In three days, the Undead Lord will be on his way to Sancova.
* * *
It took Lainey a few seconds to realize she wasn't in her own bedroom when she woke up. She sat up, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.
"What time is it?" she groaned as she reached underneath her pillow for her phone. About twenty minutes until her alarm goes off.
"You're up early."
Lainey turned to her mother's bedroom entrance and shrieked.
"What are you doing here?" she said, quickly hiding underneath her comforter.
"I wanted to see you," Benjamin said.
"Seriously?"
"Is that a bad thing?"
Lainey sighed.
"I have to get ready for school."
"Why are you hiding?"
"I-I'm not hiding."
"Show me your face."
"No!"
"You're hiding." There was amusement in his voice.
"You can go any time now."
"But I came all this way just to see you."
"What, it took you all of a minute or two?"
"Doesn't subtract the miles between us."
Lainey couldn't help but smile.
"God, you're so cheesy," she whispered, revealing half her face. "There. Happy?"
Benjamin's eyes softened.
"Actually I came here to ask you something. I guess I didn't realize how early it was. It can wait."
He walked away.
"Benjamin, wait!" Lainey said, jumping out of bed.
He stepped back into the doorway.
"I get home from work around ten-thirty. You can come see me around eleven."
"I'll be here." He nodded toward her and smiled. "Nice bed head."
She shrieked again as she buried her face in her palms.
"You weren't supposed to see me like this," she squeaked. "I swear I don't usually wake up like th--"
When she looked up, Benjamin was gone.
"Miss Wright!"
All eyes were on Fawn as she sat up, awoken from her sleep for the third time during Webb's lesson.
"Apparently my lesson isn't stimulating enough for you," he said, approaching her desk. "Maybe you're . . . above all this. That it? You know it all?"
"I had a long night, Mr. Webb," she croaked. "I'm sorry."
He began laughing.
"She had a long night," he repeated to the class, laughing louder. None of the other students joined him. "We all have responsibilities, Miss Wright. I stay up until three in the morning every night, grading papers and planning lessons only to have my students fall asleep in my class and fail it." He leaned in Fawn's face, something he was good for doing. "But you want to be treated like a special little snowflake, don't you?"
Fawn grimaced.
"I'm going to ask that you get out of my face," Fawn whispered. "And I'm only going to ask once."
Mr. Webb leaned closer, almost forehead-to-forehead with her. Lainey could only imagine the torture Fawn was experiencing.
"Now you listen to me, little girl," he whispered back, "I'm not told what to do in my classroom --"
"I'm not telling you," Fawn interrupted. "I asked nicely."
Mr. Webb was visibly displeased Fawn interrupted him. He slammed one of his monstrous hands on Fawn's desk.
"If you hadn't been sleeping in my class we wouldn't be having this discussion."
Fawn looked him in the eye.
"You're a miserable old man who intentionally shares his misery with his students. You should never bring your home issues to work, George. I'm sorry you're going through a tough divorce. You're not up until three in the morning grading papers or planning lessons. You're up thinking about your soon-to-be ex wife, Lana. You haven't been happy since she left you six months ago. The hurt is unbearable. It's unlike any pain you've ever experienced. Sometimes you cry yourself to sleep. One day you even thought about ending it all before deciding against it so you could be there for your unborn child. You know, the one you're having as a result of your infidelity with a call girl." The bell rang. Fawn stood. "I won't deny your proficiency as a teacher. But as a person, you're a jackass. Good day, sir."
Fawn exited the classroom, leaving everyone speechless and Mr. Webb as red as a ripe strawberry.
"Fawn?" Lainey asked as she sat down at their usual table at lunch.
"Hey," she responded without looking up from her plate of food. Mashed potatoes and steak.
"What . . . what was that back there? In Mr. Webb's class?"
"Guy's a dick. He had it coming to him."
"How do you even know all of that stuff?"
Fawn finally looked at Lainey, a serious look in her eyes.
"I read his mind."
Lainey almost dropped the bottle of chocolate milk she was shaking.
"What?"
Fawn casually returned to her food as if she had not said what she just said.
"I . . . we have a lot to catch up on. A lot. Can I visit you? After school?"
"I work today."
"What about after work?"
"Fawn, just tell me what the hell you mean. How hell did you read his mind?"
She sighed.
