Along came Reid

17. Joy Ride

Considering the circumstances, the trip north on the highway should have been solemn and quiet. Why Jamie expected this was beyond her, after all, this was Reid who she was traveling with.

With no regard for safety or the growing mob of sprinting screechers trailing behind them, Reid carelessly blasted retro boy-band music from the 90's with a hint of Spice girls to mix things up.

"Reginald would you shut that-XZXFGH"

"Sorry Nel, can't hear you!" Reid smirked petulantly, giving Jamie a glimpse of his fangs. His gaze slid to hers and he winked before mashing his palm against the horn several times. "Guess the radio's too loud! We're breaking up!"

Reid tossed the walkie-talkie into the back seat, ignoring the sheer horror reflecting in TJ and Courtney's eyes. "Here boys, take this." he said, slamming on the gas to bowl through a small crowd of oncoming screechers. "Strike!" he exclaimed, pumping his fist exuberantly.

"You're going to get us killed..." Jamie whispered as she watched the windshield wipers smear translucent deader goo across the window. In the trunk, Barron whined fearfully with his paws covering his nose.

"Killed? Naw. You should know me by now." he reprimanded, leaning towards her and propping his elbow on the edge of her seat. "I said I'll keep you safe and that's what I'm going to do."

"By attracting a horde of screechers?!" Jamie snapped, leaning back and clutching the armrest as Reid rammed through another crowd.

"Whoa, did you see that one bounce?" he laughed. He turned and faced Jamie's cross expression. "Glad we got the Hummer righ-what?"

"You know what." she huffed, scolding him with a sharp glare.

Reid rolled his shoulders into a shrug and moved to lean forward against the steering wheel. "Aww bean, relax. Deaders are to me like ants are to you."

"Ants can kill people!" Courtney added, the panic in his voice evident. "Saw it on the Discovery channel once. swarmed a baby and almost killed it."

"You're not a baby though." Reid reminded.

"TJ is." Jamie corrected.

"I am not a baby!" TJ argued. "I'm ten years old!"

"Of course you're not a baby TJ." Reid offered, glancing back. "You're a big kid, right?"

"Yeah." TJ nodded softly. Jamie turned to look at the small boy. His knees were hugged against his small chest and his attention glued to the window. He probably couldn't see the screechers, but they all could hear them. "I wanna go home."

"Where is home?" Courtney asked, moving to put his arm around his shaking younger brother.

"Reid you're scaring them." Jamie advised quietly. "Cut it out."

"According to Nelson, home is a few hours north of the city. We'll be there by dawn." he explained before moving his attention to Jamie. "With a gift in tow. It's bad manners to visit someone's house without bringing them something."

"Reid, you may be able to handle those monsters, but we can't. We're human, we're-"

Reid leaned towards her, capturing Jamie's chin in his fingers. His cold slate eyes held hers, with an intensity that left no room for argument. "Bean, trust me. We'll be alright."

His hand dropped from her chin and he moved to turn the radio up some more to sing along to a Backstreet Boys tune. Jamie rubbed her chin where Reid's fingers had been.

"Did you just use your vampire magic on me?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" he winked playfully. "Why? Do you feel like obeying my every whim?"