Vampire's Dilemma

Vampire Fred didn't know how much longer he could go without blood. Lately it seemed that every time he crawled out of his coffin in the evening
and tried to find some unwitting victims, he got outsmarted. He even went to the blood bank to get his necessary nourishment, but couldn't find a way to sneak in.
Desperation was overcoming him and he was getting weaker and weaker. Being a vampire was hard work. Halloween was fast approaching, and he wondered if he would even be around to see it. Walking around after midnight one Autumn night, he passed a flyer on a wooden pole advertising a Monster's Ball for the local town.
He got excited, thinking of the chances he would have to meet his goal as he was perfectly costumed up and this would give him an opportunity to get what he needed.
The night of the Ball came and he was able to pay his way in with some old money he had. He rarely needed money for anything anymore but it was left over from when he was a regular person. The man taking the money, who was wearing a green frankenstein costume, did a double take at the ratty dollar bills but smiled and waved him in.
Vampire Fred rubbed his hands together feeling the festive vibe and noticing the costumed people eating, mingling and dancing.
One person, a middle-aged woman named Vanessa, was dressed in crushed velvet red Victorian attire, with her graying hair set in curls atop her head. She was pretty, with dimples and rosy lips to match her dress.
"Verrrryy nice," Vampire Fred whispered to himself.
He went up to Vanessa and introduced himself. They made conversation and Vampire Fred was glad he had found a way to freshen his breath and take a sort of bath before he came, as he knew he may have to socialize.
Vanessa was a widow who had not ventured much out of the house since her husband died but decided to push herself to have a little fun and go to the ball.
Vampire Fred told her a story about himself and said some true facts about his life before becoming a vampire and making up some things as well, such as what he did for a living; (phlebotomist).
The night wore on and Vanessa noticed there was no wine at the party and she wanted some so she suggested she and Vampire Fred check the cellar. The Ball was at an old Victorian mansion and it had a wine cellar vibe to it.
"Fred, let's sneak down there; come on," she suggested.
So they got past everyone in the huge room upstairs and snuck down the creaky stairs into the musty cellar.
There, on one side of the room, were racks with dozens of old bottles of wine. After searching for a few minutes, Vanessa found one she liked: a 1990 Pinot Noir. Beside the racks of wine there was a table with some dusty glasses.
"1990, the year I graduated from Lake Hills high school," said Vanessa.
"Me too,' piped Vampire Fred who now realized who Vanessa really was as they had apparently gone to the same school and graduated the same year.
She had been wearing a half-mask so he hadn't recognized her but now he did.
Vanessa was a girl he liked but she moved away after their senior year. He had moved away as well, but came back several years ago and was living a fairly typical bachelor existence. Until he was out on a date one night and the girl turned out to be a vampire, bit him on the neck then flew away. He shuddered at the memory.. And Vanessa had returned to the town just a few years after moving away, married, and lived a normal life until she got widowed. Like Vampire Fred she had no children.
In discussing their lives neither had mentioned before about where they graduated from or what year. They had just talked about their lives in general-or in Vampire Fred's case some things he could safely divulge.
Vanessa poured them some wine. Vampire Fred could feel himself slipping away, but at least he would die happy. He didn't want to bite Vanessa's neck; in fact he was tired of biting necks. If there was a way to go, this was it.
"I never drink ....wine" Vampire Fred said.
"I usually don't either" Vanessa replied, pulling off her half mask. Her face had gotten very pale and her eyes were bloodshot. She smiled sheepishly showing a full set of fangs." I knew who you were after awhile and I was waiting for you to say something"

"That is why I mentioned the high school I graduated from, because you went there too."
"My husband was the one who made me a vampire. He died after mistakenly going out in the sun, it was quick but a weird death for sure.
They just called it severe sunburn," she said, grimacing. "Anyway I don't want to survive by going around biting necks."
"I thought we could have a last moment together and share a glass of wine as I could tell you were fading too. "
"Back then I noticed you as well; I was shy but thought it was a shame we hadn't gotten to know each other," Vanessa divulged.

Shocked and surprised, Vampire Fred felt his strength strangely coming back.
"I feel better, " he said.
"This wine is actually helping."
Vanessa agreed as she was feeling stronger as well.
It turns out that red Pinot Noir can be vampire sustenance instead of blood, they happily discovered.
Vampire Fred told Vanessa his whole story. When he first became a vampire he ended up hiding from his family and friends and they thought he had disappeared. His parents had since died and he had no brothers or sisters and his friends had long since stopped looking for him. He spent his days in an old abandoned house and lived in the basement.
Vanessa had mostly hidden in her house since becoming a vampire except for her husband's funeral which was held at dusk.

She and Vampire Fred decided to be together and survive with a nightly glass of Pinot Noir.
Happily, they found out they could go out in the sun if they drank sparkling apple cider; they discovered this while experimenting with non-alcoholic options.
They still have pasty faces and sharp fangs for teeth, but live happily ever after as sort-of vampires.

The End