"Much like I read yours yesterday . . ."
Lainey's eyes widened.
"Back in my bedroom . . ."
Fawn nodded.
"Can I see you after school? There's something I need to tell you."
"After? Er . . . Benjamin's coming to see me after work."
Fawn raised an eyebrow.
"You two really hit it off, huh?"
Lainey's stomach flipped?
"H-Hit it off?? We're . . . friends. That's all."
Fawn smiled.
"You're making it bigger than what I meant. And you're blushing."
Lainey brushed her hair to the side, finally becoming interested in her own plate of food. Fish sticks and potato tots.
"How much do you know about Benjamin?"
Lainey ate a potato tot and stared at Fawn.
"What do you mean?"
"Do you know anything about his past?"
"I know enough."
"Ironically, enough isn't enough."
"Fawn, where is all of this coming from?"
"I just want you to be safe, Lainey."
"Fawn, I am alive --" she lowered her voice, "I'm alive because of Benjamin. How about that?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. I'll drop it."
"I'm not upset."
"Your frown and tone of voice is telling me otherwise."
A few moments passed before Lainey said "I seen Nicki the other day at work and Mom's in the hospital."
"O-Oh. I'm sorry. About your mom."
"Yep." Lainey said before biting into a fish stick. "That's about all I have for our catching up."
"What happened? To your mom, I mean."
"Car accident."
"My God! Is she . . . okay?"
Lainey knew exactly what Fawn meant by "okay".
"Benjamin was there. She's not turning. She'll be fine."
"Well that's a relief. And about seeing Nicole for the second time since she died. That's just weird. Not to mention creepy."
"Tell me about it," Lainey agreed. "And she doesn't talk, she just . . . smiles at me. I don't know, it's super weird."
Fawn narrowed her eyes at Lainey.
"You're still feeling guilty about her death."
Lainey stared at Fawn.
"What?"
"Maybe," Fawn quickly added. "Maybe you're still seeing her out of guilt. When my uncle died in a car accident, Papa blamed himself for not being there. You see, my uncle wanted Papa to go to some bachelor party with him. Papa, being the hard-worker that he is, decided to go to work instead. Later that night he was killed in a car accident as a result of drunk driving. Papa kept saying if he'd gone, he would have prevented him from getting behind the wheel. Papa blamed himself for my uncle's death for weeks and eventually started seeing him. In dreams, at work, sometimes late at night at home. Papa said he finally stopped seeing Uncle Barry when he acknowledged his death wasn't his fault. Maybe the same thing is happening to you."
Lainey nodded.
"Maybe."
The girls ate in silence for several minutes before Fawn spoke.
"I uh . . . I remember you saying we need to do something together. How about tomorrow?"
Lainey looked at Fawn and smiled.
"Tomorrow's perfect."
Fawn nodded.
"Great. At Vera's birthday party," Fawn quickly added, returning her attention to her tray.
Lainey almost choked on a fish stick.
"I'm sorry. I could have sworn you said Vera. As in Vera Barnes. As in the girl who was seeing my boyfriend while we were still together."
Fawn grimace.
"I . . . I did."
"Fawn, are you kidding me?"
"Just hear me out. I promised a guy I'd be there and --"
"Whoa!" Lainey interrupted, grinning. "Fawn Wright does have an affectionate side!"
Fawn gave a cheeky smile.
"It's not like that at all. I want you to go because you owe me after I went to the Winterfest dance with you. Anything, remember?"
Lainey winced.
"But it's Vera Barnes!"
"Be the bigger person."
Several silent moments passed as they stared at each other.
"Fine," Lainey finally said, crossing her arms as she mocked a stubborn child. "But I'm not bringing a gift."
"That makes two of us," Fawn said, smiling.
* * *
"How's the animal diet going?" Benjamin asked when Joseph and Natalie returned to the hideout.
"It's torture for this one here," Natalie said, playfully shoving Joseph. "He's too used to human flesh."
"Nothing I can't handle," Joseph said, flopping down on the sofa. "Though I admit, it's a lot more fun preying on a pretty blonde."
"So, the kid you told me about last night," Benjamin said, "think he's gonna keep your secret?"
"I'd hope so because then I'd have to kill him," Joseph said.
"Gods, you didn't tell him that, did you?" Natalie said.
