Fright Night (2011) What If Charley Was a Chick?

by GaGa4FrightNight

What if Charley was a chick in the remake, hmm? Yeah, it's a twist. It has a happier ending but not for you know who... jerk!

1. Part One

(Author)

Okay, this is a request by one of my little fan fiction buddies, Dark Raid. She suggested something I thought about doing; do a 'what if Charley was a chick' scenario for the 2011 Fright Night. As she said and I agree; 2011 Fright Night basically is different from the original because it lacks that whole romantic feel, you know what I mean…She looks just like her, doesn't she? Yeah that and without that there's no real seduction involved between Amy and Jerry. And, hell, Jerry 'hey guy' Dandridge (watch my vid on YouTube dedicated to 'hey guy') is the total opposite of Jerry 'I've got style' Dandridge; only thing these two vampires have in common is they suck blood and eat apples; other than that… wait…Jerry 'Hey Guy' ate the bringer of life to Jerry 'I've got Style', Chris Sarandon, so they have that in common as well…yeah so they are two different species altogether! So, I'm gonna give this a shot and see what happens. Obviously I have a thing for creating these 'bad ass' chicks so likely our female Charley in this one will truly give Jerry 'hey guy' Dandridge a fight. I believe that's the only sex change I'm making; leaving Evil Ed Lee his cute adorable self as a guy.

Well, readers, wish me luck on this one! I'm gonna need it! Phew! A crazy obsessed Fright Night fan's work is never finished, is it?

Just a warning; yeah this isn't going to be a word for word. I've only watched 2011 Fright Night three times so far. So eventually I will re-watch it again so I can get the names right at least. But as for everything else; it's going to be coming from me. You change a character you gotta improvise! So you 2011 lovers can go ahead and rant and rave...kiss my 1985 ever loving butt! LOL Nah, just know it's going to be different because of the obvious difference.

Keep on, Keeping on!

~GaGa4FrightNight~

The flat screen television announced the latest news of a local woman getting attacked at a local shopping center by a man who tried to bite her on the neck. Wow; not even the Jack Russell Terrier chewing on left over pizza while standing on the coffee table didn't seem to care what the blonde haired news lady had to say. The house was seemingly dead silent with exception to the news blabbing on and on. Down the hallway a bedroom door was wide open; seemed pretty quiet, that was until Adam Johnson was literally slammed back into the door which was forced to open wider and revealed a his sister sprawled on the bedroom floor. Adam panics as he scrambles onto his feet and darts down the hallway while is sister was dragged out of sight. Poor Adam raced through the house heading for the stairs which he practically stumbles to get onto. A horrendous growl of sorts echoes behind the scrambling kid and sent Fido out his doggy door and the kid racing for his mom and dad's bedroom upstairs.

Adam skidded to a halt upon discovering his mom sprawled back over her bed with her throat mercilessly ripped out. Another growl was heard moving up the stairs. Adam darted towards the bed then again makes another startled stop discovering his dad has too been torn into with blood pooling around his lifeless corpse. The kid was desperate; his hand dug between the mattress and box spring and pulled out his dad's handgun. He scrambled to hide under the bed; his body trembled while desperately not wanting to look at his dad's lifeless body. Damn gun had a safety lock; well, thankfully dear old dead dad was lying right beside him. He shakily reached out from under the bed and slipped his trembling hand into his dad's pants pocket then quickly pulls out a set of keys. His poor hands could barely hold onto the gun or the keys but he manages to slip the right key into the lock; slowly his dad's body is being dragged from sight leaving behind a trail of blood. The lock was unlocked but popped off the gun and rolled onto the floor. His head darted and eyes grew wide discovering no dead pops but the lock lying in his dad's bodily fluids. To his horror, his eyes watched a hand reach down and with its black clawed thumb and index finger, picks up the lock. His eyes looked upward at the bed above him; his finger couldn't find the trigger. A grotesque roar thundered loudly followed by the bed effortlessly being tossed back exposing the beyond horrified kid. Within seconds poor, poor Adam was snatched by the throat before he could even belt out a horror releasing scream!

Ah, suburban life; what peacefulness living in a community where everyone somewhat knows everyone. For suburbia located outside the great casino and entertainment capitol of the United States, Las Vegas, people and families come and go. There were those residents who stuck around but off and on and in and out people moved in then move out. Just about every single person within this suburban neighborhood were employed somewhere on those many brightly lit Vegas strips. There were families aplenty throughout with some singles; all just making a living and trying to live peaceful lives. And within this neighborhood was the single lady Jane Brewster who did her damnedest to sell any house that went vacant and recently sold the house right next door. A single mother of one child, recently turned eighteen year old daughter named Charlene 'Charley' Brewster. That daughter, strolled along the sidewalk of many humble dwelling looking not too happy.

"Stupid," Charley grumbled while gripping the handlebars of her beat up motorized dirt-bike; she learned from the best; so she thought; how to work on anything mechanical but apparently that particular dirt-bike won't go for being truly fixed. "Damned piece of…" she continued to grumble under breath while giving the fit of a ride a good swift kick with the heel of her brand new high-top Converse; above those were her unique striped knee high socks. "Yep, I'm gonna roll your ass back," she stared at the bike as if it could hear her, "Then I'm gonna kick the shit outta you until you work, you hear me?" She paused and stares down the yellow chipped painted bike, "Yep, gonna shove my foot so far up your…"

"Talking to your bike again?" A young woman's voice spoke up.

Charley looked and discovered one of the many neighbors Doris standing near the recently delivered trash can to the end of her driveway. "Hi, Doris," she felt suddenly stupid having been caught chewing her bike a new tailpipe hole, "Can't seem to get this thing to run longer than twenty feet from the house." She again kicked the bike. "So, what's new with you, Doris?" she asked, though she was most likely going to be late again for school.

"Nothing much," Doris replied; a perky short and nice bodied blonde dressed casually when during working hours she sports a skimpy work attire while doing the go-go dance; "Well, don't get too angry with it, okay, Char-Char, talk to it sweet." She smiled then waved to the tomboy Charley.

Charley grimaced the moment she saw the writing literally across Doris's rear; smile. She shook her head then continued to roll the piece of crap back to the garage. She has always been the local tomboy; for years before her father left she road dirt-bikes with the big boys at local motocross events. Until he left, motorsports were her passion and she loved getting filthy dirty working on anything with an engine. Hell, she now was responsible for changing her mom's minivan's oil. Not only did she enjoy being a tomboy riding dirt-bikes; she once loved being a so called geek. For years she hung out with the 'not so in' crowd; spent hours making costumes and role playing the hell out of some craziness with the likes of Ed Lee and Adam Johnson. Their biggest enjoyment was getting out the video camera and taped themselves doing poor impersonations of Las Vegas celebrity magician Peter Vincent who specialized in vampires; typically Ed would portray Peter Vincent while she and Adam did their best evil vampire performances and typically died. She used to have many things she loved doing but something changed. Most of her life she easily made friends with boys and rarely came across any girl that remotely was interested in her things besides Barbie dolls and wearing dresses and boys. Perhaps she hadn't received her girly hormones until just recently because now she was friends with one of the most popular girls in her senior class, Amy Peterson, and has one of the biggest douche bags named Mark on her ass.

Charley rolled the bike up to the opening garage; Jane Brewster stood at the outer edge of the driveway grimacing at the eye sore the new neighbor guy has sitting in his front yard. "Ma, seriously," Charley speaks up while waiting for the garage door to finish rising, "How many times are you gonna just stand there and stare at it?"

"He needs to move it out of there." Jane huffed through her nose with her hands on her hips and face twisted with disapproval, "It's ridiculous! It should be gone by now and he sure in heck ain't putting in a pool." She flung her arm up and forward aiming her hand at the disgraceful and massive eye sore which was a waste management disposal unit filled to the brim with busted up concrete. She crossed her arms over her chest while her daughter steps out of the garage then steps beside her. "What is he doing over there? Hmm?" she asked and glanced to Charley.

"Ma, you need some help." Charley shook her head while looking at the bin in the guy's overgrown lawn, "You're obsessed with some guy's yard."

"How am I supposed to get people to buy if that's there?" Jane again gestured to the eye sore, "I'm just gonna have to have a talk with him."

"Ma, the guy obviously works late," Charley explained, gesturing to the house, "Sleeps during the day while working at night; like he has time to really worry about some stupid thingy in his yard." She looked to her mother, "And I got all that information from you," she aimed her finger accusingly at Jane, "You and all your spying gave me all that information."

Jane frowned then pushed down her daughter's blame aiming finger. "Shush, I don't spy." She turned and walked to the garage grabbing some for sale signs tacked on stakes, "It's called observing."

"Nope, it's called spying." Charley smirked loving how her mom got all squirmy because of the accusations, "Why not just buy some binoculars or even better, a telescope." She had to laugh at her own joke while watching her mom fill the back of the minivan with those for sale signs.

"Hush, Charley," Jane tried not to smile at her daughter's sarcastic suggestion, "Besides his house is, what, like thirteen feet from ours."

"Okay, whatever, Ma." Charley laughed and just then a Volkswagen Beetle convertible came rolling up before the driveway. She turned and waved at her actual girly best friend Amy.

"Hey, Charley!" Amy called from behind the wheel of her Beetle Bug, "Need a ride, again?!"

Charley looked to her new best friend, "Yes!" she called back then looked to her mom, "Well, see ya after school, Ma." she sang and proceeded down the driveway, "Hey!" She greeted Amy, an attractive blonde with a huge smile to match. "Hi everyone else!" she greeted the two other girls in the car. "Bye, Charley, love you!" she listened to her mom yell; her eyes rolled feeling somewhat embarrassed then climbed into the back seat of the small Bug. "You're mom's so cute!" she listened to Amy chime. "Yeah, adorable." she again rolled her eyes then forced a smile waving goodbye to her mom.

