Ps: This is my entry for the shortys2024

***

I'm sprawled on the softest sand I've ever felt, soaking up the sun that never seems to set.

It should be paradise, but the knot in my stomach says otherwise.

This is supposed to be spring break—a chance to let loose, maybe flirt with some cute girls, and forget about being the only werewolf who was not cursed to die by the age of sixteen.

Instead, I'm trapped on what appears to be a deserted tropical island, cut off from civilization and, more importantly, any chance of having actual fun.

To make matters worse, I'm not alone.

I sit up, shaking sand out of my hair—currently a vibrant teal that clashes horribly with the tropical scenery.

But hey, if I'm going to be stuck in a pocket dimension, I might as well look amazing.

My eyes scan the beach until they land on a figure lurking in the shadows of a palm tree.

Evelyn. The vampire. The pain in my ass.

Okay, maybe that's a bit dramatic, but can you blame me?

She's spent the better part of the semester acting like I'm something she scraped off her designer boots, nothing but basic trash.

But now? Now we're stuck here together, and it's been three days of awkward silences and unhinged  insults.

Time to break the ice. Again.

You'd wonder why I'm the only one trying here but Evelyn is a bitch, so that settles it all.

I grab an armful of green coconuts and make my way over to her.

"Hey, bloodsucker! I found some coconuts. Want one?" I ask, rolling one in my hand.

Evelyn's fangs extend reflexively at the sound of my voice.

Touchy.

She turns to face me, her pale skin practically glowing in the shade. Those dark eyes narrow as she mutters, "I don't drink..." Her face contorts, eyeying the fruits with as much hate as she gives me. "...coconuts."

I roll my eyes. "Right, I forgot. You prefer a more... bloody-rich diet."

I plop down on the sand next to her, noting how she instinctively moves away.

"Look, we've been stuck here for three days. Don't you think it's time we called a truce and actually tried to figure out how to escape this place?"

God, knows I don't want to spend my summer trapped here. Whatever witch I pissed off at the school must really have it for me. I mean, fine, locking me here is a reasonable punishment but with Evelyn? Pure evil.

"And why should I trust you?" Evelyn's voice drips bitterly. "For all I know, you're the reason we're trapped here in the first place."

"Oh, please," I scoff, even when I know deep down that she might be right. "If I had the power to create pocket dimensions, don't you think I'd choose better company?" I pause, then add, "No offense."

Evelyn grunts. "Offense taken. Fully and completely."

At some point, she is going to realize that I'm right. But knowing this bitch, she'd rather stand in the sun than admit it.

After what feels like hours, she finally concedes, "Fine. Truce. But if you try anything—"

"Yeah, yeah, you'll drain me dry, turn me into a vampire slave, eternal suffering blah blah blah." I wave my hand dismissively. "I've heard it all before, Fangs."

She flares at the nickname, but chooses to ignore it.

"So, any brilliant ideas on how to get out of here, Werebeast?"

I groan at the very unfunny nickname.

"It's werewolf, but I actually do have an idea. I've been thinking... this place, it's not natural. The sun never sets, the tide never changes, and have you noticed there are no animals? No birds, no fish, nothing."

Evelyn nods slowly, even when I know she just noticed that now by her darting eyes.

"I think," I continue, "that this whole island is some kind of magical prison, maybe. And if that's the case, there has to be a way to break it. A loophole somewhere."

"Okay," Evelyn says, feighing interest. "Let's say you're right. How do we break out of a magical prison?"

I grin, a tiny spark of excitement showers through me. "We find the weak point. Every spell has a flaw—we just need to find this one's."

For the first time since we've been trapped, I see a trace of hope in Evelyn's eyes. She stands up, brushing sand from her black ripped jeans.

"Alright, Werebeast. Where do we start?"

"First things first," I say, getting to my feet after she ignores my extended hand to pull me up. "We need to explore every inch of this island. There has to be something we've missed."

Evelyn sighs. "We have been through every corner of thi---"

"Evelyn, I really would rather be kissing a witch or fairy but here we are. So, if I say we look, then we look."

Evelyn nods in silence.

And so begins our uneasy pact.

As we move through the jungle of the island, I find myself sneaking glances at Evelyn. She moves with an effortless grace that's almost hypnotic. For someone who's supposedly dead, she's annoyingly alive.

"So," I say as we push through a thick patch of shrubs. "Vampire at monster school, huh? What's that like?"

Evelyn sighs. Clearly, small talk is not her thing. "We go to the same school. Like literally."

"Oh, come on," I whine. "I know that but your block is different from mine and our experiences don't really align. So, do you have, like, Blood Chemistry 101? Advanced blood draining or something?"

