Chapter Ten
One good thing about being a vampire, I didn’t get tired at all walking uphill on the way home. Despite telling Bishop I could make it home fine, I didn’t have my purse or phone with me, so catching the bus or calling a friend for a ride was out of the question. I thought about catching a cab, but the stroll was refreshing, and helped clear my head.
I wasn’t really sure what Bishop’s deal was, but I wasn’t the type of girl to grab him and plant a kiss on him to prove there was a spark between us. Nor was I the type to stand outside his window with a boombox over my head. I was plenty used to unrequited crushes, if not outright rejection, though that was rare because I never put myself out there to get turned down. Convinced I’d likely never see him again, I set off to reclaim my life the way it was before waking up in the morgue.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I got home. The last time I’d seen Bridget, I’d been attached to her hand by the mouth, using her like my own private juice box. Though Bishop had promised me he’d taken care of it, I had no idea what that actually entailed. Had he wiped her memory and sent her to bed? I was afraid she’d react to me with fear based on some visceral level that knew I’d attacked her, but all I got was a broad wink when I walked through the door.
“Someone had a good time last night. I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“What? No, it wasn’t like that.”
“Don’t give me that, I saw the guy. What did the two of you get up to after I went out on my date?”
I wasn’t even sure she’d gone on the date; she’d been in her room when I went out the window the night before. God, was it really only the night before? “Nothing, we just talked.” Not a lie…
“Oh come on, what a waste of perfectly good man meat! Are you telling me you didn’t end up in bed together?
I had ended up in his bed… The memory of Bishop comforting me after my nightmare came back then with startling clarity, and I took a moment to relive what it felt like to be safe in his arms. I guess it made my face go all soft and dreamy, because she called me out on it.
“I knew it! Sinner…” she giggled with delight.
“I didn’t sleep with him, but he did let me sleep in his bed. He was a perfect gentleman,” I insisted, and her shoulders took on a disappointed slouch.
“Aw, I’m sorry An, maybe on the next date then. Oh, you might want to check your messages, your phone’s been beeping all day.”
It was after eight p.m. and I had twelve voicemails on my cell. Not too bad, at least I was missed while I was gone. Not being up and around during the day was going to be a problem. Even though Bishop assured me I wouldn’t burst into flames, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to function for the bulk of the day. I had no idea how I was going to make it through school.
Listening to the voicemails, one was an automated message from the library reminding me my books were due. The rest were from Melissa, the other soprano in my jazz group. It was way past rehearsal time and I’d completely blown it off, something I’d never done before. With a wince, I listened as each message got more frantic, her neurotic personality kicking into overdrive. Of course, that might have been me calling a week ago. Before vampires came into my life, music had been the most important facet of my life.
“Melissa, hi… I’m so sorry…” I tried to head off her tirade as I called her back, but it ended up being easier to let her vent for the first thirty seconds. “No, I realize that, I was so sick, I couldn’t reach my phone.” Not a lie… I’d slept like the dead all day long, that had to count for something. “No, I understand… you know I’m committed… yes, I understand the pressure that puts on you.” Frak, it was just one rehearsal, she acted like I’d put Tabasco in her cough syrup. “I promise you I’ll be there at the next rehearsal, and I’ll see you in class tomorrow. Sorry again.”
“I hope it’s not catching,” Bridget called out, leaning over to buckle up her clunky boots.
“Don’t worry. On second thought, maybe you’d better not get too close to me,” I amended after a moment’s thought. It was probably for the best to avoid getting too close to any humans until I learned better control. Of course that assumed I’d learn better control. I’d never been able to resist brownies either.
“I’ve got to get to work, so you’re good. Unless you need me to stick around?” She looked almost hopeful, but I wasn’t sure if that was because she was actually worried about me or eager to get out of work.
“No, I’ll be fine, have a good time at work.”
“That’s an oxymoron if ever I heard one,” she muttered, pulling on her coat. “Laters.”
The apartment wasn’t as quiet as I normally found it with Bridget gone. Without trying too hard, I could tell what each of the neighbors were doing, but quickly lost interest with that game. If I wanted to watch old re-runs of the Munsters, I could turn on my own TV.
I got a good look at myself in the bathroom mirror on the way in to take a shower. Instead of looking like hell for not having showered in over twenty-four hours, I looked… pretty good. Better than pretty good even.
There was no sign of the dark circles under my eyes that followed my escape from the hospital. My blue eyes were bright and clear, my vision crisper than it was with my glasses. My hair has probably always been my nicest feature, it came to just below my shoulder blades and it fell in soft waves now, lighter and more lustrous even under the harsh bathroom light. It wasn’t greasy or stringy from missing a washing and my face wasn’t shiny at all. I started to grasp that unless I got outwardly dirty, I probably wouldn’t need to shower at all. I still took one though, relishing the feel of the hot water coursing over my body.
Changing into soft, familiar pajamas, I got ready for bed like I always did at night, but I wasn’t the least bit sleepy. Retrieving the card Bishop gave me, I keyed it into my phone under B and stuck the card itself between the mirror and the frame of my dresser for safekeeping. Thirsty and feeling peckish, I stole some of Bridget’s vegetable juice, vowing to replace it the next time I went to the store. The salty drink hit the spot and I settled onto the couch for a movie marathon with my cozy blanket.
Near dawn I shuffled into the bedroom, shutting the blinds up tight as the yawns started to become more frequent. I noted as an aside that my retainer didn’t fit right anymore and filed it away as one of those things not to worry about anymore as I climbed into bed.
Lying there in the dark, I couldn’t help but wonder what Bishop was doing at that moment. Was he lying in bed in his darkened apartment too? Was he alone, or did he have some other blonde lying beside him? Just as quickly as that thought slipped in I pushed it aside, not wanting to go there. My last thought was of the feel of his lips brushing against mine in passing as I said my goodbyes.