Melabeth the Vampire (33 page)

I worked a little on the art project, but it didn’t really interest me much. It was nice to just sit quietly and think. Listening to all the kids' gossip made the time pass quickly. Before I knew it, the bell rang, and I was off to lunch.

I met up with the rest of the Goths under the tree. Michael and David hadn’t gotten there yet. Lizzie walked up about the same time I did. She was walking and talking with the girl who introduced herself as October. A few seconds later I could see Michael and David heading our way.

David, Michael, Lizzie and I kind of formed our own little circle. There we started to do a little bit of planning. We didn’t get much accomplished because one of the Goth boys, who called himself Bran, came up and wanted to join in on our conversation. Michael and I were new, so everyone wanted to know more about us. October didn’t join in with the rest of them, but I noticed that she eyed me. I don’t know if she knew anything, but I do believe that she noticed something is different about me.

Lunch was over quickly. It probably had to do with the fact that I was dreading sixth period with Mr. Wright.
It’s a funny thing; when you dread the future, it comes fast. If you are waiting for something you want, it takes its sweet time.

October was in P.E. with me. Lizzie asked her to take me with her. October nodded her head but didn’t real
ly say anything. I didn’t feel like talking, so we both walked in silence toward the girls’ locker room.

Mrs. Miller was a middle aged woman with curly blonde hair. She probably colored it because it didn’t match her features. She was tall f
or a woman, but not over six feet. She looked taller than she was when I approached her. It was her build that made her look so tall. This was the second bodybuilder I had for a teacher. Huge muscles looked a lot better on men, or at least that’s what I think.

Mrs. Miller looked me up and down. It was a look of disapproval; at first, I thought it was because of the Goth outfit. Then she said. “You’re a scrawny little thing.” Then she gave me a hard slap on my back. “Don’t worry; I’ll whip you into shape. Go get changed.”

Michael hadn’t bothered to give me paper and pen, but he did pick me up the required P.E outfit. He had given it to me at lunch; he was wearing a long black jacket. The shorts and shirts had been shoved into the side pockets.

David was still trying to make up for his mistake, so he had taken the four books I had required and delivered them to my locker. Of course that meant that I still had no idea w
here my locker was, and now I didn’t know where my books were.

I went
inside the locker room with October to change. The girls gave us dirty looks. I could tell by October’s face this was the worst part of her day. Michael hadn’t bothered to get me a lock; I noticed that the other girls were locking up their stuff. Oh well, I thought, if anyone steals any of my stuff, I will hunt them down and kill them.

I stripped down to my undergarments. I looked over at October; she was staring at me. If she would have been looking higher than my neck, she would have noticed I was now looking back. I really looked at her for the first time. Outside it had been hard to look at anything because of how bright it was, but in this locker room the lighting was poor or great for me.

October had straight black hair that hung below her shoulders except for her bangs. She was shorter than me and skinnier. She, like me, was standing in her undergarments. Before she had been wearing so much clothing, I hadn’t realized just how small she was. If she weighed over eighty pounds I would have been surprised.

Her eyes finally met mine; I could see her embarrassment. She quickly looked away and started to get her P.E. clothes on. Our P.E. clothes consisted of blue shorts and a white
T-shirt. I had worn black sneakers so I didn’t need different shoes, but October did. She had been wearing really high boots and had a pair of white gym shoes to replace the boots.

October finally spoke. “Sorry, for staring. You’re really pretty, but you probably know that.”

I didn’t know what to think; she had caught me off guard. “Thank you… you're pretty too.”

Why did I just say that? Wait, is that why she was staring at me at lunch time? I thought it was because she knew there was something supernatural about me. It never even occurred to me that she could be staring at me because… well, I didn’t see that coming.

October was now beaming at me. Telling her that she was pretty had most likely sent all the wrong messages. Oh well, she will figure it out sooner or later. Plus, she seemed nice enough, and I could still be misreading the situation.

“Look at the Goth Lesbian having a moment.” A fat Mexican girl was standing next to me. She was glaring at me. October shrank in the presence of this girl. “I am talking
to you, fag.” She pushed on my chest with her pointer finger.

October touched my arm, “D
on’t worry about her; let’s just go.”

“Go, you stupid Dyke. Before I beat the…”

She never finished; I had my right hand around her throat. I wasn’t squeezing hard for me, but it was hard enough she couldn’t breathe.

She reached up to pull my arm off, but she couldn’t make me move an inch. Then I shoved her back, releasing her from my grip. I had shoved her a little harder than I wanted to. She smacked up against some lockers that were across from mine.

I said with as much venom as I could, “Just say anything… go ahead, say something.”

The girl was taken
back, she just stared at me with fear in her eyes. Her friends started talking shit for her, but the girl wasn’t going to let her friend push her into a fight she would lose.

She straightened herself up, and then said. “You’re lucky I can’t get into any more trouble, right now.”

With that she led her friends outside where they could talk crap from a distance. October touched my shoulder and said, “I have never seen anyone run off Carmen before. She picks on everyone, well everyone but the cheerleaders.”

“Why not the cheerleaders?”

“Because they are mutants and run this school, that’s why. Well to be technical Veronica runs this school. The rest of the cheerleaders are just her robots. They do and say whatever Veronica does or says.”

I laughed, as me and October headed for the door. P.E. should be an easy enough class for me. Let’s face it, I might not be well educated, but I had the physical element in my pocket.

*                     *                   *

I couldn’t believe I was
sitting in the nurse’s office with October about holding me up.

