Living For The Night - Chapter 4

“Flame, I have a secret to share with you.”1

“What is it Matt? You know you can tell me anything.”2

“Promise me you won’t freak out when I tell you this?”3

“Baby, I promise.”4

“Okay. A few years ago…”5

“Yes?”6

“A few years ago I was addicted to heroin, and I had a drinking problem. One night I got high, drunk, completely smashed at this party, and I don’t remember much of it. Apparently I ended up hooking up with this girl I didn’t know. Weeks later, she came to me, telling me she was pregnant. She was a few years older than me, and she said she’d take care of the baby by herself. A few days later, it was all over the news-she had disappeared. Later on I was accused of causing her disappearance, and that’s why I moved here.”7

“Oh Matt…you didn’t do anything to her did you?”8

“No babe, you know I’m not like that. I always told you I’d help you if it happened.”9

Flame was silent. “Matt…I also have a secret to share.”10

“What is it?”11

“I’m…oh no! Look at the time! My parents are going to kill me if they catch me! I have to go…I’ll call you later!”12

“Okay, I’ll talk to you then.”13

“With a swift kiss, Flame was down his ladder and off through his yard. He watched her go with a sense of discomfort. He shouldn’t let her roam the streets by herself.14

“Matt!”15

“Huh?” Matt Tangbaum shook his head and realized his whole Calculus class was staring at him. “Sorry. What were you saying?”16

His teacher, Mrs. Smith, sighed. “Matt, I’ve asked you three times now to give us the answer to number seven from last night’s homework. Do you have the answer?”17

He shook his head. “No Mrs. Smith. I’m sorry. I forgot to do it.”18

She gave him a disapproving look. “Matt I’d like to see you after class.”19

He put his head down and stared at the blank notebook in front of him. He had meant to do his homework, as always. But lately the police had been interviewing him more and more, not to mention his parents were constantly drilling him on why Flame had been in his room before she disappeared. If only his stupid nosy neighbor hadn’t seen Flame leave. He felt guilty enough without everyone else’s accusing stares. The only person who believed he nothing to do with her disappearance was Sabina. Before Flame’s disappearance, he and Sabina never had nice words to say to each other. But now this had bonded them, and they had become close friends.20

“Alright class, that was the bell. No homework tonight, just study for Friday’s test. See you tomorrow.” Mrs. Smith turned to Matt. “Hold on Matt.” She waited until the remaining students left the room, and then pulled a chair up beside him. “Matt, I’m worried about you. Lately you haven’t been paying attention, doing your homework, or taking notes. That’s not like you. Your grades used to be perfect. I know this can’t be all Flame, because right after it happened you were still doing your work. It’s just the past few weeks that have been the problem. What’s up?”21

Matt lifted his head to meet her eyes. “Everyone is the problem.”22

She tilted her head and studied him. “Please elaborate.”23

He sighed. “For the past few weeks, the police, my parents, all my teachers, all my friends…everyone’s been acting like I had something to do with Flame’s disappearance. Her parents won’t even look me in the eye. No one will believe me just because I’m the last one who saw her alive.”24

Mrs. Smith shrugged. “Well you know Matt, it IS a little suspicious. But you’re right; it’s not fair for you to be treated this way. Our justice system proclaims innocence until proven guilty. And as far as I know, they have no proof that you did anything other than the fact that you were the last one to see her.”25

Matt played with his pencil, trying to avoid looking her in the eye. “Exactly”26

“But that’s not everything that’s bothering you, is it?”27

He didn’t look up. “No.”28

“What else? You can trust me Matt. This is what I’m here for. Who am I going to tell? You know I don’t like the rest of the old bats that work here.”29

Matt laughed and raised his head. “That night, before she left my house, she told me she had a secret to share with me. But then she had to go, and I never saw her again, and never learned her secret.”30

Mrs. Smith settled back in her chair. “I understand why that bothers you. That would bother me too.” She suddenly leaned forward. “Matt, do you realize how important that is? Did you tell anyone about it?”31

“What’s important? Her secret? No I didn’t tell anyone. Why does it matter?”32

“It could have something to do with why she’s not around anymore. What if she was in trouble with the wrong people or someone was after her? It wouldn’t give the police much to work with but it would certainly open more possibilities that don’t have anything to do with you.”33

Matt stood up. “You’re right. Thanks Mrs. Smith. Can I go now? I have a few phone calls to make.”34

She laughed. “Go ahead.” As he gathered his stuff and left the room, Mrs. Smith watched him go with curiosity. Years of being a teacher taught her how to tell the difference between the guilty and the innocent. All the evidence said he did it, yet his body, voice, and manner screamed innocence. There was something about him that was off, and she was going to find out what it was.35

Matt walked down the empty hall in silence. It had never even occurred to him that Flame’s secret could’ve held importance. Now he felt stupid for not realizing it sooner.36

“Matt! Wait up! Where are you going?”37

Matt rolled his eyes and turned around. “Sarah, I’m not in the mood.” Sarah Yearling happened to have been in love with Matt way before Flame’s disappearance. Now that Flame was out of the way, Sarah felt that she had a perfect opportunity to steal his heart. Matt knew this, and he hated it. Sarah was like an annoying little bug that just won’t stop flying around your head no matter how many times you swat at it.38

Sarah flipped her hair. “Matt. Just get over her. She’s gone.” She put her hand on his shoulder. “But now I’m here.”39

He knocked her hand off his shoulder. “Sarah, why don’t you ever leave me alone?”40

Sarah acted offended. “Because I’ve been waiting for you to be single for a long time! Now you’re single, so…”41

Matt interrupted. “So nothing is going to happen because I’m still in love with my girlfriend who happened to have disappeared into thin air.”42

