The boy—if you could call him that—turned around, revealing his face at last. It was handsome, even if it was to dark to see any features. She could see his dark blond hair, slicked back in and old-fashioned way. His eye where hidden behind a thin, silvery layer of glaze. His timeless smirk was, as always, plastered on his face. His sharp, milky fangs where showing under his top lip.
He was well-dressed, in a button-down shirt, but the color was undefined. He had black pants that could have been denim or cotton. If he was so deadly-looking and scary, any girl would have died to have gone out with him. Except for the one watching him.
Standing roughly fifteen feet away from him, was a girl, several years younger. Only the back of her head was visible. She had blond hair as well, but lighter and more feminine. It was medium length, just below her shoulders, and curly. Like pin-curls, that were falling out slightly. But somehow, she made it look elegant and just as timeless as his smirking grin.
Just like him, she was dressed nicely. Her dress was something that you might see at a Renaissance. It was made from rich reds and fine gold's, but it seemed like it belonged, even with the modern, big city in view.
His lips parted, showing his fangs, extending from his canine teeth. The smirk was kept in its place. Even as he spoke, nothing could be heard other than the silence of the night. From his expression, he was mocking her.
She moved her left foot back a step. As if he would let her escape so easily.
In the blink of an eye, she was trapped in his embrace. It wasn't romantic or friendly. One strong arm was wound around her back, keeping her from moving. His free hand was large enough it was clamped tightly on around her throat. Even without trying, he was holding onto her so tightly, she couldn't breathe very well.
In a slow movement, the muscles of his hand contracted and squeezed tighter. She flailed around and tried to worm away from him. He held tighter. As soon as her writhing ended, he dropped her limp body to the ground. She was still and lifeless. Her face was covered by her hair, still leaving her identity a mystery,
He mouthed something else before chuckling slightly and turning on his heel to walk away. In that one instant, the light reflecting off of the moon illuminated his face. It caught on his sharp teeth and sparkled strangely. Unlike his smirk, he smiled like he was Satan himself and he knew it.
I bolted upright in bed. I was breathing hard, like I just got back from sprinting a mile or two. I was covered in sweat, even though I had kicked off my blankets. My eyes darted around my still-dark room frantically, looking for something that changed.
Everything was where it was supposed to be. My bass was still in its stand in the corner, next to my desk. The curtains were closed and keeping out the moonlight. My desk had my blue MacBook Air on it, as always. Everything was in order.
I almost laughed at myself for thinking my nightmare would change my room.
Forgetting about my nightmare, I got out of my bed to change out of my damp pajamas. But afterwards, I didn't feel like going back to sleep. It was a little past five-thirty, so I was only getting up an hour and a half earlier than usual.
I headed off to the bathroom to take a hot shower and calm my racing heart, Even though I didn't feel scared anymore, my heart wasn't fooled one bit. And I only knew of three things that could calm me down. My boyfriend, Brendan, my Uncle Robbie or a very long shower. Brendan wasn't here and my uncle was asleep. A shower it was then.
Just like always, the hot water gently steamed away my tension. It felt good to be totally mellow again, if not glowing red with heat. Afterwards, I pulled my hair into a pony tail and put my favorite, solid black, baseball hat on backwards. My fuzzy red slippers found their way onto my feet not long after that.
I padded off in to kitchen and got a can of Red Bull from the fridge, six in the morning or not, it was my favorite drink. And caffeine didn't affect me at all. I guessed that I'd been drinking only caffeinated drinks for so long, it just didn't do anything.
Going past the counter, I grabbed onto a pen. I stabbed it into the top of the can to take a drink, rather than pull open the tab and break and acrylic nail. Some people thought it was weird and kind of creepy, but then again, I wasn't most people. So not spilling a drop, I flopped onto the couch in the living room. I sat upright, leaning against the armrest and stretching my legs out in front of me. I took a drink and waited for my day to more or less begin.
A little after six thirty, Uncle Robbie got up. He usually got up around five, but let himself sleep in because it was Sunday.
"What're you doing up, Anna?" he asked.
