Page 9 of My Road Trip with a Vampire: Season One
Ok, this is going well.
A little too well. Perhaps my mom is starting to get worried about my love life. Or the lack thereof.
We follow her out to the kitchen, and Dennis waves me to the table when I start to help Mom warm the food that’s been left out on the counter.
“I’ll get that, Beatrice,” he says, “I know you’re not feeling well, lovely. Take a seat.”
I look at my mother to see how she responds to this sweet talk, but she doesn’t seem fazed. He comes back a few moments later with a dish for me. It's a frozen dinner special—a filet of tilapia with mixed veggies scooped on top.
I notice he doesn’t make a plate for himself, but he walks over to the table. I lift my fork to my lips, and he motions to my mom.
“Diane, please come join us. We have so much to tell you,” he says, pulling out a chair for her. She takes it and sits across from me with a bland smile. Dennis sits next to me and drapes an arm over my shoulder.
“Beatrice and I are engaged now. Isn’t that the most wonderful news?” It’s a question, but it sounds more like a statement. My stomach does a flip when my mother nods her agreement.
I’m about to barf when she says, “The most wonderful news.”
I start to scootch my chair back, but Dennis’ arm is strong, keeping me braced in my spot.
“We’re going on a trip to celebrate.”
Mom looks puzzled for a split second, then asks, “You are?”
“Mom no. We’re not—”
Dennis doesn’t let me finish.
“Yes, it’s going to be amazing. We’re going all across the country. Sightseeing. It’ll be so romantic. The very thing Beatrice has always dreamed of doing.”
“Beatrice has always been affected by her...wanderlust,” she says, then tilts her head in a question. “But when are you going?”
“Tonight.”
Ok. I've had enough of whatever this is. Fuck this.
“Wait no.” I make my way to stand up, but Dennis slips his hand over mine.
“Yes. Tonight,” he says. “It’s a whirlwind thing, but we’re so in love. The whole town will be talking about it. Bea left her car at work and quit on the spot. We just couldn’t wait any longer. We’ve been talking for ages online.”
I’m breathing fast now. My mouth has gone dry. I was starving, but I can’t stand to eat anything. I drop my fork. Whatever gifts he received when he gained his ability to talk to the dead are different from mine. I don’t feel like I’ve won the lottery anymore. This isn’t the one in a million chance to meet someone like me that I thought it was—this is a nightmare.
He drops his arm away.
“Bea is going to pack her essentials, and then we're leaving.” He turns to me and smiles. His eyes are so warm and brown that it seems damn near impossible to believe there’s something sinister lurking behind them. “Don’t worry too much about clothes. I’ll take you shopping for whatever you want, but don’t forget your medication.”
I curl my hands into fists. I doubt I have much of a choice. One way or another—I’m going to finally see the world.
“Oh. It all sounds so romantic,” my mother whispers. I go to my room to pack up without another word.
6
DON'T CALL ME LOVELY
Panic floods through me as I shove my things into a duffel bag. I’ve really gotten myself in deep trouble this time, and I’m not sure how to get out of it. It seems like Dennis has pretty good control over what my mom is thinking. He’s like a freaking hypnotist or something.
He’s got all the bases covered; my mom is convinced we’re going on some pre-wedding road trip, and he just got me to quit my job. I wonder how long it will take before someone notices something is wrong. Will it be the moment I leave, or will his influence last until I come home?
If I come home.
