My eyelids fluttered open. We had fallen asleep on the wooden floorboards. A soft whistling came from behind me. Rolling onto my side, I found the source of the noise. Mr Crepsley was out cold, his head lay on his arm. I lay curled up beside him, watching his chest rise and fall with each delicate breath. This moment was utterly perfect. I longed to remain on the floor next to him for all eternity. A deep rumbling broke through the idyllic silence. My stomach had other things on its mind. Reluctantly, I pushed myself up and snuck out into the open air.

The camp ground buzzed with the comings and going of performers and helpers. The setting sun burned over the tops of tents. It's orange glow twinkled in the dewy grass beneath my feet. The intoxicating smell of cooked dinner wafted from the dining area. Nudging my way towards the long dining benches, I felt a someone grab my upper arm.

"Darren, hold up a sec!", shouted a boy who was encased from head to toe in scales.

"Evra", I grinned and bumped fists with my friend.

"Where were you today?", he said with his eyebrows narrowed, "I asked around but no one recalled seeing your ugly face today."

My chest tightened and my brain shuddered to a halt.

"I…I was", I stuttered.

Evra waited.

"I was getting lessons off Mr Tall… math lessons."

Evra stared blankly at me.

"You're a half vampire, travelling in a freak circus, and you feel the sudden need to brush up your math skills".

There was no fooling this kid. I just shrugged my shoulders and forced a smile.

"When you feel like telling me the real reason, you know where to find me", he said. His voice was tinged with hurt.

"Evra wait!", I called as he slumped away. Shit. I wanted to run after him, but what could I say to him. You were wondering where I was? Oh I just spend the night underneath Mr Crepsley with his tongue thoroughly exploring my mouth… and other places. My face flushed with the memory.

Nabbing a plate steaming with hot food, I slid onto an empty gap in the bench. The last remaining glow of daylight faded away and long shadows crept across billowing tent walls. The babble of dinner conversation and gossip erupted around me.

"You'll never guess what I found in Cormac Limb's changing room after last- Master Crepsley! Do join us", my neighbour requested, shuffling down the bench to make room. Mr Crepsley approached us, but stopped short at the sight of me. He looked extremely uncomfortable but quickly masked the emotion.

"I will sit elsewhere", He said quietly.

I dragged my food across the plate with a fork. My appetite had disappeared. Letting my fork drop, I stood up. I felt Mr Crepsley's eyes on me. Meeting his gaze, I sneered and strode away.