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"Mom?"

"Yes, honey?"

I inhaled and exhaled deeply. "There's this girl I know... She's known this guy for about two months now. And she's fallen in love with him but she doesn't know how he feels. Do you think she's gone into it too fast?"

My mother did the finishing touches on my hair and chuckled. "Well, it depends how... That girl... Feels about the guy. It doesn't matter about time, cupcake. The amount of time isn't important; it's what they've done during the time that counts."

I smiled at my mom through the mirror. She always knew what to say. But I did make it slightly blatant. She was a smart cookie. "Thanks."

She helped me stand up from my computer chair and held onto my arms. "You're welcome honey. Just make sure your friend brings her new boyfriend to dinner because I'm sure her mother is disappointed in her daughter that she hasn't even informed her until now that she was even in a relationship." She frowned at me deeply and I let out a sigh.

"I don't know if I'd call it a relationship..." I mumbled.

She kissed my forehead. "Call it what you wish."

I stepped downstairs carefully in my dress and heard Laura's gasp.

"Damn you look gorgeous." She said.

My mother came down after me with a smug smile. "I did my best with the hair." She handed me my small purse. "Have fun. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." She winked before saying goodbye to Laura and walking out of the door.

Mom had managed to snatch up a peach/beige 1860's formal gown probably from a dress up store or a vintage store. It was a no sleeve dress with ruffles stopping above the crease of my forearm. I had to put on one of those large underskirts which was hard to get out of the door. I had a corset on that I couldn't frigging breathe in. My hair was in curls sitting on my shoulder and pinned up just like they did back in the day! It turned out better than I thought.

"Where is everyone?" I asked.

"Damien and Lucas left at eight-thirty and are helping with the music and food and Kate is already there."

I clenched my jaw at Kate's name. I hadn't seen her since before I found out and I've been working up a few choice words for her.

And Michael... Well, he had tried calling me on Saturday but I didn't answer. He'd only tried once. He was going to be there tonight. And I knew it was the right time to say something. What other night is better than Halloween, right? How cliché.

"Laura you look great. You look like a spitting image of Monroe." 

Her white cocktail dress that clung to her body, the heavy red lipstick, the curled short blond hair and of course the famous Monroe mole on her cheek between the mouth and nose.

She put her hand in her hair and smirked. "I don't mind making jokes, but I don't want to look like one."

I laughed. "Did you just quote her?"

She nodded and tapped a finger to her head. "I've stored some quotes up here for tonight."

We walked to the door and Laura surprised me by saying, "Do you think anything weird or bad will happen tonight? You know what with the recent attacks and well, it being Halloween and all?"

To be honest I didn't know so I didn't answer her.

It was going to be hard to walk up there or take my car because of my dress so we took the bus. There were other students on it dressed up so we didn't look like two crazies. As we drew closer there were lights and big fake posters of Frankenstein and typical ghouls. There were a few carved pumpkins along the walkway which I thought was a bad idea. Boys are definitely going to go smash them later.

The bus stopped in front of the building and everyone piled out laughing and talking excitedly. Laura and I were walking with a group of girls from our Greek Civ and Modern Europe classes. As we walked through the halls music echoed through and people were already dancing.

The doors to the large lecture hall were guarded by two zombie looking things. They both opened the doors and music hit my ears.

The room had strobe lights on one side, a smoke machine filling half of the floor and weird supposedly scary things hanging on the walls.

A strong looking guy dressed in a Batman outfit walked toward us. I smiled at him. "Where's your Robin, Batman?"

George grinned. "On stage."

I leaned around him to see a guy dressed up as Robin on stage playing with high-tech turntables and a MacBook. I laughed. "Holy costume party, Batman!"

He cheered and pulled me into a small hug. "You know a saying!"

"That's Robin's thing isn't it?" I smirked and he let out a loud chuckle.

"So what are you, a Victorian princess?"

I smiled. "An 1860's woman, actually."

He held a hand to his chest in hurt. "No need to be snappy, princess." He winked before walking away.

Laura pulled me to the dance floor and we danced to Feel So Close by Calvin Harris. I loved this song.

Lucas popped out of nowhere in his zombie hockey player outfit and started dancing with us. It was times like this I loved. Natural fun moments with friends. These two had me thinking this place was home within the first few days. And I was so thankful. After that song, Laura and I belted our hearts out to Beyonce's Best Thing I Never Had. Lucas was laughing along with a suddenly appeared Damien in a grim reaper gown. Luke and I cheered when Damien grabbed Laura and started dancing together. Finally. Damn.