I never got up before noon on the weekends during the summer, so I could see why he was surprised.
I looked up to where the hallway met the living room. He was standing in the doorway, smiling confusedly down at me. He was thirty-eight, a tad young to be a sixteen-year-olds parent. So I guessed it was a good thing he was my father's younger brother. His hair was starting to grey in some places, giving him a look of distinction. With was good because he was the headmaster of an elite school I attended. Contradicting his facial features, were his eyes, they were they same shade of brown as mine, but warmer. He was a person you would just want to go up to and hug, the fact he was wearing blue pajama pants wasn't helping much.
"Had a nightmare," I answered. "Couldn't fall back asleep."
Okay, so I left out the fact I didn't try.
"Are you sure you'll be okay in the dorms?" Uncle Robbie asked skeptically.
"I'll be fine."
Because he was the headmaster, he lived on the far side of campus, in his own cottage. I had lived with him for as long as I could remember, not once staying in the dorms with everyone else. But this year, I decided I wanted to do something different, and live with everyone else and get a roommate. He was kind of worried about me because I never left the cottage. I could kind of see where he was coming from, but I was getting tired of the worry-wart-ness.
"Why don't we have some breakfast and then we'll take your things to the dorms, hmm?"
"Sure," I agreed quickly.
We both went into the kitchen again. I ditched the empty can before he would notice; he wasn't a big fan of my Red Bull drinking habit…
Just like every Sunday morning, we made chocolate chip pancakes. It was only a once-a-week thing, because we always made a huge mess. And today wasn't any different.
By the time we sat down at the table with our breakfast, we were covered in flour and batter and melted chocolate. Of course, underneath it all, we were both smiling and laughing about it. Until it came time to clean it all up. Then we weren't too happy about it and questioned ourselves why we even bothered in the first place.
After we both cleaned up the kitchen, which seemed to get messier every time we did this, we had to take showers. Again, in my case. If I didn't, I would wind up sticky and gross. Ew.
So after all that, we were finally able to move all my stuff from the cottage, to my new dorm room. All the clothes I would need were all ready packed, but we still had to take care of everything else.
Before packing everything else up, I changed from my pajamas into jeans and a tee shirt. My usual clothing of choice, other than the required uniform, and I was always wearing it. As a finishing touch, I threw on my hat again, backwards. Like always.
I shoved my iPhone and iPod into my pockets. All my electronics where Apple brand. Then all I really had to get were my extra comforter, sheets and stuff to make my room homey.
Unfortunately, the girl's dorm was almost a mile away, on the other side of campus. And the only way there, was through the woods. We would have to carry all of my stuff back and forth. Or not.
Because we both always hated walking back and forth so much, we both got a form of transportation (I had a sports bike, in a bright red. Uncle Robbie had a mo-ped. I always laughed at it when he wasn't around). We put these wagon-things on the back of our respective vehicles and piled boxes on top. With both of us, we would only have to make one trip.
A few minutes later, we were in the front of the dormitory. Even though the school year started the next day, I was the only girl there yet. Even though students could stay year-round if they wanted to, everyone went home for breaks. I was almost always by myself. Except for a few of the younger kids, that were orphaned or something.
Uncle Robbie unlocked the doors to the dorm with his master keys. The lounge was filled with comfy beanbag chairs and couches. There were a few flat screens around and a kitchen with enough food for everyone to have breakfast there everyday and snacks. I never spent much time there though. Most of my friends were guys.
We walked past the empty lounge and up the grand-ish stone staircase. My room was on the sixth and top floor. The building itself was old and was essentially a castle, thus no elevator. It was one of the few things that wasn't modernized. It also meant that we had to take a ton of trips up to my room.
After everything was done, I sat down on the bare bed that I would soon have to make.
"You can go back home, I'm fine," I told my uncle.
"You sure?"
"Positive. If I need anything, I'll call."
"…okay," he agreed before hugging me and leaving again.
I looked around and decided I should probably get to work.
I dug through the boxes with my clothes in them. Not being all that careful, I hung everything up in the closet or put it into my dresser. It didn't take as long as I thought it would, but it still was longer than I liked. It was almost one when I was finished with that.
