“You’re so dumb.”She laughed as I dropped her arm and pouted.“But you’d be my favorite, too. Stop sitting on me. We have an entire couch, move over.” She tried to push me off, but I stayed put with vampire strength.
“No. Go to sleep.”I stared at her intensely.“I can tell you’re tired.”
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to put you to sleep with vampire hypnosis,”I said. It always worked in movies. She blandly stared back, making me doubt the power. Maybe I hadn’t developed that skill yet.“It’s okay. I’ll figure it out eventually. Like right now.”I held up my hands in a magical gesture.“Go to sleep.”I dragged the words out to see if that would have more effect.
“It’s not working.”
“Fine.”I dropped my hands as she laughed.“But you should really go to sleep. You have class in the morning. Did you even finish studying?”
“No. I’m gonna fall behind.” She glanced at the book that was still sprawled across the floor.
“You will not. Aren’t you like three months ahead in each class? Who does that? You’re such a nerd.”
“I like to get my work done early. Otherwise I might not stay at the top of my class. And I’m not three months ahead anymore. My last midterm is tomorrow and then I have Thanksgiving break, then after that a few more weeks of class before finals, and then I graduate. So I can’t be three months ahead if I don’t even have three months left.”
She kept going about the nerd timeline but I stopped listening.Dennis’door was cracked and I could feel his worry for me. It was almost overwhelming. I wanted to talk to him. It was becoming an emotional pull. Like Ineededto talk to him. Or even just be around him.
“Go talk to him.”
“Hm?” I glanced at Ari, who’d been watching me stare at his door.
“I said go talk to him.” She nudged my leg. “I’m okay. Promise.”
“Okay.” I detangled my legs from hers and stood.“You’re sure you’re okay?”
“I’msure. I’m gonna sleep in here tonight. Wake me up if you need anything.”
“Okay. I love you.”
“Love you, too.”She smiled and waved me away. I went to my bag and got Frankie, then straightened up but didn’t go anywhere.“Stop being nervous,”she said, waving a hand again for me to leave. She grabbed a blanket and lay down as I walked away.
I went to Dennis’room and pushed the door a smidge.“Hi.”I took the tiniest step past the doorway. His room was dark and daunting as ever, but somehow warm and inviting. To me, at least.
“Hi.” He looked up from the lighter, eyes dancing with amusement at the way I didn’t move.
Several seconds passed before I worked up the courage to ask,“Can I come in?”
“Please do.” His voice was possibly sarcastic, but I took it as an actual invitation and came inside before shutting the door.
I went to the open coffin and sat beside him, setting Frankie on the smooth satin sheets. He let the flame die out and set the lighter aside. Just in time, too, because I pounced on him almost simultaneously. He fell back but I didn’t let go. I snuggled into his neck, taking in his familiar scent even though it might seem creepy. I smiled whenhis hands finally closed around my waist.
“Thank you,”I murmured into his neck, then sat back to look at him. “I’m sorry I messed up your shirt earlier. I know I cried all over it.”
“Just a little.” His teasing smirk did nothing to help my sudden shyness.
“You’re gonna have to get the blood out of your clothes too, huh?”
“Yeah. And makeup.”He put my legs across his lap to keep me from guiltily sliding away.
Suddenly, I realized how much damage I’d done to his clothes. Gross crying, smeared makeup, so much blood and who knows what else.He’d obviously taken a shower by the lack of blood and his damp hair, but his clothes would be a lot harder to clean. Just like my own clothes he’d volunteered to fix.
“I’m sorry,”I mumbled, gently tugging my hair. He stayed silent, watching me intently.“Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”He took my hand away from the lock of hair.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
