“Uh, thanks, dad,” she said to him, smiling rather awkwardly before she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. She didn't need contacts, especially now that she was vampire. Didn’t her dad say they could see miles away? But still, the gift was from her father. She was thankful.
“No problem,” Carter Stahl then said before he turned to Xavier who was grinning.
The centuries old vampire prince then faced the debutante, chuckling while saying, “You don't want your eyes to suddenly turn blood red in the middle of class.”
Chapter 4: When Two Worlds Start to Collide
Monday morning came quickly which meant that Adrienne had to get her ass out of bed for school, even if the Egyptian cotton and linen sheets were tempting her to sleep in. Being a vampire, she didn't really need sleep, but her body enjoyed the rest and just wallowing in laziness. Evidently she could eat human food, or siphon negative energy. She hadn’t noticed any fangs yet, so maybe she couldn’t eat blood like normal vampires. She sighed, the cozy comfort of her bed enticed her to stay there just a few more minutes.
Adrienne got out of her queen-sized bed and took her time in the hot shower. Finished she wrapped a towel around her torso, sauntered over to her bedroom's walk-in closet, and picked a mini-skirt and a spaghetti-strapped lace top for the day.
When she left her bedroom and started walking down the main spiral staircase of the mansion, she fell in stride with Xavier. She saw him run a hand through his ebony-colored hair, and when they locked eyes, Adrienne couldn't help but marvel at the sight of his eyes with out the crimson stain of blood hunger. They were a deep shade of blue and looked like the midnight-sky.
“What's this?” He interrupted her thoughts and tugged on one of the straps of her top. “Is this what humans call clothes?” His eyes didn't leave her bare shoulders, and in addition to that, he could easily study every naked inch along the nape of her neck. Xavier could feel her blood pumping through her veins, and he wanted just a small taste.
That confused him. Vampires craved human blood, and they got sustenance from the blood of animals, but the blood of their own kind typically held no attraction. But right now he could smell Adrienne's blood; she had the most exquisite sent.
“It's what you call a top, and yes, it's what we—”
He raised one of his eyebrows up at her, and in response, she rolled her eyes before continuing.
“—it’s what they call clothes.”
“I'd say humans have no taste when it comes to dressing up, but since you're a vampire and are wearing them, I'll just leave it at humans having little taste.”
Adrienne couldn't help but snicker. Was he for real? Did he really just insult her fashion sense? And this was a first; really, a guy telling her he wasn't enjoying the view of a woman in a short skirt and a revealing top. She couldn't contain the smirk that was fast spreading across her face.
“You're just saying that because my scent is much stronger now since I'm wearing so little.”
A look of shock and guilt swept over his face.
She teased him further. “You probably want to dig your fangs into my neck.”
His eyes flashed from cobalt blue to shocking red.
Realizing that she had just provoked him, she ran swiftly down the stairs and in about five seconds, she was in the kitchen, and so was he.
“Have I told you you're slow for a vampire?” he asked, smirking. He looked hotter than ever in a pair of cargo shorts and a loose black t-shirt.
Instead of grinning back at him, she pursed her lips. He always managed to insult her, degrading things that she did. “Quite a few times,” was her terse reply.
She wanted him to leave—to just go back to his room and hang with his vampire friends, speaking of which,
“Aren't you supposed to be at the dorms? It's too early to speak with my father, you know.”
Adrienne opened the refrigerator and got out a ham and cheese breakfast sandwich. She placed it inside the microwave to heat up. With only her father and her living in the house, they only needed a few housekeepers. At some point last night her father had said that some of the helpers around the house were vampires, they had they had been looking after her ever since she was born. Talk about loyalty.
“Your father thought it would be a good idea if I lived here with the two of you.”
“He was probably high when he told you that.”
Of course, she was only joking, but Xavier seemed to take it seriously for a moment proven by the way his eyes darkened for a second.
“I'm sure he wasn't and isn't on drugs.” Xavier squared his shoulders as he regained his apathetic, all-high and mighty posture. “He gave me the room across yours. Considering you're my fiancé, you should be grateful.”
“And why should I feel grateful?”
He didn't need to think about his answer. “Because if we were to share a bed you wouldn't be able to keep your hands off me.”
Adrienne feigned amusement. “Hah-hah,” she said quite dully. “Is that one of the many vampire jokes I have never heard of. It doesn’t sound like a joke to me. It’s not funny at all.”
Xavier's red eyes became translucent. He was entertained. “I'm sure the attraction you feel for me isn't a joke.”
Who knew vampires had a sense of humor? She thought before she sighed heavily, turned around and left the kitchen, heading outside to the driveway. She looked up at the sky. The sun was high and shining pretty bright, so it surprised her when Xavier came up behind her and waited for her to get into her SUV. The rays of the sun lit up his hair, and the usual black strands appeared to have dark blue streaks running through them.
“Why aren't you dead yet?” she asked the vampire, and that in turn, made him smirk.
“Should I be dead?” He feigned confusion, and she could only harden her gaze at him. He was always making her feel inferior to him, and she didn't like that. No matter how hot he was, he was still arrogant. The arrogance was different somehow from Ethan. She thought her boyfriend could be nominated sainthood; he was such a good guy.
