"I need girl time. I can't imagine going to school without you."
Her words hit me like a dagger in my heart. I didn't want to hurt Becky by becoming what I wanted to be. I'd always thought about the positives of being a vampire, with one of the best being that I wouldn't have to go to school during the day anymore. But I hadn't thought about the downside - not seeing my best friend, Becky, every day.
"Well, we don't have to worry about that now." I tried to ease her mind. "Alexander isn't planning on turning me any time soon - at least not that I know of."
"It must be hard for him, being a vampire and loving a human."
"I think it is. He tells me so."
"Maybe that's why you two get along so well. You both understand and crave the other's world." I leaned back in my swing. "Yes. I crave it even more since I met Alexander. I feel like I'm only a step away."
"Really. So soon?"
"I don't know. I just want it so bad."
"We only have one more year in school before college," she said. "I'm hoping you'll at least wait until then?" I could feel the sense of dread coming from Becky regarding this change. It could have simply been college - but this matter was also about a life change.
I could feel the sense of dread coming from Becky regarding this change. It could have simply been college - but this matter was also about a life change.
Becky and I had been best friends since third grade. Our friendship wasn't something either one of us was prepared to give up - and I had truly never thought about that when I envisioned being a vampire.
"I'd die without you, Raven," she burst out, hopping off her swing.
"Me too, Becky," I said, following after her. "Nothing will keep us apart."
"Not college - " she urged.
"Or the Underworld," I added. I was surprised I said it. It was new to me to be able to share the secret I'd been holding about Alexander, the Maxwells, and Sebastian.
Her smooth forehead wrinkled in shock. She was still getting used to the idea of the new reality herself.
"Besides, it isn't something we have to deal with now." I tried to reassure her. "Alexander hasn't walked me down the cemetery aisle yet, has he? And neither one of us has really talked about college."
"We'll agree to go to the same one, then. You and me and Matt and Alexander."
"Duh!" I said. I didn't imagine Becky was planning to go to some fancy-schmancy college with outrageous tuition and a billion miles from Dullsville.
"Even if we have to meet in night classes," she added.
"Agreed!" I put my arm around her shoulder.
"But what if you don't wait until then?" she asked. "Alexander gave you that eternity ring." She pointed to my ring finger.
I never took off the glistening ring with a black diamond heart in the center. Not even in the shower or when I slept.
"Yes ... but..."
"I see the way Alexander looks at you. Now that I know the truth, I know what he is thinking. I thought it was just his European charisma." She laughed. "But it's not, Raven. He wants you in a way that is not..."
"Human?" I asked.
She nodded her head.
I felt a huge beam of warm energy flood through me. But what I took as a compliment from Becky was something she meant as a big concern.
Though I felt melancholy about any type of change that led my best friend and me to being apart even for a minute, I did like the reassurance from someone else that Alexander craved me in a way that only a vampire could.
"It will be okay, Becky," I said. "No matter what happens between Alexander and me, you and I will always be best friends. You can count on that forever." Becky and I gave each other a quick hug before heading off to her truck to get some coffee.