Confessions Between Roommates

And here's the first version of the story... from a conversational standpoint. First Person. Tale of a turned;

I awoke groggily after a night of partying. I didn’t know what time it was, but hoped it was still Sunday. The beloved hangover and agonies of drinking too much graced my countenance yet again. I didn’t always do this, but it happened so often now, I could no longer lie and say I wasn't really someone who did these things.

It started like any other weekend, Thursday and Friday, go out and drink a lot with friends, but not too much. Then attempt to stay In on Saturday for some random reason. Followed by the roommates’ tactics at dissuading me from my seclusion and my inevitable acceptance to go out.

I got all dolled up, I don't know why, but I always do, and swore I'd only drink a little, if at all. Lies! Yes, we pre-game. I said no. They poured me a shot. I said no. They handed me the shot. I said I didn’t really want it. They said "take the shot." I took the shot. I always take the shot. This happened the usual four or five times before we headed out.

When we got to Lacy's favorite club, I didn’t want to drink anymore. I changed my resolve to: I'm not buying them, but If someone else hands It to me; down the hatch.

It is shortly after this that my memory starts to fuzz. So I stumble out to the living room, where I hear the din of the television, and I know my chair and throw are waiting for me.

"Good Morning Sunshine. Did you sleep well?" Lacy spouted in her overly peppy, I didn’t get a hangover and you did, voice.

"What time Is It?" I grumbled, as I fell into my chair.

"Half past twoish." she sang. "You look like you've had a rough coupla nights."

"Tell me about it." I cringed and clamped my eyes shut. "How much did I drink?"

"I don't know, I kInda lost track of you after you danced off with that one guy."

"What one guy?" I peeked at her through one squinted eye.

"That guy you danced with for most of the night. You know that guy you said bit you." I froze. "Seriously, I don't know how you manage it. If I were as kinky as you at the clubs, I'd have to go home with the guys; I wouldn't have them wishing me well like you do." That was true, I'd tended to drink too much sometimes, and let the guys get their hopes up, then be able to simply walk away.

"Someone bit me?" weird, I didn’t remember.

"That's what you said on the way home." She was watching the Images on the TV. Apparently uninterested in my plight. "I didn’t see any bite marks or anything, but you did have some blood on your shirt." She looked back at me. "Yeah, that shirt. Right there." She pointed at my shoulder. I followed her finger with my eyes. Sure enough, I did have a small spot of what did seem to be blood there. I didn’t really remember it. But I did get that weird feeling I usually get, that everything she's saying is true, when she lets me know what happened when I was hammered. "Deeds said your guy had one too. Swapping blood as well as spit, are we?" She grinned over at me as she repositioned herself on the sofa.

"Uugh! I don't remember a guy!" I said as I buried my head in my lap. "What else did I do?"

"Not really sure, I was a little preoccupied most of the time by Bobby." Bobby was her fiancé slash boyfriend of who knows how many years. Drop dead gorgeous like herself, just both unwilling to tie the knot legally. That and they liked to swing. I didn’t approve, but that was their only fault as great roommates and friends. I rolled my eyes. "Why don't you ask Deedee?"

Right on queue and as usual, Deedee walked through the door. Both Lacy and I looked up at her in the door way, as she narrowly blocked the blazing sunlight.

"What?" she said. "Do I have something on my face?"

"How does she do that? How does she always know when someone’s here before they actually arrive?" I marveled.

"You'd have to ask her that." Deedee glared over at Lacy, who merely shrugged.

"Why don't you let Lizzette know what she did last night? You said you were pretty close most of the evening." Lacy said.

"Playing wallflower, no doubt." I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes.

"What?! I can't help It If I'm always left to play your beloved roll. If you had more willpower or an even higher tolerance for alcohol, maybe you could hug the walls sometime. Besides someone has to be responsible." She took off her coat and sat on the other end of the sofa. I could never understand how these two could dress so heavily in the summer. I though I had no summer wardrobe. These two pale beauties never left the house without just about every Inch of skin covered during the day. You'd think they were Goth if they weren't so peppy.

"So Deeds, What did I do last night?" The two exchanged a look and a grin. Evil roommates!

"Well, what do you remember?" Deedee began. "Let's start there, and I'll fill in the rest with what I know and saw."

I cocked my head and rolled my eyes. "Let's see... Hmmmm..." I got Into my pho-psychiatrist pose; Crossed my ankle over my knee, pursed my lips, put my elbows on the arms of my chair, and pressed my finger tips together. Lacy giggled. "Well, I'm pretty sure I remember everything with the four of us here. I took... four? shots. Then we drove out to the club. Yes?" They nodded. "We got there; Bobby dropped us out front, then went to park. He met us at the front like five minutes after the cut off to get in free. Then Deeds flirted us in, by talking to her favorite security guard Lester. Did you get his number?"

