The Bloodsucker Next Door

The Hangout Part 1

We parked on the curb of the highway just outside the woods where the annual hangout would soon take place.

Meredith, Madison, and Gale were all talking amongst themselves as we got out of the car and all I could do was stare at the moon.

"Hey?" I trailed, "What are you guys giving thanks to the moon for?"

They looked at eachother and Madison grabbed my hand, "Like I said at lunch. It's just for fun, there's no reason in particular"

She led the way into the woods along with Gale with her hand still eloped in mine. I adjusted my band to make sure that they didn't fall off every once in a while from tripping over twigs and such.

We were walking for about five minutes when I saw the sparks from afar and heard faint music coming from the depths of the woods. The place felt familiar, but I shrugged it off. I mean, I've never seen these woods before or most of this town, and yet everything just felt as if I'd been there before.

I mean, maybe I've gone mad or maybe I was just going through an odd phase from the result of staying in one place.

We got closer and closer to the blasting music, Riptide by Vance Joy. It was then when we had finally made it. It felt as if we were right smack in the middle of the forest.

There was a big space that had thick-brown logs taking up the entire perimeter. It was absolutely mind-blowing to see. The bonfire was also very big, just not as big as I had imagined.

There were also teens from the school there, some talking in small groups, and others going further into the woods to do God knows what.

Everyone also mostly held a red cup in hand reminding me just how thirsty I really was.

I tapped Meredith, "Hey, I'm going to go get something to drink okay?"

She nodded and drifted off to talk to some girls that I hadn't recognized from school.

I walked over to the igloo and looked around to see if Alexandria had taken into any thought of my invitation. I mean, I wasn't expecting her to anyway, I did just meet her this afternoon.

I just wanted to have someone else here to talk to rather than the people I came with. I mean, I didn't want to be the clingy new girl who couldn't make her own friends.

Grabbing a lemonade can, I sat down onto one of the logs and sighed, "Well this was a total bust"

"What are you doing here?" I heard that familiar deep voice from behind and cracked a smile.

Even if he was going to annoy me, I have someone to talk to.

"Hey Vince" I waved standing up.

He sat down and ran a hand through his hair, "You didn't answer my question"

*****

Alexandria P.O.V

"But mama, everyone's going" I pleaded hoping that my potential friend didn't think that I had bailed.

"Sweetheart, you're not everybody. And remember the last time you went to one of those parties? Do you remember the incident?" She had promised to never bring that up again, but of course she just had to.

She always found a reason for me to stay alone. This was partly the reason why I didn't have any friends. Just because she kept to herself in High School, doesn't mean that I needed to.

My mother stared at me for a while as she collected her leave type mesh for her next potion. I watched as she walked into the kitchen and began to chant words behind the cutting board as she grinned the mesh and chesimax together in her stoned bowl half filled with the liquid we call polanderes.

"Mama- please? The hangout just started and I really want to go," I pleaded one last time, "I just want to be a normal girl for one night and I promise what happened last time won't happen-"

"Oh hush child. We both know you can't promise anything, but I'll let you go," She stared down at her bowl and furrowed her brows, "But heed my warning. After the full moon has fully risen, do not go deeper into the forest then you already are. For the creatures begin to roam at that time"

I nodded slowly, "I shall be home by then mama. Thank you"

I went over to hug her and she sighed cracking a smile, "When you come home, I'll teach you some more spells okay?"

"Okay mama, I love you"

She laughed a little and gave me a peck to the forehead, "I love you too Alex, now go have fun"