“Does that really happen?” I looked at him worriedly.“And why so soon? It’s not even one in the morning. Can you guys not do the middle of the night, either?” I gasped as a thought struck me. “Are stars too bright for you?”
“Time to go home.” Ari took a motherly hold on my arm and steered me away.
“Hey, wait. I’ve seen you around stars before and you didn’t melt.”
“Goodnight, Vixen,” Dennis said.
“‘Night, Ari. Bye, Emy.”
I blinked and they were gone.
“You’re too gullible.” Ari cracked up laughing as I scowled.
“How am I supposed to know what’s true? We barely learned vampires exist a few days ago.”
“But stars? Stars melting them?” She cackled as we got inside.
“Shut up, fuckface.” I strapped into my seatbelt and started the car. “So what do you think?”
“About what?”
“Being blood bound.” I ran a hand through my hair, only half focused as I thought over the past few minutes. Was Dennis really that evil? He was apparently dead serious about everything. Which was alarming, to say the least.
“I don’t know. Do you think I should?”
“Maybe? It’s a pain in the ass but if it’ll make you safe, it’s worth it.”
“But what ifthey’rethe unsafe ones?”
We left the parking lot in a contemplative silence. This whole situation was becoming a mess.
Crash
“It’s really not that big of a deal. They seemed to think it was funny. And I’m sure—”
“He thinks I’m easy or crazy like everyone else does.” I slumped against the couch and stared at my purpletoenails.I had barely slept the night before, kept up by regret and embarrassment over the ordeal with Melissa. “He probably just wants to get in my pants and then disappear forever.”
“If that was the goal, he would’ve tried by now,” Ari said.“Like, really, seriouslytried. He flirts, yeah. But he’s not obnoxious about it and he clearly wants to get to know you.”
“No one wants to get to know me.” I grabbed a throw pillow and draped it over my face.
“Would it really be the worst thing if he went away?” Ari asked.
I grunted against the pillow. She was right; I’d been trying to get rid of Dennis since Halloween. But now I kind of didn’t want him to leave? “I don’t know.” I sighed heavily. I didn’t know what I wanted.
“I think you’ve been drinking too much. Did you even sleep last night?”
“For a couple hours. I was watching the sunrise from my window seat.”
“You have to stop doing that and go to sleep.” Ari pried the pillow away and tossed it aside. I squinted at the sudden brightness.“What’s wrong? Talk to me. I’m sure it’s not Dennis because you don’t care about him that much.”
“No. It’s the whole Melissa thing. I shouldn’t have gotten into a fight so soon here. Everyone’s gonna think I’m crazy again.”
“That’s it? Emy, you don’t care about getting into fights. How many have you been in since elementary school?”
“I dunno. I lost count.”
“See? You don’t care who you fight or who sees it. Stop drinking and go to bed early tonight. You’ll be fine.”
