Freaksville (2 page)

Now he’s scarlet and I break out in laughter.

“Shut the hell up, Gilmore.”

“You asked.” I wink and snatch his slushy away from him, taking a swig before he snatches it back. “Don’t even get me started on what you did to me in my dreams last night.”

He shoves me, and I slide off the seat and onto the steps. Which makes me cackle harder, making me hold my stomach and kick my legs, feeling like I’m about to pee.

“You weren’t supposed to fall on your ass,” he grumbles, helping me to my feet. “Did I hurt you?” he asks, carefully examining me.

“Yes.” I squeeze tears out. “You hurt my heart….”

“Shut up.”

“
Fine
.” I clumsily trip over my own feet before regaining my sass and flouncing back to our seats.

“We’re being watched.” He jerks his head toward my friends on the field who’re glaring up at him.

I smile at them, letting them know to focus on the game.

“They still think I’m the spawn of Satan.”

There’s no argument on my lips. Because it’s obvious how they feel about him. I don’t think it’s anything really against him. They’ve grown up together, and when an outsider comes in, it’s hard for them to open up. He takes it personally; he actually cares and wants to be accepted into the group, even if he’d never admit it aloud. So, knowing this beast of a man better than most people, I feel his mood sour. I wait until he’s got a good mouthful of drink.

“Holy Devlin!” I yell out when someone makes a goal or whatever. As planned, he spits the blue slushy out and either starts coughing or laughing; it’s hard to tell which. Another inside joke. We’ve watched
Just Go with It
plenty of times, and I’ve always gotten tongue-tied and called him
Devlin
instead of Devin.

He glowers at me, but humor flashes in his gaze. Then he shoves me again, and I shove him right back.

<<<->>>

“If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gumdrops, oh what a rain that would be,” I sing loudly, uncaring of the look Devin’s giving me. “Standing outside with my mouth open wide, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah….”

“Why?”

“Because it brings some sunshine into your Batmobile,” I snipe, glancing around the cramped space, reeking of…I don’t even know. Maybe the blood bags he keeps hidden under his seat and stinky feet? Adding to the seduction scheme, it’s also completely black. The interior’s black, the back windows? Black. I need bright neon colors to stay sane. After practice was over, I agreed to come with him on a grand adventure in the midnight rider.

“You don’t have to ride with me, ya know.” He gives me a pointed look.

“Not this again.” I throw my head back into the headrest.

“I can get you a car.” The same argument we’ve been having on and off for the past few weeks.

“I don’t want to drive, and I’m not going to ask that of you.” The same answer I always give. The truth.

“I’m rich, it’s not a problem.” He shrugs it off like offering someone a cookie or a packet of ketchup to go with their fries. It’s a car. A car. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve tried to tell him this, it won’t get through his head. He has money, and he doesn’t think he’s better than anyone else.

It actually surprised me to find out this little tidbit about him. Most people with money, especially at his age, are beyond spoiled. That’s what I first thought but then decided maybe I was being a little too judgmental.

I remember the first day we met. It was the first day I didn’t sit with my friends at our normal table. I’ve always been the outcast and the guys have been my only friends for a long time. So, that’s where I usually sat.

I walked right up to him where he was by himself in the little courtyard thing no one really uses and plopped down. His response…I can laugh at now, but then it pissed me off. Then he had the nerve to let his fangs slide down, apparently not caring he could be caught and hissed at me. A clear warning for me to leave.

Instead, I scowled at him, knowing my eyes were changing colors—a sign of my being a witch—and snarled. “Pipe it down there, Dracula. I’m trying to be your friend here, and if you piss me off I’ll knock those fangs right out of your mouth.”

“What if I don’t want a friend?” he retorted, clearly angry but it still didn’t mask the surprise on his face.

“Did I ask?” I replied, throwing his scornful expression right back at him. “And, honey, don’t try and pull that bullshit with me. I’ve noticed the way you watch people, dreaming of when you’ll finally be accepted, and blah, blah.”

He opened his mouth as if to snarl back, but I guess something changed his mind and he just breathed out, shaking his head. “I’m Devin Gray,” he informed me.

