Vampire by Richie Tankersley Cusick Page B

smile. “Thanks, man. See you around.”
    Elliott stood there silently and watched them leave.
    After a long while Kyle seemed to shake himself back to attention. “Satisfied?” he yelled back over his shoulder.
    â€œAbout what?”
    â€œElliott.”
    â€œHe could have gotten there ahead of us, couldn’t he?” Darcy yelled back.
    She felt him shrug, but he didn’t answer, so she buried her head against his back. Through his T-shirt she could feel the hard flow of his muscles as he guided the motorcycle through town, and suddenly she didn’t care where they were going—she didn’t want to care about anything —she just nestled tighter against him as the misty night flowed over her, lulling her into a safe, easy calm.
    Without warning the bike stopped, and Darcy lifted her head to peer over Kyle’s shoulder. Ahead of her she could see a girl walking alone down the street, and it took her a minute to realize it was Liz. As Kyle pulled up alongside, his sister cast him a ferocious glare.
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Kyle asked. “Where’s Brandon?”
    â€œGet out of here!” Liz yelled. “Leave me alone!”
    â€œCome on, Liz.” Kyle kept up with her while Darcy looked on apprehensively. “You shouldn’t be out here alone—where’s Brandon?”
    â€œHow should I know! We had a fight in his car, and the jerk let me off in the middle of nowhere! I’ve been walking for miles!”
    â€œLiz—will you just stop—”
    â€œHe’s probably hoping the Vampire gets me!” Liz seethed. “And wouldn’t that make him happy if I got my throat cut—wouldn’t that make him happy if I died—”
    â€œCome on, don’t talk like that—” Kyle reached out one arm, but she slapped it away.
    â€œJust because I hit him!” she said furiously. “Well, he deserved it! I told him I wanted flowers, so we had a fight, and he insulted me—”
    â€œWhere is he now?”
    â€œHow should I know! Who cares? He had it coming!”
    â€œI doubt that.” Kyle sighed. “You’re lucky he didn’t decide to drop you ten miles from here.”
    Liz flew at him so fast that Darcy didn’t see her coming. It was all Kyle could manage to keep the motorcycle upright.
    â€œCut it out, Liz, you’re going to hurt someone!” Kyle yelled at her. “I ought to leave you here!”
    â€œI want you to!” Liz yelled back at him. “I want you to leave me here so you’ll feel guilty about it all night! ”
    Kyle glanced back at Darcy, shaking his head with a tolerant smile. “Okay, Liz, I’m going—”
    â€œFine! Just go!”
    To Darcy’s concern, Kyle sped off. For several more blocks they didn’t speak, but as he turned onto a side street, she recognized the Farmer’s Market. It didn’t take long to find Brandon. As Kyle and Darcy approached a row of deserted stands, they saw him lying back on one of the wooden tables.
    â€œWho won?” Kyle asked, deadpan, and Brandon looked up, raising a bottle in greeting.
    Kyle squinted and laughed. “Are you drinking?”
    â€œJust this awful grape stuff.” Brandon sighed. “I couldn’t handle anything stronger right now—not with this lump on my head.”
    Kyle stepped closer and whistled. “Wow—that’s a beauty.”
    â€œI ended up clear in the backseat,” Brandon said, almost admiringly. “Where’d she learn to punch like that?”
    Kyle shrugged and sat beside him. “She’s pretty mad.”
    â€œNo kidding. I’m probably deformed.”
    â€œYou’ll live.” Kyle took the bottle and helped himself to a sip. “Here’s to women … and their charms.”
    â€œWell, hi, Darcy.” Brandon noticed her at last. “So glad you could join us.”
    â€œSomeone’s