The group of four teenage girls reached their destination, Clark high school. They strolled in a line, Charley at the end, and all held a 'to go' cups of iced coffee. Charley had never experienced clique life; it was different being amongst the normal and popular. She enjoyed the smiles that were flashed the moment their attractive clique strode over the school yard. They approached the two guys seated on the brick placed around one of the implanted trees. "Hey, boys!" chimed the black haired Marcy flashing her perfect smile then plopped down beside Mark; a typical good looking teenaged guy with stylish and totally-in clothes, neat hair cut and the snobbish personality to match. Mark smiled his version of a charming smile directly at the newest addition to their group of friends; poor Charley, "Hey, Charley," he sang with his version of a flirtatious tone. The typical teenaged guy suffered from wandering eye syndrome which had him scoping Charley from head to toe, "Nice Converse and socks."

Charley glanced down at her black high-top Converse with white laces; typically in the past she would eagerly exchange the white laces for more colorful ones, similar to the knee high socks. "Thanks," she politely replied then sipped from the straw. The school bell rang which meant they were either going to be late for first hour or not. "Later, guys," she waved at everyone then turned to Amy, "Amy, you coming?" She watched Amy nod and together the newly established besties left the little group looping arms together. The other two girls eagerly ran to catch up.

Mark slowly nodded as he leaned forward taking an eyeful of Charley's Capri jean encased rear. "I can't believe I've never noticed that before." he sang commenting to his wing man Ben who was a bit on the 'I've smoked too much weed' side of things, "That ass!"

"Totally, dude," Ben laughed standing there watching Amy and Charley disappear into the moving crowd of other students, "You ask her out yet?"

"Oh, not yet," Mark stated and looked up at his shaggy haired chum, "But I'm working on it, man; all in good time and I'll be hitting that." He and Ben eagerly fist bumped while laughing.

Charley and Amy entered the classroom of their shared first hour. Both didn't really notice the few vacant seats and took their seats at desks adjacent from one another. Behind her, Charley sensed the eyes of someone she lately seemed to avoid. She glanced over her shoulder and looked to the back row of the desks; there was her once best friend Ed Lee, who most referred to as Evil Ed. She gave a brief smile and refocused to the front of the class. During the summer, she had distanced herself from Ed and Adam who had been her dearest and closest friends for years. In those summer months during a summer job at a local department store she became acquainted with Amy and eventually they became best friends. Amy had helped her get out of her awkward stage and assisted her stepping out of her shell and embraced her girly side. She never really stated to Ed or Adam that she had relinquished their friendship; didn't have the heart to break his. She hoped that eventually Ed and Adam would get the hint after her not having answered any of his cell calls or texts. Was it cruel of her to do what she had; yeah, probably but people change and she enjoyed being accepted.

Role call commenced and at certain names there came silence and one of those names included Adam's; his desk in front of Ed's empty. Ed sat there behind that vacant desk feeling burdened with certain knowledge that many would call crazy and unbelievable. He was worried about his role play buddy having heard from the now absent friend in days. His eyes peered through his glasses at the back of Charley's braided back chestnut colored hair. The summer brought changes between his friendship with his only real girl friend, not girlfriend, but in ways he had hoped that at some point their friendship would have expanded to something more. His eyes lowered down staring at the paper note book; little scribbles here and there where Charley's name had been blackened out. His hand slowly opened the note book; his eyes scanned information of an unbelievable nature; things were happening in their little neck of the Nevada dessert and not just the distance between he and Charley. No sign of Adam, Charley was his only hope and person he could trust with such unimaginable information. He heavily sighed and again looked to Charley who again took a glance back at him. He softly smiled but she quickly looked forward again. His eyes again dropped to the written information; he had to ask her help.

Lunchtime students were scattered about the high school doing whatever until the second half of the day was called to order. Charley had finished lunch with Amy and the others and stood waiting at a line of lockers while Amy and the other two girls were in the nearby bathroom. She leaned to the side against the one locker just thinking about the look on Ed's face; it was obviously he knew things changed. "Hey, Charley," she heard her name then turned to find herself face to face with Mark. "Oh, Mark," she said then Mark leaned forward pressing his hand against the locker behind her. Now she felt awkward with this guy practically breathing down her neck; she honestly thought him sort of annoying. "What can I do for ya, Mark?" she asked then heard Ben give a laugh.

"Well, I was just wondering if maybe you and I can hang out after school." Mark smiled his version of a charming smile, "I'd really like to get to know ya better."

"Um," Charley wasn't interested in him which most of the girls would think she were nuts; he was cute and probably one of the more popular guys in school. He also had a reputation being a womanizer; moved from girl to girl so often most have lost count. "Well, you're more than welcome to come hang with me and Amy." she suggested, would never allow herself being alone with the well known lady's man. She forced a smile.

"That's not exactly what I have in mind." Mark continued to attempt to pour out his charms, "Kinda thought just the two of us." He lifted a hand and started to twirl the tip of Charley's side braid around his finger while maintaining his smile.

"Um," Charley smiled not impressed with Mark's blatant approach, "Well, that's the only option I have for ya, Mark." Her smile slightly twisted with sarcasm.

Mark wasn't impressed with Charley's attitude either. He listened to Ben snicker which prompted him to regain his cool and supposed charm. "Well, I guess I could come over for a little bit but I really hoped it could just be me and you." he explained while pouting out his bottom lip, "But I guess any time spent with you is better than none." He smiled wide.

"Okay," Charley continued to smile, "Well, I guess I'll see ya after Amy's done with track then you can comes and hang with us girls." She knew he was a damned player and wasn't about to get played; watched her mom get seriously played too many times. The sound of a slight laugh caused her to look away from Mark and discovered Ed. "Oh, hey," she gave a smile; sort of an awkward situation.

Mark looked over to Ed; the geek Charley used to hang with. "Well, what do we have here?" he chimed taking a step back from his way too closeness with Charley, "Hiya there, Evil, have you come to spread some more of your geek douchery?" He laughed at his own sarcasm; Ben immediately joined in.

Ed ignored Mark and his crony Ben; his eyes focused on Charley. "Hey, Brewster, I need to talk to you." he stated, "Please."

"And why would she wanna speak to a little weirdo like you, huh?" Mark snickered while nudging Bradley who again followed lead by snickering.

Ed rolled his eyes and looked to the smug jerk. "Well, perhaps she would actually like to have a real conversation with someone who hasn't smoked the entire weed supply in Nevada." He remarked.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mark grimaced; guessed it was an insult.

"Yeah, my point exactly." Ed shook his head and again rolled his eyes behind his glasses then looked to Charley, "Can you spare one moment of time out your oh so stimulating conversation with these brain cell lacking tools?"

Mark went to step forward, prepared to kick Ed's cocky ass but Charley quickly stepped in front of him.

"Hey, enough, Mark." Charley spoke up putting a hand flat on Mark's chest, "I'll talk to ya after school, right?"

Mark pressed his lips together while glaring at Ed. He reluctantly pulled his eyes from the nerd and looked to Charley who smiled sweetly, "Okay, sure." he nodded and took a step back. He aimed his eyes at Ed then pointed at him with threat across his narrowed eyes. Oh, he was going to get Ed. He turned around and walked away with Ben.

Charley finally took a breath having stopped a hallway brawl. She turned around and glared at Ed. "Was that really necessary? Now he's most likely going to kick your ass, Ed" she asked him crossing her arms over her chest.

"Yeah, most likely," Ed commented then ignored Charley's expression and tone; he needed help and she was the one to ask. "Charley, there is some serious shit going down." he blurted but not loudly, "Have you noticed all the empty seats lately?"

"What of it?" Charley asked, not a clue what he was getting at.

"There are a lot of our so called peers not showing up to school." Ed explained a bit further, "Don't you think that's a little strange?"

"Ed, kids ditch school all the time." Charley still had no idea where he was going, "What's there to worry about?"

Ed huffed with annoyance while anxiously running his thumbs up and down the straps of his back pack, "What about Adam?"

"What about him?" she asked in response.

"I've texted and called him. I've left him a dozen messages." Ed stated with worry, "He hasn't returned any of them and now he's not in school."

"Ed, what are you getting at or even suggesting?" Charley finally asked the right question.

"Something is wrong, I know it." Ed kept his voice down but his seriousness and concern loud and clear.

"What the hell, Ed?" Charley shook her head, "I don't have time for this."

"Wait," he grabbed Charley's arm, "Just meet me at Adam's after school, please. Just be my back up. We go to Adam's and check on him."

"Ed," Charley somewhat whined; she had so tried to just let their friendship fade with dignity but he wasn't making it easy.

"Brewster, come on," Ed was desperate, "This is Adam we're talking about," his mind scrambled and came up with the perfect way to get Charley's help, "You'll show up at Adam's or you give me no choice."

Charley's eyes frowned, "What do you mean?"

Ed leaned closer, "Remember those Fright Night vids?"

Charley's face almost lost all color, her eyes filled with embarrassing panic, "You wouldn't."

"Oh, but I will," Ed nodded giving her reassurance, "You don't show up I have no problem letting the whole world and your dear friends know exactly what me, you, and Adam used to do in our spare time." He continued to nod with his lips firmly pressed together. "Remember, how we would get all dressed up and run around in my backyard. Oh, and how you loved the way I looked all dressed like Peter Vincent. Oh, how about that one time," he watched Charley's face continue to pale with horror, "Oh and don't forget how you got all into your vampire slut role, huh, and how you…"

Charley lifted her hand quickly to silence what was about to be revealed. She was frustrated but more desperate to keep her old past time a secret. "Fine," she snapped and heard the distinct sound of laughter behind her; looking over her shoulder she saw Amy and the other two coming towards them. Her head darted forward, "Fine, Ed, I'll be there."

"You better," Ed stepped backwards pointing his finger at her, "I've got it all on video, and remember; smoochy-smooch." He laughed then turned around but his smile faded along with his laugh.

The sun was setting over the suburban neighborhood, a maze of roads lined with almost identical houses. Working through that maze was Amy's pastel green Beetle. "You really told Mark to hang out with us?" Amy asked Charley with disbelief and glanced over to the passenger seat while sipping the world's largest Big Gulp, "Really?"

