Lilian's pov
Ughhhh!…. Why is Zane trying so hard to get?! To think I had a seat out for him but he was busy trying to make Avelyn better. Why the hell is Avelyn the one getting all the benefits of being here. I really wish I hadn't asked her to come here with me.
Now that I know Zane likes Avelyn, I need to befriend her again so I can automatically gain access to their friend group, from there I'd try win him to my side even if it means I have to drop the lie bomb of being sick to gain his sympathy.
I heard Mirabel calling me shameless for asking Zane out, would have gave a sharp comeback but I need not to let Zane see that side of me again.
"Who else has finished eating? I'm sick of sitting here, let's get back to class" Mirabel said facing Avelyn.
"I'm actually done as well" Zane added
"Let's leave then, Cole and Avelyn will join us later" Mirabel said and I was hoping they'd leave Vee behind for me to talk to her.
"Yeah, you can leave me with pretty princess" Cole whined
"I'd rather eat dog shit than be alone with you" Avelyn spoke up rolling her eyes at Cole. This is a great chance for me to let Zane see that Cole has a thing for Avelyn and then he should be with me.
The four of them stood up to leave but before they could leave, Zane faced me
" Thanks for letting us sit here" he said and Mirabel huffed in response.
"It's nothing really" I replied happy that we actually exchanged few words since the fight.
My eye met with Avelyn's and I smiled at her, she had this confused look on her, I don't blame her tho she just don't expect me to smile at her.
As they were about leaving the cafeteria, a teacher walked up to them and Zane ended up leaving with the teacher. I hope nothing is wrong.
…..Zane's pov…..
Lunch was already loud before we even stepped into the cafeteria. Too loud. The kind of noise that makes your head feel full even when you are not hungry.
I was still thinking about Avelyn.
Not in a way I wanted to admit to myself, just in that quiet pull sort of way. Like my attention kept drifting back no matter what I did. She looked better today. Not in a trying too hard way. Just… lighter. Like she actually slept.
We got our food and only then realised how packed the place was.
"No seats," Mirabel said, scanning the room. "I'm not eating on the floor."
My eyes landed on Karl and Lilian's table before I could stop myself. There were empty chairs.
"I'll ask," I said.
Mirabel groaned behind me but I was already walking over.
"Hi," I said, mostly to Lilian. "Can we sit here?"
She smiled fast. Too fast. "Yes, please."
She stood up at the same time I pulled out a chair, both of us pausing awkwardly. Then she moved to pull out a seat for me instead, and I felt that familiar tight feeling in my chest. The one that shows up when something feels off but I cannot explain why.
Before I could say anything, Cole spoke.
"Blondie, come sit here."
"Avelyn, you can sit here."
We both said it at the same time.
I glanced at Cole, annoyed, and then back at Avelyn. She froze for a second like she did not know which choice was safer.
Mirabel saved her.
"I'll sit with you, Zane," she said, already dragging the chair I pulled out. "Not sitting anywhere near Karl."
That left Avelyn with Cole. She hesitated, then sat anyway. I did not like that I noticed.
Lilian went quiet. I pretended not to.
We started eating. Forks clinking, chairs scraping, people laughing too loudly around us. Normal stuff. Still, the table felt tense.
Lilian broke the silence.
"So, Zane," she said. "What are you doing later today?"
I looked up. "Sorry?"
"If you're free," she continued quickly, smiling. "I thought maybe we could meet. Talk."
Mirabel grinned immediately. "Ohhh. So this is a date situation?"
Lilian's face went red.
I shifted in my seat. "I actually have a lot to do later."
I did not look at Avelyn when I said it. I was not sure why.
"Oh," Lilian said. "Maybe next time then."
Mirabel clicked her tongue under her breath. Karl finally spoke up, telling Mirabel to stop, and that only made things worse.
The rest of lunch went quiet. The uncomfortable kind.
I ate faster than usual.
When Mirabel stood up and said she was done, I followed. Cole and Avelyn also stood up.
As I stood, I turned to Lilian. "Thanks for letting us sit here."
She looked surprised, then smiled. "It's nothing."
Mirabel huffed beside me but said nothing.
As we were about to leave, a teacher stopped me. Asked me to come along. I nodded and followed, glancing back once.
My eyes met with Avelyn's and I gave her a reassuring nod to let her know I'd be back soon
I had the strange feeling that lunch had shifted something. I just did not know what yet.
I followed the teacher down the hallway until we reached the staff room. The moment I stepped inside, I froze.
My mum was there.
Not just her. Almost every senior teacher was seated around the table, their conversations cutting off the second I walked in. That alone told me something was wrong. She rarely showed up, even though the school was hers.
"Hi, Mum," I said.
She smiled at me. Calm. Too calm.
"My son," she said, patting the seat beside her. "Sit."
I did.
"How have you been?" she asked.
"I'm fine," I replied. "You called for me?"
"Yes," she said. "I wanted you to hear this first. So you won't think I kept things from you."
That was never a good sign.
She folded her hands neatly on the table. "It's about the two girls who recently joined the school."
My back straightened immediately.
"I didn't give them scholarships out of kindness," she continued. "They're human. Both of them."
The room went silent.
"They're here for emergencies," she added calmly. "Students won't always be able to rely on animal blood. There will be moments when strength is needed."
My stomach tightened.
So that was it.
A man across the table frowned. The principal. "Are you sure they're human? They don't smell like it."
My mum smiled. "Perfume. Specially made."
"That's risky," another teacher said quickly. "What if they forget to use it?"
"Yes," someone else added. "The students aren't even trained to control their bloodlust yet."
Voices started overlapping, unease spreading through the room. I stayed quiet, my head buzzing as everything clicked into place.
Then my mum stood.
"Enough."
The table shook as her hand slammed against it. Everyone went silent instantly.
"This is my school," she said, her voice sharp. "And I decide what happens here."
For a split second, I saw her eyes flash red.
"I can't risk another incident," the English teacher said quietly. "The last time—"
She didn't finish her sentence.
I didn't even fully register my mum moving. One moment she was standing at the table, the next the room was filled with the smell of blood and a body slumped forward.
I looked away.
When I looked back, my mum was already seated again, wiping her hands slowly.
"Now," she said evenly, "does anyone else have concerns?"
No one spoke.
No one breathed.
They were terrified. And I understood why. She was ancient. Powerful. She'd turned some of them herself. Watched the rest grow up.
I should've been scared too.
But I wasn't.
I'd seen worse.