WENATCHEE — Was there a nip in the air Thursday as fans lined up downtown to see the latest movie in the “Twilight” series?

Must have been more like a full-fledged bite.

Vampires don’t nibble.

“It’s such an amazing love story, and we’re teenage girls,” Shara Lozier said as she and her friends Libby Wright and Karisa Nelson bundled in sleeping bags along the Liberty Cinemas sidewalk. All are 18. “Others want to get into the fantasy world.”

They’d been there since 6:30 a.m. to see a special double-header showing — that night. Some 80 people, mostly young women, were in line by around 2:30 p.m.

The first Twilight movie showed at 9:30 p.m. and the latest in the series, “New Moon,” premiered at midnight.

“It’s so easy to get into it ...” Wright said.

Lozier finished the sentence, “... because it’s so much more exciting than your regular life!”

Twilight is a “young-adult vampire romance novel” by author Stephenie Meyer. The four-book series has become a world phenomenon. The first, “Twilight,” has sold 17 million copies worldwide and been translated into 37 languages.

And it takes place in Washington.

The series is about Isabella “Bella” Swan, who moves from sunny Phoenix to rainy Forks to live with her father.

In her new school, she meets a drop-dead-gorgeous boy named Edward — played by British actor Robert Pattinson in the movies — and discovers that he and his family are vampires. They’re good vampires.

Bad vampires soon move to town and try to bite her, but Edward and his family fend them off amid special effects.

“Last year people were screaming every time Edward came on the screen. Girls were like, ‘Marry me!’” Lozier said.

“The energy is amazing. You want to hear what’s going on...” Lozier began. Wright finished the sentence, “...and that’s, like, so sad, because you already know what’s going to happen.”

Dave Owens, 58, of East Wenatchee, said he was waiting in line to buy tickets for his wife and daughter.

“I’m doing the husbandly thing,” he said. But he is also a fan. He’d read the second and third books in the series. He just might — maybe — buy a ticket for himself, too.

Joe Greek, 21, of Peshastin, was in line with five friends. He said he liked the first book better than the movie, and people comment on the differences while they’re watching.

“When it gets pretty quiet, someone might say, ‘That’s doesn’t happen,” he said.

Courtney Anderson, 22, of Wenatchee, pitched a tent on the Liberty sidewalk and waited out the rainy afternoon inside with her friends Dorinda Gongia, 21, of Badger Mountain; Gerda Balint, 21, of Monitor; and Katie Hill, 22, of Wenatchee.

“It’s my birthday. Why not celebrate in a tent?” Anderson said.

Why all the fuss about Twilight?

“Because Edward’s hot,” she said.

Balint said she was skeptical about the series until she started reading the books.

“I read the first book, and it was really captivating. A really good book,” she said.

“Edward is every girl’s dream guy, and every guy wants to be like him,” Anderson said.

“My sister’s room is covered in posters of Edward,” Gongia said.

At the end of the line Thursday, Ashleigh Hodges, 21, waited to buy tickets for three of her friends who were working or at school.

She said she’s read all the books, but shies away from opening-day crowds.

“I’ll give it a week or two, and then go see it,” she said.

Christine Pratt: 665-1173

pratt@wenatcheeworld.com