This Is Where I Want To Be

7. The Almost Kiss

Juliet

My dad parked the car under a bridge supported by high pillars jam-packed with graffiti. The secluded area was riddled with litter as Louis opened his door and stepped out. He bent down and held out his hand to me, “Come, let’s go. Tonight, it’s you and me.”

Skeptically, I searched my mom’s face. I must have been frowning, “It’s alright, Julie. Go with Louis. I trust him with your life,” my mom was serious. The statement took me by surprise and made me even more anxious about the night. But she knew how I felt about vampire men, and although her words put me at ease, it didn’t mean Louis and I would be able to do this. Needless to say, something monumental was up! Louis was going to change my life forever. Taking his hand, I wondered who he was. What was his story? And what was he doing there? Questions I should’ve bombarded him with earlier.

Effortlessly, he pulled me over the back seat, I slid across the leather, and my feet hit the ground. He slammed the door a little too hard. Louis was wound up tight. Why was he so frustrated? Half dragging me, we made our way up a tiny hill, aiming for a road that led away from my parents. Louis’s steps were precise, but I kept stumbling despite being usually quick, “Louis! What’s going on? Slow down.” He didn’t adjust his pace or answer me and kept urging me down the road for a while.

Finally, he stopped, and his eyes went from our car to survey the area. I could see smoke coming from across the valley, “The homeless community must be squatting there. It’s rather hidden away,” I pointed towards the grey drifting into the sky. Louis nodded, but it seemed like he didn’t hear me or care.

We continued walking along a high wall built next to the road. The moon shined in the wrong direction, creating a dark shadow we could hide in. When we were out of sight of my parent’s car and anything else, he abruptly turned to me. Louis watched me for a moment and slowly closed the distance between us. At the same time, he reached out and took hold of my upper arms with a tight grip. I searched his face. Was this where the adult pep talk came in? His eyes held mine and lowered to fix on my lips, “Can I kiss you?” he asked in a low, desperate tone.

“What?” I asked in disbelief. Then I lied, “No! Why would you want to?”

He made a slight sound of frustration, rolled his eyes, and fixed his gaze on something over my shoulder. I tried to get out of his hold. Louis’s fingers tightened around my arm, and his eyes came back to me. He leaned in and pulled me closer to his mouth, “I need to kiss you… You were begging for it in the car! It’s been two hours of—”

I knew what he would say (pent-up frustration.) “What? No, I wasn’t! I need to eat,” I lied again, pushing him away.

He easily let me go and retreated a few steps, “Really? Are you going to play games with me? You’re eighteen! What, you’re going to play coy? You were staring at me most of the way here. It was written all over your face.”

Why was he being such an ass, putting me on the spot like that? Like I didn’t know! Yes, I’m easy, and I wanted to kiss him so badly. If he wasn’t so pushy, I might have. My Juliet blush didn’t agree and crept up my chest into my neck. That time, it went to sit in my cheeks so fast I had no time to think about it. Louis noticed and rubbed his chin, following the red blotches from my cheeks to my neck into my chest. He let out a laugh. “Urg!” Angry, I stomped off and crept along the wall, hearing the voices of the homeless people.

Louis grabbed my arm, pulling me in behind him, “Stay with me. Let me go in first.”

I yanked my arm free, getting angrier and angrier. Embarrassing me like that! Laughing at me because I was blushing, pulling me around—like I was some useless girl who he apparently had no respect for. I needed to teach him a lesson. I waited until he was going to turn around with his next set of orders and vanished just before he could grab onto me. Not that it would have helped; he wasn’t Chris. Louis panicked, “No! Juliet!” He whispered, “Let’s wait and see what’s what.” He was begging—good! Finally, getting a taste of his own medicine.

