by Duval Alex
Maggie grinned. ‘Just cause I’m dating him doesn’t mean I’m afraid to kick his ass!’
‘Please. I rule at volleyball.’ Van Dyke put her down and held out his hands for the ball.
‘Obviously you two need to be on different teams,’ Jason said. ‘How about me, Van Dyke, and Brad against the girls. Oh, and Harberts and Priesmeyer.’
Harberts smiled tiredly. ‘Nah, I’ll sit this one out. That way the teams are even.’ He went over and flopped in the sand next to Adam.
Jason peered at him, noticing the dude’s pale skin and the bags under his eyes. I wonder who he went out with last night, Jason thought. Erin, maybe? It was easy to spot the humans who had been recently fed on by a vampire, if you knew what to look for. When a vampire was feeding on you, it felt amazing, like the best make-out session of all time. But afterwards, you felt exhausted. Happy, but exhausted. Harberts seemed to be in the happy place. And he had the whole week of spring break to recover.
‘I hear Paige is home,’ Brad commented as he served the ball.
Jason glanced at him, surprised. ‘Fast grapevine.’
‘You know it.’ Brad laughed. ‘You should be used to that by now – everyone in DeVere Heights knows one another’s business.’
The ball came flying at Jason, so he set it up for Van Dyke to spike it. ‘She’s a trip, huh?’
‘Who, Paige? You can’t even imagine,’ Brad replied. ‘She once tricked the entire soccer team into shaving their heads on the same day. And believe me, it wasn’t pretty.’
‘Not everyone has a head as beautifully shaped as mine,’ the shaven-headed Priesmeyer put in.
‘What’s she doing back so early, anyway?’ Van Dyke asked. ‘She flunk out of college?’
‘She probably just got bored in Paris. You know Paige,’ Brad told him. They both laughed.
Jason opened his mouth to ask what they were talking about. Then Maggie leapt up and slammed the ball straight at him, and Jason forgot all about Sienna’s big sister. The game kicked up a notch, and it took all his concentration just to keep up with the fast and furious volleys. By the time the game was over, even the vampires looked beat.
‘Attention, attention!’ Adam called suddenly. ‘As your Surfrider Beach social director, I have an announcement to make. The queen and her court have just arrived.’
‘What’s he talking about?’ Brad asked Jason.
‘I’m never really sure,’ Jason told him.
‘Paige!’ Erin shrieked. She and Maggie took off across the sand at a run. Jason turned to see Paige bounding down the steps toward them, with Belle Rémy right on her heels. Sienna followed more slowly, walking with Zach Lafrenière.
‘How can I not have my camera for this?’ Adam complained, coming up to Jason as the other guys headed over to greet Paige. ‘I mean, look at them. They’re like a primetime soap in action. Beautiful girls, strapping guys – all with shiny hair and white teeth.’
Jason nodded, gazing at the group. ‘Didn’t you tell me Zach went to Paige’s prom with her when he was just a freshman?’ he asked.
‘Thereby cementing his reputation as the single coolest human being on the planet,’ Adam agreed. ‘Well, not that he’s a human. He’s a vampire. He’s a superhuman. Wait, are they human? I never thought about that before. They’re not not human, right? I mean, they’re not a different species, are they? Are they?’
Jason just raised his eyebrows.
‘I’m being geeky, huh?’ Adam asked. ‘Right. I’ll take it down a notch.’
Zach stood next to Paige as she hugged all the others. He was actually smiling. Have I ever seen him smile before? Jason wondered. ‘Do you think he’s still into her?’ he said.
‘Hmm, tough call,’ Adam replied. ‘He does look suspiciously happy and relaxed. But I’m not sure there was ever anything romantic between them. Their families are such old friends, I kinda figured she took him to prom because he was safe.’
‘Paige doesn’t strike me as somebody who likes to take the safe option,’ Jason said as Harberts wandered back over.
‘You got that right,’ Harberts told Jason. ‘That girl is so hot she’s dangerous. Must run in the family.’ He dropped down onto Adam’s towel and closed his eyes.
‘That’s my towel,’ Adam pointed out.
Harberts was already asleep.
Adam turned back to Jason. ‘The thing is, two weeks before her prom, Paige caused a mini-riot during a charity fundraiser,’ he went on. ‘Apparently she’d agreed to go to the prom with three different guys, and that was the day they all found out. Paige didn’t really care, she just wanted to be able to wear three different dresses. She figured she’d go with one for cocktail hour, one for the dance, and one for the after parties.’
