The following evening, Alexander and I were making our way down the attic stairs of the Mansion when we saw Jameson entering one of the vacant bedrooms on the second floor.
"Just getting it ready for Miss Athena's arrival," Alexander's butler said.
I was thrilled that the time was getting closer for Stormy to arrive in Dullsville. But the bedroom that Jameson was readying was bare except for a small dresser, making it feel cold and lonely. It didn't look comforting for a younger sibling to inhabit, and I was wondering how Stormy would feel about staying in it.
"We should really do something about this room," Alexander said to Jameson. "Don't you think?"
"Yes, it needs a feminine touch," Jameson said. Both Romanians looked to me.
"Really?" I asked, excited for a chance to decorate more of the Mansion. "I'd love to!
"So ... what does she like?" I imagined all the things we'd need as I sized up the room. "We could buy rugs, curtains, and maybe a cool chair?"
"She's just visiting, not moving in," Alexander said.
"Oh yeah..." I said, realizing I was getting ahead of myself.
"But no - you're right," he added. "I don't want her running back to my parents saying she didn't like it here."
"So what are her favorite things?" I asked.
"I don't know." Then my boyfriend thought for a moment. He noticed my Hello Batty earrings. "She loves Hello Batty."
"Oh, cool!"
"You have something in common already," he said, tenderly patting my arm.
"We also have you," I said, flashing him a warm smile.
Alexander returned mine with a radiant grin.
"Does she like Olivia Outcast, too?" I wondered out loud.
"I think so."
"What's her favorite color?" I asked Alexander. "Black? Pink? Red?" I didn my't really know anything about Stormy except that she was Alexander's sister.
And just because she was a vampire didn't mean she liked dark things. Maybe she was blonde with little tiny fairy-tale locks. Then I thought of Luna - did she look like her? I couldn't bear the thought.
"Uh... I know she loves purple."
"Of course! We can put some girlie things in her room, like purple curtains and a funky velvet chair. She would love that! I can picture her already. I'll put out some candy on the table and a gift bag on her dresser."
"Sure," Alexander said. "I didn't even think of that before now, but I'm sure she'd feel much better in something cute and fun rather than this cold, barren room."
"I can't wait to meet her," I said enthusiastically. "I've never had a little sister." For a moment I dreamed about the perfect sister for me - a younger sibling who would want to have picnics in the cemeteries, stay up late and watch scary-movie marathons, and share dark music together. She'd be nothing like the sibling I had, Billy, a little brother who would rather solve math equations than hang around tombstones.
"Well, I've never had a younger brother," Alexander said. "That would be really cool, too."
"Can we trade?" I asked seriously.
"Sure," he said, but I could tell by the glint in his eyes he wasn't as keen on giving his sibling away as I was.
It was hard to find anything fun and funky in Dullsville that would be appropriate or cool for Stormy. I bought most of my clothes and trinkets at thrift stores or online.
Becky and I shopped at our local discount superstore while Jameson waited for us at the front by the coffee shop.
I got my usual stares as we paraded up and down the aisles looking for anything fun to decorate Stormy's room.