“Nice to meet ya, sweet cheeks. I’m Nessa Gilmore.” I held out my hand for him to shake. Eventually, he did. We started eating in a kind of weird silence until he rumbled a….

“I’m sorry for being a dick.”

“I’m sorry for being a bitch.” I offered him my applesauce. It was the first time I saw him smile.

“So, you know what I am?” he asked after taking my peace offering.

“Yup, smelled it on you even before you vamped out in front of me.” I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to get the hint. “Don’t do that around here. Someone will have your head on a spike before you can even say shitkabob.”

“All right,” he snickered then turned serious, glancing over at me. “Are you—?”

“Nope, I prefer to fly on a broom rather than sleep in a coffin.” When he doesn’t say anything, I go on. “I’m a witch. I’ve grown up around vamps…the football team?” I glance at the window of the cafeteria. “Yeah….”

“Good.” He sighs in relief. “I was starting to think you were a die-hard fan of
Twilight
. Secretly hoping I’d be the Edward to your Bella.”

“Isn’t that a sexual position now?” I retorted, and he nearly spit out his drink.

He invited me to his house a few days later. His house was huge. Nah, not really. He lives in a condo downtown. Just from the place, I could tell the amount in his bank account was a nice sight. Considering he has his very own private pool along with a Jacuzzi and then the vintage black velvet furniture, my favorite piece being the tufted sofa in the corner…I put it together.

I think he liked shocking me. The expression on his face didn’t give this away at all. Especially when he laid it on me his parents were dead and he was the only one left in his family.

I guess I passed all of his tests because the next morning he picked me up and drove me to school. He’s been driving me ever since.

“I can’t accept that,” I mumble quietly, coming back to the here and now once he jerks to a stop at a red light.

“Idiots continuously slamming on the damn brakes,” he grumbles before sighing and glancing over at me, “What if it’s a birthday present?”

“No,” I announce firmly, scowling over at him.

He sighs and takes off once the light turns green.

“But, seriously, thank you.” I gratefully lay my hand on his forearm.

He gives me a very rare smile back, bringing sunshine into his vehicle of doom.

“Where are we going?” I ask once I realize I have no idea where we are. He gives me his signature devious look before turning on his radio with one busted speaker that he’s never bothered to get fixed.

“The freaks come out at night. The freaks come out at night….” plays through his good speaker, and I can’t help but snort at the irony.

~ Knock, knock. Who’s there? ~

Glancing over at Devin one more time, I make sure he’s serious about this.
Why is he trying to make me do this?
He beams at me, eyeing the line ahead of us. Crossing my arms over my chest, I try to keep my teeth from chattering. It’s not really from the cold; it’s more from nerves.

I
hate
places like this.

After I asked three more times where we were going, he still didn’t give me an answer, but by that time we were pulling into the parking lot. And a loud
gulp
escaped me. We came down from the mountain I’m used to and into a small city. Something I’m not used to.

I don’t like being around a lot of people, especially not all at once. When they’re all on top of you and shit? Hell no. But this bastard dared me to go into this club with him. I don’t even remember the name of the place. The point is, it annoys the hell outta me when someone says I can’t or won’t do something. And the expression on his face was insinuating I wouldn’t. Another
hell no
to that.

Jumping when soft, warm material falls on my shoulders, I glance over at him in confusion. He just took his leather jacket off and put it on my shoulders, like some old sappy romance story.

“I was messing with you. You don’t really have to do this,” he utters in my ear once we’re the next ones in line. Which makes me want to punch him in the face.

Instead, I hand the bouncer my fake ID with a flirty smile and move right through the door without an ounce of hesitation. He’s not far behind me as we make our way through a long, creepy hallway lined with couples making out. Once I sense all of the energies in the room, I start to panic a little bit.

What am I doing here?
The room’s dark, aside from the glow sticks and people covered in fluorescent paint. The music’s so loud, the walls and floors shake and here I am…about to barf on their parade.

