Icy A

Chapter 8

Punctuality was not high on Kelly's everyday agenda. Try as she might, she rarely got on time anywhere, unless Tyler, her twin, was the one behind the wheels.

So, as she arrived at her Monday's first class, five minutes after the last bell, nobody was surprised. She, on the other hand, had a hard time believing her eyes. Her halfhearted apology, which had been ready to be fired, died on her lips midway, “Sorry I'm…”

Right there, next to the teacher's desk, stood a tall man who should have no business being in a classroom. His profile was a sight to behold. He would have belonged much better on a magazine cover. He was dressed in black, his jeans and button up shirt simple but elegant. His hands laid immobile by his sides, in a manner that somehow didn't feel normal, and his head was held high, proud and challenging.

Upon Kelly's entrance, his face turned ever so slightly towards her, and his empty gray eyes had her choking on the last words of her apology.

He ignored her wide eyes and the question in them in favor of addressing the class formally, “Hello, my name is Andreas Patera. I am a scientist, and I will be spending a month with you so as to conduct an anthropological research.” He paused, receiving nothing but bewildered silence for his introduction, before finishing with a curt nod, “Thank you for having me.”

She didn't understand how this could happen. For one silly moment, she believed she was being punk'd. Of course, that was wishful thinking.

“Anthropological research, my a*s!” She muttered from where she stood, frozen to the spot, seething with a silent fury.

Andreas, being a vampire, could not have missed her welcome. Nevertheless, he did not breathe a word. The teacher, however, turned towards her annoyed knowing eyes, “Did you just say something, miss Carter?”

She could not trust herself to speak, too afraid as she was to lash out. She just shook her head, holding tightly on her bag as it was the only thing keeping her sane.

“Get to your seat then,” he commanded in a tone that bothered on the bored, because he was used to her tardiness. Then, in a warmer tone, “Please, Mr. Patera, sit wherever you fancy.”

Seeing as Kelly didn't want to walk behind Andreas, fearing that the situation might feel even realer that way, she hurried to her desk. She did not look at him as he walked by, and she tried all the anger-management tips she knew of to make her breathing even.

She heard nothing of the teacher's lecture. Truth be told, History had never been her favorite subject. But that day, the words floated around the foggy air that surrounded her, entered her ears clumsily, never to be processed by her brain. She was too absorbed in her anger. She was no milquetoast, and she'd be damned if she let this slide.

She was vaguely aware of the murmurs and giggles of her classmates, but most definitely did not share the general opinion. Of course the girls would be ecstatic to have such a hottie in close quarters; they did not know him. They only saw his good looks. His aloofness had yet to make a stand.

Deep inside, however, she knew it would not matter. That would only make him seem cooler.

Damn him and his Greek beauty! She cursed inwardly while scribbling angry nonsense on her notebook.

                                                                 *******************

So, his mate had not welcomed him with open arms. Andreas had expected as much. But what was he to do really? He knew she wanted nothing to do with him. His sire had courted his mate before telling her the truth about him. As the circumstances would have it, it had been the opposite for Andreas.

How could he pursue her if they had no contact?

Had she been in college, he would have enrolled in her classes, problem solved. As it was, he had to make himself available at her high school, which was a bit trickier. Being a teacher was not an option. He had little patience for the job and it would not be nearly enough. He had to find another excuse to be near her, without arising the protest of the school board, and without having to use his persuasion ability on the lot of them.

It was a good thing the headmistress was a witch. Blake had encouraged him to talk to her amiably, but all he got was a frown in response at first. He knew, however, that witches could be overprotective of their community, and he used that to his advantage. He told her boldly that nothing was easier than wreaking havoc, and that he could make everyone believe he had always belonged at the school, her opinion be damned, if he so wished.

She clicked her tongue in dismay but ceded anyway.

History, his mate's first class, was boring, as to be expected. The girls’ hushed comments regarding him, however, were more annoying than he had anticipated. He knew that times had changed, and he wasn't so old fashioned to not like change, but decadence was not something he favored.

When the bell rang at last, and he had to head for his mate's next class, his path was flooded with overly eager girls. He inwardly cringed but didn't allow his annoyance to show on his face, shielding his emotions as per usual.

“Where do you come from?”

“How old are you?”

“Why did you choose our school?”

“What's your research about?”

The questions were fired in quick succession, and although he knew who had asked each one, he feigned confusion. Blake had told him he needed to lose some of his vampiric habits if he wanted to fit in for the month.

He rose to his feet, prepared to answer them, and forced a small smile on his face. Then, he saw Kelly, an eyebrow disappearing into her bangs, glaring at him through slit eyes.

“Outside. Now.” He heard her angry mutter as if she had shouted it.

He would be lying if he said he had not been waiting for her outburst.

As Kelly turned away to leave the classroom, he willed the forced smile away, and dismissed the crowd formally, “I'll answer you all at lunch. Now, if you'll excuse me.”

He cut through them, making a point to ignore the flesh rubbing against him from all sides. When he reached the hallway, he followed his mate's bouncing blond hair from a distance. When she went through a door, which she left slightly open, he didn't hesitate to join her.

Once he was inside what could only be the janitor's closet, she shut the door and shifted her gaze to his face. “Seriously?”

Her clipped shout, together with her red-tinted cheeks, gave her the look of an angry kitten. He wanted to pat said kitten on the head, but he was sure that would prove to be a bad idea – a very bad idea.

“A scientist?” She tucked her bangs backwards, her fingers trembling in her anger. “You should have introduced yourself as my stalker, why didn't you?”

Her arms crossed under her chest in an unmistakably demanding manner, and yet it all he really cared about was the extra swell her cleavage gained. Add to that the heady scent that was entirely her, and it was a recipe to a prescheduled disaster… or not, depending on whose perspective.

Desire pulsed through him, hard and thick, and he had to avert his eyes before answering her, “I am a scientist, according to humans’ standards.”

“Right,” she rolled her eyes at him, “and I'm the queen Elizabeth.”

“I see myself as an expert in potions and toxins. But to the academician community, I am a scientist.”

“Potions?” She repeated disbelievingly, raising her eyebrow in emphasis. “Last time I checked you were a vampire, not a witch.”

“Well, technically, preparations that are not poisonous are called potions,” he told her matter-of-factly. “Not all potions are magical.”

“Argh, whatever.” Kelly muttered, waving her hand in dismissal. “Just why did you come to my school?”

She already guessed the reason, but she needed to hear his answer, because maybe – just maybe – it wasn't as it seemed. She just hoped she was wrong in her assumptions.

“Would you have agreed to see me had I asked?”

“No,” came her immediate vehement reply.

“Exactly,” he observed calmly.

Kelly's arms dropped to her sides in defeat, while a bitter smile cut through her features. “Great. Just great.” She muttered as she exited the janitor's closet without a backward glance.

Maria and Felicity had told her that vampires and werewolves felt the need to be close to their mates. And that most would at least try to win them over, no matter the means. But for Andreas to find a pretext to be at her high school, the idea just never crossed her mind.

She wasn't very fond of surprises. But since the day was still young, she mentally prepared herself for the worst with a sigh.

Better safe than sorry!