Vampire Emeritus (Part #3) ✔

Chapter 4: Petty Please

After that dreadful phone call, I wasn't able to fall asleep. I tried calling him back hundreds of times, not even caring just how annoying that was to him. But no matter what I did, or how much gin I've poured down my throat, I wasn't capable of shaking it off.

He called me. He reached out. And he told me to stay away from him.

Now, any normal girl would accept that for what it really was. He didn't want me to meddle, he didn't want me to help him and he most certainly didn't want me in his life. But I wasn't a normal, healthy, functional girl, I was me. And he knew me.

He had to have known I would never give up on him if he reached out. If he truly wanted me to forget about him, he would let me fight this futile battle until it exhausted me, and then I'd give up on my own.

So, sticking to my twisted thought process, I decided the phone call was actually a cry for help. He didn't say 'leave me alone,' or 'stop wasting your life on me.' No, what he really said was 'help me' and 'find me.'

Fuelled by this new, completely rational realisation, I jumped out of my bed the moment the dawn broke, and dug through my closet. After dressing myself in a dark-red, sleeveless, tight Dior bodysuit with a flare leg, and putting on a pair of white Jimmy Choo sandals, I rushed to William's room.

Tina was already there, dressing the tall vampire in something other than flare jeans. Now, dressed in regular jeans and a black, fitting shirt, he looked handsome enough to show his face on campus and see Sheila after two years. Thomas even borrowed him his watch.

A sleek, black Jaguar waited in front of the mansion and William and I drove away. The biggest problem was the fact we were both terrible drivers. William was still used to carriages and my driving instructor told me my driving abilities were similar to those of a blind woman.

But, we were immortal and the ride was only an hour long, so we figured we'd get to campus safely.

"I don't understand why you've had to dress me in these ridiculous clothes." William complained as I took the sharp left turn towards the campus.

"You haven't seen Sheila in two years." I said. "Is glitter truly your idea of wowing someone?"

"Glitter is the greatest accomplishment of humankind. I dare you to change my mind."

Old William slowly reappeared the more time I've spent with him.

I let out a laugh, "An expensive watch is better."

"Is that what you're trying to do?" William glanced at me sideways. "Show them you're better off without them?"

"I'm still the queen of pettiness."

"Is that why we're here in the Monday morning?" William chuckled. "Because you knew everyone would see us?"

"Precisely."

I haven't told anyone Ian called last night, because I knew they would look at it rationally. They'd tell me he might be right and that I truly should leave it alone and live my life. I wouldn't let them spoil my happiness, so I kept the phone call a secret.

From the third try, I managed to parallel park the car in front of the campus, very near the place my human life ended almost three years ago. The black Jaguar stood out amidst the other, plain cars and I couldn't help but feel proud of myself, especially since the campus's front yard was filled with people.

As William and I exited, I forced confidence in my steps, and walked across the pathways with the ancient vampire by my side. Nervousness tightened around my throat.

I felt ridiculous and fake pulling this stunt, especially considering the car was rented, but I also felt resentful and bitter. These people shunned me, for better or worse. They decided I wasn't allowed to be a part of their life.