Everett had finished loading the folding stage into the trailer twenty minutes ago and he kept on pacing outside of Lyonfort, stressed, too worried. Maybe the trailer had already arrived at the hotel and he was still here, with his mind in his memories, thinking about how to ask Evie on a date.
Was he ready for it? Jade seemed to like their test date on the roof despite being brief, but he could do better.
The wind was blowing hard, and the time to leave for the hotel was near. Zeth chauffeur had brought Evie's blue Camaro to the door and Everett had already called Laska a couple of times to see if Aspem had accompanied her to the hotel. Aspem was hungover at home, so maybe Everett would have to go back to his hairstyling roots to finish the makeover Zeth wanted on time.
"And then I told him that I thought the class would be practical and not theoretical, but the boy has a will of steel." Sue Cubbus was ahead of the dancers, talking to Madilda and Trazy Hill.
Behind them were Trolivia Trolland and Grimmily Reaperton.
"Can you imagine having to date six guys at once?" Trolivia giggled. She was the short dancer with pointy ears and cute glasses who always danced with Draco, and she was dressed in a bright pink and blue skirt and top. She had a cap with two horns, and a too small mouth for her big tusks.
"Oh no! I would never do that! I just want a guy all to myself!" Grimmily said, thin and pale-skinned, always wearing long cloaks and hoods. Everett liked the boots she always wore because the heels were bones and sometimes the platforms were skulls.
"And I told him, unless you're a vampire, I won't date you!" Felinda Catseye was talking to Elsa Zquatch, both tall women. Felinda was the one who always danced with Alex because she was the only woman who could resist his pheromones. She was very serious, always in leather jackets and high-heeled boots, and as athletic as Evie herself. Elsa on the other hand was the dancer who was always with Everett on stage, a bodybuilder with light brown skin. She was Zack's sister, Everett's distant cousin. Her eyes were a beautiful emerald green, and her hair was voluminous and a darker shade of brown than her perfect skin.
Behind them, always alone, was Algaelea Fisher, a dark-skinned dancer who was Finn's partner on stage. She was a descendant of the blue-haired House Aquablue of Aquablue Island. She was wearing her classic turquoise leather jacket with epaulets and a turquoise fringed skirt.
"Hey! Girls!" Everett hurried to catch up with them at the door, and they all looked up, except Elsa because she was as tall as him, "I need advice from women, and you are women."
"Not now, we are talking," Felinda said. Everett knew that she could be very apathetic and that she hated it when men like him approached her, but that didn't matter, because Everett was willing to put up with some rudeness just for Evie.
"I need your help, girls," Everett said.
"Talk," Elsa said firmly.
"I want to get into Evie's heart." Everett shrugged. "I want to make her happy."
"You won't make her happy being a gym bro," Felinda rolled her eyes, "We women don't want idiots like you."
"What are you looking for then?" Everett ignored her condescending tone, "Can you tell me?"
"We're looking for a mysterious, pale vampire, not like Draco, more like..."
"Don't say it, Felinda," Algaelea rolled her eyes, "Don't start talking about your damn edgy vampire crush. He is not real, he is just a book character."
"Hey, I like that book too!" Elsa nudged Algaelea, "But I prefer the very tall and muscular brother. His relationship with his girlfriend is a goal! And hunting bears is a power move!"
"I can fight bears," Everett puffed out his chest, "But I don't because they are living, sentient beings. Animals deserve respect."
"I prefer a college bad boy with tattoos," Trolivia said with her hands clasped together, blinking rapidly, "That saga I a more realistic story."
"Oh sure! I love it too!" Grimmily nodded instantly, "It's so sexy for a boy to be such a rebel! And he always makes up with the blonde girl with sex!"
"Grimmily! Decorum!" Algaelea shouted. Everett raised his eyebrows. It was so strange to hear Grimmily talk like that. She and Trolivia were always quiet girls who had their heads buried in books almost always, never speaking much about boys or anything else. "You girls are impossible. But we can help Everett with Evie, right?"
