"Abbey," my mother says, "This is Mrs. Jones and her daughter Erica."
"Hi," I say, embarrassed. I was sure my cheeks were blood-red.
I looked at Erica who seemed to have a hint of a smile on her face. She was tall and blond. She had on a red leather jacket, a black camisole underneath, jeans and knee-high black boots. Judging by the way she dressed, I think we'd get along pretty well.
"Erica's a senior, just like you, Abbey," my mother informs me. "Maybe she could show you around tomorrow."
"I'd love to," Erica says, with a smile on her face. "So, you like Paramore?"
"Yeah," I say. "Do you?"
"They're okay," she admits. "I'm more of a Single Tear kind of girl."
"I think we'll let you two girls get acquainted," my mom says. "We'll be down in the kitchen if you need us."
"Okay," I watch my mom and Mrs. Jones go down the stairs. I turn my attention back to Erica. "I like Single Tear too. I saw them in concert two years ago."
"Really? You're cooler than I thought," Erica says, walking over to my bed and sitting down.
"Hey," I say, a bit offended.
"No offence," she adds.
"Saying 'no offence' doesn't make it any less offensive," I point out.
"Oh my God," Erica groans. "You sound just like Sarah."
"Who's Sarah?" I ask, curious.
"My best friend. You'll meet her tomorrow," she promises
"Okay."
I stand by the door for a few seconds, trying to figure out what to say.
"So, um…do you like Dusk?" I ask, choosing a universal subject that all girls knew.
"O.M.G! YES!" Erica jumps off the bed. "The second book changed my life!"
I suddenly wished that I hadn't brought up Dusk. Erica was obviously a major Dusker and the way she gushed over it, made me think she lived and breathed Dusk.
"So, what's Whitechapel like?" I ask, changing the subject.
"It's kinda boring during the day," she admits. "But there's some night life."
"Really?" I ask, surprised. "In a small town like this?"
"You just have to know where to find it."
I nod. Wondering what possible night life this town had to offer. It couldn't be that interesting. As far as I knew, the only interesting place was a movie theater.
"Erica!" a voice says downstairs. "It's time to go!"
"Ok! I'll be there in a minute," Erica yells back, then looks over at me. "I think that's my cue to go."
Erica gets off the bed and heads for the door.
"Abbey!" my mom hollers. "Get down here and say goodbye to our guests!"
"Coming!" I reply. I go down the stairs towards the front door where my mom and Mrs. Jones were saying their goodbyes.
"It was nice meeting you," I say to Erica and her mom.
"It was nice meeting you, too," Erica replies. "I'll probably see you tomorrow."
"Yeah."
"Have a good night," says Mrs. Jones
"You too," my mother replies, watching them go down the steps towards their car and then shuts the door.
My mom looks over at me. "What'd you think of Erica?"
"She's…nice…" I trail off.
"What happened?" my mom asks.
"She's a Dusker."
"Oh, no!" my mom fakes horror. "Not a Dusker!"
"Mom, it's not funny."
"I don't get why you don't like those books."
"Because a hundred-year-old vampire falling in love with a human teenager is so predictable."
"He's eighty, "she corrects me.
"And I care why?"
Unlike me, my mother had read and fallen in love with all of the Dusk Chronicle books. She even had a poster of Dirk Battison in her closet. If you asked her, she'd deny it.
"Can we order some pizza?" I ask, changing the subject. "I'm starving."
"Sure," my mom sighs. "Veggie lover's like always?"
"Yup," I reply. "You know me so well."
"Well, I am your mother."
"Exactly."
My mom smiles and shakes her head, then she hugs me and kisses me on the head.
"Remember, thirty minutes, or it's free!" I remind her, going into the living room.