Chapter Eight
Charlie
So…vampires are real…
My eyes burn as I start scooting out of the booth.
I’m such an idiot. I can’t believe I thought for even a second that Kip might like me.
I mean, look at me. I’m a skinny, emo dude.
There’s no way someone like Kip could like someone like me.
I’m chronically grumpy and pessimistic, and Kip is like a literal ball of sunshine. I’d only drag him down.
“Wait, please, Charlie. Don’t go.” Kip wraps his large hand around my bicep, halting my movement. “Please, stay.”
I freeze, waiting. My breath is stuck in my chest.
I hear Kip take a deep breath behind me.
“I really like you, Charlie. I like how prickly and grumpy you are on the outside, but you’re also soft and sweet on the inside when you let your walls down.
I know we’ve only known each other for twenty-four hours, and it’s crazy for me to like you this much already.
I don’t date, or do relationships. But I want to try with you.
It’s like something inside of me calls to something inside of you. ” He pauses.
Kip’s voice gets quieter as he continues, like he’s uneasy about saying whatever he’s going to say out loud.
“The past day of my life has been insane, if I’m being real with you.
I’m overwhelmed and scared. And that’s not like me at all.
I’m the easygoing guy, the guy who isn’t afraid of anything.
But the last day? All I’ve felt is terrified.
I feel like my life has been flipped upside down.
The dude I thought was my best friend? I found out he’s been using me all these years, and now I’m not sure that we were really ever friends at all.
And then I fell from that tree while saving Nacho, and turns out I broke my neck doing that.
And Tyson, my maybe friend? He has been feeding off of me for years, and because he gave me some of his vampire blood, when I died I turned into one too.
I don’t want to be a vampire, Charlie. But I don’t have a choice now—”
I clear my throat, interrupting Kip’s odd and slightly insane speech.
“Hold up a sec…who is Nacho?” Wait, that’s not the important part.
“And I don’t understand what you’re talking about right now Kip.
None of what you’re saying makes sense. Are you messing with me again?
Because I’m too fragile right now for that. ”
Kip sighs. “I’m not messing with you, Charlie.
I’m trying to get you to understand. I know it sounds fucking crazy.
I know you don’t believe me. Why would you?
I want to prove it to you, but I don’t want to scare you.
I don’t want you to leave. That’s another thing that’s frightening me.
I barely know you, but I can’t stand the thought of you not being in my life, even if it’s just as a friend. ”
“Kip…” I turn around, and when I do I see Kip’s pleading mist gray eyes looking at me. His hand covers his mouth.
“Promise you won’t be scared, Charlie.” He whispers from behind his hand.
“You know I can’t promise that. You’re already freaking me out.”
Kip nods. “I understand. Just know that I would never hurt you, okay?” He takes a fortifying breath, his eyes connecting with mine.
I see apprehension in his gaze. He’s really scared.
But I feel like I’m witnessing some sort of mental breakdown.
He keeps talking about being a vampire, and it seems like he really believes it.
What does he think he’s hiding behind his hand?
Fangs? Before I thought maybe he was joking around, pulling a prank on me, but now…
Kip’s gaze doesn’t break from mine as he slowly lowers his hand.
His face is screwed up in a grimace, his lips thinned, and two of his teeth poking out over his bottom lip. Wait…those two teeth are very long and very sharp. But also…kind of cute?
I tentatively reach out a hand, waiting to poke one of the teeth with my finger. “Are those…real? Like did you get implants or something? But wait…we’ve been talking all night and I didn’t see those before…I would’ve noticed.”
“They aren’t implants.” Kip says slowly.
I feel anger flare inside of me. “Okay, this is a whole new level of bullying I’ve never experience before, so props to you. You got me good.”
Kip grabs my finger, bringing to his mouth to press against one of his ‘fangs’. All it takes is a gentle press, and his tooth punctures my skin, blood welling around the spot. I inhale sharply as Kip’s tongue flicks out, licking at the wound, his chest rumbling with a growl.
His eyes hold mine as they start to shift.
Before they were normal, human eyes. Now, it’s almost as if there’s a silvery mist or fog swirling inside of them.
It’s hypnotizing. Kip’s hand still hold my finger, and I watch in fascination and horror as his nails transform, growing into sharp black talon-like protrusions.
“What the fuck…” I whisper, my mind not processing what I’m seeing. “Did you drug me?”
Kip releases my hand like I shocked him. “Of course not, Charlie!” Kip growls. “What else will it take to get you to believe me?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that. I…well…this is a lot to take in, Kip…” I don’t really think he would drug me. But there’s no fucking way he’s actually a vampire that’s just…they’re not real.
“I know it is. You think I believed in them before this happened to me? Think of how the last day has gone for me! Not to mention the fact that I’ve got about twenty-four hours to feed otherwise I’ll die.”
I look at Kip, like really look at him. From his swirling silver-gray eyes, to his jutting fangs, and his long talons. It all looks so real. I mean, what if it is? What if vampires really do exist? I mean, I believe in aliens, ghosts, and even Bigfoot. Are vampires really that far fetched?
“You’re really a vampire? You aren’t fucking with me?”
“I wish I could say that this was an epic prank, but it’s not.” Kip shakes his head. “You don’t know how badly I wish this wasn’t real.”
“And you have twenty-four hours left to feed, or you die?”
“Either that or my instincts take over, I go feral, and have no control over if I attack a rando. But I’d rather die than let that happen. I don’t want to hurt people, Charlie.” Kip sounds so sincere, and I actually believe him.
This is probably a bad idea. No, it is a bad idea. But is that going to stop me? Apparently not. “What if you feed from me?”
As if suspended in time, Kip freezes. Not even a muscle twitch. It’s eerie.
