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I looked at the world with almost vampire eyes as I awoke the next day and headed off to school. This was routine to me - drag myself out of bed, cower from the bright sun, take an all-too-short shower, get dressed in my brooding attire, and spend my day at school watching the clock until the final bell rang. In two days, however, I wouldn't be waking up in the daylight but going to bed just before it. I wouldn't be going to school and having to suffer through mundane subjects or lessons with teachers who favored the popular students. Instead, Jameson would tutor me one-on-one in subjects that interested me. I wouldn't have to take Trevor Mitchell's harassment anymore. Instead of seeing him, I'd be seeing Alexander.
As I breezed through the hallway, we passed the Prada-bees, who stared at me with their usual contempt.
"Hi, Heather. Hi, Courtney," I said gleefully.
"Uh ... hi, Raven."
"I like your purse," I said truthfully to Courtney, who was holding a bright blue designer satchel. "It matches your eyes."
"Uh ... thanks, I guess."
When we turned the corner, I saw my nemesis slink down the corridor as if he were a teacher instead of a student.
"Hi, Trevor," I said when he got closer.
He looked at me skeptically. "Uh ... hi. Did you have something you want to tell me?"
"No, just wanted to say hello."
"Well, that's very unlike you. You wouldn't be planning something sinister, would you?"
"No, something wonderful."
"Not egging my locker? Or keying my car?"
"No. Not those things at all."
I stretched my arms out and before he could retreat, I leaned in and gave my nemesis a long hug.
His body eventually melted into mine. It was bizarre to be standing in school hugging Trevor Mitchell. But I really meant it. There was warmth that flowed from me to him and vice versa. Though we had had our fights and tormented each other, I had known him since we were in kindergarten. Besides my family, it was the longest relationship I'd had in my life. And though it was mostly negative, I could always count on him being there for me - to judge, bother, and pester me. And through those years, I gave it back to him each time. And for a moment, in the middle of the hallway at Dullsville High, we came together as one.
I released our embrace and gazed up into his green, surprised eyes. Then I left him standing there watching me and wondering what had just happened as I walked to class.
For the first time since attending school, I really listened to my teachers. Some continued to be boring, but most were really passionate about the lessons. Maybe they had things to teach me all these years. And today, the teachers and their lectures really meant something to me, and after each class I went up to them and told them that, leaving each one shocked and confused.
"You've been acting funny all day. What is going on?" Becky asked when we got into her truck after school and I told her to drive to Evans Park.
"Swear to secrecy?" I asked her when we sat down on our favorite swings. "You can't tell anyone."
"I'll try." She appeared concerned.
"Alexander is going to turn me."
Becky gasped. "Are you kidding?"
"No. It's really going to happen."
"When?" she asked, still shocked.
"Tomorrow night."
"Then you will be - "
"What I've always wanted to be."
"But I thought you were going to wait. Until college," she said as the news sunk in.
"I promise nothing will change."
"What about school?" Becky was concerned.
"Alexander told me I can be homeschooled by Jameson. You can come over, too."
"But who will I eat lunch with?"
"Matt."
"I can't bear to be without you, Raven," she blurted out.
I wasn't sure how Becky would take the news, but I kind of knew it might be hard.
"Me too," I said, tears welling in my eyes.
"I'm happy for you but sad for me."
"Please don't think of it that way. You are so much more popular in school now. You are dating a jock. A handsome and nice one."
"But you've always been there."
"And I always will be. You can still drag me to games, and we can do our homework together at night. It's really only a few daylight hours that we'll miss."
"The ones that you missed with Alexander, now we'll miss."
"I'm not choosing him over you or anything like that," I said.
"I know. But we've been friends since third grade. It's just going to be a big change."
"I've seen you grow," I told my best friend. "You don't need me like you did."
"I always will. We're best friends."
"Yes, we are. That won't change. I want you to be there when it happens," I said. "I need you, too."
"Me?"
"Yes, you and Sebastian. You are the only ones we are inviting. And Stormy, of course." Becky smiled as if she was pleased to be the one I was inviting and excited that she'd be there to share it, too. "This is scary - and amazing. I can't believe this will really be happening," she said.
"I know, me too."
"What do I do?" she asked worriedly. "What do I wear?"
"You can wear whatever you want," I said, trying to calm her down. "Whatever you feel comfortable in." She began to spin, trying to think of outfits. "I have a new dress that I bought for fall." She began to spin, trying to think of outfits. "I have a new dress that I bought for fall."
"Whatever you want."
"But what happens at the ceremony?"
"Alexander and I will be at the altar. We'll stand by a coffin. There will be two goblets and some candles. He'll say some words in Romanian about our lives together, and then we'll drink from the cups."
"Okay ... then what?"
"Then he'll bite me."
"Oh, geez," she said. "That's what I was afraid of."
"It will be okay, really." I took her hand.
"I know ... but it's not something I'm used to. I'm used to seeing people kiss at the end of a ceremony." We both laughed, her nervously and me with excitement.
"And then what happens?" she asked as I withdrew my hand.
"Hopefully, I'll be a vampire."
"Just like that?"
"I think so."
"Aren't you afraid?"
"Me? Afraid?" I said. "Just of not being one."
"It will be hard," she said, "but I'll be there."