"Uh-huh. Called him too... We're going out on Wednesday." She confessed.

"Oh goody!" Lacy giggled. "You didn’t tell me that."

"I talked to him while I was out just now. It's a wonderful thing, these cell phones."

They both laughed. "Well, you'll have to tell us all about it after Liz finds out her own story." Lacy said as she turned back and waved her hand for me to continue.

"Anyways... Where was I?"

"I flirted us in."

"Oh yes. After we got In, I told you both I want' drinking unless someone else bought me a drink." they exchanged a knowing look. "Then you both proceeded to purchase me one consecutively. Having Bobby tack on a third for good measure."

"Well you can't just have two, that's bad manners." Lacy joked.

"That goes without saying, three is a charm." Deedee offered. "Three drinks Is better than two." They both motioned for me to continue. Grins wide upon their faces.

"Then... I think, did we see the Italian?" Deedee nodded, Lacy shrugged. The Italian was a regular and a nuisance. He was hitting on at least one of us each time we went there. "I'm pretty sure he bought me one." I squinted trying to remember the sequence of events that followed. "Then we all went to the dance floor... Well, had been on the dance floor... I think that's when a creeper stared dancing up on me." Their grins widened. I scowled and tried to continue. "Umm... I think I gave him my; I'm charming but not Interested smile."

"That you did." Lacy Interjected.

"And then I went to the bathroom... Deeds, you stood In line with me right?"

"Uh-huh." She nodded.

"I don't remember..." I said slowly shaking my head. "What happened next? Jog my memory."

"Well." Deeds continued. "Charles was there. You remember Charles? That guy from the first time you got crazy and made out with some random guy." I nodded in amused shame. "Well, he was there. And I know he bought you one. Then you two went to the dance floor together. I saw Brandon and went to talk to him..."

"Bobby and I were on the dance floor." Lacy picked up. "You danced with Charles, for gosh, I don't know, like twenty minutes?" She looked at Deedee for confirmation, which nodded and shrugged. "Yeah, like twenty minutes. Then some guy, some random guy grabbed your ass. You spun round and just smacked him." She laughed.

"I did what? Who did I hit?"

"I don't know. His face was all in shock, and he just walked away. You just yelled after him; 'Oh Heeelllll No!' Has to be the funniest thing I'd seen in a long time." I covered my face in disbelief as she laughed, though I got glimpses of a memory of it as she spoke. "You would have probably beat him up too If Charles hadn't pulled you back."

"Really?! I peeked through my fingers.

"Really. Bobby said you coulda taken him. Probably could have. After that, Charles left you to, I don't know, get drinks or take a piss, or something, and some other guy comes up, handed you a drink, and just took his place."

"Just took his place." I repeated. "Just handed me a drink, and I drank it, and danced with him?"

"Pretty much." she shrugged.

"Great guys, how'd he look? Like a serial rapist, or an Easter bunny?"

"Oh calm down. He seemed harmless enough. And no one ever lets you actually leave with these guys. Besides, remember that guy who didn’t even want to leave?" I cringed, I remembered. "You had no real problems warding him off on your own."

"That was so wrong." I reflected. "I was trashed that night, but he wasn't even that good looking. And his lies were pretty unbelievable... I didn’t even do anything with him. I just walked away."

"Precisely. We're not too worried 'bout you."

"Thanks Deeds."

"Anytime."

"Anywho. Charles came back and looked pretty upset; I think they had some words. But then Charles just left." I threw my head back in exasperation. Just. "You wondered off into the crowd of bodies with him." she finished.

We sat in silence for a minute while the dog next door barked at what sounded like the mailman.

"Oh, You know what?!" Lacy suddenly gasped. "I think that one guy was the first guy." Deedee and I both cocked our heads in confusion. "The guy you said was a creeper. The first guy who danced on you!" A look of surprised alarm glimpsed on Deedee's face. I just looked down right confused.

"I don't know about that" I finally spoke. "But, whoever he was, He was a good kisser." They both turned to me in shock.

"I thought you didn’t remember." Lacy chided.

"I didn’t. I don't. Not really. You tellin' me is helping though..." I turned so I wasn’t facing their gaped mouth stares head on. "Deeds, Lacy said to ask you what happened after I wondered off with the one guy." I spoke in the direction of the TV.

She grinned again. "Yes, I saw a lot. Actually I knew you kissed him. I was jamming over by the DJ. You know those tables and the crevice to the left of his box, where there's still dancing, but people either sit or make-out undetected." She clarified. "I was just sitting... chill axing, you know." She cleared the air with her hands. "You two come over and were dancing and making out for a long while. Rubbing and the usch."

