VampWitch

VampWitch

T.Quinton

Copyright 2010 by T. Quinton

Smashwords Edition

Chapter 1

By the first of August, I had finished packing the last of my bags and was ready to leave for college that Sunday. I frantically scrambled around, trying to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything. I sat down on my bed with a sigh, staring around my room, studying it, as if it were the last time I would ever see it again. Out of the corner of my eye, my graduation cap caught my attention, and I smiled. Ah, graduation… has it been two months already? It’s all happening so fast. As I reminisced about my high school graduation, I got to thinking about one night in particular – two months before, the big party at Mounds Lake.

It seemed like the entire senior class showed up that night, but I didn’t really notice anyone but my best friend William Chambers. He was the only person that I really hung out with. I didn’t enjoy the party scene that much, but I had promised him I would go and have a good time. We met after his family bought a horse ranch a few miles down the road from my house. We had so much in common that when we met, it was like two magnets that someone had been trying to keep apart. William and I had been nearly inseparable since seventh grade – until college.

William decided to stay in Oklahoma to go to college, but I was off for Seattle University. I really had no choice considering that they offered me a full scholarship and a dorm room. My dad had a good job and made decent money. I can’t say that I really ever had to want for anything, but we didn’t have thousands of extra dollars lying around for me to go to college. I had to take advantage of the free ride, which meant leaving Oklahoma and William behind.

* * *

It was the night of William’s big pool party, and I think he invited half the town. William was very popular, especially with the ladies. I jumped in my Jeep and headed for his house. I could see the blured white lights from down the road as I neared William's house. When I pulled up, I could see the glow of the pool lights. He had the entire deck lit up like a Christmas tree, and it was stunning. I parked and went around the side of the house. As I expected, the party was packed with people. William’s parents had left town so he could have his party (they were much more liberal than my dad). As I walked around the deck saying hello to everyone that I recognized, I still didn’t see William. I went inside and upstairs to his bedroom. As I walked the hall, being careful not to disturb anyone's good time, I could hear voices coming from the rooms. None of them sounded like William’s voice, but I knew he would be in his bedroom. When I got to his door, it wasn’t shut all the way, so I slowly pushed the door open with a faint creek. There, in his bed and accompanied by a girl I didn’t recognize, was William.

I quickly closed my eyes tightly and scrunched my face as William sat up in the bed. Oh my gosh! Sorry! I yelled as I closed the door quickly. I hurried down the hallway. I could feel the heat on my cheeks and imagined I must be turning six shades of red. I could hear William calling after me, but I ignored him and ran outside and sat down by the pool. I was too embarrassed to turn around and I had no idea what I would say to him to make up for me bardging in on him. I felt like a complete fool. I sat on the edge, putting my bare feet in the water and kicking my legs back and forth, trying to forget my embarrassing intrusion.

Just then, someone jumped in the water right in front of me. I lifted my arms to shake off the water, but it was no use—I was completely soaked. I was furious at first, but then I saw the culprit’s head pop up. William! You’re such a jerk, I said, laughing. He swam over and held on to the edge of the pool, wedging himself between my legs. Sorry I interrupted your private party up there, I said as I smiled down at him.

He smiled a wry smile back as he reached up and grabbed my arm playfully. Payback’s a bitch, he said as he jerked me into the water. He dunked me under a couple of times. When I reemerged from beneath the water, he put his arm around my waist and swam me to the edge. I wasn’t a strong swimmer, and William knew that.

I don’t even have my swimsuit on, you jerk, I said through coughing and choking.

Oh, sorry, he said with a guilty smile. I climbed out of the pool, dripping like a wet dog. Everyone was laughing at me as I tried to wipe off my running mascara. William smiled. Come on. I have some clothes you can wear, he said, pulling me into the house.

No, that’s alright. I can run home and take a quick shower and change, I said as he pulled me toward his room.

No, because I know you won’t come back.

He knew me so well. I really wouldn’t have come back to the party.

He led me up to his bedroom. As I stood there dripping on the carpet he said, I think you left a swimsuit in the pool house. I’ll go get it while you take a shower and headed out of his bedroom.

I took a quick shower to get the smeared makeup off my face. I heard a knock at the door. I had locked William’s bedroom door to make sure no party stragglers wondered in while I was in the shower. I was wrapped in a towel, and as I edged the door open, I saw William standing there. I opened the door the rest of the way, and he held out my swimsuit. See, I knew you had one here, he said, smiling. I took the two-piece suit and headed into the bathroom to put it on. I still had the towel wrapped around me as I walked out of the bathroom. William laughed at me. Why do you still have on the towel?