"Yes," Madilda nodded, stroking her straight black hair, "After all, Everett is already a millionaire."
"And he doesn't blink," Trazy said, giggling, arranging her curly orange hair with her hands, "Do you have a dungeon, big boy?"
"Lyonfort has dungeon in Madmen Tower," he nodded, and all girls laughed. "What? Did I say something funny?"
"Don't pay attention to them," Algaelea covered her face, "They're the crazy duo, their brothers are the sane duo."
"I like Clyde and Jeyk Hill," Everett smiled.
"I think Everett wants to become the perfect book boyfriend, oh how cute!" Sue laughed.
"How can I be perfect book boyfriend?" Everett cocked his head and Sue took a step forward.
"Women are attracted to men with power who have wealth as a result." said Sue, walking seductively around him, "You must have the ability to influence yourself and those around you or we don't care."
"I'm practically supposed to be Zeth, got it," Everett nodded.
"Pretty much," Sue laughed, "But don't worry, I'll always prefer you."
"I don't want to be victim of your magic again, Susan," Everett said, taking a step back, "I want to know how to be perfect boyfriend for Evie."
"Become a virtuoso on the piano," said Felinda, checking her nails, "And if you don't have a piano, buy one."
"We girls like to feel like we are dominating a beast, who is cruel to everyone but sweet to us," Grimmily said, biting her lip, "You have that going for you."
"That ain't enough," Felinda grunted when Everett smiled a bit, erasing his smile, "To be attractive to women, you must be intelligent, mysterious, an apex predator, handsome and wealthy or don't even expect us to look at you. Sadly, you are just muscles, but nothing else."
"He is wealthy," Trazy nodded, "And handsome."
"Do you realise that all of you are talking about men from romance books?" Algaelea said, turning to face Everett, "Hey big guy, don't pay attention to any of that. They're just talking about their vampire, millionaire, and emotionally constipated teenage crushes."
"But those men are attractive to women," Everett said, "Please tell me more!"
"Just talk to her as if she's already your lover, and she will likely become your girlfriend." said Susan, inspecting her black nails, "Always works. That or you'll end up in prison for harassment."
"Put your free time to great use, like watching her sleep without her consent," said Elsa, snapping her fingers, "You can enter through the window without her knowing."
"Or stalking her to find out all about her is cute too." Said Madilda with a smile. "Meet her friends, her family and follow her to work against her will if you must."
"I've failed as perfect boyfriend," Everett looked down, "Do girls like to be watched while sleeping? I don't understand. I don't like that, I usually snore loudly and talk when I sleep."
"You are such a brute," Felinda seemed angry with him, "What matters is that you are elegant, mysterious, a vampire, and that you have exquisite tastes. If you want to seduce her, you must enjoy a wide range of music. Classical, jazz, progressive metal, alternative rock, punk rock, but you must dislike country."
"Surprise your girl in an early car ride by having Debussy in your CD player." said Elsa with a wink, "Never comment on the music from your own teen years though."
"I am not teen," Everett grunted, "I'm adult Yeti."
"Yeah, yeah, listen, you brute. Girls hate guys who enjoy the music they like, especially if they're different from the rest like me." said Felinda with a hand to her chest, "Popular music these days sucks, it's for brainless people. You must be elegant and hate everyone for being brainless. That's why the boy in the novel falls in love with girls like me, because we are..."
"Apathetic?" Everett asked.
"Different, you brute!" Felinda stomped her foot.
"Wait, I like epic music, does that count as classical music?" Everett cocked his head. "Wait, Frank has always been open about his teenage music tastes like Taylor Swift... Why is he one Evie likes most then?"
"Because maybe Evie is a Duck, not a Swan," Felinda rolled her eyes, "You and her are one and the same."
