Slayer

Chapter 7

The doorbell rings, and I jump up. "I'll get it!" I call.

I had taken forever to prepare for this date. I had to choose the perfect dress, then put on makeup, then shoes, then blehblehbleh. It always took forever to dress myself up.

I opened the door, and saw Tyler, looking surprisingly... Good. His blond hair has gel in it, and he wears a black vest. He actually dressed up for this. The little freak has big plans for tonight.

"Hi," I say.

He grins. "Hello. You ready to go?"

"G-go?" I ask. That was not the plan.

"Yeah. I figured we could go out to eat instead of staying here."

"Oh . Okay. Just let me grab my purse." I wink and run upstairs. I could practically see Mom clenching her fists angrily. She's been fussing over this date for hours, and now we're going out to eat.

I grab my bag from my room and shove the parcel Mom gave me in there. I don't know what's going to happen. I might as well be prepared.

I freeze as I hear the door open. It's Tyler, grinning like a maniac.

"So, this is your room," he says suggestively. It's all I can not to punch him in the face.

Instead I grin back at him. "Yeah, you won't be seeing much of this."

"Come on, babe!" Bleh. I just barfed in my mouth a little.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go. I don't wanna hang here all day." That was a lie. I want to stay here really badly. If he tried anything at my house, Mom would kill him herself.

"I was thinking we could go to Rooster's."

"Okay," I say doubtfully. I already have a headache. I'm practically in a ballgown and we're going to the most casual, disgusting restaurant in a 90-mile radius.

"Is that okay?" He looks at me, genuinely concerned. His brow furrows, and his lip pouts a little.

I don't buy it. Try as he might, he can't seduce me. I refuse to even sort of like this freak.

"Yes. Really." I smile at him, and he links his arm around me. I don't even think of anything witty to say. "He's not worth it," I tell myself, but I start to wonder.

I try to shake it off. I don't really like him. I'm not really enjoying his arm touching mine. I don't really have butterflies in my stomach. I hate him. I hate everything he stands for, everything his kind has ever done. He eats people. Vampires are bad. Slayers are good. It's been drilled into my mind for the past hundreds of years. I'm not having second thoughts. It's him. He looked in my eyes and declared me a target. He's bending my mind to get his way. I need to fight back. This has happened to plently of people before.

I consider opening the parcel from Mom, but I think better of it. It's too early. I can't just kill him.If they wanted an assassin, they would've hired one. No. His death will be an 'accident'. Nobody will know that innocent, sweet Brooke killed anyone. I'll move away, saying the death of someone close is too much to bear, and I can't be reminded of it every day. I need to stick to the plan.

We get in the car and he drives off recklessly. I grip the armrests tightly.

"You okay, babe?"

"Fine." I grit my teeth.

Five minutes later, we drive past Roosters. "Where are you going?" I ask, trying not to sound too suspicious,

He grins. "You don't really think we're going to that dump, do you?"

I exhale. "Thank you."

"We're going to a party at my buddy Clark's house. I didn't want your parents to know." He winks.

"By party, do you mean...?"

"Alcohol, loud music, crazy underage druggies. Check, check, and check."

"Are you sure about this?"

"Babe, calm down. I know you're a goody-goody. That's why I invited you today! You need to loosen up. This is the perfect party for you."

No, no, no. Loud music, crazy kids. He could kill me and nobody would notice for weeks.

I can't break character. I won't slap him in the face.

"I don't want to go."

"You don't have to do anything you're uncomfortable with, babe. I brought you here to loosen you up, not stress you out. Come on. It'll be fun."

"No. I'm sorry. Haven't you ever been to health class? Alcohol plus teens plus party equals very, very bad. I don't want to go. Please don't make me."

"Okay. Fine." He turns the car back around and starts driving toward my house. We pull up to the driveway, and he parks his car.

"What does this mean? Are we... Done?"

Yes! I want to scream. Go away! But I can't let him leave my sight. I can't ruin our relationship; it'll jeaprodize the mission.

I sigh. "No. I really care about you.I just don't want to do anything I'll regret later."

He reaches for my hand. "You mean that?"

"Of course." I choke on my own lie.

We sit there. Just as I'm about to leave, he leans in, lips ready to kiss. Oh, no. Gross. I won't do it. I can't do it.

I do it.

His lips are tight and thin, and his hand is clammy in mine. I'd give anything to not be here right now, to be inside, to have already killed him.

My eyes are open wide.

His are too. They stare nto mine, and turn a bright red. I go limp. I'm not thinking for myself anymore. I don't feel anything. No good, no bad, no alright. Everything just... is.

Then I'm hit with a burst of happiness. Suddenly Tyler's lips are plump and full, and his hands are soft.I close my eyes, kissing him back now. I need him.

No, I don't. He's brainwashing me. I hate him. I hate his kind. I hate how his lips feel against mine, how warm his hands are, how inviting he is.

No.

Yes.

All my negative thoughts slip away. What was I thinking? Why would I hate Tyler? I've been crushing on him for weeks. I love him.

He pulls away, grinning.

"You know what?" I say, giddy with happiness. "Let's go to that party."