1.01 -- New Blood

Once upon a time, there was a girl and she was very, very dumb. Her name was Patty Archer and she was walking home alone one night, despite knowing a rash of unexplained disappearances had plagued Bridgeport for months.

Patty: I don’t believe this!

Charlie: Look, babe, it’s not you, it’s me.

Patty: I gave you the best seven weeks of my life!

Charlie: And, it’s seven weeks I will cherish. I’m just not ready to do the whole monogamy thing.

Patty: You’re such a jerk!

Charlie: Come on, don’t be like that. We can still hook up from time to time, if I’m not busy.

Frustrated, Patty hung up. Charlie Wellington was the worst mistake she’d ever made. He was just as heartless as that sister of his.

Patty didn’t realize someone was behind her, not until he reached out and put his hand on her shoulder. Then, she almost jumped out of her skin.

Will: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I couldn’t help but overhear. Are you alright?

Patty: No! It’s my boyfriend. Ex-boyfriend. I thought he loved me, but he just broke up with me.

Will: Well, he sounds just awful.

Patty: He is.

Will: There, there. Tell Will all about it.

Patty: We started dating this summer. We hooked up at a pool party and he said I was pretty and so I had sex with him, ‘cause that’s just what you’re supposed to do when someone on the lacrosse team says you’re pretty. But, now that school’s starting back, he wants his freedom or whatever. Like, I was good enough to be his blow-up doll this summer, but I’m not good enough to be his girlfriend at school?

Will: Oh, what a dick.

Patty: He is, isn’t he?

Will: Mm-hmm. Say, I know what’ll make you feel better.

Patty: What?

 

Will: This.

He grabbed her, a low, monstrous growl radiating from within him as he sunk his teeth into the delicate flesh of her neck.

Patty tried to scream, but it was as if she was paralyzed. She couldn’t move, couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything but stand there while he drained her dry. Coldness quickly overwhelmed her and darkness followed it, until she felt her body collapse on the alley’s wet pavement. 

And, the last thing she heard as death took her was Will jauntily whistling some strange tune she should’ve known from her childhood yet couldn’t place.

Christine Parker jerked awake in bed. Her heart was slamming against her ribs. She’d had another nightmare, this one worse, more vivid than the others. She looked at the clock. Three a.m., again, just like the others.

She laid back down, tossed and turned but didn’t really sleep. Then, the sun was up over her cheap house in the poor part of Bridgeport. Dad was in the kitchen making breakfast. Burnt mac and cheese 

was his specialty.

Christine: Good morning.

Silas: Morning, sweetheart. Excited about your first day?

Christine: Almost as excited as I am to experience my first root canal.

Silas: It’ll be better this year, you’ll see.

Christine couldn’t imagine it getting much worse. Last year she’d lost the only boy she’d ever loved in one of the most horrifying moments of her life, to this savage thing that looked like a man. Not that anyone believed her. It was the trauma, they all said. So, she stopped saying anything about it.

Silas: You don’t have to clean up.

Christine: It’s no problem.

Silas: So, you haven’t said a word about my suit.

Christine: Another job interview?

Silas: This one’s with Gabriel Wellington.

Christine: You hate Gabriel Wellington.

Silas: Hate is a strong word. But, he has an opening at Wellington Enterprises and I am the best accountant I know.

Christine: You’ll get it. Gabriel Wellington would be an idiot to send you away with your number crunching prowess.

Silas: Isobel coming to pick you up?

Christine: She’s supposed to. Eve doesn’t take custody of her until eight a.m..

Silas: That’s why you’re not excited about school, isn’t it? You don’t want to see Eve?

Christine: Among other things.

Silas: The three of you used to be inseparable. What happened?

A lot. Too much. Things her father didn’t want to hear about and she didn’t have time to explain. Luckily, she was saved by Isobel in the driveway, blaring her horn. Christine gave her father a kiss on the cheek, hurried to get dressed and said she’d see him after school. 

