Diary Of A Vampeen Part 9

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 fl.u.s.tered. 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 embarra.s.sed 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 att.i.tude 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.

I couldn't even eat at lunch amidst my disheartening run through of facts. I sipped water while quietly declining Mike's continual insistence upon me eating, which, for some reason, brought to my attention that Kellan never ate lunch. He went missing for the forty-five minutes we got mid-day. I couldn't believe I'd missed that detail before considering how aware of his presence, or lack thereof, I seemed to be now.

History flew by as usual. Mike stared at me the entire time we were supposed to be watching a civil war doc.u.mentary. It made me feel self-conscious and awkward yet adored and happy at the same time. Each time I looked beside me, he was goofily grinning at.

Mike walked me and Mel to English. We were hand in hand until the door when he released me with a kiss on the cheek.

"Talk to you later," I said as Mel and I began to stroll towards our seats.

"Call you!" Mike said rus.h.i.+ng to his last cla.s.s.

It's so hard to distance myself from Mike or decline his advancements. He's always so happy and carried this charm that was hard to resist when he laid it on thick. The lure he had was opposite of Kellan's. Mike was open, outgoing and charismatic; he didn't give me the option to say 'no'. Kellan was quiet, mysterious and charming in a dark way. They're both good-looking, carrying perfect physiques, though I found Kellan more attractive.

Mel was still carrying on about party planning she was insistent upon this for my birthday and had been all day long. Most of the day, sadly, I'd been a bad friend tuning her out to mull over other topics. Plus, after the tid-bit Kellan had revealed, I could not even be up for a party.

Mrs. Henderson gave us another free period today, this time to begin reading our next a.s.signment Pride and Prejudice - so from Romeo & Juliet to Mr. Darcy & Elizabeth. I couldn't concentrate on the book before me though.

My mind was still racing uncontrollably. Mid-Mike speculation, a folded piece of paper was set in front of me. I looked up at Mel, but her back was still to me. I turned back, but Chris was reading motionless. I then directed my attention to Kellan whose eyes, though his head was down towards the book in his hands, locked with mine. It was a powerful moment when our eyes connected. He again controlled me entirely in that moment; I couldn't breathe or think for myself. Alas, he returned to his book and I collected myself.

I opened the paper in front of me quietly. It revealed the unimaginable from Kellan. I like you too. Shock and surprise set in quickly. Did I really have a chance with mysterious perfection? It seemed impossible. The words were in front of me, but I still didn't believe them.

Suddenly frustrated, I crumpled the paper and threw it in my bag. It couldn't be true, and I didn't want to play games with my heart this way. I would be fine with Mike; he made me happy. Granted I would choose Kellan if he was an option, but he wasn't, so Mike would do. I could grow to adore Mike in the same manifestations I did with Kellan. I could suppress my attraction to Kellan, forget my mindless wonder over him with Mike consistently at my side to entice me the way he did Sunday. Couldn't I? Either way I had to try. Kellan would never happen, but Mike was. And I liked Mike enough to stick with him for now.

Giving up on my mental rationalization of my love life, I began reading once again. I must have slipped off because moments later I was daydreaming. I was in a large open field in an ancient dress with a cinched waist held tightly by a corset and a flared puff of fabric from my hips down. I was holding hands with a gentleman I didn't recognize. He appeared to be Kellan, but his skin wore a darker hue and his eyes were brown, not the vibrant green I adored. My trance was disturbed by a tap on my left shoulder.

I shook my head, returning to reality. I turned around. Chris was still seated though he was doodling aimlessly rather than reading. I immediately looked beyond him, but Kellan wasn't in his seat. His desk was empty and his bag vanished with him. Where could he have disappeared to?

I glanced up at the clock; we still had fifty minutes left. I shrugged, dismissing responsibility over his whereabouts, and turned back to the front. A torn piece of paper now lay on top of the page I was reading in my book. I recognized the handwriting as Kellan's. Meet me outside in 5 minutes.

Outside? Outside where? The hall, the parking lot, the bus station? I sighed heavily debating the ploy. Did I leave and wander or stay and miss it? I was curious as to what he wanted, but frightened by it simultaneously.

