Slowly, the sun rose from the dead between the houses. I was watching it through James's bedroom window.
I was lying at his feet, uncovering all of my emotions. Though he was asleep and I wasn't, I didn't like it. I couldn't fall asleep—maybe because I'm not used to sleeping at his place.
I reached for my phone and checked all the missed calls and unread messages. Most of them were from Malachai. Some were about the school project, and the rest concerned his private life (his life).
"Who are you texting?"
James's voice appeared out of nowhere; I thought he was sleeping like the dead.
"With Malachai," I said.
"And what does he want from you?"
James opened his eyes. When they were drowsy, they looked bloody, like a vampire who had just woken from a thousand-year sleep.
I reached for my phone and checked all the missed calls and unread messages. Most of them were from Malachai. Some were about the school project, and the rest concerned his private life (his life).
"Who are you texting?"
James's voice appeared out of nowhere; I thought he was sleeping like the dead.
"With Malachai," I said.
"And what does he want from you?"
James opened his eyes. When they were drowsy, they looked bloody, like a vampire who had just woken from a thousand-year sleep.
"He's asking about the school project. Biology isn't his strong suit, and…"
"He could've texted me—I'm good at anatomy," he said with a sly smirk. I knew exactly what he was hinting at.
"We don't have anatomy right now…" I pretended to be clueless. I knew he wasn't paying attention in class; he probably has no idea what the teacher is even talking about.
He suddenly moved closer to me, pressing his lips against mine in a passionate kiss. Our noses touched. I closed my eyes so I wouldn't pay attention to anything else. At that moment, I lost track of time and began to think that if I were someone else, I would feel like the happiest person in the world—but instead, I felt nothing. A vast, empty nothing.
"Let's go to sleep," he pulled his lips away from mine.
"Okay," I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
I lay down next to him, and he wrapped his arm around me, nuzzling into me.
"A kiss from a vampire," I muttered to myself.
"A kiss from a vampire?" he repeated.
"Yes."
"What does that mean?" he asked.
I squeezed his hand. Slowly, I watched the air leave his hand and then return to its normal form after a moment.
"Something… good. I think," I replied.