Part 14 (1/2)
”I do, too.”
”Well, you first.”
”No, ladies first.”
”No, guys are supposed to do the asking.”
”You're fight.” There was silence. ”Well...would you like to go out? Tomorrow night?”
I smiled with delight! ”Go out? Yeah, that would be great!”
”So what were you going to ask me?”
I paused. I can do this! I took a deep breath. ”Would you...”
”Yes?”
”Do you...”
”Do I what?”
”Like to dance?”
”Yeah, but I didn't think this town had any hip clubs. You know of one?”
”No...but when I find one, I'll let you know.” I was such a wimpola!
”Great! Then I'll see you tomorrow at my house, after sundown.”
”After sundown?”
”You said you lived for the darkness. So do I.”
”You remembered.”
”I remember everything,” he said, and hung up the phone.
17
Dream Date
My first date! Becky said my first date was dinner at the Mansion, but I didn't agree. Tonight we would be going out: to watch a movie, to play miniature golf, to share a soda at s.h.i.+rley's. I spent all afternoon talking with Becky, speculating about where he'd take me, what he'd be wearing, and when he would kiss me.
I was so excited, I ran the whole way there. I had to meet Alexander at his iron gate. My mom would have freaked if she had known I had a date with the guy who lived in a haunted house. I couldn't bear the thought of his showing up at my door and my dad's asking him questions about tennis players and his plans for college. So I had to meet my Romeo on his balcony.
And there he was, leaning against the iron gate, s.e.xy in his black jeans and black leather jacket, holding a backpack.
”Are we going on a hike?” I asked.
”No, a picnic.”
”At this hour?”
”Is there a better time?”
I shook my head, with a smile.
I had no idea where Alexander would take me, but I could imagine the response from our fellow Dullsvillians.
”Doesn't this bother you?” I asked, pointing to the graffiti.
Alexander shrugged. ”Jameson wanted to paint over it, but I wouldn't let him. One man's graffiti is another man's masterpiece.” He took my hand and led me down the street without any hints of our plans for the night. And I didn't care where we were going, just as long as it was a million miles away and he never let go.
We stopped at Dullsville's cemetery.
”Here we are,” he said.
I had never been taken out on a date, much less a date to a cemetery. Dullsville's cemetery dated from the early 1800s. I'm sure Dullsville was much more exciting as a pioneer town-tiny dress shops, saloons, traders, gamblers, and those Victorian lace-up boots that were totally in.
”Do you bring all your dates here?” I asked.
”Are you afraid?” he asked.
”I used to play here as a child. But during the day.”
”This cemetery is probably the most lively place in town.”
The rumors were true. Alexander did come to the cemetery in the dark.
The creepy gate was locked to ensure uneasy access for Dullsville's vandals.
”We'll have to climb,” he said. ”But I know how you like climbing gates.”
”We can get in trouble for this,” I pointed out.
”But it's okay to sneak into houses, right?” he asked. ”Don't worry. I know one of the people.”
Dead? Alive? A corpse? Maybe a cousin of Jameson's worked the graveyard s.h.i.+ft- literally.
Alexander turned away as I struggled to get over in my tight spandex dress.
After we both dusted off, he took my hand and led me down the middle path, where gravestones were lined up for miles. Some of the grave markers signified a plague that devastated in the 1800s. Alexander walked briskly like he knew exactly where he was going.
Where was he leading me? Who did he know here? Did he sleep here? Had he brought me here to kiss me? And would I become a vampire?
I slowed down. Did I really want to be a vampire? And call this my home? For all eternity?