Shifted

Chapter 5

When I got home I decided I should do a little research.  I opened my laptop and pulled up a search.  I felt like an idiot typing it in, but I did anyway.  I typed in the search bar "speed and strength," and "reflective eyes."  I thought for a moment, going over everything in my head, then added "superhuman hearing, sight, and smell."  The results showed everything from mountain lions to vampires.  I shut the laptop and groaned.  This was ridiculous. There's no way any of the things Jackson was able to do could be possible.

Just then my cell phone rang. I was surprised since I hadn't really gotten around to exchanging numbers with people here yet. I picked it up only to have loud punk rock music blasted in my ear.

"Amy?" I asked.

The music was turned down, and I heard the familiar voice of my best friend's voice on the other end of the line. "Bitch you were supposed to call me last night."

"Sorry. Last night ended up a little... Weird," I responded.

"I want details. Open up Skype. I want to see your gorgeous face."

I held the phone to my ear with my shoulder, and opened up my computer to sign into Skype. After a moment, Amy's face filled up my screen. She was painting her nails black while she waited for me. Amy had always been a bit of a dramatic individual, which made her the exact opposite of my quiet self. Where I did everything I could to blend in, she did everything she could to stand out. She wore her signature dark black eyeliner, and I noticed that she'd added blue streaks in her already pink streaked black hair. She'd practically adopted me when my mom and I lived in New York, and she and I had been best friends ever since.

I smiled big when I saw her, and when she looked up her face filled with a giant grin and she said,  "Hello there, sexy!"

"You don't understand how much I miss you, Amy."

"Yeah, yeah, we'll have time for the sappy shit later.  Right now I want details on the new school.  You replaced me with a new best friend yet?"

I shook my head, then said with a laugh, "I've made a couple new friends, but I don't think there's anyone in the world quite as crazy as you."

"Hey I'm not crazy I'm eccentric!" She protested and I just laughed. 

"So," she said and leaned in close to the camera.  "Any hot boys?"

I felt my face heat up, and I tried to shake my head no, but of course Amy saw right through me.  "Liar!  What's his name!"

I sighed.  "Jackson."

Amy let out a shrill tone of excitement, then practically screamed, "DETAILS."

So I told her everything.  From the first time I saw him in the front office, to the cliff side fall, to staying at his house, to the strange photos, after I started talking the words just tumbled out of my mouth.  She listened quietly as I told her the story.  I explained to her my current confusion about the strange things Jackson is able to do, and the bizarre way his eyes react to my camera.  When I was finally done, I waited for her to tell me I was going crazy.

"Holy shit," She said, her eyes wide.  "YOU SLEPT IN THE SAME BED AS HIM."

"Amy! Focus!  I'm going crazy here trying to figure this all out."

"Isn't it obvious?" She said rolling her eyes.  "He's a vampire."

I stared at her like she'd lost her mind, so she continued.  "Your life right now is straight out of a Twilight novel.  Hot guy acts cold and aloof, but then the girl is about to die and then the brooding hunk swoops in and uses his supernatural abilities to save her life.  Sorry bud, looks like you're the girl in this analogy."