Then I took out everything else I brought. I hung up all my posters from my room at the cottage. They were for all my favorite bands. I had Hollywood Undead, Linkin Park, Green Day, Boys Like Girls, and All Time Low. Mostly the punk bands though, because they were my favorite.
I set my pictures on my night stand and got all my other stuff out. Including my elephant that I had to have in order to sleep, Fanny. I got her when I was two and haven't been able to sleep without her since.
Very last on my list, I made my bed up. I had a million pillows that I threw on my floor until I had my sheets and comforter on. My sheets were lime green and everything thought they were obnoxious. My comforter was reversible, with and neon polka dots on one side, the same but black on the other. I picker the black and neon side to be facing upwards.
When I finished, I went into my bathroom to brush my hair out. It was still a little damp from my shower because it was really thick. It was dark brown and black when it was wet. It came just past my shoulders, if it was curled and it was. I liked it straight better. But I didn't feel like doing anything with it, so I put it into a pony tail again and put my hat on.
Happy to have everything done, finally, I flopped across my bed, my hat fell off though. Before I could put it back on, there was a knock on my arched, wooden door. I thought it was Uncle Robbie, trying to check on me. So not bothering to go get my hat to put on, I went to see what he wanted.
But on the other side, was a face I hadn't seen in a month. The same, medium brown hair, blue-green eyes. A few inches taller than me. Smiling his smile I couldn't ever resist. My best friend and boyfriend since last year, Brendan Kennedy. Without warning, I flung myself into his arms. He staggered back a little but then wrapped his arms around me as well.
"God, I missed you this summer," he murmured.
For the first time since freshman year, he actually went off campus to see his parents. He'd been spending every summer at Preston School of Medicine with me, rather than go home. And his parents would come here to visit him. Until this summer, when they wanted him to go home for a while. He didn't really have a choice, because they pay his tuition.
"How'd you find out what room I'm staying in?" I asked, still not releasing him.
"Uncle Robbie," he answered. I was pretty sure Brendan was to only one that actually called Uncle Robbie that, other than me.
"What room are you this year?"
"750. Nobody's even close to me."
Brendan played the only drum set in the school band and it was so loud when he practiced, he got his own room. And it was always far away from everyone else. And considering he played the electric guitar as well, that was a very good thing. I couldn't bring my bass to the dorms with me because of how loud it was, so I was a little jealous of him.
"So how was your summer?" Brendan asked.
"Boring. Without you here, I couldn't think of anything to do."
He pulled away and held me by shoulders at arms length. He was smiling in a way that didn't tell me anything.
"Anna Preston, are you trying to make me feel guilty?" he teased.
"Aren't I always?" I could hear the smile in my own voice.
"More or less…"
I laughed, I wasn't quite sure why though. He wasn't being funny. Although he normally was. Maybe I was just so used to seeing him do something incredibly stupid. It was definitely a possibility.
Changing the subject, kind of, Brendan asked, "Who's your roommate?"
He sounded like he was gloating, because he knew I had to share a room with someone this year, and as always, he didn't.
"Uncle Robbie wouldn't tell me."
I wasn't too happy about not knowing. But at the same time, I loved a good surprise.
"So you don't know if you're going to be living with a psycho killer?! What if she's a…a…an alien?!"
"You watched E.T. with Jarred, didn't you?" I accused.
Brendan's little brother, who happened to go to the elementary school on campus, Preston Academy, was in love with that movie and forced my poor boyfriend to watch it every chance he had. Even though he was adorable, I swore he was a demon summoned straight from hell. But I try to ignore it.
"I highly doubt I would room with a murderer or an alien, Brendan. And do know one thing…"
"What? Is she suicidal? I bet she slits her wrists; that's why she got put with you!"