I looked down at the towel and frowned, giving him a quizzical look. There're a lot of people here, I said, embarrassed and blushing. He laughed again and said that I didn’t need the towel and there was nothing wrong with my body. He went through his dresser and threw me a baggy t-shirt and a pair of his boxers. I motioned for him to turn around as I dropped the towel and slipped on the borrowed clothes.

I’ve seen you in your swimsuit before, he said as he turned away. I had only swum in my bathing suit with William there, but I wasn’t big on crowds. I would have been embarrassed walking around in only my suit, even though most of the people there were already drunk and probably wouldn‘t remember or care. I followed him back down the stairs and out to the party. The girl he had been making out with earlier ran over to him and began kissing and hugging his neck. I suddenly felt like a third wheel.

Girls were constantly flirting with my best friend, so it was really nothing new, but I didn’t want to stand there and watch it, so I walked off and went to the other side of the pool. I sat in one of the lounge chairs. I grabbed a drink off the tray of a waiter who was walking by. I couldn’t believe William had the party catered, but that was just like him. He never worried about money. He had his own horses, and the stud fees ensured that he never had to think about how much he spent.

I sat there for over an hour drinking straight shots of tequila and lime, and I was finally starting to have a good time. There was loud music playing and Jason—a guy I went to high school with—pulled me up from the lounge chair and started dancing around me. I danced with him as well as I could, though the tequila shots didn’t do much for my coordination or grace. Before long, I was getting overheated from the dancing and told Jason that I would have to sit the next one out. The nights were so hot, and the temperature was still pushing ninety degrees. I went into the pool house to get a bottle of water, and then I decided to sit down for a while. I was staring at the floor, trying to focus on something to keep my vision straight. I couldn’t tell if the room or my head was doing more of the spinning. As I stared at the cultured marble floor of the pool house, it made me wonder why William hadn't picked someone with a little more class to be his best friend. I sat there on the white, over sized, chafane sofa and studied the room.

Jason wondered in and found me sitting on the couch with my head against the over-stuffed cushions, feeling like I was going to pass out. He came in and sat beside me and tried to drum up a conversation. When he saw that I was drunk, he leaned in closer. My head was tipped back on the cushions, and he started kissing my neck. I’m not that drunk, Jason, I said, pushing him away.

He laughed and said, Well, I am. He started kissing my neck again and running his hand up my leg.

Jason, get off me! I screamed out, pushing his hands away. I was sunk into the cushion and before I could get off the couch, he was being pulled away from me. William had grabbed hold of the back of his shirt. Jason hit the floor with a dull thud and then quickly stood up. I imagined that it hurt pretty badly when he hit, considering the grey marble floor broke his fall. William glared at him. What do you think you’re doing? I want you to leave NOW! Jason glared at me coldly before he walked out of the white oak french door's to the pool house and left the party. William walked over to me, took the water bottle from the dark stained mohagany table, and put it to his nose. Have you been drinking? he asked.

I smiled and shook my head, but anybody could see in my eyes that I was dead drunk. He put his hand out to help me up from my sunken position on the couch, but as I stood up, my legs felt weak and I stumbled. He put his arm around my waist to steady me. Thank you for saving me from Jason, I said, smiling weakly. I would have never had said anything like that if I were sober. William knew that, and he knew that I wasn’t some weak girl that needed saving.

He rolled his eyes at me. Whatever. You’re so drunk, he said, laughing. It was a good thing he had his arm around my waist, because I wobbled backwards, my eyes closed, and I passed out.

My eyes opened as William was carrying me upstairs and down the long hallway to his bedroom. He laid me down on his bed and then sat down next to me. I loved the feeling of Williams silk sheets on my skin. They were so soft, and cool against my body, which felt like it was on fire from the alcohol. I closed my eyes again. I don’t think he knew that I woke up. He pulled a piece of hair from my face and tucked it behind my ear. He leaned down and kissed my forehead, whispering I love you as he stood up from the bed. I didn’t open my eyes until I heard the door shut. I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or if I had actually heard him say that he loved me. I loved William too, but we had been best friends since the seventh grade, so I knew what he meant by it. We didn’t actually say the words to each other, but we both knew that we loved one another and could count on each other for anything. I went to sleep quickly, thanks to the tequila.

When I woke up, William had his arm around me. I adjusted from my side to my back, trying not to wake him, but he opened his eyes. He moved his arm from my stomach and put it under his head, propping himself up to see my face. Sorry I ruined your night, I said, frowning up at him.

How did you ruin my night? he asked.

Well, for starters, I took over your bed, and I’m sure you had other plans for it.

