Free Vampire Addiction by Eva Pohler Page B

mood.” He bounced Phoebe and made her laugh.
    It was the first time Gertie had ever heard Phoebe’s voice.
    “What about you, Gertie?” Nikita asked. “Good day?”
    Gertie nodded. So far, none of the other students seemed like jerks.
    “And you guys?” Gertie asked.
    “My day was sweet,” Klaus said, showing his dimples. “There’s a chick in my history class already crushing on me.”
    Nikita punched his arm. “It’s all in your head.”
    “I’m serious,” Klaus said. “No, I mean really. I can tell.”
    “I believe you, man,” Hector said.
    They all laughed.
    “What about you?” Gertie asked Nikita.
    “I thought I’d know more people. I really don’t know anyone.”
    “It won’t take you long,” Klaus said. “You’re a social butterfly.”
    “Race to the car!” Hector shouted as he took off for the parking lot with Phoebe in tow.
    Nikita and Klaus scrambled after Hector, who was already way ahead of them. Gertie turned to Dimos and said goodbye, and then she ran for the Mini, too.
    In the car, Hector turned on the radio, and he, Klaus, and Nikita sang out loud to whatever Greek song was playing. Gertie and Phoebe exchanged glances and snickered. It was nice having Hector back to his usual happy-go-lucky self.
    Once Hector pulled the Mini Cooper up in front of their apartment building, Gertie sat forward in her seat and murmured, just at Hector’s ear, “We need to talk.”
    He climbed out and opened the door for her. “Are you free tonight?”
    She briefly wondered how disappointed Jeno would be if he called to her and she was with Hector.
    “Early?” she asked. “It is a school night, after all.”
    He arched a brow. “I’ll pick you up in an hour. We can have dinner. I’ll bring you back at nine. Sound good?”
    Gertie nodded. “I’ll ask Mamá.”
     
    Gertie changed into a simple straight dress that stopped a few inches above her knees. Her mother had once said that the blue brought out the blue in her eyes. Since she got few compliments from her mom, that one had stuck. She pulled her hair down from its ponytail and brushed it out. Then she added a little bit of powder and lip gloss, and she was ready to go.
    Klaus whistled when she walked from the hallway bathroom into the living area.
    “Hot date with Hector,” he said.
    “It’s not a date.” Gertie glanced at Nikita, where she sat on the couch.
    “Then why weren’t the rest of us invited?” Nikita asked.
    Mamá shouted from the stove, where she was making supper, “Leave her alone, glyká ta paidiá mou. She’s entitled to spend time with other people, no? Don’t be so jealous.”
    Gertie sat on the chair by the door, waiting awkwardly. She stared at the television, but the show was in Greek.
    After a few minutes, the door opened. Gertie looked up expectantly, only to see Babá walking in from work. He patted everyone’s head, including Gertie’s, and asked about their first day of school. Klaus and Nikita both spoke at the same time. Babá lifted Phoebe in his arms, and when Klaus and Nikita had finished, Babá asked Phoebe, “And what about you, koreetsi mou? Did you have a good first day?”
    Phoebe nodded, wearing a big smile. Babá hugged her neck. Gertie noticed tears in his eyes.
    “So maybe this was a good idea, going to the American school, no?” Babá asked Mamá.
    She nodded, too. “I think so, Babáki mou.”
    Babá turned to Gertie. “And what did our little American think of the school? Was it as good as the one back home in New York City?”
    “Better,” Gertie said. “I really liked it.”
    Gertie couldn’t recall her own father asking her once how her day at school had been.
    “We should celebrate!” Babá said. “I’ll bake a special cake, no?”
    “Gertie has a date with Hector,” Klaus said.
    “It’s not a date!” Gertie insisted.
    “Ooo, lala,” Babá teased. “A date already. And you’ve only been here, what, six days, no?”
    “Babá, it’s not a date,” Gertie