Chapter ten

Maxine

Swallowing my apprehension, i answered. “Hello?”

“Max,” came the familiar voice on the other end of the line, calm but tinged with concern. “It’s Xander.”

My shoulders sagged, relief flooding through my veins. “Why are you calling me? You just dropped me off.”

“I wasn’t sure you’d pick up, I had no idea you’d still be awake,” he admitted.

I let out a deep sigh as I rubbed my temple, my eyes moving to the wristwatch on the wall. It was past midnight. I had no idea that I had been thinking about the hybrid for that long. “What do you want, Xander? I’m exhausted.”

“I just wanted to check if you got back to your room safely,” he said. “You seemed... startled earlier. And given everything that’s happened tonight, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to ask.”

I blinked, caught off guard by his concern. “I’m fine,” I said after a moment. “Just tired.”

There was a pause on the line. “Are you sure? You’ve been through a lot tonight. And Derek—”

“I said I’m fine,” I cut him off, my voice sharper than i intended. “I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can,” he said softly. “But even the strongest people need someone to watch their back sometimes.”

There was something wise in his voice besides the sincerity, something like a threat or a warning.

I wanted to argue, to tell him that I didn’t need his help or anyone else’s. But the truth was that tonight had shaken me more than i cared to admit.

“I appreciate the concern,” I said finally, my voice softer. “But I’m safe. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Who was I kidding? I live with a vampire! How could I be safe?

“Too late for that,” Xander muttered, so quietly that I almost didn’t catch it.

My heart skipped a beat. “What?”

“Nothing,” he said quickly. “Just... be careful, Max. And if anything happens, call me. Anytime.”

I didn’t respond as the word remained stuck in my throat.

“Goodnight, Max,” he said after a moment.

“Goodnight,” i murmured, ending the call.

I stared at the phone, my thoughts were a tangled mess. Xander’s concern felt genuine, but for some reasons I just couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to him than he let on.

For now, though, i had bigger things to worry about. Like figuring out the mystery behind Davis’ death.

********

The following morning, I woke up to a thumping sound, it sounded nearby, like it was in my room.

In my room!

I spranged up immediately, remembering that I now shared a room with a vampire!

I was no longer in my old room. I missed my room back home more than I cared to admit.

The thumping sound returned and I gritted my teeth in irritation. “Bloody vampire!” I muttered under my breath as I moved to where he was.

“Keep it down!”

He didn’t reply and I clenched my fist, wishing I could use magic to just break his hands, but that would be another hassle and I really wasn’t ready for that.

“Please keep it down,” I pleaded this time without opening the door.

The thumping sound continued and I clenched my fist to my side before grabbing my headphones and placing them on my ears. If he wanted to act like an idiot, so be it, I didn’t have the time for that.

A little while later, I was leaned against the edge of the desk, my heartbeat echoing in the quiet dormitory.

Across the room, my roommate sat on his desk chair, his sharp gaze fixed on me like a predator assessing its prey.

I could feel his eyes on me but wasn’t in the mood to say anything, so I remained quiet, pretending that I didn’t notice that he was looking at me.

I couldn’t afford to let my discomfort show. But we had never been together quietly in the same space before. That was probably why it was weird.

"You’re awfully quiet," he said, his voice low and smooth, but his tone carried an edge that made my stomach twist.

"I don’t like talking much," i replied without facing him, my voice deliberately flat. "Is that a problem?"

From the corner of my Eyes, I saw him smirk, his sharp fangs just barely visible. "Not at all. I just don’t trust quiet people. They’re usually hiding something."

I forced herself to shrug casually, even as my pulse quickened. Why was it so hot in here? And it was raining heavily outside! "What could I possibly be hiding?"

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his piercing gaze never leaving mine as he was now staring straight at me. "Davis, my old roommate, was quiet too. You know where that got him?"

I swallowed hard but kept my expression neutral. "You killed him because he was quiet?”

He blinked rapidly as though he was only now realizing what he had said. “No dammit! I don’t know what happened to him!” With that, he stormed out of the shared study and into his own room.

I thought about Derek. He didn’t look like someone who could hurt anyone, but yet, he had attacked me, well, after jabbing him with vervain.