"Oh! Everett! Maybe you should send her extravagant gifts like first-edition books by one of her favourite authors," said Madilda, clapping a little.
"Evie likes psychoanalysis books," Everett said but Felinda rolled her eyes.
"Of course she likes boring books," Felinda grimaced, "Surely a story about two teenagers falling head-over-heels in love is too much for her."
"And what are those stories supposed to be like?" Everett cocked his head, "How can I be romance book guy?"
"You must be obsessive and force her to accept gifts," said Trazy, madly, "Even if it means getting rid of her old car to give her a new one with the excuse of driving safety."
"Okay, destroy Evie's car and buy her safe car, understood." Everett chuckled briefly, "What would be good safe car? One without engine or tires perhaps? And without windshield or steering wheel... I'll buy her car seat only."
"Buy her The Submissive Special," Madilda bit her lip, "Audi A3 is the safest car on the market!"
"How about you disable her vehicle to prevent her from visiting any man she may also love?" said Trazy.
"Audi or old car?" Everett cocked his head.
"Forget about the car!" Elsa spoke up, "Tell her that it's for her own good or that it's because you don't like the guy, sooner or later she will see that you are right about your suspicions. Women always like men who are always right."
"Like Zeth?" Everett cocked his head and all girls nodded, except for Algaelea, who was fuming with her face behind her delicate hands.
"Girls, stop it!" Algaelea yelled, "You can't romanticize those men or turn Everett into your wet dream! Those guys you are talking about... One is a creepy millionaire who has a lot of free time to stalk a girl, the other is an old as fuck freak who stalks high school girls and the other one is a complete momma's boy and can't let go of shit that happened years ago!"
"You shut up," Felinda yelled and all the girls nodded, "You don't know anything about romance or true love!"
"Listen, Everett," Sue began, "Just bring her into your world and she will follow your lead all the way to your bedroom."
"But I don't want to take her to my bedroom, it's cold in there," Everett lowered his eyebrows.
"Oh my god, please stop! You're going to break him!" Algaelea pleaded, "Everett is a very sweet boy and if you keep confusing him..."
"Shut up, Algaelea!" Felinda shouted, "That's why you're still single!"
"What the hell are you talking about?! You're all single because you're still waiting for your imaginary crushes!" Algaelea shouted, "Felinda, you haven't even kissed anyone! None of you!"
"Well I can talk about all these topics freely because I have plenty of experience," Susan said, taking a step toward Everett, "Just take off your clothes and she'll come to you."
"Alright, that's enough bullshit for one night!" a female voice echoed in the howling wind.
"Angry Blonde?" Everett looked around.
"Wait a sec Big Guy, I'm going down," Then there was a sound, like a gunshot, and Everett looked up at the curtain wall. From up there, the angry blonde swung with her grapple gun, landing firmly in a superhero pose in front of Everett, getting up quickly and adjusting her hair.
"Argh, the brainless popular blonde has arrived," Felinda rolled her eyes, "It's always the blondes."
"Brainless? Am I the one who thinks she's a Swan? Am I in love with an author's wet dream?" Kasey said, pulling a Taser gun from her cat purse, aiming at them, "Now leave with your stupid advices. You are going to confuse Everett. He is worth a lot, too much, for you to corrupt him with your bad romance."
"Why are you pointing a freaking Taser at us?!" exclaimed Felinda.
"We have a hundred percent chance to beat you even though you're armed, and you're outnumbered." Elsa crossed her arms.
"Do you want to try? Do you want to mess with the brainless blonde who was Vanessa Helsee's right hand?" Kasey looked at them with half-closed eyes, the girls looked at each other and then began to walk towards the white van grunting, all of them except for Algaelea, who gave Kasey a thumbs up.
"Why did you do that?!" Everett shouted, "They were helping me..."
"Helping you to become a toxic hazard?" Kasey pointed at him accusingly, "Are you insane?! All they told you is exactly what you shouldn't do!"