“You're a vampire! You're supposed to turn to dust when you go out in the sun!”
“You've been watching too many movies,” he said, stepping closer until he stood right beside her and the Mercedes. The vehicle was a gleaming black and had a custom-made interior of white leather seats. Xavier knew that she considered this car her baby, another very human trait. He cut his thoughts short and again looked back at her. She was extremely pretty, with loose wavy curls and innocent-looking eyes although there were tons of vampires who were much more attractive than Adrienne. She was stunning.
“But seriously, answer me.” Her face was honest, genuinely confused at the complexity of vampire rules. “Why don't you look the least bit hurt or affected by the sun?”
In truth, he was affected; he could feel the rays of the sun burning his skin slowly, although he could handle the pain for a few more hours, as long as he didn't look directly at the sun. That would cause horrible damage to his eyes. He was feeling hotter than usual, but he was used to this, the extreme warmth of the sun. He'd been exposed to California weather for quite a while now.
“I feel really hot right now to tell you the truth but I'll live.” He smiled at her.
Her stomach churned. She, herself, was feeling hot just by looking at him, and she wasn't sure if she'd live, though the attitude she gave off made him think otherwise. “Damn, and here I had started to get all excited with the idea of your death,” she teased him, her eyes shifting away.
Xavier placed a hand on the top of her head as his fingers ran through the chocolate brown strands of her hair. “That's no way to treat your future husband.”
He was smirking, and she didn't appreciate his handling her as if he had a right to.
“I don't really look into the future,” she said, gritting her teeth. “So let me deal with the present first. I currently have a boyfriend whom I will treat like a boyfriend, so leave me alone, please.” She w
asn't finished with her tirade yet. “You're going to make me late.”
“You know that we can run faster than cars, buses, and trains, right?”
She looked at him and actually thought of running to school. He had a point—about using her vampire skills and all. She thought that someday they may come in handy. But she loved living like a human, she loved her Mercedes. “I'll use my car, thank you very much.”
She slammed her car door closed in front of him.
He only grinned in returned. “Oh, right, I forgot. You're too slow for a vampire,” he said.
* * * * *
As Adrienne walked through the hallways of Constance Academy, she was greeted by her peers and congratulated for a well-planned and very exciting party. From the decorations, to the food, everyone seemed to have noticed the intricate details she’s employed to ensure that her debut would be a night to remember. Everyone said that no party this year would be able to top hers. She smiled at those who exaggerated their compliments before saying to them,” I'm sure Tristan's bash will.”
“Oh, I definitely will.” was the all-too familiar, and teasing voice of her best guy friend.
Tristan Shackler walked over to Adrienne before he pulled her in for a one-armed hug. With football honed muscles hugging her, she felt him hold her head to his chest. Being held this way always made her feel protected. Her new and untried vampire instincts kicked in. She could not only smell his blood under the scent of his aftershave, but she could also read his thoughts, Tristan really like holding her against him.
She moved back. “Well, you better, because honestly, the parties in this town are getting so mediocre, so, uninteresting,” she said.
Walking with Tristan to their first period for the day which was AP Chemistry, Adrienne didn't notice that Ethan was quickly catching up to Tristan and her from behind. She was surprised, in a good way of course, when he picked her up in his arms, turned her around, and planted an intense kiss on her lips. She then felt his tongue swivel around inside her mouth, and she could read his thoughts clearer than she could Tristan's. His mind was pretty dirty, she thought, and then realized how horny her boyfriend was.
“Let's go to the third floor.” He said in a tone that was half playful and half seductive.
Adrienne immediately knew what Ethan meant, or in this case, what he wanted. She smiled. Reading his thoughts, she saw that he painted a very shocking picture of what he wanted.
“I'm never late to class,” she said to him, cupping one of his cheeks. “But you’re so much cuter than Mr. Bach.”
Her boyfriend looked at her in mock-disappointment. “Babe, did you really just compare me to your Chemistry teacher?” He then pretended to look forlorn, pulling off the expression which made him look really hot.
“Do you want or do you not want to go to the third floor and play around?” she asked.
Grabbing her hand, he smiled at her before he pulled her with him up the stairs. She looked back and caught Tristan's reaction, he was winking at her. He, too, was one, sick bastard. She didn’t want to listen to Ethan’s thoughts while they were working on getting to second or third base, so she turned down her vampire abilities. Her father had told her to just concentrate on dialing them down, just like she would the sound on her radio. One minute she could hear every thought in Ethan’s head, the next, blissful silence. Cool.
* * * * *
“You can't give me detention!” Adrienne said, her voice angry.
The moment Ethan and she were done doing normal teenager stuff, she ran as fast as she could to the Science laboratory, and when she finally stepped into the lecture room, all eyes were on her. Whenever someone was late, the teacher handed out detention. She answered confidently, but of course, dishonestly. She couldn't tell the aging forty-year old Mr. Bach that the football quarterback had been playing with her rack—which was the farthest they went today, although they had done more during their relationship.
