Darlings of Darkness: A Vampire Anthology Part 39

"I'm finally over Sean. He's nothing but a figment of my imagination."

"I think that has to do with a certain boy...er, uh...guy you work with at the zoo."

"Mom, Jesse is amazing. He loves animals and wants to be a veterinarian when he graduates. He's so charming and friendly, not to mention so smart. We just have this fantastic connection. We get lost in each other's eyes. I've never met a guy who has made me feel like that."

"So...are you guys going steady?"

"What?" I shook my head at her. "Gee, Mom, n.o.body says that anymore."

She laughed, embarra.s.sed. "I suppose you're right, but you know what I mean."

"We're just friends. I'd like there to be more, for him to be my boyfriend though. He looks like a Gap model, Mom! Can you imagine a guy like that on my arm?"

"I'm sure he's adorable, dear, but don't rush into a relationship. For now, just have fun and date."

"You're right, and that's what I plan to do. We'll take it slow and become good friends, then maybe move it to the next level and-"

"Taylor!"

"Dating, Mom! I mean I want to date him." I let out a sigh. "I can't explain it, but I've never felt anything like this."

"I remember how I felt about your father. My head was spinning from all the red roses and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates he sent me. He was so handsome, and I was just smitten."

"Jesse is too handsome. I think he's out of my league."

She shook her head and pushed a strand of hair behind my ear. "Oh, my darling daughter, don't you even realize how beautiful you are?"

I smiled. "You have to say that. You're my mom."

She wrapped her arm around me. "You are a work of art all your own, Taylor-inside and out. I'd say that whether I was your mother or not."

"Thanks, Mom."

"I'd love to meet his parents."

"It's just him and his mother, his brother, and his sister."

She furrowed a brow. "Where do they live?"

"Bear Lane."

My mother's eyes widened. "Really? Some of the most expensive homes in the area are out there. His mother must be wealthy."

"I've never asked because I don't care. Rich or poor, I like Jesse for who the amazing person he is."

"Well, that settles it. You've been shot with Cupid's arrow for sure."

My face beamed. "Every time he looks at me, I feel this burst of energy."

"I remember that feeling. Believe it or not, your father still gives it to me sometimes."

"Gross, Mom," I said, smiling at her. "Anyway, when I talk to Julie about him, I just babble and babble, go on and on, like I'm on a caffeine rush. I just can't stop thinking about him."

"Honey, you've got it bad, but remember that these heightened emotions and euphoria will eventually fade."

"I don't want them to-not ever. I've never felt this wonderful before. I don't even know how to explain it. I just...I wish we could be together all the time. He makes me feel so calm, so serene, so...safe."

"I'm sure you're feeling physical attraction and some infatuation, but love has to be based on more than just that. It evolves in time. You're in the beginning stages, but it has yet to blossom and grow before it will get stronger and deeper."

"I'm not saying I love him, Mom. He just..."

"He's swept you off your feet?"

"Yeah. Definitely that."

"It sounds like a pretty severe crush to me, but whatever it is that has made you so happy, I'm just glad to see it. Your father and I are just as happy as you. I wasn't so sure at first, but now I know it was a great idea to move here."

"Mostly, I can't believe how well I seem to fit in here, better than I ever did in New York. Maybe I was never a city girl after all."

My mom motioned toward the house. "Let's go get lunch."

I smiled. "Thanks for listening, Mom."

Chapter 10.

It was Monday morning, time to go to work. As I ate pancakes with my parents, my dad smiled.

"What?" I asked.

"I've never seen anyone so happy to go to work."

"I love working with the animals."

"I'm sure the animals aren't the only perks," he said.

"Dad!" I said.

"Don't embarra.s.s the poor girl," my mom admonished.

My dad set his newspaper down, folded it up, and looked at me. "She has to have met somebody pretty special, because I haven't seen her eyes sparkle like this since..."

"Sean," I finished for him since he didn't have the nerve to say it.

"I'm glad you're over him. He wasn't right for you."

"Sean's a jerk," I said. "I'm so over him." I quickly guzzled down my orange juice as fast as I could. I didn't want to talk to him about Jesse or my love life, at least not yet. "I've gotta go," I said.

"You never used to keep secrets from me," he complained.

"Dad, it's no big deal. It's just someone who-"

He smirked. "Is he cute?"

I laughed and rolled my eyes. "I'm gonna be late." I kissed his cheek, then gave my mom a huge hug and kiss. "See you guys later."

"Have a great day at work," Dad said with a grin.

I smiled back at him. "I will."

"Only one thing could put a look like that on a girl's face," I heard my father say as I walked out and shut the door behind me.

Like most seventeen-year-olds, I found my dad so embarra.s.sing. I was almost grown, perfectly capable of handling my relationship without giving him a blow-by-blow description. Shaking my head, I started my car and screeched out of the driveway. I drove a candy metallic blue Ford Focus and loved it. I rolled down the windows and the music blasted.

