Chapter 59
“Oh, yeah,” Ann said.
“So, what brings you here?” Michael wondered how Ann ended up at the higher council.
“Um, actually my boyfriend, but he disappeared into thin air. Am I missing something?” Ann questioned.
“Secret entrance to a secret society,” Michael chuckled.
“Oh, really?” Ann frowned, looking around.
“Yeah. I will introduce you some time,” Michael said, fighting the urge to reach out and take her hand.
“I have a boyfriend,” Ann chuckled.
“So, you said,” Michael smiled and the thought of doing harm to Paris burnt his skin again.
“See you around, Ann,” Michael said, and walked towards the road as his classes started that day alongside Ann.
“Going to varsity?” Ann asked.
“I am,” Michael said.
“Don’t you think it is a bit early?” Ann questioned, as the sun has not even risen completely yet.
“Want to get breakfast first?” Michael asked.
“Starbucks?” Ann suggested.
“What else?” Michael chuckled. “Join me?”
“Sure, hop in,” Ann said. Michael would have driven himself, but his own car was standing behind the spell wall that hid the castle from the human eye.
Ann stalled the car before pulling off.
“You are not an experienced driver, are you?” Michael chuckled.
“Getting there,” Ann laughed, wondering why she felt so comfortable around Michael.
“I am Michael, by the way,” Michael told her.
“I will introduce myself, but you already know my name,” Ann said, wondering how he knew her name.
“I am part of the same secret society as your boyfriend, Paris,” Michael said, hoping she will accept the reason for knowing her name.
“Of course. So what year are you?” Ann questioned, pulling up to the Starbucks café.
“First,” Michael said, and got out. He was halfway around the car to open her door for her, but Ann was already out.
‘Was he coming around to open the door for me?’ Ann thought, smiling.
Without thinking, Michael ordered Ann’s favorite coffee and breakfast muffin.
“How did you know this is my favorite combination?” Ann questioned.
“Just a guess,” Michael smiled. ‘I should stop doing it,’ Michael thought and pulled out a chair for Ann.
Ann shook her head and sat down. Michael smiled at the way she wrapped her hands around the cup and blew into the small hall of the lid.
Ann smiled shyly at him, feeling uncomfortable under his eyes, wondering why he was looking at her as she was not used to guys paying her any attention. Ann knew she was pretty, but she considered herself a nerd, and guys never looked at nerds. Ann felt herself feeling the same when she met Paris. That night at a house party the first week they arrived in New York. That night, she could not believe that the most beautiful guy in the room paid only her attention, as if she was the only girl in the world.
Michael was studying Ann’s eyes which seemed miles away. ‘I wonder what she has been up to with Paris? Did they sleep together?’ Michael wondered and considered drinking her blood. ‘I will just compel her to forget that I drank her blood afterward,’ Michael thought and wondered how he will get her alone. ‘I just have to know what I am up against,’ Michael thought. ‘Maybe I should compel her to not like Paris? Did the shaman say anything about compelling her or not?’ Michael thought.
“You seem miles away.” Michael jerked Ann out of her daydreaming.
“Just thinking about today and the first day of a new chapter,” Ann said, smiling and taking a sip of her coffee.
“Exiting, isn’t it?” Michael made small talk.
“Tell me. How did two freshmen get into a secret society before varsity even started?” Ann caught him off guard with her question.
“Well, you know,” Michael stumbled over his words.
“I don’t,” Ann said, frowning.
“I guess we both know the right people,” Michael chuckled uncomfortably.
“So, it is all about who knows who then?” Ann fished, wondering how she could get into this secret society club.
“Something like that,” Michael said, and kept his mouth busy by taking a big bite from his muffin.
“You have beautiful eyes,” Michael said, after a while, killing the silence.
“Thank you. So do you,” Ann smiled.
“Thank you,” Michael smiled back at her.
“What are you studying?” Ann made small talk.
“BCom,” Michael answered.
“Same here,” Ann chuckled.
“Really?” Michael pretended to be surprised, but he already knew what Ann was studying.
“Yes. Currently, day classes, but I am considering changing to night classes,” Ann said.
“Why would you do that?” Michael questioned, fearing the answer.