“And why can't I do that, Ms. Stahl?”
The answer was pretty obvious she thought. “Sir, I've never gotten detention, ever.”
He only smirked at her. The nerve of that balding man! “As they say, there's a first for everything.”
And with her teacher's apathy towards her emotions, raised her voice, “You're ruining my future, I’ll never get into a good college!”
With that, the whole room, except for the Goths, burst into a round of snickers and laughter as they applauded her. She did seem to have angered the teacher more, but what the hell, her future was bright. She had gotten a few cheerleading, tennis and academic scholarships since she was, after all, a cheerleader, a tennis varsity player, an Honors student, and the Student Council President. One detention shouldn't harm her. “Fine,” she said, trying to put on a genuine smile which she failed at mustering. “Just give me the slip.”
Mr. Bach walked back to his desk.
She sighed, realizing that now was not the time to get into a snit with her teacher. Usually, students would go to extremes. They either wouldn’t care at all, as the Goths, Emos, and Jocks would do, or they'd start an outburst that would cover an entire class period, and that's what the goody-goodies in school usually did.
Her teacher handed Adrienne a pink slip and she went to sit on her chair, which was right in the middle. She may be disrespectful, but she wanted her grades to stay high, and no matter how much she disliked a certain teacher, she'd still listen to him or her for the sake of staying in the Honors Roll.
“Now we shall discuss nuclear chemistry,”
She groaned, not wanting to listen since she knew this stuff already, but for the sake of her future, she fixed her eyes on the board and started to copy notes. When the period ended, she gathered her books and went to her next class—AP European History. To Adrienne's surprise, History rolled by quickly, and in less than an hour, the bell rang for lunch.
Adrienne made her way to one of the school parking lots. Since she and her friends didn’t want cafeteria food for the day, they decided to head over to their group's usual hang-out place, a pizzeria a few blocks down the road.
Adrienne, Brianna, Sabrina, Tristan, and Max decided to ride with Ethan since he had the biggest car among all of them. He owned a completely pimped-out Hummer; it was his prize possession.
Since Adrienne could read his mind, she realized he loved the car more than he loved her. Really?
On the way to the pizza place, Adrienne's head hurt, so to stop the ache, she began rubbing her temples.
Adrienne!
“Huh?” she whispered quietly to herself.
It's me! It's Bree!
She looked at Brianna, and unsurprisingly, her friend was looking back at her. She was even smiling like a Cheshire cat.
Can you hear me?
Adrienne nodded her head, and she realized what was going on. She actually should have the moment Brianna called her attention telepathically. Adrienne was now reading her best friend's mind.
So how are you and Xavier?
She didn't know how she was going to respond to that, to Brianna's question, if she should just say her answer out loud or wait until they arrived at the restaurant. Then she thought about a 21st century communication device, her mobile phone. She was sure no vampire mind-reading technique could beat that.
Bree, not now. Lol. And how am I supposed to answer you without the others knowing? You can't read my mind.
She got a reply in a few mere seconds, and when she read Brianna's text, Adrienne couldn't help but laugh.
Don't rub it in, bitch.
The pizza place was packed. There were lots of other kids from their school. Adrienne and her group were seated right away at a booth by the window. They had given their orders, without needing menus, and being loyal customers, their food was served quickly.
“Charlotte would have a meltdown if she saw us eating these,” Sabrina said while chuckling as she referred to their High School's Head Cheerleader.
Adrienne and the others laughed.
“There's a reason why we ditch her sleepovers.”
“Yeah, because we can't stand having just a single plate of salad for dinner,” Brianna finished.
All three girls laughed. They continued to talk about the joys of High School, sharing the latest gossip, the funniest and most unexpected hook-ups, recent parties, and of course, teachers who make their students' lives a living hell. They were so caught up in their own little world that the three didn't notice a group of unbelievably hot teenagers enter the restaurant. At least they didn’t notice until Max, Tristan, and Ethan nudged them with their elbows.
“Look, the geeks are here,” Ethan said guffawing, and immediately, Adrienne knew whom he was referring to—Night Class students.
Adrienne didn't know how or when the Day Class started insulting the Night Class by calling them names like geek, nerd, or dweeb. All she knew was why they called them those. It was because they were weird, well, weird in the sense that they didn't know how to have fun.
In the past years, a few Day Class students, most especially the girls, had invited a number of those from the Night Class to their parties. A lot of them turned down the invitations, and those who went were complete wallflowers. All-in-all, the Night Class was silent, and that's what made them interesting. The whole Night Class was an enigma. It was probable that the Day Class started calling them names out of jealousy.
“Babe, are you okay?” Ethan whispered as he nibbled on Adrienne’s earlobe.
She was too caught up in staring at the booth a few tables down from then that she didn't notice Ethan taking advantage of her. Nor did she realize how he was making them look like hormone-driven eighteen-year olds. His lips had left her ear and were now trailing kisses down her neck and over her collarbone. She liked the physicality, Adrienne admitted to herself, and it was what she wanted. Until she locked eyes with Xavier, and then it felt as if she was doing something wrong.
Bleeding Love Page 4