Charley sighed, "I don't think he'll show." She confessed with shoulders shrugging then took a long sip of her Big Gulp and swallowed, "Don't get me wrong, he's cute and all but he's kind of a dick and way too full of himself."

"Well, yeah," Amy nodded in agreement, "Why do you think not one of us would consider going out with him?"

"I know this," Charley rolled her eyes, "Apparently he's incapable of understanding sarcasm."

"Um, yeah," Amy agreed, "He's an idiot, Charley, and obviously doesn't know when to give up. I feel sorry for you." She started to laugh at Charley's situation then laughed louder upon seeing Mark's redone blue vintage car parked across from Charley's house, "Yep, I feel really, really sorry for you!" She gestured in forward with her Gulp holding hand.

Charley looked through the windshield and her face lost all expression as a little whine sounded passed her pouting lips. Her head dropped forward in defeat. "Oh, why?" she whined, "My Mother is going to ask a million damned questions." She kept her head down while Amy pulled the car behind Mark's. "Well," she heard Amy speak up, "Maybe not because it looks like your mommy is a bit busy." Her head lifted up and eyes looked across the street; there was her mother standing on the little patch of lawn separating their house with the new neighbor's. Her mouth dropped open upon witnessing her mother doing every flirtatious pose imaginable while looking down at the ground digging new neighbor. "Wait," she mumbled, "Is she actually flirting?" She was disbelief then was startled by Mark loudly saying her name as he leaned against the passenger door. Her head darted to the right and looked up. "Oh, Mark," she had way too much happen in one damned day.

Ed paced about the front yard of the Johnson home with his cell phone against his ear; "Yeah, Brewster, I'm here at Adam's and would you know, you're not!" he somewhat grumbled, "If you don't show soon, well," he puckered his lips and made a loud smooching sound into the cell, "Yeah, you know it!" He hung up.

Mark smiled wide with his pleased self for having shown up like he was asked. He stepped back and pulled out some gentleman moves opening the door for Charley. He ignored Amy's giggles of amusement and watched Charley awkwardly get out of the little VW. He slammed the door, "So, what are you ladies and I going to do?" He glanced over at Amy who continuing sipping her Big Gulp with a huge grin then looked to Charley who was already around the front of Amy's car. He rushed to catch up. He stepped up to Charley and eagerly put his arm over his shoulders. "Thanks for inviting me." He sang smugly.

Charley stepped to the side slipping his arm off her, "Sure, Mark, no problem." She definitely didn't sound too enthused though Mark couldn't even catch the slightest hint. She quickly did a little bounce behind Amy placing her blonde friend between her and Mark's overbearing presence then looped her arm with Amy's. Her eyes changed their focus on her mother's actions; Jane stood with her hands high on her hips while shifting side to side like a giddy teenager and purposely rubbing the back of her shoe against her well shaped calve and the entire time staring down at the wife-beater wearing neighbor. She leaned close to Amy, "She's flirting with him, isn't she?" she asked for any time of confirmation.

Amy took a long look at Charley's mom's flirty focus, "Yes, it does and I can see why."

"Oh, that does not make this any easier," Charley commented as they strolled in her mom's direction and listened to Amy snicker. Sure, from what could be seen so far, this new guy looked good but how embarrassing was it being there to witness her own mother getting all flirty-flirt-flirt with the neighbor; really embarrassing. And by the tone in Amy's voice; there was going to be a bit of tag team flirting about to happen. Oh, and then there was Mark. Could her day end at a better note; probably not. "Ma!" she shouted approaching the sidewalk; perhaps distracting her mother would end one half while Amy took the other half of flirting duties. She watched her mom finally look to her.

"Oh, Charley," Jane sang with a huge smile, "This is our neighbor Jerry Dandridge." She turned and watched as this looker for a new neighbor slowly rose up from doing some attractive dirty handyman work.

Both Charley and Amy slightly slowed their walk as both their eyes also caught that extremely attractive rise of the charmingly dirt smudged looker. They looked to one another reading their identical expressions. Mark on the other hand wasn't impressed; he looked to Amy and Charley seeing their obvious instant attraction to the new guy in their big neighborhood; he looked to the new guy and frowned. Both girls continued forward with their lips eagerly puckered around the tips of their straw; Mark completely forgotten. They practically walked in sync as they stepped beside Jane.

"Jerry, this is my daughter Charley and her friend Amy." Jane introduced then noticed Mark and frowned.

Mark eagerly stepped between Charley and Amy; his arm quickly went over Charley's shoulders then offered his other hand to the new guy, "Mark," he introduced himself then shook hands with the guy named Jerry. He pulled back and kept his arm over Charley's shoulder.

"Okay, that's obviously Mark." Jane commented confused by Mark having his arm over her daughter's shoulder.

"Nice to meet you all." Jerry smiled, mainly aimed towards the two young ladies with the attitude beaming guy sandwiched between them. The girls looked total opposites with exception to the identical Big Gulps they so anxiously sucked. Amy was your typical bouncy blonde with a bit more revealing little off the shoulder shirt and tight fitted jeans; his eyes scanned quickly. His eyes quickly shifted then scanned Charley; her hair a rich chestnut color and wore a vintage Guns N' Roses Appetite for Destruction tee shirt tied in a small knot just above her navel and a tight pair of denim Capri's. His eyes focused a bit on the tee shirt; not the lettering. "Guns N' Roses," he commented somewhat gesturing to the shirt with his work glove holding hand.

"Oh," Charley spoke up glancing down at her shirt.

Mark shifted his eyes from the new guy to Charley's tee shirt; actually boobs.

"Yeah," Jane spoke up, "That was mine back in high school." She giggled having given indication to her age.

Jerry nodded while trying to spread his charming smile evenly between all three ladies. It was easy to pick up on young Mark's disapproval and jealousy which he enjoyed. "Great band," he commented with his eyes shifting passed all three sets of feminine eyes, "Do you listen to them?" His eyes stopped on Charley.

"Oh, yeah, all the time." Charley proclaimed, "I even have Ma's old record album." She glanced to her mom who looked horrified by her 'old' statement. She shrugged one shoulder that unfortunately was being clung to by Mark; she wiggled the shoulder wishing he'd let go.

Jane set aside the obvious old comment then planted on her huge smile, "Jerry was just helping me out."

"Nah it was nothing." Jerry continued to smile; loved when there was a little tension developed in his honor, "The least I could do having left the dumpster there for so long." He gestured with his hand to the large dumpster filled with concrete then looked to Charley again, "Hey, don't worry I'll have it out of here tomorrow."

"It's no big deal," Charley commented, "Really it's…"

"Oh, yeah," Jane quickly stopped Charley from embarrassing her any further, "Jerry works construction on the strip. He's really handy." Her big blue eyes focused on the dirt smudged good looks of Jerry's.

Jerry took all the flattery he could get and smiled with approval at the eye batting single mother. "I do what I can." He commented with a slight wrinkle of his nose and lift of his brows creating those charming lines across his forehead, "Well, I'd invite all of you in but the place is a mess right now." He had his moment of fun with three sets of ogling eyes, "Or maybe a drink," He looked to Jane dropping a hint, "Or something."

"Oh," Jane spoke up catching the hint, "Oh that would be the neighborly thing to do, huh?"

"Something like that," Jerry commented; caught a little hint she wasn't quite ready to make an offer, "Well, I'll catch you all later." He again spread out his charming smile, "Nice meeting you all." He slowly turned practically dragging his dark eyes across each swooning face and that one jealousy firm expression of Mark's. He turned his back to them and walked away with a little snicker.

Jane sighed and turned moving onto her driveway. Both girls rushed to either side of her.

"Miss B," Amy spoke up, "Did you just blow that guy off?" She was stunned since the guy was obviously hot.

"Oh, yeah I did." Jane nodded, "Keep it down." She looked back seeing no sign of Jerry then looked to both questioning faces before her, "He's single, definitely good looking and most likely is a player. I am not getting suckered again; I've had about enough." She shook her head.

Charley giggled as did Amy then she felt her butt vibrate. She dug her hand into her back pocket and pulled out her cell. Her eyes went wide seeing a very incriminating image sent to her by Ed; she with dyed black hair and all vamped out with her lips latched on Ed's. Her mouth dropped and she quickly thumbed the image closed. She looked to Amy and her mom, "Hey, I gotta go for a bit." She stepped backwards accidently running into Mark then stumbled away from him, "I'll be back in just a little bit, okay."

"Charley, supper's on." Jane whined thinking her daughter rude to the two guests.

"Hey," Mark too whined but for other reasons.

"Charley, what about studying?" Amy asked loudly.

Charley stumbled a bit walking backwards, "I'll be back." She turned and sprinted across the little lawn portion between both yards and moved onto the sidewalk.

Mark grimaced and looked to Amy, "You guys are studying?" There went his fantasies up in a puff of smoke.

"Yeah," Amy grimaced back at Mark knowing exactly what was on his one tracked mind.

Jerry Dandridge moved across his garage floor watching the young ripe Charley Brewster moved steadily down the winding sidewalk. He lifted his hand, a bright green apple clenched in his fist, his mouth opened and bit hardily into the apple with a loud crunch. He lowered the apple and slowly chewed as his eyes watched with suspicion.

Ed stood fuming; the sky had grown too dark for comfort. Suddenly a hand landed on his shoulder and he practically jumped a foot off the ground while spinning around going into a quick self defense stance; his skateboard dropped to the ground. He sighed with relief, "Damn it, Brewster, don't do that." He acted as though he thought he was being attacked.

"Sorry," Charley giggled finding his jumpiness funny, "Okay, I'm here."

"Yeah, where the hell were you?" Ed snapped, "I've been standing here like a sitting duck!"

"Jeeze, quick spazzing," Charley commented, "I'm here so… now what?"

