Read Online Blood Orange Soda: Paranormal Romance by James Michael Larranaga - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: James Michael Larranaga
Ads: Link
on the altar isn’t just a cross. It’s a crucifix with a Jesus hanging from it. And the climax of the service is when the priest turns wine into the blood of Christ. What Vampire wouldn’t want a free sip of blood each week? I know most Normals consider the cup of Christ a symbolic gesture, but my Vampire mother knows it’s the blood of Christ, and she drinks it with respect and devotion. To me it tastes like stale grape juice.
Meanwhile, I fidget and think about random things, like song lyrics for our band, or what I’ll bring for lunch tomorrow, or what my life will be like as a Vampire. Then comes the part of the service that always makes me uneasy; when we stand and give the sign of peace to people around us. And I don’t mean the hippie peace sign with two fingers; you actually have to shake a stranger’s sweaty, sometimes germ-ridden hand as if you’re long-lost friends who’ve run into each other at church.
Mom’s great at it, and I even notice some of the men who are in church with their wives checking my mom out. Kira always shakes the hands of only three people before turning back around. My routine is to turn and look back at the pew behind me first and shake only their hands, so that by the time I turn around, the people in the pew ahead of me are already looking forward. When I turn today, I see Bao Wang standing two rows back with his parents!
“Damn it all,” I say under my breath, and quickly turn forward. I feel Mom’s glare and I fake piety, closing my eyes.
Are you there, God? It’s me, Darius!
This is the first time I’ve seen Bao here. Of all the world religions and all the churches in St. Cloud, why does Bao have to worship here? Isn’t he Buddhist or a good old Communist who believes in nothing? This is the first time he’s seen my black eye since the fight. He’s probably proud of his handiwork.
Peace. What a fuggar.
We sit and wait for our turn to take the bread and blood, and I’m already planning my escape route. After I take communion, I’ll exit out the side door rather than return to the pew. Mom always stays for the last song, and sometimes we’re one of the last families to leave the church as she flirts with the priest. Today I’ve got to get the hell out of here.
When it’s our pew’s turn, we all stand and make our way toward the center aisle. I can’t resist looking to my right one more time. I try to talk myself out of it, let it go; but my bully is too irresistible, and I gawk at him.
Bao’s almond-shaped eyes follow me as I move through the pew and he mouths the words, “You’re dead!”
Damn, I should’ve slept in this morning!
Forget the house wine; how long will it take Jack to get me that Blood Orange Soda?
Monday, October 13
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down—the song plays from my dad’s iPod as I get ready for school. My morning routine today begins with hesitation. Do I really need a Red if I’m planning on transforming soon?
I splash water on my face and inspect my injured eye, which is not as puffy but still very black and blue. As for the Reds, I drop the pill into the sink and it dissolves into a frothy cherry broth before it disappears. Today is the first day of the rest of my new Vampire life.
Today I arrive at school early, partly to avoid Bao Wang, and also so I can get help from Mr. Striefland, my math teacher and counselor. Not sure why freshmen need career counselors when we have so much high school ahead of us. Congress passed a dozen resolutions to get Americans Working Again , so this must be part of the grand plan. They want to inspire young people to think about careers and entrepreneurial ideas to get America out of its indebtedness. I can barely decide what color jeans to wear each morning. Career plans are not even on my Goth radar.
There’s a line of students ahead of me waiting for Officer Denny to probe them as they shove their book bags through the scanner. It’s hard to believe this many students
Meanwhile, I fidget and think about random things, like song lyrics for our band, or what I’ll bring for lunch tomorrow, or what my life will be like as a Vampire. Then comes the part of the service that always makes me uneasy; when we stand and give the sign of peace to people around us. And I don’t mean the hippie peace sign with two fingers; you actually have to shake a stranger’s sweaty, sometimes germ-ridden hand as if you’re long-lost friends who’ve run into each other at church.
Mom’s great at it, and I even notice some of the men who are in church with their wives checking my mom out. Kira always shakes the hands of only three people before turning back around. My routine is to turn and look back at the pew behind me first and shake only their hands, so that by the time I turn around, the people in the pew ahead of me are already looking forward. When I turn today, I see Bao Wang standing two rows back with his parents!
“Damn it all,” I say under my breath, and quickly turn forward. I feel Mom’s glare and I fake piety, closing my eyes.
Are you there, God? It’s me, Darius!
This is the first time I’ve seen Bao here. Of all the world religions and all the churches in St. Cloud, why does Bao have to worship here? Isn’t he Buddhist or a good old Communist who believes in nothing? This is the first time he’s seen my black eye since the fight. He’s probably proud of his handiwork.
Peace. What a fuggar.
We sit and wait for our turn to take the bread and blood, and I’m already planning my escape route. After I take communion, I’ll exit out the side door rather than return to the pew. Mom always stays for the last song, and sometimes we’re one of the last families to leave the church as she flirts with the priest. Today I’ve got to get the hell out of here.
When it’s our pew’s turn, we all stand and make our way toward the center aisle. I can’t resist looking to my right one more time. I try to talk myself out of it, let it go; but my bully is too irresistible, and I gawk at him.
Bao’s almond-shaped eyes follow me as I move through the pew and he mouths the words, “You’re dead!”
Damn, I should’ve slept in this morning!
Forget the house wine; how long will it take Jack to get me that Blood Orange Soda?
Monday, October 13
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down—the song plays from my dad’s iPod as I get ready for school. My morning routine today begins with hesitation. Do I really need a Red if I’m planning on transforming soon?
I splash water on my face and inspect my injured eye, which is not as puffy but still very black and blue. As for the Reds, I drop the pill into the sink and it dissolves into a frothy cherry broth before it disappears. Today is the first day of the rest of my new Vampire life.
Today I arrive at school early, partly to avoid Bao Wang, and also so I can get help from Mr. Striefland, my math teacher and counselor. Not sure why freshmen need career counselors when we have so much high school ahead of us. Congress passed a dozen resolutions to get Americans Working Again , so this must be part of the grand plan. They want to inspire young people to think about careers and entrepreneurial ideas to get America out of its indebtedness. I can barely decide what color jeans to wear each morning. Career plans are not even on my Goth radar.
There’s a line of students ahead of me waiting for Officer Denny to probe them as they shove their book bags through the scanner. It’s hard to believe this many students
Similar Books
