Luckily for Morgan Evans, 11, and Juliet Simpson, 12, they each have one.

So Friday afternoon, about the time they normally would have been getting out of school, Morgan and Juliet and their mothers were leaving Raleigh Grande cinema after seeing "Twilight," the most anticipated vampire-romance flick of the holiday season. Based on the first book of a four-part series by author Stephenie Meyer, the movie is expected to lead the weekend box office with the dollars of hyped-up teen and preteen girls.

But ladies, was the movie any good?

"Oh my gosh!" Morgan said, with an abundance of middle-school enthusiasm. The movie was different from the book, she said, which had a lot more stuff in it. But the filmmakers did a great job. "They put all the good parts in the movie."

A literary phenomenon often compared with the "Harry Potter" series, the "Twilight" books focus on a young woman named Bella, a regular human, who falls in love with a vampire. Nearly insuperable difficulties face this unorthodox couple, not the least of which is that other vampires want to munch Bella's neck.

Her vampire boyfriend, Edward, promises to keep the bloodsuckers away while doing his best to disregard his own instincts to take a bite for himself. Complicating matters is the fact that Bella seems interested in becoming a vampire so she can join Edward in the realm of the undead.

According to Publishers Weekly, the books have sold more than 13 million copies in the United States. When the final book in the series, "Breaking Dawn," was released this summer, bookstores across the country had midnight sales to host teenage throngs dressed as their favorite characters.

It's not difficult to see why the story is so popular, said Donna Godfrey, Juliet's mom. For one thing, young women can relate to Bella, a normal girl with normal teenage issues. For another, the cutest boy in school has the hots for her. What's not to like about that?

Juliet described the four-part tale this way: "It's a love story with vampires thrown in."

Movie theaters around the country held midnight screenings of "Twilight" on Friday. About 50 people attended the screening at Raleigh Grande, manager Peter Baynes said.

Not everyone was lucky enough to get out of school to see the movie. Farvah Khaja and Melody Yoshizawa, both 13, arrived at the theater right after school. Melody's mom dropped them off.

Both girls said they enjoyed the story's romantic storyline. It's not easy for a vampire and a human to have a relationship.

"It's really complicated," Melody said, "but they still really love each other."

Godfrey said the books offered a chance to spend time with her daughter, as they read them together. She had a similar experience with her son and the "Harry Potter" series.

Leaving school a couple of hours early to catch the movie with their friends only enhanced the movie-bonding moment.

"It makes it more special," Godfrey said. "They'll remember it down the road."

Judging by the excitement in her voice, Juliet won't forget this day for a while. She enjoyed watching the characters come to life on the screen. And she understands Bella's predicament. As a vampire, Edward will never age. If Bella doesn't become one, too, she'll get old.

When asked if she would volunteer for a bloodsucking transformation, Juliet didn't hesitate.

"If I loved a vampire, yes."

For her mother's sake, let's hope it doesn't come to that.

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