"Course not. What do you think I am, a monster?"
"I thought it was cute how you walked him home. Not often you see this side of Joseph. It's refreshing."
Joseph waved away Natalie's compliment.
"Yeah, well you've actually become somewhat tolerable yourself."
"Well, thank you. I think." Natalie sighed as she pulled out her phone. "I'm going to try to reach Rebecca again. She hasn't been answering any of my calls and I'm getting worried."
After Natalie went upstairs, Benjamin said "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you and Natalie are actually becoming friends."
"Oh, Benji, you insult my social integrity."
"I'm serious."
"I'm just helping her help us. She's a liability to us if she doesn't learn self-control."
Benjamin narrowed his eyes at Joseph.
"Hey, I've been meaning to ask you something," he said.
"Go for it."
"Have you ever . . . felt again?"
Joseph looked at Benjamin as if he was a madman.
"What?"
"Have your sense of touch ever returned. Even for just a bit?"
"No. And it never will. Why do you ask and why do I feel you're about to follow up my question with something completely absurd?"
"You mean more absurd than the two of us being dead?"
Joseph rolled his eyes.
"I'm listening."
"Well, when I'm with Lainey --"
"Of course she's involved."
"Joseph, listen! Twice I've regained my sense of touch when I was with her. The first time I felt how cold it was outside. And last night I felt it when she punched my shoulder."
"First sign of domestic violence."
Benjamin shook his head at Joseph.
"Do you ever take anything seriously?"
"I just don't want to see you hurt the way I was with Kaitlynn, okay? It's only a matter of time before your natural instincts take over and you bite her face off. I've seen how you were with Natalie. It will crush you."
"I can never bring myself to hurt Lainey."
"I thought the same about Kaitlynn."
"Did you love Kaitlynn?"
Joseph grimaced at Benjamin.
"What kind of question is that? We were together for four years -- of course I loved her."
"Look, Joseph, I don't mean to be inconsiderate, but . . . what if you didn't love Kaitlynn? What if you just . . . really liked her?"
"What are you saying, Benjamin?"
"I'm saying that I'd never hurt Lainey. Nature be damned."
Joseph stared at Benjamin.
"My girl made me feel human again, too. I get it --"
"That's just it, Joseph. Lainey doesn't just make me feel human again. She makes me feel human again."
There was a short pause before Joseph said "If that's how she makes you feel then who am I? Won't say 'I told you so' when -- not if -- you kill her. But let's say your feelings for Lainey really is this almighty force that even negates your nature; what are you going to tell Natalie?"
"What do you mean?"
Joseph lowered his voice.
"Well, there's the fact that she came all the way to Oregon to see you with the hope of starting a relationship -- according to Becca. And then there is the fact that you have a thing for her great-great-granddaughter. Blimey, mate, that's a lot to take in all at once."
Benjamin also lowered his voice.
"She wants to start a relationship? Natalie used my feelings for her so she could become a dead walker to track down the woman who had adopted her child. I'm not mad at her for wanting to see the baby she gave up, but the way she did it was selfish and heartless. Promising we'd be together forever. Telling me she loved me. And when I turn her, she disappears without a trace. And after that, for some reason, I still found myself having feelings for her. Even today, I can't hate her for what she did to me. It's like . . . I'm drawn to her for some reason. But I can't see myself in a relationship with her. Not anymore."
Joseph narrowed his eyes at Benjamin.
"I remember immediate attraction on your part when you first met Natalie. Now it's the same with the human girl. Do you think it has something to do with Natalie or her bloodline?"
Benjamin shook his head.
"Natalie and I had no kind of connection until I met you. I don't see how that could even be possible."
"Like the two of us being dead?"
Benjamin didn't respond to that. He said "I'm thinking about spending a day with her this weekend. See if my sense of touch returns again."
"Ooh," Joseph exclaimed, bouncing in his seat, "my favorite ship's about to sail! I'm rooting for you, Benji."
Benjamin couldn't help but smile.
"You're unbelievable."
That was when Natalie returned.
"Both Rebecca and Braxton's calls are going straight to voicemail. Now I'm terrified. Something's wrong. I'm sure of it."
* * *
Freddy did not forget about the date Lainey told him she'd think about and he made sure Lainey knew that. He was telling her about a few restaurants he'd like to take her to as they were closing.