Finally taking his arms away from my shoulders, he went into 'thinking mode'. His left arm went across his chest, and his hand was balled into a fist on his side. His right elbow was resting on his wrist, with his right hand on his face, under his nose. I always thought that he looked like the "Thinker", only he's more evolved than an ape. I hoped…
"Uncle Robbie said that she was…a tad…strange…"
Looking back, he was really nervous, jittery, and…well, sweaty when he had to tell me about the girl I would have to live with. Brendan just looked, kind of constipated. For second, I wondered if he had too much cheese when he went to Europe this summer, to his family's vacation house. I didn't really want to find out. And this was exactly why I didn't believe in eating anything cheese-based.
"See?! She's and extra terrestrial! From Mars!"
"You mean a Martian?"
He smiled, all most like…I wasn't sure, but it was like something, I swear. When I didn't say anything, he just proved his vocabulary was learned from Star Wars movies or something. How he was in pre-med already, I couldn't understand for the life of me.
"A space invader, if you will," Brendan suggested.
"Dude, I love you and all, but you've got to lay off the alien movies, kay?"
He grinned, like I was kidding. I wasn't. There was no way I would date a Trekkie. Even if he was incredibly hot.
In the next moment, Brendan became instantly serious. Which was weird for him, unless we were in class, also known as his 'domain'.
"I've been away from you for two months, and all I get is a hug? Not even a hot make-out session? You are seriously lacking in the girlfriend department, Anna."
I smiled, but smacked him upside the head. Not hard, but hey, I don't know my own strength.
"I could say the same thing. You didn't bring me back presents."
"I came back at all, didn't I?"
I raised one eyebrow and looked at him. "You could have done better."
"You know you love me. Wanna see my new room?"
It wasn't a hard decision to make. Even last year, I spent most of my after school time in Brendan's room. Might as well know where it is.
Before we left, I grabbed my key from my dresser. I wasn't going to lock my door, because nobody was here, but it was just in case. Then, Brendan took me across the quad, to get to the guys dorm. The quad was just a big, grassy area with a fountain, benches and trees. Nothing special.
Looming over us, was the guys, medieval looking dormitory. It was exactly like the girls, but bigger. Even though there were less guys that than girls. It was more or less a huge castle. You would think the school would be all cool, too, right? Nope. It was a series of buildings the size of any normal high school. There were five in all. One for the kindergarten and elementary, the middle school, high school, science labs, and the college.
The inside was more or less the same as my dorm. The first floor had the lounge on it and the first hundred rooms. They were all the smallest and used for the younger kids. The only way to distinguish the two dorms was that the lounge was…different.
Rather than be filled with pink and purple and lime green things that were all fuzzy and girly, they had navy blue, black, and brown plush furniture that looked like something the cat dragged in. considering this particular lounge was home to more than seven hundred guys, I thought it faired pretty well over the years.
Passing the, again, empty lounge, we went up the stairs again. It was called 'the Grad Staircase" but I wouldn't ever call it that, because it essentially a set of average stairs that was really wide and made of stones.
We walked up the seven levels to Brendan's floor. None of the guys ever stayed on the seventh floor. Not because it was haunted or anything cool like that, but there weren't enough people to fill the rooms. If you had some weird disorder or something, you got your own room up there. Or, in Brendan's case, had to practice a very loud drum set.
A few doors away from a corner, Brendan opened one of the huge, old-fashioned, arched doors to a room. It wasn't locked and I wasn't surprised. Nobody really got here for one more day, so we were the only two. It wasn't like some ghost or a little kid was going to try and break in or something.
The room was basically the same shape mine. A decent sized room for two people to share, a bathroom door, some furniture. Brendan's suitcases were sitting on the floor because he just got here, so he didn't unpack before coming to see me. His drums were set up in a corner, with no space to play them. And next to them, was his black and white electric guitar. But there was one thing about it that wasn't right. There were two beds, not one.
"Are you getting a roommate?" I asked, a little confused about it.
"No. Maintenance won't come get it because of some reason they wouldn't tell me. I have to get rid of it myself. You know, I was supposed to have my own room up here so I could practice, and I still don't have any space!"
I smiled up at him. now I knew why he wanted me to come see his room. He didn't want to take apart the bed by himself.
"You want some help?" it was a question that sounded more or like a statement to me and I knew Brendan could here it as well. It was blaringly obvious.
