My Soul to Keep

CHAPTER 22



The school day passed without much of anything happening. The third victim of the bear attacks didn't go to our school. Even still, the grief counselors had their hands full. Everyone seemed sullen and depressed. I wasn’t too happy either. Something just wasn’t right about the whole thing. I bought the bear story about as much as I believed my sister could suddenly develop redeeming qualities.

The only thing saving the day was the fact Jessie was coming over to my house again for dinner and to change for the dance tonight. If it weren’t for that I might have just skipped going to school.

I waited outside the girl's bathroom while Jess did whatever it was girls do in there. A few people smirked at me as they passed but other than that everybody pretty much left me alone. Until the vampire twins showed up.

I nearly jumped out of my pants when they snuck up behind me and Jenny whispered, “Hi, Connor,” in my ear.

I spun and nearly attacked. “Don’t do that!”

“You should have been paying more attention. Especially to us, silly.”

It suddenly hit me. I was looking at two vampires. Not two human girls. “Why aren’t you wearing your human disguises?”

They looked at me and then at each other. “We are. You feeling okay?”

I blinked twice to clear my head. If I concentrated really hard I could see them just as they'd always been over their vampiric forms. “Sorry, it’s getting harder to see.”

“Why?” Beth looked confused.

“Long story. Let’s just say I’m getting used to things again.”

“Wait a minute…You have parents. You have a sister. You’re not one of the Fallen! What did you wish for?”

I scrambled to get them to keep their voices down. “I’ll tell you later, I promise. Keep your voices down.”

“Just answer one question, are you one of the Fallen?”

“I am now.”

“You suck! Why didn’t we think to wish for that?” Jenny shrugged at Beth’s question.

“I suck? You’re the vampires.”

“Har har har, Connor. If I could take it back I would. It’s not easy being a vampire. The movies make it look so glamorous.”

“Look at the bright side, at least you don’t sparkle.”

My joke earned me a hiss. I looked around at the students in the hall passing us. They didn’t notice. “We’re clouding their minds, Connor. Quit being so paranoid.”

“Ah, that explains it. We need to talk. Maybe we can help each other out.”

“I like the sound of that.” Beth stepped closer and ran her finger down the front of my shirt. I heard her sharp nail catch the fabric a few times. When I looked down, sure enough, there was a line running from my collar down almost to my jeans. “Why don’t you dance with us tonight?”

“Because I’m going to the dance with Jessie. We’ll work together, but that’s it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Quite sure.”

“Your loss,” they both said and walked away. They even looked over their shoulder at me at the same moment. Creepy.

“Are you ready?”

I turned and saw Jessie standing behind me. “Whenever you are, Jess. Let’s go. It’s not exactly a short walk to my house and it’s getting colder.”

“I don’t mind. You can keep me warm.”

It amazed me how warm I felt right then and there. We walked outside and instead of holding her hand, I put my arm around her. She moved closer and leaned while she walked. I smiled. Until we heard the horn honk behind us. Without looking I knew we were being followed by a little pink bug.

“You kids need a ride?” Clarisse’s voice rang out into the afternoon. I made a shooing motion behind my back, but she ignored me. “Connor, do you and your little friend want a ride? It’s cold outside!”

I sighed and Jessie started to giggle. “Is that Claire?”

“Oh, you sensed the presence of evil, huh?”

“Come on, Connor. She can’t be that bad. Plus, she’s right. It is cold out here.”

“Okay, but you’re riding up front.”

“Well, duh. I don’t trust her with your manly body.” Jessie turned. “Is that you, Claire?” Apparently she was going to ham it up for Clarisse.

“Yes it is. The one and only. Come on, hop in!”

Jessie pulled my hand and I led her to the passenger’s side of the bug. “Hold on, Jess. Let me get in the back.” I flipped the seat forward and slid easily into the back seat. From the outside the bug looked like a shoebox. Its interior never ceased to amaze me.

“Hi, worm.”

“Hi, Claire. Thanks for the ride.” I stuck my tongue out at her. Yes, I know it was childish, but so was she.

Jessie slid into the front seat and shut the front door. “Thanks for the ride, Claire.”