Jesse rushed over to greet me when I clocked in at the zoo. "Hey, you!"

"Hi," I answered, smiling up at him.

He smiled back. "I've been dying to see you."

Before I could respond, Ms. Aikers walked straight toward me. Her hair was pinned up, and she was barely wearing any makeup, if any at all. She always looked nice but in a much more natural way than my New York bosses, who were always elaborately made up, with their hair perfect, wearing only the latest fashions. The people in Big Bear Lake dressed nice but nothing over the top like the people in the Big Apple.

The truth was, my parents had never liked New York. They'd only moved there when their books had taken off, at the demands of their publishers, but they'd never really been happy among all those skysc.r.a.pers. Big Bear Lake was different. My parents were more relaxed, happier, and loving it, and I felt the same. Of course it was more relaxing and scenic, but there was also a hot guy with light blue eyes that I just couldn't stop staring at. Because of Jesse, I wanted to stay there forever.

"Taylor, I'd like you to work with Jesse today to move the ducklings to a larger enclosure," Ms. Aikers instructed.

I nodded. "Sure. I'll get right on it."

She wrote something on her clipboard, then handed Jesse a summary of what we had to do.

At first, we worked together on the items on the list, but then we decided we could get things faster if we did our own thing for a while.

"Where should I set this?" I asked when I dragged the kiddie pool inside.

"In the corner," Jesse said, "but let me help you."

"I can handle it. I'm not some dainty daffodil. Besides, it doesn't weigh much."

"Wow. I'm impressed. I love a girl who can handle her own."

I smiled. "You have no idea what I can handle," I teased.

Jesse picked up the water hose and adjusted it to fill the pool. "These little guys and gals are gonna love their new swimming hole."

"It's so much bigger," I said. "They'll all have plenty of room now."

"I know. I love watching the babies grow up, getting bigger and stronger every day."

"There's no better feeling than helping them out."

"Let's go get 'em," Jesse said.

We quickly scurried to the other room and each grabbed a fuzzy duckling. Jesse's went right into the water, but mine squeezed out of my hands. Jesse and I laughed as we chased the squawking bird. Just as Jesse picked the stubborn little one up, I reached for his hands and suddenly lost my balance when I slipped in a puddle of water on the ground. In reaction, trying to catch me while still holding on to the duckling, his body twisted, and he tumbled backward. We burst out laughing when the duckling looked at us like we were silly and just waddled away.

Heat rushed to my face as I looked over at him. "Sorry," I said.

"Don't be," he answered, pushing a long, curly piece of hair out of my eyes. "You can knock me off my feet anytime."

When our eyes locked, my smile was automatic.

"You have the most beautiful smile," he said.

"Thank you."

He locked his fingers in mine and brushed his thumb over my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

Suddenly, I felt tiny webbed feet walking over my shoe. I gently picked the naughty duckling up and set her in the water. She happily glided through the water, loving her new pool, and the others looked just as happy when Jesse placed them in with her.

"Are you ready to feed them?"

"Minnows?" I guessed.

"Try crickets," he said as he picked up a Styrofoam cup with hundreds of chirping insects inside. "We need to make sure the ducklings can eat when they're released. Let's throw a few in and see if they'll catch them like they'll have to in training."

I picked up a wiggly cricket and smiled. "Here it goes!" I said as I tossed the bug into the water.

Jesse tossed a few in as well, and within minutes, the babies started diving and swallowing them up. It was a good sign that they were learning how to feed themselves, even without their mother around to teach them. It was refreshing to know that in some small way, we were preparing them to survive and live a happy life outside on the lake, where they really belonged.

When I got home from work, I found a note letting me know that my parents had gone out to dinner and a movie and would be home late. My mom had left me some chicken and mashed potatoes in the microwave, so all I had to do was heat my dinner up. I still had those pesky b.u.t.terflies dancing around, though, having spent the whole day with Jesse, and that totally killed my appet.i.te.

I watched television until about eight p.m. After flipping through the unopened mail, I jumped into the shower. As the soothing, hot water danced across my skin, many thoughts ran through my head, most of which were about Jesse.

About twenty minutes later, I dried off and slipped into a fluffy pink robe and slippers. When my stomach began to growl, I decided to heat up my dinner while I got dressed for bed. I walked downstairs to the kitchen and threw my food in the microwave.

I jumped when Max started barking. "Max! Be quiet. You scared me to death, boy!"

As I walked over to sit at the kitchen table, I saw why Max was barking: Through the sliding gla.s.s doors, I could see a figure moving My heart lurched. It was only for a split second, but I could have sworn it was someone dressed in black from head to toe, including a black ski mask.