“That’s strange. You were the one that was with her before the ambulance came to the school. You don’t remember any of that?”
She shook her head slowly and her face was gripped once more with tears. Something about the woman struck Solomon. He was trained to keep personal feelings out of situations, but his heart went out to her. “Miss Hensley, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound accusatory,” he said, handing her a packet of tissues out of his pocket.
“I just…I don’t understand! I was told that I had some kind of accident and wound up in hospital. I find a wound scarring my tattoo that I don’t remember happening. The tattoo yes but not the damage after. And then today! I mean, what…the…hell was that?”
“If you just give me a minute,” he replied calmly, “I’ll read what the charge is, then we’ll both understand. Ok?”
Alex gave a hopeless shrug, and sighed “Ok.”
Solomon looked down the sheet. “It says your principal, Peggy Deltone has accused you of assault and attempted murder.”
Solomon glanced up. He noticed people with a more than likely chance of being guilty, or hiding something were more vocal in the rebuttal. Alex Hensley was silent for several seconds before letting out a sound rather like a squeak. “What…?”
“She says you attacked her in the parking lot of the school where you were stopped by two males and you ran off. I take it you don’t remember any of this?”
She shook her head as her lips were locked in a frown, struggling for breath. Solomon nodded, expecting the reply.
“Look, Miss Hensley, at the moment you have been charged with these crimes, but you do have the right to respond. Though I do suggest saying you can’t remember won’t look too good.”
“But it’s the truth!”
“Miss Hensley, all I’m saying is can you provide any kind of alibi for that night? Anyone that can shed some light? Anyone that might be able to help you? I’m not a lawyer and can’t give you advice. I’m just trying to get to the truth.”
“There’s only one I guess. Can I get a phone call?”
“Of course,” Solomon replied. Solomon watched as Alex picked up her phone and dialled, taking a huge sniff, trying to swallow down more tears so she could clearly ask for help.
*
Clive paced up and down his living room. He had to be patient. He knew it was normal for a girl to take a long time to get ready. The most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He only wanted tonight to go well. No matter what. He had no idea what to do and was winging this whole thing. He froze as Lauren rounded the corner, dressed in an elegant burgundy gown with a slit up the leg.
“What do you think?” Lauren asked. Clive couldn’t possibly form words. Her exquisite beauty made him mute but also his blinding terror that he had misread the situation. “Well, I’ll take that as a compliment.” She smiled. “So where are we going?”
“Um…well I…didn’t really plan for you to look so…well…wow.”
Lauren leant her head to the side, as if judging his intent. “Didn’t you say we were having a date?”
“Yes.” Clive winced. “But I didn’t think you’d want to go out tonight again. So I thought I’d…oh man I fucked up.”
“You thought you’d what?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Clive shook his head. “I’ll get ready. I should’ve known you’d want to go out.”
“Hey, shut up,” Lauren said, calmly snapping him out of it. “What did you plan?”
Clive sighed and lifted the sheet off the dining room table. It revealed a makeshift picnic. “Food?” she asked, clearly puzzled.
“Well, for me. I just thought it might be nice, and you could eat…well…me? When you got hungry I mean?”
Lauren pursed her lips and slowly turned around, disappearing down the hallway. At that moment, Clive knew what it felt like to truly have his heart drop. How could he have been so stupid? She liked the nightlife. She was a vampire and the city was the land of eternal night lately. He cleared the table thinking of all the possibilities he could’ve done. Hell, T was her favourite club once. He just thought Lauren would’ve been bored with that stuff. He was trying something different. The night at Undeadly Desires had been a bust. Security had allowed him entry, but the place was so packed it was impossible to get a seat. The show hadn’t gone for more than five minutes before several men bombarded the stage in a flurry of perverted fury. Security had done their job and nothing had happened to Le Clair, but the show was cancelled. Clive had tried to convince her to move it to another night but she took off, hating Undeadly Desires and Sydney. Suffice to say it wasn’t a great time for a date, and Lauren and he had gone home without much said.
“You’re not hungry anymore?” Lauren asked from behind him. For the second time in the space of five minutes, Clive was struck dumb. Lauren had changed into her pyjamas and pulled her hair into a ponytail. No makeup either.
“I thought…”
“My feet are killing me. Even for a vampire, heels are murder. So, let’s do this.”
“Wait, really?”
She smiled and crossed her legs on the couch. “Show me how to work one of these video game things too. The playbox or whatever.”
Clive almost tripped over himself as he grabbed a controller and sat next to her. She giggled and took the controller. “I can’t believe you’re up for this. This is amazing.”
“Lackey, you’re weird. But I like it so far,” she said, leaning her head on his shoulder. “No other guy I’ve ever been with would do this. But as long as you’re being yourself, I’m digging it.”