"Okay," Ed calmed himself feeling better that Charley was there for back up; just in case. He nodded then turned walking to the front door of the Johnson house, the porch light on. "It's been too damned quiet the entire time I've been here…" he looked back to Charley, "…waiting on you."

"I said I was sorry," Charley shook her head standing behind Ed with her arms crossed looking around for anyone that would spot her with Ed.

Ed pounded on the door; "Anyone home?!" he shouted then pressed the doorbell and listened to it chime from inside but no one came to the door. "See," he looked back to Charley and pointed at the door, "No one."

"Okay," Charley didn't really see the point; perhaps the Johnson's went on vacation or something.

Moments later Ed's backpack was shoved through the back doggy door then his slender frame slipped through with ease. He quickly rose up, unlocked the back door then opened it for Charley. As Charley stepped inside, he crouched and unzipped his bag loaded with specific items of protection. "Ed, what are we doing?" he listened to Charley ask; he stood up with a medium sized crucifix gripped firmly in one hand and a stake in the other. He turned facing Charley who suddenly looked shocked upon seeing the crucifix. "You know that new neighbor of yours?" he spoke up prepared to share some major information with his once closest friend and the closest thing to a girlfriend he ever knew. He turned and moved through the kitchen with his knees slightly bent. "Yeah, Jerry, I just met him." He listened to Charley state then glanced back at her, "Well, Jerry's a fucking vampire." He continued creeping forward keeping his crucifix stretched out before him while Charley walked normal.

"Is that why you have that cross and stick?" Charley asked him with her arms tightly crossed over her chest.

"Yeah," Ed simply stated.

"For one," Charley followed Ed up onto the stairs of Adam's house while in the background a shadowed figure moved passed the back door, "What kind of name is Jerry for a vampire? Not scary."

"Who gives a shit what its name is?" Ed shook his head in reaction to the stupidest details Charley chose to focus on. He moved up the stairs cautiously, "Since it came into the neighborhood folks been vanishing. Whole families suddenly gone." He stepped up onto the landing as Charley carelessly stomped upward following him and said his name loudly. "Jeeze, keep it down to a quiet roar would ya." He grumbled, taking the information he had managed to gather very seriously.

"Ed," Charley repeated without keeping her voice down, "We live in Las Vegas and families and people move all the damned time." She froze as Ed looked back her with a way too serious scowl.

"We've stayed put, haven't we?" Ed asked, more or less stated, "And lately, since Jerry moved in, too many families and people just up and vanished." He continued forward peeking through doorways, "Adam and I have been keeping a close eye on this thing."

"So, you're saying Jerry's some sort of Dracula?" Charley asked in disbelief while trying not laugh watching the manner Ed walked about as if prepared for an attack of some sort, "Why are you walking like that?"

Ed turned around and walked along the hallway wall backwards, "No, Dracula is a specific vampire." He explained, his knowledge of vampires well established, "This is not your typical weepy and whining love lost vampire. This is fucking jaws, an eating machine, and all it wants to do is suck this entire neighborhood dry until no one is left!"

"Seriously, Ed," Charley stood there watching Ed prepare to step through a doorway with his cross aimed, "You've read way too much Twilight."

Ed paused and looked to Charley, "There's no sparkling involved with this one." He moved through the doorway but leaned back looking back to Charley again, "And I am truly offended that you think I read Twilight, seriously?" He shook his head and disappeared.

"Ed, this isn't very funny." Charley commented, "Ed?" She stared at the door then he suddenly popped out; there was no sign of humor in his expression.

"No, this isn't funny, Brewster." He stated firmly, "I'm damned serious." He moved through the open doorway that led into Adam's bedroom. The moment he stepped past he became startled by a figure standing by the door. He spun and started swinging his stake armed hand but only struck cardboard; a cardboard cutout of Peter Vincent. "Damn," he stepped back, "I just assaulted cardboard Peter Vincent." He shook his head and stepped out of the room.

"Ed, I've had enough of your games." Charley stated, prepared to walk out, "You've seriously gotten way into all this role play vampire slayer shit."

Ed frowned in response to her accusations. He stepped up to her and looked her seriously in the eyes. "Of all people, I thought you would believe me." He stated with a slight hurt in his tone, "What the hell happened, Charley? What happened to you? Now you're part of this so called in crowd and turned back on both me and Adam like we never mattered."

"What happened, Evil, is I grew up." She stated a fact she had prolonged giving to him, "I gave up all this fantasy vampire bullshit and moved on. That's something you seriously should consider doing yourself."

"Grown up?" Ed laughed, "You suddenly become BFFs with Miss Skank and her skanky lemmings and you think you're grown up? What, having Mark the male slut all over you and you think you're grown up?! You're gonna become just as skanky as the rest of them!" Suddenly he was taken aback by Charley smacking him hard across the face. He stumbled back pressing his hand against the side of his face.

"You're an asshole, Evil!" Charley snapped at him as she pointed blame at him, "You can take your Peter Vincent vampire bullshit and shove it up your ass!"

"It's not bullshit!" Ed snapped back with his hands tightly fisting both the stake and crucifix, "Adam and I have proof! If you would quit being such a bitch I'll show you!"

Charley stepped back shaking her head; "Well, you can just shove that proof up your ass too, Evil!" She yelled with hurt in her voice, "My life is better now that...now that I stopped hanging around the likes of you!" She turned and moved for the stairs.

"Charley," Ed spoke up, his explosive hatred settled by the knowledge that next door to his once closest friend was a vampire. He watched her pause and looked back at him, not with hatred but hurt, "Whatever you do, don't invite him into your house. He can't enter your house without being invited first."

Charley shook her head then turned her back on Ed. She fought back the urge to cry feeling devastated by Evil's spiteful words but also by her final statement. She left out the back door of Adam's house; there was the yard that was spent many times screwing around with all those role playing games. She never wanted their friendship to end in such a horrible yelling match spewing rotten words. She could never hate Ed but her life did improve when she allowed their friendship to fade. That was all she wanted; let it fade away without having to have such a verbal battle flinging insults at one another. She would always love and care about him; he and Adam had been part of her life for so long but things and people change. It hurt worse having said what she had; she felt the tears swell in her eyes as she marched down the sidewalk leaving Ed behind at Adam's and knew Ed was probably just as hurt. Her mind raced with all the information Ed had given; she couldn't possibly believe what he said; could she?

Ed finished his investigation of Adam's house; the house seemed untouched by any murderous vampire with exception to the entire Johnson family being missing including their dog. He stood balanced on his skateboard as the wheels rolled and carried him down the road. He was beyond hurt but didn't allow the tears to show that hurt. Since the beginning of his friendship with Charley he developed more than a friendly liking towards her; never once he mentioned his true feelings afraid she would think him ridiculous or simply reject him. There was that one moment he came so close to confessing his feelings; right after Charley gave him his first kiss while she got carried away with their Peter Vincent role playing. That kiss forever was on his mind ever since and many times he watched the video over and over wishing it would have happened again but with the right meaning. He sniffled, wiped his hand against his nose but suddenly he found him being ruthlessly rammed from his skateboard and forced slamming and rolling over a parked car's hood then striking the sidewalk.

Mark came marching between the two parked cars prepared to finally put Ed Lee in his rightful place. He knew Charley had gone to hang out with the weirdo which stopped him from getting closer to her. With his fists balled he stomped up to Ed who managed to get onto his feet. "What do you think you're doing, huh, geek?" he yelled at Ed with a smug smile, "You're spreading your nerd juice all over my street, asshole!" He stared Ed down prepared to nail the geek right between the lenses of his glasses.

Ed was sick and tired of being lashed out at; being bullied all the damned time by the likes of Mark. "What, Mark," he snapped at the jerk, "Are you more pissed that Charley prefers my company over a douche bag's like you? Huh?"

"What did you say?" Mark snapped with his jaw clenched; heard Ed loud and clear.

"Yeah you heard me, dumb ass!" Ed snapped again, "So, if punching me will make Marky Warky feel better and more like a man… then do it, you tool!"

"Oh, you want me to deck you?" Mark asked rearing his fist back.

"Yeah, do it, you fucking prick!" Ed egged Mark with a little nod of his head and waved of his hand.

"Okay," Mark swung but Ed quickly ducked forcing him to stumble while the nerdy kid darted away. He spun around and charged after Ed; "Oh, you're so fucking dead!" he yelled chasing after Ed who headed for one of the divider wood fences.

Ed ran as fast as his legs would carry him. He raced for the fence then threw his bag attempting to throw it over but it struck the top and dropped. He jumped grabbing the top of the fencing and scrambled up and over before Mark had another chance to deck him. He dropped down and darted through the small yard heading for another fence.

Mark stopped at the fence; figured he made himself clear to the dweeb. He glanced down at Ed's left behind bag. He crouched down, unzipped the bag and discovered the weirdest stash of shit he's ever seen. His hands fumbled about the items; a dozen or so wooden stakes and some crucifixes. "God, seriously?" he questioned aloud while shaking his head then laughed finding the little shit weirder than he first thought. There was no way Charley would be interested in such a crazy weirdo.

Ed grew the distance between he and Mark but unfortunately his bag of vampire killing supplies. He climbed one fence then another moving through each small yard. He moved across another yard then carefully scaled another wooden fence. He dropped down on the other side peeking through two of the wooden slats making sure Mark hadn't decided to follow. He sighed with relief and stood up; thankfully Mark wasn't smart enough to follow him. He took a couple steps backwards then turned prepared to find his way home but he came face to face with what he tried to warn Charley about. Out of pure terror he let out a quick scream and stumbled backwards then fell to the ground. His wide eyes peered up through his lenses at the looming monster, Jerry Dandridge. He scrambled to his feet and darted for the back door of the house located in that little plot nestled between two other houses. "Stay away from me!" he yelled, his feet stomped onto the concrete patio then spun around facing his nightmare. He dug into his jacket pocket and jerked out a wooden stake. He positioned himself in a self defense stance and pointed the sharpened tip of the stake at the vampire; "Back the fuck up, man; I'm armed and I know how to use this!" He watched the vampire smugly smirk then shrug its shoulders as if it weren't fearful of his threat then the vampire moved towards him.

