Eleventh Grade Burns(83)

In broad daylight, Vlad floated up to the belfry. He couldn’t face school today, no matter what Nelly or Otis might say about him skipping. His education at the moment was on hold until he figured out a way to escape the vengeful justice of Elysia.

As he stepped through the arch, he turned in an afterthought to be sure no one saw him. Eddie Poe was standing on the ground, mouth agape. But it didn’t matter. Nothing did. He offered Eddie a two-finger salute and stepped inside his sanctuary.

Just a few hours. That’s all Vlad needed. Just a few more hours to mourn his impending death, and this afternoon he’d start saying goodbye to everyone and everything he loved.

Like Meredith. Like Henry. Like Joss. Like Otis. Like Nelly.

Everything.

Everything.




After watching the sun move from morning to afternoon, Vlad stood at the sound of the final bell and stepped from the balcony, descending to a chorus of clicks from Eddie’s camera. He didn’t care anymore. Let Eddie have his fun.

The moment his feet touched the ground, he stepped forward, walking out to the parking lot, to Henry’s car. Concentrating on his drudge, he whispered aloud, “Hurry, Henry.”

Not ten seconds later, Henry burst out of the front door of the school and booked it to where Vlad stood. “Are you okay? I got the weirdest feeling something was up. It’s the last day of school. Where have you been all day?”

Vlad forced a smile, trying hard to act like it was business as usual. “I’m fine, just decided to start summer break early.”

Henry watched him for a moment, as if he couldn’t trust what Vlad was saying, but had no idea why.

Vlad slid into the passenger seat and once Henry gunned the engine to life, he said, “Did you know that I hang out in the old belfry all the time?”

Henry settled back in his seat, letting the car idle for a bit, the look on his face one of immense surprise. “Really? I had no idea. What’s it like up there?”

“It’s nice. Sort of my secret place. Somewhere I can go when I really want to be alone.”

“So why are you telling me now?”

Vlad wet his lips. He was giving Henry one of his most prized possessions, willing it to him. He only hoped Henry would go there someday, break the boards that covered the door and go inside. “Because you should check it out if you get the chance. I think you’d like it there.”

“Henry!” They both looked up to see Meredith jogging across the parking lot, waving.

Henry snapped his eyes to Vlad. “Should I floor it?”

“No, it’s okay.” It was more than okay, actually. It was perfect. Two birds, one stone.

She reached the driver’s side breathless and held out Henry’s iPod to him. “You dropped this when you ran out. Everything okay?”

Henry took it, shrugging. “Yeah. Just happy to officially be a senior.”

There was a moment when she seemed to be debating something. Then she met Vlad’s eyes. Hers were full of a questioning, of hesitancy, of loss. “Hi, Vlad.”

Vlad smiled as warmly as he was able to. “Hey, Meredith. You look very pretty today.”

A gentle smile touched her lips. “Thank you.”

And he wasn’t lying. She looked lovely with her tan skin and her pink shorts, pink tennis shoes, and pink T-shirt. In a strange way, he felt like he was talking to someone he had once known, but didn’t anymore.

A whiff of the sweet nectar that lurked in her veins teased Vlad’s senses, but he remained still and strong. “I don’t think I ever told you how much you mean to me. I mean, I know you’re going out with Joss now and that’s great. He’s a good guy. I just wanted to make sure you knew.”

Henry’s jaw hit the floor. He looked at Meredith and shook his head, laughing the way people surely laughed whenever a crazy person was near. Panicked. Almost frightened. “He’s ... been taking cold medicine. It makes him ramble on about some crazy stuff.”

“Actually, I’m quite lucid, Henry.” He looked from his friend back to Meredith. “I mean it. I’ll never forget you.”

An echoed blend of sadness and concern crossed her brown eyes. “Why does that sound like goodbye?”

Vlad merely shrugged.

Once Meredith had joined Joss on the sidewalk, Henry turned back to Vlad, flabbergasted. “What was that?”

Vlad shook his head, his response at the ready. “Nothing. Just making sure she knows how I feel.”