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Nudged harder than necessary, I looked up from my note-taking as Rhys leaned over and whispered, "My parents are having their date night tonight. Let's hang out. We can order some pizza and watch TV all night."

"All night?"

"Okay, maybe not all night, but late. We can sleep in tomorrow. It's what Saturdays were made for."

"Sure. Sounds good. Your house or mine?"

"It depends. Is Zil going to be at yours?"

"Why?"

"I'd rather not be met at the door by a blood sucker."

The last bell of the day rang just as Mrs. Brown ended her lecture. Stuffing my notebook and pen inside my backpack, I said, "I forgot to tell you ... he will – and he's bringing friends. As a matter-of-fact, I thought I'd initiate a blood drawing by cutting myself to see what happens. Interested?"

Smiling at the dirty look he shot me, I followed Rhys out of class and into a corridor quickly filling with other students on their way toward the exit, headed home for the weekend.

We stepped outside. It was sunny – rare for a southern, late autumn afternoon. "At least your night crawler friend can't be out right now. So, how about it? Tonight ... TV movie and pizza – or will you be dredging the bottom of the barrel?"

Although I knew a friendship between Rhys and Zil would never be forged, I didn't like Rhys taking the opportunity to throw insults at Zil. "Rhys – stop. Just don't, okay?"

"What's with you? It's one thing to be into the 'bad boy', but Zil's more than that. With him, you're treading real dangerous ground."

"I can't explain it, but ... have you ever seen something you weren't supposed to and were so curious about it that you couldn't let go, even though you knew you should? That's how I feel with him. He's a burning question that's ... taken my thoughts hostage and ..."

Rhys looked unimpressed.

"I can't help it. I want to get to know him, to understand him, to see what makes him tick."

"And if your quest in getting to know Zil makes it more convenient for him to catch you off guard and attack – what then?"

"He won't," I replied.

"And you know that, how?"

"He promised."

Rhys snorted.

"I'm going home through Cemetery Raven. I'll see you later." I started toward the slope.

"Wait." Rhys walked over. With a trace of uncertainty, he asked, "Have you tried out your new ghost hunting equipment yet?"

"No."

He nodded and exhaled deeply. "I might need my head examined for offering this, but if you'd rather do that tonight than to watch TV ... I'll come with you."

For a moment, I was speechless. "I thought you didn't want to."

He shrugged. "Momentary insanity – I changed my mind. So, want some company?"

"Sure."

"One stipulation. No Zil. Just you and me."

"Fine. Anywhere in particular?"

Prepared to tease him about any, and all, of the non-scary places he might suggest, I was surprised by his answer. "The warehouse."

Uncertain that I'd heard him correctly, it took all of my willpower not to scare him off by asking if he was absolutely sure. "Great. Yeah, I actually wanted to go back."

"I'll have to wait until my parents are back from their date and asleep. Unlike you, I don't have the luxury of coming and going as I want."

"Why wait? Just leave them a note saying you're with me."

Someone called out for Rhys – Jenson was headed in our direction. Not interested in staying to hear what he had to say, I said, "I'll go and tell Zil he's not invited."

"Make sure he understands that. I'll be over when my parents leave."

I started my climb up the slope to Cemetery Raven, when I heard Amber's voice. "See? I told you she's weird – always going into the cemetery."

I turned. Behind Rhys, stood Jenson with Amber, her arm linked possessively with his. With his good-natured smile, Jenson called out, "Is that true? You like cemeteries?"

Ignoring her cold stare and his teasing, as well as the chance to say something to embarrass her, I didn't answer him. I didn't like the attention Jenson's calling out might draw to what I was doing, and not wanting to give Amber any more ammunition to use against me, I simply continued on my way up the hill.

When I reached the top, I headed directly to Zil's tomb, rounded the corner to the front of it – and a realization dawned ...

Only a short while ago, I'd been living a 'normal', mortal life with my parents – and was about to knock on the door of a vampire, inside an old and massive cemetery – and it all weirdly seemed so normal.

Looking around, I was alone. I rapped on the door and called out softly, "Zil, it's Ashe."

Very slowly, the door opened, but only slightly. From where he remained within the safety of darkness, I heard him say, "Hello, chere. Quickly, step inside."

"I just came by to tell you that Rhys and I are hanging out tonight, and ..." Finding it difficult to say the rest, I stopped.

"And I am not invited."

"His choice."

"I see. Then, tomorrow night instead – if Rhys is agreeable to that."

Smiling at his flippancy, I promised Zil for the following night. The door to his tomb shut. With my mind already on the night's ghost hunt, I trudged through the cemetery, headed for home.

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