"If you don't mind," he admitted shyly.
"I don't. On one condition…"
His smile faded grimly, but on the inside, I could tell he was smiling. It was all in his eyes that were currently bright blue. They were usually a mix between blue and green and nobody could ever figure out which color it was. Now was a rare occasion.
"I knew it. What do you want?" Came Brendan's response.
"Do you have a hat I can wear?"
I know that it sounded stupid, but I needed a hat to put on backwards. I didn't get mine before we left my room, and was beginning to feel strange without it. When I had my hat on, I could channel the other side of me. The more guy-ish side of me. When I could get covered in gross stuff from taking apart an unwanted bed, and just not care. Girl-me would have a coronary if I tried that.
Brendan pressed his lips into a tight line to hide that he wanted to laugh at me. It was always the same old story when I wanted to take his hat or a tie or something. But instead of laughing at me, he grabbed a hat from a bag and put it on my head, backwards.
"Much better," I said, feeling more normal already.
Then, the two of us set out to remove the abomination, laughingly called a bed.
As it turned out, our task was harder than you would think it to be. First, we just moved the mattress and box spring off the actual frame. Then we had to figure out how to take apart the wooden bed frame. Every other bed was metal, with no headboard. Why couldn't this thing be the same? Because it hates me, that's why.
Eventually, we sat on the floor and stared at it. We didn't have any tools or anything to take it apart, and it wouldn't fit through the door, no matter how badly we wanted it to. We could try every direction possible, swear at it until we lost our voices and threaten it until we couldn't think of anything else to say, but it still wouldn't move anywhere.
I stood up and walked over to where it was. I crossed my arms and just looked at it, trying to think of something to do with it. I settled for hitting the headboard that probably weighed sixty pounds.
It fell on me. And it was about as heavy as I guessed.
"Ow," I groaned from underneath the sixty-pound bed,
Brendan more or less jumped to his feet and heaved the abomination off of me. Offering me a hand, he pulled me back to my feet. I readjusted my hat and turned back to the headboard.
"Abomination!" I shouted at it.
"It's a tiny, creaky, twin-sized bed. How is it an abomination?"
"It fell on me! It weighs a ton."
He laughed a little. "Just like in Sky High when they dropped the cars on the kids to see if they were strong?"
That was another thing about Brendan. He watched so many movies, he had an analogy for just about every situation. It got on my nerves when we were friends in freshman year, but I was used to it now and almost liked it. But it bugged guy-me when I was pissed about, oh, I don't know, getting crushed under an abomination!
After some taking, we just decided to force it out the door as it was. And because I made the headboard fall off, it would be easier. We would still have to convince it to go along with out way of thinking but oh well. We still had an hour before dinner.
It didn't take as much effort as we thought it would to get the frame out the door. And rather than just take it to the basement, like we were supposed to, we pushed it around the corner. Out of sight, out of mind. Right?
We went back into Brendan's room, closing the door behind us. I took off the hat and ran my fingers through my ponytail, trying to brush it. It was all snarly from being in the hat and trying to get rid of the bed. Brendan was moving his drums to where the other bed was, making a lot of noise in the process. When he was finished, he sat down by me and hugged me again.
"I really missed you this summer, Anna," he said softy.
"I missed you too."
Since he wasn't able to before he went to kiss me. I put my index finger on his lips and stopped him. He looked very confused and even a tad hurt.
"I'm covered in dust and sweat. There will be no kissing until I have showered."
"I guess I can say the same thing. How about we meet up later?"
"How about you just come to dinner with me tonight at Uncle Robbie's?"
"What time?"
"Hour and a half."
I was wrong about the time before, because I just now looked at a clock to check the actual time. It was five-thirty and we were eating at seven.
I left Brendan's room and headed back down the stairs, across the quad and into my dorm. I gave his hat back before I left though, so my hair was a mess again. Luckily, nobody on campus meant nobody could see my bird-nest-hair.
I quickly went to take a shower. My third in one day. Oh well. It wasn't my water bill, and I needed it.
