Ethan: The Vampire At My School

A Name To Remember

Ava's POV

Monday morning.

I don't know who invented Mondays, but I already hated them.

My alarm went off beside my bed, and I stared at it for a few seconds before reaching over and switching it off.

I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes.

"Five more minutes would've been nice."

I got out of bed and walked toward my mirror. My hair was all over the place, and honestly, I didn't even want to know what I looked like while sleeping.

I fixed it as best as I could before heading to the bathroom.

A few minutes later, I was dressed and ready for school.

I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs.

"Morning, Mom."

"Good morning, sweetheart."

She was already sitting at the table with a cup of coffee.

"You slept well?"

"Yeah."

She smiled.

"Good. Eat something before you leave."

I sat down and started eating while checking my phone.

A message from Steph.

Steph: We're outside.

I looked through the window.

Sure enough, their car was parked outside.

"Already?"

Mom laughed.

"Your friends are early for once."

"That's actually shocking."

I grabbed my bag and stood up.

"Bye, Mom."

"Have a good day."

"I will."

I hurried outside.

Steph immediately lowered the window.

"Finally!"

"Good morning to you too."

Riley leaned over from the passenger seat.

"Get in before she starts complaining again."

I laughed and climbed into the back.

The ride to school was mostly filled with music, random conversations, and Riley trying to convince us that she could sing.

She couldn't.

When we finally arrived, we walked through the school entrance together.

Students filled the hallways, rushing to their classes, talking loudly, laughing, and complaining about Monday just like me.

Everything felt normal.

Until I saw him.

I stopped walking.

Across the hallway.

The boy from the locker.

He was standing alone, leaning against the wall like he didn't have anywhere else to be.

My stomach did that weird thing again.

I quickly looked away.

"Are you coming?" Steph asked.

"Yeah."

I started walking again.

But something made me look back.

He was gone.

I frowned.

"Okay..."

"What?" Riley asked.

"Nothing."

I kept walking.

Maybe I really was imagining things.

Or maybe...

I was starting to notice him for a reason.

Eventually, we all had to split up because we had different classes.

I headed to History.

It was my first time attending the class, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I walked in and took a seat in the second row, near the edge.

A few minutes later, more students started rushing into the classroom, and soon enough, the teacher walked in and began the lecture.

History had always been one of those subjects I actually enjoyed. I liked learning about things that happened before I was even born. I guess I was just naturally curious about how people lived, what they believed, and how the world became what it was.

The teacher was in the middle of explaining something when he suddenly stopped.

"Alright, let's see if anyone was actually listening."

A few students laughed.

He turned toward the board.

"Who can tell me why this event was important?"

The classroom went quiet.

I raised my hand.

He looked around before pointing at me.

"Yes, Miss Hayes?"

I answered.

He looked surprised.

"That's correct."

A small smile appeared on my face.

"Good. Very good."

He continued explaining for a few minutes before turning back to the class.

"Okay, one more."

He asked another question.

This time, nobody raised their hand.

He looked around the room.

"Nobody?"

Silence.

He sighed dramatically.

"Really? Not one person?"

Then a voice came from the other side of the classroom.

"It was because..."

The person continued, explaining the answer clearly and confidently.

Amazed my how each words were place.

I slowly turned toward where it came from.

And there he was.

Him.

The boy from the hallway.

The boy from my locker.

The boy I'd somehow managed to see twice already.

I froze.

No way.

Was I dreaming?

Was this some kind of joke?

The teacher smiled.

"Bravo!"

He looked toward him.

"Excellent answer, Mr. Steele."

My eyes widened.

Steele.

The teacher chuckled.

"I almost forgot Ethan Steele was in this class."

Ethan gave a small nod.

And just like that, I finally had a name.

Ethan Steele.

I repeated it silently in my head.

Ethan.

Steele.

For some reason, I couldn't stop looking at him.

And then, as if he could feel my eyes on him...

he turned and looked directly at me.

I immediately looked down at my notebook.

Oh my God.

Why was I acting like this?

I picked up my pen and pretended to be interested in whatever was written on the page.

But I could still feel his eyes on me.

I slowly looked up again.

He had already turned back toward the board.

I let out a quiet breath and focused on my notebook.

Okay, Ava. Calm down.

The teacher continued with the lesson, explaining the topic while writing dates and names across the board.

I tried my best to pay attention.

I really did.

But every now and then, my eyes wandered toward the other side of the classroom.

Him.

He was sitting quietly, his notebook open in front of him.

But something was strange.

He barely wrote anything.

Most students were busy copying what the teacher had written, but he just sat there, listening.

How was he keeping up?

Maybe he had already studied the topic.

That had to be it.

