I turned the light away from the vampire. He approached us in the moonlight, pushing my bike.
What are you doing here? I asked. Youre supposed to be with Alexander!
He was painting and I wanted to get some air.
In Beckys barn? I charged.
I was walking around and I heard some girls talking. I had to investigate. He smiled broadly.
Becky seemed to buy his excuse, but I knew better.
You scared us to deathwell, at least me, she said. Im so glad its just you.
Im sorry, he said. Truly. Id never want to make your heart race. Unless it was for a good reason.
Flirting time was over. Youre lucky Beckys father didnt find you. He has a shotgun, I warned.
He rarely uses it, Becky said. You must be tired if you walked all the way from the Mansion. Can we get you a drink?
No I answered for him.
Sure! he said over me.
I took my bike from Sebastian and the three of us headed back to Beckys house. In Sebastians presence, she was no longer afraid and didnt cling to me in any way.
Becky offered us fresh lemonade. Becky had the best lemonade Id ever tasted; her mother made it from scratch. Both Sebastian and I gulped it down and asked for seconds.
Its time we go, I said.
Sebastian wasnt ready to go. He wandered around her kitchen, examining every picture and decoration.
Where was Alexander when I needed him? If he had a cell phone, I could text him immediately. Instead, I tried to ring the Mansions line. If Alexander was painting, his music was probably blaring. It was true. The phone rang endlessly.
Even Jameson didnt pick up.
No voice mailreally frustrating, Sebastian said.
Arent you in town to visit Alexander? I asked.
Well, yes.
Then why arent you two hanging out?
We dont spend every minute together. Were guys.
When Becky and I got together, we spent every minute in each others company. But guys? Sometimes when Henry was over with Billy, one would be on the computer while the other was playing video games. I often wondered why they got together in the first place.
Still, I wasnt crazy about Sebastians behavior. It didnt seem to be bothering Alexander, however, if he was creative enough to paint. And for all I knew, Alexander might have needed the space.
We better be going, I finally said to Sebastian.
I can drive you both back if youd like, Becky offered.
You can drop Raven off first, then me, he said.
Becky will drop us both off at the Mansion, I instructed. Then we can tell Alexander where weve been.
After Becky drove us to the Mansion and I placed my bike against the gate, I grasped Sebastian by his sleeve and pulled him toward the front door like a scolded child.