Fourteen-year-old Maddox stood outside the YMCA where he had been swimming earlier. His parents had promised they would pick him up a six but it was six forty five already. They had forgotten and Maddox knew it. They were probably too busy with Jazz to remember him. She had, after all, just been announced as a slayer.
Maddox started the long walk home. It was only ten miles. He could make good timie if he walked quickly. Maybe his mom had saved him some dinner thinking he was just at a friend's house nearby. No matter how many times he told her where he was going to be she always seemed to forget.
Suddenly, a vampire emerged from an alley.
"Hello"
Maddox backed away as his hand dove into his jacket for a stake. "I thought little boys like you were in bed at this hour"
"That was a lame joke, it's six fifty, why would I be in bed"
The vampire's face contorted to that of it's demon side and it jumped at Maddox grabbing him by the neck and trying to bite him. He pushed it away but was hit in the eye a moment later sending him to the ground.
Maddox struggled beneath the vampire's weight. It had to be ten times stronger than him. A noise came from the end of the alley, distracting the vampire for a moment and allowing Maddox to stake it. When he got up he could see his father and sister standing at the end of the alley, looking at him.
"Maddox"
"Yeah"
"What are you doing out"
"I had swim practice until six, remember"
A look of guilt crossed Wesley's face as he walked towards his son.
"He hit you"
"Yeah, I'm fine"
Maddox stood up.
"Can we go home, now"
Wesley nodded and led his two children back to his car. Jazz climbed in the front seat and Maddox in the back. His head hurt but he wasn't complaining. They rode along in silence until they pulled up at the Wyndham Pryce residence in a very nice upper class neighborhood.
Maddox got out first and went into the house. His mother was sitting in the living room watching TV when she noticed his black eye.
"Maddox, what happened?"
Lilah quickly got up and went over to him, tilting his head back so she could get a good look.
"I got attacked by a vampire"
Jazz went upstairs and to her bedroom. Her parents were going to pay attention to Maddox now. Wesley went into the kitchen and got an ice pack. He placed it on his son's swollen eye and sat him down on the couch.
"Maddox, I'm so sorry I forgot about your swim practice. I thought you were over at Kevin's house"
"It's okay"
"I'll go get you some dinner"
Maddox leaned back on the couch, enjoying the attention. His mother brought him out a plate of food and his father sat beside him.
"You're sure you're okay"
"Yes sir"
Wesley patted his son on the back. He didn't know how it had escaped his mind that his son had swim practice. Maddox finished his dinner and then excused himself to take a shower. When he got to the top of the stairs he could see Jazz in her room. As he passed by she threw a pillow at him and nailed him in the face.
"Hey! What was that for"
"You ruined my slaying tonight"
"Sorry, I should have let it kill me shouldn't I"
"Yes. We'd all be better off without you"
"Well, everyone knows you're the stuck up twin"
"Whatever"
She threw a snowglobe at him but he ducked it, quickly.
"Man, when did you get such a good arm"
"When we were six, remember?"
"Oh yeah, our baseball days. I'd forgotten about those."
"Me too well...until now"
Jazz sprang from her chair and hugged Maddox.
"I'm sorry you could've been hurt"
"It's okay. I'm sorry I ruined your slaying"
Maddox didn't really know why he was apologizing and he didn't know why Jazz had gone from one mood to the other in a matter of seconds but he just figured that's the way girls were. They both didn't see their parents standing at the top of the stairs watching them with huge smiles on their faces.