"She is not," I chimed in. "Well, sort of. I mean, she wanted you," I said to Alexander, "and then you," I said to Sebastian. "And you both rejected her at the altar. How should she feel?"
Both guys thought for a moment before Alexander spoke. "What do you know about Romeo?" he asked me as I wiped off my hands with the bar rag.
"I know he isn't you. And to me that's all he has to be. Besides, why are you worried about who she dates?"
"I know he isn't you. And to me that's all he has to be. Besides, why are you worried about who she dates?" Alexander shot me a look. "I just want you to be matchmaking for the right reason."
"I am," I replied. "I want her to be happy so she doesn't try to steal you away. I think that is the best reason one could have."
"Why would she steal me away?" He leaned in close and took my hand. "Don't I have a choice in this? Don't you trust me?" he asked.
I trusted a lot of things - I was confident with my style, taste, and opinions. And I was secure with my relationship with Alexander. However, Luna, who was sneaky to say the least, had known Alexander before I did and had grown up with his family in Romania. And now that she was inhabiting Dullsville and living in the Crypt, which was only a few miles away from the Mansion, she was too close for comfort. I didn't trust either her or her brother, and without Sebastian as the object of her romantic attentions she would surely aim her affection toward my true love, Alexander, once again.
nt size"I don't trust her," I said.
He pushed my sweaty hair away from my face and took the drink from my hand and placed it on the bar.
"You did all that so we could be together?" he asked, massaging my cola-sticky hand.
"Uh-huh."
"That might be one of the sweetest things in the world," he said. "But don't worry - it will take more than pink eyelashes to keep me away from you." d
Chapter 2 Believe It or Not
I still can't believe Alexander is a real vampire," Becky said the following day at Evans Park. We met at the swings, our usual outdoor hangout. No one was around, and we could talk freely about the Underworld.
Becky had a revulsion to my favorite haunts - cemeteries - and the swings always brought back memories of childhood. And I loved that swinging as high as I could gave me the closest feeling I ever had to flying.
"It's really hard to imagine that it is true," she continued, trying to keep up with me.
"I know," I shouted proudly. "And there's more. Jagger and Luna. Scarlet and Onyx. And Romeo..."
"And Sebastian?" she asked.
"Yes. Cool, isn't it? And to think they are all living here in Dullsville."
"It is so overwhelming. But most of all, Alexander."
Becky was full of questions about the Underworld. And even if I'd already answered them, she wanted me to tell her again.
Becky dragged her white Keds into the dirt, and I followed suit with my untied combat boots. "When did you know?" she asked as I caught my breath. "I mean really know, like I do now?"
"I suspected when I first met him - especially because the people around town were saying his family were vampires. But I didn't really know for certain until I didn't see his reflection in Ruby's compact mirror."
"And you didn't tell me," she said with a sad longing.
"I wanted to!" I responded sincerely.
"I know it must have been hard. I'd have to tell you something like that immediately." I'd always felt guilty that I hadn't blabbed the vampire news to my friend then. But I also had an obligation to Alexander. And the more I grew to know him, the more the sense of obligation was stronger.
"I wanted to every time I saw you," I defended. "I even tried once - "
"I know you did. I guess I just wasn't ready to hear it."
"And now you are," I said.
"It's hard for me not to want to tell everyone, too. My parents..."