Something about this invitation felt like a trap. Colette sent Theo further instructions to arrive at her house with an empty stomach. She was obviously serving lunch, but he suspected there was something else going on.
Theo hurried to her house, a mixture of eagerness and confusion at the invitation bubbled inside of him. As he rang the doorbell, a knot of anxiety tightened in his stomach and he wondered if he'd made a mistake accepting the summons. Colette's warm welcome, bright smile, and gentle words suddenly eased his anxiety as they slowly climbed the flight of steps.
Her attire was more casual than he expected. The oversized hoodie swallowed her whole, its softness a welcome contrast to the chill morning air, while her leggings and fuzzy socks kept her feet warm. He tried his best to avoid making it obvious that he was ogling.
Reaching her apartment door, she hesitated, then warned him, "I'm sorry for the surprise, but you'll be meeting my parents."
He paused as his soul left his body. He was almost positive their daughter had never brought a boy home before. And a vampire boy, no less. I knew this was going to be a trap; he thought to himself.
"Did she warn them that I was a vampire?"
His eyebrows furrowed with worry as he stepped into the entryway of her apartment. Before he could properly compose himself, her parents stood before him, their anxious glares and tense postures a stark contrast to the silence hanging between them. They shifted uncomfortably, mirroring his own fidgeting and restlessness.
"H-Hi there, my name is Natalie…I'm Colette's mother." She smacked Colette's father's back as if she was trying to get him to speak up.
"O-oh right! I'm Henry…pleasure to meet you." He introduced himself in a skittish manner. The silence was so profound that even a pin drop would have echoed in the stillness.
Theo studied the similarities between Colette and her parents. She inherited her mother's thick, raven hair and her father's piercing blue eyes, a striking combination. The sight of them made Theo think of his ageless mother; her unchanging 26-year-old face constantly sprang to mind. Their faces, each etched with the deep lines of countless smiles and worries, spoke volumes about their dedication to raising Colette.
"Right well… You came right on time for lunch! We made spicy flatbread with a side salad. "Theo, do you mind helping me out?"
"S-sure," he stammered, relieved to escape the tense opening moments of their conversation.
With the utmost care, Theo moved through the apartment, his steps light and cautious, like he was walking on eggshells. With a practiced ease, he set the plates down, avoiding any noise, their smooth surfaces barely disturbing the quiet.
Colette poured glasses of water for everyone; the ice clinking softly, but secretly slipped Theo a chilled synthetic blood pack. Startled, Theo's eyes darted to Colette, a silent plea in his gaze to remove the object from the table.
"What? Did I buy the wrong brand or something?" Colette questioned nonchalantly.
Theo paused, his guilty eyes met the worried eyes of her parents.
Natalie looked over at Theo and continued, "It's okay…if you're hungry, please don't mind us. You're our guest, after all."
Though still hesitant, the aroma of the food before him was too enticing to ignore. A spicy marinara sauce, caramelized onions, savory sausage, wilted spinach, and pungent garlic topped the flatbread. Beside it sat a vibrant arugula salad, its peppery leaves contrasting with the sweet pear slices, crunchy pecans, and tangy blue cheese, all dressed in a rich balsamic vinaigrette.
"You know, Colette made all of this by herself for us today," Henry stated, as if he was trying to ease some of the tension. A hint of pride swelled in his voice; it was clear he was pleased with his daughter.
Colette flipped her hair arrogantly. "I told you I can cook."
She never ceases to surprise me, Theo thought as he dug into his first bite of food. His eyes widened with surprise as the rich, savory flavors exploded on his tongue. A smug gleam shined in Colette's eyes, daring him to doubt the incredible meal she'd prepared.
With stuffed cheeks, he mumbled, "It's great…Thank you."
The flatbread's spice was so intense, he had to drink the synthetic blood. As Theo punctured his synthetic blood pack, he sensed her parents tensing up defensively. Colette remained unchanged, her steady presence a calming influence, a quiet strength that soothed him. His anxiety made him clumsy, causing some of the blood to stain his lips. He quickly licked it off so her parents wouldn't freak out.
"Just so you know, Colette's food is way better than this garbage," Theo joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Natalie made eye contact with Henry before she broke into a giggle.
"So, Theo, you're a junior as well?…What are your plans for after graduation?" Wiping his glasses, Henry conducted a hesitant interview of Theo.
Theo wanted to give a well-considered answer, but hadn't actually put much thought into it. Before meeting Colette, he honestly dreaded graduation. It just felt like another step closer to immortality. Theo shrugged, trying to change the topic.
"Oh really? Nothing yet? Not even college?" Henry questioned in disbelief.
"Well…If I had to plan something…I hope I can still be friends with Colette after graduation. Immortality can get lonely." He glanced over at Colette before sipping on the rest of his synthetic blood.
Natalie's heart could've melted from his answer. "Well…I think that's a fine plan," she responded lightheartedly as she cleared the table.
Blushing, Colette tried to get them away from her parents' line of questioning. "Theo, let's head to my room next! I had something else to go over with you."
Henry gave Theo a quick nod of approval. With hesitation, Theo rose and accompanied Colette to her room. It was exactly how he imagined it would be. Dust motes danced in the single shaft of sunlight illuminating the plain, tidy room. The space itself was small, but cozy and warm. Something about the minimalism felt like it belonged to her. It was calming to him.
A small bookshelf held a collection of retirement planning books, including at least four about knitting. He recalled the knitted item she'd tucked into her bag once. She's probably talented at all that granny stuff, he thought to himself with a smirk on his face.
During his exploration of her room, he came across her photo display. Overcome with a profound sense of longing for the past, they appeared deeply nostalgic. He noticed a picture of her younger self with a boy and a girl. On closer inspection, the young girl was Rika. Curiously, he wondered who the boy was.
A subsequent photograph showed Colette with a teenage girl who was her look-alike. The edges of the photo were frayed and the surface was scratched, showing signs of frequent handling.
"Hey who is this?…Is this your sister?" Theo questioned.
Colette solemnly traced the edges of the faded photograph. "Yes, that's my sister Emily," she whispered. She carefully replaced the photo on the shelf. "She passed away from a terminal illness at just 18 years old…" A shadow of grief clouded her facial features.
He wanted to push for more information, but her tense posture and averted gaze told him to stop. Mindful of her feelings, Theo chose his next words with great care. He was immortal, so time, sickness, and death meant nothing to him. How could he possibly get it?