Ninth Grade Slays Read Free Page A

was pretty anxious to agree that he was human, to deny the notion that he was even remotly capable of hurting them, giving them little reason to chase after Vlad.
    It was frustrating to learn that his uncle had absolutely no sensible advice regarding Vlad’s current situation with the girl he liked. He thought about asking Nelly for her input, but the last thing he needed was a two-hour conversation about when Nelly was a teenager.
    Vlad sighed. It was hopeless. How was he ever going to explain to Meredith that he had no idea why he hadn’t kissed her after Freedom Fest dance last year, and that the only reason he hadn’t returned her calls over the summer was that she would ask him to explain his inaction . . . and he couldn’t. How was he supposed to explain something to her that even he didn’t understand?
    â€œWhat did he say?” Henry peered over Vlad’s shoulder at the parchment.
    Vlad folded the letter and shoved it back in the envelope, then withdrew the instructions. “He says to tell Nelly hi and that he’s enclosed some tips on telepathy.”
    Nelly smiled warmly and blushed, then glanced at her watch and sighed. She shook her head and reached for her purse. On her way out the door, she called behind her, “I’m late. I was supposed to take Deb’s shift at the hospital this afternoon. Can you boys fend for dinner?”
    The door closed before they could answer.
    Henry nodded toward Otis’s instructions. “You wanna try something out? I’ve been dying to know if Melissa Hart likes me.”
    Vlad folded the notes up and slipped them in his back jeans pocket. “I want to study the notes first for a few days. Maybe we’ll try something this weekend.”
    Henry groaned. “Come on! I’m busy this weekend. Joss, remember?”
    â€œI want to read them first.”
    â€œSo read them. Then we can head over to the mall in Stokerton. Melissa is doing that ‘end of summer/fall fashion’ show they do every year, and you—”
    â€œHenry, I said no.” Vlad’s eyes were fixed on Henry. His tone was stern.
    Henry nodded slowly and reached for his orange juice.
    Drudge or not, Vlad hated giving Henry direct orders, and he only did it if Henry was being too pushy about something Vlad didn’t feel like doing or discussing . . . or if Vlad really wanted a Pepsi, but he really didn’t feel like going into the kitchen to get one. Other than that, their vampire/vampire’s-human-slave relationship was working out pretty well. It was astounding how well Henry had taken the news that with one bite, he’d become Vlad’s drudge.
    But then, maybe Henry had only taken it so well because Vlad had told him to.
    The thought made Vlad shiver. He didn’t like the idea of controlling Henry’s actions. Truthfully, it creeped him out a little. But sometimes Henry could be so pushy.
    Vlad flipped over the box and, spying his name on the label, proceeded to pop the flaps open. His lips spread into a grin, and he looked at Henry. “You wanna play Race to Armageddon 2 ?”
    Henry gasped at the game box in Vlad’s hands. “No way!”
    Vlad flipped the game over and looked at the screen shots. “They say it’s twice the action, three times the gore.”
    Exchanging maniacal grins, they bolted for the living room.
    Two hours, a bag of Doritos, seven Pepsis, and four bags of blood later, Vlad and Henry sat their controllers down and stretched. Henry’s eyes were wide with awed disgust. “That’s so gross. I love it!”
    â€œNo doubt. It’s so cool that the androids can fly now.” Vlad drained his Pepsi and sat the empty can on the coffee table. His stomach rumbled.
    Henry furrowed his brow. “What’s with the alien king having six heads? That’s new. He’s gonna be tough to beat this time.”
    â€œThey really added a lot of blood. Speaking of which .