"Uh-huh..." I didn’t think I wanted to remember this.

"Yeah. Well, it looked like he was necking on you after a while. I mean really necking..." She evil grinned. "Then you had this look of, of, well, not exactly ecstasy, and not... Surprise, but something like; shock and pleasure. Well, you got that look, then the; Pissed, I'm making a resolve, look. Then you necked him. Weird. I don't know. Just saying what I saw. Weird."

"Oh my gosh!" Sudden recollection hit me. "Son-u-a-bitch bit me." slight shock graced both my roommates’ faces. I wasn't watching them though, I was lost in remembering. "So I bit him back."

They were silent at this for a time. "Bobby's here." Lacy finally eeked out.

"What? What I day?" I was brought back from my reverie by the tone in her voice. "He bit me. I was drunk and decided payback was best." their faces automatically changed to normal, but something was wrong.

The door then opened and Bobby bounded In. "Look who's finally up!"

"HI Bobby." I turned to him. "Did you know someone bit me?"

"What? Who?" A look of disgusted disbelief passed through his eyes as he looked over at the girls. Bobby then got that same look the girls had had, but recovered quicker.

I decided to blow it off for now, until I knew what else happened that night. I was pretty sure I just sat down after that and waited till Deeds or Lacy dragged me out...

"After a while you and he sat down. Made out some more. Then creeper sooner or later left you... He mighta been coming back, I dunno." Deedee stated emotionlessly.

"Then Bobby went and found you two to leave. I noticed the blood on your shirt. Then we threw you in bed cuz you passed out on the way home." Lacy finished.

"Seriously girl! You would make easy prey. Good thing the three of us are here for you." Said Bobby. I smiled my thanks. The three of them exchanged another look.

"Ok, what? You two have been doing that all day. What already?!"

"Doing what?" Deedee protested and played at Innocence.

"That look! The look you all are sharing."

"What look? We're not sharing a look." They all stared at me. "Are you sharing a look?" Lacy turned to the others.

"I'm not sharing a look." Bobby put in.

"I'm not either." Deedee put her hands up in surrender.

"Oh! My! Gosh!" I rolled my eyes. "Just tell me."

After a few moments of silence Deedee cleared her throat. "Okay, maybe we were In fact sharing a look. And let's say, just for argument's sake, that it was a look of Importance. And maybe, maybe that important thing might possibly have something to do with the three of us, and what we, we three, have In common. And maybe, there is the slightest bit of a chance that this thing, may now Involve you."

"What are you talking about?" My mind was now busy in the confusion she was spinning at me.

"The thing is..." She continued. "The think is... Bobby?" She looked at him. He threw his hands up.

"I won't be good at it." He confessed. So she turned to Lacy.

"I'll try." She sighed. "Lizzette dear." She turned to look straight at me. "Have you ever noticed... No, have you wondered." She paused, already lost for words. I raised my eyebrows waiting. "Do you know what day It Is?"

This question seemed moot. "Isn't It Sunday?" a weird sort of smile, like she had to tell me my dog had just died and didn’t want to alarm me, was now on her face.

"Lizzy, sweetie. It's Tuesday." She paused to gauge my reaction.

"Tuesday!" I yelped. "I slept for two and a half days?!" I didn’t have to work until Thursday, but missing three days of ones life is no small matter. "I gotta go to the bathroom." I said as I ran off in its' direction.

I pondered what I'd just learned, while dropping the biggest load of my life. Two and a half days unconscious! Why was I not craving food? Wait, I was hungry. No, hungry was not the word. Famished. I had a gnawing in me that I needed some sort of nutrients, but I only noticed it now. True, I'd had a desire to find nourishment for a while now, but I was used to suppressing my desires. I also contemplated the look my roommates gave each other. We three were like a corrupt little family. Sisters. Amigas. Bobby was a more than welcome best guy friend turned brother in law. What secret could the three of them possibly have from me? Why did they freak when I told them I'd bit the guy. Well, never mind that. Biting the guy was a little strange. But he'd bit me!

When I returned from the lavatory, the three were sitting with heads close together, deep in conversation. Each took turn to look up at me as I made my way in, sat down, and stared at them with one brow raised. All the while their voices were barely above an audible whisper. Too low for me to hear, or understand.

Apparently they had come to an agreement. They all sat back at once, looking resolved in something. Bobby nodded to Lacy who then turned to Deedee. Deeds nodded as well and then all three turned to me.

"Am I on trial here?" I joked, trying to ease the tension that had built in the room.

"No Liz." she stated serenely. "I'm afraid judgment’s already passed. A fair trial was not given, and a jury of your peers was not present."

"Um mmmokay..." I said quizzically.

