Life Lessons 101

Due to Sidney’s injuries, and the potential possibility of running into another vampire, we decided to take a bus back to the dorms. It was getting late now, so thankfully there weren’t too many people taking up all the seats.

The various buildings downtown passed by in blur as I leaned my face against the steamy glass window. What did Val get out of having someone else give Sidney a black eye and spitting empty threats in my direction?

I didn’t ask for Matt to apologize for something that wasn’t exactly his fault.

I didn’t ask to involved in any of this.

Sidney’s phone began ringing a few blocks before the bus reached our stop. He dug into his pocket and retrieved the phone, staring at the caller ID with furrowed brows.

“Who is it?” I asked.

“It’s…the coach. Maybe he called to say that Andrew’s hospitalized or something,” he snorted, placing the phone to his ear.

Although I couldn’t hear what was being said on the other line, it was still amusing to watch Sidney’s expression slowly morph from confused to ecstatic. “I don’t care how it happened, I’m just glad that it did! Thanks for letting me know, coach.”

The moment he hung up the phone, he began spilling out the details. “You’ll never believe what I just found out! The NHL is sponsoring a recruitment camp this weekend. The bus will be here tomorrow afternoon.”

“T-that’s great, Sid, it really is.”

I tried, I tried so hard, to keep that smile on my face for him, but I couldn’t do it. It was probably his dream come true to hear that the NFL has taken an interest in his hockey skills, but didn’t he realize what that meant?

It meant that I’d be alone and defenseless against four fucked up vampires.

Once we made it to one of the last streets on campus, I reached upward and tugged the line, indicating a stop. The driver pulled over accordingly and opened the doors for Sidney and me, wishing us a safe night. If only.

Sidney was making a move to go in a separate direction, toward his dorm room alone. I bit down on my lip, not wanting to see him go. I ran after him and grabbed his arm, forcing him to face me.

“Hey, I was thinking…I’d just spend the night in your room tonight.”

He laughed lightly. “Of course, you know I love when you do, but I mean I have to email my professors, and start packing my–.”

“Please, Sid. Can I stay in your room?” There was so much urgency and desperation in my voice, it almost sent shivers down my spine.

He stopped talking altogether and just stood there, staring at me. Watching as his eyes slowly widened and his jaw slacked, I knew that he understood why I couldn’t share his level of enthusiasm.

He wrapped his arms around me and just held me there for a couple minutes. “I’m so sorry, Miranda. I…I was just so caught up in the moment that I didn’t even consider what’s been going on in our lives. Just say the word, and I’ll tell them no.”

I pushed my hands against his chest and playfully glared at him. “Don’t you dare! Look, I know how much this means to you, and I surely don’t want to be the one to stop you. I’ll be fine, I’m just a little scared.”

“Then let’s get to bed. I’ll pack in the morning.”

Once we made it onto his bed, once he wrapped his arm securely around me, it felt as if all my troubles vanished, if only for just that temporary time.

*Brian’s POV*

Before heading over to Miranda’s, I needed to get the excessive amounts of blood off of me. I didn’t care whether or not she saw me that way, but I couldn’t have the public seeing that sight.

That would only put a rather large crimp in my plans, which I could not afford to experience. It was already bad enough that Miranda was such a rebel. Oh well, soon that will all change.

By now the front doors to the dorm buildings were already locked. The only way you could open them was by using your student ID. Well, since I was far from a student, I had to come up with an alternative method.

I tightly gripped the metal door handle and tugged effortlessly, the force of my strength rendered the lock useless. I stepped inside the silent building and rode the elevator to the fourth floor, the whole time displaying a smirk as I thought about all the things I was about to do to Miranda.

Just for playful measures, I decided to knock on the door instead of breaking another lock. It was a little after eleven o’clock, so I knew that she couldn’t possibly be asleep, yet it was taking her forever to answer.

At least if she looked through the peep hole I’d know because surely she’d scream. I rolled my eyes and decided to knock a little more forcefully. I heard footsteps approaching, finally.

The door opened revealing someone I’d never met before, I’m presuming her to be Miranda’s roommate. She looked surprised for the briefest second before a glare formed.

“How many of you bulky, tattooed freaks does she know?” she sneered.

Given the fact that Miranda seemed to hardly ever reside in her dorm, I’d like to assume that she doesn’t care for her roommate too much. And I could see why.

I laughed in a noticeably fake fashion and moved my way closer to the door. She stood in place, though I could hear her heartbeat dramatically accelerate. Her throat constricted as I stared her down.

“I don’t know who else would be stopping by to see her, but it’s really important that I see her. So, why don’t you let me in so I can wait for her?”

She scoffed. “I’m going to tell you the same thing I told the other guy. You can come back later. I’ll be damned if I let some freak like you in here.”

I smirked. “Would you rather be dead?”

