Chapter 19: Reminder that I don't own the Lost Boys or any of the scenes/dialogue/characters from the movie.
I spent the afternoon reading on the couch with Nanook by my side and Soda in my lap. Mike stayed in his room the whole day and Sam spent a majority of time reading through the Vampires Everywhere comics, trying to piece together any information he could use to put their plan into action.
Around five I helped Aunt Lucy start dinner, mostly chopping up the vegetables for the homemade pasta sauce, making the meatballs, rolling the fresh noodles, chopping up vegetables for the salad, and baking snicker doodles for dessert. Sam came in the kitchen at one point, asking what he could do to help, and Aunt Lucy handed him a slice from the wheel of Parmesan, telling him he could grate it. He did as she asked and when she left the room, he pulled out a bulb of garlic and started to grate it, mixing it into the cheese. "You think that'll tell you whether or not Uncle Max is a vampire?" I mused. "Yes," Sam stated, hard at work. "All the books say that they're allergic." I smiled and shook my head. "If Uncle Max, or David, are vampires, then garlic doesn't work. We constantly have Italian night at their house and I constantly use garlic." Sam shrugged. "It's worth a shot!"
About 7:45, Grandpa came out of his study and into the kitchen. "Something smells good!" He exclaimed. "When do we eat?" Aunt Luce taste tested the pasta sauce. "I told Max, eight o clock." "Max?" he asked. "We gonna have company again?" I snorted as Aunt Lucy laughed. "Again? Dad, you haven't had company since mom died eight years ago." He winked at me and said, "That's right, and we're going to have company again." I shook my head with a smile, and Aunt Luce called out, "Lilah, would you please go get Michael and tell him that dinner is almost ready?" I nodded and hopped off the counter, climbing the stairs and gently knocking on Mike's door, a warning, before opening it and walking in."Mike,"I said, walking over to his bed and sitting down next to him, watching as he ran his fingers through his hair in front of his mirror. "Aunt Lucy said dinner is almost ready. But it looks like you're heading out." He glanced at me and nodded, before returning to what he had been doing. I sighed. "I know you're busy and all that, but it would really mean a lot to me if you were to stay. Sam," I trailed off, wondering how to explain what I was going to say as I walked closer to him.
"Sam has this crazy idea- AH!" I had turned to face the mirror and saw exactly what Sam had been saying, Michael was in the mirror, but he was barely there, like a ghost. Mike understood what I was seeing and pushed me against the wall, gently placing a hand against my mouth. "Shhhhhh," He said. "Whatever you do, don't scream. Okay?" I nodded, and he took his hand off of my mouth. My eyes started tearing up. "Sam was right?" I asked, and Mike nodded, pulling me into a hug. "Something's going on Lilah, and I'm going to find out exactly what it is tonight."
I followed Mike down the stairs and into the kitchen, and heard Aunt Luce as she called out, "Michael, Max is coming to dinner, and I'd really like you to meet him." "Can't," he said gruffly, zipping up his jacket. "I have plans." She rolled her eyes as he walked back into the hallway, and said, "You know what Michael, things are going to change around here once school starts!" I followed him to the door. "I know you said you're going to find out what's going on, but what exactly does that-" as Mike opened the door, Uncle Max stood there, a bouquet of flowers in hand, arm raised as though he was about to knock. "Hello," He smiled, sticking out a hand to shake. "You must be Michael, right?" Mike ignored his hand and said coolly, "And you must be Max." "Right, how are you?" Uncle Max nodded. As Mike ignored him, he tried a different approach. "Well, you are the man of the house and I'm not coming in until you invite me."
Mike locked his jaw. "You're invited." Uncle Max stepped in, fiddling with his coat. "Well thank you very much." Mike walked off and Uncle Max gave me a smile and a hug. "How's my Lilah bean doing?" I grinned. "I'm okay. Don't pay too much attention to Mike, he's just another rotten teenage boy." Uncle Max laughed and walked down the hall to where Aunt Lucy was in the kitchen, when a quiet knock sounded at the door and I opened it again as Sam scrambled down the stairs. "Come in guys," He said to Edgar and Alan, who stepped inside. Alan followed Sam down the hall, but Edgar stopped and faced me. "You okay?" He asked softly. I shook my head, remembering what had happened this morning. "No actually. Peter told me something pretty interesting when we were at church today. He seems to think-" "Lilah!" Sam hissed from up the hall, beckoning us over to him. I rolled my eyes and the two of us walked towards him.
