BLOOD, a vampire story

she remembered that she was grounded. Her father had totally lit into her, pacing and demanding to know how she could have skipped school and gone into the woods while a mountain lion had b

never had a boyfriend before, either. And I've never had such a perfect birthday. It was

hopefully jogging with Aunt Avery. At the thought of her aunt, who was practically more like a sister, she

her at her locker. Amelia had on her

n air of triumph, she showed Miley the screen of her

number on the faceplate as she twirled

cool and collected. Miley di

And I called the motel, and they haven't seen anyone named Leo, or

and put her lab notebook into her leather messenger bag. Miley

, "Unsurprised that there's no one there by the name of Hunter Butcher. At this ki

ked at her

the hour," A

"Why would a detective arrange to meet Leo there? And would

at the conversation they were having was anywhere close to normal. "I

," she said quickly. And grat

a asked, smiling hopefully. "T

worth a shot to at least ask my folks if I can." She'd never been groun

ou," Ame

t friend, but he was staring at her. Her insides went all warm and tingly, and she gave him a littl

ax asked. "Did

in. She gave Miley a look. "And about that

smiling uncertainly up at him. "Do

id she really just as

ractically dragging on the floor. Levi looked from Max to Miley to Amelia and back

asked Miley, and she playfully batted his arm. "N

en licked her lips and cleared her throat, as

are my middle name. Actually, my middle name is almost as di

uld be very challenging for his hyperactive best friend. But it had been achieved before, and could be again if the stakes

Miley said, and Amelia's dis

good at tracing people via

sing by your expression, you already knew." Max could see the lightbulb go on. "And this som

Miley. "Tell you what. If the boys a

ld ask Seth." Seth, their lacrosse team goalie, was gay, ou

as reality came crashing down on him.

had asked Max to go to the motel with her. He gave his head a litt

Are you insane?" he said. "Let's think this through. Getting smack

When you put i