Run, Little Vampire. Run!

Ch. 3: A Day At The Zoo

(Jessica’s POV)

We all got up early the next day so me and mom could pack up a picnic lunch and plenty of water to take along. We were in the kitchen when dad came in, all smiles, “And how are the two most beautiful women in the world doing this fine morning?” He asked, which made both mom and I giggle, though mom blushed. Dad pulled her into a hug and kissed her with passion, so I threw a celery stick at him and playfully grumbled, “Get a room!”

“This is a room.” Dad said, his lips still locked with mom’s, who was giggling at us both. When they pulled apart, mom was still all giggly about it as dad said with a chuckle, “Face it, kiddo. Yah can’t stop true love.” I just smiled as I watched dad twirl mom about, then draw her back into his arms for a sweet embrace and a tender kiss. They really were very much in love even after all these years. I hoped that some day I could find that sort of love. If I’m lucky.

Someone to love and who'll be my partner in all things in life. Someone who’ll not only let me love them but will openly show me love back. Someone who won’t care what others think and will kiss me whenever the mood hits or hold my hand or just gaze at me with love in their eyes for the simplest things. Someone like my dad.

One of the great things about both my parents was that they were never afraid to just be who they are. It’s a trait I’ve sorta picked up over the years, though I’m not as good at it as they are. That uncaring attitude is also another reason why I’m not exactly popular at school. Apparently, I’m weird because I’m not catty, b*tchy, stuck-up, or self-centered and being different is a crime. Go figure.

But every day, both my parents inspire me to just be who I am and not worry about what other people think. I try, I really do. But it isn’t as easy as it sounds. Especially when in high school, where you either strive to fit in or you are doomed to a life of bullying and pain. But for today I’m not thinking about any of that.

About an hour later, we were all loaded into the car and raring to go.

When we got there, we headed straight for the big cat's enclosure. They were mom’s favorite and they were gorgeous! “My god they are pretty, aren’t they?” Mom said and I nodded, “They sure are. Think they’d let us adopt one?” We both laughed just as dad came up behind us with some cotton candy for each of us. “Sweets for my sweeties”, he said, and as I took mine I smiled and said, “Thanks dad…. So where to next?”

“I vote we go see the polar bears.” Mom said and I looked at the map and made a face, “Mom… that’s way on the other side of the park. How about we do the bird enclosure? You can actually feed them and they come and land on you. I hear it’s pretty cool!” I suggested, but as I looked up at dad I noticed how red his face was.

“Reptile house!” Dad said, “Let's get out of this heat for a little bit, okay?” Mom and I both nodded. It was really hot, after all. Who would have thought the first weekend in September in Michigan would be so warm? It was over 100°F here today, which meant it was unusually warm.

I didn’t mind the heat, but dad had heart problems, so the heat bothered him more. Mom and I didn’t mind heading into the exhibit, though. We were enjoying our time together. Of course, once we got inside, I groaned inwardly because there he was, standing there looking at one of the exhibits with his little goon-squad flanking him.

Why, today of all days, did he have to come to the zoo? Mom n’ dad had no idea who Mason was, so I let them move past on their own while I skirted around the other way. We were pretty far into the exhibit when I came up behind them again and said, “I would love to have a python someday. I hear they make great pets.” Mom shuddered as she grimaced, “Oh goodness, sweetheart. They’re soooo…” she just shuddered again and I laughed at her reaction, then froze when I heard, “Creepy?”

I turned slowly then rolled my eyes when I came face-to-face with the original Creep himself. Mason just stood there, looking all innocent, as mom said. “Oh yes! Creepy is exactly the right word!” Mason just smiled ever so sweetly at her as he said, “Hi Jess. Aren’t you gonna introduce us to your parents?” I just arched a brow at him and said, “NnnnnoPe.” He just chuckled.

I had to reluctantly admit to myself I liked the sound. Maybe if he did that more often he wouldn’t always come off as being such an absolute d*ck.

