"Pleeease tell me you're free after school," Vivi says, as we settle into our seats for the last class of the day.
"As far as I know," I say.
"Good, because I want you and Michael to hang out at Daylight Grill with me and Sin."
"Whoa, that was fast."
"What can I say? When I see something I want, I take it."
"And you want Sin?"
"Absolutely. What's not to want? He's hot. He's traveled. I mean, he's been on the Night Train. And did I mention that he's hot?"
Only every time that our paths crossed throughout the day. I start scribbling in my notebook. "Yesterday you were interested in Victor."
I'm not even sure why I said that, why I brought him up, why I'm drawing two Vs, one on top of the other. I scratch them out.
"That was yesterday," Vivi says. "Besides, it's not like I made the best impression on him. With Sin, I have none of the I'm-going-to-be-sick garbage hanging over my head. And everyone's talking about how he kicked Michael's butt—"
"Actually, he didn't," I hear myself saying, sticking up for my boyfriend automatically. "He might have come close, but Michael won."
"Still, Sin's practically a god. And since I'm already a goddess—"
The bell rings, cutting her off. I've never seen her react this way to any guy. She always has guys hanging around her, is never without a date on the weekend. But this is different. I can't tell if it's a good or a bad thing. I just know I don't want her to get hurt.
Hanging out with her and Sin will give me a chance to see if he's good enough for her. After all, she's my best friend. I want only the best for her.
After school two arms encircle me at my locker. "Guess who?" Michael's voice is cheery.
I turn into his embrace. He is all smiles as I tell him Vivi's plan. Apparently he had another class with Sin and they formed a bond of mutual respect.
"The guy can fight," he says as we wait outside. "He'll make a good bodyguard if he wants."
"Not as good as you," I say loyally.
Vivi and Sin aren't holding hands as they approach, but they're so close everyone can see they're an item already. How does she work so fast? It must be her psychology background; she picks up on signals that fly under my radar and knows how to volley them back.
The attraction between them is obvious. I have to admit that they make a cute couple.
It's just small talk as we head to the Daylight Grill: boring classes, terrible weather, and the rolling blackouts that have been plaguing the city lately.
"I hope you don't like your lights too much," Michael tells his new friend. "They seem to have a mind of their own."
Once we get inside, it's an average Tuesday for the place, half the tables taken, kids from school shooting pool, others drinking the famous lemonade. We take a booth in the back and order.
Outside, the sun drops below the horizon, and a hushed calm descends as everyone pretends not to watch. My parents wanted a world where sunsets could be beautiful, instead of feared. I have to remind myself that I want that, too. That's what I'm fighting for.
"I always hate watching the sun disappear," Vivi says. Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark," Sin jokes, eyeing her like she could hold back the night.
"I'm fearless," she parries.
"I like that in a girl," he assures her.
Michael reaches beneath the table and squeezes my knee. When I glance over, he gives a little eye roll and I wonder if he thinks Sin is trying too hard. Michael and I have always been comfortable together. Our first kiss knocked off our socks, made us really aware of each other in a more-than-friends way, but we never went through a getting-to-know-each-other phase. Or maybe we did, but it was so long ago, and we were kids. We've just never had to impress each other.
We eat our burgers; at least, that's what they look like. Our city now has a gigantic, multistory greenhouse that produces crops year-round. Harvested vegetables are diced up and mixed with artificial flavors to give it the look, taste, and texture of meat. I think it's delicious, but I've never had the real thing, so what do I know?
"So what's it like to ride on the Night Train?" Michael asks as he takes a fry and dips it in ketchup.
"Pretty awesome," Sin says. "Especially at night. Lot of vampires out there."
"Did they attack the train?" Vivi asks.
"Only a couple of times. I think it's young vamps just being wild. They know it's impenetrable."
"I don't understand why they attack it at all," I say. "VampHu allows for the train to deliver goods across the country from city to city. If we can't get the goods we need from other cities … how can we survive? And if we don't, how will the vamps?"
"I know," Sin says. "It's totally crazy, this whole setup. No one obeys VampHu's laws, not even the vampires who created them. If you ask me, things won't stay this way forever."
I feel Michael go into alert mode. "What are you talking about?"
Sin glances around as though afraid of being overheard. "The Night Watchmen are great. We have them in Los Angeles, too, but … there are some underground movements.... I probably shouldn't discuss it."
"Is that where you got your training?" Michael asks. "From some underground group?"
Sin grins. "I have a very simple philosophy: If you want something, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get it."
Vivi beams at the strength in Sin's voice and inches closer to him in the booth.
It gets kind of quiet while we finish eating. I think Michael and I are trying to decipher exactly what Sin is talking about. When the waitress takes our plates away, Michael challenges Sin to a game of pool.
"Is Sin awesome or what?" Vivi asks me as we trail them to the pool tables.
"Yeah," I say. "He's pretty cool. But his whole 'simple philosophy' is a little worrying. I assume he's talking about vigilante groups."
"Yeah, so?"
Okay. I can tell by her tone that she doesn't like me questioning Sin. "I have to do everything within the confines of VampHu, so if you're going to get involved in something … underground … don't tell me, all right?"
"He just got here. He's not talking rebellion—although I'm not sure that would be such a bad thing."
Before I can respond, Michael is holding a cue out to me. "So, do we want to play partners or do you ladies just want to watch?"
"Partners," I say, taking the cue.
"We're going to kick their butts," he whispers in my ear, and a familiar thrill shoots through me. We're a team. Michael and me.
Vivi breaks. She gets a ball in the pocket, misses the next one. I go next, get two good shots before I miss and rejoin Michael against the wall. It's Sin's turn, and he's making the most of it. I watch Vivi's smile broaden with each ball that Sin sinks.
"He's good at everything," Michael says, studying his opponent's game.
"Kinda like you."
Appreciation lights his eyes, and he lowers his head to kiss me. I rise up on my toes to meet him and curl an arm around his neck. He moves his mouth over mine with purpose.