I didn’t want him there with me anyway, not anymore. It was my parents' idea, and they left me with him, and I didn’t like my babysitter. “I still don’t trust you. Even if my parents do. Why did they suddenly give you authority over me anyway?” Louis was unsettling me. My subconscious was reeling out its tentacles, warning me to be careful. He was in our house, in our car, and under my skin. Determined to show him, I left him standing there like a real teenager. “If you treat me like a child… I will act like a child,” I mocked and saluted him with two fingers. I knew he couldn’t hear me, so I said what I wanted, “You showed me the paper with the photo on it. I will find Jenny. I will prove to you I can take care of myself. I don’t have to be so dependent on others. Maybe my parents just need some reassurance.”

“Juliet!” He pleaded, “I’m sorry… I made a mistake laughing at you.”

“No, you’re not,” I rebuked. “You’ve been taking the piss out of me the whole day.”

He didn’t feel around like Chris had that afternoon. Louis’s hand was nervously rubbing his forehead. Had it really only been a few hours since the most significant event of my life? And only a few later, another one? Of course, we wouldn’t even be there if I hadn’t lied to my parents.

A few exasperated minutes later, I walked through a row of tents and cardboard boxes propped up everywhere with bricks and old furniture. The few dogs who were faithfully guarding their owners barked constantly at me. Dogs, cats, and werewolves could see me when I was invisible. I continued along the rows of people sitting together and talking, but it produced no Jenny. I had to walk for the whole length of the street to the very end, where the last drum was lit on fire, giving some heat and light to an empty evening. Only one woman was sitting on an old, broken chair. “A loner. It must be her.” I moved closer, recognizing the clothes she was wearing and the red hair from her mug shot. Eventually, Jenny lifted her head to take a sip from a bottle. Her face was still marked with the same bruises.

I sat on my haunches across from her, waiting for an opportunity where Jenny could ‘disappear.’ I listened intently to every sound and every conversation the people were having. I heard Louis’s footsteps above me, walking back and forth, muttering how stupid I was. I snickered and smiled, wondering how he would punish me for my behavior. My hand instinctively jumped to my forehead and rubbed where he had flicked me earlier. Thinking about him so close to me made my thoughts go down that road again. His lips on mine… My indignation rose, “He almost kissed me! What the hell?!” I heard my parents’ car driving around us, crisscrossing the streets. They would be near the whole time; Louis was making too much of a deal out of nothing new. He was the one not used to hunting with kids.

My head snapped up when I heard the tapping of expensive shoes. Something that didn’t belong came walking up the road, dressed well in a dark blue three-piece tailored suit—black shoes shining. A brown leather bag in his hand. Another handsome man came walking into my life, but this one passed me. I frowned and jumped up to follow him, “You, my friend, are up to something.” He made his way down the alley behind Jenny. It got quieter and darker with every step. I kept Jenny in the back of my mind, listening to her sipping on her bottle; it seemed like she was going to take her time with that vodka, so I might as well go see what the guy was up to.

The other side of the alleyway came out at another main street surrounding the community. It was well-lit. Clean. Women were standing in a line against the wall. Some leaned back, smoking, others huddled together, talking. There were men in cars parked along the road. Pimps, customers, both? Smoke from the cigarettes of a group of young men assaulted me as I walked past. I could do with a smoke. The drugs in their pockets seemed and smelled the same Jerome stank off. They laughed as Mr. Tailored passed them without a word or even a second glance. He had to be a regular if they were going to ignore him; good paying customer on both fronts, maybe?

The girls gathered around him. Ohhh! I get it. He swore only once and waved them off. They quickly turned away and let him be. My eye caught the neon sign flashing the word vacancies. It was a motel. I sighed. The stranger was not so out of place anymore. He only used the alley to separate his car from his destination. He was there for a hooker. I was still curious to go after him and see what a guy like that was doing in such a dingy place... But being there for a prostitute, he was dodgy at best, and I had Jenny to watch.

