"Stormy Girl!" Luna called, her twiggy arms outstretched.
"Luna!" Stormy ran to her like I'd wished she'd run to me when I first met her. Luna picked up the young Sterling and swung her around. They giggled and squealed exuberantly. Their embrace was that of best friends reuniting after years of separation.
Luna fiddled with Stormy's hair and bracelets as the two girls talked.
I tried not to sulk openly, but Alexander must have sensed my awkward feelings.
"It's okay," he said, patting me on the shoulder. "They've known each other for years."
"I know...." I said. Normally I didn't care what people thought of me, but Stormy was different. I really hoped for a friendly relationship with Alexander's sister.
Luna took Stormy by the wrist and led her out onto the dance floor, leaving Scarlet, Becky, and me on the sidelines.
"Pure evil," Scarlet mumbled.
"Yes," Becky said. "Luna acted as if we weren't even here."
"I ought to pummel her," Scarlet snarled.
"It's okay," I said. I didn't want to start trouble, and I really wanted Stormy to have fun while she was in town. And if that meant being with Luna rather than being with us, I had to be the bigger person and accept that.
Stormy and Luna bopped up and down like firecrackers. Alexander's sister was having a great time. And though I'd wished she was having it with me, I was pleased that she was enjoying her visit, regardless.
"How's it going so far?" Becky asked.
"I think really well."
"I knew you'd hit it off," she said supportively.
I pulled Becky aside while Scarlet went to find Onyx. "But there's this whole Luna thing."
"Yes, I see."
"It's like Luna is trying to take her away - to show me that she is a better friend to her than I can ever be. Like she wants to throw it in my face that she and Alexander's little sister are BFFs or something."
"That's Luna," Becky said resignedly. "She's always sticking it to you."
"I know. But this time she's right."
"So, Luna knew her first. What's the big deal?"
"I think Stormy wanted Alexander to..." I began but then stopped. I realized I hadn't told Becky the real story about Alexander and Luna's history. "Uh ...
never mind."
never mind."
"No, tell me. Is it about them being vampires?"
"Yes."
"Then I have to know! Tell me."
"Okay... The Maxwells and the Sterlings had an agreement that Luna and Alexander would have a covenant ceremony. Kind of like an arranged marriage, only a covenant ceremony bonds two together for eternity."
"Wow - that's a long time."
"Yes, and Luna wasn't even a vampire then. So when he'd bite her she'd turn into a vampire and they'd be together forever."
"Like you want?"
"Yes."
"So, did he do it?"
"No. Thank goodness."
Becky smiled.
"Alexander didn't love her. And he didn't want to turn someone he didn't love."
"Aww, he was waiting for you," Becky said.
"But he hadn't met me yet."
"You think I'm the one?" I asked.
"Yes. Of course," Becky said, smiling.
I loved being reassured that Alexander might think of me in that way, even though he had told me so himself. But since he hadn't turned me yet, I liked knowing that it could possibly happen in the future.
But I still wondered if Alexander were to turn me, when would it be? How long would I have to wait? I wondered if I'd be an old lady and he'd still be youthful looking. Did Alexander even think about a time for us to take that plunge together?
"So tell me more," Becky said, breaking me out of my trance. "I'm dying to know all the juicy details!"
"Oh yeah. There was a big feud between the families when Alexander refused to have the covenant ceremony with Luna, and that's when Alexander left Romania to come here to Dullsville to live in his grandmother's mansion."
"Wow - that sounds really hard. Having to leave your family and come to a foreign country and live alone." Her voice was filled with concern, as if she was imagining that as her own fate. "And all of that, just to get away from Luna and Jagger?"
"Yes. Only the Maxwells followed him. Jagger was seeking revenge for his family's humiliation." Becky's eyes grew wide. "Wow. That's why they came here?"
"Yes."
She paused, really thinking the change of events through. "Wait, you said Alexander didn't turn Luna. But isn't she a vampire now? How did that happen?"
"Yes, someone else turned her. But she still wants to be bonded with someone - Alexander, really - and that's why she tried with Sebastian. So she could be close to Alexander. But now I'm hoping she'll fall in love with Romeo."
"I didn't know any of this. I wish you'd have told me sooner."
"I just couldn't. Not until you knew about Alexander. About him being a..."
"Yes, I understand. Don't worry - but what about Luna now?"
"I don't think she got over it - or him. And how can I blame her?"
"It is hard. You feel compassion for her - but yet you want Alexander for yourself."
"And now I'm learning that Stor Kingr Kingrmy felt spurned, too. She wanted Alexander to fall in love with her babysitter, Luna. Only he didn't."
"He fell in love with you."
I patted my friend's arm as a thank-you.
"But don't feel guilty," she told me. "You are way cooler than Luna."
"Aww, thanks," I said. "But I don't think Stormy sees it that way."
"Well, she will."
I glanced over at the pink- and black-haired girls dancing as if no one else was in the club. They seemed to be having so much fun, I wasn't sure how I'd be able to fit into the mix.
"Alexander said we'd spend some girl-time together," I went on. "Just Stormy and me. I'm looking forward to getting to know her one-on-one."
"Well, just relax," she said. "Alexander is the one you really want to like you. And by the looks of it, I know he feels he's made the right decision." I turned and caught Alexander staring at me. He must have been watching me while I talked to Becky. I ran over to him and squeezed him with all my might. If he hadn't followed his heart that night in Romania, I'd never have mine filled with love the way I did today.
Alexander handed me a soda, and eventually Stormy joined us. She was hot and sticky, her bangs stuck to her forehead, her charcoal eyeliner bleeding.