Ethan: The Vampire At My School

The Ride Home

Ava's POV

The final bell rang, and almost everyone started heading for the exits.

I packed my books into my bag while Steph and Riley waited beside my desk.

"So, are we going?" Riley asked.

I looked at her.

"Actually... you two should go ahead without me."

Steph raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"I want to check something."

Riley immediately looked suspicious.

"What kind of something?"

I laughed. "Relax. I'm not doing anything crazy."

I zipped my bag.

"I want to visit the Mystic Art Room."

Both of them stared at me.

"Again?" Steph asked.

"Just for a little while."

"Ava, school is literally closing soon."

"I know."

She looked at me like she was trying to figure out whether I was serious.

"Fine. But don't come crying to me when you're locked inside the school."

"That is not helping."

Riley laughed.

"She's right though. We should go before the place gets empty."

"I'll be fine."

Steph pointed at me.

"Text us when you're done."

"I will."

"And don't do anything weird."

I smiled.

"No promises."

They laughed and walked away.

I waited until they disappeared down the hallway before turning in the opposite direction.

The school was already much quieter.

It was strange how different the place felt once most students had gone home. The loud conversations were gone, classroom doors were closing, and the only sounds were my footsteps and the occasional voice from somewhere down the hall.

I wasn't exactly scared.

It just felt... different.

I reached the hallway where the Mystic Art Room was located.

I slowed down.

The door was still there, exactly where I'd seen it before.

I looked at it for a moment.

Part of me wanted to go inside.

Another part of me was thinking about what Steph had said.

Maybe tomorrow.

I sighed.

"Okay, Ava. Don't be dramatic."

I took a few steps toward the door.

Then the school's announcement system crackled.

"Attention, students. The school premises will be closing in ten minutes. Please collect your belongings and make your way to the main exit."

I looked at the door.

"Seriously?"

Ten minutes wasn't enough to explore anything.

I decided to leave it for another day.

I turned around and headed back toward the main hallway.

By now, almost everyone was gone.

I checked my phone.

No messages.

I opened my ride app and requested a car.

Declined.

I tried again.

Declined.

"Come on."

I tried another one.

Declined.

I stared at my phone.

"Are you serious?"

I checked the time.

It was getting late.

The sunlight outside had already started fading, and the sky was slowly turning darker.

I walked outside and stood near the covered area by the school entrance.

I didn't want to wait completely outside in the open, especially with the weather looking like it might change.

I tried requesting another ride.

Still nothing.

"Great."

I looked around.

The parking lot was almost empty.

Then I noticed someone.

Ethan.

He was walking toward the parking lot.

I hadn't expected to see him again.

He walked past the bright patch of sunlight that stretched across the pavement.

For some reason, he immediately stepped away from it and moved toward the darker side of the building.

I frowned.

Again?

Why did he keep doing that?

I watched him for a moment.

Wasn't he going home?

Apparently not yet.

He continued toward the parking lot, and I looked back at my phone.

Still no driver.

I sighed.

"Looks like I'm stuck here."

I put my phone away and glanced toward the parking lot again.

Ethan had reached a black car.

He opened the door, got inside, and started the engine.

I watched the car pull away.

Then, just when I thought he was leaving, the car slowed down.

It stopped near where I was standing.

The window lowered.

Ethan looked at me.

"You need a lift?"

I blinked.

"Uh..."

I looked at my phone.

"Thank you, but my ride should still get here."

His expression changed slightly.

Not much.

Just enough for me to notice.

He looked at me for a second longer than necessary.

It almost seemed like he knew I wasn't telling the truth.

I frowned.

Wait.

Could he tell I was lying?

Before I could say anything else, he glanced toward the sky.

"It's going to rain."

I looked up.

The sky didn't look that bad to me.

It was getting darker, sure, but there weren't even many clouds.

Rain? Really?

"I don't think so," I said.

He looked back at me.

"I insist."

There was something about the way he said it.

Not like he was guessing.

Like he already knew.

I looked down at my phone again.

Still no ride.

Maybe I was overthinking everything.

And honestly, I didn't really have many options.

"Okay. Thank you."

I opened the passenger door and got in.

The inside of the car was quiet.

Really quiet.

I pulled the door closed.

Ethan started driving.

I waited for him to say something.

Nothing.

I looked out the window.

Still nothing.

I glanced at him.

He was focused on the road, both hands on the steering wheel.

He didn't even look at me.

For some reason, I suddenly became very aware of how quiet the car was.

I could hear the engine.

I could hear the tires against the road.

But that was about it.

I glanced at him again.

He wasn't talking.

He wasn't even humming.

Nothing.

I shifted slightly in my seat.

"You're really quiet."

The words escaped before I could stop them.

He glanced at me briefly.

Then looked back at the road.

I wasn't sure if he was going to answer.

He didn't.

"Okay."

I turned back toward the window.

Great, Ava.

I had officially started talking to myself in a stranger's car.

The ride continued.

Outside, the sky grew darker.

A few drops of rain began tapping against the window.

I looked up.

"Wow."

He was right.

I turned toward him.

He didn't look surprised.

Of course he didn't.

I watched the rain become heavier.

How had he known?

I didn't ask.

Something told me I probably wouldn't get an answer anyway.

After a while, I noticed he was slowing down.

I looked outside.

We were getting close to my neighborhood.

I checked the map on my phone.

My stop was still a little farther ahead.

But Ethan was already pulling over.

I looked at him.

"Um..."

He stopped the car.

I looked outside again.

This was my stop.

I frowned.

"That's weird."

I hadn't even told him exactly where I lived.

Maybe I'd mentioned the street without realizing it.

I didn't remember.

I opened the door.

"Thanks."

He didn't answer.

I paused.

Then I quietly stepped out.

The door closed behind me.

I stood there for a second, watching the black car pull away.

I frowned.

"What is wrong with that guy?"

I turned toward my house.

Maybe I was just tired.

Maybe I was thinking too much.

I walked inside.

"Mom?"

No answer.

The house was quiet.

I dropped my bag near the stairs and went upstairs.

Once I reached my room, I changed into something comfortable and sat on my bed.

For a few seconds, I just stared at the wall.

Then my mind went straight back to the ride.

The sunlight.

The way he avoided it.

The way he knew it was going to rain.

The way he seemed to know exactly where to stop.

And the strangest part?

The entire ride, I barely heard him breathe.

I shook my head.

"Okay, that's enough."

I grabbed my phone and opened my messages.

A message from Steph was waiting.

Steph: You alive? Lol

I smiled.

Me: Unfortunately.

A second later, she replied.

Steph: Told you not to get locked in school.

I laughed.

Maybe I should just forget about Ethan.

Maybe he was just a weird, quiet guy.

But as I lay back on my bed, one thought kept coming back.

Why did I feel like there was something I didn't know about him?

I closed my eyes.

I had no idea that I was about to find out.