Chapter 2
Heading to the ground level, I proceed along the main street and along the boulevard to the university. At this hour the light is soft enough for me to walk in without the risk of being burnt. As I approach the university, several whistles and stares at by quite a few girls greet me. Don't blame them; I'm hot and proud of it! Heading inside, I head for the administration by following the signs and register myself for the course, flashing my driver's license. Was quicker than I thought it would be, but flirting with the receptionist did help I think. Turning around I accidentally bump into someone and his or her papers go flying.
"Oh shit! Sorry! Here, let me help you pick them up. It was my fault after all," I say and he mumbles his thanks as I thanks. Well I'll be, I just ran into my human! I think now would be an excellent opportunity to learn more about him.
"My name's Irvine. Yours?" I ask putting his papers into his hands.
"Squall Leonhart."
Such a beautiful name to fit him! I cannot think of anything more perfect.
"I'm sorry I ran into you. I hope that I didn't hurt you or anything…" he mumbles and I flash him my trademark grin. Not my happy one but the one that causes men to fall to their knees and women to faint and swoon in desire.
"Nah, it's okay. No bones broken. Sorry I ran into you. It was my fault anyway. So… I guess that I'll be seeing you around then?"
"… yeah. Anyway, see you…" he mumbles and walks off. I'll have to work on him. Considering that I have some time, I leave the campus and head over to Esthar Trading. Great shop and they pay well too. My best friend Selphie runs it. She's the best and understands my apparent desire of the night. Though it did take a while to get her to shut up and stop asking questions. Good thing that shiny objects work well on her!
As usual, once the door is opened she bounds at me and tries to bear hug me (good thing that I'm a vampire or she might just succeed!) and I ruffle her hair.
"Irvy! It's great ta see ya! So what can I do for ya?"
"Just a trade and yes you can keep the small diamond ring Selph. So how much can I make on the lot?"
"One sec!" she giggles and flounces over behind the counter to collect her microscope, calculator and monocle. She doesn't need the monocle, but for some random reason she likes it. Ah well, not my spot to be opinionated.
As she inspects each of the items at the counter, I look around at what she has to sell and a dusty leather bound book catches my eye. Picking it up, I'm amused to find that it's a copy of 'The English Guide to Vampiric Literature.' I think Squall would like this, and anyway, it'd make a great present. Taking it over to the counter, I wave it under Selphie's nose and she looks up.
"You want that? Twenty gil just for you. Want me to wrap it since I do know that you never buy for yourself anyway so it must be a gift."
"Yep. Just take the cost out of the money I can get for that lot."
She nods and types in a final few calculations.
"Right! This lot's worth 800 gil total. Good selection for ya. I won't ask how ya got yourself ya hands on it but since I can make use of them, total I'll pay ya is 780 gil. Deal?"
"Perfect babe. You know my rules. Upfront in cash, no questions."
While she opens the register and pulls out the gil for me and handing it to me, she starts to wrap the book up in brown paper with the traditional string ties. I hate all that fancy bright paper and ribbons and crap. Too annoying and doesn't make the gift any more special or anything. Simple and easy. Nothing more to it for me.
My now wrapped package being waved in my face snaps me out of my thoughts and I catch it with ease.
"Thanks Selph. I'd better go now. I've got a lecture to attend. See ya soon darlin'!" I say as I walk out the door with her waving at me. She's so hyper but lovable. I can only ever see her from a brotherly perspective. I just don't have any interest in women. Yep, I'm the lone gay vampire. That'd make a good western novel.
Heading back to the campus, I stash my parcel in my bag. I think that I will have to feed from another tonight. After all, I did take at least two litres of Squall's blood so he'll have to regain that blood before I can feed from him again. I'll give him two days. But that still doesn't mean that I can't pay a visit to him. Checking my watch and noticing that it's time for his lecture, I head off with the other students to the central auditorium.
