Suck It Up and Die

Suck It Up and Die by Brian Meehl Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: Suck It Up and Die by Brian Meehl Read Free Book Online
Authors: Brian Meehl
RIGHTS!
    But Morning was surprised by how many vampire wannabes and wanna-bleeds were also in the front. Their sweatshirts, T-shirts, and costumes announced a different message: THE BITE STUFF, BLOOD DONATION CENTER , and HOW ’BOUT A PIECE OF NECK PIE? A guy in full cowboy regalia had a sign on his ten-gallon hat: SAVE A COW, BITE A COWBOY . Morning muttered under his breath, “Is this a pride parade or a pickup scene for the fanged and the fangless?”
    Portia snagged his arm and pulled him into the street. “Don’t be a pooper. If the VRA’s gonna pass there’s gotta be more than just Leaguers under the big red tent. After all, Leaguers can’t vote anymore.”
    Morning resisted the urge to remind her that, being stuck at sixteen, he would
never
be able to vote even if the VRA
did
pass.
    The front row of paraders welcomed the foursome with a shout-out. They fell in next to Rachel as Sister Flora moved down the front row to join some friends.
    “Thank Godness,” Rachel announced, beaming at Morning and Portia, “the first couple of Leaguer-Lifer love is here!” Flipping her long black hair, she shouted to the paraders behind her. “It wouldn’t be the first pride parade without the first outie!”
    Even though Morning cringed every time he heard Rachel’s dorky nickname for him, he focused on a more important matter. “Yeah, but can it be the first parade without the first Leaguer, Mr. Birnam?”
    Rachel shrugged. “Truth is, not surprised.”
    Coming on top of her text-message syntax, her blithe dismissal of the father of Leaguer liberation was more than Morning could take. “You know, Rachel, you don’t have to do your goofy-doofy, I-couldn’t-grow-fangs-even-if-I-worked-in-a-slaughterhouse act with me. I knew you when you had real chi, not the kind you get from”—he jabbed a finger at the jewelry rack around her neck—“crystals on chains.”
    Rachel arched a brow and slid a look to Portia. “Ouch, he bites.”
    “Tell me about it,” Portia bounced back.
    They shared a laugh, which only stoked Morning’s ire. Before he could spin a comeback, Rachel dropped her voice and confided in him.
    “I’ll tell you why Mr. B’s making himself scarce. If you read his parade-day post, you might’ve noticed what he mostly talked about was the past. I think he knows he’s played his part, and he’s ready to pass the torch.”
    “Ha!” Morning blurted. “To who?” He swept a hand, presenting Rachel. “Lady Vava?”
    Portia gestured to Cody to get his camera on Rachel and Morning.
    Without acknowledging his dig, Rachel gave Morning her positive-energy smile. “No way.
You’re
his fav.”
    He scoffed. “Now I know whatever mind you once had has been sucked out by a brain vampire.”
    “Too funny,” Rachel chirped, giving him a playful punch. Then she shouted down the line to Sister Flora. “Yo, Sister Sis. Morning
is
the chosen one, right?”
    Flora pointed heavenward. “Besides
the
chosen one, yes, Morning’s
my
chosen one.”
    “Mine too,” Portia piped up, taking Morning’s arm. “But my money’s on him retiring from the spotlight as soon as he becomes a firefighter.”
    “Even better,” Morning added, “how ’bout I kill the spotlight after this parade?”
    “Not gonna happen,” Rachel retorted. “When Portia made”—her hands stretched an imaginary marquee—“
Morning McCobb: The Jackie Robinson of the Vampire League
, fame put a lock on you tight as your lock on Portia.”
    Rachel’s flattery cued a question Portia had been waiting to ask. “Rachel, Cody and I are making a new documentary on the Leaguer rights movement, and you’re pushing so many hot buttons on
The Shadow …
could we interview you sometime?”
    “Don’t even ask,” Rachel answered with a hand flip. “I owe your mom so big-time.” She suddenly threw an arm around Morning. “She’s almost made me as famous as the superstar, the legend, outie numero uno!”
    Morning shrank out of her grip. Rachel

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