"And what are they?" I finally asked. It was time to get some answers. "What are the cold ones?"
He smiled darkly. "Blood drinkers," he replied in a chilling voice. "Your people call them vampires."
I stared out at the rough surf after he answered; that wasn't so bad. I mean, it didn't change my feelings about Fredward. I still loved him, and he still loved me.
"You have goose bumps," he laughed delightfully.
"You should WRITE Goosebumps." I complimented him, still staring into the waves. But apparently he didn't get the reference to the pale-faced author R.L. Stine150 or his series of children's books.
"Pretty crazy stuff, though, isn't it? No wonder my dad doesn't want us to talk about it to anyone... " Squaw trailed off as if he just realized he was telling me probably the biggest, most important secret in the entire universe.
I couldn't control my expression enough to look at him yet. "Don't worry, I won't give you away."
"I guess I just violated the treaty," he laughed. "Whatever!"
"Yeah, whatever!" I promised, "Don't worry, I won't tell. I'll die before I tell, you know, I'll take it to the grave!" and then shivered. "As they say."
"Seriously though, don't say anything to Charlie. He was pretty mad at my dad when he heard that some of us weren't going to the hospital since Dr. Cullen started working there."
I was puzzled. "I didn't know that middle-aged men had arguments with each other."
"I guess they do. Charlie thinks my dad's stupid for believing Carlisle is a vampire, and my dad thinks Charlie is stupid for letting a vampire give him open-heart surgery. It's like the circle of life, I guess."
"Charlie's never had open-heart surgery," I countered.
He paused. "Whatever!"
"Yeah, whatever!" I agreed.
"So do you think we're a bunch of superstitious Natives or what?" he asked in a playful tone, but with a hint of worry. Did he think I would try to think he was stupid, and that he'd have to think I was stupid in return? I still hadn't looked away from the ocean.
I turned and smiled at him as normally as I could.
150. Author of the world's greatest series in children's literary history, Goosebumps.