Rushing out the door, Matt and Lefu were dodging frying pans as they flew through the doorway. Behind them was Violet, preparing to start throwing knives at them. Lefu took a glance at his father who said something in the few minutes as he dressed.

“Father, what did you say in the few minutes I was changing?”

“I was suggesting we go out to eat tonight, but when she asked why,” Matt said, ducking as a stainless steel knife flew over his head, ”I said it would be less deadly.”

Jumping over the railing, Lefu skipped over ten steps. “How are you going to make it up to her?”

Following behind him, Matt was silent. Figuring that his father didn’t know how, Lefu really began to wonder how his father managed to capture her affection. After hopping the rails a few times both of them were on the streets in less than a minute.

“Why not buy her some roses?” Lefu asked, pointing to the flower shop across the street.

“Ineffective, I used that too many times in the first year of marriage.”

“Chocolate?” Lefu offered, pointing to the shop next to it.

“Same, I overdid it when you turned six.”

Thinking back to when he was six, Lefu did remember the tons of chocolate laying around the apartment. The year after that it was jewelry, the next was eating out, and the list goes on. Lefu shot his father a deep look of both pity and praise for having his mother stay with him this long.

“Boy, don’t give me that look. You’re going to be in the same situation as me when you find a girl.”

“Have you tried singing as an apology?”

Matt gave his son a deep stare in return.”Son, are you trying to get me killed?”

That one statement unsealed his darkest memories of whenever his father sang. He remembered having nightmares every night after listening to him. It was only after his mother hypnotized him to seal away his memories that he could sleep again.

Looking straight ahead, