Diary of a Vampeen (35 page)

“Lexi,” Kellan whispered pulling me
back from my mental analytics.

“Yea?” I reply softly.

“Do you think I’m crazy?” he asked
hesitantly.

“We’re both crazy,” I smiled leaning
in to kiss him. I couldn’t describe it since our last collision was
so powerful, yet this one put it to shame. Entwined in his arms, I
ran my hands up his shirt with a feeling only God should encompass.
Right here, right now with Kellan, I felt like united we could
control every celestial pool, every rebellious communist, every
bomb set to explode before us in seconds.

I was closer than any girl had ever
been to him yet I craved so much more. I felt myself being lowered
to the sand but didn’t break the moment to check. I lifted Kellan’s
shirt revealing his chiseled chest pressed to mine, his powerful
biceps visibly holding me in a protective delicate manner, and
continued to kiss my love.

“I never thought destiny
could feel like this,”
he said, though I
was fully aware it was spoken mentally.

“I never anticipated
forever with you,”
I replied.

“Are you
disappointed?”

“Not in the
slightest.”
I moved my hands to lock
behind his neck, entwining a few locks of hair
concurrently.

“Uh-hem,” a gruff sound disturbed my
bliss. My eyes flew open just as Kellan was on his feet.

“Can I help you officer?” he pressed
politely.

“There are to be no indecent public
displays on the beach. Now is that a problem?” he
demanded.

On my feet beside Kellan now, I
replied a stern, “No.”

“You kids run along before my
disposition changes,” he ordered.

I kept my eyes cautiously on Kellan
unsure of what to expect from him. When I saw the flicker of rage
rush him, I knew what was coming. I quickly took charge. “Listen
officer, we weren’t doing anything criminal. No indecent exposure
was placating before you, only a P.D.A., which may have been
offensive but certainly not illegal. We’re not the same teenagers
you see uprooting your streets or causing a ruckus at school and
therefore shouldn’t be treated in such a manner. We’re not all
ignorant rugrats. Now we will leave but understand it’s not because
of your command, it is by our will alone. Let’s go Kellan,” I
stated grabbing his arm and shirt at the same time with unwavering
confidence and a feeling of empowerment.

I wasn’t sure if I stepped in because
I wanted to stop the officer from getting hurt or because I knew he
couldn’t arrest me if he tried. I no longer feared those who
demanded respect yet didn’t deserve it. No human will ever be able
to bully me again.

I pushed Kellan out of the way to open
my own door and slammed it shut declaring my independence
abrasively.

He shut his door and was on top of me
in a flash. “Damn. That was hot! You’ve never been so
sexy.”

I pushed him off with one last press
of my lips to his, a definite stress releaser I must admit. “Well
the guy was being a jerk!”

He positioned himself back on the
driver’s side but never removed his eyes from me. Staring into
them, I saw a fire flaring, an erotic fit roaring beneath his
surface. For the first time, Kellan was staring at me with pure
unadulterated lust. And knowing how I felt about him, knowing how
easily I could get carried away, I prompted, “Are you going to
drive or do you want me to?”

“Can you?” he asked with a devilish
grin.

Sticking to the clean version, I
scoured, “No, but I can wreck your car trying if you’d
like.”

He laughed breaking away to start the
engine and then pressed the gas pedal with a lustful
vengeance.

Chapter 22

The day passed quickly after the
beach. My mom and I went shopping. She was re-decorating her
bedroom and needed to purchase everything. And when I say
everything, I mean everything! It got me thinking about re-doing
mine too, but I decided against it. My room was like a stabilizer
right now. It’s the one thing that didn’t change with my
transformation, because no doubt my relationship with Mel would
change.

“How do I look? Am I overdone? No.
What am I saying? I’m definitely overdressed. What do you think?” I
frantically asked Kellan who was observing my crazy twists in front
of my bathroom mirror. I was wearing the first outfit I tried on
with Eduardo.

“You look fine,” he
replied.