Ed panicked and spun slamming up against the locked back door. His fists pounded against the glass as he desperately screamed for help but no help could be seen or heard. "Stay the fuck away from me!" he shouted at the growing near vampire. He snatched up a heavy paint can then swung his arms back followed by throwing the can into the glass door. The door shattered and he quickly rushed forward into the house. He skidded to halt and sighed; nope, it couldn't get him in there. He turned around and found the vampire standing right outside the shattered door. He breathed heavily and leaned forward pressing his hands against his knees. "Oops, sorry, Jerry," he somewhat panted, his heart racing a mile a minute, "You're not invited," he sang cockily lifting his arms and shrugging his shoulders, "So, you can't come in, asshole!" He smiled for a moment, watching the vampire eye the door then his smile quickly faded the moment he watched the vampire take one step forward over the threshold. "What the…" he mumbled in disbelief.

Jerry Dandridge smirked at the stunned expression over his little spy's face. "House is abandoned," he stated, "Didn't do your homework too well, did ya, Ed?" He casually stepped into the kitchen and leaned back against the counter. "Now, I know you've been watching me, guy," he stated with a serious expression then it gradually faded beneath his coy smirk, "But I've been keeping a close eye on you as well, Ed." He pointed his finger at the kid; his nail lengthier, "It seems only fair, doesn't it…hey guy?"

Ed didn't have the desire to stand there and have a conversation with the vampire. He bolted, ran through the house, hit the stairs and headed straight up. Not once did he look back, afraid he'd find the damned devil on his tail. Thankfully just about every house in the entire neighborhood, including his, was practically identical so he headed for the bathroom set in the back of the house. He charged into the bathroom slamming the door behind then climbed into the bathtub opening the window not knowing Jerry had made it to the top of the stairs casually whistling while at the same time hearing clearly Ed's every move and sniffing the kid out with his keen sense of smell; fear was the easiest to smell.

Ed opened the window quietly as possible then carefully and cautiously climbed out onto the roof hung over the back patio below. He kept a close watch of the window as his Converse soles shuffled along the black shingles; the edge of the roof near. Upon reaching the edge, his eyes focused on the window he started to lower himself over the edge. His hands gripped the edge and carefully and quietly he lowered himself dangling above the ground. His hands released and he dropped hard down onto the concrete; immediately he started cussing having hurt his ankle while bouncing up and down on the uninjured foot. "That look like it hurt," he heard the vampire's voice comment. He froze, eyes darted forward and there was the vampire seated relaxed in a lawn chair. He brought his foot down and stumbled backwards losing his balance then falling into the array of patio furniture as the vampire rose from the chair. He gasped and panicked which sent him rolling off a ledge into a filled swimming pool. Within seconds he pushed emerging from the water with a loud gasp. His glasses streaked with water but he could see the monster's movements. His hand grasped the silver chain around his then pulled from behind his soaked tee shirt a metal cross. He gripped the cross tightly and aimed it at the approaching vampire.

Jerry casually strolled towards the pool with his eyes transforming into slick and glossy black pools. "You bit off more than you could chew, haven't you?" he asked the boy in the pool, desperately aiming the cross. "That's not going to work," he listened to the kid state, "I've already told people what you are...you've been made, Jerry!" He smirked at the boy as he stepped to the edge of the pool just at the steps that led into the water, "And you actually think anyone's gonna believe you, hmm?" he asked Ed.

Ed held his ground the best he could keeping a tight grip of the cross. He shook his head, knew what the vampire was attempting to do. "Oh no," he said firmly, "Don't even try it...you ain't gonna try your mind fucking on me, asshole!" he tapped his dripping wet finger against his temple, "Ain't gonna work on me, so just try me, fucker!" He tried to hide his fear while under the layers of soaked clothes his body started fearfully trembling. His eyes peered through his glasses and listened to the vampire accept the challenge; "Okay," he heard the vampire accept then his eyes watched the vampire begin down the steps, stepping into the water. He took a step back feeling the weight of being trapped; having lost Adam and Charley, his closest friends.

Jerry could read the boy's weakness; having listened to the hateful words spat between Charley and Ed. "You say you're glad being different, proud of being different." he spoke his precisely woven words aiming his ammo directly at Ed's weakness, "But how could you be in a place like this." His black eyes watched closely Ed's every tremble and weakening expression, "A place with these people," he played the notes so well knowing inside the kid had always struggled to apart of a such a proper society that wasn't lenient with those who seemed different, "Not even best friend or is she more than that to you, hmm; she doesn't even care about you any more, you're nothing to her." He watched the young man begin shaking his head in denial of those painful words, "Ed, you were made for this," he watched every detail, every fluctuation of Ed's walls breaking down before his blackened eyes, "You were born for this." he reached forward as Ed continued to shake his head with tears mingling with the streaks of water, "Let's just call it a gift." He smiled with his fangs visible; his hand reached to the Ed as all those walls came crashing down into a pile of miserable rubble.

Ed accepted his fate; those words were painful but felt so truthful. He collapsed, his guard completely pulled down by the vampire's cunning. Years and years of torment at the hands of those who believed them above him had assisted the vampire's goal to gathering him into the darkness that would embrace the odd one out. He closed his teary eyes with those final words of Charley's echoing in his mind over and over. He felt the vampire's hand embrace the side of his neck and pull him forward. The pain was horrific as the vampire tore into the side of his neck and pulled him down below the water's surface. The final images flashing through his mind as his blood was devoured by the creature he tried to expose; those images of that first kiss that meant everything to him but nothing to her. Further below the surface he sank with that vampire's fangs and mouth latched to his neck. He felt his body grow numb to the emotional and physical pain. His eyes opened within the depths of that water seeing the clouding darkness that was his blood. His fingers unwrapped from their hold of the cross and from his hand the metal cross floated and twirled down to the bottom of the pool.

The sun showed bright the following morning over the neighborhood. Jane stepped out onto the lawn picking up the morning newspaper and gladly discovered the eye sore dumpster being removed. "Huh, he kept his word." she hummed with a pleased smile. "Hey, Miss B," she heard Amy speak from behind her. She turned and smiled at her daughter's friend; actually a girl this time. "Hey, Amy." she sang pleasantly and again looked to the neighboring yard watching the dumpster being towed up onto a rollback. "Is Charley up?" she again heard Amy speak. "I don't know, I guess." she replied, "Apparently she has this whole other frequency I possibly can't be heard." She glanced down at the paper which stated another tragic death in Las Vegas; nothing really unusual. "Hey, CHARLEY!" she almost startled hearing Amy shout up at the house.

Charley heard Amy's big mouthed call as she sat on her bed with her laptop propped on her lap. Her eyes stared at the screen watching a video she hadn't seen since the end of junior year. Those words she said to Ed the night before really stuck to her including what he said. Her eyes watched with a slight smile; Ed's loud attempt at being Peter Vincent, the great and powerful magician/vampire slayer of the Vegas strip. She chuckled a bit pressing her fingertips to her softly smiling lips. Then she saw Adam creeping out like a creature of the night dressed in black, his face ghostly painted by left over Halloween makeup and those hideous cheap fangs. Oh, then she saw herself; dyed black hair and dressed in a lengthy black skirt and black tank top; she too creeping towards the infamous vampire slayer. She again giggled upon the sight of the huge battle between good and evil. Ed looked so goofy being so short compared to the real Peter Vincent but at the same time he was adorable. The battle ensued and she and Adam were defeated by the great vampire slayer Ed 'Peter Vincent' Lee and both dropped 'dead' to the ground spewing ketchup from their mouths and bloody ketchup wounds surrounding blunt ends of makeshift foam stakes. Dressed in his stringy black wig and glued on mustache and goatee; Ed face filled the screen and in his best Peter Vincent voice he shouted victory over the creatures of darkness not knowing she rose from the 'dead' and crept up behind him.

She laughed loudly in response to Ed's stunned reaction the moment she grabbed his shoulders with her black painted nails. Her eyes blinked feeling a slight sting of tears hearing his voice shout through the laptop speakers; "No! You're dead!" Ed's voice whined loudly, "I staked you! You're supposed to stay dead!" She laughed though tears were heavy in her eyes. Just as that infamous video moment came she tapped it to an abrupt stop. She closed her eyes fighting back tears then closed the laptop not wanting to witness again the moment Ed had recently tried blackmailing her with. Her startled upon hearing Amy again shout from outside stating they were going to be late for school. She sniffled with her teary eyes looking to the sunlit window. Those things she said the night before felt so wrong; there was really no one she could confide in with such an emotional turmoil. Amy wouldn't understand, not knowing Ed like she did. She set the laptop aside and rose up from her bed. Maybe she could catch Ed before he went to school. She moved to the window and opened it looking down at Amy. Across her lips she forced a smile; "Hey!" she shouted down to her friend, "You go on ahead, Amy! I'm gonna ride the bike to school!"

Amy frowned looking up at Charley, "I thought it wasn't running." She commented loudly with Jane beside her.

"Yeah, it is!" Charley shouted back down.

"Oh," Amy was confused, "Okay, I guess I'll see ya school then!" She waved up at Charley who waved back then turned, "Later, Miss B." she sang then marched down the driveway to her Beetle.

Charley quickly duck back inside closing the window then fetched her string book bag swinging it over her shoulder. She wasn't sure if the old bike would start or not but there was a need to see Ed and apologize for being such a bitch. She headed out the bedroom then downstairs where she was met by her mom stepping into the house. "Charley, what's going on?" she heard her mom ask as she stepped to the front door. "Nothing," she lied opening the door, "See you after school." She rushed out the door before any more questions were asked then headed for the bike parked at the inner edge of the driveway. Quickly mounting the bike after putting on the helmet she used her motocross skill and pumped clutch with her foot while twisting the throttle. Over and over and finally a spark; she revved the bike then eased it backwards while it idled. Once aimed down the driveway she drove the bike quickly onto the road and headed towards Ed's. The entire ride through the maze of streets her mind developed the words needed to explain herself and give Ed a much needed apology.