"I'm going to tell you something. It may sound unbelievable, but just hear me out. Please don't Interrupt, or stop listening. Just hear what I've got to say. Can you do that?"

I nodded. How could I deny her any request when she was so sincere?

"I'm sure you've noticed that the three of us have some pretty strange habits. I'm sure there are many things that we do that seem very strange." I waited as she collected her thoughts. "You no doubt, noticed our more nocturnal habits, how we can go out every night, and never be tired. How we wear lots of heavy clothing year round, how we never ever eat here at the apartment. How I now when someone's coming before they arrive, how we're pasty beyond all reason..." She went on and on, pointing out every strange thing about them. Every tendency that I'd wondered at, every action, even those I’d dismissed as fluke. "Well, my dearest. Oh gosh, I don't really know how to put this so you won't freak out. We three; are Vampires." She stopped here. The three of them awaited my reaction.

After a moment or two's silence, I couldn't hold it in any longer. I guffawed. I simply had to laugh. "Good one Lacy!" She looked stern, I continued. "Vampires! What next? The Boogeyman ate my homework... Oh gosh! That's classic!"

They weren't laughing. A worry creased between Deedee's eyebrows.

"We're not telling you a joke. And we're not trying to freak you out. We are concerned. We're pretty sure your random creeper was one too."

"A vampire?" That'd explain why they freaked out when I said he'd bit me. But this was all ludicrous.

"Yes, a vampire." Deedee looked almost hurt.

"We didn’t think anything of it because; you've slept for two days before. We thought you were just beating your record." Lacy said. "And I guess we weren't 100% that he was the vampire at the club. You were most obviously with us, I don't know why he'd try and tap you."

"And we had no Idea you'd bite him back." Deedee cut in.

"So What... You think I'm going to become a vampire now too?" I said in hysterics. Obviously peeved and obviously no believing.

"Not becoming one. Are one." Joe finally spoke up. "Your heart beat sounds like theirs now." he pointed at the girls.

I rolled my eyes after a moment’s contemplation. "Fine, let's say that I believe you, which I don't. Why do you have me as a roommate? Why didn’t you drain me?"

"Because we like you." Lacy offered with a smile. "We all became friends in school. You're pretty sweet. We care about you. We would never ever hurt you or use you like that." Deedee nodded In agreement.

"Sure." I had no Idea where to go from here. What did I know about vampires? Just what I'd seen in movies and on TV mostly. There's a cult of people who believe they're vampires, but are pretty much just Goths wanting to belong to something. There are myths and legends up to wazoo. There's that whole thing about Vlad Tepes, now he was a messed up son-u-a-bitch. I had nothing to ask. So I just sat there. Completely not believing them.

"I know this is a lot to take in." Lacy broke into my reverie. "If you have any questions please ask them." Her voice was soft and sweet. "What are you thinking? We don't read minds." She smiled.

"No?" Questions started flooding me. On the forefront; what sort of sick game is this? But I couldn't ask that. They all seemed so genuine. I'd just have to plan an escape form these loonies. Oh my gosh, I was so hungry. I got up.

"Where are you going?" Deedee asked.

"I think I'm hungry." I continued towards the kitchen. "Apparently I haven't eaten in nearly three days."

"You won't find anything useful in there." Bobby called after me.

"Sure I will. My grapes should be good till at least Thursday. I heard an exasperated sigh from the living room.

I pulled the grapes from the crisper. Still good. And that looked like the only thing in the fridge, so they'd have to do.

I popped a couple in my mouth the started to convulse once I swallowed. The three of them were all a sudden there to watch me. Deedee and Bobby wore I told you so grins. Lacy's face was wrought with concern.

"What the Hell?!" I spat once my mouth was free of previously chewed grapes. "You'd think after three days I’d be able to keep something down. I can't possibly still be hangover."

"You're not." Deedee beamed.

"Oh yes. I'm now a vampire." I said this seethed in sarcasm, air quotes and all. I sat and held my head in my hands. They all moved to stand more comfortably throughout the kitchen. "Then why do I not crave blood?" I murmured, still hanging my head there.

"You don't know that's what your body needs yet. It's rejecting food. That's a sign. Once you do feed, or you don't feed and let the need fester, you'll start craving it. But you won't be able to put a name to it till you've satisfied the need." Explained Deedee.

"Like the need for Chocolate. Kinda." Lacy piped in, smiling again. I just looked at her, brows raised again. "You don't know you'll love it so much, until you have it. Then you start to crave it!" Her face fell all of a sudden. "I miss chocolate."

"You buy chocolate all the time!" I retorted.

"I can still enjoy the smell! But I can't eat it."

"What do you do with it?" She just gave a guilty grin.