Chapter 8 An Alarming Proposal
An Alarming Proposal
“Wake up, sleepyhead.” I poked Ari. “Wake up.” I shook her shoulders a little harder, but she still didn’t move.
I grabbed a couple of pillows and set them on the floor, then crouched beside her and shoved.
I laughed as she tumbled to the floor with a loud squeal.
Her head popped up a second later, followed by a flying pillow that smacked me dead on. I toppled to the floor with a yelp.
“Why? Why would you do that?”
“Because you wouldn’t wake up,” I said. “You’re welcome. Jeez. So ungrateful.” I got up and set to work making the bed. “It’s three in the afternoon and I already showered and did makeup and everything.”
“It’s three already? How did that happen?” She stood and began feeling around for her glasses.
“What’s on your arm?” I grabbed her arm to examine, then started laughing when I saw what it was. “Looks like Sean wrote his number on you in sharpie last night.”
“When did he do that?” She squinted and rubbed her forearm. The writing didn’t budge.
“I think he likes you.”
“He doesn’t know anything about me.” She put her glasses on and frowned at the messy numbers. “His handwriting is awful.”
“He likes your glasses, that’s for sure.” I froze as my phone vibrated from somewhere in the room. It was coming from last night’s discarded outfit. I grabbed my shorts and fetched it from the pocket.
“Who is that? You don’t have any friends.” Ari peered over my shoulder at the text from an unknown number.
“Bar tonight,” I read aloud. “Who is this?”
“Ask them.”
I typed exactly that and hit send. A response came back almost immediately. “Dennis,” I relayed the message. “How’d he get my number?”
“Dunno.” Ari ruffled her hair and grimaced at the mirror. “How drunk was I last night?”
“Pretty drunk. Do you wanna go to the bar later? I guess Dennis is inviting us. I know he’s really weird, but I’m kinda starting to not mind him so much.
We may as well, right?” I asked, wondering if she felt the same or if I was being absurd for going along with this.
My thoughts strayed to the cheesecake incident last night and the way he’d gone from zero to unnerving in a second.
He was clearly unhinged. Still, it wasn’t enough to offset my growing curiosity.
“Are you seriously okay with this?” Ari stopped judging her disheveled reflection to look at me. “I mean, we have no clue what his intentions are, or if he’s planning to hurt you.”
“He said he’s not. That’s one of the first things he said to me. He listed all the things he could do and then said he won’t do any of them ‘cause he’s not gonna harm me in any way.”
“And that makes you feel better? Him listing ways to hurt you and then saying he won’t? That’s such a red flag!”
“But he said he won’t,” I insisted. “So it’s more like an orange flag?”
“No. It’s bright fucking red. You seriously believe him about not hurting you?” She raised an eyebrow, then both when I nodded. She was probably right, but I was already kind of invested. “He’s literally stalking you.”
“But he’s really hot,” I said. “And he’s a vampire. That’s kinda cool, right? We just found out they exist and now three are hanging out with us.”
“Stalking us.”
“I dunno. I feel like we should see where this goes.”
She heaved a sigh before saying, “Fine. I guess if you insist, I’ll go along with it. If you get murdered, we’ll get murdered together.”
“Yay! I knew you’d have my back.”
“But if we get murdered I’m haunting your ghost.”
I laughed. “Fair enough. So you wanna go to the bar, or no?”
“Sure. I don’t have class ‘til late tomorrow so it should be fine. Do you think they’ll be carding?”
“I doubt it, but I got you a fake ID a couple months ago, so it’s fine.
” I texted Dennis back before tossing my phone aside.
Ari left to get cleaned up and we spent the next few hours playing games and eating snacks until it was time to go.
“Can I drive today?” I asked, grabbing my keys as we passed the living room table.
“I guess. But only because I feel like crap.”
“Finally. Don’t get mad if we die.”
“Emy!”
“Relax, hun. I’m kidding. But not really.” I laughed at her panicked expression as we headed outside. The night air was brisk and refreshing. “Seriously. I’m kidding.”
“You better be. And no speeding.”
“Sure thing, mom.” I got inside Tuffy and ran a hand through my hair, careful not to get my rings or earrings caught in the process.
“Do not drive like a maniac or I’ll tuck and roll.” Ari made a big show of buckling her seatbelt, followed by triple checking it for sturdiness.
“You’ll be fine.” I reversed down the drive before pulling a tight u-turn and shooting down the street.
“You said you wouldn’t speed!”
“I also said I was kidding about us dying, but we all know that’s not true.” My cackle was cut short from the painfully tight grip on my thigh. “Ow, Ari let go—”
“Then drive like a normal person!” She squeezed tighter. I did not, and I was happy when we finally arrived so she could release the death grip on my poor, innocent leg. “I’m never riding with you again.”