The dirt-bike grumbled to a stop before the Lee residence; Charley hadn't been there in months. She removed the helmet, hung it on the handle bars then used her foot pushing out the kickstand. She got off the bike and hurried to the Lee's front door then with her thumb she rang the doorbell. The door came open within a few minutes and she smiled widely upon seeing Ed's mom's sweet face. "Hi, Mrs. Lee!" she sang happily with a open handed wave.

"Oh, Charley!" Ed's mom Mrs. Lee sang gleefully seeing a face she hadn't seen in so long, "Come on in!" She stepped aside and held her large smile while Charley entered the house for the first time in nearly four months. "Charley, how have you been?" she continued with her cheery voice, "We haven't seen you in so long!" turned her head and called to her husband, "Bob, look who's here!" She looked to Charley as her husband stepped from the dining room, "Look its Charley."

"Well, I'll be," Mr. Lee to had his usual smile that equaled his wife's, "Charley Brewster, how have you been? You look so different."

"Hi, Mr. Lee!" Charley sang, "Um, where's Ed?"

"Oh, honey," Mrs. Lee chimed, "You missed him."

"Oh, he's not." Charley tried not to hint to them something was wrong.

"He leaves really early." Mr. Lee explained, "You know Ed, always a head start on the day."

"Yeah, I remember." Charley nodded, "Well, see I came by because there's this book Ed has that I need for class."

"Oh, you can go on up." Mrs. Lee gladly sang.

"Thanks," Charley continued to nod and moved for the stairs.

"Right up there," Mr. Lee gestured with his hand, "Last door on the right."

Charley stepped up onto the steps and smiled back at the sweet couple who both wore glasses just as their son, "Yeah, I remember." She hurried up the stairs. She remembered where Ed's little hiding place was in the house. She moved onto the landing and headed straight for Ed's bedroom then entered quietly closing the door behind her. Her eyes scanned the room that seemed darker than she remembered; the walls scattered and plastered with horror and Sci-Fi posters, drawings of role play characters and images of everything supernatural including a giant poster of Peter Vincent centered amongst everything over the wall. She moved further into the room; many of those accusations Ed had made the night before concerning her neighbor returned upon her eyes scanning over a desk cluttered with several note books. Her eyes looked down at one open note book seeing a list that was information taken from Peter Vincent's website; everything needed to protect you from vampires. Her eyes frowned then shifted to Ed's desktop computer. She leaned forward cupping her hand over the mouse then her finger clicked and the desktop menu showed on the monitor screen. Her eyes scanned about the many files and there was one labeled 'Jerry Files'. She double clicked and several video files popped up.

Something drew her in; her years of role playing with her best friends portraying vampires and other supernatural characters triggered her need to click those files. Double click after double click revealed each video was focused on her neighborhood Jerry Dandridge. It was apparent by the whispering voices it was Ed and Adam who were spying and recording her neighbor. Each video was filmed at night using night vision but nothing too strange or suspicious until one. Her eyes stared forward gradually growing wider. "That's his truck," she listened to Ed's voice whisper through the computer speakers, "Oh my God, look!" Her eyes focused and watched closely at an unreal image of a truck door opening but no one visually seen opening the door. "He doesn't show up on camera!" Ed's voice whispered, "Look," her eyes searched the video for any sight of the recorded person…or thing…then she heard Adam's voice whisper with a tone of fear, "That's a vampire." Her head slowly shook; what she just seen, was it real? Was it even possible? She stepped back away from the desk with her eyes glazed over with the realization that everything Ed claimed about her hot new neighbor was true. Her eyes darted to the pile of note books then in a rush she gathered them all up and crammed into her book bag. She had to find Ed!

Charley was relieved that the bike managed to stay running and got her to school. Somewhat late, she ran to her half missed first hour. She rushed into the classroom which disrupted the teacher. Eyes and heads turned to her. She nervously laughed and slowly made her way towards her desk. "Late, Miss Brewster," she heard the teacher scolded, "But glad you decided to show unlike the others." Her eyes looked to the back row and discovered Ed's seat empty; her heart just dropped into her stomach as she slowly sat down unable to pry her eyes from the disturbing vacancy. Her eyes slowly shifted and desk after desk was empty with only several students attending. Her eyes stopped at Amy's confused and questioning expression. "What's wrong?" she listened to Amy whisper while shifting forward in her seat. She simply shook her head; there was no way in hell anyone would believe what now was emerging in her thoughts.

Amy reached and touched Charley's arm; "Hey," she said with concern and question, "What's wrong?"

Charley couldn't directly look at Amy but responded with a whisper, "After school, my house, okay?"

"Sure," Amy nodded in agreement.

Charley wasn't sure how she was going to explain things to Amy. Could she even attempt to tell her new best friend? It was likely that Amy would find her off her rocker instead of understand. Now she had a sense what it was like being Evil Ed Lee; stuck in the middle of something unbelievable that not even a best friend would believe. That sense of loss kept Charley quiet the entire day; she practically hid away in the high school library looking over Ed's hundreds of pages of notes all surrounding his findings about her neighbor. She was desperate not to believe but Ed's investigation was thorough. How could she convince Amy or anyone else? It was obvious Ed failed to convince anyone, including her. Maybe Ed was hiding out; she concluded; maybe nothing has happened to him. She concluded she would again attempt to go to Ed's; maybe he would show up. And that's what she did. She left school on her beat up dirt-bike; again surprised her by its willingness to keep running. She returned to the Lee's and sat on the bike keeping watch of her friend's house. The house was silent; no sign of Ed's parents or Ed. By the time she decided to leave, the horizon turned to dusk.

She put on her helmet and pumped the clutch; "Not now," she grumbled hearing only sputtering but no actual ignition, "Son of a bitch!" She dismounted the bike and gave it a swift kick then reluctantly began walking the bike back home. With that growth of unbelievable knowledge, moving through those streets at night gave her a whole other feeling; the feeling of uneasiness. There were houses dotted everywhere without a sign of life that once was. Each bit of knowledge she read throughout Ed's written notes gave her a whole other outlook of that suburban maze. She felt the fear begin to grow inside her; left then right on those streets was evidence of Ed's accusations. Those empty seats in class coinciding with the growing vacancies throughout the neighborhood. Yet, upon nearing her house there was no sense of ease; the accused lived right next door; as her mother said, thirteen feet away. Her eyes attempted to not look at the neighbor's house while continuing to walking the bike along the sidewalk. Her heart pounded inside her heaving chest. She and the bike moved onto the driveway; her eyes kept forward.

The garage door was open and her mom's van gone. She parked the bike just to the side of the garage opening. She looked back down the driveway at the emptied trash can. Maybe some normalcy with ease her nerves; take her mind off something that couldn't possibly be real. She moved down the driveway, flipped the trash can lid closed, and grabbed the handle then rolled the waste management trash can up the driveway. She moved to the fence gate, knowing the trash can must always to be returned to the back kitchen entrance; mom's rules. She opened the fence then pulled the trash can through the opening. "Hey there, missy." A voice came from behind her before she could continue forward. She immediately recognized the voice and reluctantly turned her head followed by her body. Her eyes looked to the smiling face of Ed's supposed vampire.

Jerry rested his elbows against the top of the wooden fence while standing somewhat within the opening. Oh, he sensed something was up by the manner Charley stood there not saying anything. Had little Ed gotten to her? "Hey, Charley," he sang her name taking a brief moment to eye the teen's petite but curvy figure and noticed another vintage band tee; Motley Crue written across her chest.

"Um," Charley felt the desire to run but needed to keep cool; she forced a slight smile, "Hi."

"Another great band," He commented lifting one finger pointing at Charley's chest.

"Huh," Charley blinked then looked down at her tee shirt he was pointing at; the lettering just happened to be directly across her breasts, "Oh," her eyes lifted and looked to him and again forced a smile, "Yeah, another one of Ma's band tees." Both hands gripped the trashcan's handle with such a tight grip her fingers ached.

"Speaking of your mom," he spoke out as her nervousness was obvious in the manner her eyes refused to give him direct eye contact, "It would do me a huge favor if by any chance your mom had some beer." He explained dropping his elbows from fence and took a step through the opening, "See, I've got this hot little number coming over and, damn, I haven't had any time to go to the store and pick up some beer. I'll owe ya," he gave a little nod, "Buy a sixer for your mom and one for you for helping me out."

Maybe he would go away sooner if she obliged his favor; she thought. "Um, yeah," she gave a short nod, "I'm sure Ma won't mind. Um," she aimed her thumb behind her, "I'll check and see what she has." She slowly turned and continued dragging the trashcan down the little alley leading to the kitchen entrance. She knew Amy was probably inside waiting for her like she asked so the sooner she got rid of the neighbor the better.

"Thanks," Jerry chimed and stepped forward but not without taking a nice little sniff; teenage girls never failed to smell delicious. He followed down the little alley while taking a quick study of Charley's young rear end nicely molded over by a well fitted pair of worn jeans. His smile broadened a bit more. "So, having a problem with the bike?" he asked watching her park the trashcan then take a nervous glance at him.

"Yeah," Charley answered still forcing her smile then stepped to the back entrance that led into the kitchen. It felt sort of creepy knowing he had spotted her walking the bike. She opened the back door pushing it inward and stepped into the kitchen having such an uneasy sense knowing he was staring at her. "I could take a look at it later, if you'd like." She heard him offer which forced her to turn around just at the kitchen island. He stood near the entrance with the tip of boots barely touching the outer door frame. Ed's stated advice; he can't enter without being invited first quickly spoke through her mind. She tucked her fingers into her back pockets. "Nah, that's okay, thanks anyways." She again flashed a quick smile then turned walking along side the island towards the fridge. "Really, it won't be problem," she heard him speak up, "I'm pretty handy, like your mom said." She grabbed the fridge door and pulled it open seeing a six pack of bottled Bud. "It's okay, really," she responded grabbing the cardboard handle, "I know my way around an engine, so, thanks the same." She started pulling the case out then listened to his sly comment, "I bet you do." She glanced at him with a frown; instantly a bottle broke through the obviously soaked corner, crashed to the floor shattering and coating the floor with fizzing beer.