I see the corner of her mouth twitch. "Actually, we do have a class on sustainable feeding practices. It's a must for all freshmen."

"No way!" My eyes widen. There's no way this is true. "That's actually pretty cool. Being a responsible vampire and all that."

Evelyn shrugs, trying to maintain her aloof vibe. "It's necessary. We can't exactly go around draining humans dry in the 21st century. It's kinda bad for my reputation."

I laugh, and I swear I see Evelyn's eyes linger on me for a moment.

I push down the funny feeling with my words, "I bet. So, what about dating? Is it all broody vampire guys with great hair and sparkling skin?"

"Ugh, don't even get me started on those stereotypes," Evelyn mumbles, rolling her eyes. "And for your information, I prefer women. Not that it's any of your business."

Oh. OH.

My eyebrows shoot up, and I feel a sloopy grin spreading across my face. "Looks like we have something in common after all, Fangs."

I see a flicker in Evelyn's eyes before she composes herself again. As if she is scared to smile for one damn minute.

"Yes, well, don't think too much about it, I have a type."

"Wouldn't dream of it," I reply calmly despite my racing heart.

This trip might get just a whole lot interesting.

As we continue exploring the endless routes of the jungle, I find myself sharing stories about growing up in a family of cursed werewolves and being the first to attend a formal monster academy as well as the only one of the children surviving.

To my surprise, Evelyn opens up too, telling me about how it's not always so great to kill so you can eat or the fact that she comes from an ancient vampire clan that seems the world in black and white. There's basically no room for messing up.

"So, that's why you're such a stick in the mud," I tease as we reach the base of a steel hill. "Centuries of stuffy vampire tradition pining you down."

Evelyn sighs, "I am not a stick in the mud. I just take my responsibilities seriously."

"Uh-huh," I say, unconvinced. "When's the last time you did something just for fun? And don't say 'drinking blood'—that doesn't count."

Evelyn opens her mouth to respond ,then closes it again.

Yep.

"That's what I thought," I say, my face smug ."Look, I know we're stuck here or whatever, but that doesn't mean we can't try to make the best of it. Life's too short—or in your case, too long—to be miserable all the time."

I don't know why I'm not laughing at my stupid joke.

Evelyn looks like she's about to say something, but then her expression changes.

I follow her gaze, breath catching in my throat. As we descend the hill, the jungle gives way to a clearing, and in the center stands a tall structure that definitely doesn't belong on a tropical island. Even planted in that spot, it seems foreign.

"Is that... a temple?" Evelyn asks, squinting against the sunlight.

How are you not burning?

I nod. "Looks like it. Ancient Greek, if I had to guess. Definitely not belonging to this place."

The temple is small but ornate, its white marble columns contradicting the green of the jungle. Symbols and sophisticated carvings decorate it, illustrating scenes of gods and monsters locked in eternal battle.

"This has to be it," I say, my voice hushed. "The key to getting out of here."

Evelyn nods, she does not seem like she will fight me on this one. "Let's check it out. But be careful—who knows what kind of traps or magical stuff this place might have."

We approach the temple cautiously, every sense on high alert. As we reach the entrance, Evelyn grabs my arm to stop me.

I try but I fail to ignore the jolt through my body that has nothing to do with magic.

"Wait," she says. "Look at this. These symbols... they're not just decorative. I think they're some kind of code or puzzle."

I lean in, my brows furrow.

Our faces are inches apart, and I catch a whiff of something sweet and metallic—her perfume, maybe? Or could it be blood?

Focus, Zoe.

"You're right. It's like... a sequence of some kind. See how these symbols repeat in different combinations?"

Evelyn nods, her face unflinching despite the closeness.

She wasn't lying when she said she had a type.

"It must be the key to entering the temple. But how do we crack it?"

For hours, we work together, analyzing the symbols and trying different combinations. The sun remains fixed in the sky, a reminder of the magic in the island.

As frustration mounts, so does the tension between us—but not in a bad way.

"This is hopeless," Evelyn snaps after another failed attempt. "We're never going to figure this out."

"Don't say that," I insist, though my own voice is strained with fatigue. I'm usually the hopeful one. "We can't give up now. We're so close, I can feel it."

Evelyn paces in front of the temple, her normally perfect posture rigid with stress. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one slowly starving to death."

My eyes widen, realization hitting me. "Oh, shit. I didn't even think... how long can you go without, you know...?"

"Blood?" Evelyn finishes for me. "A while, but it's not pleasant. The hunger... it gets worse over time. Harder to control."

Is she going to eat me?

