mean. He hasn’t been for a long time.”
Tyler turns away, but I can see that his face registers a mix of embarrassment and sadness. He shakes his head and lets his hair cover his eyes.
I realize my original assessment was wrong. He’s not the jerk—I am. I certainly wouldn’t want anyone lumping me in the same category as my parents, especially Mom.
“Well, neither of our parents will be getting any awards for child-rearing,” I say. “And sorry I kind of bit your head off at the station last night.” I look down at the ground and kick at the fog. “It’s just that money’s tight and my mom was flipping out more than usual.” I look back up and notice him watching me through his hair. His light blue irises are rimmed with a darker blue. I realize we’re staring at each other and look away while butterflies flit around in my empty stomach.
“Sounds like you could be talking about my dad. Only when money is tight, we sleep in the car.”
As if on cue, a car horn blares and we both jump. Kiki is hanging out of the roof of a white limo that’s pulling into the parking lot. Her long blond hair is pulled back into a high ponytail and she’s wearing a pink hoodie far more modest than the revealing outfit she had on last night. “Daphne,” she yells. “Look!” She checks the lot for I don’t know what, and then starts laughing maniacally. She pulls out a hunting knife and waves it over her head.
“Whoa,” Tyler says. “Who is that?”
I can’t help but laugh and give Kiki the thumbs-up. “That would be Kiki Crusher—wannabe vampire slayer.”
Tyler looks at me in disbelief as the limo slowly circles the lot with Kiki slashing the air with the knife.
“Long story short, I’ve been assigned by the SouthBristol vampire task force to give her the 411 on all things undead.”
“She’s going to hurt someone with that knife,” he says, watching Kiki stab at the fog.
“That’s kind of the point” I giggle. “Pun intended. But you know after you stake ’em—off comes the head.”
He turns back to me. “Huh? Why would you do that?”
I raise my eyebrows in surprise. “You
don’t
?”
His gets a stupid smirk on face. It reminds me of his father, and my annoyance returns.
“No, I don’t,” he says, looking at me like I’m the crazy one. “But given what my dad said about your parents I’m not surprised they have you beheading
dead
vampires.” His smile broadens. “You either stake them or cut the head off—one or the other, babe.”
Babe?
I put a hand on one hip. “My
name
is Daphne. And your father’s far from perfect. I heard his demon theory—that’s a little out there, don’t you think?”
Tyler stiffens. “Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t.” He folds his arms across his chest. “But at least he’s not having me follow antiquated slayer practices that have no basis in reality.”
“At least my father never had to …” My mouth opens and my stomach drops. I can hardly believe what was about to come out of my mouth.
He stares at me—his jaw locked and his angry blue eyes dare me to finish the sentence. I feel sick and wish I could rewind time and take it all back.
I swallow hard. “Uh, I don’t have time for this,” I say trying to sound all businesslike and not at all like I was about to bring up what happened to his mother. “I have work to do.”
Kiki skips up to us and eyes Tyler. “Hellooooo,” she says, taking him in.
“Hey,” he says, totally staring at her chest.
I retract my earlier thought about her modest attire. Kiki’s hoodie is unzipped just enough to reveal a black lace cami her boobs are in danger of spilling out of. She’s wearing black leggings that show off every curve. The whole ensemble’s pretty hoochie for hunting vampires. At least she’s got on a pair of pink high-tops instead of heels.
I can’t help but notice that even though she’s obviously made an effort to dress down, she still took the time to put on a ton of
Tyler turns away, but I can see that his face registers a mix of embarrassment and sadness. He shakes his head and lets his hair cover his eyes.
I realize my original assessment was wrong. He’s not the jerk—I am. I certainly wouldn’t want anyone lumping me in the same category as my parents, especially Mom.
“Well, neither of our parents will be getting any awards for child-rearing,” I say. “And sorry I kind of bit your head off at the station last night.” I look down at the ground and kick at the fog. “It’s just that money’s tight and my mom was flipping out more than usual.” I look back up and notice him watching me through his hair. His light blue irises are rimmed with a darker blue. I realize we’re staring at each other and look away while butterflies flit around in my empty stomach.
“Sounds like you could be talking about my dad. Only when money is tight, we sleep in the car.”
As if on cue, a car horn blares and we both jump. Kiki is hanging out of the roof of a white limo that’s pulling into the parking lot. Her long blond hair is pulled back into a high ponytail and she’s wearing a pink hoodie far more modest than the revealing outfit she had on last night. “Daphne,” she yells. “Look!” She checks the lot for I don’t know what, and then starts laughing maniacally. She pulls out a hunting knife and waves it over her head.
“Whoa,” Tyler says. “Who is that?”
I can’t help but laugh and give Kiki the thumbs-up. “That would be Kiki Crusher—wannabe vampire slayer.”
Tyler looks at me in disbelief as the limo slowly circles the lot with Kiki slashing the air with the knife.
“Long story short, I’ve been assigned by the SouthBristol vampire task force to give her the 411 on all things undead.”
“She’s going to hurt someone with that knife,” he says, watching Kiki stab at the fog.
“That’s kind of the point” I giggle. “Pun intended. But you know after you stake ’em—off comes the head.”
He turns back to me. “Huh? Why would you do that?”
I raise my eyebrows in surprise. “You
don’t
?”
His gets a stupid smirk on face. It reminds me of his father, and my annoyance returns.
“No, I don’t,” he says, looking at me like I’m the crazy one. “But given what my dad said about your parents I’m not surprised they have you beheading
dead
vampires.” His smile broadens. “You either stake them or cut the head off—one or the other, babe.”
Babe?
I put a hand on one hip. “My
name
is Daphne. And your father’s far from perfect. I heard his demon theory—that’s a little out there, don’t you think?”
Tyler stiffens. “Maybe it is and maybe it isn’t.” He folds his arms across his chest. “But at least he’s not having me follow antiquated slayer practices that have no basis in reality.”
“At least my father never had to …” My mouth opens and my stomach drops. I can hardly believe what was about to come out of my mouth.
He stares at me—his jaw locked and his angry blue eyes dare me to finish the sentence. I feel sick and wish I could rewind time and take it all back.
I swallow hard. “Uh, I don’t have time for this,” I say trying to sound all businesslike and not at all like I was about to bring up what happened to his mother. “I have work to do.”
Kiki skips up to us and eyes Tyler. “Hellooooo,” she says, taking him in.
“Hey,” he says, totally staring at her chest.
I retract my earlier thought about her modest attire. Kiki’s hoodie is unzipped just enough to reveal a black lace cami her boobs are in danger of spilling out of. She’s wearing black leggings that show off every curve. The whole ensemble’s pretty hoochie for hunting vampires. At least she’s got on a pair of pink high-tops instead of heels.
I can’t help but notice that even though she’s obviously made an effort to dress down, she still took the time to put on a ton of
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