"Oh, let me help you with that." Jerry quickly offered sensing a perfect opportunity to get that much desired invite. "No," he listened to her quickly decline which prompted a bit of frustration.

Charley quickly glanced at him; he practically hovered neared that threshold he was being denied to cross. "Thanks but I got it." She said with a slight smug tone; he seemed anxious. She picked up the larger broken piece of beer bottle then rose up tossing it into the trash can set right at the end of the island. She looked to him as he stepped back away from the desired threshold then watched him oddly begin a short little pace like a dog leashed on a short chain wanting to leap across a locked gate. So, it became obvious that even possible vampires could get anxious when denied what they wanted. The thought that something might have been done to Ed and Adam triggered a spiteful streak inside her. She moved along the island sliding the now fiver across the granite countertop. There was amusement watching him squirm impatiently just hankering to get access to the house. "Sorry, now you only have a fiver instead of a sixer." She commented stepping up to the open doorway, "Here, it's all yours." She reached it forward but kept the case hovering along that invisible barrier. He reached but didn't grab the case.

Jerry now knew she had finally taken to heart everything Ed had said. His eyes glanced down at the case of five beers; his fingers anxiously rubbed together. Then she finally moved it enough over the threshold and he grabbed it. She quickly pulled her hand back. He wanted nothing more than reach over that threshold grabbing her by the pretty neck. He smiled; it wasn't one made of pleasantries but out of anxious frustration. He cockily leaned against the outer frame of the door and stared at the girl. "How are things going with you, hmm, missy?" he coyly asked, "Gotta be tough not having your dad around, huh? No real man around the house to keep you in line." He smirked studying her firm expression, "Or help your mom relieve some of that pent up frustration."

Charley crossed her arms over the band tees lettering. She knew what he was doing; mind games.

He snickered in response to her silence and that adorable girly glare. He took a little sniff; "You know," he spoke up again, "It's been a real bitch living next door to you all. I mean," he again snickered then cleared his throat, "That mother of yours; oh she is just so damned ready its pathetic. Oh, and your sweet little friend, what is she seventeen?" he continued to read no real expression across Charley's face but in her glaring eyes there was plenty to be read, "It must be hard being her friend; what with all those guys just lining up to get a piece of that and no one besides that little prick; what was his name? Oh, yeah, Mark; he pretty much had it all, accept for you so that explains why he's sniffing around. But," he stood straight pressing his hand against the outer siding and leaned closer without nearing that invisible boundary, "You," he gestured to her with his head as he again sniffed, "You are positively ripe," his eyes scanned her from head to toe then stopped again at her narrowed eyes, "You're ripe for the picking."

Charley tilted her head; listened to every damned perverted word that came out of his mouth. She uncrossed her arms then leaned closer with her hand slipping over the interior knob of the door. "Well," she practically slithered with a mischievous smirk, "Bye-bye." She quickly leaned back and slammed the door in his face.

Jerry quickly leaned back upon the door slamming in his face. His hand pulled back from the siding and twisted into a fist then aimed his finger at the door; "Oh," he grumbled, "Just you wait." He said aloud his threatening promise then stormed away.

Charley moved towards her bedroom; the door being cracked open she heard what sounded like that particular video playing. She rushed and shoved the door open startling Amy who casually sat on her bed with the laptop. "What are you doing?" she asked hurrying to the bed then snatched up the laptop quickly folding it closed, "Why were you watching that?"

Amy looked up at Charley and saw the embarrassment, "I was going to listen to music and that video was on the media player." She explained and watched Charley sit down on the edge of the bed, "Charley, I know you were friends with Evil and Adam but were you more than friends with Evil?"

Charley grimaced and darted her eyes to Amy. "If I was, would that be a problem?" she slightly snapped her question; though she and Ed hadn't ever strayed from just friends even after that recorded moment. She watched Amy shake her head while looking stunned by her snappiness. She quickly shifted her eyes away setting the laptop to the right of her. "You could never understand," she stated while lightly shaking her head, "You've been popular all your life."

Amy continued to frown; where was all that coming from? "Charley," she spoke up scooting to the edge of the bed, "You don't have to be embarrassed."

Charley was growing more and more defensive and again darted her eyes to Amy. "I'm not," she again snapped, "Ed and Adam were my best friends for years before you came along." She watched Amy's expression turn from questioning into offended.

"What?" Amy slightly snapped back, "Are you blaming me for you ending your friendship with them?"

"If I hadn't; would you've became my friend at all?" Charley questioned; she knew that she had abruptly ended her friendship with the two friends when she felt insecure becoming friends with the popular crowd. She watched Amy prepare to remark but the sound of voices pulled her attention elsewhere. She darted up and rushed to the window then looked down. "Doris," she mumbled under her breath seeing Doris being greeted by that suspicious neighbor of hers. She felt Amy step up behind her, they both looked out the window.

"What's the problem?" Amy asked hearing a hint of disapproval in the manner Charley said Doris's name, "A hot guy and a hot girl; it was inevitable that they were going to run into each other." She commented then turned her attention to the conversation Charley turned away from. "Charley, do you think I'm that shallow?" she asked and it was apparent Charley was more focused on the neighbor.

Charley felt horrified watching Doris flirt and smile at the charmer while handing him a bottle of wine. She wished she could yell out the window for Doris to get away from the guy. There was a sense of being stuck in a hard place where if she shouted vampire eyes would roll instead of take notice. She watched Doris move into the house then Jerry looked up at her with that sinister smirk. She gasped and bolted back from the window ramming into Amy. "Jesus!" she heard Amy grumbled, "What the hell is wrong with you, Charley?" She turned around and saw the confusion and frustration written all over Amy's face. "I don't know." Charley confessed; caught between two different worlds, the unrealistic but seemingly real world where vampires obviously existed and the other where everyone turned their blind eyes to something remotely impossible.

Amy fumed then darted to the bed fetching her purse; "I'll tell ya what," she grumbled loudly tossing her purse over her shoulder and turned looking back at Charley, "When you figure things out and you really want to talk then call me, okay." She turned and stormed out of the room.

"Amy," Charley whined feeling as if she just let down another best friend; the second in two days. Her head dropped and she sluggishly stepped to her bed then flopped forward across it. She screamed into the bed feeling as if everything she worked so hard to achieve had just blown up into a million pieces and there was nothing to do to pick them up and put them back together. Ed and Adam were missing along with many others. Amy just stormed out because of her lack of interest in mending their friendship which she seriously wanted to hold onto. Now, Doris was next door possibly another victim of what Ed had said was a vampire. Yeah, she saw the video where an invisible force opened and closed the neighbor's truck's door. She saw it; it had to be real. And downstairs, it was obvious without an actual invite the guy was unable to step into the house. It all added up but was the answer really what it seemed? She continued to whine face down into the bed.

Charley had fallen asleep not long after Amy had stormed out. All the events had taken an exhausting toll on her causing to fall asleep lying on her stomach across the width of her bed. A scream suddenly ripped through the window causing her to quickly bolt up startled and falling to the floor in midst of trying to get onto her feet. She scrambled pulling out her cell phone and quickly dialed 911 hoping the police could possibly rescue Doris. She stated to the 911 operator what she heard and where it had come from then quickly hung up. She went to the window peering out at that lair of darkness. Her eyes were watchful while awaiting the arrival of the police. In about five minutes the glare of headlights moved along that stretch of road and it indeed was the police; she crouched down peeking over the windowsill. The police car, no colorful flashing lights, pulled quietly up to the neighbor's driveway then two officers left their squad car approaching the front door. Her eyes steadily watched as one officer knocked then in moments that creepy Jerry answered.

Before her wide eyes she watched as the three of them became all chummy and joking. "What the fuck…" she whispered in disbelief. Oh, it became obvious that guy wove a huge man boasting tale that the scream heard was of a scream responding to wild passion not terror. Her eyes narrowed then she sat down on her rear ending the visual of vampire bonding with stupid mortal officers. Her head leaned back against the wall; it was useless. She was the only one that knew the truth, besides the obvious missing duo. If Doris was possibly still alive, it was only her who could possibly rescue her. She heard the distinct sound of the squad car doors slam. She lifted up again and peered over the windowsill spying the police's departure while that chummy bastard waved the farewell while he climbed into his truck. In moments that truck backed out of the drive then turned heading out of sight. That was her moment and she darted up and prepared to take it.

Within minutes Charley snuck out of her house and made her way across the thirteen feet and over the wooden fence using the trashcan then to the back door entrance into the unknown. She came prepared and crouched down before the doorknob; with the expertise of a cat burglar she worked the lock with just two bent out of shape paperclips. Her high-jinks with two certain guys had taught her many things, not just about vampires but how to pick locks to get into the backyards of certain houses that had swimming pools. The lock clicked and she slowly rose up tucking the paperclips down into her bra. She twisted the knob then opened the door enough for her slip inside. Quietly she closed the door then stepped further into the dark unknown. She had no idea what to look for. Her eyes scanned around seeing windows blackened out throughout the house and barely any furniture. "Doris?" she called out with a strong whisper and repeated while moving about the house. She found the stairs and quietly moved up step after step while her eyes kept looking around.

She reached the landing and quietly stepped up and continued to whispery call out for Doris. She peeked into room after room and upon opening one door she found something really weird; it looked like a shrine of sorts. From her pocket she removed her cell phone and started taking photos of such the strange shrine-like set up. The images she took she hoped would help her in some way; maybe find those specific images on the internet and get some insight on what she was really dealing with. Suddenly the beam of headlights shined through the somewhat darkened window. "Shit," she whispered then rushed to the window; her one eye focused through a spot paint had peeled away, "Mother fucker…" she gasped discovered he returned. There was no time to go racing down the stairs and out the damned front door. She rushed trying to find a place to possibly hide; the closet. She slid the accordion style doors open and peered into a closet filled with all different types of hung shirts including what looked like uniforms. She heard the main door open and into the closet she darted then carefully slid the doors closed trapping her in the darkness knowing the boogieman was downstairs.