Afterwards, I put my hair back again. I knew that I wouldn't dry before dinner, even if I took a blow drier to it. I picked up my hat again, putting it on and went to look in the dresser for something to wear, other than a school uniform.
I pulled out my favorite dark jeans that were skinny flare and on me at least, almost looked like bellbottoms. They were super comfy and they looked good. Then, I got my plain gray tee shirt. No design, no nothing. Totally plain, yet awesome. It just seemed to fit my personality, kind of…
I grabbed my phone and put it into my back pocket, because that was the only place it would fit. I checked the clock again. It was quarter to seven and Uncle Robbie would be expecting me soon.
As I left my room again, I called Brendan.
"Hey," he answered.
"Hi. Can you meet me outside my dorm?"
"Sure. See you soon."
The line clicked off and I went down into the lounge, then outside. I stood on the edge of the quad and by a tree, that I was leaning on while I waited. I didn't know why, but something made me think of that nightmare I had. I didn't like the way the vampire-thing was smiling. It was like he knew something. And they both seemed really familiar. I couldn't place it, but I had a feeling that—
I felt a hand on my shoulder. I nearly jumped out of my skin, I was so surprised.
"God, Brendan!" I said, breathlessly as I smacked the back of his head.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. It's just like in—"
"I don't care what movie it's like! And you had better not mean to scare me!"
"What happened in the last hour to piss you off?"
"Nothing, I'm sorry. I was just thinking about the nightmare I had last night and started to scare myself again."
It didn't look like he believed me at first. He just kind of looked at me for a second before finally trusting that I wasn't angry with him or something.
I grabbed onto his hand and started pulling him towards Uncles Robbie's. Even if we were going to be late, I wanted to walk the mile rather than ride my bike.
The two of us ran into the woods and weaved in and out of the trees, like we would when we were younger. It always felt nice to turn back time for a while, so we would do whatever we wanted. Even though I happened to trip over a root. It took a second, but I got back to my feet to enjoy myself some more.
But it didn't last long. Because the rustling by my side, which happened to be Brendan, disappeared. I stopped running long enough to see where he went. My head still ached a little from where I hit it when I tripped, but I didn't think it was my imagination that he had disappeared.
"Brendan?" I somewhat yelled.
There wasn't a response. I was starting to get kind of freaked out. I wasn't very far from the cottage, so I should just keep going, I told myself. But I couldn't just leave if something happened to Brendan. Why was I being so paranoid? Nothing out of the ordinary had happened, other than my nightmare. And even then, I got a lot of scary dreams.
I heard the leaves rustling and twigs snapping, as if someone had stepped on them. I turned around expecting to see Brendan. I didn't. I saw the guy from my dream. He couldn't be real though! It was just a dream!
"Hello, Anna. Don't you remember me?" he said. He sounded hurt. False hurt, anyway.
His smirk was still in place on his lips. It was the same as before. Like he knew something I didn't, some secret. He was dressed close to the same as well. In a button-down and jeans that looked like they were made for him and the outdoors. That made him all the scarier.
I started feeling all weird and floaty. Like I was in my dream again. But I couldn't be. I was awake, I could tell from the pain in my head. You didn't feel pain in dreams.
But this wasn't a dream, I reminded myself, it's a nightmare.
He frowned. "You have a worse memory than I expected. Think, Anna. Think hard. And, in time, maybe you'll remember me."
He turned on his heel to walk away. Just the way he did that seemed different and foreign to me. But very familiar at the same time. Suddenly, so suddenly I missed the entire movement, he was looking over his shoulder at me. Not smiling, or smirking, but not quite a frown either. It was something you would need years to perfect. And he had.
"You really should be more careful, my dear. That boy of yours. He's waiting for you. And do try to not fall again, hmm?" were his last words to me.
Like he was never there, he faded away as he walked. I closed my eyes and fell, not knowing when I truly hit the ground, and reality, again.
Brendan was crouched over me. His palms were on my face. One was on my forehead and keeping the wind from blowing my hair into my face. The other was on my cheek.
"Anna! God, what happened?"
It took me a second to find my voice again. I couldn't really think of a way to answer him without lying or sounded crazy.
