At Bakersfield High morning classes an irresistible girl treads the school. She is gawked at by the students and teachers of all sexes. She keeps quiet and to herself mostly but she is not shy. She has little friends amongst the crowd that treat her with great respect. Her name is Gabriella Montez. Her most interesting qualities are her long black silky hair and her brown skin. But at night a man by the name of Ester rules the class. As Gabriella did the morning class he is to the night class. He is handsome to the opposite sex, with silver hair placed in a long pony-tail and intense black eyes. Although his pale skin was looked upon as strange and that he would only show up to school at night in a archaic style of dressing also perplex the other students. Though he would only show up to the night classes his complexion was legendary and had reached the morning classes by a slacking senior classmate.
Laura begins to gossip to her two friends inside of class. Her voice though toned down was loud enough for the curious ears to hear. Her two friends listen carefully to her interesting stories. "I am telling you he was gorgeous. He long hair and a great face. It had no pimples or anything."
Catherine giggles along with Laura and Jessica. She was not one to enjoy gossip but she did enjoy Laura being Laura. Catherine herself was pretty with her mid length brown hair and hazel eyes. She wore a palm size silver rosemary around her neck and she had another across the strap of her backpack.
"Go on Laura" Jessica told her friend.
"Well then he was so charming and polite. Also I think he is over twenty years old. Older men are always a catch." The three giggles silently. The teacher was to busy with her lesson to notice. Gabriella sitting five desk apart from the three overheard them and giggled a little herself. She carefully placed her books inside her backpack and dusted her skirt as she readied to leave. She then straightens her small scarf tied to her neck tightly not to show any skin. Her skirt reached over her knees but her long socks covered her thighs not to tempt the others.
Her eye glances outside and she receives a shock. Just outside the school yard he stood under the old oak's shade. He happen to look up to her and smiled. She then quickly rushed out of the classroom awkward to the others. The boys lean on the windows to see what was it that she saw that made her run.
The three girls continue their conversation outside, when suddenly Laura stops talking. The other two thought it was strange.
"What is it Laura?" asked Catherine.
"There he is." She said with enlightened look upon her face. Laura saw where she was looking and saw him standing there. Valiant and charming was the two words that described how he looked. But he had a secret that the others would not know about.
He saw them and waved his hand while keeping his right hand in his pocket. The two silly girls gasped and waved back.
"Hi there my name is Laura"
"And my name is Jessica." They yelled. He did not seem to hear them as he still waved. Catherine wondered why until the famous Gabriella came running to him. She had always kept calm in all situations but this time he had provoked something. She panted heavily from coming down the stairs from the third story.
He on the other hand had this calming look. He patiently waited for her to catch her breath. She finally calmed. She gave him a look of a worried mom.
"You should not have come so early your…your health" she said. He smiled even wider showing parts of his teeth. He then he followed her cheek down to her chin with his index finger and slightly tilted her head up. He then slowly leaned over and whispered something. Suddenly Gabriella face grew flushed and she began to stutter.
Catherine's two friends where extremely disappointed along with the other school mates. Laura kind of thought the situation was funny. Though she could not help but wonder what he whispered in her ear. It might of involved her other obligations at this school.
Gabriella turned away from him but she was not ashamed or even cared for the other eyes watching them.
"We can't do that now" she said. His hands then placed both hands on her hips and leaned over her shoulder to kiss her neck. She willingly aloud him to do so. The whole school grew flushed and tried to avert their eyes to the couple. Gabriella finally noticed they were at public and this was not appropriate thing to do out in public. She then quickly took him out of the school yard dragging him by his hands.
"Aww man I thought he would be taken but by Gabriella." Laura said with her head lowered.
"We have no luck at all" said Jessica joining her. Catherine just giggled.
"You know Gabriella is in my night class I can ask what their relation is." Catherine said to cheer her two friends up.
"No no its fine…..well….no" Laura said trying to get over her lost.
That night Catherine got to her night class early about the same time as she always do. Of course Gabriella was already there patiently waiting in front of the classroom. This night classes where for those who weren't caught up with the other kids in their curriculum and needed an extra help from another teacher. Catherine had always been lacking in her studies because of her other duties. Gabriella was there because she had just recently joined the school and needed the extra credit. She said she was home schooled before this but everyone just like to think she was naturally smart.
Catherine was about to ask her about him but before she knew it the class had started and the strict night class teacher would not allow fraternizing. Catherine was watching Gabriella the whole time. Gabriella never strayed from her worked and stayed focus. Until she happened to glance at the figure outside. The window blurred Catherine's vision but she could make out the same outfit he was wearing this afternoon.
Gabriella quickly pleaded to go to the restroom. The teacher would have said no to any other normal student but she was special.
"Go on Gabriella make it quick." He said watching her every move. Gabriella signed on the bathroom sheet near the door then left. Catherine wanted to follow her but she was a normal student. Ester had called her outside with his strong will.
"What are you" He stops her with his finger placed on her lips.
"I felt a sudden urge my dear please before I lose control. Give me you neck" Gabriella saw his fangs beginning to grow. That was a warning sign that her would not hold any longer. They find a place near the bathroom doors. A small wall separated the girls door from the boys and another beyond that to allow solitude from. She leaned against the wall and braced herself. Without his hand touching her scarf it undoes and moves to make space for his mouth. She blushes as he gets near. He first kisses a small tender area on her neck that he had Kissed before.
