Vampires Will Never Hurt You

I woke up with the sun shining brightly in my eyes through my open blinds. I groaned and rolled over, burying my face into my pillow to protect my retinas from the burning sun. Regardless of how shitty I felt today and how badly I wanted to sleep the day away, I knew that wasn't the case- my friends would bombard my bedroom and drag me out of the house against my will no matter how much I kicked and screamed. I finally sat up in bed and with a wide yawn I looked down at my cell phone on the end table to my left. Staring at it, for a very quick moment, I debated picking it up and dialling Tina's number to break the bad news that I had suddenly come down with a mysterious case of rare Chicken Pox from Africa and it's extremely contagious! I shook my head at my own idea. I sighed heavily and and got out of bed, not ready to face the day. No matter how hard I'll hold back any tears, no matter how tight my chest feels from sorrow, no matter how much my stomach feels as though it's being stabbed and torn apart, I had to get out. I had to at least try and have some fun. Maybe being with my friends would help.

I finally lifted my blanket off my body and swung my legs over the edge of my bed. I stretched a giant stretch and scratched my head before making my way across the jungle of my room towards my body-length mirror next to my door. Sluggishly walking across my room, I stepped on shirts, pants, bras and anything else that littered my bedroom floor blocking my path to my mirror. As like any other morning, my eyes automatically darted to the photographs taped to the right side of my mirror. I smiled at the boy in the first photograph who was smiling widely back at me with his arms tightly wrapped around the waist of the picture version of myself. The photo was taken by my best friend Tina on my last birthday in front of the Canadian Niagara Falls. Frank was standing behind me with his arms tightly wrapped around my waist and his face resting on my left shoulder, smiling his typical cheesy grin while I puffed out my cheeks and smiled. I was wearing the pink fluffy tiara he had bought for me. Just under that photo was another one we had asked a random passers-by to take a picture of the group of us looking out over the falls with everyone's arms wrapped around each other's shoulders and waists. In the very centre of the group, Frank and I had our pinkies entwined. I loved this boy.

"Happy Birthday, Frank," I whispered to the picture.

I walked back over to my bed and sat on the side and picked up my phone to check my messages. Just after replying to Tina, I held my phone in my hands and stared at the floor and let out a deep breath. Suddenly I had goosebumps cover my arms and the hair on my body stood on end. I had got the very vivid feeling that I wasn't alone in my bedroom. I straightened my back and quickly looked over my left shoulder. Nothing was there. I looked over my other shoulder towards the foot of my bed, imagining all sorts of nightmares that could be staring back at me. Still nothing. I looked back in front of me towards my computer desk. No one. Just then my mum opened my bedroom door, holding my basket full of clean clothes in her hands. I shook my head and the feeling subsided. I looked back at my mum who was wearing her aqua bath coat and white curlers still in her hair, a concerned look on her face.

"Are you okay, sweetie?" she asked, placing my basket on the floor in front of her.
"What? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Just had a weird feeling I wasn't alone," I shrugged. "Must have sensed you in the hallway," I forced a chuckle, standing up and walking towards her.
"Oh, well Happy Halloween Jaime, dear," she chimed.
"Thanks, you too, mum," I replied.
"Going to see Frank today?" She asked.
"Yeah, Gerard and Tina are probably on their way right now."
"Good! Wish Frank a happy birthday for me?" She asked, a smile on her face.
"Of course, mum," I smiled a genuine smile in return.
"Okay, well, here are your clean clothes. Please actually put them away," she laughed. I laughed and rolled my eyes.
"Yes mother."

I picked up my laundry basket and she kissed me on the cheek. I began walking back over to my bed as mum left my room and closed the door behind her. Placing my basket onto my bed I dug through it to choose what I wanted to wear. I grabbed a pair of black skinny jeans and a white tank top for today and also picked out some pyjamas and clothes for tomorrow to throw into my backpack. I then put the basket back down onto the floor; putting the rest of my clothes away would have to wait until later.

Notes