At the corner of my eye I saw a figure dodging in and out of the crowd getting closer to us.

When I whipped around Katherine was right in front of me with a smirk on her face. She had her lip ring and eyebrow ring in tonight. She was in a red and black corset and a black long skirt. She had a pointy hat on her head and a large looking old book in her hand.

I felt like I was seeing red. I was so pissed with her I could just--

"Hey Kate!!" Laura broke into my pissed off thoughts. "What are you?"

"A witch, can't you tell?" She spun around.

Laura laughed and shook her head. "Not at all. You just look like you're in a dominatrix outfit."

She grinned and turned to me. Her brown eyes twinkled some. "And how are you..." She looked me up and down. "Beautiful fare maiden?"

I gritted my teeth and pointed my finger in her face. "You--!"

"Oops! Look at the time! And look who's here! Have fun, Evangeline." She laughed hard as she blended in with the crowd and weaved in and out of everyone.

I turned around to see who she was talking about and frowned. There were two men in black suits and black fedora hats.

One of them turned around. Their face had a black burglar mask on his face. I could see the blond hair resting on his forehead and I knew it was John.

He tapped the man beside him and nodded his head in my direction.

Love Will Tear Us Apart by Broken Social Scene started playing. Everyone around me had someone to dance with. I watched as the second man with the mask turned around to catch my eye. Just staring into his green eyes had my heart racing. God, I truly did love this man. Despite everything, I really did. And seeing him now just confirmed it.

But the thought and image of what he was had me turning my gaze away for a moment. I needed to speak to him about this. It had to be done. Now.

But when I turned back up to him he was gone. I weaved in and out of the crowd to get to John. I hesitated before touching his shoulder lightly. I still wasn't sure if he was one or just knew about Michael. They'd known each other for a long time and it just made me wonder how long that was.

He turned around and smiled down at me. But when he saw my facial expression it stormed over.

I took a deep breath and said, "Where is he? I need to talk to him about something."

Before he answered his jaw clenched and for once I felt threatened by him. He didn't look like the usual flirty, happy self he usually was; he looked like an angry bear. He looked toward the lecture hall back doors and nodded.

I just saw his back as he opened and closed the doors. The chorus to Love Will Tear Us Apart played as I grabbed hold of the bottom of my dress and jogged to the doors. I walked out the doors and into the empty halls. The door slowly closed and the music echoed through the halls.

At the end of the hallway, Michael was standing at the corner staring at me. How he got there so fast was amazing. This hall was as long as ever. I guess the speed statement was true. He started down around the corner and I walked to catch up sometimes breaking out into a jog. I followed him around two corners until he came to a stop in a darkened hall.

He entered double doors and left the doors open. I walked down the shadowy hallway, my heart beating extremely fast as I entered the dark gym. The music was a small echo now. I could just hear the words. 

As I walked into the gym I glanced around only to see it empty. I went under my dress to pull off the large underskirt. I stepped out of it and almost screamed when the doors slammed shut. I threw it off to the side and looked around. Where was he? What was he doing?

But as I turned again I saw him leaning up against the wall. His hat covered his eyes only revealing his mouth.

I took a deep breath to steady myself and went to walk toward him. And he surprised me by saying, "Don't."

"And why not." I asked with a shaky voice swallowing my fear.

The lights switching on overhead made me blink.

"What have you been doing, Evie?" He asked me ignoring my question and pushing off the wall.

"What?"

"What have you been doing these past few weeks?"

"I don't understand-"

"I couldn't make the question any easier," He took his hat off, his eye now visible.

I narrowed my eyes at him finally finding the confidence I needed. "I know what you're doing. You're playing mind games. You're doing what you've been doing for almost two months. You're trying to scare me away. From the things you say to the way you say it. Like now, how you've lured me into the gym alone. No one will hear us. No one would know if..." I trailed off when I realized what I was saying.

He realized the exact same because his face clouded over and his nose flared. Oh, hell.

"If what."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Um..."

"If what."

"Michael..."

He was right in front of me now. He was steaming with anger. His pupils were dilating making his eyes almost blend in with his mask. His mouth was in a thin line almost making his lips invisible.

"What reasons could I have to 'luring' you in here, Evie. Tell me. I want to hear you say why. What are my motives?" The sarcasm to the word luring sounded very venomous and had me glancing away.

My breath came out hard and fast. No, I wasn't expecting it to be this... Frightening. But the realization brought a surge of adrenaline through me. He doesn't scare me. I wouldn't let him.

