Bright Lights That Cast A Shadow

Giggling and drunk off her ass. She was just the kind of person I needed. I watched her as she drunkenly stumbled down the sidewalk, giggling to herself and occasionally taking a swig from the whiskey bottle that hung loosely in her grip.
It was late at night, and the side street she had chosen to take was deserted of people or cars. The only light came from the surrounding dirty streetlamps. I frowned at the dirtiness of this part of town in general. I only came down here when I needed to feed. This kind of place was packed with people who were drunk or high, or commonly both. It made feeding easier though, and less messy.
The girl stumbled past my hiding place in the dark alleyway and I swiftly moved behind her. Striking from behind made it less of a struggle for both of us, and to be honest, I win every time. She didn't even see it coming.
I lunged forward with super speed and sank my fangs into the pulsing vein in her neck. She made a slight struggle before the venom in my fangs hit her and she went limp, knocked unconsious. Of course, vampires can control when the venom is released. Some don't ever release it. They like to watch their victims suffer. I always do though. I never was one for watching humans try in vain to get away.
I let myself drink for a couple more seconds before pulling out of her. The wound my teeth made in her neck immediately healed up, another effect of the venom. I picked up her limp body and carefully rested her against the side of a brick building nearby. She wasn't dead. I would never forgive myself if I actually killed someone. She would probably wake up the next morning with a killer hangover and no remembrance of what happened here.
Sighing I stood up and brushed off my leather jacket. I pulled out my phone and opened it to camera so that I could study my reflection. My hair was slightly disheveled, but other than that it was impossible to tell that I just fed.
I shoved my hands into my pockets and began walking towards my apartment, full from the night's hunt.
~~~
I woke up in the morning to sunlight coming in through my bedroom window. I grimaced and squinted my eyes as I pulled the pitch black curtain shut, cutting off the bright beams of light.
I should probably explain now what myths are real and which ones aren't. Sunlight. No, sunlight doesn't actually kill me. I guess people like to think of the scary monsters only being able to haunt them at night and disappear when the sun goes up. Anyway its not true. Still most vampires have a distaste for sunlight and much rather prefer the night. Crosses. Won't kill me either. Probably not a huge surprise here but many vampires don't believe in God. Garlic. Throw it in my eye. I'm pretty sure it'll do something then. Maybe, who knows. Wooden stakes. Who wouldn't that kill? Silver. Silver is the most effective. Anything silver will burn me, and a silver bullet or knife in the right place will definitely kill me.
Many people when they think of vampires though think super speed and strength, gorgeous, pointy teeth, and speak with a slightly Russian accent. Super speed is correct. That is one perk of being a vampire is that I can move way faster than when I was human. The super strength though is definitely watered down in real life. I'm stronger than most humans, but not by much. Any built guy would probably be able to fight me off. As for being gorgeous, I'm sorry ladies. We look just the same undead as we do alive. The only appearance change that occurs is that we get red mixed in with our natural eye color. That's really the only way to tell if someone is a vampire. As for the teeth, they only come out when we need them. The rest of the time they just look like slightly pointier canines. I can't even cut my tongue on them when their in "human form". And Dracula's Russian accent? Only if you're from Russia. Me though, I have my Jersey accent.
Groaning I hauled myself out of bed and into the bathroom. I had wanted to live as close to a human life as possible. That had meant going out and getting an apartment and a job. My job consisted of being a stocker down at a small music store not far from my house. It wasn't hard and I actually enjoyed doing it, especially since I got discounts on the music.
I came out of the bathroom with my teeth brushed and my messy chin length black hair slightly less tangled. I grabbed an Iron Maiden t-shirt from my pile of black clothes and some black skinny jeans. After changing I rushed back into the bathroom to smear some eyeliner on around my eyes. I then grabbed my black leather jacket and converse before my eye caught the clock.
"Shit!" I cried seeing the time. I was going to be late to work. I with held the urge to use my vampire speed to run to work and instead opted to use my beaten down trans am. I raced out the door, only pausing for a moment before I took off running at a human speed toward my car.
~~~
"Shit! Sorry sorry sorry," I apologized, rushing into the store. I saw a fuzzy head pop up from behind a stand of CD's and a grinning face.
"Shit Way. That's like the second time in like two years." He mock scolded me. "Hear that Bryar! Gerard was late again by ten minutes for the second time in his life! What are we going to do with him?" He directed at Bob who had appeared from the back and was standing next to him.
"I don't know? Threesome?" He suggested with a mock innocent face.