‘So she wasn’t dating any of them?’ Jason asked.
‘Nope. She always liked to keep her options open. I don’t remember ever hearing that she had an actual boyfriend. Do you, Aaron?’ He nudged Harberts with his bare foot. Harberts kept sleeping.
‘Let me guess. The three guys found out, and they all banded together and refused to go with her?’ Jason said.
Adam snorted. ‘No, that’s what would’ve happened if it was an old John Hughes movie. Actually, in that version they would’ve banded together and forced her to pick just one of them. And then she would’ve picked her geeky-yet-adorable best friend and gone with him instead.’
‘Did she have a geeky-yet-adorable best friend?’ Jason asked.
‘No, I was too young for her to notice back then,’ Adam replied.
‘OK, focus. What actually did happen?’ Jason asked.
‘They all got into a really loud fight and ruined Mrs Devereux’s silent auction for the International Red Cross. So Paige got grounded for a week, and she was so pissed off that she refused to go to prom with any of them. She took Zach instead.’ Adam’s eyes grew wide. ‘Holy cow, could Zach have been the geeky-yet-adorable best friend?’
Jason glanced over at Zach, who looked like a young Keanu Reeves on a particularly good day.
‘I know what you’re thinking,’ Adam said. ‘You’re thinking that, if he was, the rest of us might as well just kill ourselves.’
‘Actually—’
‘But you have to realize that the supernatural types have different definitions of geeky,’ Adam went on, glancing at Harberts to make sure he was still asleep. ‘In their world, it obviously means incredibly good looking, suave, and rich.’
‘Then how come Belle thinks you’re geeky?’ Jason teased.
‘Oh, you are cold. Cold!’ Adam said, shaking his head. He glanced down at Harberts. ‘I’m never getting my towel back, am I?’
‘I don’t think Harberts is moving anytime soon,’ Jason agreed.
‘In that case, let’s go say hi to the womenfolk.’ Adam started across the hot sand, and Jason followed. But saying hello wasn’t easy. Maggie, Erin, Belle, Brad and Van Dyke had Paige surrounded. Sienna was hanging back, letting the other girls have their time with her celebrity sister. But she definitely looked happy and relaxed. It was nice to see.
‘But what about the cuffs?’ Maggie was asking. ‘American Vogue said not to cuff jeans anymore.’
‘Maybe, but on the streets of Paris people were wearing cuffs,’ Paige told her. ‘And that’s what matters, at least to me. Who cares what Vogue says?’
Brad’s eyes glazed over. He grabbed Van Dyke’s arm and hauled him away. ‘I’m maxed out on the fashion talk. Come on, let’s play.’
‘But—’ Van Dyke grumbled.
‘So are you,’ Brad interrupted pleasantly, dragging him off toward the volleyball net.
Maggie turned back to Paige. ‘How about the shoes?’
‘Forget the stupid clothes, I want to hear about your love life,’ Erin put in. ‘French guys? Tell us.’
Paige hesitated, then shook her head. ‘I thought it was a little too obvious to date French men in France.’ She tossed back her hair and grinned. ‘If you really want to make them
crazy, you have to date an American while you’re there. Or even a Brit. It just baffles them.’
‘I’m feeling unwelcome in this conversation,’ Adam murmured to Jason. ‘I don’t think boys are supposed to hear this stuff. Our delicate egos can’t handle it.’
‘Paige is just teasing,’ Zach said, coming over to join them. ‘She only says that kind of stuff to get a reaction. Turnball, Freeman, good to see you.’
‘What’s up, Zach?’ Jason replied, since Adam was staring in amazement. ‘Big spring break plans?’
‘Not yet. But I’m sure something will come up.’ He glanced at Paige, then headed after Brad and Van Dyke.
‘I’m sorry, but did Zach Lafrenière just greet us in a friendly manner?’ Adam asked, still staring after Zach.
‘He did,’ Jason confirmed.
‘Huh,’ Adam murmured. ‘That’s so unlike him.’
It was true. Zach tended to be standoffish in general. Not that he was ever rude or anything, but he didn’t usually go out of his way to be friendly.
‘I think Paige brings out the best in him,’ Jason commented. ‘He’s just happy she’s back. So is Sienna.’
