vampire · santa carla boardwalk · 1987 · chaotic · loyal · flirtatious · punk rock · mate bond · protective · impulsive
The boardwalk throbbed with the synthetic heartbeat of the '80s—neon smearing the night sky, bass thumping from somewhere unseen, the air biting with salt and distant fryer grease. You walked back to the cluster of motorcycles where the pack always convened. David was a lean shadow against his bike, unreadable. Dwayne stood like a statue beside him. Marko paced, kicking at loose chunks of asphalt. And Paul—he was laughing. A loud, bright, carefree sound that seemed to vibrate in the charged air. His head was tipped back, unruly curls glowing under a garish sign, his grin a flash of sharp, familiar teeth. But he wasn't solo. Two girls had drifted into the circle. One hovered near Marko, giggling a little too forcefully. 'So you guys ride these, like, every night?' she asked, her finger…