Biology class always put me to sleep. Okay, class, in general, puts me to sleep. There was a problem with that. I dream of Jace all the time. Almost every night if I were, to be honest. It's sorta baffling because we spend most of our time together, so I can't imagine why my imagination needed any more time with him, but apparently left to its own devices, it's Jace Blackwell 24/7, on every channel. They weren't all, those kinds of dreams. Mostly they were innocent, everyday dreams, with the occasional quirky thing, like being able to fly. One time, I dreamed we had both been killed. He had tried to save me from a killer and the killer had ripped his throat out and then proceeded to do the same thing to me before I could help Jace. I remember waking with a jerk and calling Jace on the phone, at like 3:00 in the morning, out of breath and frightened. He answered groggily and proceeded to rip me a new one for waking him up.
Then, of course, there were those dreams. I don't remember when I first had one and more than once I woke frightened and terrified as well. Not sure why. Because there was nothing terrifying about Jace. He was a big teddy bear really, in that oh-my-god-you're-sexy-as-hell sort of way. Course I had to keep those thoughts to myself. I don't know how he would react, just that I don't think it'd be good.
I didn't mind the dreams in which I knew I was dreaming. Like the one where we could fly, my subconscious seemed to tell me. Hey buddy, you're dreaming again. The one where we were killed, that one frightened me and stuck with me. It was so real, so vivid. And those dreams, well I didn't mind them at all. But waking up in the middle of biology with an erection and the image of Jace naked and just beyond my grasp certainly wasn't ideal.
"Mr. Cole?"
I looked up at Mr. Garrow. He had an expectant look on his face. Apparently, he had asked me a question and was wanting an answer. "Uhhhh. Two?"
A titter of laughter filled the classroom as I rubbed my eyes and discreetly readjusted myself.
"Mr. Cole. I realize I'm boring you. But perhaps you can hide it a little better, like the rest of your classmates."
"I'm sorry Mr. Garrow. I'll try harder to hide it." I grinned and grabbed my pencil and pretended to copy his scribble off the chalkboard.
"Can anyone give me an example of what a genetic trait is. And no," Mr. Garrow looked at me for emphasis, " two is not a trait Mr. Cole." Another round of laughter filled the classroom. I tried to look abashed and pretended to scribble more.
A couple of my classmates raised their hands. Mostly, the ones in the front row. Mr. Garrow pointed to Cassie Williams. She was a brain, probably the smartest person in the class.
"We are a diploid organism, meaning that we received one set of genes, called alleles, from our father and the other set of alleles from our mother. The combination of these pairs of genes that we've inherited is called our "genotype. The genotype determines the actual traits (called the "phenotype") that we have; such as eye color, nearsightedness, and whether or not we have dimples" Cassie smiled real big and pointed to her dimples. "My dad has them, but my mother doesn't But dimples are a dominant genetic trait so since the phenotype is present, I automatically got them."
Half the class was staring at her like she had just spoken Russian or grown a second head. (I wondered if that was a dominant genetic trait.) The other half had their phones, texting, oblivious to Cassie's answer. There might have been one or two scribbling notes.
"Thank you, Cassie. That is a wonderful example." Mr. Garrow turned and wrote the words: allele, genotype, phenotype, dominant trait and recessive trait on the chalkboard. Â Pens and pencils scribbled quickly. A few actually took quick photos with their phones of the chalkboard then went back to texting.
The bell rang and everyone grabbed backpacks and crammed phones in pockets and purses.
"Tomorrow I want examples of what external factors may affect your genes." Mr. Garrow grabbed his eraser and went to work erasing everything he'd written during class.
Shoving my notebook in my backpack, I looked up and saw her, the girl from the parking lot. She was staring at me from the hallway. As soon as I noticed her she disappeared into the crowded hallway. I ran from my desk and stood in the doorway, blocking anyone from coming in as I searched for her. I didn't see her, but again I could smell Jace. I scratched my head in confusion, glancing up and down the hall. I went back to my desk and grabbed my backpack and noticed a drop of blood on my desk. I reached out tentatively to touch it.
"Mr. Cole?"
I whipped around. Mr. Garrow stood behind me, his brow quirked questioningly. "Don't you have to get to your next class."
I looked back, but didn't see any blood. "uhhhh." I nodded in confusion. "....I mean yes." I slung my backpack over my shoulder and rushed out of the room, looking back over my shoulder. Mr. Garrow stood at my desk, looking down, running a finger across my desktop. The scary thing was watching him bring that finger to his lips and I could see a trace of red. I absently reached up to my neck but felt nothing.
History class was next and I plopped down next to Jace. "I'm having a weird day."
I looked over but Jace had his phone out, texting. I could tell he had just come from athletics. His hair was still damp from a shower and I could smell the Axe shampoo that he used. I could smell his deodorant. I could smell him.
"Huh?" Jace looked up and realized I was there. "Trys?" He was looking at me like he didn't recognize me.
