Ethan: The Vampire At My School

A Day Out

It was Saturday.

A soft breeze came through my slightly open window, making the curtains move gently around the room. The morning sun was already shining through the gap, but I was still comfortably buried under my blanket.

Then—

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

My alarm.

Again.

I opened one eye and stared at my phone.

"Seriously?"

I reached over and turned it off.

"I'm removing that thing."

I got out of bed and walked straight to my mirror.

My hair was a complete mess.

I let it down from the ponytail I'd slept in and ran my fingers through it. I looked at myself for a few seconds before smiling.

"Yeah... this is me."

I was about to leave when my phone beeped.

I immediately grabbed it.

I was expecting a message from Steph.

Me, Steph and Riley had plans today. We were going to Riverside Walk, this popular place with little shops, cafés, food spots and a few places to hang out.

I unlocked my phone.

It was Steph.

Steph: We'll be there in about an hour. Don't tell me you're still sleeping.

I laughed.

"Of course."

Then I looked down at myself.

I was still wearing my oversized sleep shirt and shorts.

"Oh."

I looked at the time.

One hour.

"Okay, Ava. Move."

I rushed into the bathroom.

I brushed my teeth, washed my face, took a shower and spent way too long trying to figure out what to do with my hair.

I wasn't even sure what to wear.

I was going out with the OGs.

I needed to look good.

I walked into my closet and started going through my clothes.

"Not this..."

"No."

"Definitely not."

Finally, I pulled out a pair of baggy black cargo trousers and a fitted white top.

I grabbed my white sneakers and placed everything on my bed.

"Okay. This works."

I got dressed, fixed my curls, and added a little makeup. Nothing too much—just enough to make me feel put together.

I looked at myself in the mirror.

"Okay..."

I smiled.

"Much better."

I grabbed my little bag and checked my phone.

No new messages.

Then—

Ding dong!

The doorbell rang.

I hurried downstairs.

Before I could get there, Mom was already opening the door.

"Hi, girls."

"Good morning, Mrs. Hayes!" Steph said cheerfully.

"Good morning."

I appeared behind my mom.

"Hey."

Riley looked at me from head to toe.

She nodded slowly.

"Okay, Ava."

I laughed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Steph walked inside.

"Come on, we're going to be late."

"It's barely morning!"

"Exactly. Which means we have plenty of time to cause trouble."

Mom gave us a look.

"Behave yourselves."

Steph smiled innocently.

"We always do."

Riley and I looked at each other.

We both burst out laughing.

Mom shook her head.

"Have fun, Ava."

"I will."

I grabbed my bag and followed the girls outside.

For the first time in a long time, I wasn't thinking about school, grades, or trying to figure out where I belonged.

It was Saturday.

I had my friends.

And today was just about having fun.

We were heading to Riverside Walk.It was one of those places where you could spend an entire day without realizing how much time had passed. There were little clothing stores, cafés, restaurants, a bookstore, an arcade, and a few open spaces where people could just sit and hang out.Basically, the perfect place for three girls who had no plans of going home early.The drive there was actually great.Music was playing, Riley was singing like she was performing for an entire stadium, and Steph kept telling her to stop before she embarrassed us."I sound good!" Riley argued."You sound like a dying cat," Steph replied."You're just jealous."I couldn't stop laughing.By the time we arrived, my stomach already hurt from laughing so much.We walked around for a while, checking out different shops. Steph dragged us into almost every clothing store we passed."Look at this!""No.""You didn't even look.""I know it's going to be something you want me to buy."Riley laughed."She's learning."Eventually, we ended up in a small shop where I found a few things I actually liked.I was beginning to understand why they loved this place.After shopping, we got ice cream and sat outside, talking about school.We talked about teachers, classmates, random things that happened during the week and, of course, people."That Biology teacher definitely doesn't like you," Riley said."He doesn't like anyone," I replied."Especially you," Steph added."Thanks for the support."They both laughed.I took another bite of my ice cream.For a while, I completely forgot about the Mystic Art Room.And I forgot about him.Well...Almost.After we finished eating, I remembered I wanted to get something from one of the little shops we'd passed earlier."I'll be right back," I told them."Don't get lost," Riley called after me."I won't!"I walked down the walkway and entered the shop.It didn't take long to find what I wanted.I paid for it and stepped back outside.I was about to head back when I suddenly stopped.Across the walkway, I saw someone.My heart skipped.That face.Those eyes.It was him.I stared at him.He was standing near one of the stores, looking around like he was waiting for someone."What is he doing here?"Before I could think about it, he turned and walked around the corner.I followed.I don't even know why.I just wanted to make sure I wasn't imagining things.I reached the corner.Nothing.I looked around.He was gone.I walked a little farther.Still nothing."That's weird."I stood there for a few seconds, trying to figure out where he could have gone.Maybe I'd just seen someone who looked like him.Yeah.That had to be it.I shook my head and turned around."Okay, Ava. You're officially losing it."When I got back to my friends, Riley immediately looked at me."What took you so long?""I..."I looked at the little bag in my hand."I couldn't find what I wanted."Steph narrowed her eyes."You were gone forever for one thing?""Yeah."Riley looked suspicious."Are you sure?""Yes."I smiled and took another bite of my ice cream.I wasn't going to tell them.Not when I wasn't even sure myself.Maybe it really wasn't him.Maybe my brain was just playing tricks on me.We stayed out for a little longer before eventually deciding it was time to go home.By the time I got back, the sky was already starting to change.I walked into the house and dropped my bag on the couch."Mom?"No answer.I checked the kitchen.She wasn't there.I went upstairs, changed into something comfortable and fell onto my bed.Today had been fun.Really fun.I smiled as I looked through the pictures Riley had taken.Then I stopped.There was one picture where I was standing beside Steph and Riley.In the background, through the glass of a shop...There was a person.I zoomed in.My smile disappeared.I couldn't see his face clearly.But I knew that jacket.I stared at the picture for a few seconds."it's him"I blinked.The picture was still there.And suddenly, I wasn't so sure I had imagined him after all.