As soon as we got outside, we walked down to the field. Then Mrs. Miller told us all to run a mile, four easy laps around the football field. The best part was there were lots of guys practicing football. So, as we started running around I could check some of the cute guys out.

After ten minutes of running, I wasn’t checking out anyone. The sun was killing me, and I didn’t sweat so I felt like my blood was boiling. It felt like the sun’s rays were heating me from the inside out. My stupid P.E. outfit gave me no skin cover. It didn’t take fifteen minutes before the world started to spin.

I found myself lying on the ground looking up at October. I could hear her saying. “Melabeth, you ok, what’s wrong?”

I could hear her, but it took me a minute before I could answer her.

So, here I was
, sitting in the nurse’s office; so much for being the queen of P.E. In fact, I am going to need a doctor’s note that says.
“Melabeth is a big wimp, and, for this reason, please put her inside with air conditioning. Signed, Dr. White.”

I explained to the nurse that I felt fine now; that I hadn’t been drinking water and the sun had just gotten to me. She ordered me to drink a huge glass of water before leaving. The water did actually make me feel better.

When I got back to the girls’ locker room, the girls were all heading in. Mrs. Miller gestured for October to go change.

Then she said,
“Let’s talk, Melabeth.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“At the end of the week, the class will be inside the auditorium playing volleyball. In honor of you being new, and passing out on the first day, I have decided to go ahead and move up the time. So, we will be inside tomorrow playing volleyball. Even an albino like you can handle that.”

“Thank you.” That was great news. I had been worrying about what I was going to do about tomorrow, but now it worked itself out.

I was about to turn to go into the locker room, but Mrs. Miller said. “Before you run off, what happened in the locker room between you and Carman?”

“Well…nothing really,
” I lied.

Mrs. Miller reached over and squeezed my biceps. “Tougher then you look, you better go get ready for your next class.”

She gave me a strange smile, almost as if I did something to make her really proud. Almost beating up another student was her idea of a good job. Well, the way I get into fights, I was sure to keep her proud for the rest of the year!

I got dressed and walked out of the locker room with October. October said. “My next class is in Building Three, so maybe I will see you after school, and, if not, I will see you tomorrow.”

The way she looked at me made me feel uncomfortable, but that feeling was being drowned out by fear. I said to October as I started walking toward the trailers, “Yeah, I’ll see you later.”

As I walked toward the trailers, my feet became like bricks. Every step was labor; and I found it hard to take a breath. Of course, I didn’t need to breathe; I knew how ridiculous I was being. I was afraid; I was about to enter my nightmare. His face was the one I saw when I closed my eyes.

It had been fifteen years ago for him, but, for me, it had all happened a month ago. I walked up to the trailer with number 523 on the door. There was a wooden ramp leading up to the door. Kids where already heading up the ramp going inside.

God help me, please find me the strength. I must face the devil and pretend that I don’t know him. I don’t pray much; ok, not at all, but I will take whatever help there is.

I swallowed, took a deep breath, and calmed myself. Then I realized a boy was talking to me. “Are you lost?” A boy was standing next to me. He was thin but tall with short hair and glasses.

“No, just a little nervous,
”  I said

“New?  I remember my first day here. My name is Steve.”

Two boys passed behind us, then pushed Steve. One of the boys said. “Steve… his name is Poindextor, the homosexual nerd boy.” Both the boys laughed as if the joke was funny. They both kept walking and then headed up the ramp into the classroom.

I looked at Steve who was feeling the emotions of embarrassment and anger. “They’re jerks; don’t worry about it. Let’s go before we’re late.”

Steve gathered himself, and then said, “Throwbacks of evolution. Let’s hurry; Mr. Wright is quick to hand out a slip for being late.”

Steve made me forget about how afraid I was. I found myself following Steve into the classroom. I was numb; I couldn’t tell how I felt. Then I saw him, sitting behind his desk talking to a girl student. He had a big smile, and, if I didn’t know who he really was, I would have thought he had a nice and inviting face.

He looked almost exactly how I remembered him. The years had been kind, but I am not the years.

I was shaking with fear… I could have screamed.

Run away.

I closed my eyes and tried to pull myself together. The bell rang.

I jumped and yelled at the same time. The bell had scared the shit out of me, but now everyone was looking at me.

“The bell scares me every time.” Mr. Wright said with a smile. The kids laughed, and the girl he had been speaking with hurried back to her seat.  “Quiet, class.” The class went silent. “Come over here young lady.”

He was speaking to me. I moved, but it felt as if my whole body weighed tons, and every step was agonizing. I held out my white piece of paper; he took it out of my hand.

Then Mr. Wright said.  “Melabeth White, nice to have you. You may have a seat over there, and, right at this moment, I am fresh out of books, but I am sure that Steve will share with you.”

I headed over to the seat he had pointed to. It was in the back row and right next to Steve, and, on the other side of me, was the wall. I sat down, and Mr. Wright began to speak.

Mr. Wright gave instructions for the first half hour. In that time, my fear melted away and was slowly replaced with anger. Then the anger was replaced by rage.

It took all my willpower not to get up and rip his head off. The entire time he gave instructions I had flashbacks, flashbacks of him giving instructions to the bikers, telling them how and what to do to me.

Then he handed out a quiz; at least for the next half hour I could look at something other than him, and I wouldn’t have to hear the sound of his voice.

After writing my name on my paper, the next five minutes became very frustrating. I was in Algebra I. I would have understood Greek faster than this. I didn’t understand anything I was looking at. I knew how to add and subtract and some of my multiplication. For the next half hour I stared at my test.