The hallways were empty when Jaytee left the classroom. He moved quickly, his shoulders were tensed, his head down. He needed distance. He needed air.
His mind was a battlefield, he was hungry. His throat burned like fire, and the scent of Human's blood still clung to him like a curse. For him. The hunger and the date in one day, are both wrong timing.
He needed one thing at the moment, control. He needed to regain control.
He would avoid her until the night was over. Until he could find a way to suppress this unbearable thirst.
But fate had other plans. Nora stood from a distance, she wasn't looking at him at first. She was walking in the opposite direction, flipping through a book, her fingers absentmindedly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. But when she noticed him, she stopped.
"Jaytee." Her voice was casual, but there was a hint of curiosity, maybe even concern.
He stiffened. She was still too close.
"Hey," he forced out, his voice lower than usual.
"Are you feeling better?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
No. Jaytee clenched his fists. He could hear the steady rhythm of her heart, and feel the warmth radiating from her skin. It was unbearable. He needed to get away before he did something….. terrible "Look, if you're still feeling sick, we don't have to..."
"Go, Nora," he cut in sharply. His jaw tightened. "Please ….. go."
She frowned, taking a step toward him. "What's wrong with you?"
Jaytee turned his head away, staring at the ground. If she stayed any longer, just who knows?
"Hey, freak!"
The interruption came from behind them.
Jaytee's eyes darkened. It was Ben.
The last person he wanted to deal with right now.
Ben strolled up with his usual cunning expression, his arms crossed over his chest. He never missed a chance to poke at Jaytee, and today was no different.
"Skipping class, huh? Not that anyone cares what you do." Ben smirked, then glanced at Nora. "Surprised you're even talking to him, Nora. Don't you have, like, better things to do?"
Nora rolled her eyes. "Go away, Ben."
But Ben wasn't done. His gaze flickered back to Jaytee, and a slow smirk spread across his face like he had an idea. A bad one.
"You know what?" he said suddenly. "Why don't you two lovebirds take some time alone?"
Before either of them could react, Ben shoved Jaytee and Nora inside an empty supply room and slammed the door shut. Click, locked.
A heartbeat passed. Then two. Jaytee exhaled sharply.
No. No, no, no. This was the worst possible thing that could have happened.
A small, enclosed space. Just him and Nora. No one else. No distractions.
And the scent of her blood was everywhere. His thirst was increasingly high.
Jaytee gritted his teeth, his hands shaking at his sides.
"Ben, you immature idiot!" Nora shouted, pounding against the door.
Ben's laughter echoed from the other side. "I'll be back later. Have fun!" His footsteps faded down the hall.
Nora was frustrated, then she turned to Jaytee. "Great. Just great."
He didn't answer. His nails dug into his palms as he pressed himself against the farthest wall, trying to put as much distance between them as possible.
She noticed his rigid posture. "Jaytee?" She called, but no response.
She took a step closer. "Hey, you okay?"
He became so stiff. "Nora," he rasped, his voice barely human. "Don't come any closer."
She froze. Something in his voice was wrong.
Too strained. Too unnatural.
She peered at him through the dim lighting. His breathing was shallow, his body trembling like he was holding back something violent.
Then she saw his eyes. It was dark. Not just the usual shadowed gaze she was used to. This was deeper.
This was darker. Like something was lurking beneath.
The hair on her skin immediately stood, she was scared "Jaytee...?"
He pressed harder against the wall, veins tightening in his arms. "You need to stay away from me."
The room suddenly felt too small. Too hot.
Nora swallowed. She had never seen him like this before. She had never seen anyone like that before.
His shoulders shook. His nails scratched against the wooden wall behind him.
Then he inhaled sharply, and his head snapped toward her.
A low, guttural sound rumbled from his throat.
And his control shattered. In an instant, he moved, so fast she barely registered it.
One second, he was across the room. The next, he was right in front of her, his hand slamming against the wall beside her head.
"Ahh!" Nora gasped. He was too close.
His face was inches from hers, his breath heavy, ragged. His darkened eyes looked into her with something wild, something raw.
"Jaytee," she whispered, heart hammering, she was looking at his eyes that had veins all over them, dark veins.
He clenched his jaw. His lips parted slightly, and for the briefest moment, she saw them, his fangs.
Nora's breath caught. That couldn't be right.
And just then, the door flew open.
A figure stood in the doorway, light spilling into the room. It was Adel.
Her green eyes flickered between them, but her face remained calm, unreadable.
"Jaytee." Her voice was firm, steady. "Let go."
Jaytee didn't move. His fingers trembled against the wall.
Adel stepped inside, reaching for him.
He flinched. "Don't," he growled, his voice was raw with restraint.
But Adel didn't stop. She placed a firm hand on his arm, her fingers pressing into his skin.
"It's okay," she murmured.
Jaytee's body was coiled tight, every muscle locked in place.
Adel's gaze softened, but there was something else in her expression, something protective.
"Not here," she whispered.
That was all it took. Jaytee inhaled sharply, forcing himself to move away from Nora. His hands clenched into fists, his fangs retreating.
And then, Nora bolted, she was crying. She was surprised with so much terror.
What had she just witnessed?