Dance With A Vampire for Chapter 21

Always quiet and mousy, she was gaining confidence now that she'd been dating Matt. I'd always blabbed my secrets to Becky. I was bursting to tell her the truth about Alexanderwhy I didn't have a picture shrine, why Alexander didn't attend Dullsville High, and why he was seen only at night. Carrying this secret around was a heavier burden than a backpack full of textbooks. Becky was so happy with her boyfriendtaking pictures together, renting movies, watching him play soccer. I'd always craved moreto fly, to live in the darkness, to be eternally bonded to my soul mate. But at that moment, I realized I wanted to be like any girl who was lucky enough to be in love and hang her boyfriend's picture in her locker. "Do you have your prom dress?" Becky asked, bringing me back to reality. "Uhwell" "I can't believe it. We have dates to prom!" "Yeah" "Aren't you going?" she asked, confused. "It's just that" "You haven't asked Alexander yet?" she guessed. "It's next weekend. " "Of course I asked him, " I stumbled. "He said he wouldn't miss it for the world. " She smiled with relief. "Yesterday, my mother and I picked out a dress and put it on hold. We're picking it up after school. Want to come?" "I'd love to, but I have to meet Alexander and my brother. It's a long story" "Oh, that's okay, " she said, trying to cover up her disappointment. "Perhaps another time. " "But I can't wait to see your dress. I know you'll look fabulous in it. " She beamed like I'd told her she won a beauty pageant. "What does your dress look like, " she asked, "besides black?" "Dress? Oh, yeah. I guess I'll have to get one, " I said, just as first bell rang. "But where in Dullsville am I going to find a dress?" Alexander and I arrived at Henry's house to find his backyard vacant of any preteens, vampire or otherwise. "Hurry, let's check the treehouse before my brother and Henry show up. " We walked past the pool, lounge chairs, and gazebo, which were illuminated by the backyard house lights, and crept into the shadows where the treehouse was. I hung on to Alexander's silver bullet belt and followed him through the darkness.