Blissful Ignorance: In a Vampire's World

I wanted to run all the way home, my excitement threatening to burst my heart into a million pieces, but the boy walking me back to school kept me grounded.

“So how long have you been playing the guitar?” Rob had his bass guitar strapped to his back and his hands in his pockets as he walked with me. His skin-tight black T with the Punisher skull on it showing his perfect six-pack.

“About…ten years. My mother started on me on her acoustic guitar, and when I hit ten I decided I wanted to be a rock star so I picked up an electric guitar.” I stuck my hands in my jacket pockets, the cold night chilling my bones.

“That’s hot.” He smirked, glancing down at me, then put his eyes back on the path ahead of us that wound through the forest. “So…do you have a boyfriend at your school?”

I kept my arms close to my body and couldn’t help but smile. “Had one for like…a day. I haven’t seen him since the night we first kissed.” I glanced up at him with a mischievous smirk. “Why? You making me an offer?”

“Depends…would you accept the offer?” He likes to play games, huh?

I put my eyes back on the path, not speaking for a moment so I could get my thoughts in order. “You know…I’m not really ready for a relationship just yet. But I’ll definitely keep you in mind when I am.” I smiled sweetly, hoping there wouldn’t be any hard feelings.

He stopped and grabbed my hand quickly, then jerked me so I stumbled into him. “Who said we have to be in a relationship?” He smirked, snaking an arm around my waist. “You’ve never heard of friends with benefits?”

I pressed my free hand against his chest, and pushed, trying to pry myself away from him. “I’m not that kind of girl. Even if I wasn’t a virgin I wouldn’t be that kind of girl.” I tried as hard as I could to get away from him, but he effortlessly kept me where I was.

“I’m not talking about sex, babe. I’m not really that kind of guy either. But a kiss from a lovely lady would definitely be a blessing.” He let go of my hand, and slipped his under my chin to make me gaze up into his eyes.

“Rob, you’re not hearing me. I’m not that kind of girl.” I turned my head out of his palm and continued to struggle against his hold. (not matter how bad I wanted him)

“What you don’t kiss?” He asked, confusion clear on his face.

“I don’t kiss guys I don’t know all that well, and I don’t kiss guys just for the hell of it. If you want me that bad, you’ll wait. If not, then it’s your loss.” I teased, smirking up at him.

“Krissy!” I peeked around Rob to see Kyle and Marcus standing angrily behind him.

“Hey guys!” I smiled and walked over to them when Rob released me.

Marcus wrapped an arm around my waist and in an instant had me pressed up against him. “What are you doing out here?” He asked rigidly, his eyes never leaving Rob.

“Ouch Marcus! Let me go!” It took a moment, but I became suddenly aware of pain in my side where Marcus’s arm was.

“Hey! Let her go!” Rob clenched his fists.

“Stay out of this, wolf!” Marcus barked back.

“Kyle!” I reached for my brother figure.

“Hey hey, guys. We all need to calm down. Marcus, let go of Krissy.” Kyle said sweetly, as if he was talking to children.

Marcus hesitantly released me, and I went running into Kyle’s arms.

“Aww there, there, Krissy. Everything’s ok now.” Kyle wrapped his gentle arms around me and kissed the top of my head. “What are you doing out here though? I thought you didn’t want to come out this weekend.”

“Well I was sitting at the dorm, watching porn-”

“You watched porn?” Kyle raised a brow.

“Yes but I didn’t do anything nasty, then Damien walked in and I teased him, then I got bored and decided to dress up and go out and-” I stopped myself and glanced at Rob, pausing and thinking things through. Did I really want the boys in my business? Did I really want to tell them where I was going to be if I ever ran away to go play with the band? I mean, Kyle and Marcus are still assigned to protecting me, how would they react? “I met Rob at a bar and after talking for a while he offered to um…walk me back to school.” I smiled up at Kyle innocently, but I could tell he was suspicious.

“Well that’s very nice of him.” Kyle smiled away his suspicion, then held out his hand towards Rob. “Hey, I’m Kyle. Thanks for looking out for our little Krissy.”

Rob shook his hand, still a bit on edge though. “It’s no problem.” He dropped his hand and took a couple steps back. “Uh…Krissy?” He raised a brow, his teasing smile returning.

I widened my eyes, remembering the name I had given myself on stage, then narrowed my eyes at him. “Yes. My real name is Kristiana Morano. Is it really so surprising?”

Rob threw his hands up for his white flag. “Chill. Lyrica.” He chuckled.

“Lyrica?” Kyle glanced down at me, making my heart race. I didn’t want the boys to know that that was my stage name! That would mean I’d have to tell them about my new job and whatnot.

“Well…I mean, I wasn’t going to tell some guy I met at a bar my real name.” I rolled my eyes as if this fact was painfully obvious, then glared at Rob.

“Uh huh. Well, Krissy,” Rob walked up to me, “it was nice meeting you.” He stuck his index finger in my jacket pocket and pulled me closer to him, his lips softly touching my cheek, then he smiled down at me. “I hope to see you again real soon,” he said, the meaning of that making me nervous, as I hoped my friends hadn’t noticed it. He then walked past me and the boys, and disappeared down the path into the darkness.

“That guy has some nerve.” Kyle clenched his fists.