Sarah gave him the meanest look she could and flipped her hair once again. “You don’t know what you’re missing out on.” She stomped down the hallway, swinging her hips.43

Matt shook his head and kept walking, annoyed with her never-ending infatuation. She just didn’t get that he couldn’t move on. He didn’t know if he ever would.44

*~*~*45

Flame awoke yet again in the arms of Tariq. It was becoming more frequent that they were spending the night together. Turning toward the window, she noted that it was twilight. This was good. It was almost feeding time. Gently easing her way out of Tariq’s grasp, she wrapped a blanket around her and headed back toward her own room. As she wandered down the hallway, a few others of the house looked at her with curiosity. Most of them didn’t spend all day sleeping. But then again, most of them went to bed after feeding. Flame had not. As he head churned with passionate thoughts of Tariq, she didn’t even notice that Luke was standing in front of her. 46

“Hello Flame.”47

Her stomach turned. As true as it was that she and Tariq were growing closer by the day, there was no denying that her love for Luke had never faded. She was accepting of this as long as Luke didn’t know. She tried to be as cold as ice to him-and usually it worked. “What do you want Nightstalker?”48

Luke reached for her hand. “Can we talk?”49

Flame drew back, stepping away from him. “What could we possibly have to talk about?”50

He stepped toward her. “That night you saw me with Lilith. I want to apologize. May I at least explain to you why…?”51

She interrupted. “No you may not. I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.” In both her head and her heart, she was overjoyed that he wanted to apologize. But she refused to let on her continuous feelings. “I’m happy now. What, are you jealous? Mad?”52

Luke took another step forward, and grabbed her hand. “As a matter of fact, I am.” He stroked her knuckles with his thumb. “I hate seeing you with that creep. I hate seeing you like…like this! You’re so different! I want you to be who you used to be.”53

Flame ripped her hand away angrily. “One, he is not a creep. And two, like this? What is that supposed to mean?!”54

He shook his head. “He is a creep, and I mean you’ve changed. For crying out loud, you’re the first one out the window at night and the last one back. You’re the one covered in the most blood. You’re the one walking around the house half naked after coming out of Tariq’s room. You’re the one that doesn’t give a shit about anything anymore. That’s not you.”55

She laughed. “Isn’t this what you wanted? You wanted me to feed, and now I feed. You wanted me to be more social, and now I’m more social. You’ve got what you wanted.”56

Luke reached for her hand again, but she stepped back. “Flame, this isn’t what I wanted. Not for you. You’re just turning into the rest of us, and you don’t want that, believe me.”57

Flame continued to laugh. “You don’t know what I want. You don’t know anything about me.”58

He shook his head once more. “I know more about you than you realize.”59

“What is going on out here?” Tariq emerged from his bedroom. “Some people are trying to sleep you know.” One glance at Luke and Tariq knew what was going on. “Nightstalker. Can’t you keep your nose in your own business?”60

Luke hissed at Tariq. “This is my business. Someone has to protect her, and it’s clearly not you.”61

Tariq stepped forward, fists at his sides. “At least now she’s making progress. She’s turning into a real vampire, not like the wimp she was before.”62

Flame put her hands on her hips. “Wimp? Excuse me?”63

Tariq growled at her. “Not now.” 64

“Why not?” Luke leaned against the wall. “Let us discuss why you think she was a wimp in the beginning. How you’re only using her for your own pleasure. Isn’t that right? Isn’t it a fact you chose her because she was weak?”65

Tariq let out an animal-like wail and sprung toward Luke. Luke however, was too fast for him, and dodged to the right, causing Tariq to hit the wall. While Tariq was still stunned, Luke sent his fists flying towards Tariq’s face, smashing bone. Even though he was dizzy, Tariq also sent his fists outward, connecting with a soft spot in Luke’s gut. Doubling over, Luke hit the floor, and gave a perfect opportunity for Tariq’s feet to go to work too.66

Flame was hysterical. “Please! Stop!” She tried to pull Tariq away, but he threw her to the side, her head impacting a coat rack. As a trickle of blood ran down the side of her face, she noticed the blood spewing from Luke’s mouth. A few others were standing and watching, but none were stupid enough to come between two of the most powerful male vampires in the house.67

“That is enough!” out of nowhere, Lilith emerged, eyes glowing red. “Tariq! Step away from Nightstalker.” She glided over to Luke, and helped him off the floor, slipping on the puddle of blood beneath him. “This is unbelievable. What could you possibly have to fight about?”68

Flame stepped forward, blood still trickling from her wound. “Me. They were fighting about me.”69

Lilith smirked. “That doesn’t surprise me.” She turned to look at everyone present in the hallway. “We are a family. This is completely unacceptable.” Glancing between Luke and Tariq, she shook her head. “Flame is nothing to fight over. Why it came to this I do not know, and frankly I don’t care.” She opened a closet, and pulled out two white towels, throwing one to each of them. “Now get yourselves cleaned up. And do not let this happen again. Or there will be serious consequences.” She started to walk away, then stopped, and turned. “Oh. And Flame? As special as you think you are, you’re not. Get your head cleaned up. And please put some clothes on.” She reversed and headed toward the stairs.70

As Luke rapidly turned his towel a deep red, Tariq began to dab at Flame’s head. “Honey, I’m sorry.”71

Flame pushed him away, looking between both men. In the pair of eyes looking back at her, she saw what she was afraid to see-betrayal. She was being lied to, and it didn’t make her happy. But what scared her most was the fact that Luke was not looking back at her, nor acknowledging her presence. She knew there was something there after all, and now she had just ruined it. Turning from both of them, she ran to her room and cried. 72