I turned and heard a whelp. It came from the bag Mr. Tailored carried. It made me stop dead in my tracks. My head snapped around, focusing on sounds from the leather. Did I hear that right? A cry from a cub? It’s been years since there’ve been any baby werewolves? Another small cry, so distinct I had no choice. If it was a baby, I had to save him. The child might not be a vampire, but I couldn’t live with letting someone kill a werewolf cub. I rounded the corner to follow him inside. Louis suddenly appeared, running down the street. What the heck was he doing there? Was he circling the block or something? Louis pretended to be another customer, excited about his appointment, following Mr. Tailored inside. Confused, I stood staring at the door for a second. Had Louis heard it too, the cub? I might not trust him yet, but he was older and would know what to do.

Should I follow them? Help Louis if he gets into trouble. Jenny got up from her chair, and the sound pulled me back into the alley. She was coming closer into the darkness, going in behind a dumpster to relieve herself. The smell of her blood masked even the pee. It dawned on me why I was there. I wouldn’t get a better opportunity. I’d already left Louis’s side, not making any plans for what I was going to do. Two hours of lecturing lay in front of me. If I didn’t drain Jenny, it would be no school for a week. We would have to do it all again. “Damnit!” I kicked at a stone. My foot went flying through it, “Stupid rock!”

Jenny pulled up her pants, tightening the button at the top, staggering a little. I was already walking quickly towards her, coming out of my vanished state, and I didn’t see the group of guys on my right opening a door. They cussed loudly at my sudden appearance, ‘form out of thin air,’ making loud noises around me. The group of three swiftly circled Jenny and me, pushing us up against each other. Louis’s face flashed in my mind. I glanced back over my shoulder, “Where are you when I need you,” I yelled.

Their language was disgusting, and they smelled of sweat and booze. Cigarettes in hand, the one flicked his bud at me. I hit it away as it came closer. I thought about Jerome and my self-defense classes. These guys were older and bigger than even the instructor I was training with. Jenny was waisted, slurring her words and stumbling as she tried to get out of the arms of one of the guys. I was on my own. I panicked a little, knowing Louis was inside the motel, but sighed; fake it till you make it. I drew in a nervous breath before speaking, “Well,” I said, “You guys have two choices,” I waved my finger in the air.

“Ooo, she’s taking us for granted,” they laughed, “Lighten up, lady!”

“No, bro. Hear her out!”

I rolled my eyes, “You can leave and let Jenny and me be… or… you can die.” They cracked up. I took it personally, “How am I going to get rid of three bodies? Louis didn’t tell me where to put them after,” I postured.

That kinda got their attention. They moved closer, but it wasn’t because of me. “Four, you mean. What about Jenny?”

My shoulders slumped. I was so relieved to hear Louis’s voice behind me. He walked over, swung me around, and flicked me on the forehead. I threw my arms around him, squeezing him tight. He didn’t move and rested his hands on my waist, “Okay, okay. Were you really thinking you could take on all three of them?”

Louis pushed me away and waited for my answer, “Die trying, right?” He smiled, “I… would’ve disappeared again if they got the upper hand,” I snickered.

“Nifty trick you have there. We’ll have to talk about that one,” Louis’s hands tightened on my waist. His eyes were smiling. I was happy he wasn’t that angry about my stunt.

The three men were staring at this scene playing out in front of them. “Hey! You’re getting under my skin. You think we can’t take this little girl?”

Ignoring them, Louis challenged me, “You say you can fight. Let me see.” Louis nudged his chin in the air.

I shrugged my shoulders, “Don’t you want to play the hero? Seeing that you’re here and all.”

Two of the men each grabbed one of my arms. Louis wouldn’t stand it. He manifested and kicked the one guy on his chest. While he was falling, Louis grabbed the remaining wrist, tugging on me, “No one said you could touch her!” Louis bellowed. While he flung him off, he twisted the man’s arm and broke it. He wasn’t shy about his vampire face, and the men were freaked out as he put them all down. The last guy behind us bolted. He was too slow. Louis grabbed him by the collar, fisting the material until he had a proper hold, and pushed him down on his knees. Louis used his other hand to snap his neck. With a ‘crack,’ the guy went limp. The constant wailing and complaints of the other with the broken arm had not ceased, “Can you shut this guy up, please! He is going to draw attention.”

Louis kicked him with so much force he skidded between the two dumpsters and hit the wall with a heavy thud. I could hear the audible crack of his skull; in a reflex, I closed my eyes. Still one left. I wondered how that poor guy would die. Since Louis kicked him, he had not moved, “Do you want that one? Then Jenny can have the night off?” Relieved, I nodded and looked at the woman on the ground. Somewhere in the last few minutes, she had hit the ground.

I didn’t want to manifest in front of Louis… My skin would pull back so tight that my lips would lift, protruding my fangs that grew twice the length of the others. My nose would change into two long, dark, flat slits up the center of my face connecting with my forehead, which would look like a wrinkled mess, scrunching my features together. Pointy, hairy ears would cover the side of my head. Long, ugly, black nails would grow from my fingertips. The white of my eyes would turn to night. Soft white spiral rings would replace my blues. The eyes are probably the only thing I didn’t mind.

Louis walked over to the man, begging for his life through a gurgle of blood. He put one foot on his torso, holding him in place. It didn’t take much for my venom to fill my veins and bring on my manifestation. One bite left any human paralyzed.

Louis waited patiently for me, “What’s wrong?” he finally asked in a soft voice when I didn’t move.

“Nothing,” I lied, jumping forward. I lunged at the man and bit into his neck, finishing it quickly. When there was no movement under Louis’s foot, he stepped back, watching me. Painfully aware of his gaze, I stopped feeding for a moment. I was uncomfortable. Louis turned to pick up the first body and dumped them one by one into the blue steel next to us. I relaxed and gorged myself. I wanted to start stretching my feeds so we didn’t need to hunt so often.

After finishing, I sat back on my heels, blood dripping down my chin. I wiped my mouth on my sleeve and then my hands on my pants. Louis effortlessly picked up the last body, tossing it over the rim of the open dumpster. He took out his phone and called my parents, “It’s the blue one,” he said to my dad, cutting the call.

“Someone will be here to pick up the dumpster in a minute. We have to go,” Louis forcefully grabbed my wrist, tugging on my arm to move with him.

I pulled myself free, “You have to stop doing that.” He paused with his back to me, breathing in deeply. His eyes lifted up to the sky. He seemed irritated. I didn’t understand why.

Why are you here? I wanted to ask. What the hell is going on? You just killed three guys for me, and we’re not going to talk about it. I couldn’t speak my mind, “You can’t touch me whenever you want to.” He still didn’t say anything. I pushed past him as I did earlier in our house, bumping my shoulder into him, trying to get his attention. I was almost at the end of the alley when he grabbed my wrist. He yanked and, with force, spun me to face him. His hands were quick to cup my armpits, and he lifted me into the air. He walked into the shadows of the building and dropped me to the ground, shoving me against the wall. My heart beat frantically. Louis pushed up against me, our thighs intertwined. I did feel that and looked up at him.

His skin wrinkled along the T-junction of his face, making his features unreadable, “I will always ask. When it comes to that… But the rest of my behavior I can’t account for… So, can I kiss you now?” He lowered his lips closer to mine. It felt like my heart would burst out of my chest. Boys never knew how to set up a scene. Louis, on the other hand, wasn’t a boy. The last time I felt like that was with Marcus. Unnerved. Out of my depth. Seeing Marcus’s face again in a flashback, doing the exact same thing, asking, and I had to decide. My brain didn’t want to work. What I wouldn’t do to feel Louis’s tongue boldly caressing me. Louis moaned, and his breathing was labored, waiting for me to close the distance, “You want to… why don’t you?”

I shook myself and tried to pull free, “No!”

He pushed me back against the wall. Louis bunched up his sleeve between his fingers and wiped my cheek. “You smudged blood all over your face. You’re like a little child.” I didn’t like anyone belittling me… Calling me a child was the last straw. I flipped, hitting him across the cheek. My hand planted, and his face moved to the side. He didn’t dodge me, although he could have.