After a long moment, and a slow blink, Kip finally says “You’d do that, for me?”
Apparently, my sense of self preservation is gone. MIA. Nowhere to be found. “Yeah, I would.”
Kip stares at me in awe. “Are you sure, Charlie? It’ll probably hurt. But I promise I’ll be as gentle as I can. And I don’t think I need much. Tyson said that I don’t need to drain anyone. And that I can use my blood to heal you after. I can even try and make you forget it happened, if you want.”
“No. That’s a hard line, for me. No messing with my head.”
“Of course, I’d never do anything without your permission.
” Kip nods. “That’s why I didn’t do this the way Tyson wanted me to.
And why I’m not sure if I can be friends with him anymore.
Did you know that he picked me to feed off of because he thought I was dumb and an easy target?
Not only that, but he would get me blackout drunk, feed off me without me knowing, and then erase my memory!
I would never do that to anyone, even if it meant I would die. ”
I reach for Kip’s hand, his talon’s less sharp and exposed than they were before.
His eyes have calmed, and his fangs have receded significantly.
I realize how scared he must be, and how it has to feel for no one to believe him.
To think that he was going to die, and that he accepted that?
That he’d rather cease to exist than hurt someone?
“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, Kip.” I give his large hand a squeeze. “And I’m sorry that Tyson did that to you. That was so fucked up of him.”
A tear drips down Kip’s cheek. “Yeah, it was. Super fucked up. And uhmmm…thank you, for offering to let me feed from you. I don’t want to take advantage of you though, so maybe we should wait until you’re completely sober. I’m a firm believer that you can’t consent if you aren’t sober.”
“I was pretty drunk earlier, but this conversation has sobered me very quickly. But maybe we could head somewhere so I can get some food, and water? How long do you have before you go ‘feral’, as you put it?”
Kip rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. “Uhh, well…I dont really know. Tyson didn’t give me a timeline. He only said that if I don’t do it willingly, my instincts would force me to. And I’m now realizing that I might’ve put you in danger accidentally, seeing as it could happen any time…”
I stifle a wince. “Yeah, we really don’t want that. But, I am honestly feeling pretty sober now. Maybe we should just do it?”
“Like, right here? Right now?”
I nod.
“You want me to bite you, in the middle of this vampire club?”
“Wait, do you think this club is really for real vampires then? I thought it was a gimmick.” Peering around, I try to sneak looks at the other patrons to see if I can pick out anyone who might actually be a vampire, but it’s too dark in here to really tell.
“I mean, yeah. The bartender is for sure. I’m sure there are others, too.” Kip shrugs nonchalantly, like he isn’t turned my whole world on its head.
“What?! The bartender is a vamp? How do you know?”
“It’s the silver eyes. Dead giveaway.” A smile spreads over Kip’s face for the first time since our conversation veered to his vampirism. “Get it, dead giveaway?” He snorts.
I punch him lightly on the arm, and it feels like hitting a stone wall. I shake out my hand, hissing. That’s going to bruise. “Damn, dude. Has being a vamp made you this solid, or have you always been built like this?”
“I lift, remember? It’s like my number one past-time. And I’m a personal trainer, so I’m constantly working out.”
“Right, right. Okay so, back to the task at hand. I’m pretty sure the curtains surrounding every booth aren’t only for people to use if they’re getting frisky.
It would make sense that vampires might want privacy for feeding.
” I shuffle out of my seat to pull the curtains closed around us.
Darkness envelopes the booth, only the dim flickering of the chandelier above us casting light through the small space.
I slide back into my seat, scooching close to Kip.
Kip swallows thickly. “Are you sure about this, little dude?”
I roll my eyes. “I hate it when you call me that.” Okay, I don’t actually. For some reason, it feels like a compliment coming from Kip. But I feel like I shouldn’t like it. “And yes, I’m positive. Let me help you, Kip. Like you helped me last night.”
“These are two very different situations, Chuck.”
“Not in my mind. Things could’ve ended badly for me last night. I could’ve cracked my skull open on the bathroom floor. Or ended up sleeping on the street. Or have someone hurt me while I was so wasted. You helped me, and now I’m helping you.”
Now that I’ve accepted this, is it weird to say I’m kind of…
excited? Like…this is honestly pretty fucking cool.
Vampires exist! What if other supernatural creatures exist too?
“Do you think there are werewolves and shit too?” My thoughts leak out of my mouth.
“Nope, sorry. I’m getting way too enthusiastic about this.
Do you know how many vampire books and movies I’ve watched?
To think that they’ve been real this whole time… ”
“It’s really cute, seeing you so excited. You come alive, and it’s really beautiful. You’re really beautiful, Charlie.”
Heat rises in my cheeks, and I know they’re stained crimson. I wonder if Kip can hear how that made my heart flutter? Can he see or hear the blood rushing through my veins?
Kip groans gutturally. “God, I can smell you from here. You smell…fucking mouthwatering.” His fangs extend, his eyes picking up their swirling pace.
“I bet you think everyone smells divine now.” I brush off his comment, not believing him.
“No, Charlie. Not everyone. Just you.” Kip’s voice is low and hoarse.
Enough talking and waiting. I’m clear headed enough to know what I’m about to do.
And I don’t want Kip to wait anymore. I muster up what little courage and confidence I have.
Getting up on my knees, I face Kip head on.
Let’s fucking do this. How bad can it be?
He’s gonna take a little bite, drink some of my blood and…
ohh shit. Don’t think about it. Just do it.
Swinging my leg over, I straddle Kip’s lap. His thighs are firm beneath me, and his body feels cooler than mine. I settle down on him, placing my palms against his chest.
Kip’s breathing stutters.
“Bite me, Kip.”