Nahhhh.

“Jesse, don’t be rude” Mom said as dad was eyeing Mason. I’m guessing he was sizing him up. Finally, dad said, “Yes, well my lovely ladies… I think it’s time we were off to get some food. Not that this place serves anything healthy, but I’m starving, so what do you say we go grab a snack?” Then he turned to Mason and said, “It was nice meeting you, son. Enjoy the rest of your day.”

I thought we were gonna get safely away from there when mom asked, “Maybe Jessie’s friends would like to join us?” I almost lost it. Thankfully, dad was better at reading a room, so he said, “Now Cee-Cee, as much as I’d like to meet Jessie’s friends, today is our family day.” Then he turned to Mason and said, “I apologize, young man. But I’m a greedy old b*stard when it comes to spending time with my girls.” He laughed at his own joke even as he ushered mom forward.

As I went to follow one of Mason’s goons, Nate, snaked his hand out and grabbed my arm, then leaned in and softly sneered, “just wait till school starts. Then we’ll see how many lunches you enjoy alone.” I didn’t even acknowledge him, I just jerked my arm free and walked off with my head held high. All I could think was, “great, school hasn’t even started and I’ve managed to p*ss them off already.”

When we got to the food court, mom and I got a table while dad went to get the food. “So your friends seemed nice, sweety.” I just rolled my eyes, “and that one boy, the one who thinks snakes are creepy, he’s really very cute. I think perhaps he might like you. You should ask him out. Be a modern woman, take charge.” I rolled my eyes again, could she be more wrong? “Mom? They are NOT my friends. And I wouldn’t care if he were the last man in the world, I wouldn’t be interested in him. Sorry.” Mom just shrugged as she said, “That’s a pity, sweety. He really was cute.”

I just sighed. What was I going to say? “Well, mom.. He may be cute but he’s also a d*ck!” On second thought….

(Mason’s POV)

I had to get out of that castle today. Mother’s driving me absolutely f*ckin bonkers. If I had to hear one more time about that st*pid f*ckin party I swear my godd*mn head just might’ve exploded.

So Nate, Kraig, and I decided to hang out at the zoo. Which was perfect for me because you don’t typically run into too many vamps someplace like the zoo. It’s too open… and sunny. Being born vamps, the three of us can tolerate the sun. It’s only rogues and newborns who can’t. Newborns become tolerant over time, but rogues? They burn.

People think vamps are what Hollywood depicts us as being. But they f*cked it all up. We’re not afraid of garlic, we don’t sparkle, or prey on humans like wild animals, we can cross running water, don’t sleep in coffins (creepy), and not only can we eat normal human foods but we enjoy them. Do they provide any nutrition for us? No, not really. But we eat and enjoy a good cooked meal just like any other being. Just about the only thing Hollywood got right is that we’re superhuman and that blood is our primary source of nutrition.

Outwardly, we look like any other human. Unless we’re feeding. Then we change, becoming a bit more monstrous in appearance.

But do we slaughter humans? No, not typically. Rogues do, though.

Rogues live up to the foul images of Hollywood in most every respect (except the sparkling, donno what that person was thinking). They're pale, gaunt looking creatures who have no tolerance for sunlight and absolutely no sense of morality whatsoever. They hunt and kill in the cruelest ways. Sometimes they do it just for fun or sport. They’re bi-pedal animals through and through. As royals, it’s part of our job to hunt those animals down and destroy them.

We’d been at the zoo for a few hours now, and I was getting a little bored. That’s when I saw them come through the gates. Jessie and two others. She looked amazing, too. Her golden blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, showing off her pretty face and her gray-hazel eyes. She was wearing a bright blue shirt with a smiley on the front which made her hazel eyes take on a blue-ish hue, her cute little freckles were on full display, splattered across the tops of her cheeks and along the bridge of her pert little nose.