Christine had the same locker she had last year, but someone else had Josh’s. As Christine put her things away, it was all she could concentrate on. Josh still haunted this place. She saw him everywhere when she arrived, feeding a single into the soda machine in the lounge, horse playing with his buddies in front of the water fountain, flirting with the old lady who ran the library. But, he wasn’t really there. He’d never be there again.

Isobel: Are you okay, sweetie?

Christine: I miss him.

Isobel: I know.

At the end of the hall, Christine noticed Eve. She was speaking with her brother.

Christine: Do you think she’s ever going to forgive me?

Isobel: Nope.

Christine: Whatever happened to lying to make me feel better?

Isobel: I’m just saying, Eve doesn’t respond well to people taking things from her. I stole her favorite pencil in second grade and I’m still on probation. You stole Josh from her. You’re lucky social exile is all you got. Though, social exile is like Eve’s answer to the death penalty. 

Across the hall, Charlie checked in with his sister.

Eve: No.

Charlie: You don’t even know what I was going to ask.

Eve: Yes, I do. We’re twins. I can practically read your mind. And, the answer is no.

Charlie: You’re not even friends with Christine anymore. What’s wrong with me hooking up with her?

Eve: You have a girlfriend.

Charlie: Keep your voice down. And, for the record, I dumped Patty last night. I’m a free agent.

Eve: You have got to be the biggest dick on this planet.

Christine went on to her first period. When she was gone, Isobel followed Eve to the bathroom. She’d spent all summer trying to bridge the gap between her two warring best friends. Josh died. They both loved him. They both grieved for him. Why couldn’t Eve just let it go? And, the pencil thing, too, while she was at it…

Isobel: Eight on the dot. I’m all yours.

Eve: Do I have you this Saturday?

Isobel: No, Christine does.

Eve: Oh. I was going to go shopping, but we can push it back until next Saturday. But, you’re coming to my party tonight, right?

Isobel: Duh. Like I’d miss the first official back to school party, much less an Eve Wellington pool party. Hey, maybe Christine could –

Eve: No.

Isobel: But, maybe –

Eve: I said no. I know you’re playing advocatus diabolic – that’s Latin for the devil’s advocate – but, as far as I’m concerned, Christine Parker doesn’t exist. 

Isobel gave up. Was this what the child of divorced parents felt like? Being batted back and forth? If only she could think of some way to get them back together. She missed their sleepovers they used to have, especially. She could barely remember the last one, just that Christine had found this weird old spellbook in a box of her mother’s things and they’d pretended to do incantations. None of it worked, of course. That stuff wasn’t real. 

Exiting the bathroom, she stopped cold in her tracks.

Isobel: Oh-em-gee. That’s Gossip Girl for oh my God.

Eve: What?

Isobel: New boy. Scrumptious, isn’t he? 

 

Eve: He’s dressed like a J. Crew catalogue threw up on him and he has Backstreet Boy hair.

Isobel: What’s a Backstreet Boy?

Eve: You have no culture.

Later that day, Aidan watched Christine. She was reading in the quad, oblivious to him. He knew better than this. He was just supposed to watch out for Christine from afar, but he could resist being near her no longer. Just to hear her say his name once would validate all the years he’d spent roaming this earth, searching for meaning.

Aidan: Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. I saw you were reading Kerouac. Academic or pleasure?

Christine: Both. I have a paper due by the end of the week for my lit class on a piece by my favorite author.

Aidan: I know, I’m in your first period. I went to the library to get a copy of that book, but it was already checked out to you.

 

Christine: I’m sorry, we only have one copy.

Aidan: It’s okay. I know it by heart. I’m Aidan, by the way.

Christine: Christine Parker. But, you probably already knew that.

Aidan: Why would you say that?

Christine: Library computer? You saw my name? Knew I had this copy?

 

Aidan: Right. Am I bothering you? Is this weird, because just say the word and –

Christine: No, it’s fine. I wouldn’t mind the company. But, I should warn you there are serious repercussions for involving yourself with me.