Starting to hyperventilate, I cling to the wall, mentally grasping for that last bit of serenity. My knees would’ve buckled if he didn’t wrap his arm around me and hug me against him. Out of the way of another crowd of people who’re practically running down the hall and yelling loudly. I can’t even muster the energy to yell a “Shut the fuck up!”

“It’s okay,” he breathes. I don’t even know how I’m able to hear him over this music but soon his voice is the only thing going through my head. “You’re okay, everything’s fine.” He continues running his fingers through my hair. Surprisingly calming me down even more, almost to a point where I’m Zen.

Now wait a dag-blain minute!

“What did you just do to me, Devlin?” I hiss, knowing he’s more than capable of hearing me. He wiggles his eyebrows without answering and takes my hand, leading us out into the mass of sweaty, glowing people.

He tugs me to an empty booth, ordering me to sit down, which I refuse until I feel like sitting. “I’ll be back. Getting drinks,” he yells, which further proves my point that I shouldn’t have been able to hear him over this racket.

So he
did
do something to me….

I start to reach for his hand again, but he’s already turning back, like he already knows what I was thinking. “I know, I know, water for you.”

I don’t know what exactly made him get the notion to go clubbing tonight and drag me along. At least it’s Friday and I have all weekend to do my homework. Leaning back in the soft leather seat, I quickly text my mom, letting her know where I am so she won’t worry. Too much, I mean.

I let her meet Devin once he stopped testing me. We had dinner at my house, and my mom talked to him…but once we were alone in the kitchen, she informed me he’s a nice boy but he’s hiding something. In other words, she’s going to watch him like a hawk whenever I bring him around.

Sighing, I decide to people watch; nothing better to do while waiting for my source of entertainment to join me once again. Viewing the room, it takes me a moment to realize some of the guys are ogling me.

Once I meet their eyes, feeling myself blush then I quickly glance away, not really knowing how to feel about this. They’re probably only gawking because I’m not dressed like everyone else. I’m actually wearing some clothes that cover. Which would be plain jeans and a T-shirt that just so happen to be glowing right now…then I glance down at myself.

Apparently the shirt I’m wearing is really thin and my neon-green bra is glowing through it. Lovely, I’m a freakin’ glow stick. Quickly snatching the jacket closer around me, I roll my eyes at myself.

Popping my neck—which tends to freak even my football-playing friends out—I glare back to the people who’re watching me. I let loose, meaning my eyes are glowing brilliant silver with a pink ring around the irises. The gawkers quickly take special interest in their drinks and probably decide maybe they’ve had too much.

Not really, they stare even more.

“Well kiss a duck’s red ass—” I murmur under my breath, but someone slides into the other side of the booth. “Can I help you?”

“Hope you didn’t mind,” the guy babbles. “I’m new around here and feeling slightly out of place.”

“You’re not the only one,” I grumble.

“What was that?” He eagerly leans forward. How he heard me over the music is a mystery.

“Nothing.” I force a smile. “So, where’re you from?”

“Florida.” He takes a swig of his beer.

I grimace.
Enjoying your horse piss?

“You from around here?” He leans even closer to where we’re practically nose to nose.

No, love, I’m from a region where we know personal space! Accompanied by how to brush and floss.

“I’m sorry?” I try to look less pained than I feel.

Clearing his throat, he glances around to where I’m assuming his friends are and then looks back at me, “Are you from around here?”

Should I tell, should I not tell?
If I mention it, it could bring up
some issues but I’ve never been a fan of lying….
“Yeah, kinda.” I finally reply.

“Kinda?” He laughs.

“I’m from Westera,” I force out with really false innocence. “A small town on the mountain.”

“On the mountain?” He frowns. “Oh, yeah, I think I’ve heard of the place. Although, I don’t really know much, maybe you could clear some things up for me?”

“How so?”

“There’s been some talk at my work about Westera. Have you heard any of the rumors?” When I just raise my eyebrow he goes on. “I’ve heard something about animal sacrifices. Um….” He fidgets with his watch. “Devil Worship. I think I’ve even heard of someone flying on a broomstick on Halloween. Have you heard about them?”