Chapter Seven
Kip
The Twilight of Kip’s Human Life
It’s obvious that Charlie doesn’t believe me about vampires being real. Not that I blame him. I didn’t believe in this shit until Tyson accidentally turned me into one. It is some pretty crazy shit.
But, it doesn’t really matter if Charlie believes me right now, because here I am at vampire central.
Or at least, I’m hoping this club is for actual vampires, not only weirdos who pretend to be vampires.
Not that there’s anything wrong with pretending to be a vampire, to each their own, but that’s not for me. I never wanted to be a vampire.
“What can I get you?” The bartender sounds bored. But I notice that his eyes are gray, which Tyson told me was the telltale sign of a vampire.
Mine happened to be blue-gray before being bitten, so the change in the color wasn’t as noticeable. But Tyson had said he used to have brown eyes.
“I’ll take one Vampire’s Kiss. The drink, not like an actual kiss from you, you know, since you’re obviously a vampire.” I wink at the bartender, letting him know that I’m in on the big vampire secret.
The vampire bartender rolls his eyes. “Anything else?”
I lean in close. “Yeah, I’m looking for something fresh. If you catch my drift.”
“Look, buddy. I don’t have time for your weird flirting. Either order, or go away.”
“Hey, if I was flirting you would know it. I’m new to this whole ‘vamp thing’. My buddy accidentally turned me yesterday, and he said if I don’t get feed in the next couple of days, it’s lights out for me.” I mime drawing a blade across my throat while crossing my eyes and sticking out my tongue.
The bartender sighs. “Listen. If you’re serious, you gotta pass the initiation first. And you can’t do that until you’re fully fledged. So I can’t help you, unless you want to order another drink beside’s the Vampire’s Kiss.”
“But how do I find someone to feed from?! I don’t wanna die, dude. I’m too young and sexy!”
The bartender doesn’t respond, instead giving me a deadpan stare.
“Fine, I’ll just take two Vampire’s Kisses.” I pout.
“That’ll be forty dollars.”
“What?! Are you serious? Forty dollars for two tiny cocktails? And you’re not even helping me find blood!? What a rip off!”
The bartender stares me down.
Whipping out my wallet, I hand over two twenties and a five as a tip. “For the record, I don’t think you really deserve this tip, but it’s against my morals to not leave one.”
I take the two minuscule glasses filled mostly with ice, and some type of red drink concoction. I don’t have to search hard to pick Charlie out of the crowd. It’s like we’re tied together, my eyes like heat seeking missiles, tracking onto him.
“These drinks were twenty dollars a piece. They better be the best drinks we’ve ever tasted.” I say as I slide in next to Charlie, handing him his drink.
Charlie grimaces. “I’ll get the next round.”
“Good, because I also don’t want to deal with the bartender again. Dude was a dick. And I don’t say that lightly.”
I scoot over until I’m pressed up against Charlie from shoulder to knee. He stiffens against me, unsure about the contact.
After a minute of tense silence (which I’m not about to break, because I’m kinda enjoying seeing him squirm. It means I affect him in some way), Charlie takes a sip of his drink.
“Oooh, that’s actually really good! You gotta try yours!” Charlie lights up, taking another swig.
I take a tentative sip. “Alright, that is pretty good. But not twenty dollars good.”
The night progresses, and we both spend an ungodly amount of money on booze.
I know for a fact that Charlie is going to get sick from all the sweet drinks.
I don’t know if vampires get stomachaches.
And I don’t think the booze hits me as strong as it used to.
I’d ask Tyson, but I’m not speaking to him right now.
I guess I’m going to have to learn on my own, maybe with the help of Charlie.
Charlie has loosened up since we got here, and let me tell you, he is a chatty little dude when he’s wasted.
“Well, there are some—” hiccup “vampires who are pure evil, ya know? Like from that movie ‘Fright Night’? But it all depends on the media. Like in Twilight, there are vampires who are good and vampires who aren’t.
Although I don’t think being a vegetarian vampire—” Charlie snorts “is common lore. Could you imagine? Hunting and feeding off of helpless little bunnies and squirrels? That’s fucking sick. ”
I nod enthusiastically. “Right!? That’s what I thought when I watched Twilight. At least humans can consent.”
