February 14th.

  Valentine's day was one of the most awkward days of the year for me, right up there with Halloween. Everything all lovey-dovey? A day about smooching and intimacy? Ehh... not as fun when turning into a vampire meant your hormones dying down.

  When I was human, I had the vague assumption that vampires were lustful, romantic creatures of seduction. I mean, could you blame me? Dracula, Nosferatu, every written piece on Ao3 in the 2010's? They all had that in common. Honestly, even after years of being one, I couldn't say for sure whether we were or we weren't. I turned at just 15, I was only really halfway through puberty when dying killed half of my reproductive functions. Maybe it's because vampires can't reproduce that they're depicted as being so romantic. Many people would go at it all the time if there was zero risk of conceiving. But I just wasn't like that, as far as I was aware.

  I'd learned that physical touch was usually fine with me, but anything not so platonic made me feel dazed and confused. Hugs? Sure. Cuddling? Fine with me. But the second someone's lips would meet mine, I'd not only spiral into madness, but I'd grow hungry. My past experience with Victoria was a prime example of that.

  Tori and I had pretty firm boundaries. No kissing was the main rule. I felt guilty about it pretty often, because I knew that being with me prevented her from experiencing teenage relationships the way others do, but she was always adamant that she wasn't bothered. I deeply appreciated her patience and the respect she held towards me and my condition. I knew she'd never push the limits we set.

  So why the hell was I taking her out today?

  "Take those out." Victoria giggled, reaching up to yank my noise cancelling earphones out. "Did they even help at all?"

  "Not really." I smiled warmly. "Kind of just gave me a headache."

  "Maybe the cinema was a bad idea." She glanced around at the emptying seats. "At least it's over."

  "I don't mind. Besides, I wasn't just gonna let you go by yourself." I guided her out of her seat and picked up our belongings. "You sacrifice way too much for me."

  "Kinda what I signed up for." She teased.

  In all honesty, my head was pounding. The earphones didn't help at all. The movie was almost nauseatingly loud, thanks to my stupid hearing. Still hadn't found many actual advantages of enhanced senses yet, they all seemed like mini curses.

  As we headed out into the crowded hallway, and the chatter of the other movie-goers bounced around the walls, I held Victoria's hand tighter. I could feel my thoughts slurring together into a mush. The only one that managed to stay intact was 'stay calm, idiot.'

  "Zach?" Tori's soft tone of worry helped me ground myself. "Do you want to find somewhere quieter?"

  I nodded, attempting to smile in thanks, but it came out more like a drunken smirk.

  I followed her out of the cinema in silence. My vision was a little blurry. I hadn't really cared for the movie, it was more about seeing Victoria excited, but god there were a lot of heated scenes. I must've strained my eyes from the amount of times they rolled in discomfort. Maybe the fact that there were several couples making out during the movie was what set me off. Thank you, superpowers, I so did want to hear every little detail around the room against my will.

  "Is here okay?"

  Tori walked me into a little smoking area between two of the cafes outside the cinema. I hummed in agreement and leaned against a brick wall. The headache was worsening, now keeping my eyes open hurt.

  "Talk to me," Victoria placed her hands on my shoulders, "What's wrong?"

  "Dunno."

  "Think."

  "Can't."

  "Fantastic."

  Tori sighed and stood to my side instead. She took out her phone and scrolled through a notepad document where she'd listed what different problems and symptoms often meant for me. I always thought she was so smart. And pretty. God, she was pretty. Did she know she was pretty?

  "You're so pretty." I slurred against her shoulder, leaning on her.

  She rolled her eyes but blushed slightly.

  "Okay. Overstimulation, brain fog, dizziness, and now slurring of words." She noted under her breath. "What triggered it? The movie? The crowd?"

  "I like your shampoo." I snickered, nuzzling into her hair. "It's like jasmine."

  Tori paused for a moment.

  "My hair products are all berry scented." She raised a brow. "You're a little out of it, huh?"

  "Mm."

  I let my eyes flutter shut, turning to rest against her properly. She huffed at my weight but continued scrolling on her phone, choosing to ignore me.

  "I'm a bit confused, I'll be honest," Tori admitted with concern, "You usually get like this when you're triggered by blood, but there wasn't any blood in the movie. Was anyone injured near us?"

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  "Mmnm." I shook my head, cuddling my cheek against her collarbone. "Didn't smell any blood."

  "I must be missing something, then."

  "I like your shirt today."

  "You've never reacted like this to anything else."

  "It's dark blue, like your eyes are."

  "We should get you home."

  "Your eyes are so pretty."

  "Are you listening to me?"

  I grumbled at that, my hands finding her upper arms. I could hear the blood soaring through her veins. I could feel the warmth from her carotid artery. Like a campfire in the snow, just being close to that warmth felt life saving.

  "I don't like you being this close to my neck like this." Victoria murmured, gently trying to pull me away.

  I whined in protest and pinned her wrists to the wall behind her. A yelp of confusion left her at the act.

  "Don't you even think about biting me! We're in public–"

  "No one's around." My lips pressed against her neck.

  She froze.

  "... Zach?"

  "Not gonna bite you." I repeated.

  My grip on her wrists grew tighter as I found myself unable to stop myself from trailing kisses along her neck. I'd never done anything like that before, and never felt any desire to. But somehow, just this once, it felt nice.

  "Um..." Tori glanced around, just as baffled as me, but not quite protesting either. "I think the... m-movie might've gotten to your head..."

  A slight growl fell from my lips. The tip of a fang scratched ever so lightly against Victoria's skin, and she suddenly kicked me away.

