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at me as if they were real. I closed my journal on the rendered Maxwells and looked forward to tomorrow, when Alexander and I might finally put an end to their invasion of Dullsville.

5 Treehouse

    The next morning, Dullsville High’s hallways were decorated with posters for the upcoming prom. VIVA LAS VALENTINES signs with red, pink, and white hearts filled the walls and classroom doorways.
    I shoved textbooks into my locker as Becky began to tack up passport-sized arcade booth pictures of her and Matt.
    “We took these Saturday night at the movie theater. Aren’t they cool?”
    I stared at the four poses—one with Matt’s arm around Becky, one with them blinking, one where he was kissing her on the cheek, and the last with a Teen magazine smile—all of them reflecting a couple in love.
    I gazed at my locker—tacked with magazine clippings of Trent Reznor, Marilyn Manson, Ville Valo…and vacant of the one guy who meant the most to me.
    “I figured by now you’d have a shrine to Alexander,” Becky commented.
    “I did, too,” I admitted. That was before I knew he was a vampire, I wanted to say.
    “He’s actually quite shy around the camera.”
    “No way. He’s so handsome, he could be a model.”
    I glanced at my best friend, whose normally cherubic fresh face glowed more than ever.
    Always quiet and mousy, she was gaining confidence now that she’d been dating Matt.
    I’d always blabbed my secrets to Becky. I was bursting to tell her the truth about Alexander—why I didn’t have a picture shrine, why Alexander didn’t attend Dullsville High, and why he was seen only at night. Carrying this secret around was a heavier burden than a backpack full of textbooks.
    Becky was so happy with her boyfriend—taking pictures together, renting movies, watching him play soccer. I’d always craved more—to fly, to live in the darkness, to be eternally bonded to my soul mate. But at that moment, I realized I wanted to be like any girl who was lucky enough to be in love and hang her boyfriend’s picture in her locker.
    “Do you have your prom dress?” Becky asked, bringing me back to reality.
    “Uh…well…”
    “I can’t believe it. We have dates to prom!”
    “Yeah…”
    “Aren’t you going?” she asked, confused.

    “It’s just that…”
    “You haven’t asked Alexander yet?” she guessed. “It’s next weekend.”
    “Of course I asked him,” I stumbled. “He said he wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
    She smiled with relief. “Yesterday, my mother and I picked out a dress and put it on hold.
    We’re picking it up after school. Want to come?”
    “I’d love to, but I have to meet Alexander and my brother. It’s a long story…”
    “Oh, that’s okay,” she said, trying to cover up her disappointment. “Perhaps another time.”
    “But I can’t wait to see your dress. I know you’ll look fabulous in it.”
    She beamed like I’d told her she won a beauty pageant. “What does your dress look like,”
    she asked, “besides black?”
    “Dress? Oh, yeah. I guess I’ll have to get one,” I said, just as first bell rang. “But where in Dullsville am I going to find a dress?”

    Alexander and I arrived at Henry’s house to find his backyard vacant of any preteens, vampire or otherwise.
    “Hurry, let’s check the treehouse before my brother and Henry show up.”
    We walked past the pool, lounge chairs, and gazebo, which were illuminated by the backyard house lights, and crept into the shadows where the treehouse was.
    I hung on to Alexander’s silver bullet belt and followed him through the darkness. I remained at the foot of the tree as Alexander combed the grass and brush.
    “Wait here,” he said, reaching for the ladder.
    I folded my arms like a toddler. “You mean you’re going to leave me here alone?”
    Alexander shook his head. “Good point. Stay close and be careful.”
    He extended his hand and guided me as I took my first step up the ladder in the