Vampire Kisses 6. Royal Blood(20)

"If we tell your parents, maybe they won't sell?"



"My father is set on selling. I've even faced him with that possibility. He says the new owner is entitled to do with the house as they wish. But how did you find thisMy father hasn't said anyone has expressed interest."



"I heard it straight from the horse's mouth: Trevor."



"There has to be something we can do. I don't want to move, and the Mansion is not worthless."



I turned toward his grandmother's monument and wished for an answer.



"We have to stop him. His father can't buy it. No one can. That house is your home.Our home.And most especially-your grandmother's." I got up and walked over to the monument. "Your grandmotherSterling built that house with love.For her-and her family."



"I know," he said, "It breaks my heart for so many reasons."



Alexander joined me at the monument. "It is my grandmother's house and always will be."



"You're the only one who's taking care of it. I know your grandmother would be devastated if it were sold-or destroyed. There is no other buyer that that house means more to than you and her."



Then he turned to me. "You say the smartest things!"



"What do you mean?"



"I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner." Alexander was exuberant. He gave me a huge kiss and swung me around.



"What's going on?"



"The Mansion is forsale " he said with a grin. "And I know someone who is just dying to buy it."



I had no idea who Alexander had in mind to buy the Mansion. Whoever it was had to be rich and someone Alexander didn't mind hanging out in his grandmother's house. And how would that help him stay in Dullsville? My boyfriend promised me he'd let me in on his plan as soon as we met again.



The following sunset I met him at the boxcar.



"I couldn't sleep at all," I said impatiently as I snuck inside.



He took my hand and held me close.



"So tell me-who can you find to buy the Mansion?" I asked with a bit of hope in my voice.



"I turn eighteen in a few months," Alexander began. "And when I do, I'll be entitled to my inheritance. My grandmother was a very generous woman. So I figured it out-I'll be able to pay for the Mansion's upkeep."



I was wide-eyed.



"I'll buy the Mansion," he said proudly.



"That's a great idea!" I took his hands and danced around. "You are a genius."



"I don't have to move back toRomania if I have a place of my own here, right? And I think my grandmother would be happy that I used her money to keep the Mansion."



"I love that plan!" I squeezed my boyfriend and kissed him repeatedly. I was so proud of Alexander for his intellect. I was dating someone wise beyond his years.



"I'm almost legally an adult," he continued. "Then I'll be able to make my own decisions."



Alexander's maturity was like an aphrodisiac.



"You are hot-and brilliant!" I said, gushing.



"Don't get too excited. There is one hitch."



"Really?But I thought you said-"



"I'll need to put a deposit down and eventually pay closing costs. I do have money in the bank, but it isn't enough. I just need to come up with money for a down payment."



The only monthly fees I knew about were those charged at Dullsville's video store. I was clueless when it came to housing costs.



"But where are we going to come up with that kind of money? "I asked.



"Therein lays the problem."



"I only have a few hundred in the bank and about sixty in my drawer at home," I offered. "I'll ask my parents for a loan."



"Enough for a down payment on a house?They'll just give that to a sixteen-year-old girl?"



"No -to you," I said.



"Her seventeen-year-old boyfriend?I appreciate the thought, but I don't think that would go over well."



"How much money do we need?"



Alexander mouthed a number that was way higher than I had anticipated.



"Where can we find that kind of money?" I asked, stupefied.



"That part I haven't figured out yet. But we need to before Trevor's father cuts a check."





27





Iwas under two deadlines: I had to raise enough money for Alexander before Trevor's father made an offer on the Mansion, and I needed to complete my essay-or start it-before our big presentation.



I had a hard time focusing on either. I didn't know how to raise money, and if we didn't figure out something quick, Alexander would be moving toRomania . To quell my nerves, I sat at my computer and tried to begin the essay.



But how did Mrs. Naper expect me to focus on a career or future when Alexander was going to be across the world? My only hope now was to enroll in theUniversityofTransylvania . Even if I had good enough grades, was accepted, and could affordit, that would be at least twp" years away. By that time Alexander could be married-/to someone else.



However, if I had a career now and not in five years, I'd be able to help Alexander with his house money, I tapped my fingers on my desk in frustration and tried to focus on the essay.



I'd really never thought much about what I'd want to do with my life other than becoming a vampire. How was I supposed to explain that to my classmates? I began thinking about what I loved-vampires, morbid music, hanging out in cemeteries. But what career would allow me to be me?A doctor? I couldn't imagine anyone feeling comfortable with me in a black surgical mask and dark scrubs coming at them with a scalpel. My patients would insist on healing themselves.A lawyer? I don't think the judge would permit miniskirts and monster boots in a courtroom.A teacher? The parents would pull their students out of my class.



And, did I want to spend the rest of my life in Dullsville-especially given the possibility that Alexander might not be here, too? I'd always been dying to get out of town, but when I met my true love all that changed. I once dreamed of a place where I wasn't an outsider anymore. And if Alexander returned toRomania , I'd be lonelier than



I had been before.



Was I afraid of being true to myself in front of my English class? Was I too timid to explore everything I might really be able to become? Was I too nervous to share my dream of becoming a vampire or anything else I might choose? I'd always thought my character was just as important-if not more so-than the career I'd pursue. I had to be honest about that-especially now that I'd made fun of Trevor for not reporting his true desires. But did I really have the courage that I was telling him he lacked?





I took a breath and began writing. Words filled my head faster than I could type them. I wrote about my passions, no matter how ridiculous they might seem to Mrs. Naper and my classmates. The once-blank page was quickly being turned into an essay. I was in the zone and nothing was going to distract me.



When I finished my first draft, I made some notes for my presentation.



Careers are about making money, I thought, but a great career was doing what someone loved-and being paid for it. Trevor should be a professional soccer player. Billy Boy would be a scientist or computer programmer. And Alexander would be an artist. But wasn't he one already? He had already won first place in Hipster ville's Art Fair. Now he just needed to be paid for his artwork so he could buy the Mansion.



And then it hit me. Why hadn't I thought of it sooner? We could sell Alexander's paintings in Dullsville's Annual Art Auction.



The Naper Paper proved to be more insightful than I'd ever imagined.



Convincing Alexander about my brilliant plan was another thing,



"The Dullsville auction," I said when we met inside the rail yard boxcar. "We'll sell your paintings in the auction."



"Are you kidding me? No one would buy my-artwork."



Alexander stared at his paintings on the wall. "You heard my father. I paint more as a hobby. Raven, that auction is for professional artists."



"Alexander, these paintings are gorgeous. I don't need to be an expert to tell that these are valuable."



"You are just biased because you are my girlfriend."



"You won first prize in Hipsterville's Art Fair. Those voters weren't dating you. You are megatalented . If I've learned anything from my English assignment, it's that hobbies can turn into careers. And we are going to prove it."



"I don't think so-there must be some other way."



"There isn't time," I pleaded. "The auction is this week. It's the only way."



"I'm not prepared for the town to see my work-much less ask anyone to buy it," he said.



"You won't. I will."



"I don't know how to participate in an auction. Or even who to ask."



"Unfortunately or fortunately," I said, "I have a major connection to Dullsville's auction in the form of my perfectly evil English partner."





"I need to speak with you," I said to Trevor as soon as I saw him the following morning. He was getting out of his Camaro and sauntering toward school.



"Really?" he leered. "It will cost you. How about that kiss you didn't have time for before?"



"How do I put things in the art auction?" I asked, ignoring his come-on.



"What do you have of value?" "I don't, but someone else does." "So why doesn't that someone ask me?""Because I am acting as an agent." "If you get ten percent, what do I get?" He shot me a sexy grin.