Page 12 of Dear Mr. Vampire
“Your turn, Chanel.” This was an odd thing to say, but not so much coming from him.
“You sure?” I playfully asked, not sure where the sass was coming from. I wheeled my basket over to the open machine.
“I’m more than sure.” He stopped and turned to glare at me.
I smiled inside and started tossing my clothes into the washer. “I can knock on your door and let you know your clothes are dry. If you need to go hang out with Bailey.”
He chuckled. “Bailey has left the building.”
“That’s too bad.” I joked. I didn’t own this man.
“Is it?” He asked.
I shrugged. “She seems nice.”
“One-night stands are nice. So I guess you’re right.”
I heard him start his dryer. I pursed my lips; sure that he couldn’t see me. “I wouldn’t know anything about one-night stands.”
“There’s no fun in that.”
I closed the lid to the washer. I looked down to reach for quarters in my front pocket when I felt his presence only inches away from me. He was putting quarters into my machine. When he finished, he turned to me.
“A gift. Welcome to the neighborhood, neighbor.” He cracked a sly smile.
I couldn’t speak. He was so close to me, and those honey-colored eyes of his were hypnotic.
“Th, thank you.” I had to watch my nervous stammer.
Zand grabbed his book off the nearby washing machine. “I guess I’ll see you around.”
I watched him stroll out of the room like he didn’t have a care in the world. He wasn’t weird at all. After talking to him, he seemed cool, too cool. Zand was the kind of guy that was full ofmystery and full of himself. Basically, the kind of guy my dumb ass should stay far away from. The cool guy road was a road I wanted to stay far away from. My next guy friend will be a socially awkward nerd.
I waited a few minutes and then left my clothes to wash. Instead of going up to my apartment, I went to the back entrance of the apartment building by the parking lot. I covertly glanced around. When the coast was clear, I tilted the flowerpot and there it was, another note from Mr. Vampire. My face warmed with delight, and my body did the same. When did he put this here? I contained my smile the best I could. This was something to look forward to.
CHAPTER FIVE
CHANEL
Two at a time, I quickly took the stairs to my apartment and concealed the note inside my shirt. I was so nervous with the piece of paper you would think I had military secrets concealed in my bra. The coast was clear when I stepped into my place. I locked my apartment door. I felt comfortable enough to remove the note but not confident enough to read it just yet.
I wanted to call Morgan and tell her about my random meeting with Zand. I wanted to read the note to her so we both could experience it at the same time. I needed to take a nap because I was overwhelmed with just how childish I was being about a man I really didn’t know. From what I could tell, we clearly had nothing in common. All I knew was we both read books. We both liked clean clothes, but that wasn’t enough for even a half-ass friendship.
There was no rush. I could always tell Morgan about Zand later. Zand— now I knew his name. I had just a little more information about him. I was one step closer to something. I just didn’t know what.
I still needed to dry my clothes and go to the grocery store. My friend Morgan was a little bitty thing, but she ate like ahorse, a cow and three elephants. I had to replenish all the stuff she helped herself to. I needed to grab some basic staples like eggs, milk, and bread. I loved feeding her. It was the least I could do. She drove all the way here to cheer me up. She was a true friend.
As much as I wanted to save the note for later, I just couldn’t do it. I was too thrilled by the little things in life. Patience was a virtue that I lacked at the moment. I had to open the note and read it. So here goes…
Dear persistent Daywalker,
If you went through the trouble of retrieving this letter, it is clear you have a genuine, huge crush on me. As stated before, you are a stalker, my stalker. I am flattered. I love all the attention you’ve poured on me. It’s bloody fang-tastic! Is this a wise correspondence if I am believed to be a blood drinker? If you play with fire, you will get burnt. If you play with vampires, you will get bitten or…
P.S. What’s your blood type, asking for a friend?
Signed,
Mr. Vampire