The teacher suddenly turned away from the board.

"Can anyone tell me what happened after this?"

A few students looked down at their books, hoping he wouldn't call on them.

I already knew the answer, but I kept my hand down this time.

I didn't want to look like I was trying too hard on my first day.

The teacher waited.

Nobody answered.

Then a voice came from behind me.

"It led to..."

He explained the answer clearly, giving more details than the teacher had even asked for.

The teacher stared at him for a second.

"Exactly."

A few students laughed.

"Of course Steele knows it," someone muttered.

The boy sitting beside him shook his head.

"He's basically a walking history book."

Ethan didn't even react.

He just looked back down at his notebook.

I frowned.

Who is this guy?

The bell suddenly rang.

Everyone started packing their things.

I quickly closed my notebook and put my pen inside my bag.

As I stood up, I accidentally dropped it.

I bent down to pick it up at the same time someone walked past me.

I looked up.

It was him.

For a second, neither of us moved.

Then he stepped aside and continued walking.

I stood there holding my pen.

"Okay..."

I shook my head.

I really needed to stop doing that.

I walked out of the classroom and almost immediately heard someone call my name.

"Ava!"

I turned around.

Steph was standing a few feet away, waving at me.

"Hey!"

She walked over.

"So? How was History?"

"It was actually pretty interesting."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah."

She looked surprised.

"I thought you hated History."

"I never said I hated it."

"You didn't have to."

I laughed.

We started walking down the hallway together.

Then Steph looked at me.

"Wait."

"What?"

She narrowed her eyes.

"Why do you keep looking behind you?"

"I don't."

"You literally just did."

"No, I didn't."

"Ava..."

I sighed.

"Okay, fine."

She immediately smiled.

"I knew it."

"You don't even know what you're talking about."

"The mystery boy?"

I stared at her.

"How did you—"

"Your face."

I touched my face.

"What about my face?"

"You have that look."

"What look?"

"The one you had when you were telling us about him."

I rolled my eyes.

"There is no look."

"Sure."

She bumped my shoulder.

"So?"

"So what?"

"Did you see him?"

I hesitated.

"Yeah."

Steph's eyes widened.

"And?"

"And what?"

"Did you talk?"

"No."

"Did he talk to you?"

"No."

"Did he look at you?"

I looked away.

"Maybe."

She laughed.

"Oh my God."

"Steph, calm down."

"Did you at least find out his name?"

I smiled slightly.

"Actually..."

She stopped walking.

"You did?"

"Yeah."

"What is it?"

I looked at her.

"Ethan Steele."

Her expression changed.

Not dramatically.

Just a little.

Her smile disappeared for a second before she looked at me again.

"Wait... Ethan Steele?"

"Yeah."

She stared at me.

"Are you sure he looked at you?"

I frowned.

"Why wouldn't he?"

"Because Ethan doesn't look at people."

I blinked.

"What?"

She shrugged.

"I mean... he does, obviously. He's not blind."

I laughed.

"Very funny."

"No, I'm serious."

She lowered her voice.

"Everyone knows Ethan."

I looked at her, confused.

"Everyone?"

"Pretty much."

"But why?"

Steph gave me a look like I had just asked the most obvious question in the world.

"Because he's Ethan Steele."

"That doesn't explain anything."

She sighed.

"He's just... known."

"Known for what?"

"Not talking to anyone."

I stared at her.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

Before I could say anything, Riley appeared beside us.

"There you guys are!"

She looked between us.

"Why do you both look like you're discussing someone's funeral?"

Steph laughed.

"We're talking about Ethan."

Riley immediately looked at me.

"Ethan?"

I nodded.

"Yeah."

Riley gave me a strange look.

"Oh."

"What?" I asked.

She shook her head.

"Nothing."

"No, tell me."

Steph crossed her arms.

"She just found out his name."

Riley looked at me.

"You know what? Ava, stop imagining anything with Ethan because it won't happen."

I almost choked.

"What?!"

Steph burst out laughing.

"Exactly!"

"Why are both of you acting like I'm planning our wedding?"

Riley laughed.

"I'm just warning you."

"I wasn't even thinking about anything!"

"Good."

"I was literally just curious!"

"Even better."

I rolled my eyes.

"You two are impossible."

Steph smiled.

"Look, Ava. I'm just saying, don't get your hopes up."

"I don't have hopes!"

"Sure."

"I don't!"

Riley laughed.

"Okay, okay. We believe you."

They clearly did not believe me.

I shook my head and started walking again.

I wonder why both of my friends keep saying the same thing about Ethan.

I barely knew the guy.

I'd seen him a few times, learned his name today, and somehow everyone already seemed to have an opinion about him.

And now I was curious.

Very curious.