Vampire Manifesto by Rashaad Bell Read Free Book Online Page A

along the shoulder of the road. Much more than normal, which could or could not be a good thing. Either it’s filled with a bunch of people we know or it’s crowded with a bunch of people we don’t. Their parties could go either way on that front. Regardless, it’s still gonna be banging.
    I got out the car, making my way up the driveway. I was hoping Ethan was already there. That was my main reason for wanting to come now, even though I had already made plans to make an appearance. I was starting to get butterflies again, the feeling in my stomach creeping up into my chest, little waves of excitement whipping my body into an over anxious frenzy.
    “ Slow down!” Abigail called out.
    I turned to see them at the end of the driveway trying to catch up with me.
    “ My bad.” I tried to play it off.
    “ Flash fact. I am not the Flash.” Commented Aiden.
    “ She just wants to see her new boy toy!” Laughed Abigail.
    “ Shut up Abby.” I said. “Just come on though.”
    The garage door was open and there were people chilling inside, smoking cigarettes, drinking and playing what seemed to be an overly intense game of beer pong.
    “ Madison!” Someone yelled.
    It was Dave Berger. Cool kid. He tossed me a beer.
    “ What’s up my girl?” He asked, giving me a hug.
    I opened my beer and took a sip. “Good, good. What’s up with you?”
    He just laughed. “Nothing much, same old-same old. Aiden, bro! What’s up?”
    Aiden gave him a high five. “What’s up with you man?”
    “ Just got my butt served to me on Call of Duty by some ten year old Asian kid that hasn’t hit puberty yet, but other than that...” Dave joked. “Abigail, looking nice.”
    “ Thanks Dave.”
    “ Check it people, I’ve got beer here in the cooler, but we just put it in there so it’s still a little warm. There’s more beer down at the beach, that should be good to go.” Dave Berger explained. He leaned closer so the other people in the garage couldn’t hear. “That’s just the cheap stuff though. I got that good-good in the house, I don’t need these people drinking my expensive shit, know what I’m saying.”
    “ Really?” Asked Aiden. “I think I might need to use the bathroom then.”
    “ Hahaha! That’s what I'm talking about bro!” Agreed Dave. He turned to the rest of people in the garage. “Hey, people, I’m gonna show my man Aiden here where the restroom is, be back in a sec.”
    Resounding cheers all around from the Ping-Pong crowd.
    Dave and Aiden picked their way through the throng before Dave stopped and turned around. “Madison, there’s this pretty looking mofo asking about you. Tall, kinda built...smells like oranges.”
    My heart literally skipped a beat.
    “ Oranges? Really?” Questioned Aiden
    “ Hey dude...” Dave just shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe it’s his deodorant. I just know I talked to the dude and after he left, I wanted to eat oranges. Like, a lot of them.”
    “ You’re just high, Dave.” Abigail said.
    “ That could explain a lot as well.” He agreed. “Anyway, he’s down by the bonfire. Come on Aiden; let me show you where the, uh, bathroom is.”
    The two of them disappeared inside.
    I followed Abby out the garage, working our way around the house. It was dark here and the ground was uneven, so we had to take it slow. It wasn’t before long until we hit the back patio. There were people here and it was much brighter due to the vote you off the island survivor torches they had burning.
    We gave some causal hellos then kept it moving, taking the stairs that led down to the beach from the patio. The Dave’s backyard was the beach. It was awesome. People were everywhere. Some dancing, some gathered in small little cliques around the bonfire. The music was blasting Notorious B.I.G. as the crowd sang along.
    “ ...It’s the N-o..t-o..r-i...o...u-s, you just, lay down slow!” Everyone screamed in unison.
    “ Abigail! Madison!” Someone yelled out our names close to the