Darby Makes a Friend

  Darby walked across the field feeling the wet grass against her feet. When she was human it may have been a sensation she enjoyed but now it was just annoying. The sky was overcast and a light mist still lingered over the park. It was a perfect afternoon to go hunting. The park was mostly deserted and if Darby was crafty enough, she would not have to worry about witnesses to her meal.

 The hungry vampire rounded a corner and saw a young man sitting under a tree on a colorful blanket. She remembered the pattern on it being called tye-dye. The world had changed a lot over the last five decades and Darby struggled to keep up. Now instead of simple frocks and classy hats, women wore long flowing dresses or pants with wide legs. They put flowers in their hair and danced to songs about peace and love. The men also wore long pants and vests with fringes. They played guitars and drums and smoked funny smelling cigarettes. Some people disapproved of this behavior but Darby found it fascinating. 

  The man in front of her wore long jeans with holes in the knees and sandals on his feet. His pale yellow T-shirt was decorated with a light blue round symbol Darby recognized as the sign for peace. His skin was dark brown and his wavy black hair hung down to his shoulders. He wore round sunglasses with black rims and looked down intently at the strings of the guitar he was strumming. 

  Darby approached him casually twirling a lone pale finger through her black hair. The sunlight shone briefly for a moment between the grey clouds and Darby ducked into the shade of the tree. 

  "Hello there," said the young man looking up at her. She caught a glimpse of his dark brown eyes under his sunglasses. 

  "Hello," she responded. "Is there room on your blanket for another?" 

  "Always," the young man said cheerfully, gesturing next to him. Darby sat down and tucked her legs under the knee length skirt of her floral dress. She smiled sweetly at her new potential victim and blinked slowly making a show of her long lashes.

 "I liked the song you were playing," she said in a honeyed tone. The man chuckled. 

 "Calling it a song is pretty generous. I just got this from my dad last week for my birthday." 

 "Happy birthday," Darby squealed, disgusted at how happy and cheerful she sounded. "How old are you now?"

 "Twenty four," the young man answered. "What about you?"

"Do you always ask a woman her age?" 

The young man shrugged. 

"Only when she asks mine." 

 Darby sat and stared at the wet green grass trying to remember how old she was when she had been turned. Was it twenty or twenty one? Twenty two?

"I am twenty one," she said finally. The young man laughed and shook his head.

"No you're not." 

Darby raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?" 

"You have been coming to this park since I was a kid and you have always been the same age. You never get any older." 

"You are making things up," Darby said nervously, her tongue sliding up and down the back of her fangs. "Have you been smoking one of those funny smelling cigarettes? They make people say strange things." 

"I did a little while ago," the young man admitted. "But I'm not that far gone. You're obviously a vampire." 

Darby cocked her head to the side. 

"What is happening right now?" she said to no one in particular. The young man continued to strum his guitar.

"You don't have to worry, I'm not going to tell anyone about you." 

"That is all well and good but if you have noticed me hanging around this park for years, it is likely others have also. And that is a risk I do not want to take. I have to leave." 

"Well if you're interested, I am leaving with some friends tonight to drive across the country to San Francisco. We have heard there is some pretty rad stuff going on there right now." 

"I have never been to California. Maybe it is time for a change," Darby mused. "But I obviously can't go with you and your friends. The sun coming in through the windows will burn me to ash." 

"Oh yeah, right on," the young man said, taking off his sunglasses and cleaning both round lenses with the hem of his shirt. 

"Perhaps I will find my own way to San Francisco and see you there."

"It's a pretty big city but yeah that'd be cool." 

The young man put his sunglasses back on and pulled a thin white cigarette out of his pocket. The rain had begun in earnest again and Darby scooted closer to her new friend on his blanket. 

"You wanna smoke?" he offered, extending the rolled up paper toward her? 

Darby frowned at it.

"I feel like these little things make fools of people but I suppose I could try it just this once since there is no one around." 

"You got it, Miss-" the young man stopped short and Darby realized she had not even introduced herself. 

"Darby. And you are?" 

"George," the young man said. He pulled a lighter out of the pocket of his ripped jeans. "And this smoke comes with a catch." 

"What do you mean?" 

George reached up and moved his wavy hair over one shoulder leaving the side of his neck facing Darby exposed.

"You have to bite me."