"Maybe next year. I know how much you love it there."
"We'll be leaving at six on the dot. Be ready."
"Will do," I said, and headed up to my room.
"Look at you," Natalie said, coming out of her bedroom.
I raised an eyebrow. "What about me? I was up all night watching movies with Amanda. Do I have extra dark circles today?"
"You're in love."
"Not so loud!"
She giggled. "I knew it. Who is he? Anyone I know?"
I looked around and then went into my room, closing the door behind us. "We're not at the point of telling anyone yet. How did you know?"
"I always know the look. You've got it bad. Come on—tell me. You know I'm still with Braydon. You have that on me. I'm not even supposed to talk to him or Mom and Dad will flip. They still think he's a druggie. He's totally not."
"We agreed not to talk about it to anyone. I haven't even told Amanda."
"For real? Were you really at Amanda's last night?"
"Oh. My. Gosh. Of course I was!"
She stared at me, obviously thinking. "I can't think of anyone I've seen you with at school. Does he even go to our school?"
"Yeah. Can we drop it? I'm not talking."
"You're no fun. Well, you're going to have to tell me if you—no, when you—need to sneak out. I'll help you as long as I know who it is."
"Fine."
She smiled and looked at me eagerly.
"I'll tell you who he is when I need help sneaking out."
Natalie scowled. "Be that way. But I'll be the first to know?"
I nodded.
She squealed. "I can't wait to hear who the mystery boy is!"
I laughed before I could stop myself.
"Is he not a boy? Don't tell me he goes to college? Is he an older guy? Is that why you can't say anything?"
"I need a nap. You can try to solve the mystery while I'm sleeping, okay?"
"Go ahead and do that. I'm going to figure out who it is, even if you don't tell me."
I pushed her out of my room while she was still trying to figure out who it was. I didn't see how she could guess Mr. Foley—Tobias—but I was going to have to be careful to wipe the look of love off my face around my parents. The last thing I needed was them finding out. They would definitely freak out.
Sitting down at my vanity, I tried to figure out what in my face gave me away. I couldn't see anything beyond my dark circles and sunken cheeks. Either he was going to have to give me more blood or I would need to start hunting again. I didn't want to keep looking like this for him. I'd have to find out more about his connection at the blood bank.
There wasn't much that I could do about it then, so I decided to climb into bed and get some sleep before I had to start getting ready for the ballet. My mom always insisted that we look our absolute best, and it was going to take some work that day. A little sleep would help with that. I pulled the blankets up close and then drifted off to sleep.
I woke up when I heard my phone ringing. "Hello, Tobias," I said.
He laughed. "Usually, I don't like being called that, but it sounds nice coming from you."
"That's good…Tobias. What are you doing?"
"Just grading some papers. My TA was slacking this week," he said, with a teasing tone.
"Maybe she needs more coffee."
"I could get her some now—if she's free."
I looked at the time. "I wish. I have to leave for the Nutcracker in a couple of hours, which means that I'm going to have to start getting ready soon."
"Are you going to the showing at the college?"
"I'm not sure. All I know is that it's a half an hour away, and it's not the Paramount. I'd rather have coffee with you."
"Why not meet for coffee after? I'd love to see you dressed up. I'll even dress up."
"Really? That sounds perfect. I'll see what I can do."
"Give me a call when you get back."
My stomach did a flip-flop. "I definitely will."
"Oh, and Alexis?"
"Yeah?"
"I'll be waiting."
"Me too."
I hung up the phone and leaned against my headboard, barely breathing. How would I be able to wait? I wanted to jump out my window and run to him, wherever he was. Nothing else mattered; the only thing I wanted was to be in his arms.
I looked at the time and knew that I needed to start getting ready. I needed to eat and then get ready—and I was going to need extra time to get ready if I was going to see him after the ballet. I wanted to look my very best.