  I doubled over with a huff and stepped back.

  "Ouch?!" I groaned, blinking back into reality.

  Tori took heavy breaths and frowned.

  "Sorry. I'm sorry." She gulped. "Just... uh... Let's just go home."

  -

  "Off to class now, boys."

  The vice principal - Miss Harvey - called as she came up beside Hunter. Hunter flinched and looked from person to person. The air felt bitter. The tension felt like burning.

  "Please, you don't understand," Malachi turned to Mr Vance, finding a little more control in himself now that he wasn't alone with the man, "We really need that book."

  "Can't you just hand it over? Why do you have to be such a hoarder?" Hunter glared. "His mum didn't want it, what other excuse do you have?"

  "Excuse? I need an excuse to keep it in my possession?" Mr Vance mused. "You two have been very brave today but I really do think you're pushing your limits. I don't appreciate your tone."

  "Back to class." Miss Harvey repeated, firmer.

  "This is ridiculous! We just want our dead friend's notebook!" Malachi tried the pity card. "Give me one good reason why we can't have it."

  "You're speaking to me inappropriately and your behaviour is not acceptable in the slightest, so no, I will not do whatever you ask." Mr Vance shot harshly. He gripped the book tighter. "I've been very lenient with you and your friends because I understand you're struggling, but I think this is where I draw the line."

  Hunter glanced around at the drawers and cabinets Malachi had left open during his snooping. The contents were harder to see from the doorway, but some were clear as day.

  "We need it!" Malachi continued.

  "To save Tori? Or because Zach wants it?" Mr Vance narrowed his eyes. "Because you gave me two conflicting reasons before."

  Hunter paled.

  "You said that?" He murmured to Malachi, the feeling of betrayal bubbling at the spilled secrets.

  Malachi shot him an apologetic look.

  "If Zach wants the book so badly, he can come and collect it himself." Miss Harvey crossed her arms. "Making his friends do his dirty work is upsetting."

  Hunter only tensed further.

  "You both know he's alive?" He uttered.

  "I did just tell them that..." Malachi winced.

  "No." Hunter shook his head, turning to the principal with resentment. "You already knew. That's why you wouldn't give it to Carly, isn't it?"

  "It's my job to care for my students." Mr Vance tilted his head. "Even the ones who go off the radar like Zach and Victoria."

  "What else do you know?" Malachi accused, looking back over to the cabinets of strange ID cards and documents. "You clearly like to stick your head around."

  "Diego?" Miss Harvey shot the principal a look of confirmation.

  "It's alright." Mr Vance shook his head at her. "This can be an exception."

  Miss Harvey rolled her eyes and shut the door. Hunter inched away from her bitterly, leaning on one of his crutches.

  "Allow me to speak to you for a moment not as your principal, but simply as myself." Mr Vance sat on the edge of his desk with a sigh. "I don't think Zach deserves the book."

  The boys scoffed in unison.

  "It's just a bunch of sketches and fantasy writing." Malachi gritted his teeth. "I don't know why he wants it, but–"

  "Well I do, and I don't think he deserves it."

  A moment of silence and disbelief passed.

  "Why do you think he wants it?" Hunter spoke cautiously. "And why don't you think it's good enough?"

  The principal sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

  "Frankly, It's invaluable." He said bluntly. "I believe his utter lack of awareness about his own writing puts it at risk. He wants it back to stop others from reading it, that alone tells me he himself has no idea why he actually needs it. If he got it back, he'd probably throw it under his bed or stash it in a closet."

  The boys exchanged a look of suspicion.

  "What's in it that's so important?" Hunter murmured.

  "It's hard to figure that out," Miss Harvey leaned against a bookcase, "A lot of his writing is sarcastic or dramatic, it can be hard to tell what he was serious about."

  "You believe the writing?" Malachi's eyes widened. "You think it's all real?"

  "Hard to fake something like that when it's written so specifically."

  Mr Vance opened the book to a certain page and began to read aloud the contents.

  "Age demographics for blood: pros and cons. 18 and under: usually pretty clean and fresh tasting, but makes me feel really guilty afterwards. 18 to 30: probably the easiest to get, but people this age tend to take substances more than anyone else. 30 to 50: somewhat hard to actually feed from since most adults this old have decent life experience and know how to either fight back or draw attention when attacked, honestly not worth it. 50 and above: definitely not worth it, most people have some sort of disease or illness at this age which affects the taste of their blood, and I feel horrible attacking elderly."

  The room fell silent as the words were spoken. No one could deny that that wasn't the sort of thing your average teenager would write about in such detail if it was just a book about mythological creatures; it clearly came from experience.

  "How long have you known about Zach?" Malachi hesitantly spoke up.

  "Long enough." Mr Vance closed the book. "This whole situation with the tragedy of Victoria Evans concerns me more than anything. I can't let Zach discard this book like it's nothing."

  "You think it's better in your hands?" Hunter muttered.

  "Maybe you've seen too many movies." Miss Harvey glared lightly. "I'm sure in your favourite shows, a bunch of teenagers go out solving mysteries and supernatural situations just fine. But in reality, there's so many things you're just too young and immature to understand the gravity of."

  "Zach is not immature." Hunter defended. "That kid's been through hell on earth. He grew up way too fast."

  "Have you seen his temper tantrums?" Miss Harvey almost smirked. "The boy goes off into the night to take his anger out on strangers."

  "Don't talk about him like that." Malachi joined in. "You don't even know him."

  "I think it's worse that I do." The woman tilted her head.