“I don’t know that many vampires, if they were real, would ask for consent though, ya know? They’re the predators and we’re the prey, man.”
“I’d never feed off somebody without their consent, Chuck. Never.”
“I know you wouldn’t, K-kip. I don’t know you that well, but I can tell you’re a good guy.”
“Thanks, buddy.” I bump my shoulder into Charlie’s, but I must’ve done it harder than I thought because he tips over. “Are you okay?!” I’m horrified for a moment, worried that I hurt my new friend.
But Charlie just bursts into a full belly laugh. “You’re so strong and muscly. I’ve never seen someone as beefed up as you. It’s so hot. Usually I’m not into the whole jock vibe, but you’re different.” He slurs, sitting up.
“Thanks, buddy. But I guess I don’t really see myself as a jock though. I’m not into sports. I just like lifting.”
“Cool, cool, cool. That’s super cool. I bet you could toss me around easily.
” Charlie says, waggling his brows. “Ya know, I was a bit afraid of you last night, when you helped me in the bathroom. I haven’t had good experiences with big dudes like you.
I was bullied a lot in high school by guys who look like you.
But you aren’t like them, Kip. Not one bit. ”
The thought of someone picking on Charlie makes my blood heat. I’m not an angry or violent dude, but I can’t stand people who hurt others, especially if they’re smaller.
“Those types of guys don’t feel good about themselves, and think that by bullying others it’ll help them feel bigger and better. I guarantee it wasn’t about you, Charlie. It was about them feeling like shit. They picked you because you were smaller than them, and they saw that as a weakness.”
Charlie looks at me with wide, watery eyes. “Woah. That was really profound, Kip. I’m sorry I thought you were just a dumb jock. You’re not dumb at all, and you’re more than your looks.”
I’m not even hurt by Charlie’s words and judgements. I’m used to it. “It’s okay, buddy. I’m used to people judging me like that when they first meet me. I know how I look, like a total meathead. And to be honest, I am kinda dumb.”
Charlie gasps, reaching up to grip my shoulders tightly. “No, no, no! You are not dumb, Kip. You’re intuitive, and sweet, and kind, and like a big, buff, teddy bear. Don’t talk down about yourself.”
My eyes prickle with tears. I pull Charlie into my arms, squeezing him into a tight hug. “Thank you, Charlie.”
To my surprise, Charlie leans into the hug, wrapping his arms around my neck and burrowing his face in my chest. “Mmmmm…why do you have to smell good too?” He sighs.
I chuckle, running my nose along the side of his pale throat.
I inhale, taking his sweet cinnamon sugar scent in.
Something within my chest stirs as I press my nose harder into his skin.
I can feel his pulse fluttering against my mouth.
My teeth begin to ache, and my mouth waters.
I want a taste. One little taste of his sweetness.
My gums hurt. Why do they hurt? I whine, feeling like my gums are being sliced open and something pushes out from my gums.
Fangs. Oh, fuck.
I shudder as my fangs scrape Charlie skin. I won’t hurt him. I force myself back, unwrapping Charlie’s arms around me so I can scoot away. I can feel my fangs against my bottom lip, sticking out of my mouth. Using my hand, I cover my face and turn away.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Charlie says, suddenly sounding a lot more sober.
“Uuuuhhh…nothing.” My fangs cause me to have a prominent lisp.
I’m not looking at Charlie, but I can feel him close in on himself.
“It’s me, isn’t it? I’m sorry. I thought…” he sniffles. “I thought maybe you liked me. But of course you don’t. You’re you, and I’m, well…me.” I feel the sadness rippling off of him, and it hurts me.
“No, Charlie. That’s not it at all. There’s nothing wrong with you. And I do like you, a lot actually.”
“Then why did you pull away like that? And why won’t you look at me?” His voice sounds so small and broken.
I have a choice to make right now. I really don’t want to hurt Charlie, and if I lie about what’s happening, he’ll think he did something wrong.
Showing him my fangs will prove that I’m a vampire, but what if I scare him?
What if he runs away and never comes back?
That idea hurts my heart. I don’t want him to be scared of me.
I don’t want to lose him. Even though we just met, the idea of him leaving me is unimaginable.
“I think I’m gonna go.” Charlie says softly, while he starts to scoot out of the booth.
I can’t let him go.