“My pleasure, Jessica,” she said and patted my girlfriend on the leg. She stopped after the third pat and gasped. I looked at her funny, but she didn’t say anything about it. I’d have to ask her later, when Jessie wasn’t sitting right next to her.

“Are you going to the dance tonight, Claire?” I tried not to giggle at Jessie’s question. It didn’t work out so well. Clarisse flipped me the bird over her shoulder. My giggle’s turned into full out laughter.

“Yes, I am. I’m taking Matt Briarson.”

“The quarterback?” This time I piped in. Okay. I was going out with Jessie, but knowing Clarisse would be going to the dance with the quarterback of our football team…Yes, I got a little jealous. No, I didn’t want to take Matt to the dance. I just didn’t want Clarisse to either. “That should make for some interesting conversation. Word has it he learned all his ABC’s last week.”

“Connor!” Jessie sent me a very disapproving look over her shoulder. The effect was kind of lost behind her sunglasses, but I got the gist of it.

“It’s okay, Jessica. He has a penis. They’re all naturally challenged.”

“I guess I’ll have to train this one better. So far he seems to be a keeper.”

“He is, but he can get a little moody.”

“Don’t they all? Whine, whine, whine. Thank goodness for girls' nights out.”

“Oh, we need to have one! What are you doing tomorrow? Come with me. We’ll go shopping.”

“Sounds good to me. You want to pick me up?”

“Sure, but meet me out front. That way I don’t have to meet any parents. They usually don’t approve of me.”

“Okay. Pick me up at noon?”

“You got it.”

Suddenly I regretted my decision to sit in the back. And get in the car. And show up for school. My regret ended up going all the way back to lifting the covers off my sleeping body this morning. Claire and Jessie being friends would never end well

“What’s the matter, Connor?” I looked up at Clarisse in her rearview mirror. I could see it in her eyes. Something was wrong.

“Nothing, just worried about dancing tonight. I’m not very good at it,” I lied through my teeth.

“I know what he’s worried about, Claire. Don’t worry, sweetie. We won’t talk about you. Too much,” Jessie said with a grin. I stared at Clarisse in the mirror.

“Just leave out the bad stuff, please,” I said and tried to keep the worry out of my voice.

The car jerked to the right as Clarisse pulled to a stop in front of my house. “You two want a ride to the dance?”

I opened my mouth to say, “No,” but Jessie beat me to the punch.

“That would be great. Thanks, Claire. I’m sure Connor’s parents will be happy. Come on, sweetie. Let’s go get dressed.”

“And eat. I’m starving.”

“You ate a mountain of food at lunch! What is with you lately?”

“Maybe I have a tapeworm?”

“Sure, let’s go with that. Come on. Thanks, Claire,”

“My pleasure. We’ll see you two at eight.”

I nodded and gave her a mumbled, “Thanks,” as I exited the bug. I grabbed Jessie’s hand and headed to the house. I didn’t have to pull her along, but she was having trouble keeping up. “Are you okay?”

I slowed down as we approached the front door. “Yeah. I can’t even begin to tell you how nervous I am about tonight. Me and dancing don’t get along well.” I hated lying to her, but it beat telling the truth. Um, my demonic friend felt something when she touched you. She wants to tell me, but couldn’t do it in front of you. So sorry.

I pulled in a breath of air and opened the front door.

“Are your parents home yet?”

“No. Not yet. We’ve got about a half an hour. My sister should be pulling in any minute. They cancelled cheer practice today because of the dance. It’s gonna take her a while to get into her witches outfit and fire up her broom.”

“Is that what she’s going as?”

“No. That’s what she wears on Friday nights,” I said smiling triumphantly. I told a funny.

“You’re terrible. Your sister has always been very nice to me.”

“Be careful. She probably wants something. Like your soul,” I said without thinking and stopped moving. Talk about the pot calling the cauldron black. Sheesh. Nice move, Connor.

“Well, she can’t have it. I already promised it for one glimpse of you,” she said and smiled. I wanted to throw up.

“Jessie, trust me. Don’t ever talk like that. Keep your soul safe. Very, very safe.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but I silenced her by pressing my lips against hers. It worked perfectly. Jessie’s arms reached around my neck and pulled me close. I clasped my hands behind her back and held her as tightly as I could without hurting her. Nothing ever felt more right in my life.

Too bad my sister ruined it.