Part 14 (2/2)

But no, that's stupid, I remind myself. Shantel said that guy was a total jock. Blond and beefy and Brad Pittesque. This guy is dark and thin and looks much more like Ville from HIM than Brad. There's no way it's the same person.

”Okay. Sounds like a plan.”

I wonder for a moment if I should tell Jareth where I'm going. But I have no idea where he is or how to reach him. Not to mention he'll probably get all p.i.s.sy if I tell him I'm going to a rave in the middle of the woods. He's worse than my common sense when it comes to things like that.

The bartender comes over to drop off the bill. Orpheus plunks down a couple of brightly colored English bills and tells the guy to keep the change before I can even reach in my purse. Nice.

”If some surfer dude with a dumb Batman s.h.i.+rt comes looking for me,” I tell the bartender, ”just say me and my new friend Orpheus went to a rave. Tell him I'll be back by morning.” There, that ought to cover me. By the time he starts looking I'll already be back.

”Ready?” I ask Orpheus. He nods. ”Then let's go dancing.”

+++ We're only out in the woods about ten minutes before I can feel the ba.s.s deep in my bones. A few minutes later I start seeing flas.h.i.+ng lights through the trees. I smile. Orpheus wasn't lying. There is a rave. And it sounds like it's hopping. I'm about to have a very good night. I'm going to dance and party and not think about Jareth for one second. Starting now.

We step into the clearing. There are probably two hundred kids here, all gyrating to a hard techno beat. A makes.h.i.+ft tent in one corner houses the DJ booth, and a large dreadlocked man wearing headphones on one ear masterfully spins the tunes.

They've got generators set up to run the flas.h.i.+ng, multicolored lights and there's even a refreshment stand serving water and juice.

”Wow!” I say, though of course my voice is completely drowned out by the music. ”This is amazing.”

Orpheus grabs my hand and drags me into the center of the action. We're soon enveloped in a pool of sweaty people- black, white, Indian, Asian, fat, athletic, Nicole Richie-thin. All together, dancing as if there's no tomorrow, no world outside this circle. It's as if they're one mind, one body, all serving a common purpose. All wors.h.i.+pping the techno beat. I'm totally digging the vibe already and I start dancing, determined to have a good time.

Orpheus beckons one of the dancers over and they talk in each other's ears for a moment. I can't hear what they're saying over the music, but watch as Orpheus gives the kid a wad of bills and the kid slips something in my new friend's palm. Hmm. I'm pretty sure I know what's going on here.

Sure enough, Orpheus turns back to me, smiling, and instructs me to open my mouth. I shake my head. One, I'm not really the druggie kind of girl. I'm mean, sure I've experimented, but only in safe, controlled environments, surrounded by friends.

His face falls and then he offers again. ”Come on,” he says. ”It'll help you forget your troubles and just enjoy the night.”

I hedge. I mean, technically I am a vampire. I'm immortal. The drugs won't hurt me. And it would be nice to just leave everything behind and float away in a drug-induced haze. All I've done lately is work. I mean, why did I become a vampire in the first place if I intended on living life the same way I always have?

But all the justification in the world won't reconcile that years of ”just say no” that were beaten into me through televised PSAs as a child. And logic keeps reminding me that I'm out in the middle of the woods with a stranger. The last thing I need to do is lose my head.

”No thanks. I'm good,” I tell him, though I'm sorely tempted to just say yes. ”Let's just dance, okay?”

He looks annoyed, but stuffs the pills in his pocket and wraps his hands around my waist. His touch is electric and soon I'm lost in the dance, the music tickling my earlobes and the flas.h.i.+ng, colored lights seducing my eyes in a spell more powerful than any drug. For the first time in months I just feel good. Right. Enjoying the moment instead of stressing over every little thing. All my problems seem a million miles away. I'm here. Now. Happy. Forever.

Well, maybe not forever. But for now. And that's good enough.

