Chapter 2

Her blood was warm and sweet and it deepened his shallow breaths, but Drew took no pleasure from it. Usually after drinking the stuff, the rich and life giving substance could make him happy, no matter what mood. Not tonight. The blood left a sour and coppery aftertaste in the back of his mouth. He'd taken enough anyway. He removed his mouth from the girl's throat and set her back in the passenger seat. Her head flopped against the closed window. It didn't matter. There was no one there to see them tonight. Gardle's Point was empty--mostly on the account of students scrambling last minute for the upcoming exams.

This was a favorite make-out spot for the students of Miada High. It looked over the rolling hills that dropped several lengths beneath. It was a nice little nook, sheltered from the sun by the road above. The sun was of little problem to Drew's overly sensitive eyes at this time of night. It was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a ruddy glow along the hilltops.

Drew sighed, leaning his forehead into the steering wheel. He couldn't take another look at the girl still flopped in the passenger's seat. She was completely knocked out and wouldn't wake up for days if he didn't prompt her to. She had very little telepathic resistance--almost none in fact. That's one of the main reason's he'd chosen her as his most recent girlfriend.

It was a poor choice on his part. They'd only been dating her for a month and he'd already wanted to throttle her for the past week. She was the most whiny--the most clingy girlfriend he'd had yet. And whenever she was awake--she'd never shut up. She didn't even know how to breath properly. She would take these tiny little half breaths between sentences, bulldozing on for like a mile-long one-manned--womanned--conversation.

He knew he should wake her up and take her home but he didn't know if he could stomach the chatter right now. He very well might throttle her, and then he'd have the human police force on his case--because he'd been the last person to be alone with her. No, better not do that. Even if humans were vermin, they could still pose a threat.

The first thing he'd done once he'd driven into their secluded spot was to send a telepathic punch in her direction. Anything to get rid of that awful noise!

Drew looked up from the steering wheel, feeling slightly claustrophobic. He needed some fresh Californian air. That's it. He'd go for a walk. He opened the car door and hopped out into the cool evening breeze. He took a deep breath, catching the smell of barbeques. There was a large camp site no more than half a mile from here. Drew picked his way deftly down the slope. He could do with a scenic tour. He hadn't been to that particular campsite in over a year.

It took him little time to reach it. He heard the sound of a dog barking and a couple crackling fires. He kicked at a tent stake as he moved by. The tent flopped slightly to one side. He didn't know why he did it. He didn't get any pleasure out of the act. He wasn't that stupid kid anymore--the one who ran around with his friends and caused little misdemeanors for a laugh. If he was going to do a crime, he might as well make it worthwhile. All this kid's play was pointless.

He caught sight of a lonely abandoned swing with a rusty chain to hold it up. It only had a wooden slab for a seat, but it did Drew just fine. He sat down and kicked himself off the ground in a wide arc. He sent an inquisitive glance in the direction of the nearest campfire. There was no sleeping gear--these were daytimers. Here just for the bonfire and the 'dogs.

There were a couple of families sitting about the fire, basking in it's warmth from their lawn chairs. There were two sets of adults, chatting amiably. There was a boy Drew recognized as Jim Goddard. His bright, carrot-topped head was hard to miss anywhere. He was a regular nerd, always staring off into space or dreaming up some rather bizarre world. He was a regular bully magnet--the bullies being Drew's own friends. He himself had given Jim a few swirlies over the years. It seemed rather pointless to Drew, seeing as Jim was such a skinny boy in the first place. There was no challenge in picking him up and dunking him in the toilet. But he had always been swayed by peer pressure.

Lizzie Shankton was also there. An old girlfriend of his. He liked her just about as little as he liked his current girlfriend. She was definitely a much better linguist and knew when to take her breaths. But her mind was vapid. Drew had once made the mistake of delving curiously inside. Life was all about boys and clothes and gymnastics and nothing deeper. She never thought about why the world was the way it was--and for that he held a certain disdainful contempt for her--even though reason told him such feelings were groundless. Stupid.

It was the last figure that he couldn't seem to take his eyes off of. He knew here well enough. Jim's sister: Clara Goddard. But in school, she always hid behind her long Auburn hair and loose-fitting clothes with a couple books clutched to her chest. Now, among her family and friends, she was in her element. Her hair was pulled back to show of her fine-boned features. Her eyes lit up at something her father was saying to her and she laughed. Drew was transfixed as her whole body shook with laughter.

He shook his head to clear his mind. He blinked and looked away. She was just the shy girl who walked passed him every week day at school. She was nothing special. But for that moment, she had been--like a nymph. No, a medieval princess, regal and beautiful. Her whole face lit up when she laughed. She glowed.

A slight breeze kicked up, blowing loose locks of hair free from the ponytail. He almost wished he was close enough so that he could brush the wisps of hair away from her face. It was a nearly undeniable urge.

You idiot, he told himself.

When had he, Drew Redfern, ever cared enough to help a girl get her hair out of her face? Girls were just an easy meal--a chance to feed and nothing more. He'd dated enough of them that he tired of relationships. Thinking of relationships, he was reminded of Dana, still slumped back in the car.

He sighed. He didn't want to go back. He knew he needed to anyway.

He took a slow stretch and stood from the swing. He couldn't help the irresistable urge to take one last glance in Clara's direction. He found a flush creeping up his cheeks and wanted to kick himself for it. He didn't blush. He was Drew Redfern. That was just a given.

Jim Goddard looked up, as if he somehow sensed Drew's eyes on them. He gave Drew a short and curious--slightly wary--glance. Drew returned the look with a dark on of his own. He turned his back to the group and headed up the dusty lane. He cut through the grass at the edge of the campsite and prepared himself for the short hike back up to the car.

When he got there, he sent a prompting to Dana's mind. Wake up.

Dana stretched lazily with a yawn. There was blessed silence while the yawn was taking place. As soon as it was over, Drew wished he could stopper his ears.

"Did I fall asleep? Oh my gosh," she giggled. "I swear I could fall asleep like anywhere. Like this one time when I was at the mall, and I fell asleep in the changeroom instead of trying on the outfits I'd picked out. So when the cashier came to knock on the door--I was so embarrassed. I'd been in there for like an hour--wait! Where are you going? I thought we were coming down here so that we could--well, get cosy for a while. Are you feeling sick again Drew? If you are, then I could give you like the most amazing back rub. I'm so good at giving back rubs. All my friends tell me so--"

"Dana," Drew said bluntly, cutting her off. "I think we need to break up."

For a moment, it was as if she hadn't even heard him. She just kept on chattering, but then her speech rumbled to a halt. She gasped and then her lip trembled. "B-but why? What did I do wrong? Am I talking too much? Because people always say I talk to much..."

Drew closed his eyes, driving from the imprint on the back of his lids for a moment as he gathered his bearings. He should have broken up with her just as he reached her house. This was going to be a long ride.