Page 56 of Road Trip with a Vampire
“Peter, stop.” I stood up and grabbed his arm. It was solid steel beneath my grip. “It’s not a big deal. See? I’m fine. I just tripped.”
Peter turned his attention back to me, the venom in his expression slowly fading as his eyes cataloged every inch of me. He swallowed, then shook his head as if coming back to himself. “You’re…really okay?”
I nodded, feeling shaky for reasons that had nothing to do with the tumble I’d just taken.
“Totally okay,” I managed. Physically, anyway, it was the truth.
The kid, seeing his opportunity, fled behind the checkout counter at the other side of the store. I barely noticed. Peter was still staring at me so intensely I could feel it from the tips of my ears all the way down to my toes.
“Areyouall right?” I asked him tentatively. My hand was still on his arm. Neither one of us pulled away.
A long pause. “I’m not sure what came over me,” he admitted sheepishly. “I smelled blood. You were hurt.” And then, with a hesitation in his voice I had never heard from him before: “I…don’t like the idea of you being hurt.”
My heart hammered in my rib cage at the reluctant admission. He’d been about to rip that kid’s head off. All because he thought I might have been injured.
How was I supposed to process this?
It had been a wild, indefensible reaction to a negligible injury. So why did I find his going feral like that one of the hottest things I’d ever experienced?
If he’d reacted like this when I’d barely hurt myself, what might he do if I werereallythreatened?
I was distantly aware that a group of employees had gathered behind the checkout counter. I turned to face them and saw they were openly staring at us, their eyes very wide.
I gave Peter’s arm a gentle tug. “We should go,” I murmured.
Peter followed the direction of my gaze and grimaced. “That’s probably a good call.” He looked back at me and gave me a sheepish smile. “Let’s find breakfast somewhere else.”
Thirteen
From page 24 of theSan Francisco Chronicle, January 25, 1927
Ms.Zelda Watson, California’s Flagpole-Sitting Champion!
Mr.Joseph Crown, staff reporter for theSan Francisco Chronicle
As many of our readers are no doubt aware, flagpole sitting is the latest craze to sweep the nation—and the world! Not to be outdone, on Tuesday of last week, fifty-seven young people from across California convened at Fisherman’s Wharf to compete in California’s inaugural flagpole-sitting competition.
Ms.Zelda Watson, 32, of San Francisco easily captured the crown, having sat atop a flagpole longer than any other competitor for a whopping seventeen hours, fourteen minutes, and thirty-seven seconds.
Ms.Watson could not be reached for comment after the awards ceremony. Mr.John Flanigan, 27, of Oakland, California—who came in second place at seventeen hours,seven minutes, and fifteen seconds—said, with obvious reverence, that Ms.Watson’s balance seemed so effortless, it was like she was held aloft by magic.
Becky:Here are more YouTube goat yoga links (since you never gave us your thoughts on the others we sent)
Becky:These should give you a good idea of what L and I are planning
Becky:Let us know what you think (you really do have to watch some of these eventually)!
Becky:Still hope you’re not dead!
Zelda:Thanks
Zelda:Not dead, just in Wyoming
Zelda:Will take a look at the videos tonight, I promise
I tossed my phone back into my bag with a groan.
With the event looming, I probably needed to watch at least one of those videos. No matter how much I wanted to blow the whole thing off.