"I tripped when I was running. No big deal," I said. It wasn't a total lie. I did trip, but it was definitely a big deal.
"You look like you've seen Casper's uncles or something."
Or a vampire, I thought.
Brendan pulled me back to my feet again. I was a little dizzy still. And it wasn't from the fall. It was because I knew that creeper guy from somewhere. I couldn't tell what he meant to me, but I knew it was something big and from my past. But I couldn't remember for the life of me what it was. I felt like someone had a deadbolt on my memory bank about that I didn't have the key to.
The rest of the way to Uncle Robbie's, we walked instead. I didn't want to trip again and relive that weird vision thing. I didn't even want to fall asleep again. Brendan kept his hand on the small of my back, guiding me almost. Normally, I wouldn't have stood for it. But I almost needed, and wanted, to not have to worry about running into any more trees. I knew Brendan wouldn't let me. On purpose, anyway…
When we finally got to the cottage, we were almost fifteen minutes late. Uncle Robbie was sitting in the living room, waiting for us. The house smelled like hamburgers.
Before we sat down to eat, I went into the bathroom and got all of the dirt and leaves off my clothes and out of my hair. I didn't want to have to take another shower.
When we were all at the table, the smell was starting to disgust me. I didn't really feel like eating while I was nauseated. Or when I had a vampire on the brain. It just felt weird. I couldn't do it.
"Aren't you hungry?" Uncle Robbie asked.
Considering I hadn't eaten since breakfast, I should have been. But I wasn't. I just wanted to go to my room and think.
"No," I answered. My voice was quieter than it usually was. "In fact, I kind of just want to go back to my room."
Brendan, who hadn't eaten very much either, asked, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Can we just go back?" I begged.
He took one more drink of his Coke and agreed. We said goodbye to Uncle Robbie, who was worried that I wasn't telling the truth and something was majorly wrong. After that and barely after we got there, Brendan and I left.
Back in my room, I kissed Brendan goodbye he was pretty happy that I finally kissed him after so long. I had to admit, I was to. But after that, he went back to his room and I flopped down on my bed.
I didn't really want to think about anything. Well, I did, but I couldn't bring myself to even let my mind wander back to the creeper dude. So, rather than freak myself out, I just stared at the dorm room.
It was just your typical room that was big enough for two people. The walls were a weird red-ish color that looked dark, but was actually warm and I liked it. My bed was against one wall, with my dresser and nightstand there too. Right across from me, was the other bed for my roommate and her space. The wall between us had two huge windows that would let in a lot of light if I didn't have the curtains closed. Also on my side of the room was the bathroom door. It was the same as the door to the room, arched and heavy. My roommate had the mini fridge just barely closer to her, but by the room's door, on that wall. I had already filled it with Red Bull and anything else I thought was important.
I still didn't really feel like going to sleep, and risk having the nightmares, so I grabbed my laptop and turned it on. I was going to sign into my email, but I knew nothing would be in my inbox because I didn't have any friends outside of Preston because I've lived here since I was little.
As always, I went into my instant messenger. I logged in and saw one of my friends from school, that would be coming the next day, was on.
He was one of my closest friends, other than Brendan. He was a senior named Jude. Not many people were very close to him because he was a major druggie. But he also sold drugs to people, so everybody was nice enough to him. Of course, none of the teachers of Uncle Robbie knew about the whole drug thing.
AnnaBanana: Wat's up man
JudeDude: nm. U
AnnaBanana: u gonna come back 2maro
JudeDude: yup
AnnaBanana: sweet, wat time
JudeDude: how the fuck would I no!
AnnaBanana: dude chill
JudeDude: sry. Ill c u l8r
AnnaBanana: k. ily! 3
JudeDude: lol. Back at cha
JudeDude has signed out 8:57 pm
Doing the same thing as Jude, I signed out of my messenger again. I would see everyone tomorrow, I thought. But I still stayed on my computer, watching YouTube videos. Until I fell asleep, I was having fun and laughing. But after I crashed, I was plunged into the world of nightmares and vampires, once again.