Eighth Grade Bites Read Free

forward until his feet slipped from the branch. Wind brushed his hair back from his face as he descended and then, with a flicker of concentration, Vlad willed his body forward. Arms outstretched, his fangs exposed, his throat releasing a low, guttural growl, he floated closer to the boys until he was just above their heads, and screamed.
    The superheroes dropped their pillowcases and bolted in a blur of capes and shrieking terror. The vampire was left behind, staring up at Vlad in a horrified moment that dragged on forever. Vlad screamed again and so did the boy, finally relinquishing his hold on the bag. He was frozen to the spot. Vlad wondered if he would ever run away.
    Vlad could hear the boy’s heart pounding against his ribs, a loud thunder echoing through his mind. He heard the whoosh of rushing blood and felt the boy’s tightened panic in his own chest. Then, in a blink, Vlad saw himself floating down, cheap plastic cape fluttering behind him, bright, sharp fangs shining in the streetlight.
    The urge to wet his pants was undeniable, but what would Mark and Todd think if they saw? But then why should he care what they thought. They were mean jerks and had run away without him. And when they found out he was dead the next day, they’d feel awful and deserved to .
    Vlad blinked again, squeezing his eyes tight and opening them once more. His feet came to rest on the ground in front of the boy. He’d read the little vampire’s thoughts without even trying. Vlad whispered, “You should get home now,” which seemed to be the magic words required to release the boy’s feet from where they’d been cemented into the sidewalk. The boy ran past him, the pitter-patter of his steps quieting as he shrank down the street in the direction his companions had gone.
    Henry burst from the bushes, cackling wildly, and snatched one of the fallen pillowcases from the pavement. “Did you see his face? I thought he was going to wet himself.” He dug out a pack of peanut-butter cups and tore open the orange wrapper, Stuffing one of the cups into his mouth, he held the other out to Vlad.
    Vlad lifted the sweet chocolate to his lips and bit, his fangs shrinking back in his moment of confusion. The candy melted in his mouth, but he found little pleasure in it.
    Henry ran ahead, calling over his shoulder for Vlad to hurry. Vlad picked up the little vampire’s bag and ran to catch up just as Henry was stepping onto the porch of Matthew’s house. Music was blaring from the open door, and flecks of colored lights hit the porch from inside. Matthew’s mom greeted them with laughter. “Well, come on in, you evil dudes! The party’s started and it’s totally rockin’!”
    Vlad and Henry exchanged looks. It was both sad and annoying when adults tried to act cool. Without comment, they walked inside. The living-room furniture had been pushed back against the walls, and a large, mirrored disco ball was suspended from the ceiling. Bursts of fog occasionally covered the floor with a hiss. Vlad counted twenty of his schoolmates before he gave up trying to figure out how many were there, but not before he noticed Meredith standing near the punch bowl at the opposite end of the room, giggling with several of her girlfriends.
    Henry nudged him and said something, but Vlad couldn’t hear over the loud music, so he nodded and watched as Henry was swallowed by the crowd. Left to his own devices, Vlad took an empty spot on the end of the couch and waited for Henry to return. Bill Jensen and Tom Gaiber were moving toward the front door. Vlad shrank into his seat, hoping they wouldn’t notice him. Bill looked straight at him and pulled on Tom’s sleeve until Tom nearly fell over on top of Vlad. “Oh my God, check this geek out.”
    Tom guffawed. “Nice costume, goth boy.”
    Vlad glared and turned away. “Nice breath, loser.”
    Matthew’s mom was standing