Vampire Love Story by H. T. Night Read Free Book Online Page B

girl? Is that how you see me?”
    “You do wear a lot of black.”
    “Black is a good color. Everyone could use a little more black in their wardrobe,” Lena said, looking at my colorful Ed Hardy T-shirt. “You might also want to let your legs breathe, ‘cause those jeans are on kind of snug.”
    “The chicks dig the snug.”
    “I’m pretty sure Yari would, too.”
    “Wow, where did that come from? I think you might be jealous.”
    “Okay, now you’re getting funny.” Lena did a big fake laugh.
    “I’m not so sure....” I said, letting my voice tail off.
    “Why? Do you want me to be jealous?”
    I once again stared at Lena. Her eyes were asking me ‘Well?’. I thought about it for a second and decided to leave the topic alone. After all, the last time I had seen her, she had been pretty cozy with Atticai. Instead, I asked, “You hungry?”
    “I’m starving.”
    We walked inside and gave our order to the old man who ran the joint. He gave us a number and we sat down at a booth next to a window that overlooked the street. We were both quiet. Lena was staring sort of morosely out the window.
    “Hey, are you okay?” I asked, genuinely concerned.
    After a moment, she turned and looked at me. “You know, one thing was lost in the shuffle last night.”
    “What was that?” I asked.
    “That those boys at the party tried to take advantage of me.”
    “It didn’t get lost on me. I have an aching back to prove it.”
    “I know. I’m sorry. How’s your back?”
    “It hurts like hell, but I’m alright.”
    She nodded and reached out and patted my forearm. She retracted her hand quickly.
    “Thank you again, but I just feel so stupid.”
    “Don’t feel stupid. That’s the last thing you should feel. Those guy were Grade A douches. Plus, they got what they deserved.”
    “Did they?” Lena seemed upset.
    “I’d say so. They got an ass kicking by me and then your friends beat the crap out of them, too, not to mention taking bites out of them in the process.”
    “I’m just pissed that I let it happen.”
    “Well, don’t be. We all make mistakes. Look at me, I made the biggest mistake of all. I decided to go jogging last night.”
    “Very funny.”
    “Hey, I almost stayed home.”
    Lena stared straight ahead. She had tears in her eyes. I finally got up and sat next to her.
    “Sometimes I need to feel normal,” she said. “Sometimes I just want to be like everyone else.”
    She was wiping her tears with the back of her hand and so I got up again and got her a napkin. I handed it to her. She took it without comment and wiped her eyes.
    “Look at me, I’m crying like a typical chick.”
    “I have news for you, sweetie: you are a chick. And you’re human. You had a very traumatic thing happen to you last night. Don’t be so hard on yourself for feeling some aftermath.”
    “Josiah, there is so much you don’t know.”
    “Like what? Tell me.”
    “Stuff.” Lena looked out the window again, this time up into the bright afternoon sky. I had at first thought she was looking absently into the sky, until I saw her eyes tracking something. I turned and looked, too. There was nothing up there but some birds. Crows, I think.
    “What are you looking at?” I asked, not sure why I suddenly cared if she was looking into the sky.
    “Nothing.” She turned away and faced me again.
    I could tell something was weighing heavy on her mind. So I decided to press, “Are you talking about Atticai and his buddies? Have they done some pretty bad things?” Lena’s eyes were focused on the napkin in her hand. I could tell she wanted to tell me something—but was afraid to. “Lena, you can tell me anything.”
    “That’s the problem Josiah. I can’t. For your own good. I can’t.”
    “For my own good? What will happen to me?”
    “Josiah, let’s just change the subject.”
    “Or what? Your wannabe vampire friends will try to eat me again?”
    Lena took a pen out from her purse. She began writing on