‘Yeah, Paige is fun,’ Adam said. He nodded toward the girls, who were still grilling Paige on life in Paris. ‘They’re all happy she’s back. They adore her. It’s like watching Yoda with the younglings.’
‘I heard that!’ Belle called. She gave Adam a mock-stern look.
‘Oops.’ Adam turned bright red. ‘The movie refs, they just come pouring out of me without any warning.’
‘Well, admitting you have a problem is the first step,’ Jason told him. ‘Besides, everybody references Star Wars. I don’t think that should count.’
‘You should take that up with Belle at the next meeting of the Make Adam Cool Club.’ Adam sighed. ‘I guess I might as well play volleyball. Harberts is hogging my towel, anyway. You coming?’
‘Yeah,’ Jason said. He shot Sienna a smile, and she smiled back.
‘Hold up!’ Paige cried as he and Adam turned to go. ‘Are you getting a game on?’
Jason nodded.
‘Then I’ll come with you. I haven’t even said the words “beach volleyball” since I left for Paris. I want to play!’
She bounded down the steps and over to the net. ‘Boys versus girls!’ Paige yelled. She grabbed the ball and executed a perfect serve right into the middle of the boys’ side. Zach leapt underneath it, smacking it up just before it hit the sand. Jason swooped in and spiked it over the net … and Sienna spiked it right back. This time it hit the ground.
‘One-nothing!’ Paige called with a wicked grin. She and Sienna slapped each other a high five, and the game was on.
It wasn’t until the girls had slaughtered the guys 10–7 that everybody collapsed onto the sand to catch their breath. But even then, Paige seemed full of energy.
‘You know what’s the weirdest coincidence?’ she asked.
‘That you and I wear the same shoe size?’ Adam joked.
Paige peered at his feet. ‘You do have itty-bitty tootsies,’ she teased, ‘but I was talking about the fact that my parents are off on their cruise to Alaska this week. The very week that I get home. Isn’t that weird?’
‘I think what you’re trying to say is, “isn’t that cool?”’ Zach told her.
Paige giggled. ‘You got me.’
‘Are you thinking party?’ Maggie asked. ‘Please tell me you’re having a Paige Party!’
‘It’s up to Sienna.’ Paige slipped her arm around Sienna’s slim shoulders. ‘What do you say, SiSi? Should we disobey the no-parties-in-the-house rule?’
‘You have a no-parties rule?’ Jason asked, surprised. ‘I didn’t know that.’
‘It’s my fault. I had a Halloween party my senior year that got a little out of control,’ Paige admitted.
‘It made the news,’ Sienna said dryly.
‘That’s just because we invited those two reality show bimbos and they got into a fight for the cameras,’ Paige replied. ‘Mom and Dad will never know about this party, I promise. We won’t even invite anybody who doesn’t live in Malibu.’
Sienna hesitated.
‘I’m thinking theme party,’ Paige told her in a singsong voice.
‘Oh, come on, Sienna,’ Erin cried. ‘A theme party would be such a perfect way to start off spring break.’
‘What’s the theme?’ Sienna asked.
A big, slow smile spread over Paige’s full lips. ‘1960s cocktail party.’
Sienna’s eyes lit up, and Jason knew she was hooked. ‘You mean with little hotdogs on sticks and pink drinks served in cool glasses?’ she asked.
‘And miniskirts and bouffant hairdos and fake eyelashes,’ Paige added. ‘And lounge music!’
Suddenly everyone was talking at once, putting in ideas for the party. Jason watched Sienna talking animatedly with her sister. She was psyched about playing hostess, he could see.
But a tiny trickle of worry ran down his spine. The Devereux sisters having a party – that would be one of the biggest things to happen all year. And when big things happened in DeVere Heights, trouble usually followed.
Three
‘DO I LOOK OK?’ Danielle asked as she and Jason walked toward the front door of Sienna’s house the next night.
‘Dani, you’ve asked me that three times now,’ Jason told his younger sister. ‘You look great. You know you look great. You spent two hours getting ready and making sure every single thing on your entire body looked completely perfect.’
‘Yeah, but did it work?’ she pressed. ‘Do I actually look perfect?’
Jason rolled his eyes. ‘Is there some guy here you’re trying to impress? Because you’re obsessing.’
