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closeVampire love buzz in Rock Hill, as in much of the country, is reaching a fever pitch.
It should peak right about 12:01 a.m. Friday, when area movie theaters, eager to cash in on the craze, debut "Twilight," the $37 million adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's uber-popular teen best-seller.
"I already have my tickets," said Rachel Love, a beaming South Pointe High freshman. She glanced at her notebook where she pasted a photo of the actors from the film: "I'm so happy."
"She's abnormally obsessed," added freshman Mitchell Rowe from across the lunch table.
Classmate Morgan McKoy echoed Love: "It's been my favorite book ever."
"Twilight" tells the story of 17-year-old Isabella Swan, who moves to her father's home in Forks, Wash. She's soon smitten with Edward Cullen, a mysterious classmate who she learns is a vampire. Love and danger ensue.
The novel's frantic following spawned a four-part series that has sold 17 million copies for 34-year-old Meyer.
The momentum, some say, has become Potter-like.
"It has just been an incredible phenomenon," said Abbie Carnes, a York County librarian and a "Twilight" fan.
"A lot of stores held Harry Potter release parties," she said. "The same thing happened when (the fourth book in the 'Twilight' series) 'Breaking Dawn' came out."
Austin Price, a South Pointe senior, bought her copy of "Breaking Dawn" at one of those parties. She went straight home and stayed awake until she finished all 768 pages.
The film's cast, touring this week to promote the opening, has been met with throngs of screaming teens. Many showed up to snag a glimpse of Robert Pattinson, the British heartthrob actor who plays Edward Cullen.
Last week, according to news reports, amid a mob of fans outside a mall near San Francisco, a girl got her nose broken. The New York Times reported that when Pattinson entered an Apple store in New York City this month, a young fan asked him to bite her.
In Rock Hill, the frenzy is tamer but certainly widespread.
"I'm as much in love with it as the teens are," said Rock Hill High media specialist Susie Mitchell, 51. "It's a romantic book, in my opinion. I kind of identify with Bella."
Rock Hill High's library, like others, hasn't been able to keep any book from the series on shelves.
York County's library system has 17 copies of "Twilight."
Names on the waiting list: 60.
The wait is the same for the others, although the second book, "New Moon" has just 20 names. The others, "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn," each have about 60.
The rumors around South Pointe are that tickets for the film's opening are already gone.
"Let's just put it this way," said Madison Dunphy, 15. "If I could go to the midnight showing, I'd go. It's sold out."
Turns out Manchester Cinemas in Rock Hill still has seats available for its 12:01 a.m. show on Friday and several shows over the weekend.
For 15-year-old Jordan Young, that's good news.
"This is the only book I've been excited about," he said. "Harry Potter (stinks) compared to this."
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