Author's Note: You can read this here or at my deviantart account. .com
Chapter 1: Goodbye Bathory High! ... or not.
Vlad sat on the front steps of Nelly's old porch. He stared at the clouded sky with a vacant gaze, remembering all the good times he had had in that house. It was all over now. He leaned back against the cold stone of the exterior walls. Apart from Otis, Vlad had no one now. After graduation all his friends had ran off to college, even Henry had left him behind. They called occasionally, but it still felt like they'd abandonned him. And Nelly... Otis was still torn up over her. It was so much to take in all at once and on top of that, he needed to figure out what to do with his life. Vlad stood up slowly and walked to Bathory High, his depression evident from his step. He levitated himself up to the belfry and lit the candles that were placed around there. He reminised about the adventures he'd had there with his friends, from his first day as a freshman to the near-end of the town only some months ago. Surprizeingly, He missed this place. At that moment, Vlad wished for nothing more than the chance to relive those memories with his friends and loved ones...
"Hey, Otis, you're really going to be priciple of Bathory High School, aren't you?" Vlad asked, rolling the bit of cookie dough he had in his hand into a ball.
"Yes, Vladimir. Its a shame you won't be there though." Otis gave his nefew a warm smile. Vlad couldn't help but notice the pain in his uncle's eyes. It had been there since the funeral. He knew otis saw the same thing in his own eyes as well.
"Well, actually... I was thinking that maybe i may go back to Bathory High... as a freshman..." Vlad put his full attention on rolling the chocolate chip cookies, not wanting to look Otis in the eye.
Otis raised a questioning eyebrow. "How, Vladimir, do you expect to do that?"
"Well... You're going to be in charge and all... I thought you could put me on the student list..." Vlad gave him a sheepish grin.
Otis stared at his nefew as if he'd just gone mad. After a moment he sighed, "All right."
"I know you don't think its a good idea but... wait, what?" Vlad stared at Otis in disbelief. Did he actually just say yes?
"I said all right, Vladimir, but only if you're sure about this. Its a big desicion to make and you can't just quit if you're not happy with it. You'll have to repeat all four years. How much thought have you put into this?"
Vlad stared down at the table, a dark cloud falling over him, "Just enough..."
Otis watched him sadly and sighed again, "All right, Vladimir. I'll put you on the list and get you your classes. school starts on September seventeenth."
The two of them continued to make the cookies they had started on, but a strange silence had fallen over the room. After a few hours Vlad broke the silence, "Thank you. Otis."
Otis looked at his nefew and smiled then stood up and gave him a hug. Vlad was surprized for a moment then returned the embrace. They seperated and took a quick look at the kitchen. Vlad laughed, "This place is a mess!"
"We should clean it up. What would Nelly think?"Otis smiled.
Vlad smiled back, "We'd be so totally dead is she saw this mess."