“My boyfriend has his classes at night,” Ann said.
‘Is she trying to put me off?’ Michael wondered. “Don’t change your classes tonight,” Michael compelled her.
“Why not? I get to spend more time with my boyfriend,” Ann said, making Michael wonder why compelling her didn’t work.
“Because you are supposed to party at night,” Michael chuckled and aimed for the dustbin two meters away, throwing his empty coffee cup in.
“Yeah, you are right. I won’t change my classes,” Ann said, standing up and walking over to the dustbin to throw her cup in.
‘Did the compelling work?’ Michael wondered, confused.
“It is still early. Come, take a walk with me,” Michael compelled her again to see if the compelling was working or not.
“Sure,” Ann said, and fell in next to him.
After walking for a while, Michael pushed Ann into a short passage that was slightly hidden from the main street.
“What are you doing?!” Ann protested, but Michael was quick to silence her.
“Don’t be afraid. Don’t protest,” Michael compelled her and took her hand and brought it to his mouth, and sunk his fangs into her palm.
‘A vampire? During the day?’ Ann wondered. Ann started to feel intoxicated as Michael drank her blood and saw what she has been up to for the past three months. Anger grew in him when he saw that she slept with Paris only a few hours ago. ‘And on prom night,’ Michael saw and put his anger aside.
Michael stopped drinking her blood and looked at her face, which was relaxed.
“Are you a vampire?” Ann asked, her words slurring as if she were drunk.
“Forget what I just did. Every time you see Paris, you will think of me,” Michael compelled her. Michael gave her some support and waited for her to come down from the high that his bite caused her.
“We should get going if we don’t want to be late for class,” Michael said.
“Um, yeah,” Ann agreed, confused as to what they were doing on a side street.
Michael walked her to Paris’s car and wondered if he should not perhaps drive.
“Let me drive,” Michael compelled her.
“Sure,” Ann said, and handed over the keys.
The entrance of the university was only 500 meters away, so it was a quick drive.
Michael walked with Ann to class, and they entered together.
“See you around, Mitchell,” Ann said, and waved at Jessica that was signaling her to come over.
“Michael,” he corrected her.
“Right, Michael,” Ann chuckled and walked over to where Jessica was sitting.
Michael took a seat next to Katelina. “Good morning.”
“Good morning indeed,” Katelina said, hinting at the fact that Michael’s morning started with Ann.
“I heard you beat Soroya to the dorm room,” Michael stated.
“Is that a problem?” Katelina questioned, her eyes on Ann.
“Not at all. I like having Soroya in my bed while I woo Ann,” Michael remarked, filling Katelina with jealousy.
“What?” Katelina questioned when Michael was looking at her in a weird way.
“You look pretty. I like the way you did your hair. The natural look suits you,” Michael complemented not realizing that the reason why he found Katelina more appealing was because she copied Ann’s style.
Katelina smiled at herself, happy that her plan was working.
***
“Where have you been all night? You just disappeared with Paris and returned with Michael?” Jessica questioned, sounding angry.
“I had sex last night,” Ann said, with a big smile on her face.
“With Paris, I hope,” Jessica said, looking back over her shoulder at Michael.
“Of course! Who else?” Ann chuckled.
“Just making sure,” Jessica said, her eyes still over her shoulder.
“What is he doing here?” Jessica asked when she saw William, their former classmate from high school, on the arm of her arched enemy, Shysie.
“Who?” Ann asked, looking around. “William? Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you. I got a DM from him a few days ago,” Ann said, and gave a wave at William.
“Your boyfriend is also part of the class,” Ann chuckled when Deacon walked in with Wynn right behind him.
“Ex-boyfriend,” Jessica said, and rolled her eyes. ‘Thank goodness, my real parents, Jovita and Juno, decided to study something else,’ Jessica thought. Jessica saw a sad-looking Ami walking into the class, but before she could wave her over, Wynn put his arm around Ami and steered her to sit next to him. Jessica felt a hint of jealousy and bit her lip.
Jessica tried to stop her mind from flooding with memories of making love to Wynn. She remembered the night she gave her virginity to him and how it met all her expectations. Holding back her tears, she forced her head to the front of the class, where the lecturer was busy setting up.
