My Guardian Vampire

Night came and so did Bert, now seeming much more relaxed. We sat around the house, all of us hanging out.

“Sorry I wasn't here for part of the day,” Bert said, looking towards me. “I wanted to hang out some more. I don’t know how long I’ll be staying here.”

“It’s ok. I wish I didn't have to go to school, but at least it’s almost out. You’ll be here for that, right?”

“I don’t know,” Bert said, and frowned. “Why don’t we just get out and do something tonight? The two of us?”

“I don’t know. I will have to go to bed at some point so I can get some sleep before school, but…” I said, looking towards Gerard. He looked like he was about to object, but I pouted and he rolled his eyes.

“Fine, but I don’t want you staying out too late. I make you lose enough sleep as it is.”

“Yay!” Bert and I chorused, and I kissed Gerard on the cheek before heading out the door with Bert.

“Where to?” I asked once outside.

“I can think of a place…”

We sat on the swings, rocking back and forth slowly as we talked, joked, and laughed. Bert was a wild character, energetic and fun with a dirty sense of humor, something that I hadn't seen in a while-or not, at least, at his level.

Bert kind of took things to the extreme.

Now however he was more sober than drunk, though I could tell he was starting to get there.
I didn't want him to get drunk-he always seemed so sad when he was.

"Drink?" he asked, holding out a bottle.

"No thanks," I said, rolling my eyes. He knew I didn't drink but continued to ask every five minutes. He sighed, not as playful.

"C'mon, it'll take away all your troubles..."

"What troubles? I'm perfectly peachy keen at the moment," I said, though I frowned slightly.

"Peachy keen my ass. You're fucking surrounded by vampires, all wanting to eat you up..." he trailed, barring his teeth towards me. I rolled my eyes again, but smiled. "And by eat you, I didn't mean your blood..." he said, smiling coolly and winking. I hit him, laughing. He laughed too, smiling widely.

A sudden tiredness came over me, and I couldn't help but stretch and yawn. I stood up, and though I was having fun, I knew I should check in on Gerard before I went home, which meant that it would be time to leave soon.

"Ok, I'm totally beat. Play time over." Bert pouted at this, but then smiled, standing up.

"But mommy, I want to stay home and bake cookies with you..." he whined, throwing his arm around my shoulder. I couldn't help but laugh at his stupidity and randomness. As we began to walk he staggered slightly, and I guessed he was tipsy. I let him keep his arm around my shoulder for support.

"So you really don't care we're all vampires?"

"Nope," I stated, and he looked thoughtful for a moment. I suddenly took stock of what was going on right now:
A rock star, an actual fucking rock star had his arm around me, talking to me like a normal person. And not any old rock star, this was Bert, the guy from the band that I had practically been worshiping for the last few years.

His music had saved me more times than he can ever know.

He took the bottle back out, taking a swing and offering it to me yet again. That was the one thing that I definitely didn't like about him. I detested alcohol, not to say that I haven't drunk before or never will, just not like he does...

I frowned for a moment, but then thinking of something I then shook my head, grinning. He shrugged, and I decided to take the bottle from him. He looked at me surprised for a moment, up until the point where I dropped it, letting it smash to the ground.

I honestly thought he'd be really mad, because doing that even surprised myself, but instead he just laughed, and touched my nose. For whatever reason this made me blush, and I couldn't help it. I wrinkled my nose, making him and me laugh again. We stopped walking, and his eyes were dead set on me, making me slightly self-conscious. I turned my head to avoid his gaze, and instead looked towards the fountain in front of us, old and dirty. The water was low and disgusting, old pennies in the water rusting.

There were a few park lights around the place, glinting off the water. It kind of reminded me of the dock night with Gerard.

I almost smiled at the memory, and then noticed Bert's arm was around my waist instead of my shoulder, and we were very close. I actually didn't mind that much, as it was starting to get colder. I studied the fountain even more, actually kind of liking it now. It was so unique, like nothing I've seen before, but so old and forgotten and damaged that no one seemed to care for it. I wondered one day if I could ever come back here to clean it up, and restore it to its former glory, or at least what I imagined it used to look like. It didn't seem too likely that I ever would be able to restore it fully, but damn it, I was going to try my hardest.

Bert then spoke softly and carefully, probably wondering if I had fallen asleep standing up or something.

"Ali...?" he hazarded, using his free hand to slightly brush a few strands of hair behind my ear, surprising me out of my head. I turned to him, looking at him questioningly. He said nothing for what seemed like forever, just looking into my eyes and lightly touching my face for a moment.

'Uh-oh, I think I know what happens next. Oh pleasepleasepleasepleasejust say that I have something in my teeth...'