I needed to see Derek, but I had no idea on how to do that. But luckily, we had the same class the following day and he seemed like a model student, so I was sure of seeing him then.

The next morning, I was seated at my usual spot near the back of the classroom, my fingers drumming rhythmically on the desk. Ny sharp eyes scanned the room, my gaze lingering on the door as students trickled in. My heart rate spiked slightly when Derek strode into the room, his usual confident smirk still plastered on his face.

He didn’t spare me a glance as he took his seat at the far corner, only stopping to shake hands with some boys seated behind me.

His hood was as always up, shielding his face from view. I clenched my jaw, determined. I needed answers, and Derek was the only lead I had.

As the professor began the lecture, I tried to focus, but my mind kept drifting back to the encounter with him that night and from the corner of my eyes, I glanced at him wondering how a seemingly harmless man could be Dangerous

A hybrid!

Someone from behind me nudged me, breaking my string of thoughts and I blinked rapidly before realizing that everyone had their eyes on me.

“What?”

Way to go Maxine, way to go! For someone who doesn’t want to draw attention to herself, I was sure doing a good job.

The professor seemed pissed and I stood up immediately, realizing that she had been asking me a question.

“What?” I began to wish that the ground would open and swallow me whole.

“I said, can you solve this?” She pointed at the arithmetic jargon on the board and I muttered a string of curses.

I hated anything to do with calculations.

Seeing that I couldn’t answer the question, she shook her head in disappointment.

“Young man, I need you to focus next time,” she said and turned back to the board to solve the question.

I was grateful for that, at least it wasn’t worse.

When the class finally ended, I seized my chance. I grabbed my notebook and approached him as he packed up his things.

“Derek,” I said firmly, standing a few feet from him.

He didn’t look up. “What do you want?” His tone was cold and dismissive.

“We need to talk,” i said, stepping closer to him, I didn’t want anyone hearing what I was about to say. I still didn’t get any dark aura from him.

“About what?” He slung his bag over his shoulder, finally meeting my gaze. His eyes were sharp, like he already knew what I was about to say.

“You know what,” i said, keeping my voice low. “The other night. The party. The—”

“Don’t,” he interrupted, his voice like ice. “Don’t even think about bringing that up here.”

His sudden harshness made me flinch, but i held my ground. I’d turn him in to my coven, but first, I need to know why Davis was killed.

“I’m not letting this go, Derek. I know what you are.”

At that, his narrowed his eyes at me, a flicker of something dangerous crossing his expression. “You don’t know a damn thing about me,” he growled, stepping closer until we were nearly chest-to-chest.

“I know enough,” I said, refusing to back down.

Derek’s hand shot out, gripping my wrist tightly but not painfully. He leaned in, his voice low and venomous. “Stay out of my business, witch. You have no idea what you’re messing with.”

My breath hitched in my throat, my pulse quickening. The proximity, the heat of his grip, and the anger in his eyes were overwhelming, but i met his gaze with defiance. “And you have no idea who you’re threatening.”

For a moment, we were locked in a silent standoff. Then Derek released my hand abruptly, stepping back as if the contact burned him.

“Stay away from me,” he said, his tone final. He turned on his heel and stalked out of the classroom, leaving Me standing there, my wrist tingling where he’d touched me

My jaw tightened as I watched him go. If he thought i was going to back off that easily, he didn’t know me at all.

I had to find another way to get close to him, a better way.

I wondered if it was because he was a hybrid that he had been able to attack me.

I shuddered with fright as I made my way back to the dorm room.

Time was running out!

Just as I was making my way to the dorm, my eyes caught a familiar figure walking across the road, she had a bright smile on her face.

Billie!

What was she doing at an all boys school?

She seemed like a very nice person and I was just about to wave at her when I saw her stepped into the car which was parked at the other side of the street.

I knew that car!

It was familiar….

Xander!

It was his car. But why?

Did they know each other?

I walked closer to the car and my eyes widened at the sight before me.

She was on top of him and they were embraced in a passionate kiss.

It was not weird, but I thought he was gay, I mean he did try to hit on me a few days ago….

I shrugged it off. It wasn’t like it was unusual. For all I know, he could swing both ways, there was no no harm in that.

I turned around and walked back to the dorm room, hoping that my very annoying vampire roommate wouldn’t be in.