“Kay. Have fun walking home.” I laughed as she clambered out. I stepped out and smoothed my short skirt, eyeing the guy beside us. It was the same man as before, standing near the same bike and talking with friends.
“Hey girly.” He nodded with a small smile.
“Hi.” I smiled back before turning to Ari.
“Someone’s carding.” She frowned. There was a large bouncer blocking the entrance. “What’re we gonna do now?”
“Don’t you fret. I have a plan, remember?” I pulled out a card and pushed it into her hand.
She examined the fake license, flipping it over to inspect the back. “This actually looks legit.”
“Well, I’m not gonna buy a fake one that looks fake. That would be useless.”
“Thanks, Emy.” She smiled as we started walking. “Even though I’ll be twenty-one in like, three months.”
“That’s three months too long. This is way better than waiting.” I retrieved my license once we reached the bouncer and placed it in his outstretched hand.
He briefly inspected it before handing it back, then did the same with Ari’s. “Go ahead.” He stepped aside to let us in.
“Am I good, or am I good?” I grinned as we passed. “That’s yours until your birthday. Hey look, your boyfriend’s here.” I walked to the bar and hopped on the stool in front of Sean. “Hi. I want a vodka lemonade with a splash of sprite. Please.”
“You’re so demanding,” he teased, then switched focus to Ari as she took the seat beside me. “And you didn’t text me.”
“I didn’t want to and I don’t want your number.”
“Ha, you sound like me.” I nudged her as Sean laughed.
“Two vodka lemonades coming right up.” He began mixing our drinks as she shot me an annoyed look.
“You can’t drink, you have to drive.”
“It’ll wear off by the time we leave. Drinking at a party is messy but here I can regulate and be fine. Anyway, I drink like a beast. My tolerance is ridiculous.” I flipped my hair over a shoulder and propped an elbow on the bar.
Sean set both drinks down and leaned against the bar. He waved Ari’s card off when she tried to pay. “Don’t worry about it. The first round is on me.”
“Aw, thanks.”
“Yeah, thanks,” I echoed Ari before downing a good portion of my drink. She timidly sipped hers. “Really, Ari? You’re gonna take five years to finish the thing.” I tipped her glass, laughing as her eyes widened and she jerked back with a scowl.
“Don’t do that.” She shoved me. “You’re so obnoxious.”
“I’m just trying to help,” I said. Sean chuckled at our antics before leaving to take someone else’s order. “He’s so cute. You should really text him.”
“He’s kinda cute, but he’s a vampire,” she said the last word so quietly I could barely hear. Sean shot us an amused grin, showing he’d heard perfectly.
“He can hear you.”
“I figured.” She glanced at him before turning back to me. “He is cute. I just don’t date undead people.”
“Living proof of hell.”
I spilled my drink at Dennis’ unexpected voice. “What is wrong with you?” I demanded, wiping off my chest. Several drops had fallen down my cleavage.
“Nothing. We’re not undead. I prefer to think of us as living proof of hell.” He placed a hand on the bar and hopped over it to the other side. “Hey, Sean.” He grabbed a bottle to pour himself a drink.
“Are you allowed to do that?” Ari asked.
Dennis didn’t pay her any attention. He sipped the drink and walked over to Sean, clapping him on the back before joining the conversation with another customer.
“So he invites us here, then shows up and ignores us. He’s so sweet,” I said. He shot me a boyish smile before turning back to Sean.
“This tastes like sprite and lemonade.” Ari took a bigger sip before setting her glass down.
“Except it has vodka. Which makes it that much better.” I held mine up in cheers, though my grin faded when some random girl took Ari’s. We both watched in shock as she finished it.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Ari was the first to recover. She snatched the glass back.
“Drinking.” The blonde’s tone was rude as she eyed us.
I eyed her back, taking in her glossy hair, dark eyes, the arrogant sneer across her red stained lips. She was rude but gorgeous. It was honestly distracting.
“You’re buying me a new drink,” Ari said.
“I don’t think so. You guys are new here. Earn my respect and I’ll think about it.” The girl laughed as Ari grew more annoyed.
“What’s going on, ladies?” Sean was back with Dennis in tow.
“Nothing, except she stole my fucking drink.” Ari shot the rude girl a glare.
“So get your friend to buy you a new one.” The girl reached for my drink, but I moved it away.
“Don’t touch my shit or I’ll cut you.”
“Leave it alone, Vixen.”
“What’re you gonna do, huh?” the girl taunted.
“Cut you,” I said it slower since she apparently didn’t understand.