Orpheus pulls me closer. We grind against each other, giggling as we gyrate to the beat. He's so s.e.xy. So cool. I'm totally in l.u.s.t. I try to summon up a guilty feeling for Jareth, who's probably sitting alone in his hotel room, watching infomercials or something, but the music prohibits any feelings of remorse. And in any case, what do I care what he thinks? He broke up with me.

His choice. So screw him.

We dance for hours, sucking down bottle after bottle of water. (Even vamps need hydration.) I meet several other ravers who hug me and welcome me and offer me lollypops and small toys and stickers. I feel like I'm part of some happy family that's invited me into their home with open arms. No one judges me here. For how I look, how I act, where I come from. They simply accept me into their hazy, drug-induced circle.

Finally Orpheus takes my hand and drags me away from the crowd.

”I need a break!” he says, laughing. ”You're unstoppable.”

We walk over to a raging bonfire at the corner of the clearing and sit down on the ground near it. I hold my hands up to feel its warmth. Orpheus gets behind me and starts rubbing my back. ”Mmm, that feels good,” I purr. ”Don't stop.”

”Stop rubbing the shoulders of a beautiful girl? Not b.l.o.o.d.y likely,” he says.

I notice the darkness is lifting. The sky lightening to a bruised purple. It's got to be almost dawn. I look at my Nightmare Before Christmas watch. Four A.M.

”I've got to get back,” I say, though the idea of walking anywhere sounds like such an effort at this point. The dance-fueled adrenaline is fading, draining from my system, sweating out my pores, and I'm suddenly feeling really gross. My skin feels clammy.

My head hurts. My stomach is sick. And mentally I've gone from sky high, to rock-bottom low.

What comes up, must come down.

What was I thinking? How could I have just taken off with a stranger, not telling anyone where I was going? What if Jareth came back to my hotel room? What if he wants to offer me an apology, say he wants to get back together, and then he realizes I'm gone? What if I missed my one chance for reconciliation?

I'm so stupid. So, so stupid.

”Don't go!” Orpheus begs. He stops rubbing my back and scrambles around to face me. He takes my hand in his and brings it to his lips once again, looking up at me with sad eyes. ”I've had a lovely night. I don't want to lose you at the break of dawn.”

I smile a little. He's sweet. Very Emo. Totally my type. If my heart didn't belong to Jareth, that is. But it does, I realize. And no matter what it takes, no matter how long, I have to get him back.

”Sorry,” I say. ”I have to. I've got things to do, people to see.” Ex-boyfriends to reconcile with . ..

”But my love, what could be more important than us being together?” Orpheus asks.

Uh ... I stare at him. That came out a bit creepy sounding. But maybe he's just overdramatic.

”Sorry, dude,” I say with a shrug. ”It's been fun. And I'll never forget my first English rave. But I've got to go. I'm heading back to America this afternoon.”

”I understand,” Orpheus says, reaching over and pressing a cool hand against my hot cheek. I freeze as he lightly caresses my skin, wondering how to back away gracefully. But before I can manage to do so, the boy leans forward and presses his lips against mine.

Panic slams my insides. I can't do this. I don't want to do this. I don't care if Orpheus is totally Goth and hot. All I want is Jareth. Forever and always. Even if he wants to be a surfer dude for the rest of his life.

I gently push Orpheus away. ”No,” I say. ”I can't. I'm sorry.”

He frowns, sticking his lower lip out into a pout. ”Why not?”

”I'm . . . well, I'm with someone. Sort of.”

”I thought you said you'd broken up,” he growls, his face darkening.

Argh. Now he's going to think I'm a total tease. Which I am, I guess. I should have never let this get so far. ”We did,” I say. ”But I'm not sure it's for good. I really still love him. Being out here tonight made me realize that. Don't get me wrong-you're great. Totally hot and a lot of fun. But I'm just not. . . well, I'm not over Jareth.”

”I see,” Orpheus says, his voice ice-cold. ”Well, I am sorry to hear that.”

”I'm sorry. I really am. I feel bad if I led you on in any way.”

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