CHAPTER SIX

I closed my front door, crossed the street, and then I knocked on Paul’s door.  His dad opened it up.  He had this confused look on his face.

“Yes?”

“Is Paul home still,” I asked.

“Yes he is.  He just came downstairs for breakfast.  Why?”

“I just would like to know if he’d like a ride to school with me or not,” I said to him.  Paul’s father pulled off his glasses that he had on, and rubbed his eyes.

He then leaned against the doorway, and raised an eyebrow at me.  “Aren’t you Tammy from across the street?”

“Yes, sir I am.  My sister Annabeth and I reside there.”

“Can I ask just what it is that you’d like with my son?  I’ve never seen you knocking on this door before.”

I had to think of the ultimate, horrible lie.

“Well I’m surprised Paul hasn’t mentioned me before.  Although we just made it official just a couple days ago.  I’m Paul’s girlfriend.”  I then flashed him a brilliant smile, hoping he’d buy it.

Paul’s father, Mr Kai, rubbed his chin thoughtfully.  “I don’t know.  What do you see in my son, first of all?”

The question took me back a bit, “um, he’s unique and different.  He sticks out from the crowd.”

“Sticks out?  Is that a good or bad thing?”

I mentally face palmed in my head and I stuttered out, “Oh no.  I- I didn’t mean anything like that.  Oh, um...  I meant that when he sticks out, he’s different from everybody.”

“How does he stick out?”

“He sticks out in a very good way.  He’s funny and nice and-and…” I ran out of things to say, until I remembered what Paul said about my eyes.  “And he also gives very good compliments; it makes you feel happy and alive.”

Mr. Kai looked at me funny and sighed as he looked at my bright green PT Cruiser across the street and looked back at me.  A breeze went through the air and I caught the scent of a dog, and I tried to remember if Paul had a dog or not.  “Do you have a dog, Mr. Kai?”

He looked startled and almost seemed to glare at me as he said, “no we don’t.  Why do you ask?”

I licked my lips, “I just thought I smelled one, that's all.”  He shifted from one foot to another, suddenly looking nervous.

“I’m sorry to cut the conversation short, Miss Tammy, but I have work to get done.  I’ll send Paul out in a minute, goodbye.”  And with that, he opened the door and was about to slam it; but not before giving me a look with golden eyes.  I took a sharp intake of breath as I know only one breed that had that color of eyes, Werewolves.

He slammed the door and I went across the street to my car and heated it up as it was chilly this morning.  I started cleaning out my car a little when Paul slid in the passenger seat next to me.

“What a fucking weird week this is turning out to be,” Paul said as he hugged his book bag against his chest.

I looked over at him and sniffed inwards.  Paul didn’t smell like a dog like Paul’s father did.  Maybe I imagined it all.  Remembering he was there I replied, “and just think, this is only the beginning of what I think could be a beautiful friendship.”  I then started the car and pulled out of his driveway.

“Who’s that guy on your t-shirt,” he asked, pointing.

“Marilyn Manson, a singer.  Saw him live once, he’s a good guy.  Good Vampire.  Ever heard of him?”

“No,” Paul said.  He then turned and looked out of the window.  I sighed and picked up speed to our school.

“So… how did you sleep last night,” I asked.  I was trying to start a conversation with him so he wouldn’t feel so uncomfortable.  I knew my car was a mess, and I knew that he probably wouldn’t like the Mountain Dew bottles everywhere, despite the fact that there was less in here since I cleaned it out a little.

“I slept well I guess…”  I looked over at him.  He looked really sad and uncomfortable and he sighed as he leaned his head against the window and he closed his eyes.  I felt sorry for the poor guy.

“Hey, what’s the matter?”

“I just found out this morning that my dad isn’t who I think he is.”

My hands tightened up on my steering wheel.  “Oh?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, what is he?”

“He’s my stepfather.  My real father took off when I was born, mom hasn’t heard from him since; even though she’s tried to get a hold of him,” Paul said as his voice cracked a little.

“I have a family history project that’s due in one of my classes, and I was asking my dad some questions… But some of his answers didn’t match up.  That’s when they told me he’s my step-father.”

I sighed.  So that’s why Paul didn’t smell like a wolf, he wasn’t one.  “Tammy?”

“Yes?”

“Are you okay?”

I looked over at him, “Yes.  I’m fine.  Why do you ask?”

He shifted a little in his seat and started to stare at my mouth, “Your fangs are poking out through your mouth.  You told me they do that when you’re really stressed, what are you stressed about?”

I sighed and my fangs retracted, “nothing.  It’s nothing that you need to worry about Paul.”

We rode in silence for a few more minutes but then all of sudden Paul asked me if I was going to the Spring Dance that we were having.  “I don’t think so, Paul.  I hate dancing, and what’s worse is that there’ll be tons of teenagers there who hate me and trust me the feeling is mutual.  I just want to finish my sentence out there, graduate, and get the fuck out of dodge. ”

“Oh.”

“Why do you ask though?”

“Well, I was hoping that you would go with me.  But I guess not, huh?”

“Nope.  Sorry for bursting your bubble.”  I looked over at him and he had shrunk so far down in my car seat, that he could’ve been a part of it.  “Hey now, there’s plenty of girls at our school.  You can’t tell me I’m the only one that caught your eye, Paul.”

“You are.  You’re different from the people there.  When you walk down the hallway, you hold yourself up high and there’s nobody that can bring you down.  All the kids are scared of you, but awed as well.  I’ve heard some of the preppy girls talking amongst themselves and they say that if you didn’t look like such a Goth, they’d consider you to be a part of their group.”

I looked at Paul weird and said, “Paul; I could care less about the preppy bitches out there.  But thank you for what you said beforehand.  And besides, you could surprise some girl who is quiet.  What about Kayla?  I heard that she’s not that bad looking either.”

Paul seemed to lighten up a little at the mention of her name and he said, “Okay.  Maybe I’ll think about her.”

I patted him on the knee as I parked the car, “Atta boy!”

He got out, but not before taking my hand in his.  “Tammy, I know you said that there will never be an 'Us'.  But, maybe you can think about it sometime?  It’s a long shot for me to ask you this, but it had to be said.  I’ll see you around Tammy.  Goodbye,” he said as he left my car for good and went inside of the school.

I should’ve told him the lie I told his father.  Come to think of it, I’m really not sure what possessed me to even say something so ridiculous.  I could’ve told his step-father that I was just a really good friend of his.  Why’d I have to go say something stupd like that?  Once Mr. Kai asks Paul about his newly found girlfriend I can only imagine the look of surprise on his face.  Maybe I should think about going to that stupid spring dance with him; just because I’m a half-vampire and my life is ruined doesn’t mean I should drag Paul down with me.

I sighed and shook my head as I thought of that possibility.  I reached behind me to grab my bag, closed my car door, locked all the doors, and then I headed towards Hell.