She even grabbed my arm a few times during the movie when the zombies marched after the mortals for their own feeding frenzy.
When the movie was over, she jumped up and asked to see it again.
"Another time and another day," Alexander said. "But we can see another zombie movie. They are killer." We all headed to the car with smiles on our faces. When Alexander dropped me off, he finally gave me the kiss I'd been waiting for the whole night.
Instead of watching us or honking the horn, Stormy just sat in the front seat.
"Tomorrow she's all yours," Alexander said as he walked down the drive and blew me a last-minute kiss.
The following evening, I anxiously waited for Alexander to drop Stormy off at my house. She and I were going to have our own girls' night. Forget Luna Maxwell. Forget the Crypt. I was going to be hang out with my boyfriend's sister. I wasn't sure how our evening was going to go - it could swing either way. Stormy and I could get along perfectly or she could find me a rival for the attention of her big brother. I'd never tried to impress anyone in Dullsville, and it was unlike me to be so concerned with what anyone thought about me, but I couldn't help wanting to have a great relationship with Stormy. I didn't know what to do to entertain her in a town that wasn't filled with excitement. We'd already gone to a movie and partied at the Crypt. I had Becky on speed dial in case I ran out of things to occupy her on my own.
I heard the sound of a car door shutting and raced down the stairs to open the front door.
Stormy sauntered up our front walk alongside Alexander. I could see a slight resemblance in their gait, pale features and dark locks, and gorgeous smiles.
Stormy appeared eager to arrive as she gave me a friendly wave. She looked sweet in black jean cutoff shorts, purple tights, and a V-neck, blood-red cardigan Stormy appeared eager to arrive as she gave me a friendly wave. She looked sweet in black jean cutoff shorts, purple tights, and a V-neck, blood-red cardigan she wore backward, exposing the top of her petite back. A tiny purple Hello Batty backpack purse hung from her shoulders and rested slightly above her waist.
I winked at Alexander as Stormy entered my house. He gave me a quick "hello" kiss while she took a moment to examine our family room.
"I'll pick you up in a few hours," Alexander said. "Don't get into too much trouble," he said half seriously.
But Stormy was entranced with my house as if she'd never experienced a smaller-than-a-Mansion-type home.
I was reluctant to let Alexander leave. I loathed any time that we were apart when we could be together. But I reminded myself that I'd be in the company of the next-best thing, his little vampire sister.
"I'll come back later," he said. "Or if you guys go out, I can pick you up there, too. Just let me know." Alexander gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and patted Stormy on the arm.
"Wow, this house is cute," she said when I closed the door.
"I guess you are used to mansions," I said.
"I like this better. It's not so lonely," she said under her breath, as if she hadn't even meant for me to hear.
Is that how the younger sibling felt at the Mansion and at their home in Romania? The vast expanse of an estate was not comforting but rather reinforced the physical space between herself and her family? I'd always wanted to be yards away from my family, so the thought of huge rooms and multiple places to hide seemed like a Barbie Dream House for me.
I heard my mom pulling her car Slinuse finto the garage.
That was quick, I thought. Billy Boy was upstairs tucked away in his hobbit hole, but I knew once my mother came in she'd dominate the conversation with her polite motherly banter.
I tried to continue to show Stormy around, but within a few moments, my mom was inside.
"I wasn't sure you'd be home," she said, holding several reusable bags filled with groceries. Then she noticed Stormy. "I didn't know you had company."
"Mom, this is Alexander's sister, Stormy. Stormy, this is my mom."
My mom set down her bags on our kitchen island and greeted Stormy. "Oh, it's so nice to meet you," she exclaimed.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Madison," the younger Sterling said. She extended her hand.
But instead of shaking it, my mom reached out and gave her a warm hug. "You can call me Sarah." I grumbled inside. My mom had those swift moves that only a mother possessed. I couldn't have been so friendly to Stormy when I met her. But my mom - she filled the room with such positive maternal energy. And Stormy seemed to lap it up as she hugged my mom back as if she were her own.
"Have you both eaten dinner?" my mother asked. "I bought some frozen pizza. It won't take long to heat up."
"That is so kind of you, but I had dinner when I woke up," Stormy said.
My mom paused as if Stormy had misspoken.
"Uh ... yes, we've both eaten," I said. "We're just going up to my room to figure out what we want to do."
"Well, it's so nice to meet you. How long will you be in town?" my mom asked.
"I hope for a while," she answered.
Stormy followed me up the staircase and ran her fingers against the banister.
"I'm sure there's tons of dust," I said.
"No, not really," she said as if she was disappointed.
"Wow - " she said as I showed her into my room. "This is cool."
My room was broody and moody even with the lights on. I couldn't take my dresser mirror down, nor my full-length one on the back of my door. So instead, to avoid any issues for Sto Sssuignrmy, I had covered them with sheets. She didn't even mention it.
She was intrigued by the macabre decor and rummaged through my closets as if they were her own. I sat back and watched with ease at the genuine interest she displayed examining my things. It was only afterward that she thought she was being rude.
"I guess I shouldn't be doing this," she said. "Mother would kill me if she saw me acting this way."
"No, please, go ahead. It's really awesome to see someone interested in my stuff."
"This is so fabulous. You have the best room."
"You think so? No one's ever said that," I admitted truthfully. Now, maybe Alexander liked my room - but no one else had complimented my decor.
"And my room at the Mansion is fabulous, too," she said with a grin.
"Do you really like your room there?" I asked. "I wasn't sure what you'd think of it."
"I do. No one has ever done something like that for me," she said, genuinely.
"Really?" I asked.