Hunter's Moon

Chapter 20

            Matthew was waiting for Juli as she came out of the church. “How can I keep an eye on you if you go off on your own?”

            “I always go to church. You weren't there waiting for me, so I left.” Juli replied. “Besides it's the middle of the day. Do you really think that vampires are going to be a threat at this time of day?”

            Matthew eyed her skeptically. “Mm mm hmm? We just can't be too sure.”

            Juli rolled her eyes. “Please . . . so anyway. You've got nothing better to do than to follow me around all day?” She set a brisk pace down the sidewalk.

            Falling into step with her, Matthew replied, “Well, seeing as how I’m helping you stay out of the hands of the evil being planning on killing everyone on campus if the full moon goes his way . . . I see sticking close to you is the best use of my time.”

            “Yeah, I really don't see the fate of the Vampocolypse coming down to lil' ol me,” Juli chuckled.

            “We can't be too sure. Well, anyway . . . what are your plans for the day?”

            “Want to go see Tony, check up on him and –“

            “No ma –“

            “ – and I know you're going to say no magic, but I never said magic. I said I was going to see him.”

            Matthew nodded and then motioned with his head toward where Taylor's VW Bug was parked. “She let me borrow it. No reason we can't drive to the hospital. Don't you think?”

            Matthew and Juli walked into Tony's hospital room. He still lay in the bed unconscious. Flowers, balloons, and cards filled the room. On the chair off to the side there was a woman.

            “Oh, hello. Are you frie- Oh, Juli! I had wondered why you hadn't shown up earlier,” the woman said, standing up to greet them.

            “Ms Lucas. Uhm, why is that?” Juli said, getting rather apprehensive.

            “Well, aren't the two of you dating? I would have thought that you would have been here more to watch over him,” Ms Lucas said. Then her face reddened. “I guess I merely made assumptions that were ill placed . . .”

            Juli felt horrible. She and Tony had been going out for so long that she'd met his mother numerous times. The two women really got along quite well. But apparently the break up and hospitalization occurred so close together that Tony hadn't informed his mother of their separation.

            “We . . . uh, had a falling out earlier this week,” Juli said, hoping his mother would not ask for the details of the break up.

            “Maybe that's why he tried doing what he did. Upset over losing you. It's strange, the doctors have kept him under because any time he's awake he tries to go back to what he was . . .” Ms Lucas' voice caught in her throat.

            Matthew, who had been off to the side examining some of the get-well cards, looked at her. “It's okay. He'll get better. We know he will.”

            “My boy has such good friends,” Ms Lucas said. “I'll leave you two alone with him. I'm sure you don't need me hanging around.” She exited the room.

            “Thank you,” Juli told Matthew once Ms Lucas was out of earshot. “I was too worried I'd accidentally tell her that I was the cause for all this.”