"I quite like it here," Joseph was sitting on the porch of the little cabin, sipping the tea that Jason had served him. "Thank you, but there's something I've been wondering about. Why is it that after all these years, you've never aged?"
"I am what I am. I'm still Jason," Jason answered, sitting down with his own cup of tea. "I'm not going to turn into someone else!" He added with a shake of his head and a chuckle.
Joseph laughed too, draining his tea: "You know that's not what I meant."
The two of them chatted like old friends. Joseph often came to visit. The population of Harold Town was scarce, and Joseph lived in one of the more remote areas. Jason's house was closer to him, and since Jason had saved him and Lisa, Joseph harbored a special fondness for him.
"I know that's not what you meant," Jason responded, raising his tea in Joseph's direction. "Though I've lived in Harold Town for over a decade, the townsfolk have never really accepted me. I'm an outsider to them... a..."
"A freak?" Joseph suggested, chuckling. "I've heard the term used before. To them, that's what you are. A Chinese man, something they'd never seen before. And you don't often socialize with them..."
"If I cared about all that, I would've been dead for a hundred years..." Jason laughed.
"A hundred years?" Joseph also laughed. He had heard Jason make such remarks many times over the years, but he always took it as a joke. Was it Chinese humor? Perhaps it was.
After a while, Joseph excused himself. Coming here always provided him with some solace, a soothing calmness. Lisa's rebellious attitude often frustrated him, but a visit to Jason always managed to restore his peace.
"Goodbye, Joseph," Jason waved him off.
After walking some distance, Joseph paused and turned back. "Jason, I have a question..."
Jason shrugged, showing his open hands.
"Have you only encountered Melissa? I mean... a vampire..."
"No, there are many possibilities in this world. I have my own work here and I've been to many places..." Jason looked at Joseph and waved him off. "Believe it or not, this is our damn world." He didn't sound bitter, but rather resigned.
"You've been dealing with this the whole time? I mean... are there many like her... vampires?" Joseph pressed his lips together, he wasn't ready to accept this reality.
Jason shrugged again, remaining silent. Joseph realized further questioning would be fruitless. He nodded, turned around and continued on his way home. Since the ordeal with Melissa, he hadn't encountered another vampire.
When Joseph got home, he checked his watch. It was already quarter past five in the afternoon, but Lisa hadn't returned yet. She should have been home by now. He frowned and picked up his cell phone.
"Lisa, listen..." Joseph began as soon as the call connected.
"I know, dad, I'll be home. But today is a classmate's birthday. I have to stay until the party is over. You know I have to do this. She's a good friend. You wouldn't want me to be hated, would you? She's important to me, Elizabeth, you know, the one who's been to our house three times. You like her. She's a good girl... Dad..." Lisa's latter words seemed to be addressing someone else.
There was someone with Lisa, but it sounded like a female voice, which put Joseph at ease. He knew Elizabeth, and she was a trustworthy girl. So he added, "No matter how late it is, remember to come home. If no one sends you back, call me." Only then did he hang up.
Lisa ended the call, turned to the girl whose waist she was holding and said, "My dad trusts you, but he doesn't trust Sean Briel. That's what bothers me."
"Wow, are you serious about Briel? God... good luck, Lisa. To me, Briel is a jerk!" Elizabeth made an exaggerated face.
"Do you think I could be a savior? A savior of jerks..." Lisa chuckled at Elizabeth's comment, striking a hands-on-hips pose.
While the two were talking, a boy dressed in a punk-style jacket walked over. He wore a nose ring. He stretched out his hands and pulled the two girls into his arms. "Hey, ladies, what are you talking about? It's your birthday, Elizabeth. Do you know what gift I should prepare?"
"God knows what you'll give. I'm not expecting anything," Elizabeth tried to get away from the boy's hold, but he was holding onto her tightly.
"Hey, Lisa, is this the type of jerk you're into?" Elizabeth glared at Lisa, made a grunt, struggled again and got free. The boy let go of his hold, waved his arms in the air, and gestured for her to go away.
Elizabeth huffed and walked off. This was her house, and she was in charge. She didn't like this jerk, Briel was a jerk, flirting with her in front of Lisa; he was a real piece of work.
"I like her butt!" Sean Briel wrapped his arms around Lisa's waist from behind, pressing his body against her back, and even licked Lisa's earlobe. "Are you turned on now, seeing me flirt with your best friend? You have interesting tastes... How about we get a room tonight? Ahh—God, let go..."
"This is to remind you not to bring up such things again. I hate it, you know... Sean, you're just a tool I use to deal with my father and my friends... Don't think about anything else, as long as you remember this!" Lisa loosened her grip, and Sean Briel bent over in pain, gritting his teeth. The party was lively, although only drinks, cake, cookies, and some fruits were served. But the music was pumping, and the kids were all having a great time.
"Such a beautiful night!" Elizabeth commented, joining Lisa after making two rounds of the party. "Where's your Sean? I saw him over there with my least favorite person, Carly Sheath, that little flirt. Best at luring other people's boyfriends. I can't believe she would do this at my birthday party..."
"How old are you turning this year?" Lisa glanced over to where Sean O'Brielle was talking to a blonde girl, often making intimate gestures like brushing her hair. The girl seemed to be enjoying it. But after one glance, Lisa didn't look again.
"Seventeen... haha, no, I'm actually eighteen now. I'm officially an adult. I could have gotten drunk today, but my parents still won't let me drink. I just don't understand...why do you turn a blind eye to that jerk's despicable behavior?" Elizabeth was actually getting angry, feeling indignant on behalf of her good friend.
"I know what I'm doing..." Lisa shrugged at Elizabeth. "Anyway, I should go, or my father will start to worry. Can you give me a lift?"
"No, you should go find Sean O'Brielle!" With a huff, Elizabeth turned and left.
Lisa watched her leave, shrugging dismissively. Glancing over to the pool, she noticed Sean O'Brielle looking in her direction. She beckoned him over. Sean gestured back in confusion.
Lisa beckoned again, and reluctantly, Sean O'Brielle approached. Standing in front of Lisa, he said discontentedly, "What? You don't want me to touch you, but also won't let me flirt with others? Honestly... I hate this role I'm playing right now, damn it..."
"Don't curse in front of me, alright?" Lisa frowned at him, then headed out without looking back. "Take me home, and then...you can flirt with whoever you want, it's none of my business."
Sean O'Brielle spread his hands towards her retreating figure, looking a bit helpless, but he still followed Lisa. At the door, Lisa didn't see Elizabeth. With a resigned shake of her head, she told Sean, "Go get your car, I'll wait here."
Sean O'Brielle let out a grunt of dissatisfaction but still headed towards his parking spot. In a few minutes, Lisa heard the roar of the motorcycle starting. Sean used the loud revving of the engine to show his displeasure. Yes, he was displeased. Up till now, he still hadn't managed to get this beauty into his bed.
The motorcycle pulled up beside Lisa. She put on the helmet he handed her and climbed onto the back, her hands still wrapped around Sean O'Brielle's waist. However, she maintained a safe distance, not getting too close.
"Sit tight, Lisa. I'll always be your knight...you'll understand my feelings for you eventually," Sean O'Brielle said, then gunned the engine and sped towards the gate, disappearing into the night with the roar of the motorcycle.
In the sky, a pale moon hung, casting a desolate and hazy glow over the entire night sky.