A minute of consideration flew by. I walked to Mrs. Henderson's desk and told her I needed a potty break. She nodded once in approval and I gathered my belongings to slip out the door. I gave a note to Mel saying I would call her later and explain.

As soon as I entered the hall, I spotted him a few feet down leaning against the lockers. I couldn't read his expression so I approached with caution. He read my face.

"Follow me," he spoke calmly.

I obeyed, falling into step silently to his car in the parking lot. He held the pa.s.senger door open; I hesitated but eventually climbed in. I had my cell and could call someone if necessary, I rationalized.

Though mentally I was a bit frazzled, my heart didn't react with a sprint. He slid in the driver's seat and started the car.

He looked over at me. "You may want to call your mom and let her know you'll be late. I'll leave it up to you whether or not you tell her who you're with," he smirked sending off a devilish vibe. Kellan always appeared dark and mysterious despite his beauty, but he seemed different today. I was actually frightened by him. Nonetheless I complied with his terms. I did tell my mother I was with him, more as a safety precaution on my part. She didn't seem to mind though.

"Where are you taking me?"

"You'll see," he replied as he drifted onto the interstate towards downtown Charleston.

I watched out the window as he drove. Given the feeling in the air and my mental anguish, I should have been a mess by now, but oddly I still trusted him. The time pa.s.sed quickly on the drive, but then again, Kellan had a lead foot, which helped when I wasn't holding on for dear life.

He slowed down as we crossed the short, low bridge which acted as the official entrance to Folly Beach's quaint village of shops, surf cafes, and gorgeous homes ranging from shacks on stilts to mansions that put Santa Monica to shame. He drove about a mile parallel to the beach before he found a parking spot along the road. He parallel parked perfectly in one shot.

Thank G.o.d I wore my hoodie since the ocean breeze was chilling against my skin. We crossed a small wooden pier connecting the road to the sand along the ocean's sh.o.r.e. It was high tide when we arrived, so we stayed close to the top end of the beach. We walked aimlessly along in silence for a solid ten minutes before I cracked. I couldn't wait anymore the suspense was killing me.

"So you brought me out here why?" I prompted.

"I wanted to talk to you," he answered solemnly but didn't look in my direction. He focused straight ahead on the scenery, his brows giving away his intensity.

"And you couldn't do that a little closer to home?"

"I could have, but didn't want to. When I lived in Seattle, if I wanted to think about something or escape life, I would go to the beach or ride the ferry for a few hours," he explained. "I brought you here because I wanted to talk to you about me and you, but I need to get my thoughts together first."

"Okay?" My mind shuffled through thousands of possibilities but I shut it down quickly. I didn't need to set myself up and undoubtedly I would since I was usually wrong...

"I have a secret that I want to share with you because you share this secret too," he riddled.

"I'm completely lost." That matched exactly zero of the scenarios I had pondered previously.

"I want you to guess what I am because I can't tell you until after your birthday." His tone was mellow, but he was intrigued and it sounded like he was a bit amused by the prospect.

"Guess what you are?" I repeated wrinkling my forehead in confusion. "I don't get it."

"What have you noticed about me that is different compared to Mike?" he pressed.

"Umm," I thought, still not understanding his request. Why did he want me to guess what he was? No one asked that unless...no. It can't be. He can't be. That only happens in movies and fairytales! I gasped. "Are you trying to say you're not... human?" I whispered feeling foolish in asking. I would be so embarra.s.sed if I was wrong.

"Guess what I am," he reiterated, his lips lifting up at the corners confirming my amus.e.m.e.nt theory. Why was I not totally freaked out right now? I was confused but not afraid like before.

"Well, you're not a werewolf," I stated confidently. "You don't have enough hair."

He laughed. "Good observation."

"And you're not a leprechaun; you're too tall for that occupation," I explained figuring I would go along with the game.

"You are charming at times," he said with a low chuckle.

"And you're not a vampire because well, you wouldn't live where the sun s.h.i.+nes a lot and Charleston definitely has that in spring and summer," I rationalized.

"And you're sure about that?" he asked.

"Well, every book and movie I've read or seen has them avoiding the sun..."

"What if they're all wrong?" he challenged.

We kept walking along the sand in silence as I pondered this. Why was he persistent on this subject? I froze mid-step. The only reason he would press my rational was if I was wrong. Is he... could he... how? I stumbled to wrap my head around it.

