Vampire Manifesto (3 page)

“
I told you Madison, when they got the call, they freaked. Packed some clothes and bounced. Just like that. Pops tossed me the keys, said and I quote:
Be back Wednesday, maybe Thursday. You’re in charge. You ding it you die.
Then they were gone.”

“
What about school Aiden?”

“
What
about
school Madison? What are you gonna learn there today that you can’t learn there tomorrow? I’m trying to hit up Flagler beach. Catch some waves, some sun…”

“
I’ve got a new bathing suit!” Abigail added, just a touch to cheerful for me. Of course she has a new bathing suit; she’s grown up here in Palm Coast, Florida all her life. Her body was made for the beach; it was perfectly tan and sculpted.

“
I don’t know.” I said. “I’ve got AP English today.”

“
What is that on the front of your bathrobe?” Abigail asked, squinting her eyes trying to get a clear picture. “Is that…chocolate?”

“
It’s not just chocolate, it’s Ben and Jerry’s chocolate.” I corrected.

“
God Madison, you’re worse than my Grandmother.” Abigail stated. “Kinda smell like her to.”

“
It’s the Icy Hot.” Aiden whispered. “She puts it on before bed.”

“
Aaarrgghh!” I screamed. “I told you, I only do that when I do yoga so I’m not sore the next day.”

“
I think it has something to do with the drugs personally.” He continued. “Rave thing.”

“
Shut it.” I was in no mood for school today. I was tired. Like, really tired. Even though I slept the whole night, I wasn’t rested. A day at the beach, yeah, that would be extremely copasetic right about now.

“
So, are you rolling out with us or what?” Aiden asked.

“
Yeah, I'm down.”

“
Sweet! See, I told you she would come!” Abigail was ecstatic, bouncing up and down on the bed.

I rolled my eyes.

“
I’m gonna get dressed. Let me know when you’re ready.” I closed Aiden’s door, not waiting for a response. Apparently, Abigail forgot she was naked underneath the blanket during her little bouncy fit. Just a little bit too much of her then I originally planned on seeing this early in the morning.

I went downstairs, planning to let Caprica Six, Moms little dog out for a piss run in the backyard, but he wasn’t there. Neither was his bowl. Wow, they took the dog with them. Mom must really be stressed then. That dog does not leave this house. Ever. Other than the backyard and the one time I opened the front door and he scampered outside, I doubt if he’s ever even smelled air from another locale.

The remote was on the counter and I pressed the power button. Nothing happened. Great, must be the wrong one. I grabbed the one next to it. Power button. Nothing. Why does this always happen to me? Always! I grabbed a third remote. Nadda. I didn’t even know what the fourth one did.

“
Aiden!” I screamed out from the bottom of the stairs. “The TV won’t turn on!”

“
You trying to watch, a Blu-ray or cable!” He yelled back. “Or the DVR?”

“
I wanna listen to music!”

“
From a CD, or one of them cable stations that plays music or satellite radio?”

“
Umm…from my IPod!” I screamed out. I’m way too lazy to walk back up the stairs, but all this yelling is simply ridiculous.

“
I don’t know fool! You’ve got a better chance blowing up the Deathstar then figuring out that madness of an entertainment system.” He replied.

“
What’s a Deathstar?” I hollered back. “And why would I need to blow one up?”

“
Yoda would be very disappointed with this conversation.” Aiden responded.

“
Who’s that?” I asked

“
What?”

“
Yoda, who’s that?” I repeated. “Is he that Latino kid from home room, you know the really cute one?”

“
Yeah, I’m kinda busy here, so, use some headphones and leave me alone.”

“
Whatever jerk face!” I screamed.

“
What?”

“
Ugh…just forget it!” Why do men deem it necessary to have a gazillion remotes sitting in some lame wicker basket? Just man up, spend the money and get a nice universal remote control. Why do I need to figure out the Da Vinci Code just to listen to some music around here?

I plopped down in Moms writing chair in front of the computer. Now this, this I know how to use. With a few clicks, I had
Pandora
pulled up and music blasting through the computer speakers. Of course our computer speakers couldn’t just be regular speakers, oh no. That would be entirely too normal.

Dad needs something powered by Unicorn tears or some other madness so he can hear Sports Center like he was sitting in the station with them, right next to the guy who films it.

I cranked up the volume. Some song by
Hearing Damage
. I love that group. I surfed the net for a bit, read some emails, scanned over some random twitter post, something about Tiger blood, checked the Facebook, then headed towards the downstairs bathroom.

I stared at myself long and hard in the mirror. Yes, Abigail was gorgeous, but she was just your typical, beach blonde bombshell. My skin was tan, yet nowhere near as olive as hers was. My hair was full and long, stopping around the middle of my back or so. It was dark brown to the point where it almost appeared as if I had black highlights.

Boys had always told me I was cute. I didn’t believe them when I was younger, but now I could see it. My eyes were crazy; they kinda changed colors when they wanted. One day, they would be violet with flecks of gray and blue. Sometimes they would just be azure. It didn’t matter though, once I caught you in my gaze, you were mine, if I wanted you.

Huh…

I paused momentarily. That ice cream stain on my bathrobe kinda looks like Jesus. I could probably sell this thing on E-bay. I wonder if I could go to hell for that?