Aidan: Like what? Are there snipers on the roof ready to take me out?

Christine: Maybe. I have been officially exiled by Queen Eve.

Aidan: Eh, queen bees never really worried me. They’re all bark and no bite.

Christine: Famous last words.

In sixth period AP Bio, Eve fed the class' pet fish, Goldie. Isobel came in, still raving about how dreamy Aidan was, even if he did have Backstreet Boy hair.

Isobel: Can I invite the new boy to your party?

Eve: Franklin? He gives me a gay vibe. I don’t think you’re his type.

Isobel: No, silly. Aidan.

Eve: I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Is.

Isobel: But, he doesn’t know anyone and the party could help him make friends. 

Eve didn’t want to tell her she’d seen Aidan cozying up to Christine earlier. But, she didn’t want to burst her bubble, either. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe this one could resist the lure of Christine’s innocent act better than Josh had. Eve would do anything to keep Isobel from feeling the pain of losing someone she liked to someone she loved like they were sisters.

Eve: Sure, I guess. But, if he doesn’t come, try not to take it to heart?

Isobel: Thanks!

Aidan came into biology class. He’d gotten turned around in the halls and missed the bell. Approaching the teacher’s desk, he gave him the tardy slip the hall monitor gave him.

Mr. Wexler: Try to be on time tomorrow, Mr. Gallagher.

Aidan: I will.

Mr. Wexler: Take a seat next to Charlie Wellington in the back. He’s going to be your lab partner for this semester.

Aidan narrowed his eyes. He didn’t like compelling innocents, but he didn’t want to sit with Eve Wellington’s brother. He wanted to sit with Christine. Keeping his voice low, he spoke.

Aidan: Are you sure that’s where I sit? Shouldn’t I sit with Christine?  

Mr. Wexler: Right. On second thought, you should sit with Christine.

Aidan: Small world.

Christine: Small world indeed.

Eve wondered what that was all about. She’d seen Wexler’s seating chart. Aidan’s name was next to Charlie’s. And, where was Christine’s partner? Patty Archer must’ve been pretty torn up about Charlie dumping her if she didn’t even come to school for the first day.

After school, Isobel approached Aidan. She had a gazillion butterflies in her tummy, but it was now or never.

Isobel: Hi.

Aidan: Hi.

Isobel: I’m Isobel.

Aidan: Aidan. It’s nice to meet you.

Isobel: So, there’s this party tonight at Eve Wellington’s house. Everybody will be there. You should come. She said it’s okay to invite you.

Aidan: Will Christine be there?

Isobel was a little taken aback by that. But, she shrugged it off. They were lab partners. She was probably one of the few people he knew there.

 

Isobel: Probably not. But, I’ll be there.

Aidan: Uh, you know what, we’ll see? I’m not much of a party person. But, if I have time, I’ll swing by.

Isobel: Okay. See you later. 

She seemed like a nice enough girl, he thought. But, she wasn’t the one he was sent here for.

Christine sat in her room, reading from Desolation Angels. She didn’t know what it was about this book she loved so much. The style? Maybe. Or, maybe she adored it because this book had been her mother’s favorite.

A few chapters in, her eyelids became heavy. She wanted so much to rest, she hadn’t really slept in weeks, not since the nightmares started. For a few minutes, she thought, laying her book aside and closing her eyes.

But, Christine couldn’t sleep. As soon as she closed her eyes, the television came on. Christine should’ve been freaked out, but with all the faulty wiring in that cheap apartment they lived in – blenders came on in the middle of the night, the shower turned itself on, the garage door rolled itself up and down. She reached for the remote.

That’s when she saw it, the news broadcast. Her heart sank into her stomach when she saw the picture of Patty Archer on the screen and the headline about a body found an alley. Christine turned up the volume, just in time to catch the last gory detail, that the victim’s body had been drained of blood.

Just like Josh.

She started to turn it off, until she caught a glimpse of live footage from the crime scene. She’d seen it before – she’d seen Patty there before. Her dream last night, could she have been seeing Patty’s death?