"Dude!" Ray complained punching him in the arm playfully. Bob pulled a pout face.
"Anytime Robert baby," I smirked using his full name and blowing him a kiss.
"Yeah, yeah. Just go get your name tag." He replied back making shooing gestures towards the back employee room.
"Aw he just wants to get me alone!" I cooded at Ray. They both gave me and eye roll and grins while I walked into the back room.
Ray Toro and Bob Bryar were probably my closest friends. They knew I was gay, and most importantly, they knew I was a vampire. They, along with my younger brother Mikey, were the only people who knew. They had been slightly freaked out when I first told them, but when they realized I wasn't going to kill them and that I didn't kill others, they accepted it.
I slipped on my name tag and rejoined them out in the main part of the store.
"Hey Way! You want to man the check out today?" Ray asked me from across the store. I nodded and headed over, letting myself behind the counter. On most days the store was pretty quiet, with the occasional customer. I really didn't see the point of having the three of us work at once, but whatever made Brian, our manager, happy was okay with me.
Just like usual, the day moved on slowly. I spent most of it joking around with Ray and Bob and rocking out to music.
"Gerard!" Bob screamed poking me until I took my headphones out. "Me and Toro are taking lunch break. We'll be back in about an hour. Handle the shop by yourself?" He asked. They knew by now that I didn't need a lunch break. I usually only needed to eat about once every week or so, sometimes longer. I nodded and he smiled before lightly punching me in the arm.
"Great, we'll be back later!" He than ran off to go find Ray.
I sighed and turned off my iPod. As the only emplyee now in the store I had to listen for any customers that might come in. Instead I pulled out an old issue of Kerrang! and began reading. I wasn't far into it when I heard the shop door open and the bell go off. I looked up from my magazine.
A guy walked in. He was clad in a Smashing Pumpkins t-shirt and black skinny jeans with holes in the knees and had on a black backpack. His long black hair hung into his face and only allowed a peek of his gauges in his ears. He also had a lip ring and multiple tattoos running up and down his arms and hands, and I could just make out a scorpion on his neck. He was surprisingly short for how old he looked though. Still, he looked cool, and I immediately liked him.
He gave me a small smile before walking into the aisles full of music. I returned back to my magazine, trying to ingore the fact that my mind was screaming at me how hot he was. Shut up! I scolded it. You're a vampire for fuck sakes! You can't get that close to someone. Ray and Bob are pushing it sometimes. A boyfriend is a big accident waiting to happen!
Someone clearing their throat startled me back into reality. It was the boy from before. He gave me a small smile and shrugged his shoulders.
"Sorry," I apologized blushing slightly, starting to ring up his purchases.
"S'okay," He replied back with a full of smile. He looks really cute when he smiles. No! Bad Gerard! Control the gay!
"You listen to good music," I told him honsetly with a nod of appreciation. He had bought three CD's, a Black Flags, a Misfits, and an Iron Maiden. And he was wearing the Smashing Pumpkins shirt. Hot and good music taste. Gay alert Gerard! Stop!
"Thanks!" He replied with a grin, "And from how you think my music is good, you probably like it too so right back at ya."
"Thanks," I said blushing again. I finished ringing up his CD's. "That'll be $32.78," I told him putting the albums into a bag and sliding it across the counter towards him.
"Okay...just one sec..."He mumbled fishing around in his backpack. "Ow shit!" He cursed suddenly. The smell hit me instantly. Blood. He pulled his hand out of his bag. His palm had a cut about an inch long going across it. "Looks like I accidentally left my knife in there open. Got any band aids?" He asked, grimacing at the blood seeping out. I nodded, wide eyed. I may have just fed last night, but blood was blood. And his was clean unlike the usual drunk druggies I fed from. He smelled delicious. I struggled to keep control while I searched for the first aid kit behind the counter.
"Here!" I gasped out jerking out a hand towards him and handing him the kit. He gave me a slightly odd look but said nothing. He opened it up and found a band aid relevantly quickly. The whole time I was breathing through my mouth and trying to concentrate on something else, anything else. He applied the band aid and the smell of blood was muted slightly. I had trained myself to ignore the smell of blood normally, but an open wound was hard to ignore.
"Here," He said finding his money and handing it to me. He grabbed his bag. "And thanks...Gerard," He said leaning in slightly to read my name badge.
"You're welcome..."
"Frank," He finished. "Frank Iero." Frank. I liked that name.
"Well your welcome Frank." He grinned one final time before turning to the door.
"See ya!" He called over his shoulder before slipping out the door and back onto the streets. I shuddered and relaxed.
I had wanted to bite him. More than I ever had wanted to bite someone before.
And that scared me.

Notes

I know I don't have pictures yet for characters or a cover but I'm on my moms computer and I don't really feel like saving pictures onto her laptop cause I'm not sure how to delete them