CHAPTER 29
“So you like him, then?” The question came from Jenny. At the moment, we were crouched in the bushes outside Stacy’s house, and although gossiping about boys sounded like a heavenly little slice of normalcy, I was thinking that maybe now wasn’t the time.
“Beth?” she pressed.
I put a finger to my lips and pointed to Stacy’s window. “Shhhhh.” I’d told Jenny about the whole thing—Derek and Clayton and what had come after. The kiss, I mean. And about how he’d walked with me after school (as in, after sundown after school). And we’d held hands. It felt wild and crazy and decadent . . . and normal.
And I liked that. Especially after the decidedly non-normal afternoon. I mean, I’ve seen a lot of stuff. But a vampire exploding in front of me? That was a new one.
And maybe I did want to talk about it . . . because there really was a lot of stuff just going round and round in my head. But not now. Not in the middle of Mission Shear Stacy.
“We are going to get so busted,” Jenny said, as I raised up on my toes to peer in through Stacy’s window. “Or, rather, I’m going to get so busted, since you can’t even go inside!”
I shrugged sheepishly. Because she was right. I needed help with this one. But in the end, it would be so worth it.
I tested the window sash. “Unlocked,” I said. Apparently Stacy was as bad as me about locking up her room.
“You’re sure she won’t wake up?”
“Positive,” I said. “But, you know, be careful anyway. And quiet.”
Jenny stared at me, but didn’t move.
“It’ll be fine,” I said. “I cornered Melissa and chatted her up. The blood they drink makes them strong for a while, but then it wipes them out. Trust me. Stacy is sleeping like a rock.” I slowly opened the window the rest of the way. “So you know what to do?” I whispered.
Jenny took a breath, then stood. She held up the scissors, their steel edge gleaming in the moonlight. “I know,” she said.
And then she slipped inside.