“Did they do this?”
“Yeah.” I rubbed at my eyes. I hadn’t realized I was crying. “If you want to leave, I’d understand.” And then I realized I could sound too eager. “But I really hope you stay.”
“I’m not expected home until later. Uncle Mike and Aunt Steph know I’m over here.”
“I didn’t mean just for now.”
“Oh.” she said. “No way. Hu-uh. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Stop talking about me leaving, then, okay?”
“I’m sorry. I’m just trying to make it easier for you if you want to go.”
“Okay, well, I’m not going anywhere. I wouldn’t care if you were a hideous monster, like them, I’d still love you.”
“I don’t deserve it.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
Late that night, after Teresa left and Jess and I were in bed, I broke into tears again. I should have let Teresa stay. She offered to. Maybe it would have made me feel a little better.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” Jess asked. “Those... people. Jess, they’re killing people. Innocent... and they just kill them.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“I have to do something. I just... I have to stop them.”
“The last time you tried that they almost killed you.”
“Well... that’s okay. I mean... I’ve lived a long life, and if that is what it takes to stop them, to try to stop them, then... I mean... okay.”
“It’s not okay.” she said. “Not with me. Brynne, I can’t let you just go off and get killed, honey.”
“I have to do something.”
“Then I’m coming along.”
“No,”
“I’ll bring a gun, and we’ll be really careful.”
“No. I can’t let you do that.”
“Well we’ll get Barney and Mom and Dad to come, too. We’ll outnumber them.”
“They are faster and stronger and almost impossible to kill, Jess.”
“I’m not letting you go.”
“Well it’s not like you can really stop me.”
“You would do that to me?” I think she’s crying.
“I don’t know what else to do. I have to stop them.”
“You would do that to Teresa?”
That’s not fair. I just fell in love with her. And now Jess is asking me if I could leave her behind. Could I? I just told Jess I could put her through losing me, her best friend. What does it say if I can’t do that to Teresa? Would Jess think Teresa means more to me than she does? I’m not even sure if she does. Jess is my best friend. Ever.
“Brynne,”
“It could save her life.” I said. “It could save your life.” “We’re not in any danger.”
“Everyone is in danger with them around. They kill people,
Jess.”
“The police...”
“Can’t do anything! They don’t even know what these people
are.”
“Well tell them.” she insisted.
“And be put in a mental hospital? Yeah, I’d do a lot of good
there.”
“You can prove...”
“Oh, so you want me locked up because I’m a freak and then
probably executed.”
“Honey,”
“Don’t you think I’ve thought of all of this? Jessica, there is no
other way. I just have to do it myself. I have to... to kill them.” “You’re not a killer.” she said softly.
“Well if I’m going to prevent them from killing others then I’ll
have to be.”
“Promise me you’ll wait. Just wait.”
“I’ve been waiting, Jess.”
“Two days. If I can’t come up with something in two days then
I’ll stop arguing. I swear.”
“Jess,”
“Please do this for me, Brynne. Please.”
“I don’t...”
“I am begging you, honey. Please. Give me a chance. I don’t
want to lose you.”
“Jess, I...” Is it too much to ask? To give her that much time?
“Okay. I’ll wait.”
“Thank God!” she threw her arms around me.
“But Thursday I go.”
Tuesday, June 14
“Hey,” I felt her shaking me. “Wake up.” “Oh, hey, Teresa.” I smiled up at her. “It’s great to wake up to the woman you love.”
“Yeah, anyway,” She bent forward and kissed me and I wondered about morning breath. “Get up, get dressed.”
“What time is it?” I mumbled.
“About nine. Come on.”
“What? What’s the hurry?”
“I need you to come with me.” she said. She smiled, but her eyes looked scared. “Hurry up, make yourself pretty, okay? I’m going to the bathroom.”
“Um, okay.”
“Try to hurry, love.”
I got dressed in a nice dress. I think the dress is pretty, anyway, and I always feel really good when I wear it. I wonder what she has in mind.
“Nice. Now hurry up and get ready.”
“Where’s Jess?” I asked.
“She wasn’t here when I got here.”
“Huh.”
“Nobody was here. Where did they all go?”
“Peggy and Ted work. I don’t know where Barney or Jessica
are. Who let you in?”
“The door was unlocked. When you didn’t answer when I rang
the bell I got worried.”
“So you just came in?”
“I had to check on you.” She kissed me again. “Go, hurry.” “What’s going on?”
“Just hurry.”
I brushed and made my hair look okay. It’s sort of a mess, but I managed to do okay with it. It’s sort of curly, and being a redhead you have to watch out for Little Orphan Annie syndrome, but I think I avoided that. And then I finished up with a little makeup. “Great, you look amazing.” she said. “Come on.” “Wait!”
“We need to hurry.”
“Where are we going?” I asked her.
“To Uncle Tony and Aunt Steph’s house.” “I should leave a note.”
“Well hurry.”
I wrote a note, letting them know where I was going. I’m not sure I need to do this, but I know they’ll worry. Especially Jess, because of the conversation we had last night.