"I was trying to learn from them." Everett felt ashamed of himself, "The truth is, I've never had real girlfriend, only one-night stands. I want to settle down and..."
"Everett, you're too sweet for someone so big and scary," Kasey sighed, putting the Taser in her purse again, "Now, why don't we talk about it? I'll show you what a real life relationship is about, not a book relationship."
"Have you ever had boyfriend?"
"No, just one night stands, so I can tell you everything I know so that you don't make the same mistakes I did," she said, squeezing Everett's huge bicep, "Listen. You've been learning to be more romantic and sociable, and that's nice, it makes you attractive. And that date on the roof of the diner? That was perfect."
"But I don't have romance book qualities," Everett looked down, clenching his fists, "And I'm stupid because I never went to school."
"Hey! Hey!" Kasey took Everett's hard face in her hands and turned him to look into her eyes, "You have a lot more romance book qualities than you think."
"You don't even know me," Everett shook his head.
"Look at what you are doing right now! It's obvious that you're trying to be the best boyfriend ever!" Kasey patted his cheek twice, and he smiled slightly, "You're a wonderful Yeti, Everett."
"Thank you for saying I'm wonderful," Everett wiped away a tear that threatened to escape his eye, "Now I will give you compliment as way of thanking you... You are very pretty and sweet for trained assassin."
"Thanks," she giggled. Then she looked him straight in the eyes and with a sincere smile, she spoke, "HÄr namÄnnu. TimÄ« yaslÄÄ« garn sakchhau."
"I didn't know you spoke Nepali, Angry Blonde," Everett said, his eyes wide, "You're full of surprises."
"And you too, Big Guy," she said, winking at him.
There were footsteps behind Kasey, and she turned quickly, but Everett put a hand on her shoulder to calm her survival instinct.
"There's no danger, it's boys," Everett told Kasey, and she looked up with her blue eyes fixed on his. "In case of danger, I'll protect you."
"Why would you..."
"For being Nice Blonde to me." He smiled, and she could tell it was a sincere smile, "Timī eklai hoinau."
And that made her blush.
"Hey! Everett! Get on the tour bus! We're leaving!" Frank said, stepping out of Lyonfort with Evie. Everett stood transfixed, enthralled with the way the bodyguard uniform accentuated Evie's athletic curves. She was a beautiful ballerina, with a perfect waist and an even more perfect face, a warm sun during a cold afternoon, a safe place to hide in a blizzard.
And she was holding Frank's hand.
That was shocking.
"Hey Everett, have you seen..." Alex stopped walking and swallowed hard, blushing, "Oh! H-Hi, Kasey."
"Hi?" the blonde waved, "You okay, Alycandro? You are blushing."
"Y-Yeah, I..."
"Show time!" Draco was jumping around like a child, followed by Paul.
"Well, thanks for sound checking, Anton," Finn said, talking on the phone, "Oh yeah, and thank Boomer and Kato for setting up the decorations. And thank Deadgar for helping with the spotlights. And thank Damon for doing nothing too."
"Where's Jade?" Everett looked around.
"Here I am," she said, stepping out of Lyonfort with Zeth, but she was taking wider steps so as not to be close to him, "Well, shall we go now?"
"Guys, I need to talk to you on our way to the hotel," Zeth said, checking his phone, "There's trouble." He eyed Finn, who quickly looked away with a grunt. "This is important, Seamons. Put your pride aside, will you?"
"Let's just go," Finn grumbled.
"See you at work, my love," Evie let go of Frank's bionic hand, gave him a kiss on the cheek, and then walked towards Finn. "Hey, don't be grumpy and have fun. You can handle this, handsome." She told him, and Finn blushed when she gave him a kiss on the cheek. She then walked towards Draco, "No hanging upside down, cutie pie," she said, ruffling his hair. Draco laughed and blew her a kiss with both hands. "No flirting," she told Alex, who motioned to his cheek for Evie to kiss. She laughed and shook her head, "No, no. Alfaro. You've been a bad wolf." She then walked over to Everett, giving him a quick but warm hug, "No Death Match, Big Guy," Everett nodded. She then looked at Paul, smiling at him, "Good luck on your first night as leader of your band, Paul."
