Bella Notte by Jesse Kimmel-Freeman

you're sitting on your butt, watching
t.v. or something, now get dressed. I'll be there in twentyish
minutes. Bye.” I smiled at my phone knowing I'd won this round.
    There was no traffic
so the ride went quickly. I pulled up to the gates outside his house
and he was standing there. I blushed as I gave him the once over. He
was in black cargo pants, his combat boots, and a tight black tank. God,
he is sexy.
    “ Are you just
going to gawk at me, or can I get in the car?” His eyes were
bright with excitement.
    “ I thought I'd
gawk a bit more, but if you're gonna whine- get in my beast,” I
said as I leaned across the seats and pushed open the door.
    “ So, what's
up, Em? You look like you mean trouble.” He always could tell
what was going on with me.
    “ Let's go get
tattoos.” I blurted out- I had clearly not thought this through
all the way.
    “ How about we
have a chat about what's up, and then maybe we can get tats?”
He looked at me with concern again.
    “ Sorry, mate,
this is a live free vessel and I'm the cap'n- so you in or not?”
I didn't want to discuss what I didn't even understand.
    “ Okay- never
call me mate, it should be matey, you dork. And what are you
getting?” He knew it was a moot point to argue with me right
now.
    “ Alright
may-tee,” I drew it out. “I'm getting a bat on my inner
wrist- what about you?” I eyed him as we pulled away from his
house and headed for the highway leading away from the town.
    “ Well, if
you're getting a bat then I'll get a wolf howling silhouette.”
He smiled at me and lightly brushed a hair away from my face. It's
those gestures that make me crazy on the inside.
    “ Then we're
off to see the wizard,” I said as we hit the highway like a bat
outta Hell.

    It takes an hour to
get into the city, but it is bustling with life and I knew the drive
was worth it. Every time I had gone to the world outside our little
haven, I was amazed and most of all- happy. This was one of the few
places where I could be myself and not be seen as the freak. Mike
seemed to have paled by the time I'd found parking.
    “ Oh, don't be
such a baby. I'm sure it won't hurt at all. Jeeze, boys are such
wimps!” I leaned over and punched him lightly in the arm.
    “ Em, I'm not a
baby. I merely enjoy not thinking about being stabbed repeatedly over
and over again with needles,” he said as he hopped out of my
Jeep.
    “ Baby,”
I said as we walked across the street.
    The sun was bright-
like once we left our protective bubble, the sun was able to shine.
Every reflective surface was like a mirror of glare. Nothing was as
bright as the neon flashing purple signs trying to lure people into
inkings or piercings. I was sold at the giant bat on the sign
boasting the name, “Dracula's Dungeon,” with the cute
slogan of “we'll slay ya!” I
couldn't have hoped for something better.
    “ Isn't it
awesome?” I asked as I stared open-mouthed at the beautifully
black building with tinted windows.
    “ I don't know,
Em. It gives me the creeps. Don't call me a baby. Maybe my sense of
survival is better than yours.” He smiled at me but his eyes
held the caution that his voice expressed.
    “ So, you don't
want to go in?” I sighed.
    “ I know
better. Besides, you'd go without me and I'd never hear the end of
it.” He grabbed the door handle and opened the door for me.
    The cool conditioned
air shot out the door and seemed to slap us in the face. I looked at
Mike and caution seemed to cover his entire face now. I stepped
inside the florescent haven. Everything was either black leather,
blood red velvet, or a shiny metal surface. I
love it!
    “ Oi, what can
I do fer ya miss? Oh, it's you. I suppose ya want yer family crest.
Yer pup is lookin' a lil' green around da gills there.” The guy
was tall, pale, had a Mohawk ... and fangs!
    I stared at his
teeth as I ran my tongue over my own set of fangs. “Um, my
family crest? I don't understand.” My mind seemed to float on a
cloud of