I Met a Vampire Down in Santa Carla

Chapter Thirty

Ahhhhhh I can't believe this is the last chapter! Thank you all for bearing with me and sticking along for this journey of writing. I might end up making this a series, but I want to know what ya'll think! 

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Things between David and me have been smoothed over. I might not completely comprehend what I mean to him, but I know he means the world to me and that I love him. I know that he will be better cause he has already proved it over the past month. He gave me space when I needed it. He actually started to voice when something bugged him. Just the other day, we were out at a bar for a Halloween event. It was a small show from a local band. It was the boys with Kayla,  Lilly, and Josh. The music was whimsical rock with Halloween themes. David pulled me aside and whispered to were only I could hear. "Guy in the zombie get up is thinking of you," I turn to see who it was, and my eyes meet with a stranger. 

"What's he thinking?" I turn to look at David. 

"How good you'd be in bed." He was a little tense. "Nothing dangerous, but I don't want him to get any ideas cause he is drunk. Just stay where I can see, please." I smile, my heart fluttering. I kiss him on the cheek.

"No worries, love." The night had ended well with no fights. Which, for the boys, is something that isn't common. With Halloween just around the coner things at the shop have gotten very hectic. People are coming to the big boardwalk party that comes every Halloween. It is talked about all year with the local youths going fucking bat shit. David was insistant to get me tonight. I didn't blame him. With security high and people drunk and acting like they lost all sense. I start to clean my area as we are starting to close. Even though shops are closing, the night has barely begun. 

Nat knocks on the door in her own get-up. She is dressed as a sexy nurse. She is going to a Halloween party at a friend's after this. "You need a ride home?" 

"No, David is coming to pick me up," I smile. Her lips draw into a flat line as she gives a subtle mmhmm. She is very protective when it comes to her people. I just so happen to be one of those people. She didn't know the details, but when David and I were fighting, she saw how it affected me. She hasn't fully forgiven him and is very alert. Just like everyone else on the boardwalk, I am also in my own getup. I decided to go with Starfire from Teen Titans. There is tapping on the glass. Our sign says closed, so if someone wanted in, they'd have to wait. We go to see it's just David. 

"Go," Nat smiles. "Go have fun with lover boy." I thank her before going out to him. 

"Why didn't you just come in?" He glances over to Nat. I follow his eyes to see her glaring. I snort. "She won't bite you." I joke. 

"Yeah, but she is giving that mother bear vibes, and you don't fuck with that." He wraps his arm around me. "What are our plans tonight?" 

"We are meeting everyone at the hangout. Probably watch a few movies, drink, and eat some junk." I follow him to his bike. We ride to the shack. Once there, we see the fire pit all set up with a tray for s'mores and hot dogs. There is a beer keg and a cooler filled with other beverages. At the pit, Kayla and Dwayne sit practically in each other's laps as Will is reading off a scary story from his phone. I take my seat next to Kayla, who is paying way too close attention to the story. "Where are the others?"

"Alex and Sarah are on their way with the kids, Josh and Lilly are inside getting some food set up and stuff for the kids to do while we chill. Marko and Paul are smoking." Dwayne reaches over, handing David a beer. I turn my attention to the story. It was something he found online. It was on some website filled with them. We came at the ass end of the story, so I had no clue what was going on. When it ends the twist at the end was apparently not that good. 

"Thats it," Kayla huffed. "Well thats lame." She takes another sip of her drink, only for it to be empty. "Shit, babe, is there anymore?" Dwayne leans over, looking in the cooler.

"No, I'll run in and get some." He kisses her forehead before him, and David heads inside. Kayla was dressed as Raven. We were supposed to go trick-or-treating with Sarah and Alex, but I ended up having to work at the last minute, and Kayla had to take her siblings. They show up about fifteen minutes later. With everyone here, the party officially starts. We set the kids up in the living room, putting on Paranorman. It was something kid-friendly for the kids to watch and wind down while the adults sit around getting drunk and talking. With a monster mash playlist filled wit,halloween songs on it blast in the background. I felt at peace. As if the past couple of months of crazy were finally calming down. With everything falling back into place. Back the way things should be. As the night continues and dies down, David pulls me away. 

We made our way down a small wooded path the crisp fall air was calming. "You okay?" He asks. "You've been kinda lost tonight." 

"I'm fine," I reassure. "Just thinking." 

"About?" I let out a long sigh. 

"Everything." I chuckle. "It's been a crazy year. I know it isn't over, but we are coming to the last two months, and within that span of time, I left a shitty place and traded it for another. I met you, and life got better. I found something I thought I'd never get. My abuser is dead, and I'm free of the life I had before. For the first time in ten years, I feel safe. Like, I don't have to look over my shoulder. That I don't need to run. My mom is also free and can be herself. I got her back, I got my friends back." I stop taking it all in. He stops and turns to me. "Thank you." I smile, fighting back tears.  He holds his hand out, which I take. He pulls me into him. 

"Don't," he smiles against my forehead. "You are the one who set yourself free, baby. I was just along for the ride." He pulls away. "This means you're wanting to turn." I think it over. 

"Not just yet. I want Mom to know the truth. I want us to have a secure place that isn't the cave. I also want the investigation to be over. I know that we have nothing to worry about. I just want to take it as a precaution." He nods, taking the information in. 

"That's fair." He wraps his arm around me. After our walk, he drives me home. I kiss him goodnight before going inside. I take a quick shower and get cozy. I hear my phone ding. I'm so tired I don't bother checking. I think it's just David saying he got home safe and was about to go to bed. I didn't know it was an unknown number. I didn't know the text read, 'I found you,'

                                                                                     - FIN-