"What? No!" Evelyn sounds repulsed by my thoughts which were not meant to be spoken out loud.

"Okay, then we definitely need to solve this thing ASAP. I am not about to become a vampire's meal no matter how much you say you won't eat me."

Evelyn chuckles. "Please. Even if I was desperate enough to drink Werebeast's blood—which I'm not—you'd probably give me a stomach infection."

I clutch my chest in mock offense.

"Just so you know my blood is delicious. Probably. I mean, no one's ever actually tasted it, but I'm sure it's a real treat."

Our laughter filled with exhaustion and frustration, echoes off the temple walls. And then, as if triggered by the sound, the symbols on the doorway begin to glow.

"Holy shit," I breathe. "Are you seeing this?"

Evelyn nods, too stunned to speak. The glowing symbols rearrange themselves, forming a new pattern that pulses with light.

"I think..." I say slowly, "I think we just solved it. By accident."

"But how?" Evelyn asks, her mind as well struggling to make sense of what's happening.

Suddenly, it clicks. "Peace! That's what the symbols represent. Look—" I point to a series of intertwined symbols. "These show conflict, opposition. But when they align just right..." They shift again, forming a perfect, symmetrical pattern.

"They create balance," Evelyn finishes, the pieces falling into place. "And we achieved that balance by..."

"By working together," I say softly. Almost not believing my words. "By finding common ground, even with our differences."

Our eyes meet, and for a moment, the world disappears.

I see Evelyn --- not a fleeting glance, but seeing her. Her dark eyes are deep, filled with a vulnerability that I think she usually keeps hidden. It's amazing.

The moment is broken by a loud grinding sound. The temple doors swing open, revealing a circling vortex of energy within.

"I guess this is our ticket out of here," I say, excitement and uncertainty mixed in my voice.

Evelyn nods, but I don't miss the sudden hesitation. "I think it is."

We stand there, neither of us making a move to enter. My heart is pounding, and not just from the idea of interdimensional traveling.

"Hey, Evelyn?" I say, my usual bravado shaking a little. "When we get back... do you maybe want to grab a coffee sometime? Or, you know, whatever the vampire equivalent of coffee is?"

I hold my breath, waiting for her response. Evelyn's face softens, and I see that flutter in her eyes again. "I... yes. I think I'd like that."

My face breaks into a smile. "Cool. It's a date then."

Before she can process my words, I grab her hand. Her skin is cool on my palm, but I swear I feel a spark.

"Ready to go home, Fangs?"

Evelyn only nods, wrapping her hand around mine as we step into the vortex.

The world around us dissolves in a whirl of light and energy. My last thought before I pass out—just maybe—this hasn't been the worst spring break after all.

+++

My pounding head wakes me up.

I blink, trying to orient myself. I'm lying on a cold, hard floor—definitely not the beach.

As my vision clears, I recognize the familiar surroundings of a dorm room.

Evelyn's dorm room, to be precise. I've been here a couple of times before for whatever reasons.

A groan escapes my lips as I sit up slowly. "Ugh"

I turn to see Evelyn sat on the edge of her bed, looking as perfectly put-together as always.

How does she even do that?

"It was real," she says softly, her eyes meeting mine. "We made it back."

Relief and something else floats through me.

"Yeah, we did. Team Vampire-Werewolf for the win, huh?"

Evelyn's lips curve into a smile that makes my heart skip a beat. "I suppose we do make a decent team."

We both call silent, letting the comfort of it settle between us.

But my stomach lets out an angry growl.

"So," I say, trying hard to hide the blush of embarrassment over my cheeks. "That date... How do you feel about trying the new restaurant downtown? I heard they have a nice B-positive sangria."

Evelyn raises an eyebrow. "Are you asking me out on a blood date, Zoe?"

"Maybe," I reply. "Unless you're still planning on staying away from Werewolf blood. In which case, they also have great nachos."

Evelyn laughs—a real, genuine laugh that lights up her face. "Nachos sound perfect."

As we leave the dorm room together, I realize that my plans for a wild, carefree spring break have turned into something unexpected.

It's been chaotic, frustrating, and at times terrifying.

But as I feel Evelyn's hand slip into mine, fingers intertwining, I think that maybe a little interdimensional chaos isn't such a bad thing after all.

Sometimes, the worst spring break can turn into the best one—if you're trapped with the right vampire that is.

###

Heheheheh

I don't know, I'm not much of a short story person but I thought I'd give this a shot.

Thank you for reading my submission for the shorty's.

Ps: I don't own any rights to the character photos below, they're merely just how I imaged Zoe and Evelyn.

Zoe, 17, werewolf.

Evelyn, 18, vampire.