"I said, I'm having a weird day. This chick, this morning, out in the parking lot, she came up and kissed me. Like out of the blue. never seen her before, in my life, and the next thing I know, she's got her tongue down my throat. And I think she bit me." I stretched my head revealing my neck to him. "And then I saw her again in the hallway right after biology." I leaned over and whispered conspiratorially. "And..." I looked to my left and then right. "I think Mr. Garrow is a vampire." I was only half joking, but Jace looked at me like I was preaching the gospel from the pulpit.
Jace traced a finger along my neck, in the exact spot where I thought she had bitten me. The sensation sent shivers racing through me. Â He shook his head and shrugged. "I don't see anything." Jace pulled his hand back slowly.
"Yeah, well. There was blood there this morning." I rubbed at the bite, absently. It kinda itched but maybe I was still feeling Jace's touch.
"Are you sure you didn't like dream it?" Jace looked at me. He knew I had a tendency to fall asleep during class.
"I didn't dream it! It was like right after you left the car this morning. I got out of the car like right after you and...and there she was. I tried to go around her and she grabbed my hand and the next thing I know, it was like Wrestlemania in my mouth. One! Two! Three! and then she was gone. Like the wind. Kinda freaked me out. Then at the end of biology, she was in the hallway outside the classroom staring at me. I tried to catch her, but she was gone again." I shook my head. "I'm not crazy."
Jace was looking at me like I was crazy. "Okay. Okay. You're not crazy. But let's just look at this logically."
You have to understand. When Jace says, we have to look at things logically, you know there's something wrong.
"First, when's the last time someone came up and kissed you. And you're mom doesn't count." Jace grinned. And if it wasn't for that goofy-assed grin, I probably would have slugged him.
"Ha ha." I glared at him.
"Second. We were up awfully late last night. You know, with me kicking your ass so bad at World of Warcraft. What's more likely. Some girl, complete stranger, I might add, comes up to you, and even more importantly, not me, and kisses you."
I started to respond but he didn't allow me.
"Or....Or....maybe, when you were in your economics this morning, the desktop was ever so inviting, ever so sleep-inducing, you know, along with the drone of Ms. Apple, that you might have fallen asleep and dreamed a little dream?" Jace liked being melodramatic at my expense, throwing in a few hand gestures as he nodded his head to his explanation.
I could only glare. It made sense. I guess. I could have dreamed it. I did have that tendency. I reached up and felt my neck. I felt nothing. Nothing that proved I had been bitten by this strange girl. And a dream would certainly explain why the only things I could smell was Jace. I felt a blush rise to my cheeks and said a little prayer of gratitude as the bell rang. I sank low in my seat, casting glances over at Jace as he pulled his history book from his backpack. He glanced over at me once, his blue eyes sparkling mischievously.
I think Mr. Garrow is a vampire.
Okay. Let's just get one thing straight, once and for all. Vampires are people too. No no, laugh about it all you want, but it's true. Sure, you've seen the movies, read the books, worn the wax teeth at Halloween, it's all such wonderful make-believe. Till you wake up and it's happening to you.
And it isn't exactly the way you think. Oh yeah sure, there is that damned bloodlust. Sometimes it's all I can do not to drag someone into a closet and eat. But vampires have come out of the dark ages and into the 21st century like everyone else. Science has made great strides in remedying the bloodlust. As the pundits say "there's a pill for that."
Okay, and I'll be the first to admit that there are the proverbial bad seeds out there. But that can be said for everyone. And history has shown that we've had our fair share of issues. The black plague, not completely our fault. Just a few vampires took it upon themselves to take advantage of the situation. And you can't blame us for the two wars. Not a single vampire was known to fight on either side of the battles. And okay, yes, the Jamestown colony, might....might be laid at our feet....but all of that ....ancient history. I mean, I wasn't even born then. I'm newborn, so to speak. I wasn't turned by some romantic pale fanged creature of the night. Nope. Born and raised and then along with puberty and body odor and zits, I get a small case of vampirism. It's genetic, as lady gaga would sing. Baby, I was born this way. So before you start getting any ideas, I just wanted to set the record straight.
I looked over at Trys. He kept rubbing at his neck. I had told him nothing was there, but the truth; I could see the mark. Not teeth marks. That was cliche and so middle ages. But a vampire had tried to mark him.
Yeah, so okay, I had lied to Trys. It's not the first time, and it won't be the last. We've known each other since we were three. And contrary to popular belief, best friends lie to each other all the time. Sure the truth comes out, eventually, then you fight, make up and everything is right as rain. That's what best friends do. White lies are a part of the deal. No, those jeans don't make you look fat. No, you can barely see that zit. No, I don't see any vampire ...
What pisses me off though. I already marked Trys as mine. And here comes this bitch, like right behind me who has the audacity to try and mark him again. That shit don't fly. That explains why she came back. And she'll be back again. She didn't know he was marked.
I snuck another peek at Trys. He on the other hand should have felt something when she tried to mark him. I couldn't help but wonder what it was.