"Are... are you a..." I couldn't say the word. "Are... you... an Edward?" I choked.

"Who's Edward?" he asked, turning to face me.

"He's from a book, but are you... a... you know?" I pushed exaggerating a biting movement with my 'fangs.' He was utterly entertained by this.

"Am I a vampire? Yes," he confirmed with a snicker.

We started walking again a little closer to the water this time. A million questions swirled at once. I tried to zone in on the most important, but it was impossible. I started with the obvious. "How are you able to live here with the sun?"

"It's a myth, but I'm twenty-five percent human which would protect me from the general a.s.sociations attached. Vampires still tend to avoid the sun though."

"So your parents are?" I prompted.

"My mother is half human, half vampire, and my dad is a full vampire." He offered this as if it was the score for a sports game; no big deal.

"Are they your real parents?" I asked.

"Yes," he chuckled. "My mother is half human and was still able to conceive."

"How were you born?" I inquired.

"Like any regular baby," he replied.

"Oh, of course." It made sense I suppose. "What... do you eat?" I retracted to my earlier observation of his lunchroom absence.

"I can eat anything I choose, but I prefer to drink blood."

"What kind?" I swallowed hard as I pressed for clarification.

He looked at me studying my expression for a minute before simplifying his preference. "Human."

I recalled his earlier statement claiming he wanted to talk about me and him. "How does this involve me?"

"Because you are like me, well, you're going to be anyways."

"Are you going to bite me?" I abruptly stopped careful of my every move and his. His riddles confused me, but it was like he enjoyed having the upper hand despite how open he was to sharing. He burst into laughter.

"What?" I insisted, irritated by his response.

"I'm sorry; it's just that you're not appealing to me in that way."

"You mean I don't smell good to you?" I was a bit saddened by the thought. - What was wrong with me?! I was sad that I didn't smell appetizing to a vampire?! I was losing it. Forget it... I was over the edge already.

"I'm not saying you stink, just that I don't want to drink you," he smiled wide calming my hysteria.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I must sound completely crazy."

"No, you sound like a human who has just been told she's standing next to a vampire whom, in theory, should desire her blood," he outlined for me.

"So why were you not supposed to tell me until after my birthday? I don't see where my age would matter here."

"Well..." he hesitated. "Let's just say you will be one of us in some form by then."

"What do you mean 'one of us'?"

"I can't tell you that, but your parents will explain soon enough. At least they should be." He riddled off another answer that didn't answer anything. It was maddening.

"My parents know what you are?"

"Of course. They're one of us, well your mom is anyways," he corrected.

"The eyes," I gasped. "You have the same eyes."

"Yea, but that's just a coincidence. You wouldn't know a vamp by sight; only smell. And ironically, a human's scent isn't strong enough to detect them."

We reached the central fis.h.i.+ng pier and stepped up onto the wooden planks. Silently we traveled out over the Atlantic Ocean. The further we walked, the colder it became. I broke the silence again.

"Tell me the cool parts."

"Like what?" he asked.

"Are the stories true? Can you run fast? Are you as strong as superman? Do you sleep? I know you don't sleep during the day as history unveils because you're here with me, but do you sleep at night?" He laughed and lifted his head in my direction. Smiling wide, beaming with glory in his features, he answered my inquiries.

"I am much faster than humans or animals, but not like the speed of light. I am strong enough to incapacitate a lion, and I can sleep but don't need sleep."

"Do you... you know... hunt for your food?" I wanted to know, but was fighting an internal battle as to whether or not I truly could handle knowing.

"Yes." I just nodded staring out at the waves. He interrupted my meditation. "You've taken this very well, all things considered. I'm really impressed."

"Thanks," I muttered. "I've always believed in, well, you existing; I just never expected to meet one." I stared off into the great expanse of the ocean. The wind picked up and I involuntarily s.h.i.+vered. It reminded me though. "Are you cold?"

He shook his head answering 'No.'

"I don't mean with the wind or outside temperature," I clarified. He had been leaning against the pier beside me but stood to face me now. He gently reached over and pulled my hand from my pocket. He guided my hand to his cheek and leaned into my palm. "Interesting," I muttered.

"What?"