Chapter 11 - Lightbulb (Posted 22 October 2011)

Ethan began defending "Of course we aren't..." then his eyes practically popped out of his head as he asked, "too?"

"This is so great!" Raoul jumped up. "I knew there were some in White Chapel but I had no idea I'd meet them on my first day."

"You're a vampire?" Sarah asked.

"Totally!" Raoul opened his mouth wide as his sharp fangs slid out of his gums. "See?"

"Wow." Benny said, staring into Raoul's mouth.

"Well, come on," Raoul said, "let's see 'em." He looked at Ethan and Sarah, who, although a bit confused, showed off their fangs as well. "Nice. Rory?"

Rory, ever the proud vampire, obliged of course. "I've got the longest fangs."

Raoul inspected them. "So far. But we still haven't seen Benny's." He turned to Benny and grabbed his face, squishing his cheeks in so his mouth would open. He pulled Benny's face down to his, since he was a few inches shorter, and peered onto Benny's mouth. "Show me, Benny."

Their eyes met for a second and suddenly Benny felt a nervous pang in his stomach. It was something he'd never felt before. And it scared him a bit. But at the same time, seeing the slight blush on Raoul's cheek made him want to smile. So he did. He spread his lips into a huge open-mouthed grin and let his fangs poke out. "What do you think?" Benny asked, Raoul's fingers still against his cheeks.

"They're not as long as Rory's," Raoul admitted, "but they're sharper. And shinier. If I were judging a contest, you would win."

"Thanks." Benny said, voice breaking just slightly.

Raoul smiled and released Benny's chin. "Okay, are we ready to go?"

Sarah, Ethan, and Rory all stared at them with raised eyebrows.

"What?" Benny asked, wondering why everyone was giving him a funny look.

"Nothing." Sarah said.

Benny's eyes shifted to Ethan's, which seemed both happy and pained at the same time. "E?"

Ethan tried to smile at him, but by the look on Benny's face he know he could tell it was transparent. But it was the best he could do. "I'm just surprised that we met another vampire. I've only been one for a few days myself. And you've only been one for a few hours."

"You guys are newbies?" Raoul asked curiously.

"Yep." Benny said. "Just bitten. Last night, actually."

"Wow." Raoul said like it was the most interesting thing in the world. "Are you a fledgeling or...?"

"We're all full vampires." Sarah answered.

"And I'm part ninja." Rory added.

"So am I." Roul announced. "A full vampire, I mean."

"Well," Benny said, "now that we're all up to speed on that subject, who's up for some laser tag?"

X

Laser tag proved to be a great bonding experience. Raoul charmed everyone with his timid smile and showed that he could be extremely competitive.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow." Benny said as Rory, Sarah, and Ethan starting heading toward their homes.

"See ya." Rory and Sarah waved.

"Aren't you coming with us?" Ethan asked.

"No, you go ahead. I'm gonna walk Raoul home."

Ethan furrowed his brow. "But..."

"Um..." Raoul chimed in, not wanting to cause any trouble. "I think I can get home on my own, if..."

"No," Ethan said, "uh, you two go and... have... fun. I'll just..."

"You could come with us." Benny offered.

"Yeah." Raoul said. "I'm sure my parents would love to meet you."

"Thanks, but I should actually get home. My mom probably has dinner ready..."

"Are you sure?" Benny asked, a hint of guilt and confusion shimmering in his eyes.

"Completely sure." Ethan told them. "Maybe some other time."

"Okay."

"Ethan!" Sarah called back to him. "Are you coming?"

"Better get back to your girl, Ethan." Benny laughed.

"Yeah," he said after taking a deep breath. Then he turned and jogged back to Sarah, taking the hand she offered as they walked away.

"Benny?" Raoul asked, noticing the look in Benny's eyes as he watched Ethan go. He began leading Benny toward his house.

"Hmm?"

"Do you and Ethan have... history?"

Benny looked at him. "What kind of history?"

"You know. Like... romantic history."

"What? No. Of course not. We're just friends. We always have been. And, uh... always will be."

"I don't know about that. There's a lot of tension between you two."