Fear seized her ability to move for the briefest moment before she tried to make a move to close the door. Too bad I was about ten times faster. I shoved my palm up against the door and stopped the movement, slowly pushing both her and the door backward.

She fell back into the rack of clothes near the door, emitting a sad excuse of a scream. I stepped into the dim room and waited until the door slammed shut before making my move. I reached down and gripped the base of her neck, using my grip to throw her onto the bed.

She shrunk back up against the wall under an Audrey Hepburn poster. I observed some of the framed photos on her desk – her and some girls at a beach, a guy posing for a senior picture, prom. “Tell me, Emily, do you think your boy toy is gonna miss you?”

“Y-you stay away from me,” she stammered, not yet able to abandon her bitchy stubbornness.

I approached her bed wearing a dark, amused expression. “Well, let’s just hope Miranda gets back soon because you get to be my entertainment until she arrives.”

*Normal POV (Next Morning)*

The sound of Sidney’s buzzing alarm clock racked my body with sadness, but I refused to let it show. At the very least I felt confident enough to be able to hold it back until the moment after his bus leaves. I don’t want him to doubt his decision to go.

I rolled over onto my side and gazed at his peaceful face. Suddenly, he peaked one eye just barely open and smirked. “You’re staring.”

“Just trying to remember your face. I don’t know what I’ll do, you know, not seeing it for a whole week,” I laughed.

He was slowly starting to believe that everything was okay. He rolled out of bed and started throwing some clothes in a duffle bag. I propped a pillow up against the wall and watched him pack.

Watching the way his defined muscles flexed when he reached for something…the tight fit of his black wife beater…

Okay, yes after all that’s happened this semester, I can finally say that I love my best friend. But we haven’t quite had the time to tackle that whole topic, and him leaving now surely doesn’t help that situation.

I guess I’ll settle for a rain check.

Once he finished packing what he thought he’d need for a week’s time, he zipped the bag shut and slung it over his shoulder. “Here, I’ll walk you to the bus,” I offered, holding the door open as he dragged the bag out.

A large tour bus was parked outside of the rink. We, or rather he, had to trudge all the way downtown to get to the bus, but I’m sure it was worth the struggle in his mind. There were already quite a few guys on the bus, and some were boarding as we arrived.

Sidney tossed his bag into the baggage compartment and turned to face me. I still couldn’t believe how fast this was happening. Not to mention, how sudden.

I tried to smile as best as I could and wrapped my arms around him. “You better get drafted to some awesome NHL team for leaving me alone,” I teased.

“I’ll be sure to do that,” he laughed. “And as soon as I get back, we’re going to have fun for once. No more worrying about…well, the V word.”

Provided I’m still alive by the time he gets back…

“Sounds good. Text me or something when you get there!”

“You bet,” he smiled, waving as he ascended the stairs into the bus.

I refused to move until the bus finally rolled into a slow start, shuffling down the street, until turning and escaping my view.

The safest place I could probably go right now was my dorm. Or maybe I was just trying to convince myself that that was the case. Truth be told, I couldn’t bare to sit in some restaurant or café and watch couples enjoy their time together…friends laughing without a single worry.

It would make me sick to my stomach. Blasting my ears out with metal, attempting to do some homework, and feeling Emily’s eyes burn into my back was more appealing by far.

I rode the elevator up in silence, sighing to myself as I stepped into the hallway and approached my door, sliding the key into the handle. I heard two voices on the other side – one being male, the other belonging to Emily.

I swear to God if she has someone over…

The door swung open as I stepped inside, naturally slamming shut behind me. I stepped further into the room and dropped my backpack on the ground, unwillingly emitting a gasp at the sight before me.

Brian was standing near Emily, who cradled herself in the corner of her bed. Fear was etched on her face. Brian carelessly tossed one of her picture frames he’d been holding to the ground and turned toward me.

“Miranda,” he smirked wickedly. “Nice of you to finally join us.”

“W-what are you doing here?” I asked, hating how ironic all of this was. Of course he’d be here the moment after Sidney leaves me.

He shrugged. “I’ve been having a really good day today…wanted to push my luck. I was planning on have conferences next week in class, but I thought I’d pay you a special visit.”

“I can’t quite say that I’m flattered. How does Michelle feel about your ‘special visit.’”

He laughed, though without humor. “She doesn’t know. She’s too busy hiding in the back of your lover boy’s tour bus, ready to rip his throat out.”

My eyes widened as I felt my heart stop for the briefest moment. Now it made sense – the sudden call from the coach, the last minuteness. Michelle planned to use the trip to get to Sidney. I had to warn him!

My fingers flew to my front pocket, clawing inside to reach for the cell phone. Before I could even unlock the damn screen, he sped over to my side and stole the phone, tossing it back onto my bed.

“No need for that right now. Before I get down to business, I decided to give you a little…gift.” He turned back toward Emily.

I wasn’t quite sure what that was supposed to mean, but I was almost positive I wouldn’t enjoy it.