"I don't believe you have motives." I stated.

"Seriously?" He asked sarcastically taking a step back. "Wow. I must have heard incorrectly then."

"You're being unfair." I whispered shaking my head.

"Me? I'm being unfair. Well, let me rephrase the question then shall I? What do you know about me?"

I glanced down at my feet. Come on, Evie. The song echoed out and another slow song I wasn't familiar with played.

"Come on Evie, I'm dying to hear you say it. Ironic huh? Dying."

"Michael, stop it."

"How about I say it? How about I say what I am. Because it looks like you're too choked up to say it." He yelled taking a step forward. "I am a monster."

"Wait-"

"No, no let me say it. I'm a bloodsucking, bloodthirsty leech. I am a vampire. Did you know?"

I stared at him, my eyes wide my heart trying to rip out of my ribcage. "Yes. I knew."

"That wasn't so hard was it?" He exhaled sharply and smirked viciously. "Now, what do you have to say? Are you going to run away? Hate me? Try to stake me?"

"No." I gritted.

"No what?"

"I'm not going to run away or stake you or even hate you."

"Why?"

"Because I couldn't care less about what you are."

He looked at me as if I just uttered blasphemy.

"Should I elaborate? Well, I didn't know you were a vampire weeks ago when we first kissed. I didn't know what you were when I agreed to go to the diner with you when you were interested in why I'd come to Canada."

His glare softened only the slightest but he remained tense. So why not bite the bullet?

"I haven't done this before... And I know now isn't the right time but Michael, despite finding out everything about you I can't stop the feelings I have for you. I can't stop the fact that I'd fallen in love with you. I don't know how in the hell it happened. I don't know when it happened but... I've never felt this way for anyone before. When I'm around you my heart tries to jump out of my chest. When you touch me, my body is like a live wire. What I feel for you is... unbelievably strong. As much so that I'm frightened I'm willing to do just about anything to keep you in my life."

His body seemed to have relaxed and his eyes returned back to normal. At that moment I saw his true face. I saw him for who he was not the guarded face he usually wore, no, just him. He stared down at his feet before finally looking up at me with an unfamiliar expression.

"What if it were possible for me to live forever? Would you still love me then?" He asked me.

I stared into his light green eyes and said, "I'd love you until the end."

His eyes penetrated into mine before he leaned forward and whispered the words, "What if the end was now?"

My breath caught in my throat. "...Then I'd die loving you."

The words I'd spoken were true. I'd die right now loving him. 

His posture had grown hard and threatening all of a sudden. His eyes suddenly turning almost black just like the victims had described. "Has it occurred to you that I've wanted to bite you since the day I met you."

My legs shook uncontrollably and my hands curled into fists. I was angry with this statement and yet I was scared shitless.

"You wouldn't though." I said through gritted teeth and a shaking voice.

"No, I would. It's within me to."

"I don't care."

He breeched all personal space and pressed his chest to mine. His hand came up and played with the loose locks of hair. "I almost have more than a few times. I've wanted to sink my teeth into your warm soft flesh." His fingers skimmed up and down a particular area on my neck and it took me a moment to realize that there was a large vein located in that area. "I've wanted to taste you in more ways than one."

I wanted to slap him. And yet I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to ravage him. This side of him was bloody scary but it was weirdly arousing.

"Stop it!" I yelled trying to back away but he grabbed my wrist. "You're just trying to scare me away but you can't."

He didn't listen. "Your scent has driven me insane. I had to fill myself up whenever I had a class with you."

"Michael!"

"I wanted to drain you dry."

I brought my hand up and slapped him. His head whipped to the side but then he turned back to me like I hadn't touched him. It probably hurt me more than it hurt him. I went to back away again but he grabbed my other wrist. He backed me up until I hit the wall.

He held my hands to his chest as he mumbled, "What's stopping me now?"

My breathing came out choppy as he stared at me. His eyes turning blacker with each breath. Those black veins the victims talked about appearing at his jaw and a few across his cheeks. He looked very threatening. The picture had looked exactly like his face but I couldn't see it all because of his mask.

"Fine." I challenged.

He stopped a few inches away and glared at me. His face not more than a few inches from mine.

"Do it." I pulled my hands out of his and pushed the shoulder of my dress down exposing my skin. "Bite me. Sink into me because I don't care. I want you to do it. I'm waiting and willing for you to taste me. I don't care if you kill me. Because I trust you, Michael. And I want you to trust me." My voice came out strong and sharp. Finally.

