. He enters the kitchen and says, “Tots! Yes!”

I stab into a crouton and pop it into my mouth. “Dad, you really need to force him to try other food groups.”

He sips his wine. “We all need to pick our battles, honey.”

Okay. True yet kind of cryptic.

Jonah carries in a heaping pile of tater tots and a blob of ketchup and sets his plate on the table. “I need milk.” He races back to the kitchen.

My dad’s unusually quiet during our meal and barely smiling as Jonah tells us about his silly gaming adventures. He doesn’t speak again until I scoot back my chair and grab my dishes.

He leans forward and reaches out, pulling a strand of hair from my mouth. “You’re still a hair chewer. You know how your mom hates that.”

“Some habits are hard to break.”

“Isn’t that the truth…” he mumbles.

Heaviness spreads from my chest to my stomach. He’s acting so strange. “Are you sure everything’s okay?”

My dad sighs, smoothing a hand over his hair. “Leave the dishes, Sloane. I’ll clean up.”

“Cool. I’m going out for a few hours tonight, but I won’t be too late.”

My dad nods and takes another sip of his wine.

One thing I love about my parents is that they don’t enforce any curfews. They claim its bad karma. Works for me.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out to check the screen.

Hayden: We need to be careful. I’ll pick U up around the corner from your house.

Me: What time?

Hayden: At nine. Make sure you’re not followed.

Me: No prob. I can ditch the SUV.

I go back upstairs to my room and get ready for my secret date with Alien Boy. While watching a movie, I dye my grown-out blonde roots and faded strands a dark purple with a bottle of Purple Haze Manic Panic, then take a quick shower.

At eight forty-five, I slip out the backdoor. I sneak through a loose board in the fence to hike through the wooded area that runs behind the houses on my side of the street. The theme song to
Mission: Impossible
plays in my head as I sneak past an oblivious Agent Dixon.

About halfway there, the snap of a twig has me freezing in place. A footfall. I listen hard, scarcely breathing.

Twisting around, I turn and trip over a tree root. My knees sink to the ground and I hastily push myself up and look over my shoulder. A tiny part of my brain is completely overcome with panic.

I start running, imagining Agent Dixon right behind me with a stun gun. My lungs burn with every ragged breath. I thrust aside the clawlike branches lashing at my face, and leap over a tree stump.

With one huge explosion of adrenaline, I surge ahead and into someone’s backyard. Panting hard, I pause to look around, but no one’s there. Nobody has followed me.

Hayden’s Range Rover sits idling at the curb when I arrive. Thank. You. God. I made it. Waving, I hurry across the neighbor’s front lawn and hop into his ride.

He glances in the rearview mirror. “Anyone follow you?”

“Nope.” I fasten my seatbelt. “Where are we going?”

Hayden puts the SUV into drive and zooms down the street. “It’s a surprise, Peaches.”

“I’m not dressed for physical activities,” I warn. “This is a brand new dress, and I
don’t
do bowling shoes or paintballing.”

Hayden glances at me, and one of those crooked smiles spreads across his face. “What you’re wearing is fine.” He exits the island and drives across the bridge into Oakland. “In fact, you’ve never looked more beautiful.”

My heart flutters wildly. It was worth it to spend some extra time on my appearance. Earlier I’d dressed in my new Hell Bunny black and white polka-dotted dress, with a thin white belt, and ankle-boots. To complete my ensemble, I’d put on a double-breasted jacket with military style buttons that I bought online from Hot Topic with my meager allowance last month.

Glancing at Hayden, I doubt he puts much effort into his own appearance. He’s probably one of those beautiful people that wakes up and looks great. Low-slung faded jeans with a ragged hole in the knee, and a black V-neck shirt cover a lean, well-defined body. I fight the urge to lean over and kiss him. Being with him feels as natural as breathing.

“What are we doing tonight? Can you give me a hint?”

His mouth twists and his eyes narrow. “Unless you plan to somehow get me to pull over and torture it out of me, I’ll never tell.”

I giggle. “Rats! Now you’ve ruined my evil plans.”

He smiles and turns up the radio on a
My Chemical Romance
song. We listen to the music blasting out of the speakers, bobbing our heads and rocking out, and I’m already having a good time.

Less than twenty minutes later, Hayden takes the exit for the Chabot Space Planetarium and drives up a beautiful mountain through the woods. At the top, there’s a set of gleaming observatories in a fairly remote location amidst the majestic redwoods of the Oakland hills. The buildings don’t resemble museums so much as a villain’s secret lair.

Hayden gets major brownie points for such a romantic setting!

He parks and cuts the engine. “An old human friend of mine volunteers here, and I asked him to help set this up for me tonight. We’ve got the whole planetarium to ourselves. And guess what we’re doing first?”

I undo my seatbelt and smooth out my dress. “What, hotshot?”

Hayden smiles mischievously. “Viewing
We Are Aliens,
an animated movie that journeys through the galaxy searching for evidence of life.”

“Sounds interesting. I’m ready when you are.”

We walk over hand-in-hand to the stone building closest to us to watch the flick in cushioned theater-type seats. It’s an interesting film and Hayden finds it amusing. When it ends, we mosey over to a different dome-shaped building.