She hurried me along the sidewalk, not even noticing the sun. I did my best to stay in the shade of any trees, even cars we passed along the way. And then we got there. And she was so nervous she could barely stand up straight.
“What’s going on, Teresa?” “Okay, look,” She said. She turned toward me and grabbed both of my hands in hers. “Mom and Dad came earlier than I thought.”
“They’re here?”
“And I want them to meet you.”
“You don’t have to do this right now if you’re scared.”
“I’m a little scared. Mostly that you’ll hate them. Or they’ll embarrass me.”
“Are you serious?” I pulled her in and hugged her. “Don’t worry about that at all. Even if I do hate them, I’ll still love you.”
“I love you, Brynne. We have to go inside now. I think.”
“Let’s do it.”
We stopped at the door and she gave me another nervous smile. Then she opened the door and we went inside. Her parents were in the living room with her aunt and uncle.
“Hey guys.” she said, interrupting them.
“Nice to see you again, Brynne.” Mike said. “Steph, this is Teri’s friend I was telling you about. Brynne, this is my wife Stephanie.”
“Nice to meet you.” Stephanie said.
“Sabrina, Bob, this is Brynne.” he said.
“Hi.” I said, sort of in a lame way.
“Nice to meet you.” they both said at the same time. “We need to talk about something.” Teresa told them.
“Do you want
us to leave you guys?” Mike asked her. He saw the look on her face. “No, that’s okay, go on with what you were saying, we’ll just stay.”
“What is it you want to talk about, Teri?” her father, Bob, asked.
“For a while now I’ve been keeping something from you.” Her eyes were watering. “Not... I didn’t lie to you, okay, I just didn’t tell you or correct you or anything.”
“And what is it you’ve been hiding?” Sabrina asked her. She looks a little angry, or maybe worried.
“For like ever I’ve sort of known that I... um...” She turned toward Mike and shrugged.
“I believe,” he said. “That your daughter is trying to explain to you that she is gay.”
“Teresa?” Bob asked. She nodded and a tear rolled down her cheek. “That’s quite a surprise.” he said. His face is drawn, and he looks like someone kicked him in the groin.
“I’m not surprised.” her mother said, shaking her head. “Teri, choosing that way of life is a very bad idea.”
“I didn’t choose it.” she said.
“Teresa, you’re just a kid.” Bob said. “You’re confused. All the media and music videos and television shows may make it look cool, but you don’t have to pretend to be gay to be popular.”
“I’m not pretending, Dad.”
“Can I assume this girl here,” her mother said, motioning toward me, “is the one that talked you into this?”
“You guys need to stop and think before you talk.” Mike told them. “It’s not really helpful for you to keep talking about this like there’s something wrong with her.”
“There is.” Bob told him. “The bible says...”
“The bible also says that adulterers should be executed and you can't wear clothing of two different materials.” I said. “We don’t always follow the bible to the word.”
That’s a great way to start off. Mom, Dad, this is my girlfriend. Hello, and by the way I think all your religious beliefs are phooey. Nice to meet you.
“I see.” Sabrina said. “Do you study the bible?”
“I’ve read it a few times.” I said. “Listen, I respect that you’re religious, I respect that you worry about her, that you don’t necessarily agree with her giving in to her feelings for other girls like this, but it’s her choice.”
“It’s not a choice!” Teresa said.
“Hey,” I grabbed her hand and pull her over close to me. “I’m not saying being lesbian is a choice, just that you chose to not hide it.”
“Oh.”
“We’ll talk about this at home.” Bob told her.
“I don’t want to talk at home.” she told him. “There’s really nothing to talk about. I’m not asking your permission. I just wanted you to know.”
“Now you listen,”
“No!” she said, almost a shout. “This isn’t up for discussion.”
They blinked hard and glanced across at each other. I’m guessing she has never stood up to them like that. They don’t really seem to know what to do with it, either.
“Come here.” her mother said. She had her arms out. Teresa slipped from me and into her mother’s arms. “I love you, no matter what. I don’t like this, I’m not lying, but I’m always going to be here for you.”
“I don’t like this one bit.” Bob said. “But all I can do is give you my opinion.”
“So is Brynne your friend,” her mother, Sabrina, said. “Your girlfriend? Are you two going out together?”
“I love her.” Teresa said.
“Wow.” Stephanie said. “That was fast. Well Brynne, I certainly need to get to know you, I guess. Jessica has told us so much about you already. But if my niece says she loves you, I really do need to know more, because that was really quick.”
“Quick for me too, believe me.” I told her.
“So,” Bob said. “Is this feeling reciprocated?”
“Yes. Very much.”
“I still don’t like this.” he said. “But if you’re important to Teri, and if you two are going to... date, then you should have dinner with us so we can get to know you.”
“Promise me you won’t be rude.” Teresa said.
We left after just a few more minutes. Teresa told them she’d be back in an hour or so, she just wanted to walk me home. And when we left the house she leaned against me and cried as we walked.