The room is only half full and I'm honestly surprised that there would be anyone here. After all, this is 'A History of Vampiric Literature' after all. I take a seat in the second row and a bouncy blonde with a rather intricate and exotic facial tattoo walks over and swipes the seat next to me.
"What a day! Hey, I don't think I've seen you around campus. You new here?" he asks me as he fishes out a notepad and a pen from his satchel.
"Sorta. My first time here actually, but I'm only here for this lecture. Caught my eye and I thought I'd come to it."
He grins so wide I think that if he tried to grin any harder that his grin would meet his ears.
"Name's Zell. What did you say yours was?"
Ha! Nice trick but it won't work.
"I don't think I did," I reply and busy myself fishing out my notepad and pen.
The door at the back opens and Squall comes in looking very professional in a pair of black slacks and loose business shirt, carrying a suitcase. Sexy and professional. Instantly the room lapses into silence as he heads for the podium and opens up his briefcase and pulls out several books and some notes. Clearing his throat once he's satisfied that his books are in the correct place, he begins.
"Good evening everyone. I am sure that you know why you are here. Unlike the rumours spreading around here, we will absolutely not be studying 'Attack of the Vampiric Chocobos'. And yes, we will be studying the characteristics of vampires. Rather than just delve into the boring stuff straight off, I'd like to ask you about how much you know about vampires. Let's start with the blonde with the tattoo in the second row. What do you know about vampires?"
I can already see the copy of attack of the vampiric chocobos coming.
"Well, they've got fangs, they're pale in colour and they drink blood…" he says before going red and hiding behind his notepad. A few people snicker in the audience but Squall shuts them up with a glare.
"Not bad but not much. How about you, the girl with the pink dyed hair up the back?"
And so the lesson continues. Half the stuff he says is just plain bullshit. Vampires are immune to crosses; holy water and churches aren't an issue. And that stake through the heart crap, just that, crap. The only thing that does to us is give us a sensation similar to heartburn or indigestion.
"Right, I need two people from the audience. Now whom shall I prey on? So let's see… you in the second row next to tattooed blond with the long brown hair and the cowboy hat and also… would the blonde with the tattoo next to him, come on out the front. Hurry up now."
I get gracefully to my feet and walk down with Zell to the podium. Squall hands me a small microphone and I pin it onto my top.
"So what are you names?" he asks us.
"I'm Zell. Zell Dincht." Zell pipes up and Squall shakes his hand before turning his attention to me.
"And you are?"
"Irvine."
He nods in acknowledgement and looks at us both.
"Any idea why you're out here?" he asks. No. I have no idea. Don't ask stupid questions. Zell takes a stab with a guess.
"Uh… hotdogs?"
A ripple of laughter echoes throughout the class.
"And you Irvine, do you have any idea why you're out here?"
Should read his mind… oh how boring! He intends to test if we've been listening.
"You're going to quiz us on how much we've learnt and if we were listening."
"Quite right. I'll give you three questions each. If one of you get it wrong, then the other has to answer it."
So what you're saying is that I've gotta answer all the questions. Ah well, I'm an expert on vampires. I am one after all!
"Okay then. Question one. What are some of the main characteristics of vampires?"
Easy one!
"Fangs, blood drinking and pale skin. Oh, and inhuman strength… I think…"
"You sound as if you're talkin' from experience Zell!" I snort and he blows a raspberry at me.
"Okay! Okay! Irvine, what's your answer?"
"A leather fetish. Easy!" I reply easily with a shrug and the class laughs. It feels good to make them laugh. "Nah, just kidding ya! Fangs and a love of bondage and blood play. But that's just if you're involved with one. But what I can tell you is that they're very well endowed. So ladies and all horny men, next time someone starts hitting on you just check to make sure that they don't have a dick bigger than 8 or so inches and you'll be fine!"
By now the class is doubled over in agonistic laughter and I see Squall smiling gently at me.
"So Irvine, is you mind always this one track?" he asks and I smirk.
