The Bloodsucker Next Door

The Expedition

Sure enough, Vince did come to school the next day. He didn't really acknowledge me, but I believed that it was due to the fact that he knew I had at least some control over our friendship.

He also knew that deep down, we really were friends in that, weird I-hate-you sort of way.

It was lunch time and I looked to Vince sitting at his table alone. I then looked over to my table and the new kids table wondering where I should sit today.

I mean, I knew I wasn't obligated to really sit with the new kids, but it didn't really sit well with me not to. I had the same feeling with the other two tables.

I knew Vince really didn't want me to, but sitting at his table would really annoy him and I was already bored.

I smirked as I made my final decision and walked over to Vince's table.

"Hey best friend" I waved placing my tray onto the table.

Vince groaned and rolled his eyes, "What is wrong with you?"

I eyeballed him and smirked, "What's wrong with you?"

Vince them narrowed his eyes at me and huffed, "Can't you just leave me alone?"

I shook my head and began to prepare for my food which by the way was crappy as always.

Today they made us steak, basically raw, with a side of stale fries and soiled corn.

I cringed at the sight.

I began to pick at my food when I felt a pair of eyes on me, "What?"

He shook his head, "You literally just ruined the rest of your high school year sitting with me"

"What do you mean?" I said with furrowed brows.

Vince sighed loudly as he began to munch on a chewy french fry, "Everyone hates me. Therefore you even talking to me or sitting in front of me causes everyone to hate you. Get it?"

I adjusted my ears, "That's the dumbest thing I have ever heard. I can be friends with whoever I want, and no one should hate me for that"

He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, "Well, here they do so why don't you go back to your little friends and leave me alone"

"Sorry. I can't do that" I trailed, "We've been through this, we are friends. So deal with it" I breathed.

Vince just sucked in a deep breath.

I smirked, "That's right, suck it up"

Vince then began to continue eating into his food, "Why do you want to be my friend so bad anyways? I mean I know I'm hot, but I didn't think my attractive pull was that strong"

I rolled my eyes and attempted to eat at a stale fry which did not work in my favor, "I want to be your friend because no one should ever be alone. It's depressing and useless. Why are you so against having friends?"

"Because I like being alone- I mean I'm so used to it. That and the fact that I hate people." I laughed a little.

"Well now you have two friends, so ha!" I said hopping in my chair a little.

Vince furrowed his brows and huffed, "Wait- what? No. One is enough"

I smirked, "So you do consider me a friend"

He hesitantly looked at me and I smiled at my tricky ways.

GO JESSE!

"You're a pest" he said before we went back to eating.

I smirked, "Thank you"

******

After school, on my way home, I decided to pay Alex a visit.

I hadn't really visited the places in this town and I wondered if she wanted to take me.

I had asked Meredith, Gale, and Madison before, but they all had excuses. They were also acting very weird towards me after lunch. It was like they were slightly avoiding me.

Maybe because I sat with Vince

That also made me continue to wonder what I had been ever since I first came into this town. "What did he do?"

I crossed the usual bridge to Alexandria's beautiful home and knocked on the door.

The door opened to reveal a beautiful woman who looked almost exactly like Alex except some minor facial details.

I could tell this was her mother by the beautiful wavy hair and innocent eyes.

She looked towards me and smiled, "Hello, may I help you?"

Her voice was so soft and took my breath away, "U-um, I'm here to see Alex. I'm Jessica Owens, a friend from school and I was wondering if she could show me around this town since I hadn't really gotten a chance to see it. Do you think that's possible? Is she home?"

The woman gave me a simple nod and widened the doorway some more, "Come in. I'll go get Alexandria and she should be here in a couple minutes or so. Just stay in the living room and get comfy"

I smiled and walked over to the same couch where I helped Alex that day when she had fallen and no one would help. I sat down with my hands folded politely as I awaited Alex's arrival.

I heard two voices coming from upstairs and the only words that I could faintly make out were, safe and incident.

I then watched as Alex entered the living room with a big smile on her face.

I giggled, "Ready?"

Alex nodded happily.

She said a Goodbye Mama as we exited her lovely home.

"Thank you so much for getting me out of the house. You don't understand how excited I am" she breathed out quickly.

I smiled, "I just needed a tour guide around here. By the way, do you guys have malls? I need someplace to get some new clothes"

Alexandria nodded, "Yeah, but I don't really go there very often. Only to get fabrics and stuff. I usually make my own clothes"

I looked at her outfit and my eyes widened, "No way. You do? That's so cool? They come out nice too"

Alex insecurely touched her clothing and blushed, "I guess"

We began to cross the bridge away from Alexandria's house.

"Hey, can we pick someone up real quick? It'll only take like ten minutes" I said breaking the silence.

Alex nodded, "Yeah sure who?"

I smirked, "You'll see"

We made our way to my house and made a right into Vince's backyard where we found him. I knew he would be there.

I smirked as I made my way over towards him with Alexandria trailing behind.

We saw Vince run a hand through his hair in aggravation. I laughed when he growled a little probably already knowing that I was here.

"Hey best friend" I spoke in an irritating high pitched voice.

He sighed and got up from the lawn chair he was resting on, "Is there no escaping the pest?!"

I could hear Alex stifle a giggle from behind me as I did the same.

"Am I annoying you?" I said walking up over to Vince with a wide grin on my face.

Vince mocked my facial expression, "Yes."

I held a hand to my heart in false pain, "It really hurts my feelings when you're mean to me. It's not nice to hurt people"

Vince narrowed his eyes at me in annoyance as he stood in front of Alex and I.

"What do you want now? And why is she here?"

I smiled, "We are taking a trip around this small town. Want to come? It will be tons of fun and plus you'll be with us"

Vince shook his head, "No"

My smile fell a little, "But it's going to be great. Just the three of us- like that Lewis and Clark expedition with the Native American woman except you'll be the Sacagawea"

Vince spoke up, "That makes no sense. And I'll pass. The last time I went on a little adventure with the two of you, we almost got killed by a bunch of dogs"

Alexandria then responded, "The correct term is wolves"

Vince snapped his eyes towards her and scoffed, "Who cares? Point is, I almost died"

My smile had already completely fell, I really hoped he'd say yes for some reason.

"But we won't be in the dark this time and as you two as our guides, we'll be completely safe. Please."

He looked at me and I began to pout with my bottom lip sticking out as I pleaded with both hands clasped together.

"Please Vince" I could see the mental battle he had with himself before getting his jacket.

"Fine. But if we almost die, I'm killing you" he rolled his eyes as my smile began to resurface.

Alexandria clapped and began to speak, "Let's start at the town line. That's where the town sign is. It's not a far walk from here, so let's go"

We all began to make our way trailing behind Alexandria.

"And kit, don't pout- it's not attractive" Vince whispered.

I turned around, "It got you here, didn't it?"

We shared a smirk and continued on our merry way as I hoped that nothing bad would happen.