She was wearing black short-shorts and those wedged sneakers she had on only made her already long legs seem to go on forever. That blue tee of hers was a bit oversized, like she could actually hide those amazing curves of hers. But what had me utterly captivated was her smile. It was so genuine, so carefree. I wished I could see it more.

I turned my back as they absently walked by and heard Jessie's mom say she wanted to go to the big cat's enclosure, so I followed behind them. Thankfully, Nate and Kraig didn’t ask any questions, they just followed. Their attention was on the group of girls that separated us and Jessie, so I guess they figured we were following them.

Thankfully, we were all goin' to the same place.

Once we were inside, I heard her and her mom, joking about adopting one of the cats just before the guy, her dad, whom I'd never seen before, turned up with cotton candy for them. I listened as they debated where to go next, so when they decided on the reptile house, I left and quickly made my way there so the guys wouldn’t put together what was going on.

We were standing just inside the reptile house when her parents went past us. I frowned when I didn’t see her, wondering if she’d gone someplace else. But then I caught sight of her out of the corner of my eye, skirting around the room the other way, trying to avoid us, no doubt. Not that I could blame her, but it was kinda cute that she thought it’d work.

They were pretty far in when I watched her walk up behind her mother. Her comment about getting a python someday kinda surprised me. I wouldn’t have pegged her as a snake lover. I had just walked up behind them and smirked when her mom shivered at the thought and said, “Oh goodness, sweetheart. They’re soooo…” it was comical how her mom kept shivering at the idea and the grossed out look on her face was adorable. I couldn’t help but supply, “Creepy?”

I had to suppress a chuckle when her mom agreed, wholeheartedly, and Jessie rolled her eyes as she saw me. She was looking at me so she didn’t see her mom’s pout when she thought the eye-roll was for her.

Me? I’m a glutton for punishment, so I smiled and happily pressed my advantage without even the slightest hesitation as I said oh so sweetly, “Hi Jess. Aren’t you gonna introduce us to your parents?” She arched her brow at me and I chuckled when she said “NnnnnoPe.” She popped that P like it was an ugly zit she wanted rid of. I almost died laughing…. On the inside, of course.

It was even better when her mom admonished her about being rude. But then the fun was over when her dad interrupted and said they should head for lunch. I got the impression he didn’t much like me. Not that I could blame him. Her vibes were pretty clear that she didn’t. I wish it weren’t the case. I actually think we’d have been great friends if she were a vamp or I a human.

She’s smart, witty, and has a heart of gold. She’s proud, defiant, and unafraid to be who she is even when every other person in her vicinity picks on her for it. I admire her grit and determination. And I hope she never changes.

I was pulled from my thoughts when I heard Nate’s sneer about waiting till school started and her not being able to eat lunch in peace. I got p*ssed. How dare he? I didn't give him permission to do that!

She jerked her arm away from him without a word and walked off, her head held high, and I thought “atta girl!” Once they were gone, I turned to Nate and hissed, “What was that for?” “What? Not like we aren’t gonna give her h*ll once school starts anyway.” He chuckled, and I was forced to back down.

He wasn’t exactly wrong, and he had no way of knowing that I actually never wanted to do any of those things to her. “Let’s just go grab some food and head down to the arcade. Maybe we can find something more entertaining to do there.”

We got to the food court just after them and I don’t know what started the conversation but we walked in just in time for me to hear Jessie say, “I know, mom. And I agree he’s cute, but he’s also a real d*ck. I have no interest in hanging out with anyone like him.”

I looked around till I found them. Her mom was patting her hand sympathetically as she said, “It’s okay, sweety. When the right man comes along, you’ll know. You're still young, yet. You’ve got plenty of time before settling down.”

Why can’t my mother be like that? Jessie doesn’t know how lucky she is to have parents who care. Her father was protective without being overbearing and her mother was kind and understanding. They obviously listened when she spoke, paid attention when she didn’t, and knew her very well. I was envious. If only I could be a part of her world.