"I heard the Abalone Tavern was a great spot," he said as he wiped the opposite side of Lainey's table. "Best seafood in all of Sancova, apparently."
"The food is amazing," Lainey replied. "My family used to go there all the time."
"Great. . . . Maybe I can take you there sometime."
"Maybe."
Freddy sighed as he tossed his rag over his shoulder.
"Look, Lainey, if you aren't interested, just tell me. I can handle rejection."
She looked at him.
"I told you when you first suggested that now isn't really a good time, Freddy. I'm sorry."
Freddy bowed his head.
"Me, too. I don't mean to come off as pushy. I just really like you a lot."
Lainey smiled.
"I'm flattered. Really. But I can't . . . do that. Not now. I'm really sorry."
He nodded.
"I understand." He looked at the table. "Well it's not going to get any cleaner. Think we're done here."
"In a rush to get home?" Amy asked Lainey after dropping Freddy off. "Never seen you in a hurry to leave work before."
"I'm expecting someone," Lainey replied.
Amy looked at the time.
"This late?"
Lainey smiled.
"I'm a big girl now, Amy. I turn eighteen in five months, remember? I'm practically an adult."
Amy smirked.
"Sounds like someone's using this opportunity while mom's recovering. Don't do anything you wouldn't if she were home."
"You mean anything fun?"
"Fun gets you in trouble. Especially when you're 'practically an adult'."
"I'll keep that in mind."
It was a little before ten-thirty when Amy parked in front of Lainey's home.
"Send Mrs. Sullivan my regards," Amy said when Lainey climbed out of her car.
"Of course." Lainey kissed her fingers and placed them on the passenger side window. "Thank you, Amy. I love you."
Amy honked before driving off.
Lainey ran inside to shower.
About ten minutes until eleven o' clock, Lainey was in front of her vanity dresser, combing her wet hair. She noticed her bottle of perfume and decided to put a touch of the fragrance on her neck for what ever reason. Then she jumped onto her bed and waited. Exactly nine minutes left until Benjamin was supposed to show up.
She opened her laptop. Aimlessly browsing the Internet always passed the time. She visited some of her favorite blogs, watched a couple of short videos from her favorite tubers and even sent out a few random tweets. Before she knew it, there was one minute left until eleven.
She closed her laptop and sat up, looking to her right toward her window.
No sign of Benjamin.
She looked at her reflection in her vanity dresser mirror and quickly hopped out of bed. She grabbed a scrunchie and put her hair in a ponytail before changing her mind and taking it out. Then she quickly jumped back in bed and looked at the time on her phone. A minute past eleven. She looked out the window.
Still no sign of Benjamin.
He didn't forget, did he?
She sighed and laid down.
"What are you doing, Lainey?" she whispered to herself. "There's no way you have feelings for him."
She narrowed her eyes at her ceiling, lost in thought.
"No way," she repeated.
A few seconds later, there was a tap on her window. Lainey quickly sat up.
It was him.
She took her time getting out of bed and opened her window.
He smiled.
"I'm not too early, am I?"
She shrugged.
"Like I'm watching the time or something. Come around to the front. I'll let you in."
"So, what'd you want to ask me?" Lainey asked as they sat on the sofa in the living room.
Benjamin seemed lost in thought as he stared at the TV, which Lainey had turned on to kill the possibility of awkward silences.
"Benjamin?"
He finally turned to Lainey. But he didn't say anything. Instead, much to Lainey's surprise, he took her hand. He stared into her eyes for what seemed like an eternity, his gray eyes as striking as ever. Lainey wanted to look away, but she couldn't. Or maybe she didn't want to look away at all. Her heartbeat sped up, and she was sure Benjamin noticed as his eyes landed on her heaving chest.
He leaned closer to her. So close, she could feel the heat radiating off of his skin.
Heat?
The undead doesn't produce heat.
Do they?
Lainey also realized his fingers weren't as cold as before.
"Benjamin?" she breathed.
Still no response as he lay his forehead on her shoulder. It was then that Lainey found herself in the most intimate position she had ever been in with Benjamin. So she followed Benjamin to their new space and slowly wrapped her arms around him.
He finally spoke.
"I can stay like this all night."
It took Lainey several seconds to say it, but she eventually did.
"Me, too."
---
To be continued in Chapter 66...