Lovers of the Vampire Race (Chapter 5)

My sun burn had started to peel by the end of the week, so it looked like I had dry skin. Jade kept looking at me and bursting out laughing, which didn't help my self-esteem. I headed straight to the toilets at break and pulled some more skin off my nose.

As I was coming out I collided with a familiar, muscled chest. "Tom." I smiled, looking up. "Hey there," he greeted me. I remembered my face and looked down. He tilted my chin up and looked in my eyes.

"I was wondering whether you wanted to come round this Saturday, to my house?" He asked. "I'd love too." I stammered. "Great, how about I pick you up at eleven?" Tom suggested. "Sounds great" I said, not trying to keep the smile off my face.

"Look, is something going on with you and Tom?" Jade burst out, at Friday lunch. I gulped. Carla turned to stare at me as well. "Not really, we've been out together." I said. "And you didn't tell me." Jade shrieked. I shrugged.

Jade chucked her cigarette at me and it narrowly missed my face. "Honestly Zoe, I wonder whether were even friends sometimes." Jade sighed. "We are, I was just nervous of your reaction." I stuttered.

Jade folded her arms and pouted. Thankfully the bell rung saving me from any awkward tension. At the end of the day Jade gave me a lift home, but she didn't speak. I was just going to let her cool off.

"Erm Mom, I'm going to Tom's house tomorrow." I said at dinner, as I was poking at my meal. "Is he your boyfriend?" She questioned. I shook my head. "Well, I think he'd make a nice friend for you, but sweetheart not a very good boyfriend." Mom said clearing away her plate.

"What's wrong with him?" I asked, I felt I had to defend Tom. He was really polite and sweet. "He just seems too wild, too much of a bad boy." She told me. I laughed. Tom was the furthest from a bad boy.

"Mom you're just being prejudice" I told her. "I'm not, I want what's best for you, and there's much more suitable boys for you." Mom told me. I stared at her, not quite believing she was saying this. "Tom is perfectly nice and funny, how can you even say that." I said, stopping my voice from sounding snappy.

"Oh you're young and naive Zoe." Mom sighed. I felt really annoyed by that comment and got up from my chair. "I like Tom and I know that you want me and Evan to go out, it's not going to happen." I said firmly, then I hurried to my room and locked the door.

Mom didn't bother coming to argue some more with me and I heard her going to bed eventually. Then I finally fell asleep. The next morning I took a shower and changed into a floral jumpsuit. Then I tied my hair back into a ponytail and added some makeup.

Mom raised her eyebrows as I entered the room. I grabbed myself a glass of juice and ignored her. "Well, I hope you have a nice time with your heart breaker today." Mom said, then she left the room. I glared after her and then waited for Tom to arrive. As soon as he did I ran outside without letting him reach the front door.

He opened the door for me and I climbed in, smiling gratefully. He turned on the radio as we rode and I hummed along to an old track. I immediately fell silent as Tom parked up the car.

His house looked expensive, huge and beautiful. "Home sweet home." He smiled, helping me out of the car. "Zoe, Zoe." Squealed a voice. I looked to see Amelia running towards me. She ran into my arms and I lifted her up and hugged her. "Hey there." I smiled. "Lia." Tom tutted as he lead the way up to his house. There were stone steps to reach the front door. It was like a Georgian palace.

Tom opened the door and I set Amelia down as we got inside. "Oh hello." Said a voice from the kitchen doorway. There was beautiful women, with long straight brown hair and twinkling brown eyes. She looked very mumsie and sweet, but also looked very capable of giving a good argument. "My Mom, Jude." Tom told me. "Hello Zoe, Tom's told me all about you." Jude grinned, wiping her floury hands on her apron.

Tom grimaced and ran a hand through his hair. "Is Zoe here?" Asked a voice. A man appeared who was just as handsome as Jude. "Hey there, Tom's Dad, Luca." He said. "Lovely to meet you." I smiled. "Now the introductions are over, me and Zoe are going to go upstairs." Tom said.

"Of course." Jude smiled. Luca nodded and Tom directed me up the stairs. Amelia skipped up after us. Tom pushed open a door and I went inside. It was a huge room, and his bedroom I presumed. It was a blue themed color and relaxing.

"Your room?" I asked. Tom nodded and then Amelia pushed by him and came in the room. "Lia." Tom complained. I sat down on one of his armchairs and folded my legs. Amelia climbed up on Tom's bed and picked up some of his things, messing about.

Tom rolled his eyes and picked his sister up. "Bye bye." He told her. She squealed and started kicking. "Tom, let he stay." I whined. Tom sighed and set her down and Amelia ran to me and got on my knee.

"You play guitar?" I asked looking at the guitar in the corner. He nodded. "Play something." I said.
He picked up the guitar and started to strum. Then he started to sing and I smiled. He was really good, deep and clear. He stopped and placed the guitar down. "You're good." I told him. "Amelia." Jude called from downstairs. Amelia got off my knee and trudged out the room.

Tom grinned at me and I went to his window and looked outside. "Your garden's amazing." I smiled, looking at the marble fountain and the different plants and flowers. "Want to take a look round it?" He asked. "Yes." I cried.

We both went out into the sunshine and Tom took my hand and we walked round the huge grounds. We stopped halfway and sat on a bench, overlooking the grounds. "Zoe, I've been meaning to ask you something." Tom said. I turned to face him and smiled.

"I was wondering whether you wanted to be my girlfriend?" He asked. I thought about what my Mom had said. She was wrong. I put my arms around his neck and rested my head against his. "I'd love too." I smiled, then he kissed me.

He pulled me closer and opened my mouth with his tongue. I moaned and pulled him further into me. "Tommy, Zoey, will you come and play with me?" Amelia's voice could be heard. We pulled away and she appeared.

The rest of the day was spent with me and Tom playing endless games with Amelia . She even wanted to drive me home with Tom, but he put his foot down and said no.

He dropped me off and I kissed him quickly. "Sweet dreams babe." He told me as I skipped inside. I was now the official girlfriend of Tom Henshaw.

On Sunday Evan and Lily came over and my Mom immediately went into another room with Lily and I heard my name being said. "Your Mom seems worried about you and this Tom guy, she came round the other day when you were out." Evan told me.

"What did she say?" I frowned. Evan shrugged. "Tell me." I pleaded. "That this Tom guy is no good for you and she's doesn't want you to date him." He replied. I gritted my teeth. "How dare she tell me who I date." I ranted.

"I've only seen the guy once and he does strike me as a player." Evan told me. "You don't know him." I shouted. "Stop shrieking Zoe." Mom said from the other room. "This is crazy, Tom is my boyfriend, and I like him." I said. Evan choked and then stared at me.

"Your boyfriend?" He repeated. I nodded and held my head high. Lily and Mom appeared, having overheard. "Oh Zoe, why, why do you do this to yourself and to me?" Mom sighed.

"I like Tom, get over it." I shouted, then I ran to my bedroom and stayed there all day. They didn't know Tom like me. So who were they to judge. For once I was truly furious with everyone.