When I got to the kitchen, I could hear a Christmas movie playing the living room. I found a casserole, and warmed up some before going back upstairs to get showered and ready. I spent extra time on my hair and makeup. When I was done, I went through all the dresses in my closet until I found the perfect one. I slid it on, zipped it up, and slipped on matching heels.
I looked at myself in the full length mirror that I'd recently put on the back of my door. I stared at my reflection, pleased. I'd almost forgotten what I looked like when I tried. I was definitely fit to be a princess. All I needed was my castle back. I shook my head. I didn't need that or anyone in it. All I needed was Tobias, and later that evening, he would see how I'd dressed up for him.
Once I was walking down the stairs, I could hear everyone else by the front door.
"Are you finally ready?" asked my mom.
"I'm ready."
"I hope so. It took you long enough."
I walked around the corner and smiled. They all stared at me.
"Honey, you look gorgeous," my dad said.
"Look at you!" Natalie exclaimed. "You care about how you look again!"
"Natalie," my mom hissed.
"Tell me you weren't thinking it too."
"We'd better get going," my dad said. "We don't want to be late."
"They won't let us in if we are," my mom added.
"We know," Natalie said. "They lock the doors once the show starts."
We spent the next half hour singing holiday songs along with the radio. I couldn't help but wonder what Tobias was doing, and if he had any holiday traditions. He would probably think our family was over the top. I never saw any of my friends singing Christmas songs together, yet we did all month long, every year.
When we stepped outside the Escalade, it was gusty.
"Brrr!" Natalie complained. "I swear I'm moving to Hawaii someday. I'll come back and visit you guys during the summers."
The cold didn't bother me, but I wrapped my arms around myself and pretended to shiver. The longer that I was a vampire, the more obvious it became that I wasn't human anymore. It was usually the little things like that which stung. I definitely loved being a vampire, and all of the benefits that came along with it, but there was a part of me that missed just being a regular girl, worried about homework and grades.
As we settled into our boxed seats, I tried to focus on the stage which was decorated beautifully for the upcoming first scene. All I could think about was that I wished Tobias was there with me. It had felt so wonderful to be in his arms the day before, and that was where I wanted to be again.
Natalie and my mom were discussing the scenery, but I couldn't bring myself to join them. I was glad when the lights finally dimmed. I tried to lose myself in the show, but every little thing seemed to remind me of Tobias, and I found my mind constantly wandering back to his eyes, or his voice, or his lips. Or that hair. I sighed, just thinking about it.
"That was an amazing scene, wasn't it?" my mom asked.
"Yeah, it sure was," I said, pretending that was the reason I had sighed. As much as I really did enjoy the ballet, I couldn't wait for it to be over.
Twelve
"You're so quiet," my dad said. We were driving back from the show, and I was lost in my thoughts. Christmas music was playing in the background—of course—but instead of singing along, my parents and sister were discussing the ballet.
"I'm just liste
ning to you guys," I said, wishing that I sounded more convincing than I did.
"Well, you look beautiful, honey," he said. "I'm so glad to see you're back into caring about how you look. All of my girls are stunning, and you guys should show it off. Though I'm always proud to be seen with you no matter how you look. Not that any of you could look bad. Not even when you wake up. Not that you—"
"Keep talking, Dad," Natalie said with a laugh. "Want a shovel, or do you want to keep digging yourself deeper?"
"How about we sing along with the songs? Then none of us has to worry about talking. It's getting pretty late anyway."
"Good idea, Dad," I said, and started singing along with the radio. Everyone else joined in, and I was relieved to be off the hook. I hadn't paid much attention at all to the show, so I had nothing to add to the conversation. I certainly didn't want to talk about what was on my mind—a certain werewolf teacher that I was looking forward to seeing as soon as I could get away.
As soon as everyone's attention was off me, I texted him to let him know that we were getting close to home. He replied, saying that he couldn't wait. My stomach dipped and then danced the rest of the way home.
When we got home, my dad turned on the TV and said, "Which movie should we watch tonight? We haven't watched Snoopy yet."
