It was angled so that we could see the bench we were sitting on. I saw Billy and myself, but the seat next to Billy, where Stormy was now sitting, was empty.
My mouth dropped almost to the cement sidewalk below us.
My brother didn't say a word.
"I'm not leaving," we heard Stormy say. "My friends are here."
Billy gave me a knowing glance, then smiled sweetly at Stormy.
"I love this ice cream," she said. She held her cone out to Billy. "Want a bite?"
"A bite?" he asked, staring at me. "No, I don't think I do, but Raven? She might."
Chapter 16 Secrets and Sundaes
There was a lot of tension between Billy and me as Alexander drove us home. I didn't know if he'd say anything to Alexander and Stormy about his discovery or what he'd say if he did.
Hey, Stormy - why don't you show up in pictures or reflect in mirrors? I heard him say in my mind.
I kept the conversation moving, and I bantered on about mundane topics and recent movies I'd seen. Anything to keep my brother from talking about what he'd seen - or rather, hadn't seen.
When we arrived home, we were saying our good-byes when Billy spoke up.
"I want that picture, remember?" my brother said to me. "Especially if Stormy is leaving soon, I want a picture of us together."
"I'm not leaving soon," she said for us all to hear.
"It's late," I interjected. "They have to leave. Maybe next time."
But Billy had already placed his phone in Alexander's hand.
Stormy gladly stood next to Billy. It was as if she liked playing the part of the happy mortal.
Alexander looked at me as if I knew what to do. I turned away in frustration.
Alexander took the picture, then handed me the phone. I tried to hang on to it but Billy snatched it from me before I could delete the picture.
"Good night, Stormy," Billy said. "Good night, Alexander."
"Good night," they both said.
Billy went inside, and I knew if I stayed for a long good-night kiss, he'd have that picture already plastered on a social network site.
It was one thing to have Becky know the truth about Alexander and the other vampires' real identities - but quite another for my little brother to know. Could he keep a secret? I'm sure he had already told Henry by now. The two must have been concocting their experiments like young Einsteins.
I blew Alexander a kiss and ran inside.
In the family room, my mom was reading a magazine and my dad was watching college football. Billy was already upstairs in his room. I ran up the stairs and charged over to my brother and tried to grab his phone away from him.
"What are you going toe yt Billy sn do?" he asked. "Kill me?"
"That would be too easy."
"What are you two doing?" I heard my mom call from downstairs.
"So you admit it?" he questioned.
"I admit nothing."