“Fine? I can’t look fine, I have to
look perfect. I’m seeing my best friend for the first time in two
weeks and, oh yea, I weigh a lot less than I could lose in that
time frame. A little help please!” I ranted fluffing my hair in the
mirror again.

“Ok. My honest opinion?” he checked
hesitantly.

“Of course. Yes.”

“Lose the designer look for now. Your
best friend remembers you in jeans and a t-shirt. You did slim down
a bit and that’ll be shocking enough. Wear the jeans, sneakers, and
a hoodie to remind her you’re still the same person, just went from
pretty to beautiful,” he stated.

“You’re right! I don’t want to
overwhelm her with everything all at once. You’re a genius!” I
exclaimed kissing his cheek as I made my way to my
closet.

“Cover your eyes!” I yelled walking
out of the closet with my sneakers in place but a tank top absent
over my bra. I quickly grabbed one from my dresser and put it on. I
threw the hoodie on over my head announcing, “You’re safe
now.”

Kellan opened his eyes, did a full
visual intake before saying, “Perfect.”

“Good,” I noted aloud. Fidgeting with
my hands in my pocket, I began to pace. I glanced at the clock only
to find it was time to go.

~~~

My stomach was churning, heart
sputtering and mind racing. What would Mel think of me? I hoped she
didn’t weird out on me. I thought shock would be her reaction
tonight. She’s my best friend though. If she didn’t accept me now,
then I knew what we had was superficial. And that was one thing my
best friend was definitely not.

Last minute it dawned on
me. Mike hadn’t seen me in two weeks either.
All the other times he failed to show, watch tonight be the
one he follows through on.
Ugh.
I was barely ready to see Mel and that’s only to
introduce normalcy back into my life, but Mike… He was like the
black plague to me right now. I needed to avoid him until I
strongly re-establish my relationship with Mel. I would definitely
need her support when I broke up with him.

“You ready?” Kellan
prompted.

“Not really,” I squirmed feeling the
color escape my cheeks as reality set in.

“You’ll be fine Lexi. I’ll be around
the corner browsing if you need me,” he reassured me with a kiss on
the forehead.

My palms were clammy despite my
health, hands shaking as I grabbed my cell to call Mel. I swallowed
the lump in my throat preparing to act normal. “Hey. Where are
you?” I asked as Kellan held the first door open for me to the
store.

“I’m at our table,” she
answered.

“Ok. See you in a sec and please don’t
freak.” I closed my phone so she couldn’t question my
verbiage.

I lingered before the second and last
door separating me from Mel. “Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh,”
I whispered frantically. I took a deep breath, exhaling a while.
Biting my lower lip and nodded to Kellan. “Ok, I think I’m
ready.”

He looked me over once more and nodded
in agreement.

I walked through the door and towards
the table Mel and I occupied every Thursday night. Just as I
suspected, shock struck her face and her eyes nearly popped out of
socket.

“O. M. G. O. M. G. Holy sugarplums!
What the… What the fizz?! Is that you Lex?!” she exclaimed
standing, mouth open, taking me in. Shock, pure and utter surprise,
and clear disbelief were smothering her.

“Yea, it’s me. Do I look ok?” I asked
sheepishly.

“Holy!... Sugar!... Oh my!... WOW!”
she yelled.

“O. M. G. Mel, are you speechless?” I
teased nervously, desperately wanting to pick up where we left off
before.

“Holy sugarplums Lex! You’re freaking
gorgeous! What the heck kind of vacation did your parents take you
on because I definitely need one?!”

She was still staring – ok, actually
gawking – at me. I chuckled tensely avoiding her
question.

“Lex, seriously, you’re beautiful. I
mean you’ve always been pretty, but yea… wow! Mike is going to
freak.”

Taking the reins, I dished
what I needed of her. “Ok Mel. I seriously need my best friend
right now. I know I look drastically different and I can’t even
tell you how I got this way, but please don’t weird out on
me.
So
much has
happened and I’m dying to tell you.”