"Wasn't going to a show enough for one night?" I asked. "It's late. I can't be the only one who's tired."
He fake-pouted. "Oh come on. You guys love Snoopy. It's not a long movie."
Natalie and I exchanged a look. "Dad, I'm tired too. Can we watch it tomorrow? The drive and the ballet was enough for one night." She yawned and stretched.
"I thought teens loved staying up until all hours," he said.
"Jack, I'm tired too," said my mom. "I think tomorrow sounds great for our beloved cartoon dog."
He sighed. "Looks like I'm completely outnumbered. Tomorrow it is. I don't want any excuses then."
We all agreed and headed up to our respective rooms. I texted Tobias again, asking if he still wanted me to stay dressed up. He replied that he most certainly did, and that he had dressed up as well.
There was a knock on my door, and I groaned. Natalie walked in, closing the door behind her. "Are you going out?"
"I was planning on it."
"Tell me who he is and I'll help you out."
"I don't really need help. I've been sneaking out for some time now."
"Yeah, but not usually this early. Usually, you've gone out when it's really late, when we're all asleep."
"How did you know?" I asked, surprised.
She grinned. "I know all kinds of things. Who is he?"
I thought quickly. "His name is Tobias. You know him?"
"Tobias? That's not a name you forget very easily. Is he hot?"
"Extremely. Will you cover for me, or do you need a picture of him too?"
"Do you have one?"
"No. We've only gotten together once, and we didn't get any pictures."
"Too busy, huh?" she asked, giving me a knowing look. "Get a picture tonight. I won't post it on Facebook or anything. I just want to see what the mystery boy Tobias looks like."
"That shouldn't be a problem. I'm probably going to want one anyway, with us dressed up and everything."
"Speaking of that! You totally have to bring him to the winter dance at school."
School dance? I hadn't even thought about that. How we were going to pull that off? I took a slow breath. "We'll talk about that later, after you've seen the picture. Will you let me go now? I've given you his name and promised you a picture. What are you going to tell Mom and Dad?"
"I'll just say that you fell asleep in my room when we were talking, so don't try to make your bed look occupied."
I nodded.
"Want to sneak out my window? I've got that tree, making it easy to climb in and out. I'm not sure how you usually do it," she giggled. "I just said 'do it.' Anyway, you can't go out through any of the doors downstairs right now. My room is probably your best option. Plus it gives the best alibi for you being in my room."
"Okay, thanks. I'll be in there in a minute. I need to make sure that I don't forget anything."
"Sure," she said, and went back to her room. I looked around my room, thinking of anything that I would need. I didn't even know where we were going, so how could I know what I'd need?
We texted back and forth until we figured out where to meet. He didn't want to go anywhere in town, being that it was too risky. It would be too easy for someone to see us together. Not that he wasn't proud to be seen with me, he added, making me giddy. I couldn't help holding my phone close to me after reading those words.
After we had decided on a restaurant a couple towns away, I went to Natalie's room.
"Where are you going?" she asked, looking nearly as excited as I was.
"Dinner," I said, not wanting to give any specifics. "Why aren't you going anywhere tonight?"
"Braydon has an away game, and they're gone all weekend. He's all excited because it's a big deal, they haven't beaten that team in years and they're determined to this time. But I'm keeping myself busy. We're texting back and forth right now. All the guys are eating appetizers in the hotel."
"Well, have fun. Thanks for covering for me."
"Oh, it's no problem. I know you'll return the favor, right?"
I hadn't thought of that. I shrugged. "Sure. Why not?"
"Remember—I want pictures!"
"I'll get at least one. I'll want one of us dressed up anyway."
She walked to her window and played with the latch before pulling the window up and removing the screen. "Here you go. I'll leave it unlocked for you."
"Thanks," I said, looking at the window, trying to decide if I should go head or feet first.
"I'll see you later. Oh and Lexy…."
"Yeah?"
"Have fun! I can't wait to hear all about it."