My words had made him pause.

His eyes returned to normal and he suddenly looked vulnerable. He let out a sharp breath. It was like seeing him for the first time. He looked so open... So sad.

"What are you doing, Evie? You can get out of this. Leave me. Find someone normal."

"But I want you," I frowned skimming my fingers against his cheek.

He started to shake his head. I slid his mask off and cupped his cheeks. He took a step away from me but I followed him. I brought both of my hands to his face and pulled his mask away from his eyes. "I fell in love with you because of who you are. Not what you are."

"This doesn't change the fact that I am a killer."

"I don't believe you are," I whispered. "I believe you're a stubborn jackass..." I skimmed my thumb across his bottom lip and watched his eyes shut. "With a beautiful heart."

"I don't have a heart..." He mumbled, his eyes still shut.

"Open your eyes."

At first he just stood there breathing heavily but then he finally opened his light green eyes to stare into mine.

"You have as much of a heart as any normal human. You care for things. You care for your students. You care for John like any brother would. You care..." I looked around to try and think of something else.

But he surprised me by resting his hands on my waist and stepping closer so his forehead rested against mine. "I care about you. I have for the two months I've known you. I'd been falling for you ever since you first smiled at me. Those cute dimples had me. And Friday... That evening we spent together made me plummet even further." He pressed his lips to my nose sending tingles right to my fingertips. "Not counting what happened later that evening."

I bit my bottom lip and continued to stare up into his eyes.

"I love you. I never, in my entire existence thought those words would come out of my mouth. Especially to a human." He chuckled to himself. But then he sighed. "You've managed to worm your way into my life."

"Is that good?"

"Yes. Yes it is." And finally, finally, he pressed his lips to mine. I put everything I had into the kiss to show him just how much I didn't care that he was what he was. I poured my love into it and I could feel him doing the same. Our tongues tangling together, our lips moving against each other, our bodies pressed tightly together as if separating would end the world. I inhaled deeply when his appealing scent circled around me; it sent a small shiver of pleasure through me.

We separated barely and for a moment all we could hear was our breathing. "Come home with me." He whispered.

I nodded my head without a slight trace of hesitation. I didn't think twice as he led me out of the fire exit into the chilly autumn air. Before we left, he grabbed his hat and mask plus my underskirt and purse I didn't even realize I'd dropped and led me to his car. Getting in the car had been a hand full but we managed. During the drive to his house he had my hand in his occasionally pressing it to his lips or stroking his thumb against mine. I truly did love him. Amazingly enough two months ago I would have despised the idea of falling in love and especially being one to show it or admit it first. But Michael was different. So, so different.

We exited his car and stepped into house. He walked me upstairs into his room and switched the light on. His room was huge and I started to wonder if there was more to the house than I thought. His room was cream. All of it. His sheets were cream his carpet was cream and his walls were cream. His king sized bed was neatly placed in the middle of the large rectangular room. There was a wall to wall window covered by thick cream curtains. There was a door on my right that was open revealing a walk in closet and beside his bed was a table with a lamp.

"Do vampires sleep?"

He laughed as he went into the closet. "Yes, we do. We're not completely deprived of all humanity." Michael strolled back in and handed me a t-shirt and shorts. "I'll be downstairs."

"Help me with the corset first."

His fingers skilfully worked at the strings of my corset. I let out the hugest breath as the corset fell apart. I held it up to my chest and was about to step out of it when I paused. His finger tips started from my waist and lightly skimmed all the way up the crease of my back to my shoulders.

I shuddered uncontrollably and was about to turn around when he stopped me. "Change. And we'll talk."

He left the room without another word. I stepped out of the dress and decided to just shrug the t-shirt on. I pulled out all of my hair clips letting the waves rest on my shoulders and stuffed the clips in my small purse.

I turned the light off as I stepped out of the room and down the hall toward stairs. As soon as I made it downstairs, the first thing I saw was Michael's relaxed body on the couch. His head was leaning back on the seat and his arms were rested on the back. He'd shrugged off his jacket and taken off his tie and shoes.

His head lifted when I walked in and he smiled at me properly for the first time tonight. It made my heart fluttered and my lips curve into a smile on their own accord.

"So..." He started as he patted the seat beside him. "Let's talk about how you first suspected that I was a vampire shall we?"

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Have a listen to Love Will Tear Us Apart by Broken Social Scene. I heard it on Time Travelers Wife and LOOVED it :'D

**edited chapter 2023 .