Jerry entered his house; first thing he immediately noticed was that very familiar scent of the intruder in his home. Time to play; he thought to himself with a slight smirk. He moved about the downstairs in his typical manner trying to not let it be known that the intruder was known.

Charley nervously bounced on her feet; she was stuck, trapped. She leaned her head back bumping it against what she thought was the back wall to the closet. Suddenly the thought wall popped backwards and she stumbled backwards. She spun around catching herself before falling which would have a disastrous loud noise. Her eyes peered down what was a hallway. Side to side her eyes shifted taking in the sight of doors lining both sides of the walls; she had stumbled right into a truly sinister clue. That had to be where Doris was being kept. She quickly closed the secret door then moved to each door as quietly as possible peeking through tiny peepholes of each white door. She moved to the third door at her left and the moment she peeked inside she was startled the moment Doris's sickly pale and terrified face popped into view. "Doris," she gasped and again peeked inside seeing white walls creating a small type of cell. "Doris," she repeated with a whisper, "It's Charley."

"Charley," Doris said with her eyes wide and outlined with bluish circles, "Charley, is that really you?" Her voice was filled with fear and desperation.

"Yeah, it's me." Charley whispered.

"Charley, get me outta here." Doris begged looking around confused and horrified, "Please, Charley, before he comes back."

"Hold on, okay," Charley crouched down reaching into her bra pulling out her breaking and entering tools. She fumbled a bit with trembling hands as she desperately tried to work the lock. "Gimme a sec… hold on, okay, Doris." She tried to calm Doris while attempting to get the paperclips fitted correctly, "I almost got it." Then in the distance came the sound of loud footsteps pounding against the stairs. "Shit," she cursed and continued her desperate but seemingly useless unlocking of the cell door. The footsteps thundered closer; she looked down the hallway with wide eyes.

"He's coming." Doris sobbed, "Hide…go and hide!"

Charley stood up and peeked inside the makeshift cell feeling hopeless and terrified. She heard those footsteps coming closer and closer. She snuck her way to an unlocked cell and slipped inside leaving the door slightly cracked. She leaned against the wall with her body trembling; she feared what she might witness with her eyes peering through the crack staring where she had no choice to leave Doris.

Jerry pushed the secret door open; there was no denying that his little intruder was nearby, likely passed that cracked open door to his right. Sure, it would be easy to just close that door and lock it but where was the fun in that? Some little girls needed to be taught a lesson when they screw with the wrong guy or vampire. He moved passed the door keeping calm and cool and not once letting on that he knew where that nosy little bitch hid. He stepped to the door where beyond it was Doris. He pulled the keys from his pocket then unlocked the door.

Charley's eyes reluctantly watched Jerry swing open the door which prompted Doris to begin pleading for her life. Jerry stepped into the cell and strangely dragged Doris into the hallway then crouched bringing Doris near the floor with his hand gripping the back of her neck. Charley quickly clasped a hand over her mouth upon seeing and hearing Doris's desperation; the terror powerfully radiated from Doris's wide and sunken eyes. Jerry sniffed grazing the tip of his nose lightly against the side of Doris's pale face; enjoyed the sound of her pathetic pleas but enjoyed more the knowledge that there was a witness to the truth of his nature. Charley's knees slowly bent and gradually lowered to the floor until she was eye level with Doris; tears filled her horrified eyes reading that unimaginable terror throughout Doris's. Jerry brushed the hair away from the already bruised side of Doris's neck; her begging prompted him to continue that display for the poorly hidden witness. Charley watched in horror as Doris lifted her trembling hand and pressed a finger against her bluish trembling lips gesturing for Charley to be quiet. Jerry's head bent back and his mouth opened wide exposing his fangs then without mercy he clamped his fangs and mouth to the side of Doris's neck and enjoyed the pain filled gasps. Charley's wide eyes trickled with tears while she kept her hand firm over her mouth silencing any type of scream or sound; all she heard was Doris's gasps and stared into Doris's teary eyes.

Jerry pulled back with a delighted gasp; there was nothing like performing before an audience. He licked his blood smeared lips then eagerly pressed his tongue down against the trail of blood at Doris's chest then lapped upward that crimson trail ending at the fresh wound. He swiftly stood up and without care shoved Doris back into the cell where she just collapsed with a thud. He closed the door a locked it.

Charley ducked back away from the crack and closed her eyes tightly; tears slowly moved down her cheeks. There was no more guessing; he was everything Ed said and she was beyond terrified having witnessed exactly what true vampires did. There was no gothic romance. There was no seduction. There was nothing but cruelty and no mercy. Her ears listened to the real life monster move down the hallway and passed the cell she hid inside.

Jerry paused before the open secret door; his eyes shifted to the right and could smell the fear thick in the air. He turned and stepped out closing the door behind him. He moved downstairs having made a clear statement to the intruder. He moved to the living room, snatched the remote and turned the television on then sat down propping his feet up on the ottoman. Now he would wait and see what happens next with that little game of hide and seek; the hider not knowing they were being sought. He wiped his lips with his fingers then sucked them clean one by one.

Charley shakily moved from the cell and rushed to the cell door. Again she used the paperclips focused on getting Doris out of there no matter what. She worked the lock feverishly, twisted and taunted it with the duo paperclips. Finally a click; she stood up and swung the door open. She gasped discovering poor Doris awkwardly lying on the floor against the wall. She rushed inside and quickly assisted the weakened woman onto her feet. "Come on," she whispered, "We're getting outta here." She lifted Doris's arm around her neck then assisted Doris from that nightmarish cell. Down the hall, out of the secret passage, then to the stairs she practically carried Doris's weight. Quietly they both started down the stairs hearing the sound of the television. Nearing the bottom Charley guided Doris to crouch down and carefully they moved to the bottom step. Charley looked towards the glow of the television but he wasn't anywhere near it; she looked to Doris and lifted her hand pressing her finger against her lips; Doris nodded. Cautiously they both moved onto the floor; Charley gripped Doris's hand tightly.

Jerry wasn't deaf; in fact his hearing was impeccable along with his sense of smell. He could smell that lingering death clearly coming from Doris and that sweet ripeness from Charley. It having turned to day outside he was curious how Charley would respond to Doris's infliction. He moved about making his footsteps loud and clear while hearing their little mousy scampers. He would intensify the drama by pausing and looking about then return to the kitchen island and skillfully rolled an apple and caught it. They were there hiding in the shadows believing they weren't caught. There was a pleasure giving false hope and watching it be dashed away was the biggest reward. He returned to the living room and sat down knowing they would make their way to the front door.

Charley and Doris hightailed it towards the back door, but quietly. Charley opened the door; thankfully it was daylight which meant the monster couldn't follow them but didn't know he was right there watching them leave. She closed the door quietly and looked to the relieved expression over Doris's face. "You okay?" she asked Doris who nodded and quickly thanked her. She nodded with a smile then both stepped out from under the back door awning. They were home free so they thought. The moment Doris stepped onto the lawn beneath the brightness of day she belted out a horrendous scream and in a seconds her body exploded with a burst of ashes and red embers. Charley let out a scream seeing the quick vampire death; shocked that Doris seemingly hadn't known she was infected. Her eyes were wide watching the red embers drift in the air lowering down to the ashen remains of what used to be Doris.

Jerry chuckled having witnessed the Doris demise and Charley's hope burst before her eyes. He bit into the apple while continuing his amused chuckle. He turned and returned watching the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

(Author Note: Just discovered something just now! OMG! Chris Sarandon's cameo character's name in 2011 Fright Night is Jay Dee... duh! Omg, that is so funny... get it... Jay Dee...dur... J.D...Jerry Dandridge... Yeah my daughter was like, "Well, yeah," and I was just all excited I figured something out about the remake I hadn't known!)

Charley stood beneath the flow of water coming from the shower head above. She stood there with her eyes glazed by what she had witnessed happen to poor Doris as the ashen reminants of that once neighbor washed away down the drain. The reality of the situation, no matter how unimaginable it seemed, was the fact her next door neighbor was a true life, bonafied vampire. She hadn't felt that alone or secluded from the outside world since before she became friends with Ed and Adam. Her eyes slowly lifted with the thoughts of them; Ed and Adam; the water streamed down her face forcing to blink through those thoughts. Those two particular people she seemed to have thrown away because of a desire to be amongst those who were acceptable. Those two individuals who she had shared so many damned memories with; when her father left they became her real source of happiness. And, where were they? Were they dead? Or were they to be like Doris? Though the sun shown through the small bathroom window; it still seemed so dark, especially inside her. She reached turning off the shower then slid the glass door back and stepped out then heard her bedroom door.

The bedroom door came swinging open; Jane came marching into her daughter's room heading straight for the drawn curtains. "You're going to be late!" she stated loudly knowing Charley was in the shower, "These hours you've been keeping...swear you were a vampire or something!" She laughed at her own joke getting nothing from the quiet peanut gallery. She turned as Charley stepped out of the shower wrapped in a towel, "What's going on?" Her motherly instincts kicked in. Her eyes followed her daughter not getting response; Charley disappeared into the semi walk-in closet. "Charley, what is going on?" she repeated with more sterness while planting her hands on her hips, "Are you and Amy having friend issues? Or is there something going on with that Mark guy from the other day?" She wanted answers but someone wasn't willing to give them.

Charley finally came stepped out from the closet dressed in a manner she hadn't dressed in many months. She moved towards the bed; ignored her mother's eyeballs; then sat down on edge of the bed pulling on her knee high striped socks. "Ma, you wouldn't understand." she finally spoke while putting on the high-top Converse.

"Charley, I might be your mom." Jane said surprised by Charley's choice of cloths