Vampire Kisses(42)

“Here’s where I don’t learn chemistry,” I said, opening the unlocked door to my chemistry lab. “I usually have to sneak into places. This is a breeze.”

“By the way, I’ve always wanted to know why you snuck in—”

“Look at these!” I interrupted, pointing out the beakers on the lab table. “Lots of mysterious potions and explosions, but that wouldn’t bother you, right?”

“I love it!” He was holding a beaker like it was a fine wine.

I pushed him into a desk, then wrote his name on the blackboard.

“Does anybody know the symbol for potassium? Raise your hand.”

He raised his hand to the ceiling. “I do!”

“Yes, Alexander?”

“K.”

“Correct, you pass the whole year!”

“Miss Madison?” he said, raising his hand again.

“Yes?”

“Can you come here for a moment? I think I need some tutoring. Do you think you can help me?”

“But I just gave you an A!”

“It’s more along the lines of anatomy.”

I stepped over. He pulled me onto his lap and kissed me softly on the mouth.

We heard some giggling girls run past the open door. “We better go,” he suggested.

“No, it’s okay.”

“I don’t want you to get expelled. Besides, we have a dance to attend,” he said, making us both stand up.

I walked out hand-in-hand with the guy I had the most chemistry with, his name still etched on the blackboard.

As we approached the gym, I could already feel the cold stares. Everyone was looking at Alexander like he had come from another planet and at me like they always looked at me.

Miss Fay, my nosy algebra teacher, was collecting tickets by the door. “I see you arrived at the dance on time, Raven. Too bad you can’t do the same for algebra. I’ve never seen this gentleman at school,” she added, scrutinizing Alexander.

“That’s because he doesn’t go here.” Just take the tickets, lady! I skipped the introductions and pulled Alexander inside.

We walked into the Snow Ball. I didn’t know if it was because I was with Alexander, or because it was my first dance, but white had never looked so wonderful. Plastic icicles and snowflakes hung from the ceiling, and the floor was covered with powdery snow. Artificial snow softly sprinkled down from the ceiling. Everyone was dressed in shimmering winter dresses or corduroys with sweaters, mittens, scarves, and hats. The blasting air conditioning sent chills through me.

Even the rock band, The Push-ups, fit the theme with their stocking caps and winter boots. Refreshments were set up underneath the scoreboard—snow cones, cider, and hot chocolate.

I could hear whispers, laughs, and gasps as we walked past the bundled-up students. The band, too, was looking at us.

“You want to get some hot chocolate before some senior spikes it?” I asked, trying to distract Alexander from all the attention.

“I’m not thirsty,” he replied, watching the dancers.

“I thought you said you were always thirsty?”

The band started to play an electric version of “Winter Wonderland.”

“Can I have this dance?” I asked, offering my hand.

I smiled with delight as we walked through the powdered snow to the dance floor.

I was in heaven. I had the best date at the Snow Ball—there was no one more gorgeous than Alexander, and he danced like a dream. We forgot that we were outsiders and thrashed our bodies around like regulars in a trendy club. We danced one song after another without stopping—“Cold As Ice,” “Ice Cream,” “Frosty the Snowman.”

The band started to sing, “I Melt with You.” The gym was spinning as tiny powdered snowflakes gently fell on us. Alexander and I screamed with laughter as we tripped over an inebriated soccer snob who was making a snow angel on the floor. When the music stopped, I squeezed Alexander like mad, like this was our own private dance. But of course, we weren’t alone, as a familiar voice reminded me.

“Does the asylum know you’ve escaped?” Trevor asked, appearing beside Alexander.

I led Alexander to the refreshment table and grabbed two cherry snow cones.

“Does the warden know you’re here?” Trevor asked, pursuing us.

“Trevor, go away!” I said, shielding Alexander with my body.

“Oh, is the Bride of Frankenstein having PMS?”

“Trevor, enough!” I couldn’t see Alexander’s reaction, but I could feel his hands on my shoulders, drawing me back.

“But this is just the beginning, Raven, just the beginning! Don’t they have dungeon dancing? You have to actually go to school to come to the dances,” he said to Alexander. “But I guess in Hell there are no rules.”