“This is so cool. The ceiling screen can actually duplicate the motion of the stars and planets,” Hayden explains, opening the door for me, “as they might be seen from any point on Earth using a projector or other device. It can even simulate the many complex motions of the skies from any viewpoint.”

“Um, Super Boy, can you explain that in a language that us mere humans can understand?”

“I’d rather show you. Come on.”

Inside the building, we take seats and lean back. His “human” friend waves at us from behind a booth. Hayden takes my hand and rubs his thumb over my palm, sending delicious tingles throughout my body. The lights dim and above us a constellation of stars appear in IMAX-quality. Soft instrumental music fills the room and the show becomes a romantic, celestial experience.

“If you ask me to find
The Big Dipper—
I should warn you—I’ve heard that pick-up line before,” I tease him.

“I promise to be a gentleman. But
you
on the other hand,” he jokes, “might be a problem.”

As we take in the amazing galactic display before us, Hayden’s voice becomes softer, more intimate. “Sloane, this is the best time I’ve ever had,” he confesses.

“I know what you mean,” I whisper, gazing at his profile. “It was insanely thoughtful of you to plan this.”

Hayden flips up the armrest between us, and I snuggle into him. He drapes his arm over my shoulders and it feels like a warm protective blanket around me.

We watch the ceiling glowing and changing, revealing different solar systems and Hayden even points out where the Zetas come from. The swirling masses of stars are mesmerizing.

“I can almost imagine listening to
Evanescence
for some of these scenes.”

Hayden laughs, his whole chest vibrating and jiggling me. “I thought it would be more appropriate to listen to Debussy myself.”

“Classical music? You never cease to amaze me, Mr. Lancaster.”

His hand gently rubs up and down my arm. “The feeling is entirely mutual, Miss Masterson.”

He kisses the top of my head, and the gesture is so sweet and tender, my heart swells. He takes my arm and places it across his chest.

“You know, this is really nice.” I slide my hand over the six-pack beneath his shirt. “It’s almost as though we’re a
real
couple.”

Hayden shifts in his seat and looks at me intently, his expression hidden by the darkness surrounding us. For a second, I wonder if he can see in the dark with his inhuman gaze.

“We
are
a real couple, Sloane. Just because we can’t make out in the hallway like other kids at school doesn’t mean my feelings for you aren’t as strong…” he pauses, settling back into the seat. “And trust me, kissing you is something I think about every time I see you.”

Oh. Wow. I liquefy in my seat and nuzzle into his warmth.

The show runs about forty minutes, then the lights blink on and the music ends. He takes my hand and leads me through the small lobby and outside.

Hayden’s cell buzzes and he checks the screen. “Uh, I gotta take this.” He holds up one finger. “I’ll be right back.” He answers the call and walks back inside the lobby. “What do you want
now
? I told you to stop calling me!” he says in a highly irritated tone as the automatic doors swoosh closed behind him.

While I’m waiting for Hayden near the entrance, I take in the beautiful view of the city below. Dark clouds release a light rain that dampens my hair and clothes, but I don’t mind.

Hayden returns and puts his arm around my waist. “Ready?”

“Yup. Where to next?”

“Food. I’m thinking beer-battered onion rings and milk shakes. I doubt anyone will recognize us around here, so we’re safe enough. Sound good?”

I can’t help my face-splitting grin. “You had me at onion rings.”

He starts to say something more, but I tug his head down until my lips skim the edge of his jaw. “I missed you.”

“I was only gone a moment.”

“It was too long,” I say huskily.

His breath catches, and his hands rest on my hips. Neither us seems to care that we’re being spritzed with the drizzle. The fresh scent of rain fills my nostrils, and something else...the scent of male skin, like a heady masculine spice.

Applying pressure on the back of his neck, I urge his mouth to mine, finding firmness and warmth, the tang of peppermint melting into the intimate taste of him. His hand closes over my nape and tips my head back. His mouth barely grazes mine, yet I sigh heavily at the brush of his lips. Another slow caress, a dizzying pressure as he opens my mouth with his tongue. At that moment, it’s as if the two of us are one. One body, one mind, one spirit as though we’ve become emotionally merged.

With the soft drizzle trickling down our bodies and these epic kisses, it’s like a scene straight out of
The Notebook
. Another magical movie moment to savor.

A distant growl of thunder rumbles the sky, then a flash of lightning illuminates the buildings. He takes me in his arms, holding me tighter under the gray sky. My hair is dripping wet and so is my dress, but I don’t care. He cups my chin in his strong hands and guides it up to his face. It rains harder now, turning his hair dark and slick, and saturating his clothes. He looks good wet. He even smells awesome, all clean skin and saturated cotton. His skin warm beneath the mist of droplets.

“Sloane,” he whispers.

“Yes…”

“It’s not fair that I don’t get to choose whom I can love.” He presses his forehead to mine. “I’ve spent my life with expectations that I don’t think I can fulfill. To compensate, I’ve been impulsive and reckless.” He kisses my neck before continuing, “But this thing between us? At first, I tried so hard to reject my feelings. Tried to rationalize all the reasons why it would be better to stay away from you. Except, I think my subconscious has known from the first moment I saw you at school that we’d end up together…long before my heart...”