“You see, I know some things about you that you don’t even have to verbally confess. For example, I know how much you detest Emily over here. Wouldn’t your life be easier without her in it?”

Emily shifted her position, a small gasp escaping her lungs as the terror on her face escalated. I shook my head and almost started to laugh despite myself. I leaned forward and glared pointedly. “As long as you are in my life, nothing will be easy.”

I knew that got to him, though his mask of cockiness made it difficult to see the true reaction. He glanced down at the ground and shook his head.

“We’ll see if that’s how you really feel once I’m done with my gift.”

I glanced over at Emily, taking in her pleading eyes. All the times I dreamed about killing her, and here he practically offering her head on a platter. No…

I shook my head violently. “I don’t want you to do that.”

He scoffed. “You might as well give up the good girl act. We’re all mad underneath. There’s no point in hiding it.”

Before I could utter another word in her defense, he crawled on her bed, dragging her over to the edge. He placed his hands on each side of her head, resting his fingers along her neck, just below her ears.

His grin was dripping with malice as he slowly twisted her skull sideways. The sound of protesting, crunching cartilage and bone reverberated off the walls, sending waves of paralyzing chills across my body. Her eyes were squeezed shut, the wrinkled flesh displaying her pain.

He had every ability to make it a quick and clean snap, but he was doing just the opposite. The sound of her breaking neck caused a hefty amount of burning bile to rise to the back of my throat, only to forcibly make its way back down. Her voice rang out in low shrieks, suddenly silenced by the final clicking and tugging of the bones.

Her body went limp in his arms. Yet he wasn’t finished with her yet.

Fangs extended past his lips as he chewed away at her flesh. Her preppy pink Hollister shirt was soon soaked in her blood, drying and turning into a crusted brown layer.

By some miracle, I was still standing, though trying my best to avoid watching his fangs drag along her flesh. She was a bitch, but she didn’t deserve this.

I wasn’t sure how much blood he planned on drinking, but he was certainly taking his time. And I decided to use this to my advantage. Taking small, silent steps, I made my way toward my bed. I held my breath as I stepped just behind him. He didn’t seem to notice.

Just as I was within reach of my bed, something blurred past me. After blinking in surprise, I opened my eyes to see Brian standing before me, wearing a taunting expression, and his face covered in smeared blood.

Undoubtedly the definition of a monster.

“If you wanted some attention, all you had to do was ask,” he smirked.

I shook my head, stumbling over my words, and walking backwards. “N-no that’s perfectly fine.” I waited until I relocated my voice before continuing. “Please, go ahead and continue eating her corpse.”

“If you’re not careful, it might end up being your corpse I eat.”

His threat didn’t really have too much of an effect on me. Something told me he didn’t plan on killing me. There was something much darker behind his intentions.

“Wow, no sassy comment? My gift must’ve really won you over.”

“That’s hardly the case,” I murmured, cringing as the smell of blood filled the room. The smell of death.

He chuckled, clearly not wanting to believe that. “So, what are you giving me in return?”

Was he serious? “I don’t really know how to explain this to you in a way that you’ll comprehend, but I didn’t ask for that!”

“You didn’t have to,” he shrugged. “It was a surprise. Now, out of common courtesy, you should offer me something.”

“I have nothing to give you,” I spat.

“Oh on the contrary,” he grinned. His fingers slid down my neck, tracing a vein. Out of instinct, I swatted his hand away, disgusted.

He rolled his eyes and took an intimidating step forward. “If you don’t give me something in return, I’ll make sure Michelle shows Sidney a real bad time on the bus.”

While there were many connotations beneath his words, I knew that every single one of them was far from pleasurable to think about. I swallowed the lump in the back of my throat and stared him dead on.

“W-what do you want?”

“Your blood,” he replied, reaching forward suddenly and gripping my neck. He shoved me down onto my bed roughly, straddling me. He tugged at the collar of my shirt, exposing my skin.

“If you bite me, then nothing happens to Sidney, do you understand?”

“Sorry, princess, I can’t control Michelle from such a distance,” he sneered, barring his fangs.

Tears welled in my eyes as I braced myself for the attack. His fangs sunk through my soft flesh as if I were made of quicksand. Blood pooled to the surface. I could feel his tongue gleefully sliding across the moist surface.

He proceeded to bite me along my arms, leaving behind trails of teeth marks traced in blood. I was beginning to feel lightheaded, but I doubted that he cared.

My head turned to the side, allowing the blood to pool in the space between my head and neck and the pillow beneath. My eyes focused in on a small vile of holy water on the dresser, just within arms reach.

He took my hand in his and brought his lips to my wrist, kissing the flesh before chewing. A small groan rumbled in my chest, as the feeling of mixed pleasure and pain crept up my arm.

I could reach for the water and get him off of me.

But I didn’t.

So, then it must be true. We are all mad. Insanity was the only way to explain my actions.