"Tension?" Benny asked.

"You have feelings for him?"

Benny took a shaky breath. "Maybe."

"It's okay, you know. To like other guys."

"I know. But he's got a girlfriend."

"Sarah? I don't think he's very into her."

Benny chuckled. "Trust me, he's into her."

"I see."

"So... if you don't mind my asking... are you gay, or...?"

"I don't know what I am. I've never been interested in anyone other than..."

"Ethan," Raoul guessed.

"Yeah." Benny admitted.

"Does he know?"

"Yes."

"And he doesn't..."

"No."

"I'm sorry." Raoul's voice was sincere and pitying, but not condescending.

"It's okay. He's happy with her and that makes me happy, so everything is okay."

"Have you thought about exploring your other options?"

"Sure. I just don't know what my other options are."

"Well," Raoul flashed a smile, "I'm sure if you look around, you'll find some."

"How will I know when I find one?"

"Hmm. I suppose it'll be like a lightbulb suddenly turning on in your heart, you'll just see the person and you'll feel your hands get all sweaty and your heart will speed up and you'll just know that you like this person."

Benny wrinkled his forehead in thought. "Does that always mean you like them?"

"No. But usually it does."

"Oh. So is there someone that makes you feel like that?"

Raoul's smile widened a bit. "Yeah."

"Someone back in France?"

"No, someone I met during my more recent travels."

"Oh."

"He's really sweet."

"He?"

"Mmhmm. I haven't known him for long, but like I said, it was like a switch was flipped when I met him."

"I see." Benny nodded absently, focusing instead on his thoughts. He wondered if it was that easy. To be able to just find someone new after having your heart crumpled and smoothed out so many times. Not quite broken, but creased to the point that a rip or a tear would soon be unavoidable. They walked in awkward silence the rest of the way to Raoul's house.

"Mom, Dad," Raoul announced as they walked into the largish home, "I've brought a new friend home that I'd like you to meet."

"In the kitchen," a woman's voice answered with a thick French accent.

Raoul led Benny to the kitchen where a petite woman was rummaging through a refrigerator and a stout man was sitting at the table.

"Hello, son," the man said. "Who is your friend?"

"This is Benny," Raoul announced excitedly. "He showed me around school today. And then we went to play laser tag with a bunch of his friends, and do you know what?"

"What, dear?" his mother asked. Benny could tell they were speaking English for his sake.

"They're all vampires!"

The man and woman's faces lit up.

"Sweetie, that is wonderful!" his mother congratulated.

"Yes," his father added, "we are so glad you were able to find some younger vampires to be around."

"We're going to go up to my room and play games on the computer," Raoul told them, grabbing Benny's arm and pulling him to his bedroom. "So how old are you, Benny?"

"I'm eighteen," Benny answered. "What about you?"

"Are you sure you want to know?"

"Yes..."

"I'm thirty three."

Benny's jaw dropped slightly. "Right. Vampires don't age. I guess I should get used to that. So... if you're thirty three, why do you still live with your parents?"

"It's just the easiest way to continue to be part of the world," Raoul explained. "I was turned when I was seventeen. My whole family... we were all turned by a rogue."

"I'm sorry..."

"It's fine. If it wouldn't have happened, I never would have gotten to travel the world like I do and I wouldn't have met all the fascinating people I've met.

"Like me?"

"Yeah. Like you."

They messed around for a while, asking questions and getting to know each other. They found they had a lot in common, though they weren't all that surprised.

"It's getting late." Benny said when he noticed how dark it was getting, "I should head home."

"Are you sure? We're having so much fun." Raoul pouted.

"I'm sorry. We can hang out again tomorrow though. If... if you want."

"I'd like that. Come on, I'll walk you out." He took Benny down to the front door. "I had a lot of fun today, Benny."

"Me too."

"I'll see you at school."

Benny nodded and gave a quick smile as he left. His head was still full of thoughts, contemplating the things Raoul said to him. He wasn't sure he believed his whole lightbulb analogy. All he knew was that he wanted to leave a little early tomorrow morning so he could walk Raoul to school.