“What are you wearing?” Becky asked.
“I’ve tried on a million things. I can’t decide between a minidress and a corset one.”
“I can’t believe that out of all the students, we get invites for the party. And you are the guest of honor,” Becky gushed.
As we shut our locker doors, I walked proudly down the hallway, knowing I was going to open the Covenant just for us.
When we turned the corner, I bumped into Trevor, who was wearing a black Crypt T-shirt.
“Where did you get that?” I asked.
“I’m all out. Too bad I only have the one I’m wearing. Want to swap shirts? We can change here,” he suggested with a wink.
“Thanks, but it would be best for all of us if you kept your shirt on.”
The truth was Trevor had the best physique in school, but I wasn’t about to tell him that. Besides, he already knew.
“So are you going to wear that special bracelet?” Trevor whispered as Becky got a quick drink at the water fountain.
I didn’t say anything. My usual stinging barbs would have been funny but not totally appropriate. Trevor had given me a present — a real one. And to slam him would have made me a heel.
“Thank you,” I said. “It was beautiful.”
He was surprised at my sincerity.
I felt like hugging him. It was the right thing to do. I know he would have wanted a kiss, but I wasn’t about to get sick to my stomach.
Trevor looked like he didn’t know what to do. He was ready to slam me back, but since I had said something nice, he was speechless. He just grinned awkwardly and walked away.
“Hey, Trevor,” I called.
“Yeah?” he asked, stopping. He stood with his hands on his hips, probably sure this time I was going to hurl a major verbal assault. He grinned like a champion.
I scurried up to him and before he could move, I hugged him. I hugged him so hard, I could feel his heart racing.
For a moment I locked my hands together behind his back, like one hugging someone they really cared about would. I’d caught Trevor off guard.
He didn’t know what to do. For a moment he didn’t return my hug. Then he softened, as if he’d waited all his life for this display of affection. Just as he drew his arms around me, I stepped back.
Trevor smiled a bigger smile than I’d ever seen.
It was the least I could do. I was so excited about the party that even pressing my body against my nemesis to show my gratitude wasn’t going to spoil it.
“Now I have to burn these clothes,” I said to him as Becky caught up to me and I slipped inside my classroom.
Becky showed up at my house well before sunset. We modeled our outfits and tried out different hairstyles. She looked stellar in a black cami with a demi sweater and violet rayon skirt.
The doorbell rang as I was still trying to squeeze on my final outfit.
“They’re here!” Becky said excitedly.
It wasn’t like she never saw Matt. She saw him every day at school and on many evenings. But every time he arrived, she was just as thrilled as the time before. And I couldn’t blame her. My heart pounded out of my chest every chance I got to see Alexander.
“Girls,” my mom called from downstairs. “Your dates are here!”
I laced myself into my lavender monster boots, and Becky helped zip me into my black minidress and fix my barrettes. Since I’d gotten behind the time, I would have been a mess without her smoothing touches.
We descended the staircase like debutantes. Alexander and Matt were awaiting us, with huge smiles and in handsome club attire.
“Can I take a picture?” my mom asked.
“Mom!” I said, totally embarrassed. It wasn’t enough that my boyfriend was a vampire and wouldn’t even show up in the photo, but my mom making a fuss was more unbearable.
“Your dad is still at work,” my mom said. “He’d hate to miss this moment.”
“Oh yes, please, use my phone,” Becky said. “I’ll send you the pics.”
I didn’t even try to get out of it. Becky and Matt squeezed next to Alexander and me. We smiled as if Alexander were going to show up after all.
“Say cheese,” my mom said.
Alexander squinted when the flash went off.
“Are you okay?” my mom asked.
“Just something in my eye. It was great seeing you, Mrs. Madison,” Alexander said, giving my mom a polite kiss on the cheek. “Now our car awaits.”
We gave quick hugs and good-byes to my mom as we walked out the front door and to the driveway, where Jameson was waiting with a limo.
“You are kidding me!” I screamed.
“Only the best for the best,” Alexander said.
Becky and I continued to scream and giggle as we got in the back of the limo and headed to the Crypt like celebrities on their way to an awards show.
I arrived with my boyfriend and friends at the Crypt. I was excited to finally have the party celebrating Alexander’s and my birthdays that Jagger had talked so much about. I wasn’t sure what he had in store for us, but I knew it would be something special. The club was open to all its usual customers, but our party was going to be somewhere else in the club. I wasn’t supposed to know the location, but I’d learned from Phoenix that we were finally going to see the Covenant after all.
We all milled about on the main floor until Jagger said it was time for the party. Becky approached me and seemed gravely concerned.
“What’s up?” I asked. “It’s party time.”
“Nothing. . it’s just something that I’ve been weirded out by for a while.”
“Did I do something?”
“No — it’s not you. It’s—”
“Tell me.”
“I want to show you this,” Becky said. She led me into an alcove away from dancing clubsters. She held out her phone. “Remember the picture I took at the soccer field again of Sebastian? He didn’t show up in any of the pictures. He’s clearly missing.”
“That’s all?” I asked. “Yes, that’s weird. But maybe there is something wrong with your phone.”
“I got to thinking. Maybe the rumor wasn’t just a rumor.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“All the signs. For so long now. I can’t believe you — of all people — haven’t noticed.”
“What are you saying?” I asked my best friend.
“These are the pictures of the workers I took before Jagger told me not to take pictures.” She showed me her phone again. There were no workers in view.
“Maybe they were out of the frame,” I said.
“Everyone? All the pictures I took of you are perfect.”
“Maybe it’s time to buy a new cell phone. I think we have to get back—”
“And then this one.” She took out a camera from her purse. “I used my camera this time. I took it tonight. It is of Jagger, Luna, and Sebastian.”
“You weren’t supposed to take pictures. . ”
She held out the camera, shaking in her hand.
There wasn’t anyone in the picture.
I didn’t know what to say.
“Maybe it’s the lighting?” I tried.