(Kiss is what vampire uses to code that they had bitten and drank.)
She clutches the edge of the wall as he begins. She lets out a moan but there was no pain. Just a ecstasy feeling of being whole and warm. Her body lifted from the power of the ecstatic feeling. He held on for only a short moment and stopped. Her legs slowly lowered back to the floor. On her neck was two small puncture but after he licks it they disappear. Only a tender area was left. She did not mind if it was her blood that he wanted as long as he was satisfied.
He fangs retract back and he sighed.
"Thank you Gabriella I needed it." he said carefully wiping his lips. She tried to tie her scarf back but the Resonance was strong.
(Resonance is the high the victim gets after having their blood sucked. It usually heightens the senses and the emotions become stronger such as fear.)
They left the hidden space unsuspecting that they where being watched by Laura. She did not see the whole thing but she heard the noises. She hid as they wandered back to their classes. Laura return with her head lower than before.
Catherine thought she was taking too long. As she was going to suggest for some one to see that she was okay, she entered. Catherine saw her scarf undone and the soft pink area. Instantly she knew. She was not a lover to him just a domesticated human. Either given to him or made. Before she could make any conclusion she had to make sure. For now she does not have to worry.
Gabriella was clumsy now. Her walk, steps, movement all lost her grace. Her vision was hazy from the Resonance.
"Sorry I took so long." She apologized finding her seat. Few times before she entered like this but they thought nothing of it just like to day.
The night class ends and Laura meets with her good friend Catherine and tells her she saw what they were doing.
"It was gross but I would take her place anytime." She said. In her head Catherine doubt it. Gabriella was inside talking to the teacher about things no one had the right to know. Then he walked over to them. Laura froze as he approached.
"Hello there and good evening. By any chance are you in the same class as Gabriella Montez?" he asked politely. Laura could not make words so Catherine had to speak for her.
"She is in my class and is talking to the teacher. I am sure it is nothing serious."
"My apologize for her action I am to blame. My name is Ester may I ask what is yours?"
"My-my name is …." For the moment Laura had forgotten her own name.
"It is Laura and my name is Catherine but my friends call me Cathy." Catherine extended her arm hoping he was up-to date with the customs. He smile then took her hand. It was cold but she had done this before.
"I hope I do not forget these names because they belong to two lovely ladies." He said. Even Catherine blushed. As they say chivalry is dead and he was the walking undead.
"May I ask why do you only take the night classes?" Laura surprisingly made out.
"Well my religion you could say holds me back and…"he was at a lost for words.
"Your health also?" Catherine tried to say without being to inconspicuous.
"Yes exactly."
"Ester I am ready" Gabriella called. Ester nodded and parted with the two girls. Catherine watched as Gabriella took his arm and they walked down the parking lot.
"I was such a dork but you handled it well for a Christian lady huh?" Laura teased.
"I am Catholic and I'm not interested at all." She said a little offended of her friend. She stomped of as Laura giggled.
Catherine got into her room and sat on her bed exhausted. Her room was white and blue. Very plain and soothing with a silver rosemary above every door. She had few pictures of her family on a dresser besides the door and in the corners of the mirror. She calls a number marked S. cross on her cell phone.
"Hello I would like some information on a Ester please" she said.
Ester and Gabriella got home to their castle. It was large and almost empty. It was once filled with his own kind but now the hunters has gotten better. It is severely rare to find a vampire that would even try to live along side with the humans. Mainly because most are still young in their fifties or twenties while Ester himself was well over three hundred years old. The house was six hundred give or take a few years and some remodeling. He lights the fire place without a blink and sits comfortably in his chair. Gabriella takes his coat and does his necktie.
"Thank you Gabriella but I wish the S. Cross would hurry with their blessings so I could be normal." He said. Gabriella gazes at the package on the dining room table in the other room. She sighs then rushes to grab it.
"I wanted to surprise you with it but it seems you need it now." She said. Ester had a confused look and before he could turn his head Gabriella was back with the book size package. "My apologies but I wanted you to enjoy this with more excitement."
"Ahh Gabriella you are too kind but I must see it. It would do great pleasure if you wear to open it." he said caressing her cheek. She carefully removed the brown paper and there was a box. She slowly opens the velvet box. To their surprise was a rosemary about palm size with a marble sized amber in it. There was an inscription that said With this be blessed and cursed to walk among us.
"They remembered" he said. Both gave a small chuckle.
The next morning Catherine was exhausted. She argued with the S. cross for information but they would not let it out or they really did not have it. She sat on a bench just under the oak tree. Laura and Jessica just had arrived and found her sitting alone.
"Was it true there in a deep relationship?" Jessica asked. Laura must have already told her.
"Well its hard for me to tell but from what Laura says I don't think so."
"Hey my word is the truth." Laura said crossing her arms.
"Hehe Perhaps your right Catherine." Jessica agreed. Catherine watched as Gabriella entered calm as ever. Not caring what people would say or how they where looking at her. She was in her own little world. Catherine envied that about her among other things. She then stopped and turned around and waved for some one to come. Catherine could not believe her eyes among her friends. Ester walked in but he was changed. His hair was no longer silver but brown and his skin was like a peach instead of grey. He was no he looked human. The she noticed the silver rosemary necktie. That must have been it. A seal.