Blood and Chocolate

Vivian started toward the door. "I don't want a lecture."

"Honey, I'm just worried," Esmé said. "I get the creeps each time I see that silver around your neck."

Vivian's fingers flew to the pentagram. She had worn it for every date since Aiden had given it to her.

"Listen," Esmé said. "We'll be moving soon. Life will get normal again." She followed Vivian to the door. "You'll have your choice of men. You're beautiful. Don't throw yourself away on someone who can't appreciate you."

"What makes you think he can't appreciate me?" Vivian left the house and slammed the door.

It was one of those steaming days when air clogged the throat like wet cotton wool. Bloody Moon, Vivian thought. She wished she hadn't insisted that Aiden not pick her up, but she wanted to keep him away from her house. The smell of the dusty hot sidewalk burned her nose; the sun scorched the top of her head.

Up by Dobb's Corner Store she ran into Rafe with two six-packs of beer in his arms. He wore a clean Nine Inch Nails T-shirt and part of his hair was pulled up in a topknot so he looked like some pagan chief.

"Going to a formal event, then?" Vivian asked him.

"Got me a honey," Rafe said.

She rolled her eyes. "And who's she when she's conscious?"

"You'll see," he said, and sauntered off chuckling.

It wasn't worth puzzling over. She walked on, pleased he was distracted from his insistent pursuit of her.

By the time she reached Aiden's her T-shirt clung to her back and the hair at the nape of her neck was wet. She pushed her leopard-splotched sunglasses back up the bridge of her nose for the millionth time. As she walked up the front path Aiden came rushing out. Before the door closed she heard his father yelling.

"Don't think you can run away from it, my lad."

Aiden grabbed her arm. "Come on," he urged, and tugged her toward his car.

Excited by his firm grip, Vivian yanked the door open and swung herself in. Aiden ran around and climbed into the driver's seat.

The front door opened again. Aiden's father filled the entrance, his face almost purple. "Get back here, young man."

Aiden ground the gears, and they peeled out despite the clanking protests of the old car.

Aiden hit the dashboard with a fist. "Damn!"

Vivian jumped. She'd never seen him this way. She gritted her teeth against the jouncing ride and clung to the sides of her seat. She was sure the car would rattle itself to bits, but she let Aiden work out his rage.

He took a sharp corner into a strip mall entrance, slamming her toward the parking brake, then against the door. Finally he pulled into a space in front of a tawdry row of shops dominated by a dollar bargain store with lurid Day-Glo posters plastered across its windows.

"That was some ride," Vivian said.

Aiden glanced over, embarrassment in his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"So what's the story?" Vivian asked, trying to sound casual, giving him permission to lie if that made him feel safe.

"My parents want me to see a shrink."

Vivian's eyebrows rose. "Oh?"

"They think I'm weird."

"My dear," she said, reaching over to squeeze his knee. "They haven't seen weird."

He smiled and covered her hand with his. "Thanks."

Vivian hadn't realized how tense his anger had made her until she'd unclenched at the sight of his smile.