Patty died the same way Josh did. If she was killed by the man…thing Christine saw in her dream, then maybe that was where she needed to look for answers about who killed Josh.

The front door opened, and her father came in. She knew that look on his face.

Christine: Gabriel Wellington is an idiot.

Silas: Don’t worry, I got a job.

Christine: With Wellington?

Silas: No. The burger joint down the street is hiring. It’s seven bucks an hour, but it beats nothing.

Christine: Dad, you have an MBA. You’re better than a burger joint.

 

Silas: No one’s hiring and I’m not going to watch you struggle because I got laid off from my last job.

Christine: I have to go out. Will you be okay?

Silas: Yeah. I think I’ll have some mac and cheese for dinner.

Christine: I love you.

Silas: I love you, too, Chrissy.

 

In her bedroom, Eve Wellington tried on swimwear for Isobel. As queen bee, she had to look the best of everyone there. It was a law. 

Eve: What do you think?

Isobel: I think I wish I had your body.

Eve: I gained seven pounds this summer. I feel like someone should Sharpie “Goodyear” across my back.

Isobel: Are you kidding me? You’re gorgeous.

 

Eve: So, did you invite Aidan?

Isobel: I did.

Eve: What’d he say?

Isobel: “Is Christine going to be there?”

Eve was dreading that. What was it about Christine Parker that mesmerized guys to the point they couldn’t see another girl standing right in front of them? It was infuriating. Part of her got why Josh left. Eve wasn’t easy to love, she was even less easy to date. But, Isobel – she had a pure heart. Any guy would be lucky to have her.

Eve: You know what?

Isobel: What?

Eve: You should find a hot guy – a hot guy who’s never heard of Christine Parker, and hook up with him.

Isobel: I don’t need to. I really think Aidan will come. Besides, it’s not like Christine wants a boyfriend right now. She’s still super hung up on that person I’m not going to mention because it makes you cry. You’ll see.

Eve: But, if he doesn’t? Hot guy. Never heard of her. Got it?

Isobel: Got it.

Christine stood in the alley, at the same spot she’d seen Patty die in her dream. This was crazy. She knew it was crazy. People didn’t see the future. It was a coincidence – it had to be.

Suddenly, all the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. She could sense another presence. Someone … behind her?

 

Christine whirled around. There was no one there.

She breathed a sigh of relief, until she felt fingertips touch her shoulder and screamed.

Aidan: Sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you.

Christine: I’m fine. I’m just jumpy.

Aidan: I saw you from across the street. I called out to you, but I guess you didn’t hear me.

Christine: Hard to hear anything above the pounding of my heart.

Aidan: You shouldn’t be out here alone.

 

Christine: I know. I was just looking for –

Aidan: Looking for what?

Christine: I don’t know. Wait, what are you doing out here?

Aidan: I was on my way to a party. Would you like to come with me?

Christine: Oh, I don’t think so. Eve Wellington would have a cow if I showed up at her party.

Aidan: You were friends, weren’t you?

Christine: How did you know that?

Aidan: I heard some people talking. I know what it’s like to have a falling out with someone you were very close to over something like a shared romantic interest.

Christine: What did you do?

Aidan: Confronted him. I told him I didn’t want it to destroy our friendship. We both loved this girl.

Christine: Did you work things out?

Aidan: No, but it was still the right thing to do. Also, I doubt your Eve is as volatile as my friend was. What do you say?

Christine: I say there’s something about you that’s very difficult to resist, Aidan Gallagher. 

Eve schmoozed at her party. Everyone who was anyone was there. A few exiled people had turned up, but she’d unleashed the maid and let her have at them. One of the freshman geeks cried when she took the duster to his behind, and it warmed Eve’s heart.

In the kitchen, she found someone she didn’t recognize. He wasn’t from their school, she knew that much. And, whoever he was, he was helping himself to her cookies.

Eve: Who the hell are you?

Will: Name’s Will.

