Twilight Blood

I eagerly takes notes as Professor Weissman talks. Its a week into my upper lever anthropology class, and i love it! He's talking about a range of cultures over time-their similarities and differences. As i write, I feel a prickle at the back of my neck. (Huh?!) I turn my head slowly to the right and back. Meeting a pair of vivid red eyes, I quietly gasp. An insanely gorgeous guy is watching me like a hawk. (I've never seen him in class or on campus before...And definitely would've notice a guy like this!) When he notices me staring back, the left side of his mouth lifts. (Is that a dimple? Seriously? God, Thana, stop gawking!) I turn my gaze around, facing the middle-aged professor again. But i can still feel the stranger's eyes on me. (God,. its hard to focus when someone's staring at me like that...It's weird to transfer into a class in January, mid-school year...) Luckily, my junior-level class at York University ends within minutes. I pack my book and start to leave. The new guy's gaze is on me like glue. Steeling myself, I turn my head. The guy is walking towards the door too. But he's going along a back row of desks while I'm at the front. And his eyes are fixed on me. I meet his gaze with a challenging, unwavering stare of my own. (Ha! Two can play at this game!) He arches one dark eyebrow at me. Amusement etches his beautiful face. I just narrow my eyes, maintaining eye contact. And then...My foot catches on the last chair of the row. I fall on the floor chest first. Ouch! Another student is right there, helping me up."Uh, thanks..." I said Once upright again, I hurry out the door. I dont dare glances at the new guy. But I can still hear him chuckling.(Jerk!) I tug my scarf closer to my neck, shivering in the chilly winter air. Walking across the pretty, snow-covered campus, I look behind me. No sign of the new guy anymore. Im almost disappointed. Anthropology 351 is my last class this Monday. As i walk, my thoughts drift to the hot guy to Weissman's lecture. And that gets me thinking about the human cultures he spoke of. (I wonder what Professor Weissman would say if he knew...there are more than just human cultures in the world.) But there is no way I'd tell him that. Or anyone else, for that matter. Most human believe that vampires are just a myth. I, however, know all about it. I just happen to be a vampire myself. Im so lost in thought that I nearly walk right into someone. I stop short and look up into a pair of familiar blue eyes."Micah, hey! Sorry I almost ran you over." I said. My childhood friend grind back. "Hey yourself, Thana! And dont worry, you can, uh, almost run me over anytime!" Micah said. I laugh, and he joins me, pale cheeks blushing. (Aw, he's as adorkable as ever!) "I haven't seen you since early fall semester. How's it going?" I said. Micah is a yeah younger than me-a sophomore. "It's good. Hey, wanna go to the student union? We could grab some coffee and catch up?" He said. (Aww, look how hopeful he is!) "Sounds fun! Let's go!" I said. His face lights up. "Awesome! It'll be good to warm up with a hot drink, too!" he said. We sit inside a cute café nestled in the student union. I sip on my peppermint mocha. Ah, heaven. It even has crushed candy cane pieces resting on the whipped cream. I lick at some whipped cream that spilled over the lid. When i look up at Micah, he's staring at me in a trance-like state. Those deep blue eyes are fixed on my mouth. (Shoot, do I have whipped cream on my face?) I wipe at my bottom lip. "That looks, um...really good." he said. His voice cracks a little and he meets my eyes again. "Almost wish I'd gotten that instead of my plain old latte." I shrug, feeling nervous for some reason. (Huh. I've. never seen him look at me quite like that...He's always been more like a younger brother, but now...When did he get a five-o'clock shadow going? It's kind of sexy...Wait, what am I thinking?! This is Micah we're talking about!) I pull my gaze from his light stubble to his eyes. "You want a sip?" I ask. He looks unsure for a moment, then gives me a half smile. (Okay, and when did his little smile get so attractive?!) "Sure, thanks" he said. Our fingers brush against each other as he reaches out to grab my cup. Little sparks fly through my hand. (What on earth is going on here? Am i into Micah?!) His eyes widen at our touch, cheeks going pink."So, how are your genius-people classes going?" I ask. He was always a super-brilliant, geeky kind of guy. He's already in upper level electrical engineering classes. "Ha! We're not geniuses." he said. He takes a sip of my peppermint mocha. "But my classes are going great. I'm on target to finish at the end of next school year, just like I planned." he added. Im only half listening, eyes flickering to his mouth. He has a dab of whipped cream on the corner of his lips.(His lips look so...soft Kissable, even.) Before I can stop myself, my finger reaches across the table...and i gently swipe the cream off, rubbing it on a napkin. His eyes go wide and i notice the sparks in them. (Oh my God!) "Uh, right. So you'll finish in three years as planned. Nice job Mr. Brainiac!" My voice sounds a bit too cheery. He nods slowly. "Uh, right...yeah. So how about your classes?" His voice is squeaky. The rest of our chat is punctuated with a few awkward silences. We exchange numbers before heading our separate ways. As i head to study at the library, my head is full of questions. Namely: Am i developing a crush on my longtime, geeky friend?! That night, I meet up with Gabby for dinner. She's my closest friend here at university. Like Micah and most of my friends growing up, Gabby is human. None of them have any idea that vampire exist, much less that I am one! And I plan to keep it that way. I've carefully trained myself to drink animal blood only, never human. "Oh, thank God the burgers are here! I'm starved!" Gabby said. She brushes her chin-length black hair away from her face. Two plates with burgers and fries are placed in front of us. This diner has the best-and cheapest-burgers in town. Since it's right by the campus, it's always full of university students. "Thank God is right! I'm famished!" I bite into my medium-rare burger. My fangs come out a bit, reacting to the juices. Even animal blood in a burger is enough to cause a reaction. But I make sure to retract them before opening my mouth to speak. "How're the costumes coming along?" Gabby frowns, causing her black ang purple lipstick to crinkle. She's got a bit of an alternative goth look going on. She mostly wears black, gray, and dark purple. And always with the heavy eye makeup and the goth lips. Then of course, there's the jet-black hair and pale skin. Maybe the fact that she likes to be different is what drew me to her. She even likes vampire shows! "It's slow going. I swear to God, I'm the only competent costume designer out of bunch!" "Wow. Don't be so modest." I grin and she grins back. We eat and chat until our plates are almost clean. Then a group of university jocks pass by our table. One of the guys has a bandage on his hand...a fresh wound. My nose instantly starts to tingle at the scent of human blood. I tense up, feeling my heart pound like crazy. (Dont inhale. Hold it together, Thana!) Since I have both vampire and human ancestry...my blood lust isn't as strong as a pureblood vampire's would be. But it's still like a powerful addiction. "You okay there, Thana? whats wrong?" I force my brain to focus on my friend."Just, uh, the time of month. I gotta go lay down..." Gabby gives me a suspicious look. (Please believe a little lie. Pleeease!) I'm already taking out cash and putting it on the table for my half when she responds. "Sorry to hear that. You want me to walk with you?" I'm standing at this point, arms thrust into my coat sleeves. "That's Okay. The fresh air will help. Night, Gabby!" I'm gone before she can say anything else. The air does help a bit. And by the time I get to my apartment near campus, I feel better.