He shook his head. There are plenty of beds in this house, so you didn’t ruin my night. I knew he was right. If he wanted to be with someone, he would have used another bedroom—and there were plenty of girls and bedrooms to choose from. I laid there for a few seconds taking in the smell of his room, knowing it would be one of the last chance's I would get for a few year's. It had a faint smell of his cologne, dirty sock's, and a tad bit of his shower gel mixed all together. I got out of his bed and went into the bathroom to get dressed, forgetting my clothes were in the washer. I had to put William’s t-shirt and boxers back on.

When I came back out, he asked, What do you want to do today? I told him I would help him clean up before his parents came back. That’s what the cleaning crew is for, he said. I rolled my eyes at him. He laughed at me and then conceded, offering to help clean up the mess.

* * *

After we picked up the trash and straightened up the house, we were exhausted. He sat on the living room couch, it was cream colored and over stuffed. The cushion's were big enough that two people could almost fit on one of them. William's mother had a thing for white furniture. He sat there playing a videogame while I lay on the floor on my stomach with my feet in the air. The beige carpet was plush and soft, his mother always had it replaced every five year's so that it kept that new, cushiony feeling. He asked if I wanted something to eat, so I followed him into the kitchen. I sat at the end of the two-level bar as he dug through the refrigerator. The bar was made of a special marble that his mother had brought in from Italy, she loved anything that was imported. It was mostly grey's and blue mixed, with hints of gold flakes. I told him I wanted some strawberries and a glass of water. He took out the strawberries and put a few on a plate. He walked over to where I was sitting and looked at me strangely. He walked closer, leaning his face closer to mine, and reached his hand around behind me. I wasn’t sure what he was doing, and his closeness was making me nervous. I had never been nervous around him before. This was something new and strange for me. I was just about to ask him what he was doing when he brought his hand back around with a knife in it. He smiled, but it was more of an odd smile and not his usual playfull smile. He went back to the strawberries to cut the tops off. When he was done with that, he handed me the plate and a glass of water as we headed back to the living room.

When I lay back down on my stomach, he threw a pillow at me, hitting me in the head before he picked the game controller back up. Thanks, I said. As I lay there in my best friend’s clothes nibbling on the strawberries, I couldn’t help but think, God, I’m gonna miss all this. William was saying something about how he was glad that we were getting to spend the day together before I had to leave when the door bell rang. I looked at him, and he shrugged his shoulders as he got up to answer the door.

* * *

I could hear a group of guys laughing and joking around at the door. I heard one of them ask William if he wanted to play football, but he told them that it was my last day there, and he wanted to spend it with me. William was a pretty sensitive guy, even when his friends were around. That always surprised me because they made fun of him for it. I yelled out to him Go ahead! as I turned the channels on the remote. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him lean back in the door. I waved goodbye to him, smiling and staring at the TV. He shut the door, and I could see them pile to the side of the house out of the glass patio door.

I was watching Pride and Prejudice when I saw William walk up to the patio and pull his tank top over his head, throwing it into the chair. I barely noticed that his parent's had gotten a new set of patio furniture with the sweat glistening off his body, but I was trying not to notice how incredibly gorgeous he looked. It was a typical hot summer day. After all, it was August in Oklahoma, and the heat was sometimes unbearable. The movie was getting to my favorite part, and I had tears running down my face as I heard the guys piling in. I hurried to wipe the tears away as each one of them said hello to me on their way in. Kyla, are you actually crying? Shane asked looking at me on the floor.

Yeah, believe it or not, I’m actually a girl, and girls cry sometimes, I said as I rolled my eyes at him.

William was coming back out of the kitchen with bottles of water and threw one to each of them. Okay, guys, leave her alone. This is her favorite movie, he said, smiling at me. I thought it was nice that he always stuck up for me and that he knew it was my favorite movie. Even in my frustration at there laughter I couldn't help but thing how sweaty they were and hope that they didn't ruin his mother's beautiful, white couch. The guys were laughing, and I rolled my eyes again, trying to focus even harder on the movie.

Oh, I know you’re a girl, Kyla, Trust me, Zack said. As I glanced back at him, I saw him making goo-goo eyes at me. I ignored his comment and continued to watch the movie. As all of the guys sat down in the living room, I figured they really didn’t want to watch a chick flick, so I flipped it back to the videogame. They immediately started playing it, and I heard them laughing again. I wasn’t sure what they were laughing about, but I was starting to feel uncomfortable.

Stop! I heard William shout to one of them. I turned my head to look at him and he was staring at Zack. I turned back to watch them play. If you do it again, you’re leaving, and I’m not playing around William shouted. I turned around to look at him again, and he was still staring at Zack, who had a mischevious smile.

What? You know she has a nice ass, and if you weren’t too busy being her friend, maybe you'd notice, Zack said. I thought at first he was talking about some girl they liked, but when he said the part about being her friend, I knew he meant me.