The four of us interrupted what seemed to be a private moment in the dining room as Sam said, "Mom? These are my dinner guests. Edgar and Alan. The Frog Brothers." I bit my lip, knowing her reaction could go one of two ways. Either she was remembering the first time she met Edgar a week ago, when she thought he was my boyfriend, and was wondering why he and his brother would be here, or she was completely passed who was standing in the living room and just more focused on the fact that her son had unannounced dinner guests on what should have been a pretty important night. "Guests? I didn't know you were having guests." It was the second option. "Well mom, you know if we're in your way, we can eat some peanut butter out of the jar in the kitchen." I had a hard time keeping my mouth shut at that one. "Very funny," She lightly scolded. "No there is plenty for everybody. Max, you know my son Sam, and Edgar and Alan Frog" The boys nodded in greeting and I sighed. This would be quite the night.
...
"Lucy, this looks terrific!" we were all seated around the dining room table, Aunt Lucy at the head, Uncle Max to her right, me next to him, Sam to her left, Alan next to Sam, and Edgar in between Alan and I. "Oh," she blushed. "Well I hope it tastes good. Lilah did a marvelous job at helping me prepare it." I grinned at the compliment and watched as the boys each took a bite from their plate, preventing the situation from seeming too suspicious. Alan grinned and leaned across the table, whispering, "You can come cook for us anytime." I giggled as Sam scoff and swatted him back into place.
"Boy!" Aunt Lucy exclaimed. "Somebody around here has bad breath!" I rolled my eyes as my cousin and friends' heads shot to stare at my uncle. If vampires are real and Uncle Max is a vampire, the bad breath thing was a hoax. Uncle Max always smelled like peppermint. "Nanook," she grinned as Sam's dog tried to climb onto her lap. "would you quit breathing on me?" I tried to keep my laughter in as the boys looked defeated. "Nanook, get upstairs,come on" Sam groaned. Edgar gave him s nod of the head, causing Sam to grab the bowl of grated "cheese" and hold it out in front of Uncle Max. "You want some Parmesan cheese on that?" He asked. "Um, yeah Sam. Thank you very much." The boys watched as he sprinkled a spoonful over his plate. "Sam grated the cheese himself," Aunt Lucy beamed. "My son." Uncle Max smiled. "Another budding chef in the family!" He stated before taking a mouthful, immediately coughing.
Aunt Luce quickly gave him her attention. "Oh are you alright?" "It's not cheese, it's garlic!" He exclaimed.
"I bet you hate garlic don't ya!" Sam yelled. I kicked Sam from under the table, and he narrowed his eyes at me. Edgar grabbed my knee, preventing me from kicking again. I grabbed his hand and tried to force it off, but he relented, squeezing my thigh. I blushed when I realized just how close he was to me.
"I like garlic," Uncle Max stated, "But it was just a little much. It was raw garlic!" Aunt Lucy picked up the bowl and took a whiff. "Garlic! How did that happen?"
"Guys, he likes garlic," Sam whispered. Alan nodded towards the glass of water on the table. "Don't tell me that's-" I whispered to Edgar, who nodded. "Here, quick! Drink some water!" Sam exclaimed, 'spilling' the glass of holy water in Uncle Max's lap, and all over his nice suit. "Ohh" Aunt Lucy exclaimed as both of the adults in the room stood up. "Sam, what's the matter with you?" "Does it burn?" I closed my eyes, wishing that this night would end. "Burn? Are you nuts? It's freezing!"
As Aunt Lucy moaned about his suit, Edgar quickly jumped up and flicked off the lights, as Alan reached over and put out the candles. "Ohhh, now what?" Aunt Luce groaned. "Must be a circuit breaker mom!" I couldn't see Sam, but I could hear his movement, as he came closer to my side of the table. "He's not glowing!" Edgar exclaimed, and from the sound of his voice I could tell he was right behind me. "I know, hit the lights!" Edgar did so and I saw Sam had stretched a mirror in front of Uncle Max, who jumped at his sudden reflection.
"Sam!" Aunt Lucy was mad, and rightfully so. "What has gotten into you?" " I think I know what's going on here." Uncle Max spoke somberly. "You do?" Sam sounded scared. "Yes. I know what you're thinking, Sam. But you're wrong." Sam looked at all of us, before returning his attention to Max. "I am?" "I'm not trying to replace your father or steal your mother away from you. I would just like to be your friend. That's all. Good night, Lucy." He walked into the hallway and she glared at Sam, before following him. "Thanks a lot!"
