***
Carmine was absent from school the next day. Anna wasn’t really surprised; it had been a rough night. She’d been up all night herself, and she could tell by looking at Mina that she she’d stayed up worrying too.
Anna was pretty sure she knew what Mina’s thoughts on the subject were. But Carmine was a different story. What was going through her mind? Carmine had been obsessed with vampires and the occult for years. She’d loved the topic, and even though she’d tried to hide it, Anna still knew how excited she was at the prospect of seeing a real-life vampire in action. Too bad it turned out to be such a violent attack – this couldn’t have been what Carmine had imagined at all.
Anna had wanted to see how Carmine was holding up – how she was taking it, and if there was anything Anna could do for her. But the fact that she wasn’t at school put a damper on those plans and left Anna wondering. And as much as she hated to admit it, there was something even more important on her mind – would Carmine still want to help? Sure, she’d been happy to help stalk a vampire before, but would this change her mind?
Since it was just her and Mina at lunch, neither bothered with pretending to eat. Instead, they made awkward small talk and caught up on the homework they’d been neglecting in order to spy on Fredrick. Anna was almost glad when the bell rang. But she spent the next three hours thinking about Carmine and regretting that she hadn’t talked to Mina about last night. So when the final bell rang, Anna went outside to the parking lot.
Mina’s mom always picked her up in the back parking lot after class, but she always seemed to run a few minutes late for one reason or another. So as soon as school let out, Anna went out to find Mina and talk to her before her mom showed up.
Mina wasn’t talking to anyone, but there were about fifteen or twenty other students waiting around next to her. As Anna approached, Mina looked up and smiled wanly.
“Hi.” Mina said. Just like everything was normal. Anna realized Mina didn’t want the other students to notice anything was wrong. She looked vaguely surprised to see Anna standing there, but before she had time to ask, Anna spoke up.
“Come over here – I want to ask you something.” she said with a forced cheeriness.
Mina obligingly hopped down off the wall and followed Anna down the length of the parking lot to a spot where they wouldn’t be overheard. They stopped and faced each other.
“So…” Mina started, not sure what to say. It was obvious from the way she stood fidgeting that she knew exactly what Anna wanted to talk about.
“I wonder how Carmine’s doing…I mean, it must have been a big shock to her.”
“Maybe too big.” Mina said slowly.
Anna watched Mina as she fiddled with the hem on her shirt, realizing that they’d been thinking the same thing after all. Anna had been really hoping she was just overreacting.
As much as Anna hated to admit it, it was something the two of them had to consider. After all, Anna had been pretty shaken up herself by what had happened the night before, and she was a vampire. But it must have been that much more horrifying for Carmine, who couldn’t have known what she was getting in to.
Mina looked across the parking lot, straightening up. Anna followed her gaze. Mina’s mom was driving across the parking lot towards them. Figures, Anna thought. The one time Mina’s mom was on time. She rolled up next to the girls and waved at Anna as Mina walked around towards the passenger door.
As Mina got to the car, she turned back towards Anna. She placed her fingers lightly on the handle, but before opening the door, she left Anna with one final thought.
“We have to stop them. Even if Carmine won’t help.”
Chapter 32: A Little Help from a Friend