"Thanks, Bart." I stepped into the high ceilinged foyer, admiring the enormous sparkling chandelier, and he closed the door. "Is Professor Pops around? I need to talk to him."
"Yep, in the kitchen. Don't freak out, but there's a meat extravaganza in there. We didn't know you were coming." He looked guilty.
I laughed. "It's okay. I know you guys eat meat." Then I leaned in, trying to ignore his beating heart. "Besides, with me being a revenant and everything, I probably shouldn't worry about the whole vegan thing anymore. Ya know?"
"True. I forgot." He sauntered into the kitchen and I followed him.
The smell of cooking meat-bacon, sausage, and eggs-pummeled my senses, and I bit back nausea.
"Look who it is," Bart said, taking a seat at the sleek table filled with food.
Eight sets of eyes bore into me.
"Hi guys." I raised my hand, giving them an embarrassed wave.
"Snow," Professor Pops rose, and placed his napkin on the table. "Is everything okay?"
I shook my head. "Can I talk to you privately a second?" I didn't want to worry the guys, have them thinking I'd become a blood-sucking crazy pants, and try to bite them, or worse.
"Sure," he said, glancing back at the boys. "There'd better be two slices of bacon left when I get back. To me he said, "Let's go into my study."
I followed him down the narrow hall. Once he'd closed the door to his study, he asked, "What's happened?"
"Nothing. Yet." I absently stroked the old wooden desk we stood in front of. "It's just my dad and stepmother came home last night."
Professor Pops let out a frustrated huff.
"Viv threw away my bloodlust tea." I looked up at him, worried he'd be mad, but I could only see warmth, and a slight irritation in his features.
"That woman." He went around to the business side of his desk, and sat in a large camel-colored leather chair. "Have a seat," he said.
I obeyed, and watched him dial a number on his cell phone.
"Kenmei-sensai. It's Adam." There was a pause and a smile flitted across his lips. "I'm well, old friend." Another pause. "It seems we're in need of some more of your special tea." Pause. His lips pressed together in a thin line. "Yes." Pause. "Great. I'll send one of the boys by to pick it up later today." A longer pause. "Are you sure?" Pause. "Great, I'll see you then." He hung up the phone, rested his hands on the large calendar on his desk, and gave me a wary look. "Kenmei-sensai will bring the tea by later today. He's also asked that he be the one to train you this afternoon. Will you be alright at school?"
Nervous flutters pirouetted in my tummy. "Yes. I think so. Thank you Professor Pops." For some reason Christopher's face appeared in my mind. He wouldn't be in chemistry or at lunch or track practice. I swallowed sadly. He'd become my ally, my friend, the only person I wanted to be around.
Yeah, there's something wrong with that, my inner voice shouted.
"Of course." He stood, and I followed. Rubbing my shoulders, he said, "Don't worry. You'll be fine. I'm sure of it."
We made our way back into the kitchen. The guys were mostly done eating, and were packing up to leave. I searched for Gabe, but he'd gone.
"Dorian, will you give Snow a ride to school?" Professor Pops asked.
"I'd love to." Mischief twinkled in his eyes. That's how Gabe used to be. I thought of the night Gabe helped me up after I fell in the parking lot at Warehouse Video. He'd told me that one day I'd feel for him the way he felt about me. That wasn't very many days ago-five? It felt like a lifetime. As I followed Dorian to the garage, and got in his beefy black mustang, my thoughts turned to Cindy. "Did you ever hear back from Cindy?" I asked as he started the car, and it roared to life.
Distress, or sorrow crossed his face, but was gone immediately. "Yes. She's fine. I believe a dude was involved, like everyone thought. No biggie."
Dorian was lying. Why? The teardrop gem warmed under my shirt, and I grabbed a hold of it.
"Really?" I asked, not sure how to call him on the lie. "You heard from her, her actual voice?"
"I've talked to her, Snow." His voice betrayed the sarcasm that'd oozed with his words.
His heart pounded-steady. Was it faster than normal? I wasn't sure. Taking a deep breath, I caught a whiff of his aftershave. He smelled good. Clean. Appealing.
His blood sang to me, a sultry song. My mouth watered.