“Kris, why would you walk through a forest alone with someone you don’t even know?” Marcus folded his arms over his chest as he interrogated me.

“Because he seems like a real cool kid.” I smiled and started walking back towards the school. When I stuck my hands in my jacket pockets, I felt a small piece of paper that wasn’t there before, and smiled inside. I guessed it was Rob’s number.

“What, because he plays in a band?”

I froze in place, then turned around to look at Marcus. “How’d you know he was in a band?” Did they know that I was now a permanent part of that band? I guess their guitarist, Mike, has a real alcohol problem, and is a real asshole. The only reason they dealt with him was because they couldn’t find another guitarist. Quincy (Q) told me I’m the guardian angel of the band…a child of the Rock Gods. The bands members are all really sweet, and very welcoming, and so is the crowd.

“Uh, I don’t know. Maybe the bass guitar on his back?” Marcus smirked at me then walked to my side, while Kevin walked to my other side and grabbed my hand, walking with me towards the school.

“Oh.” I said quietly, walking with Kyle towards the school. “So why are you guys coming home so early?” I dropped Kyle’s hand, his cold skin making me shiver.

“Early? Krissy, it’s almost two in the morning.” Kyle took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders to keep me warm. It was a sexy black leather jacket with real Italian leather.

“Really?” I pulled the jacket together in my front, then glanced up to the sky. It seemed that the moment I realized how late it was, my body reacted by getting tired. I yawned, and my eyes suddenly felt heavy.

Marcus smirked and glanced down at me. “You humans are very odd.”

There was a while of silence, then Kyle decided to get something off his chest. “Are you attracted to this Rob guy?”

It sounded so awkward the way he said it. I started laughing. “I have to admit, he’s very attractive, and charming, but…” I didn’t finish the sentence. I didn’t really want to.

“But?” Marcus just had to push the subject.

I took a deep breath of crisp, cool air, then exhaled. “I’m not ready to trust anybody just yet. And that’s what dating, and even being friends with benefits is based on. You need to have trust, and…I just…” I didn’t exactly know how to exactly put all of my feelings and thoughts into words.

“I understand. I was just asking.” Kyle wrapped his arm around my shoulders as we entered the school grounds.

“Hey Kyle?” I glanced up at him.

“Yeah?” He smiled down at me.

“Do you find me attractive?” I asked this question in all seriousness. I wanted to know…was it possible for even the most beautiful of creatures to find something as flawed and imperfect as me somewhat attractive?

Kyle stopped in place and turned me to face him. “You know, when most people look at a person, at first, they only see what’s on the outside. Either a pretty face or a nice body, or an ugly face or an ugly body. But I was born very lucky. I wasn’t born with mind reading powers, or the power to see the future or anything like that. No. I was born with the power to see into a person’s heart. I can see what they’re like, how they react to certain things, and who they really are deep down inside. And you, Kristiana Morano are very beautiful, not only on the outside, but on the inside as well. So, yes. I do find you extremely attractive. You just don‘t need to put on that tough act. Be the sweet girl you were born to be.”

I couldn’t help but blush. A hot vampire guy found me to be beautiful? That’s a serious comment!…but that wasn’t really what I was asking. I smiled and started walking towards the dorm rooms again, my eyes watching the ground in front of me.

“Kyle, that wasn’t what she was asking.” Marcus’s voice sounded distant, letting me know they weren’t following.

“What do you mean?” Kyle’s confused voice could still be heard.

I stopped and turned around, watching the boys talk about what I meant.

“She was asking if-” Marcus started, but I cut him off.

“Marcus! Kyle! Come on!” I didn’t want the question to be asked again. What if he gave me a different, more disappointing answer? I didn’t want to hear that.

The boys glanced at each other, then at me, and smiled.

“What?” I ran a hand through my hair, thinking I my hair was a mess or something, but it wasn’t me they were smiling at. It was Damien who was coming up behind me.

“Stop trying to fix what can’t be fixed.” Damien teased as he walked past me and up to Kyle and Marcus, discussing their night at the club.

I sighed and walked over to the boys…with a frown on my face.

“What? Are you kidding?” Damien seemed disappointed with something.

“Nope. I’m telling you, that skeezoid was sucking on a couple of really hot, but totally naïve human girls. Hypnotizing them and drinking their blood.”

“I thought that wasn’t allowed at Club 99.” Damien glanced at Marcus, all three of the boys getting angrier by the minute.

“It’s not. He probably made a generous donation to the club owner. I hear he’s pretty shady.” Kyle looked straight into Damien’s eyes.

“Who are we talking about?” I asked curiously, poking my head into the small triangle of friends.

“Jacob. Did he say why he…isn’t-” Damien stopped in the middle of his sentence probably realizing who he just said that name to.

Jacob? He was doing illegal bloodsucking at a club? On girls?! And he hasn’t even been to school to tell me he was fucking around with other girls! I quickly turned around and walked back towards the dorm rooms.

“Krissy…” Kyle walked after me quickly, grabbing my arm gently to make me stop.

“You know how I was talking about not trusting people?” I glanced over my shoulder at him. “This is why.” I jerked my arm out of his hand and stalked off to the dorms, ignoring the three pairs of eyes I felt on my back.