I narrowed my eyes at my friends and my cousin, and pushed my chair away from the table, throwing my napkin down. "I'm ashamed of all of you" I spat. Sam walked forward and grabbed my hand. "Lilah, we just-" "I don't care!" I ripped my hand from his grasp and started walking away.
"Uncle Max has been through a lot. So has Aunt Lucy. He's done so much for me, and all I've ever wanted was for him to be happy. I thought you should feel the same for her. But instead, you've cooked up this little fantasy game where you think he's a vampire. Well I'm done playing." I stormed out of the room.
...
Aunt Lucy and Uncle max were in the kitchen! talking quietly. They stopped, smiling at me when I entered. "Ant Lucy? Uncle Max? I'm really sorry everything turned out the way-" "ohhhhh sweetheart. That's quite alright" he cut me off. I shook my head. "No it wasn't. Aunt Lucy, I'm sorry. You made a really delicious dinner. I'm sorry Sam and my friends were acting the way they did" she reached out an arm and pulled me in for a hug. "You have nothing to apologize for Lilah"
I smiled softly at her, before pulling away. "Uncle Max, can I please sleep at your house tonight? I just, I really want to spend the night with you, David, and Laddie. Can I please?" He opened his mouth, hesitating for a second, before smiling softly. "Did you ask your grandpa?" I went to say no, and Aunt Lucy smiled at me. "Sweetie, go ahead. It's okay with me." She winked. "And my rule trumps his" I giggled, hugging her around the waist before heading to go up the stairs.
"Lilah wait. I have some boring paperwork to do. Why don't I call David while you get packed, and he can take you to the boardwalk?" I smiled, nodding. "Okay!"
I ran upstairs to grab my things. It was only one night, but I wanted to be prepared. With Sam acting like this, I didn't know if I would end up staying longer or not. I kinda felt bad for leaving aunt Lucy with him, but she's so forgiving, she'll get over it.
I grabbed my sketch set, thinking of the drawing of David I was working on, when I heard a knock on my door frame. Rolling my eyes, without even turning around I said "Sam go away. I'm angry at you. Just get over it." "It's not Sam"
I paused, turning to look at Edgar, before narrowing my eyes. "It applies to you too buddy" Edgar let out a small sigh and walked foreword.
"Why are you guys so obsessed with my uncle? He's never done anything wrong a day in his life. He's helped me so much. He-" "Lilah!" Edgar said. "David hangs our with some bad people. Max is acting suspicious. The only logical conclusion we could come to is this-" "just shut up!" I snapped. Edgar grew quiet. I had never snapped at him before. "Listen, I trust you guys with my whole heart. But I trust my uncle too. And I'm tired of hearing about this little thing you've got against him."
I saw the lights of a motorbike down in the driveway and slammed my dresser drawer, grabbing my bag and slinging it onto my back. "Lilah. We're trying to keep you safe" I held a hand up, signaling for him to stop talking. "Don't want to hear it. Get out of my room. My ride is here. I'm not listening to this garbage anymore"
"Lilah!" He snapped, grabbing my shoulders. I stopped. Now just as much as I had never snapped at Edgar, he had never snapped at me. "We're only concerned about you. I'm concerned about you, okay? I love you and I don't know what would I would do if anything happened to you" my mouth opened, a little shocked.
I hugged him. "I get it. I love you too. I'm always going to be concerned about you guys too"
He followed me down the stairs, protesting my choice to leave. I walked into the dining room to see Sam and Alan staring at the kitchen with angry looks on their faces. I figured David was here, and walked towards the kitchen to be surprised that Marko was inside instead, talking to Uncle Max, and Aunt Lucy. The three of them were laughing. "What's he doing here" Edgar said in a low voice, alerting the adults we were back downstairs. Marko grinned at me and waved a little, as Uncle Max clapped his hands together. "Well kiddo, David was fixing his bike. He said he'd be done with it in a little bit, but he sent Marko here to pick you up and meet him at the boardwalk, where you can hang out while I finish paperwork. Cool?" I smiled. "Cool. Thanks Uncle Max" I hugged him, earning a kiss in my forehead as I pulled back. I gave aunt Lucy a hug and followed Marko to the door, pausing once to turn and look down the hall, where the three boys looked at me solemnly.
"You okay Lilah?" Marko asked with a smile when he noticed I was no longer following him. I smiled. "I will be."
And with that, I closed the door and followed Marko to his bike, hopping on the back and wrapping my arms tightly around his waist, something that in such a short little time became so natural.