The clock on the wall struck 3. I woke up, stomach growling. I haven't taken any blood for two days. That's because, my mum wasn't home. You see, I'm not a normal vampire. I can't drink blood without fainting. But because I'm a vampire I can't eat anything either. Which means: no snack, no smoothies, not even cookies from the girl I like.
Unfair? Very.
I dragged myself out of bed and walked over to the wardrobe. Behind it, there was a hidden panel—my secret pathway to a small room Dad built me.
I stepped inside and sat on the old chair. I took a deep breath, then stuck the needle into my arm. Cold blood flowed in. I closed my eyes and leaned back as warmth slowly returned to my limbs.
Energy surged through me.
So refreshing.
...This is why I don't like being a vampire.
***
I was too immersed in writing my fanfic when a knock sounded at my door.
My mum peeked her head in and cheerily said, "Good morning!"
Ah—she's back. Finally.I missed her.
I glanced at the clock and gasped.It was already 8:00 in the morning.
My class starts at 8:30 today.
"Crap," I muttered, leaping off my chair and rushing to the bathroom.
Behind me, I could hear my mum laughing.
I slathered sunscreen all over my body. At this point, I might as well bathe in it. Most vampires can tolerate sunlight if they've consumed enough blood, but I'm built different—bad different. Even after feeding, my skin still burns in the sun. I got hives.
I'm such a shame to the clan.
I yanked the black hoodie draped over my chair before dashing downstairs. My brother was already at the dining table, chatting about who-knows-what with my father. He was sipping coffee (well, blood mixed with coffee, vampire style).
"Ah, you're so late," my brother chimed when he noticed me rushing past.
***
I arrived at school exactly at 9:15. Yup—forty-five minutes late. A personal record.
When I reached my classroom, I noticed a few guys loitering outside.
"Yo, Eric! You're so damn lucky today," one of them said. "Mr. Benson caught a cold, so we're just doing individual study."
I nearly cried on the spot from relief. No lectures. No questions I couldn't answer. No Mr. Benson trying to figure out why I look like I haven't slept since the Victorian era.
Max was the only classmate who ever talked to me, the weird vampire kid who wears hoodies and flinches at sunlight (not that he knows). I appreaciated it. Sort of. The guy talks too damn much.
I stepped into the classroom—which was already loud enough to pass for a cafeteria—and headed straight for my usual seat at the very front.
I actually like this spot. It's got a window view and a wall on one side, which makes it perfect for pretending I'm not here.
I pulled out the book I borrowed from the library yesterday, hoping to get at least a few chapters in before… someone I don't expect decided to talk to me.
"Um… I was just wondering if you'd like to eat lunch with me today."
I blinked.
OMG. WHAT IN THE ACTUAL BLOOD-SOAKED HECK JUST HAPPENED?? AM I DREAMING??
"It's okay to say no. I understand," she added quickly.
JUST WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND, HUH??? MY ENTIRE EXISTENCE IS SHORT-CIRCUITING RIGHT NOW.
I could feel my face burning (or what you might call blushing). My heart was beating so fast I thought I might faint right here, right now—and not from blood loss this time.
My crush… just asked me to lunch.
Her name was Lily. I've been crushing on her for… a while. Since preschool, to be exact.
Laugh all you want—she was talking to me right now. For the first time in the twelve years we've known each other.
"I… I didn't bring any lunch today," I replied, instantly regretting every life choice that led to this moment.
Of course I didn't bring lunch. I was too busy writing fanfic, stabbing myself with a blood needle, and bathing in sunscreen like a cursed rotisserie chicken. I didn't even grab the lunchbox my mum always packs for me. She always packs one.
Because, you know—we have to keep the secret. Pretend to be normal. Pretend we eat like everyone else. Pretend we don't get hives from garlic and nosebleeds from anxiety.
I sighed internally. My one chance to talk to Lily… and I showed up empty-handed and empty-stomached.
"I make extra lunch today, if you don't mind… joining me," she said softly. "It's enough for the both of us."
My brain short-circuited.
Abort mission. This is not a drill. Human girl has offered food. HUMAN GIRL HAS OFFERED FOOD.
I nodded. Or at least I think I did. Honestly, I might have twitched.
"Uh—yeah. Sure. I mean, if you're okay with it. I-I don't want to, like, steal your food or anything. Or, uh, be rude. Or sit too close. Or breathe weird. I'm totally normal."
Help.
Lily smiled. Smiled.
Like I hadn't just word-vomited pure social disaster all over her kindness.
"It's okay. I'd like the company."
I think I died. Again.
***
I couldn't focus on class at all.
My brain just… stopped functioning. Completely.Thoughts? Gone. Notes? What notes. All I could do was stare blankly at the board and occasionally pretend to nod like I understood everything.
I was excited. And terrified. At the same time.Because I—me—was going to have lunch with my crush. For the first time ever.
I kept sneaking glances at the wall clock like it owed me something.Tick faster, you round little coward.
I'd already made my decision: I was going to eat human food.Yes, I know. Me. Voluntarily.
I didn't care if it made my stomach implode. Or if I had to lie down dramatically afterward like a fainting goat. If eating weird human lunch made Lily happy, I'd do it. Gladly.
Hehe. I hope my tiny giggle didn't show on my face. That would be social suicide.
But deep down—like, way down, in the part of me that writes tragic fanfic at 3AM—I knew the truth.
I couldn't let this go anywhere serious. I couldn't drag Lily into the mess that is my undead, blood-rejecting, prophecy-flavored life.
But just this once…Just this one tiny time…
I wanted to be selfish.To feel what it's like to be liked. To be happy.To pretend, even for a moment, that love was something I could have.
Just this once.
I wouldn't take it seriously.It's just one lunch. One moment.
Nothing more.
Right?