Vampire Street 2: Everlasting Stakes chapter 2
So here, we have the second chapter of Everlasting Stakes!
Benny: How's your procrastination hanging in there?
Just fine, Benny, thank you very much.
Benny: No, don't thank me. You're doing this chapter right now way later than you should have, you moron.
Better late than never, right?
Benny: *muttering* Better late than this piece of trash.
Anyway, let's go on with the story!
Linda sighed dejectedly as she stood near the entrance of Mount Elden Middle School. The neighborhood of Grandview Homes was more comfortable, relaxed and residential than their bustling, crummy motel in Nau but that wasn't saying much considering how the Jumping Buffalo was. Linda had considered going to another middle school but unfortunately, there were only three in the entire city. She and Justin removed Leupp as a potential selection due to the fact that everybody would already be forming cliques since they have known each other since kindergarten at the very least. While Sinagua was somewhat closer to the motel, it also wasn't of the best quality to Justin.
They both knew that they wouldn't be able to go to alternative schools without some kind of purpose, private schools were too expensive and the charter schools would be looking for admissions testing for both Justin and Linda. Therefore, Linda was to attend seventh grade for the time being at Mount Elden and Justin twelfth grade at Flagstaff High. Linda gritted her teeth as she checked her watch. It was 7:30 am and if Linda waited any longer, she might be late for first period.
She thought "No time like the present," as she walked into the building to the principal's office.
Across town, Justin had been standing outside of Flagstaff High School in a green hoodie, blue T-shirt and jeans. Justin scratched the back of his neck and checked his IPhone 6 for the time. It was 7: 39 am, slightly too early for him to go inside so he figured he would stand by the entrance and see if there was anyone suspicious. Just because he had to go to school didn't mean that he didn't have to be on the lookout for other vampire humans.
He noticed a slightly taller girl that was most likely a year younger than he was with chestnut brown hair, ocean blue eyes and a mole on her right cheek. She was wearing a blue T-shirt with a lightweight green and purple jacket and a mid-length black skirt. Justin felt an unusual aura emitting from the girl, like something was off but he couldn't place exactly what it was.
The girl noticed Justin looking at her and smiled slyly before she slowly walked over to him. Justin pretended to be looking at her legs as she followed her gaze.
She smiled again as she asked "I don't think I've seen you around here before. New boy?"
Justin nodded and answered "Today's my first day. I'm a senior."
She said "What's your name?"
Justin responded with "Justin."
The girl blinked and replied "Justin?"
Justin stated "Just Justin," as he tried to avoid the girl's curious, intrigued glance.
The girl chuckled, said "Nice to meet you, Just Justin. I'm Melody Goode. Or as my mom would say, Melody Feidelm Goode," and stuck out her hand for Justin to shake before she nervously reached back.
Justin raised his eyebrow and remarked "Melody Feidelm Goode?"
Melody said "Yeah, the middle name's Irish. My mom gave it to me since it was my great-grandmother's name. So where are you from, Just Justin?"
Justin answered "Newark. I needed a new change of pace so my folks ended up moving here."
Melody replied "What fun is there in New Jersey? The entire state is full of Jersey Shore wannabes and blue-collar tough guys. Anyway, I'm a junior. I was born in Pasadena but I've lived here almost my whole life."
Melody left out the part of having sharp teeth overnight and her strange, sudden hunger. For what, she didn't know but she wanted to quickly. If this weird new boy was the key, then she was going to push him into the lock as far as she could. For now, she was going to befriend him slowly, gain his trust and obtain his secrets.
Melody walked with Justin as they paced around the entrance and the courtyard. He didn't think anything negative about her but he was suspicious about her subconsciously. Perhaps it was merely a gut feeling but Justin had the feeling that there was more to it than that. He sought to keep an eye on Melody Goode.
The first bell rang and Justin headed inside, Melody straining to catch up with him. He had to get to the office to find out his schedule. Plus, he didn't want to be late on his first day. Sure, hunting down nefarious vampire humans was his primary goal but so was staying out of trouble. That meant being on time for all of his classes. Justin didn't mind having to do that. He had done it for seventeen years, after all.
Meanwhile, in Ewing, Lindsay had cooked a meal for herself, Arnold and Jal. She wasn't quite sure if Jal would have breakfast or perhaps escape off to McDonald's or the Starbucks in Lawrenceville. Jal hadn't missed a breakfast at the house so Lindsay was holding out hope this time. Arnold had come down in a yellow and brown striped sweater and gray sweatpants along with his teal beanie.
Lindsay had cooked a meal of buttermilk pancakes with sausage and bacon. She had set aside orange juice, tropical punch and milk on the table for everybody to drink.
She smiled and said "Good morning, Arnold."
Arnold yawned loudly and replied "Morning, Lindsey. Nice to see that there's breakfast," before he grabbed a plate and took two pancakes with two sausage links and three strips of bacon.
He poured milk into a tall glass, filling it three-fourths of the way before he sat down at the dining room table with his food and drink. Jal came slowly down the stairs, rubbing her eyes warily. She wore a purple, thick hoodie with a gray sweatshirt and black jeans. She glared at Arnold for a minute before she walked into the dining room.
Lindsey warmly said "Good morning, Jal."
Jal initially said nothing in response but then responded quietly "Good morning."
She took a plate and took a pancake with two sausage links and poured orange juice into half of a small glass before she sat down at the dining room table. Lindsey herself took two pancakes with two strips of bacon and as she poured maple syrup over her pancakes, she looked over at Jal's plate.
Lindsey asked "Are you OK, Jal?"
Jal muttered "I'm not hungry," before she quickly ate her food and went to put her dishes in the sink.
Arnold finished his glass of milk and looked at Lindsey.
He wiped his mouth and chin and said "Lindsey, I hope I'm not being too forward but do you want to go out sometime? Maybe to a restaurant or a movie or…bowling?"
Lindsey looked Arnold up and down. It had been a year since she ran away from her husband-to-be Jeffrey in Brighton. A year since she had been turned by her creator. Sure, she had a few relationships, if you could call them that, since then but they never lasted more than two weeks. People simply saw a cheap body instead of inner and outer beauty. Lindsey thought of it as more of their problem rather than hers. That being said, it wasn't that she didn't find Arnold attractive. He was in a rugged, bohemian sort of way. Rather, she wasn't exactly comfortable with being in a relationship right now. Perhaps when she managed to focus on herself, she would find the time to find somebody to love. But at that moment, she couldn't find a reason to say yes.
Lindsey looked away and answered "Sorry, Arnold, I'll be busy all week. I'm not also really into dating right now."
Arnold nodded and responded with "That's cool. But I have some friends who are going to Great Adventure in Jackson this weekend. Perhaps you and Jal want to come with us?"
Lindsey answered "I don't know about Jal but I'll think about it."
OK! That's a wrap for chapter 2!
Benny: Too bad you can't bandage this thing up. I don't know how you managed to do this in one night.
Determination and hard work, Benny, you know?
Benny: Sure, that's what they all say until they're in a jumpsuit and handcuffs.
Anyways, you could review and say what you liked or didn't about the chapter!