‘No.’ Danielle bit her lip. ‘I haven’t really been in the mood for dating again since …’ Her voice trailed off, but Jason knew what she was talking about. She’d been in a serious relationship with a vampire, Ryan Patrick, but they’d broken up after Aunt Bianca had talked them into having Ryan transform Dani into a vampire. They hadn’t gone through with the transformation, thankfully, but it had been a close call. A blood test had shown that Danielle’s DNA was incompatible with the vampire genes. If she’d transformed, she would eventually have gone insane – just like Aunt Bianca. The stress of the whole situation had been too much for the couple to handle, and they’d decided to call it quits.
Still, Dani and Ryan had really been in love. The breakup had hit her hard. Jason nudged her with his shoulder. ‘You don’t have to date until you’re ready,’ he told her.
‘I know.’ She adjusted the strap of her vintage black cocktail dress. ‘But I have to look good. I need to impress Paige Devereux.’
‘Paige? Why?’
‘Jason, are you the most oblivious person in the world? Paige is, like, famous in DeVere Heights,’ Danielle said. ‘I’ve been hearing stories about her since the first day of school.’
‘Well, yeah, so have I,’ he admitted. ‘But so what?’
‘So what? So she’s important, that’s what,’ Dani said. ‘If she likes you, it means you’re cool. It’s as simple as that.’
‘Wow, I didn’t realize she was so all-powerful,’ Jason joked as he opened the door. Immediately, Frank Sinatra’s voice hit his ears. The music filled the entire house.
Dani sucked in a breath. ‘Look at this place,’ she said reverently.
‘It is pretty spectacular,’ Jason agreed. Usually, Sienna’s house was very spare, all beiges and whites on top of one another. But tonight the whole thing was drenched with color. Huge panels of gold lamé hung from the high ceilings all the way to the floor, one on each wall. Every single surface in the room had a tall vase on it, each one a different jewel-tone color. And each vase had an arrangement of gigantic calla lilies exploding from the top. Even the lighting was colorful: glowing patches of pink light pooled on the marble floors and bathed partygoers in a rosy glow.
‘Temptation?’ Paige purred, stepping up to them.
Jason took in her teased hair, her heavily-lined eyes, and her clingy gold cocktail dress. ‘Huh?’ he said.
Paige beckoned lazily, and a waiter rushed over with a tray of drinks in martini glasses. The liquid inside was dark red.
Blood red, Jason thought.
‘Temptation,’ Paige repeated, her voice husky. ‘It’s our signature cocktail.’
This is feeling like a bad vampire movie, Jason thought. And then Paige laughed.
‘It’s the theme,’ she reminded him. ‘Silly Sixties cocktail party, remember? They always had a signature drink.’ She turned to Dani. ‘Who’s this?’
‘I’m, um, Danielle …’ Dani practically whispered. Her gray eyes were wide. She looked as if she were meeting Nicole Kidman instead of Paige Devereux.
‘My sister, Dani,’ Jason explained. ‘Dani, this is Paige.’
‘Sorry, I should’ve figured out who you were,’ Paige said, smiling warmly at Dani. ‘Sienna told me Jason’s sister was gorgeous. I was just expecting a little blondie like Jason, but your hair is such an incredible red!’
‘Thank you,’ Dani gasped, putting her hand to her hair. ‘I actually teased it for this party. I’ve never tried that before.’
‘It totally worked,’ Paige assured her.
Danielle smiled happily.
‘Jason, you take a Temptation,’ Paige ordered him. ‘I think Dani needs a Sweet Tooth.’
‘What’s that?’ Dani asked.
‘I’ll show you.’ Paige grabbed Danielle’s hand and pulled her off toward the flower-decked bar in the living room. Jason took a red drink from the tray, feeling grateful. His sister had been so nervous on the way here, but Paige had managed to put her at ease in about ten seconds.
The music switched from Sinatra to some kind of Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr sing-along as Jason moved further into the house.
‘Crab cake?’ asked a waitress in a sparkly minidress.
‘Sure.’ Jason took one and put it in his mouth.
‘Check it out!’ Danielle cried, rushing back over to him. ‘Is this the best thing ever, or what?’ She held up a lowball glass with some kind of clear drink in it – and an upside-down cherry lollipop. ‘The lollipop is the stirrer! Isn’t that too cute?’ Dani’s gaze shifted to something over Jason’s shoulder. ‘Ooh, there’s Kristy and Billy. Later.’ She took off, leaving Jason in her wake.