So, that lovely effervescence was actually the gallons of alcohol bubbling in my stomach, conspiring to erupt at the least ideal time possible. Another interesting sensation is a warm dampness on my legs; the visor on Kit’s helmet is up so my vomitis funnelling onto my shoes, and I’m straining so hard with eachbleurghthat my backside has decided to join in and toots every time I hurl.
From where I’m bent over, I watch Roxy’s shoes rush over until her hands scoop back my hair, and even in this sorry display the love in my heart for my bestie triples. Kit’s feet pace back and forth as he cries on the phone to his mum, and Charlie’s feet turn away and walk back to the party.
Away from us.
Away from me.
Again.
CHAPTER TWO
VIGGO RASSMUSSEN
Your senses are off because you were in your cups last night, Juliana. Though you are more fun when you’re drunk.
JULIANA THE DEMON HUNTRESS
It’s the only way I can stand being around you.
Vampire Falls. Season two, episode five – “Closer Closer”
I sincerely apologise for my behaviour, but let’s not dwell.
Here it is. Some people’s favourite time is Halloween, aka All Hallows Costa-Spiced Latte Eve, but this is what I look forward to three hundred and sixty-two days of the year. This is my Christmas morning, my first day of spring, my first game of some kind of sporting event tournament match.
I bustle into the hallway and knock the umbrella stand over with my bags. Excitement makes me more clumsy than usual.
“BYE!” I bellow over my shoulder.
“Was that the umbrellas?”
“No,” I call back to Mum, dropping my bags and quickly rearranging the stand.
She appears in the doorway of her office just as I straighten up.
“See?” I say, gesturing at the stand as I grab my bags. “Vertical.”
She rolls her eyes but steps towards me, opening her arms.
“I can’t hug,” I say, nodding at my bags, “I’m all balanced out.”
“Sorry – mum hugs trump the laws of equilibrium, Eliza,” she says, demonstrating her hypothesis by squeezing me practicallyto death.
I reciprocate until she releases me from her Kraken embrace.
“Eliza?” she says, putting her hands on my cheeks.
“Yes, Mother,” I say, preparing myself for an emotional outpouring of how she’ll miss me this weekend.
“Tell fan favourite, humanitarian and official hottest vampire actor of all the vampire actors Damon Van Schwartz I haven’t washed my hand since he brushed it when I got his autograph last year.”
“Ew,” I say, heading to the door. “I will tell him no such thing and I hope you’re joking.”
A short, polite, car horn toots out the front and we both look round. I told Roxy not to come inside otherwise she’d get caught in Mum’s tentacles as well and we’d never get away.
“OK, I’m really going now,” I say, rushing to the door.
“Eliza?”