"Nope, but my other half is!" I reply, pointing at my groin. With a warm sense of satisfaction at my audience's reaction, Squall grins. He returns to the task at hand and I ace the rest of the questions easily and with some disappointment, Squall announces that the lecture is over and dismisses the class. Grabbing my satchel, Zell and I head out together.
"Not bad in there cowboy" he complements me.
"Not to shabby either Zell. Dunno if you'll see me around but anyway, see ya!" I reply, tipping my hat and I walk off.
Nice guy but not my type. Having nothing to do, I walk along the road and just as I reach the corner, a voice calls out to me.
"Wait! Irvine! Wait!" it calls and I turn around and find Squall standing there.
"Huh?" I ask stupidly.
"You left this behind," he replies as he hands over my notebook. I look at the first page and wince. I forgot that I did that drawing of him on the front.
"Your really good at art. Why don't you join the art class here at the college?"
"Uh, I only really do things at night. Old sleeping habits you see. Sleep in the day and be awake at night. Can't change it at all really."
"Oh… okay then. Well, if you aren't busy, would you like to have a drink together?" he asks and I nod.
"Okay then. Where do you suggest?" I know that there's a really nice bar on the corner near his house. Very quiet.
"Well, there's this bar near where I life. How about there? They make really good cocktails and have a good supply of beer…"
Right in one.
"Sure. I've been there a few times so shall we go?"
He nods and I follow. On the way we chat about ourselves. Of course I don't mention anything about my vampiric blood and just talk about my more human interests. I follow him through once we reach the bar and he heads for a small table in the back. While I go order two beers (yes vampires can have human food. We just don't have any use for it), I ponder what the hell to talk to him about. Picking up the frothing glasses and heading back, that issue is easily solved. As I sit down, Squall takes his beer from me and faces me.
"Hey Irvine, that prompted you to take my lecture anyway?"
"Ah, just curiosity really. Anyway, I guess that I wanted to attend after I saw you."
"Oh. And why is that?"
"You look like you knew what you were doing so I went along…" I reply and take a sip of my beer. I can't tell him the real reason why. Changing subject, I ask "So what prompted you go lecture on 'The History of Vampiric Literature'?"
"I just love vampires. I mean, they aren't real but I still love them and I'd love to meet one someday. Childish I know… but still…"
Oh if only you knew how close you are to a vampire sweetheart!
"Anyway, it's getting late so I'd better head home. Thanks for coming with me for a drink."
"Oh! Well can I walk you to your place?"
He considers this for a moment.
"Okay. Let's go."
I walk beside him at an easy gait as we head for his place. We stop outside his apartment and I say goodbye and walk around the corner before jumping onto the branch of a tree and up to the ledge underneath his window. He's getting changed and talking to himself.
"Hyne! I wish that I could tell him how I feel. But he's one of my students! And anyway, just because we just had a drink doesn't mean that it's okay to hit on him! Hell I shouldn't even be thinking of him in this way! Gods Irvine, why do I feel like I know you from somewhere?" he mutters before he slides under his sheets. I give him twenty minutes before I am certain that he's asleep. Repeating the same process to open the window, I slip in and put the parcel on his desk. Tearing a page out of my notebook, I write to him:
Squall,
You would be surprised what you can learn. He won't turn you away so don't be afraid to ask… and sorry for taking so much of your blood last time.
Signed,
I
So stupid to sign myself as that but it'll work. Satisfied, I leave the note on top of the parcel and left, closing the window behind me I leap away into the night… cliché but it works…
Authoress' notes: I honestly regret staying up to 2 am writing the last part of this. I swear that I'll never do that again! Passed out in PE today, which was really interested cause on closer inspection, I was actually sleeping. Oh well. One of the girls in my class nearly blew up the stove. I did well and managed to get my hotcakes cooked easily. My poor partner though. She has to be at the Food Tech rooms in first period to get up on the ladder and scrape her hotcakes off the roof. At least it wasn't me! Anyway, am working on chapter 3 as I have like no homework today so I'll try to have it up tomorrow!