Dead & Gone (DARAGON)

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me

"What is that—punch?" Patrick pointed
to a glass full of what looked to be
Sprite dyed bloodred with food
coloring. He looked around at the
Fischers' packed living room. "Your
friends have really . . . outdone
themselves."

"You are such a snob," I said. "Sorry if
this doesn't live up to the standards of
your beloved pizza parlor." I circled the
room, happily dizzy. I don't mean
because I was drunk. I mean because for
the first time ever, I didn't have to worry
about making awkward conversation
with people I didn't really know. I
didn't have to stress about not being the
most popular girl there, or if I looked
cool enough to have been invited in the
first place. That was the beauty of it.
Nobody could see me. Nobody could
hear me. As far as they were all
concerned, I was long gone.

The funny thing about high school parties
is that nobody's ever having as much fun
as they want you to thinkthey are. Except
this party. At this party, I was having
way more fun than everyone.

I looked around to see if Emma, Tess,
and Sadie had shown up, but I didn't see
them.

Probably still in mourning. Unlike
SOME people.

A good number of Jacob's friends were
there, plus a bunch of people I didn't
know, who must've been invited by
Maya. I saw his two best friends, Will
and Milo, who Sadie always called
Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumber.
They were dressed as matching zombies
—which seemed fitting, given their
personalities. Jacob's whole house was
covered from top to bottom in
Halloween decorations. The front
hallway was lined with cobwebs and the
living room had been transformed into a
really hilarious version of the Texas
Chainsaw Massacre, with hamburger
meat and ketchup everywhere. The
backyard was totally dark except for the
dimly lit swimming pool, which had
been decorated with floating, glowing
eyeballs.

I can't lie, there were definitely a few
moments where the emotion of it all
would creep up on me; where I'd
suddenly get sad thinking about all the
times I'd snuggled with him on his
couch, or gone swimming with his
family in the backyard, or snuck up to his
bedroom while his parents thought we
were "doing our homework." But I did
my best not to dwell on the sad stuff.
That wasn't the point. Tonight was all
about fun. It was about seeing Jacob and
giving him a taste of his own medicine.

I pointed to a pile of plastic vampire
fangs that had been put out as party
favors. "Fun!" I tried picking them up,
but my hand passed right through the
table. I cast a teasing glance at Patrick.
"You'd better be glad I can't put those
in."

"Because I'd bite you, that's why."

"Angel, please." He tilted his head back
so his neck was exposed. "Don't let me
stop you."

I came closer. "I'll do it."

"You should."

Our eyes met, and for a split second
neither of us looked away. I reached for
his neck, but stopped myself.

What am I doing?

He noticed my hesitation. "Not thirsty
after all? Guess I'll just have to find
some other vampiress to offer myself up
to." He did a quick scan of the room.
"Ooh. Like maybe her, for example."

"Why?"

I turned and couldn't believe the girl
he'd pointed out. "Anna Clayton? What
is it with every guy on the planet liking
her? She's not even that cute!"

"Whoa there." Patrick held up his hands.
"Calm down, Cheez Whiz. It was just an
observation. Don't go all psycho on me
or anything."

"Don't let your mom go all psych—"
Right then, I heard a crashing sound from
another room.