There’s actually someone down there. It’s hard to tell in the dark, but a man hunches slightly as he leans against the wall. I think he’s alone for second before a flash of blond hair moves away from him.

My heart stalls and then kicks into high gear. My limbs turn to jelly. Not all creepy men in the dark are vampires, but I reach for my backpack to fish out my stake.

Shit. Xander never gave it back to me.

My adrenaline turns to absolute dread. If he is a vampire, I’m toast, and if he isn’t, I could still end up dead, but I can’t just turn around and leave. If I go back to the club for help, this girl could be dead by the time I return. I stalk forward until I’m at the lip of the alley. They’re arguing in whispers—his is so low it’s barely audible, and hers is soft and high. Not a vampire, then, but that doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous.

I creep closer and cringe as glass scrapes under my boots.

The man whirls around so fast I don’t have time to be startled. He takes two long strides and is in front of me in an instant.

I’m surprised I hold my ground, but I think it’s more that I’ve frozen than any type of bravery at this point.

“You’re scaring her!” The girl runs up beside him. Her long yellow hair catches the streetlight from the road and glows like a torch in the gloomy alley. Even in the dim light, her cheeks are somehow rosy against her white skin. She smiles at me, and it’s so wide and sincere that I don’t know how to make it fit in this scenario. She keeps it planted on her face until some of the tension in me starts to leak out.

“Are you okay?” she asks.

“I thought you were in trouble. I heard you arguing.” My voice comes out strong—as if I can handle the situation.

“Oh.” She laughs and straightens the baby-blue sweater she’s got on over her soft-pink sundress. “I just want to get an ice cream cone before all the shops close, and this grump won’t leave his post.”

I finally look at the guy, who’s been only a blur of threat on my radar. He’s scowling at the girl.

I take a step back. “You.” It’s the weird guy I ran into last night.

He stares at me for a second through the flop of curls dangling in his eyes and sighs. “I was hoping I wouldn’t see you again.”

“That feeling was mutual.”

“Then why didn’t you listen?” He folds his arms over his chest like a father scolding his child.

I bristle. “I don’t know who you think you are.”