Any Better

Meeting the Parents

It was a long drive.

A loooooong drive.

I almost fell asleep, but I stopped myself and looked at Malcolm sternly.

"Do NOT tell them about the fangs. Don't mention a thing. Okay?" I ask, making sure my secret isn't revealed. Malcolm nodded and continued to drive down the long, boring road.

I yawn and look at the time. It was 3:30pm, and it was already starting to get dark. "Malcolm, where are we?" I ask, slouching in my seat and getting my phone. "Mt. Toborne. The same place we were with that amazing view."

"You live here?!"

"Yeah! But it's a depressing place. Where we were was just outside of the town I live in. I live in Midnight Hollow." Malcolm slowly frowns, and looks outside of the window on the left.

"Midnight Hollow.."

The name sounded as depressing as the town itself. Trees were cracked and windows were shattered, the streets were empty and the occasional hoot or howl was too much to take in at once.

We stopped in front of the only colourful house in town.

We stepped outside of the car, and the house was scarier than anything else I've seen. It was like a dollhouse.

Unfortunately, the creepiness scares my fangs out. I feel them sharpen and I cover my mouth immediately.

"Malcolm! Wait a minute." I yelp, and run up to his shoulder. I turn so I'm not facing the house, in case the parents come out. I show Malcolm my fangs. "Oh, crap.." He sighs. "Don't smile. Whatever you do, don't smile."

We step up to the door of the bright house and knock on the door. It swings open and I feel a stab of scary. A blonde, perky woman steps out and hugs me. I chuckle, but close my mouth right after. "Hi!" Malcolm's mother shrieks joyfully. "I'm Vanessa, Malcolm's mom! You must be Elizabeth!"

Vanessa skips inside, motioning for us to come in. My fangs retract thankfully.

Malcolm and I follow her inside and find a long, long table piled with food. Turkey, ham, pork, corn, a lot of tough things that I could easily chow down.

"Take any seat, Elizabeth. There's room for everyone!" Vanessa cheers. I sit down on a chair close to one of the ends. I put the napkin on my lap and look at Malcolm. "Everyone?" I ask. I look at Vanessa as she sits down in the farthest seat. "My husband, Jerold, is just upstairs in the bathroom. He'll be down in a second."

Malcolm sits next to me. I tap his leg and smile, showing that my fangs are gone. He smiles back and kisses me on the cheek. "Wonderful." He whispers.

"Awe, look at you two. You know Elizabeth, you're Malcolm's first girlfriend!" Vanessa smiles. "Mother!" Malcolm protests, looking at her harshly. I look into Malcolm's eyes and giggle, putting my hand lightly over my mouth.

"Hm, sorry about that. I had beans for lunch and I've been in my digestive mode." Jerold says. He trots down the room to get to his seat and clears his throat. I kept my hand over my mouth, that was a bit disturbing.

"Bon appetite!"

Everyone dug in. I tried to eat slowly. It's easier for me to eat more because of my sharper teeth.

"Delicious!" I smile. Vanessa smiles at me.

"You guys seem so close. Do you... share secrets?" Vanessa asks. Malcolm puts his fork down and pats his mouth with his napkin. "Actually, yes. Beth has--"

I stomped on Malcolm's foot. He cannot tell them I'm a vampire. Malcolm squeals and tries to smile through the pain.

"Beth has no big secrets. She once told me she got a free ice cream as a kid because she stole it from her friend, but that's all." Malcolm says, clearing his throat. I smile at him and put my knife into the pork.

"Would you excuse Malcolm and I for a second?" I ask, grabbing Malcolm's arm and pulling him into the kitchen.

"What was that?! Were you seriously just about to tell them?!" I ask, sticking my index finger at him. "I-I was gonna say exactly that! What, you don't think I was actually gonna tell them, do you? Can't you trust me? I thought I promised. I thought you believed in me."

I lower my hand and I almost started crying. I was yelling. He was yelling.

"Oh, Beth, no, no no no." Malcolm whispers, realizing that's exactly what I thought he'd tell them. He squeezes me tight, and kisses me on the forehead.

Vanessa comes through the door of the kitchen and looks at us. "I-is everything okay?" She asked. Malcolm nodded and shooed her out with his hands. Vanessa nodded and left.

"I'm sorry. I promised I'd never tell anyone. That's a promise."