"I'm sure you can't. See you in a bit." I slid through the window, pretending to use the tree for help. It would have actually been a lot easier to jump down to the ground, but given that I couldn't talk vampires with her, I had to keep up my act of being an ordinary human.
Once I got to the ground, I slipped my heels off, not wanting to run in them. I could have, but I didn't want to risk scuffing them. I wanted to look perfect when I saw Tobias. I tucked the shoes under my arm and wiggled my painted toes, thankful once again not to be affected by the temperature. I could see frost forming on everything.
As I ran, I enjoyed the freedom that came with traveling at such high speeds. I loved being able to pass people who had no clue that I was running by. It was as though I were invisible.
When I arrived outside the restaurant, I saw his car already parked. I slipped my shoes back on and walked inside, making a beeline for the bathroom. I had to fix my hair after moving at such a rapid speed. I got my hands wet and patted it down. Then I checked my makeup and made a few adjustments.
After I was happy with how I appeared, I left the bathroom and looked around the waiting room, seeing if he was there. One of the girls behind the desk asked me if I was with Toby.
I smiled. He had said that he didn't like his given name. "Yes, I am."
She led me to his table, and he stood as soon as he saw me. He was wearing a really nice suit, and he looked even more handsome than ever. I held my breath as I walked to the table. It was hard to believe that he was a teacher. He looked like he could run an entire company, commanding the respect of everyone in his path.
He took my hand and helped me to sit in the chair across from him, and then scooted me in. He went back to his chair and sat down, excusing the hostess. "You look…I can't think of a word that could adequately describe how beautiful you are. There isn't a word that does you justice."
"I feel the same way. You're…just, wow."
We both laughed, not taking our eyes off each other. He reached across the table and held onto my hand, stroking the top gently. "I feel like the luckiest man alive.
Everyone in the room is staring at you, you know."
I looked around, not seeing anyone staring.
"They stopped now that you've looked. That was my plan, because I want you all to myself."
"I'm only here for you."
A waitress came, dropping off a couple waters and some bread with dipping sauces in little, fancy dishes. "It looks like you two need some more time to decide," she said, winking at us. "I'll be back shortly."
Tobias nodded, and she went to a different table.
"Did you have fun at the show?"
"I couldn't stop thinking about how I'd rather be with you."
He smiled, brightening up his entire face. "I couldn't stop thinking about you, either. Do you always dress up like this for the ballet? I can find another one to take you to, if that's the case."
"No. I had ulterior motives for getting this dressed up, even though we do usually dress up."
"Are you hungry?"
I wanted to say for you. But I didn't. Instead, I said, "Actually, I'm famished. What do you suggest? I've never eaten here before."
"Neither have I. That's precisely why I chose it. Let's see what's on the menu." He let go of my hand, and we picked up our menus. I looked it over, being reminded of foods served at the castle. I pushed those thoughts away. I was sitting in a gorgeous restaurant, with an extremely dashing werewolf, who was thrilled to be with me. What else could I possibly ask for?
When our food arrived, and we ate, we barely took our eyes off each other. If everyone at school knew how he looked in a suit, then all the girls would be climbing all over him. I was glad that I had him all to myself.
When we were done, we walked through the restaurant hand in hand. Then I did notice everyone staring at us. Not that I blamed them. They didn't know it, but it wasn't every day they got to see a vampire and a werewolf walking together, in love. In all the stories I'd heard about vampires, I'd never once heard one about any of them getting along with a werewolf, much less having romantic feelings for one.
"Where's your car?" he asked, once we were in the parking lot.
"Are you kidding? I had to sneak out. I ran."
His eyes widened. "You ran? I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. If I could run at the speeds I do, eh, during the full moon, I would probably take advantage of it. Looks like we'll be taking my car back to Delphic Cove. Unless of course you'd rather run," he said, and then winked.
The Transformed Box Set: Books 1, 2, 3, 3.5 Page 106