“Of course Lex. Don’t be silly.
Nothing is ever going to change between us. Sisters for eternity,
remember? I don’t care if you come back looking like Jim Carey.
I’ll gawk for a minute then finally shut my pie hole and pass you
the newest issue of Seventeen,” she replied. “You do know Mike is
going to shit his pants though, right?”

Now I knew why I loved her so much. I
really couldn’t have a better friend. I guess I was worried about
nothing… except Mike.

I quickly spilled my guts and plans to
my eternal best friend. I intricately weaved my vacation lie with
the truth. I shared every kiss with Kellan, every weird moment with
my dad, even the shopping spree with my aunt in Savannah, though I
lied and said it happened yesterday.

“Ok. So I know I was really gung-ho
about Mike before, but Lex, what you just described with Kellan is
cigarette worthy,” she commented taking a sip of her
macchiato.

“Oh my gosh Mel, it’s so much more and
yet such a mess. I know we talked about it before I even left, but
I have to break up with Mike. Just… How do you think he’ll take
it?” I braced myself for her brutal lash of honesty.

“Lex, the boy is obsessed with you.
And now when he sees how smoking hot you are… Let’s just say I
don’t think the load will lighten. He’s a nice guy, love the boy to
death, but yes, he kind of creeped me a bit. Do I think he’ll go
all stalkerish? - No. Do I think he’ll try to pick a fight with
Kellan? – Yes.”

“Ugh!” I groaned. “Kellan is super
strong. I really don’t want Mike fighting him.”

“That’s a def,” she agreed. “O.M.G. I
totally didn’t tell you.”

“What?”

“So it’s supposed to be a surprise,
but something tells me your heart can’t handle much more so I’m
going to spoil it.”

“What is it?” I pressed.

“Tomorrow night is your birthday
party. Love your Aunt Claire by the way. She’s been planning with
me the last two weeks. But Lex, it’s going to be huge,” she dished
with excitement and caution concurrently.

“How huge are we talking here?” I
nearly choked on my words as my nerves returned.

“Pinky swear not to kill
me?”

“That was so fifth grade Mel. Now dish
the goods missy!”

“So I may have posted a flyer or two
around school,” she admitted.

I could tell she was bracing herself
for my blow and I really don’t know why I didn’t but I shrugged,
“Well, I guess this way at least they won’t think I’m a new
student.”

Mel stared at me for a solid minute.
“What exactly happened on that cruise again Lex?” she
smiled.

“Oh shut up! That’s your free pass for
the week,” I teased breaking into laughter.

“So, dress? Pants?” I
prompted.

“Well, we figured since you just got
back from the cruise, why not continue the vacation? O.M.G. Lex.
Bible it’s going to be awesome! Caribbean chic is the theme. Oh!
And you have your own signature cocktail drink, minus the liquor of
course, but it’s called a ‘Luscious Lex’. And the DJ is amazing! Oh
and the best part, we rented out ten hotel rooms and have the
ballroom all night on the beach at the Grande Marriott!” she
gushed.

“Wow. Don’t hold back.” I was
partially sarcastic in my remark.

“Oh please Lex. Am I the type of girl
who holds back?!”

“You know, reservations aside, and now
with my new look, I’m actually looking forward to it,” I
smiled.

“I know. Holy sugar cane!”

“What is up with you and sugar
tonight?”

“No. Genius but oh so wrong thought,”
she admitted biting her lower lip to hold back a wide
grin.

“Please tell me you didn’t just hang
me,” I frowned.

“Jason and Jenny broke up again and
when she sees you and he sees you… Oh I have to video that tomorrow
night!” she exclaimed bouncing in her seat.

“They’re coming?”

“Umm. Hello?! Flyers…
remember?”

“Oh yea. Mel moment,
sorry.”

“Ugh!” she scoffed
sarcastically.

We broke into unified laughter.
Elation and relief exuded all of me in this moment. Words couldn’t
describe the joy I had right now, the confidence I held in knowing
my best friend would be steady. We’d done exactly what I dreamed to
be possible but believed not to be. She wasn’t even pressing with
how or why I was different, just trusting me.