And I could still hear them talking in the house. Bob and Sabrina seem to agree that this is just a phase, that she’ll grow out of it. Summer love, she’ll be over it before school starts back up. Her mother thinks I somehow seduced her. Little do they know it’s the other way around.
“When you come over for dinner tomorrow, can you try to look younger?”
“What?” That’s new. I’m used to trying to look older.
“My parents think you’re controlling me.”
“Yeah,” I said, and I almost told her what I heard them saying.
“If you look younger, more... vulnerable, maybe? Then maybe it won’t seem like... like you’re the one in control here.”
“I’m not the one in control of this relationship.”
“Well good,” she said, smiling.
“How young do you want me to look? I’m told that when I’m not trying to look older I actually look younger than I really am.”
“Well yeah, you do look younger than you are.” she said. She smacked the back of my head softly. “Duh, Brynne. You’re old.”
She dropped me at home and kissed me. Dropped me at home. Home. I think that’s the first time I’ve thought of it that way. At least automatically. It’s nice.
There was still nobody home. I ate lunch by myself and watched the news. There were more attacks. It happens almost every day now. They aren’t killing every one of them, but most. I really can’t believe this. It’s like all they do is attack someone in Joplin, then run to Tulsa and attack someone, then rush back to Wichita and attack someone. Do they ever stop to rest? Do they ever get full?
I fell asleep still worrying about what I may have to do soon.
Wednesday, June 15 I slept through the night. I don’t know when the others got home, but they didn’t bother to wake me. But I was awake before any of them this morning.
I hugged Jenna to me as I made my way downstairs for breakfast. I heard Ted get up and go to the restroom, so I started cooking some eggs for him and Peggy.
“Morning, sleepy head.” Peggy said.
“Hey. I’m making eggs for you guys. They’re almost done.” “Thank you.”
“So where was everyone yesterday?”
“The kids went to see one of Barn’s friends.” Ted said. “Yes.” Peggy said, her distaste evident on her face. “They brought back a wide array of... weapons.” he said.
“Most are probably illegal.”
“They shouldn’t have done that.” I said. I put a plate of eggs in
front of each of them. “I don’t want them involved in any of this. I
don’t want any of you involved.”
“You’re too late for that.” Peggy said. “Don’t worry, Brynne,
they’re just trying to be prepared. Just in case.”
“I won’t let you guys get hurt for me.” I promised her. “I think we’re all capable of making decisions on our own,
young lady.” Ted said. “We can’t sit by and let them kill people,
either.”
I sat around all day and worried about them. And when I tried to ask Jessica about it she wouldn’t talk about it. Eventually I decided it didn’t matter, because tomorrow I’d leave and go find these monsters. Either I’d kill them or they’d kill me and it would be over.
Amid all these thoughts, I still had dinner tonight to get ready for. I tried about ten different dresses on to see which made me look youngest. I went with my brightest, youngest looking makeup, and I even put bows in my hair. Yeah, a little over the top, but I look about ten now.
I felt really nervous when I showed up at Teresa’s family’s house for dinner.
Her aunt, Stephanie, answered and invited me in. She didn’t say anything about how I was dressed, but I could tell she noticed.
“You’re staying with Ted and Peg?” she asked. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good people.”
“The best.”
“Are you happy there?” she asked.
“Really happy.”
“Good. Have a seat, I’ll let Teri know you’re here.” “Thanks.”
I sat on the sofa and watched some infomercial on television while I waited. She’s in the back bedroom, I can hear her. And she is breathing hard, like she’s nervous. Here she comes.
“Hey love,” she said. She crossed to me and wrapped her arms around me as I was standing. “You look really nice. And young.” she whispered.
“How are you today?” I asked. “A little nervous. Please don’t be upset if my family says or does anything tonight.”
“It’s going to be fine.”
“I wish we didn’t have to do this.”
She wrapped her hand around mine and pulled me toward the kitchen. Everyone was seated there, discussing which college Andre should go to. They seem really tense.
“Hey,” Teresa said. She looked over at her mother, but then quickly looked away, toward her Uncle Mike. “Where do we sit?” she asked.
“You can sit here.” Teresa’s dad said, indicating next to him. “And your friend will have to sit over by Andre.”
“Dad, that’s...”
“So Andre,” I said. I gave Teresa’s hand a little squeeze, and shrugged as I started past her. No point in starting an argument now, right? “How’s your volleyball game coming along?”
“I still suck.” he said, smiling.
“So you’re still trying to figure out where to go to college?” I sat down and slid my chair up. “What are your options?”
“Mom is trying to talk me into the University of Georgia or maybe Florida.”
“And me, being the sane one,” Bob, said. “is trying to talk him into Texas.”
“What are you even planning to study?” I asked Andre.
“He’s not sure yet.” his mother said.
Mike and Stephanie laid the food they had been cooking out around the table. It looks delicious. A pitcher of iced tea was placed on the table, and glasses were passed around.
“Bob, start us off.” Mike said, grabbing the hand of his wife on his right and Teresa to his left. Everyone else was linking hands as well.
Brynne, Non-Vampire (The Non-Vampire Series) Page 16