We were silent for a few minutes, gazing at the heavens. I heard only his soft breath and the sound of crickets. All first dates should be as wonderful as this. It totally beat a first-run movie.
"So your grandma's the lady that stared out the wind--uh, I mean she, well..."
"She was a wonderful artist. She taught me how to paint superheroes and monsters. Lots of monsters!"
"I know."
"You know?" "I mean, I know it must be hard for you. But I like vampires, too!" I hinted.
He seemed to be thinking of something else. "I traveled so much, and since I was homeschooled, I never had the chance to fit in anywhere."
He looked so lost, so soulful, so lonely. I wanted him to kiss me now. I wanted to let him know I was his for all eternity.
"Let's eat," he suddenly said, climbing to his feet.
He placed five black candles in ornate votive holders and lit them with an antique lighter. He unpacked a bottle of sparkling juice and crackers and cheese and spread a black lace tablecloth over the cold grass.
"Have you ever been in love?" I asked as he filled my crystal goblet.
Suddenly we heard a howl and the candles blew out.
"What was that?" I asked.
"I think it's a dog."
"It sounds more like a wolf!"
"Either way, we'd better go!" he said urgently.
I started to shove everything into his backpack.
"We don't have time for that!" he said, grabbing my hand.
The wind continued to howl. The noise was getting closer.
We hid behind the monument.
"If it's a ghost you've come to see," a familiar voice called to us, "I can assure you that the only ghost you'll be seeing tonight is your own." A man followed with a flashlight. It was Old Jim, the caretaker, with Luke, his Great Dane.
If he recognized me here at this hour I'd have to bribe him with a year's supply of dog biscuits to keep him from telling my parents.
We peeked out and could see the dog licking juice off the grass.
"Give me that, Luke," Old Jim said and picked up the bottle. He took a long swig.
"Now!" Alexander whispered. He tightened his grip on my hand and we ran, scampering over the fence.
I don't think a real ghost and a phantom wolf could have scared me more than Old Jim and his rusty Luke.
"I guess I should have taken you to a movie after all," Alexander said with a smile after we caught our breath. "I'll walk you home."
"Can we go to your house?" I pleaded. "I want to see your room!"
"You can't see my room."
"We have time."
"No way."
There was an edginess in his voice I hadn't heard before.
"What's in your room, Alexander?"
"What's in your room, Raven?" he asked, glaring at me. "Let's go back to your place."
"Uh...well..." He was right. I couldn't bring him into my house and subject him to Billy Boy and my white-bread parents. Not on our first date. "My room's a mess."
"Well, mine is, too," he said. "I don't have to go home, really."
"I don't want to get you in trouble."
"I always get in trouble. My mom wouldn't recognize me if I wasn't in trouble."
But the streets we walked, hand-in-hand, led back to my house, and no matter how slowly I walked, before I knew it we were standing on my doorstep, saying good-bye.
"Well...until...next time..." he said, his face shining beneath the porch light.
"Next time the mortuary?"
"I thought we could watch a movie at my house."
"You have a TV?" I said. "It's powered by electricity, you know."
"Sassy girl, I have Bela Lugosi's Dracula on DVD, since you like vampires so much."
"Dracula? Awesome!"
"Then it's a date. Seven o'clock tomorrow, okay?"
"Sensational!"
We had made another date and there was nothing to do now but say good-bye. Primo moment for a luscious kiss. He put his hand on my shoulder and leaned in, his eyes closed and his lips full.
Suddenly the door locks rattled. Alexander stepped out of the light and into the bushes.
"I thought I heard voices," my mom said, opening the door. "Where's Becky?"
"She's at home." It was actually the truth. "I don't like you running off without telling me," she scolded, holding the door open for me.
Longing to have that moment back and one moment more, I looked over at Alexander.
"Did you guys go to the movies?" she asked as I reluctantly stepped inside.
"No, Mom, we went to the cemetery."
"For once, I wish you would give me a straight answer!"
For once, I was giving her a straight answer.
And as I looked over my shoulder for a final glimpse of my Gothic Dream Mate, she closed the door on my heavenly first date.
Chapter 18 Movie Madness
I was always late for everything--dinner, school, even movies--but tonight I was early, as I arrived at the Mansion at 6:45. Alexander opened the door himself and kissed me politely on the cheek. I was as shocked as he at his sudden display of affection.
"That never happened when Jameson opened the door!" I said.
"Well, you better tell me if it does. We have a rule, you know. I don't kiss his girls and he doesn't kiss mine!" Alexander glowed even more than he had that night I'd snuck in and he had extended the hand with the spider ring. He was growing confident. He led me up the grand staircase to the family room. It was filled with modern art pieces--flowered paintings, an Andy Warhol print of Campbell's soup cans, Barbie doll sculptures, and flashy, furry, wild rugs. There was a black leather couch, a big-screen TV, and a glass table with a giant tub of movie popcorn, SnoCaps, Dots, Sprees, Good & Plenty, and two neon-green glasses filled with pop.
"I wanted to make you feel like you're at the movies," he explained.
He put in the DVD and turned out the lights, and we snuggled together in the darkness. I picked SnoCaps and he chose a pack of Sprees. The popcorn rested between us on the couch.
Dracula was getting ready to take a bite out of Lucy when Alexander gently pulled my face away from the screen.
He stared me at with his deep midnight eyes. He leaned toward me. And he kissed me. With passion. He kissed me! He finally kissed me! Right there in front of Bela Lugosi!
He kissed me as if he were drinking me in and filling my heart and veins with love. As I took a breath, he began kissing my ears and gently nibbling them. I giggled like crazy. His lips and teeth made their way down my neck, his mouth filling me with total passion. His soft biting on my neck tickled. I was so into his spell, I stretched my legs out clumsily on the coffee table, spilling Alexander's glass and then the popcorn over him. Alexander, startled, sunk his teeth into my neck so hard I screamed.