His Black Vampire Heart

2) Nice car, Even Nicer Eyes

I awoke groggy, and not too sure of where I was. But as I rubbed my swollen dry eyes, the brain fog dissipated and I was able to remember. Right... I was in Contel, Maine.

It took everything in me to uncurl from my position and make my way out of the room and downstairs. My body had begged to just stay on that bed, just become one with it and never have to leave the room. But the smell of coffee was too inviting, and the guilt for how I treated Uncle Fred was beginning to set in.

The wooden stairs wheezed under each step, leading me into the open kitchen area where the man himself stood. His hand cradling a white mug, the same Grey eyes staring intently at the TV across in the livingroom.

I cleared my throat to announce my presence which seemed to catch him off guard as he look at me surprised.

"Uh, Mornin." His words short and sweet, gaze shifting to my outfit from yesterday to my swollen eyes. Didnt take a genius to guess my mood. I gave a strained smile in return and became my search for the coffee that I had smelled from upstairs. Didnt take long, as the man didnt seem to have much in his kitchen. The only appliances gracing his counter were a microwave and the coffee pot. I vaguely even wondered if he even had more then one coffee mug when a glass cup was placed in front of me.

"Sorry. I didnt know you drank coffee." Almost as if reading my mind he responded, before moving to give me space.

"I just started this year. Caffeine helps in the morning."

He nodded at my words. It was an awkward conversation, with breaks of silence inbetween that I am sure anyone else would have felt uncomfortable in. But oddly enough, I welcomed it. It brought me comfort knowing that Uncle Fred was like me in that sense as well, we didnt have to say much to get our point across.

I filled the clear glass with the warm liquid and sipped it slowly, welcoming the harsh taste. My mother usually bought the most flavorful coffee around, said she couldnt stand the taste of anything outside of vanilla and mocha. Uncle Fred kept it simple. Just coffee.

It was his turn to clear his throat, eyes staying to the TV as the morning news turned to a commercial.

"I already got your enrollment stuff done, so you can start on monday. Tomorrow." His eyes shifting to me as if trying to gage my response.

"I have to go into town to buy a few things today..." He continued, looking uncomfortable. I wondered if it was because he only had one mug in this house.

"Would you like to come with me? Can get you some school stuff... whatever you need."

His mustache twitched as he brought the hot coffee back to his lips for another gulp.

Oh. He wanted to see if I wanted to spend time with him. Recalling how I had my mini fit last night made my stomach uneasy. Of course hes nervous about spending time with his niece that might hate him. Ugh I felt awful.

In all honesty, I have everything I need. I only packed the few clothes I had, some books, and tampons. He did well furnishing the bedroom and keeping it simple. Only forgetting the curtain for the window over the bed. But I felt the need to redeem myself. Despite my promise to myself to not behave this year, that just wasnt in me.

"Yeah that sounds fun."

His head perked up then and there was a small glint in his eyes.

"Oh, good. Good. Well, we will head out soon. Ill get ready. It's a little bit of a drive into town."

He gulped down the rest of his coffee before setting down the empty mug and trudging up stairs.

I did not KNOW Uncle Fred. He was the guy I knew about. Someone that use to visit often when I was a child but had stopped many years ago. So it was only natural to assume that he did not know me. But he was trying. And a part of me didnt understand why. I was just some load that my mom pawned off on him. Her thinking a smaller town would "keep me out of trouble" when really she was just done with me. Surely mom told him about the rumor. Maybe he didnt care. Or maybe he didnt believe it. I was hoping for the later. Either way, his intentions and kindness was clear, and maybe I could put up with a school year living with this man.

I finished my coffee in the same style before hurrying up back into the room I was staying in.

My suitcase stood untouched on the floor. As I started to grab a clean pair of jeans and a shirt, I wondered if I should just hang things up at the same time. But stopped. I just wasnt ready to settle in quite yet.

I took a quick shower, making a mental note to buy more feminime shampoo before dressing and meeting Uncle Fred outside.

I hesitated at the old beat up green truck that sat in the driveway. Last night it was too dark to see it, but now impossible to miss. Uncle Fred didnt seem to care though as he climbed into the driver side and began to turn it on.

Snapping out of it, I quickly climbed into the passenger side and we were on our way into town.

I caught myself staring outside the window, never before seeing this much greener before in my life.

Being born and growing up in a city, we of course had trees and parks but nothing like this!

"Cow!" The words exploded out of me before I could stop them as I pressed my forehead tighter against the glass. Uncle Fred might have found me amusing with chuckling he was doing. He was also nice enough to explain everything we drove by. Pointed out the school I would be going to and that he works at. Showing me how the speed limit drastically changed the moment we got into the city. Going on about different towns people I will likely run into but "would grow to love". His words, not mine.

About over an hour into the ride, we pulled up into a walmart and began our shopping. He was right, I did need a few things for school and we ended up spending a bit more time there then I had expected. At check out I saw the price of everything, feeling myself go red and hoped mom had offered him money when he agreed to take me in.

Soon we were back driving down that same road and Uncle Fred was making awkward efforts to get to know me more.

"So, how was school for you down there?"

"Any friends you leave behind?"

"Did you have a boyfriend?"

I at least knew he was a man of very little words, so asking me all the questions was probably hard. Though I really did not want to answer the last one. Not because I did, but because boys were just not in my line of site.

Uncle Fred suddenly cleared his throat then as we pulled up to a red light.

"Speaking of which."

I followed his gaze to outside the passenger window where another car had pulled up next to us at the red light. This car looked a lot newer and seemed very sleek and fast compared to all the other vehicles I had seen on our drive. My eyes stopped on the driver who was staring right back at me.

A chill crawled up my spine and I involuntarily inhaled a sharp breath seeing the man driving. His window was down, unlike ours, giving me a clear complete view of him. He was not much older then me, maybe at most 20. His dark hair swept back ontop of what can only be described as a perfectly chiseled face. A light crook to his nose told a story of a fight from long ago, but somehow just added to his over all beauty. But what really got my heart racing. Those eyes. Those dark ebony eyes that stared straight into my own grey and for some reason I just couldnt look away.

"Samantha, I dont want to see you hanging out with that boy." Uncle Fred used a stern tone I hadnt quit heard before. Almost as if he heard us, the stranger smirked before turning back to the road and speeding forward.

"What?" I turned back to my uncle, still trying to blink whatever hypnotism that guy had over me. That was... weird.

"I said I dont want to see you hanging out with that boy." His lips turned down into a frown as he started down his street.

I scoffed, embarrassed I had been caught ogling him.

"I dont go out, like at all. I doubt I will see the guy." I mumbled mostly to myself, unable to stop myself for looking for his sleek black car even though logically I knew it was long gone. Curiosity got the best of the though.

"But uh... why?"

Uncle Fred took in a short breath through his nostril and kept his eyes forward as he pulled up into the driveway.

"Dont get me wrong. He looks like a nice kid. But, I just dont get a good feeling about him and his friends."

I nodded along even though I still didnt understand. Chances of running into him were low, so I dont think he had anything to worry about anyway. But from the short time I was getting to know my uncle, i could tell he had my best interest at heart.

"Okay, no problem. Ill steer clear of anyone handsome."

He looked at me sharply, and I smirked trying to show it was a joke.

But he just gruffed and got out of the truck. Apparently it wasnt funny.

Geez, he was acting like an overprotective dad. Or maybe he wasn't. I dont know, never had a dad.

In hindsight I really should've listened to him. Because little did I know, that boy was going to be the biggest trouble of my life.