"Y-Yeah, Thanks Evie," Paul blushed. It was almost adorable to see such a big, strong, seductive-looking boy being so nervous.
"Zeth," Evie walked up to him, and even though he was busy on his phone, he stopped what he was doing to look into her eyes, "No matter what happens, after the concert, you and I need to talk to the boys."
"Yeah, I think we need to talk," Zeth said, grabbing her by the waist and slamming her against him. They all gasped in unison, "Guys? There are things we need to talk about after the concert, but I want you to know that I..." He turned to look Evie straight in the eyes, and nodded, "I've loved this woman for years now."
"Wow... Just wow... I..." Frank said, shivering.
"Frank?" Evie was worried sick.
"This is a shock but, I don't know why I'm not that surprised. I didn't expect something like this, I mean, it's not like you two had an affair, but wow. I didn't know Zeth had loved you for years, my love." Frank whispered, "I'm happy for you, don't get me wrong. For all of us! But... I think there is something to talk about indeed."
"So it's official now?" Draco jumped around a lot, "Are we a couple of seven now?"
"There's no such thing as a couple of seven," Finn said, looking at Zeth with disgust, but then at Evie with a slight smile, "But... Are we?"
"Yes," Evie said, looking at everyone, "Frank, Draco, Alex, Finn, Everett... Zeth. I want to be your girlfriend."
"A huevo que sÃ!" Alex shouted, "Woo-hoo! Yeah baby! Couple of seven!"
"How beautiful is love," Everett said, smiling more than usual, "Now we are beautiful petunia blooming in winds of fear and despair."
"I'm happy for you," Paul said, biting his lip, looking down.
"Hey, we'll talk about your wish after the show," Alex told Paul.
"Uh-huh. I think we can make this bigger, if we all agree. Don't be discouraged." Draco nodded. Paul smiled slightly.
"Well girl," Zeth said, releasing Evie, "I think it's time to get to work."
"It is, Boss." She blushed, "We're not going to be cowards anymore, okay?"
"Never again, not after the concert," Zeth said.
"Okay. Jade. You, BC-13, Kasey and I will go in my car," Evie said, with an elegant walk, crossing a leg with each step, "The rest of my team is already at the hotel, we will meet them there."
Jade had an hole in her stomach. She was breathing slowly to try and control herself. But she just couldn't do it. Zeth did this on purpose to humiliate her. That was for sure. And surely Evie played along to make her jealous. Surely Evie and Zeth planned this to get rid of her!
"Come on Jade," Evie opened the door of her Camaro, "You too Kasey."
"I thought we were friends," Jade whispered, but Evie didn't hear her.
"I don't want to ride in the back seat, you know?" Kasey looked up at Everett, patting him on the chest and the Yeti blushed a little. "Just relax, Big Guy. Evie is already yours, you just didn't realise." Kasey started walking towards the car, as sensually as Evie, and Everett followed her with his eyes until she stood next to Jade.
"Where's BC-13?" Evie asked while strapping on.
"Up here," BC-13 waved from a wall walk of the curtain wall, "Listening to everything!" He fired his grapple gun, spun in the air and swung to the ground, "Kasey," he nodded at her as he approached the car, "I see you've changed a lot. I thought you would tell other Hunters about this place or escape as soon as you had the chance."
"What can I say?" she turned to look at Paul, who nodded, and she nodded back, "I was a survivor and a victim, now it's my turn to be a hero." And then she eyed Everett. He and Alex stood shoulder to shoulder behind Paul, staring at her.
And Kasey hoped with all her being that those were not of loving eyes.