Vampire Boys Of Summer (Completed!)

Episode 16: Calling Angela

After mom left, I sat down at my desk. I opened the top drawer. It was filled with half-finished drawings, pens, paper, and a homemade false bottom. I pulled the false bottom up and pulled out my diary. I hadn’t written in it awhile, but that was because I never had much to say. No secrets to keep. But now I had one, and it was huge. I opened up the book and stared at a blank page. I debated on what to write or whether even to write in it at all. I mean, what if it was found? The secret would be out and Haru’s life would be in danger. I put pen to paper and wrote the first sentence my diary would record about the vampire boy next door: “Dear Diary, I ain’t telling you shit.”

Closing the book, I pulled my cell out of my back pocket, wondering if Haru carried one. I’d had only a couple boys’ numbers in my address book, but I’d never called them and they had never called me. I could picture myself lying up in bed at night talking to or texting Haru for hours. I smiled at the thought because it was such a normal one, but I decided to call Angela back instead. I couldn’t keep putting her off.

“Hey girl, what’s up?”

“Oh my God, Nora! I’ve been going crazy. Are you all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Got in a fight with mom an hour ago, but other than that I’m okay.”

“Oh, that sucks.”

“Yeah, well…”

“So, what’s he like? Come on, tell me. What did you guys talk about? Did you hold hands?”

“No, we didn’t hold hands, but he’s nice.”

I heard her sigh on the other end. “Just nice?”

“Yeah. He’s nice. He’s very kind and sweet. He came over to cheer me up after mom and I fought.”

“How did he cheer you up? Did he take his shirt off?”

I frowned, though she couldn’t see it. “No, Angela. He just let me know he understood and if I wanted to talk I could.”

“Damn girl, I hate you.” She laughed. “Does he have a brother?”

“I don’t know. I’ll ask.”

“So, what else did you talk about?”

“Not much really. Stuff like where he lived before, his parents and family. Just normal stuff.”

“Did he hit on you?”

I could hear the smile in her question. “No, I don’t think so. I couldn’t really tell.”

“How can you not tell?”

“Well…he’s not like guys at our school. It’s hard to figure him out or what he’s thinking. He’s not like our transparent American boys. “

“Ah, Asian mystery date.”

I laughed again, but thinking about it, I felt that was one of the draws for me. He was mysterious. I didn’t know what he was thinking. I knew very little about him, and every time something new was revealed it made it more exciting. When or if he flirted with me, I didn’t know if I’d realize it or not.

“Is he going to Chelsea Valley High next year?”

“I don’t….oh crap.”

“What?” she nearly shouted into her cell.

“I forgot to tell mom about summer school. She’s not going to be happy with me again.”

“Sucks for you,“ Angela replied. “Hope she doesn’t blow a gasket.”

“Yeah, me too. Look, I’ll see you in the morning, ok?”

“Alright, girlfriend. Say hi to Haru for me.”

The way she said his name was in a teasing manner, and I giggled like a little seventh grader gushing over a ninth grade boy. “Okay, I will,“ I lied. I disconnected the call and walked over to the window. Looking over to his yard, Haru was nowhere to be seen. He wasn’t out watching the stars. Not yet anyway.

I think Mom was so relieved over us having made up that the summer school news didn’t affect her too badly. Sure, she was upset that my grades had suffered, but I think she was also a little bothered by the fact she had been oblivious to it. Perhaps she blamed herself a little for not paying attention to my report cards. Either way, she approved of me attending summer school as she didn’t want me to be held back a year.

Back in my room, I turned off all the lights and flipped on the TV. I put it on a local cable channel that showed old black and white movies. It’s not that I liked the movies themselves; I just liked how the black and white from the television infused my room with this eerie lighting. However, tonight they were playing a good one. Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. As a little girl it had scared the crap out of me. The noise the birds made was this cacophony of terrifying sound that sent me flying to my father’s lap. He’d shield my eyes from the sight of the birds chasing the school kids on the playground and then hurling themselves against windows.

I really needed to go see him. I’d been only twice since he’d been locked up. It wasn’t a very pleasant place to go, and the patients tended to freak me out. Some wandered around like zombies in that World War Z movie. The Walking Dead invade the hospital. This one lady made guttural noises in her throat that reminded me of the Jigsaw Man next door. This reminded me to go see if Haru was outside.

I got up and went to my window. Because the light was somewhat subdued in my room, I could see easier. In his backyard nothing moved. The patio porch also seemed empty. A few lights were on in the house and I could see cars in the driveway, but no movement behind curtains or in the dark outside. Disappointed, I began to turn away from the window when I saw something shifting in the shadows outside the room across from mine. There was a figure out on the widow’s walk leaning against the railing and looking up at the stars.