Liz was on her way back from a party held by one of her college associates. It was already dark outside and she'd spent more time there than she had originally planned.
Hanging over her right shoulder was a large bag, filled with her sports clothes and her gear. She was on the local tennis team.
Liz checked her phone again for the time. It was now 11 PM. She quickened her steps towards the bus stop. She already regretted wearing a short skirt and a crop top. The cool evening breeze made her shiver.
Liz got on the bus, and just as she'd expected, there were almost no people on it. She sat down and put in her earphones to listen to music. A few stations later, a guy got on and sat down opposite to her.
The first thing Liz noticed about him, was that he was wearing sunglasses, even though it was dark out. Something was strange about him.
"Hey, pretty," the guy said, and a smile crossed over his lips. He looked about Liz's age.
Great, Liz thought. Why is it always the weird ones who talk to me?
"Hey," Liz replied and then continued. "How's it going?" She couldn't explain why she had kept talking.
"I'm good, thank you." He ran a hand through his spiked brown hair.
You're weird, but strangely attractive too...
"What are you doing out so late, little bird?"
Liz replied without thinking, "I was just at a party. How about you?"
The guy chuckled. "I was out to eat..."
Why am I talking to this guy?! I should stop.
"This late?" Liz wanted to know. "Isn't that kinda unhealthy?"
"Nah, it's fine. Have been doing it for ages. By the way, what's your name?
"I'm Liz."
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Nick."
"Nice to meet you too." Liz couldn't stop herself from asking, "Say why are you wearing sunglasses? You got some problem with your eyes?"
"As a matter of fact, no. It's just a habit I picked up," Nick said. He pointed at her bag. "Looks heavy. Want me to carry it for you? I could take you home. I live down the street from you."
Liz's face slipped. "You're kidding, right?"
He shook his head. "No, I'm serious. I live on Lumber Street 13. We both get off at the same stop."
Nick's offer made her feel strange. She knew she shouldn't. It was a stupid idea. Nonetheless she agreed to it and they got off the bus 15 minutes later.
He was carrying her bag upstairs and handed her the keys to her apartment.
"Thanks Nick. Why don't you come in and we have a glass of wine?"
Nick's lip twiched. "I don't really drink... I'm sorry."
Liz seemed disappointed. If she'd had to say why, she couldn't have.
"I can come in though, if you really want my company," Nick quickly said. "I could give you a massage. I'm sure you're still sore from today's tennis match. I'm really good too."
She couldn't remember telling him that. Had she?
More words left her mouth. She felt like her brain was on a weird auto-pilot. "I'd love that."
They sat down on her bed and she tied her black hair into a high ponytail. He hadn't lied. He was good. She felt the tension fade from her muscles just moments after he had placed his hands on her shoulders.
He quietly sat behind her with his legs crossed and worked.
"Did you work at a spa before or something?" Liz wanted to know.
"For a time. I've been through more jobs than you can imagine."
She felt him shift behind her and turned her head to look at him. He seemed lost in thought. It was almost as if he was listening to something she couldn't hear.
"Are you ok?"
Nick's head shot up and he smiled. "Yes, sorry. I spaced out there for a second."
"It's all right." She really meant it.
"I want to show you something, Liz." His hand reached for the sunglasses and he slowly pulled them off.
Liz looked into two different colored eyes. One was brown, the other a light blue.
"That's the reason I wear sunglasses most of the time."
Liz thought them beautiful and she told him so.
"Thank you. But most of my peers see them and keep their distance," Nick explained.
"I don't understand," Liz was genuinely confused.
"You don't have to..." he sighed, looked away for a moment.
When his eyes met hers again something in the look he gave her had changed. She could tell he somehow cared about her, even in this very short time they'd just spent together.
Was it just because she'd said something kind?
"You're unique. And I have a gift for you," Nick spoke. He opened his arm and uncrossed his legs. "You don't have to accept, but if you do, let me hug you for a moment. You just need to lean back. I promise I won't hurt you."
She accepted. Liz leaned back into Nick's arms and he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her waist. Then he rested his head on her shoulder. For a moment she was worried, he'd do more, but he didn't. He just held her close.
"Thank you, for not pushing me away."
Liz almost pitied him. She felt like this guy hasn't had enough people who loved him in his life.
"So what is this gift you had for me?" Liz questioned.
His breath hit her ear when he ansered, "A single kiss on your neck and my embrace. Of course only if you want."
It should be fine, Liz thought. One single kiss can't hurt. Most guys would have wanted to make out by now.
She nodded her consent.
Nick leaned in, slowly and gently placed his lips on a spot low on her neck. Where his lips touched, Liz felt her skin go numb. It was a weird, but not an uncomfortable sensation. He pressed them down a bit more until there was a light pressure and then he held them there. She became sleepy and her mind became cloudy. Her thoughts wandered. There were a lot of colors and whispers.
Her body began to slump deeper into Nick's arm until the colors in her head faded to black.
Nick kept sucking out her blood until there was none left in her. He cut his own wrist with a long sharp nail and dripped a few drops into her mouth. All he had to do now, was wait for her to wake up.
Liz opened her eyes to Nick watching over her. He sat in a chair next to her bed.
"You fell asleep," he explained. "I couldn't just leave. And you weren't out long. Just half an hour has passed."
Liz throat felt parched. She was thirsty, so thirsty. She thought she'd die from dehydration.
She slowly stood up and went to get a glass of water.
Nick stopped her, by holding out a white cup with a lid and a straw in. He smiled.
Liz thankfully took it from him and drank. She couldn't see what was in it.
"I took a fast trip down the street and went to get you something to drink."
Liz stopped in her tracks. That meant he had taken her keys, left, and reentered her apartment with them. That was insanely dangerous. She didn't think she'd ever done anything this stupid before.
"Well I am glad you didn't just up and vanish with half my belonings," Liz said.
"I'd never do that!" Nick defended himself.
Liz shrugged. "What am I drinking? It tastes like some excotic coctail."
You don't want to know. The voice in her head was her own, but she didn't actively think it. The thought just came, on it's own without her doing. She felt strange.
"Do you trust me?" Nick asked.
Liz looked up at him and thought for a moment. "Strangely. I do, yes."
"Good. Then please go to the bathroom and take a look in the mirror."
She did as she was told. Nick followed her.
Her eyes. One of them had turned golden. The other had remained its original light blue-gray-ish color.
"What happened?" she wanted to know.
"Bare your teeth..."
She did and froze. "What the fuck?"
A vampire. She couldn't believe it. She was a vampire now?!
"Is this real?"
Nick nodded. "You're not asleep and dreaming this."
Liz took a deep breath and took Nick's hand. She lead him back onto the bed and sat down next to him again. "So what am I supposed to do now? I can't just go back to college?"
Nick answered her, "You can't be out in the sun. And stay away from fire. You can still be killed by that. And a shotgun blast to the head, or be blown up. Other than that, you're good."
"I can only be out at night then, all right." Liz went quiet for a moment. "Do you really live down the street?"
Nick was relieved that she'd taken it so well. "Yes. I really do."
"Good then."
"A word of warning... You can't let anyone know you're a vampire, or else some of the big shots come after you, and that's real trouble. They'll destroy you. Also, you might start hearing voices soon. That's our curse. We are blessed with insight, but others see us as mad."
He stood and walked for the door.
Liz jumped up in a sudden panic. "Please don't go." She didn't know why she wanted him to stay so badly. "Stay the night, well day, whatever." She paused and then whispered, "I don't want to sleep alone after this."
Nick understood where she came from and agreed to stay during the day. They closed all the shutters in the apartment and continued talking for quite a while until Liz fell asleep again.