I stripped down and climbed in the shower, letting the water wash away everything that was troubling me. I tried to focus on the dream, yet the intricacies were already fading fast. I could barely remember all the details, I rarely could. I knew there was more to it, it was longer then it seemed, yet I could only recall the part with the lighting and the knife. The blade of something or whatever.

The water felt good against my body, offsetting the subzero temperature of our house. Mental note: check the thermostat. I didn’t spend long in the shower. I wasn’t like Aiden. You watch an entire movie and he would still be in here, doing only God knows what. It’s not as if we even got hot water like that to begin with, but he doesn’t care.

I grabbed a towel, wrapped it around my body and brushed my teeth. Something smelled good. Abigail must be up then, because my brother can burn corn flakes. I exited the bathroom and found Abigail in the kitchen, standing at the stove wearing one of my brothers t-shirts. The one with the picture of James Dean on the front.

“
Hey Madison.” Greeted Abigail. “I’m making Garden Frittata. You want some?” Abby was an excellent cook. Her mother owns a small little Italian restaurant over by Home Depot and Abigail cooks there sometimes on the weekends.

“
Yeah, sure.” I said, taking a seat at the counter. As if I was going to turn down some home cooked Italian food. “What time did you get here?”

“
Around six thirty.” Abigail said, placing a plate of the most delicious looking Frittata in front of me. ”I was gonna go to the gym this morning before school, do some palates, when Aiden called. I think he was up all night playing that stupid video game.”

“
Yeah, he just got it last week.” I said between mouthfuls. “He’s trying to create the most awesome level ever created in the history of awesome created levels.”

“
I know!” Abigail pulled up a chair and took a seat in front of me. “He’s so cute. He asked me to be his girlfriend this morning. After he made me play test that god awful level of his of course, but we’re official now!”

Aiden and Abigail had been pretty much been dating ever since we first moved here. In fact, I kinda think she was the first person we met at Palm Coast High. I’m pretty sure she was the one to give us the initial tour of the place on our first day. She and I have been cool ever since.

“
Finally!” I announced with relief. “He’s only been talking my ear off about it for the last two weeks.”

“
Really?” Abigail leaned forward, obviously intrigued. “What all did he say about me? Was it good? Bad? Tell me everything!”

I was about to spill when Aiden came clamoring down the steps wearing a pair of flip-flops, some plaid shorts and an Abercrombie and Fitch t-shirt. He had this Beetles haircut thing going on. Ever since their music was released on ITunes, he’s been blasting them ever since.

“
What are you two gabbing about?” He asked, grabbing my fork and scooping a mouthful from my plate. I smacked his hand away, snatching my utensil back.

“
Just girl stuff baby.” Answered Abigail as she leaned over the counter and kissed him on the check.

I ate two more mouthfuls and then pushed away from the table. “I gotta get dressed.”

“
Word.” Aiden agreed. “We should be ready to bounce in fifteen.”

“
Okay.” I headed upstairs and began digging through the piles of clothes on my chair. I had just gone shopping, bought some stuff for summer and found the outfit I was looking for. Nothing extravagant. My black bikini, some low cut jean shorts and a black tank top. I grabbed my shades, a Zelda beach towel and flip-flops. Apparently, everyone here in Florida wears flip-flops. Back in Baltimore, where we’re from, not so much.

I flew down the stairs, interrupting a massive kissing session between Aiden and Abigail. “I would say get a room, but then we would never leave.” I commented sarcastically.

“
We need to find Madison a boy toy.” Abigail announced suddenly, her arms wrapped around my brothers waist. She had on just a bikini top, a white tennis skirt and some white and black chuck tailors that were obviously my brothers. I found it slightly disgusting that they wore the same size shoe.

“
Negative Ghost Rider.” Aiden answered. “My lil sis does not need a boy toy.”

I disagreed. “Does too, lil bro!”

“
How is it you both call each other lil, I don’t get it?” Queried Abigail.

“
Because when he says it, he refers to age, when I say it, it refers to mental maturity.”

“
And yet, I’m in charge.” Aiden said sarcastically, dangling the keys in front of me.

I snatched them out his hand. “And yet, I’m driving.”

Abigail couldn’t contain her laughter, grabbing my hand as we headed out the door.

“
I call bullshit!” Aiden yelled out, trailing after us.

“
And I call shotgun.” Abigail added.

“
Oh, come on!” Whined Aiden.

I unlocked the door and slid inside, the soft leather hot against my skin. Within seconds though, I had the air blasting and the top down, peeling out the driveway, making our way out the B-Section, which was what neighborhoods were called here in Palm Coast. A section, B section, C Section, with all the corresponding street names beginning with the name of your section. We lived on Bridgehaven Street.

Abigail connected her IPod to the stereo,
Death Cab for Cuties
blasting through the speakers. Dad had spent his entire life rebuilding the
Rolling Stone
. It was his first and only car, but he took good care of it and poured insane amounts of cash into it to keep it running smoothly.

“
Did you bring the cooler?” Abby asked, turning a bit so she could see Aiden who was stretched out comfortably in the back seat. He was playing some game on his iPad.