Eve: Well, Will, would you kindly vacate the premises? I’m throwing a party here, one you were not invited to.

Will: How do you know I’m not someone’s plus-one?

Eve: Because, I don’t allow plus-ones. It opens the party up to unsavory people, like freshmen. And, leave those alone. They’re for the guests. The ones I want here.

Will: Huh. Maybe if someone ate your cookies a little more often, you wouldn’t be so cranky.

Oh, this guy was insufferable! Eve had never been so insulted in her life. She had the mind to dump the cookies all over him, but that’d be a waste of good cookies.

Eve: I’m going to ask you one more time –

Will: Oh, calm down. I’m here looking for a friend. I need to get a message to him.

Eve: A friend? Like you have any.

Will: I’m actually quite charming and a real people person.

Eve: Charming? Try smarmy.

This girl, there was something about her that intrigued Will. Most girls got so caught up in his aura and his blue eyes they made easy prey. But, this one, she was broken. He could smell it on her. He wanted to know why.

Will: You’re going to tell me who broke your heart.

Eve: Let’s try not. 

Will didn’t understand. Maybe his compulsion was rusty. He tried again.

Will: You’re going to kiss me.

Eve: Because the squinty thing is a real turn on? God, what planet are you from?

Will: You’re not even a little compelled to kiss me, are you?

Eve: No, but I am compelled to grab a butcher knife and castrate you, which I’ll do if you touch me again.

She sneered at him then went back to her guests. And, she took the cookies with her.

Will didn’t get it. He’d never met anyone who could resist compulsion before. And, suddenly, this girl became a whole different kind of intriguing to him. But, he would have to figure her out some other time. Right now, he had to get a message to Aidan and his little friend. And, he knew just how he was going to deliver it.

 

Isobel was about to make a run for drinks when she spotted him. Aidan. He came! Her heart swelled…

…then shriveled, when she saw who he was with. Christine. How stupid she’d been. If Josh left someone as beautiful as Eve for Christine, what chance did she have?

Christine: Hey, are you okay?

Isobel: Fine. I just have to go be elsewhere. Bye.

Christine: What was that about?

Aidan: I have no idea.

Eve joined them, none too happy to see Christine or the new boy. 

Eve: Of course you don’t. You’re as clueless as your girlfriend.

Christine: Eve –

Eve: You’ve got nerve showing your face here, Parker.

Christine: We need to talk.

Eve: You know, I’ve had it up to my eyeballs with crashers. First the freshman geek, then that Will guy who, I don’t care how blue his eyes are, was a jerk, and now you.

 
Aidan: Will? What was his last name?

Eve: I don’t know. I try not to get to know uninvited guests on a personal level.

Aidan: Dark hair, blue eyes, about my height and build?

Eve: Yeah, him and half the guys on the planet.

Aidan: Excuse me.

Aidan ran off in search of Will, leaving Christine and Eve alone. 

Eve: You can wait for him down by the curb with the rest of the garbage.

Christine: Do you ever get tired of being so hateful?

Eve: Do you ever get tired of being a slut?

Christine: It’s been six months. How many times do I have to apologize? How long are you going to keep punishing me for falling in love with Josh?

Eve: Until it stops hurting.

Christine: I miss you.

Eve: You need to leave. 

Isobel went home. She knew she was supposed to pick up drinks for Eve’s party, but she’d met this hot guy outside with the bluest eyes she’d ever seen.

Isobel: And, you’re sure you’ve never heard of Christine Parker before?

Will: I promise.

Isobel: Okay. I’ve never done anything like this before.

Will: Oh, it’s okay. I’ve done this lots. I’m an old pro.

Isobel: At the random hookup?

Will: At that and what I’m about to do.

Isobel: I don’t get it. What are you about to do?

Will: Kill a silly little girl dumb enough to invite me in. Now, hold still.

Like she’d have a choice. As soon as his fangs slid into her neck, his poison paralyzed her. Isobel could do nothing but stand there, helpless in Will’s grip.