Still manifested, my frustration had gotten the better of me. The venom and the blood were too potent in my veins. The corner of his mouth lifted, and his eyes came back to mine, “See, now I know how far I can push you.”

“Why? Why do you keep pressing my buttons?”

His eyes became strained, and his nails dug into my shoulders. He pressed himself tighter against me, driving his hips into mine. His nose trailed the skin on my neck. “You didn’t eat!” I said softly, “You could still finish.” I gestured to the dumpster, my lips and his only inches apart. I felt so uncomfortable with my vampire features… Him seeing me like that. Guiltily, he pushed himself away from me, shaking his head. “That’s not what I’m hungry for! Can’t you see what’s happening?”

My breathing was ragged, “I’m not stupid, but you treat me like I’m going to fall at your feet… You obviously want to get off… I’m sure you have no lack of partners. You probably have a lot of women waiting for you to call with your looks. Maybe you should stay and visit the motel. You’ll feel better.”

His head snapped at me, and he snarled. I nodded nervously. What the hell was that? No one had done that before… I transformed back into a human. The authority made me submit. I instantly hated the feeling.

“What happened with that guy and the werewolf cub?” I changed the subject. Louis didn’t answer me. I threw my hands up in the air. He wasn’t going to tell me anything. I vanished as tears burned at the bridge of my nose. If he didn’t trust me either, I would find out for myself.

“Juliet!” He tried his authority again. “For f- sake, stop doing that. It’s annoying as hell!” I didn’t reappear. His power didn’t work on me when there was no threat. “Okay, I’ll tell you! Just don’t leave without me,” he begged.

“I don’t believe you!” I screamed. “If there is one thing I can’t handle, it is being treated like a child. Or a whore.”

Louis’s eyes screwed together. He was livid… That made me happy.

***

Louis

I knew she wasn’t going to show herself again. I pushed her too far. I didn’t treat her at all like I wanted to. I’d never been in a relationship. And Juliet wasn’t going to be the easiest of women. A quick smile played on my human lips. So much for the blind date… Frustrated, I turned to follow her. I knew where she would end up. If she didn’t get any answers from me, she would make sure the cub was okay. I headed for the motel, but a truck turned into the alley and stopped me. I retreated into the shadows, frowning about how I handled her. What was wrong with me? The dumpster lifted into the air, and the contents emptied. Three bodies were going to be a problem and raise questions. It was quick. A few minutes after stopping, they were on their way again.

Thinking back on my meeting with Samuel six months ago, I never thought my life could change so rapidly. I was stuck for so long, wondering all over. Alone. I had no one. Juliet didn’t know why I was there. I couldn’t tell her. She thought I was only lusting… and that is why she wouldn’t cross that line. I had not given her the “love at first sight” experience I wanted to. It was moving in the right direction at their home and on the way there. But I had to open my big mouth… I was on my way to stuffing up any further chance I had with her. She wanted to be in control… I didn’t think she was that strong-willed. How does she have so much self-control? Juliet was unlike any other Vampire woman I’d met before.

I walked up the stairs to the room I was surveying earlier. I couldn’t enter it then. Didn’t have Juliet’s power of invisibility. I was glad she had it. Wondered what things she got up to being able to go wherever she wanted. She could be standing next to me. How did anyone find her when she was like that? Her parents were worried and kept messaging me. They had indulged her for too long. Let her grow up sheltered, protected… How would she ever adjust to the storms to come? The yelp from the bag was definitely a werewolf cub. A shiver ran up my spine thinking about it. A baby in a bag… Being transported like that… I couldn’t let it go, either.

Standing in front of the door, I knocked loudly, “Open up!” I heard footsteps on the other side approaching the door. The key turned, and a woman stood on the threshold. I frowned. It was not the guy with the bag. I peeked over her shoulder, surveying the room.

“You want to join me, handsome?” she said, rubbing my chest and running her hand up my neck, fingers curling the strands of my hair, “My customer just left.”

Pausing, I looked down at the woman and her bare chest. She took my hand and pulled me inside, closing the door behind us.