My face turned red. I quickly stood up and walked out of the room. I could hear William raising his voice at him and telling him to keep his eyes to himself and that I was off limits. Zack's voice was getting louder as he argued with William. It was easy to hear the conversation and Zack saying that if we were just friends, he shouldn’t care if he looked at me or even asked me out. I heard something hit the wall, although it didn't sound like it broke, and I could only assume that William threw something at Zack. I heard William tell him to leave. I was in the laundry room changing out of William’s clothes when he walked in Sorry. He is such an ass, he said. My face was still warm, but I wondered why it bothered him so much that one of his friends might actually like me.

I looked at him confused. Why would you have a problem with Zack liking me? I asked as I slipped my own shorts back on.

What, you actually like that prick? he asked.

Prick? I thought he was your friend, and yeah, he’s kind of hot, I said as I was folding the rest of his laundry.

William looked at me with a sly smile and then yelled out to Zack Never mind, Zack, you can stay. Kyla thinks you’re hot. I could hear all of them laughing hysterically in the living room.

I took a step forward and punched him in the shoulder, trying to put my body weight into it. What the hell is your problem? Why would you do that?

A mean and vindictive grin curled across his face. You’re the one that said he was hot.

I punched him again, only harder this time. You know, some guys actually think of me as a girl, and I think that bothers you. You’re such a jerk! I shouted. I slammed the dryer door shut, grabbing his folded clothes as I stormed up to his bedroom to put them away.

I could hear William running up the stairs, he came into the bedroom Please don’t go. I’m sorry, he said as he was trying to catch his breath. After he slowed his breathing, he started talking again. I do think of you as a girl—I mean a woman—and Zack is an idiot. He’s not right for you. You deserve better than him, he said.

I smiled at his attempt at flattery. Thanks, I think. I didn’t say I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. I just said he’s hot, I said shrugging my shoulder's as I was picking his clothes up from the floor.

Yeah, right. So you’re saying you just want to sleep with him? Whatever, Kyla. You’re not that kind of girl, he said with a condescending sounding laugh.

I thought about what he said. Maybe I am the conservative one and he is the wild one, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have meaningless sex like he does. Maybe that’s exactly what I need before I go away to college—meaningless sex with a hot idiot. I laughed back at him. Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think you do.

He shook his head, taking the clothes from my hands and throwing them back onto the floor. Kyla, you don’t have to prove anything to me. I know you’re not like that. You’re a good girl, and guys like Zack go for the bad girls, he said.

Great, I thought. So I’m a good girl, some innocent prude, and that’s how everyone sees me. I rolled my eye’s at him, but I could feel tears welling up, so I ran for the bathroom. I didn’t want him to know that he hurt my feelings or that I envied the bad girls in some ways.

I could hear him through the door, Kyla! I’m sorry. That all came out wrong. You’re not a good girl all the time, he said.

Yeah, well, I’ll show him, I thought. I yanked the door open, storming past him and down the stairs. I forced myself to forget the embarrassment of William telling Zack that I thought he was hot as I walked over and sat down next to him. Zack looked at me strangely and then at William, who was walking into the room. I smiled an evil smile at William as he sat down on the couch, and I knew he wouldn’t want to have a fight in front of his friends.

* * *

William and I had never really fought before, but this week, we seemed to be doing a lot of fighting, and it was all over the stupidest things. Zack looked at me again. Are you going to Mounds Lake tonight? he asked. I could see William looking over at us. He pretended to be watching the video game, but with that intent blank stare, I knew he was hanging on every word that was exchanged between Zack and I.

Yeah, I’ll be there, I said with a flirty smile.

Maybe we could hook up tonight.

Good girl or not, I know what hooking up meant, and he wasn’t referring to sex. At our school, it meant going out, like on a date. Sounds good. I’ll see you there, I said, still smiling and glancing over at William. I got up from the couch and went into the kitchen for more water, and Zack followed me. He started to flirt with me, telling me how much he definitely thought of me as a girl, and then he leaned in to kiss me. I was leaning against the bar, and I put my arms around his neck and kissed him back. William walked into the kitchen, clearing his throat, and we quickly pulled away from each other. Zack said he had to go, and I could hear the others leaving too.

Zack shouted, See ya tonight at the lake! as he left the kitchen. I yelled back that I would see him there, and William turned to glare at me. I could tell he wasn’t happy with me but I didn’t see what the big deal was.

Okay, Kyla, you proved your point… you’re a bad girl, he said. I didn’t respond to him. Instead, I continued to pour a glass of water, quite purposely ignoring him. He stood there staring at me. I could feel his eyes on me the entire time. It wasn't his "burn a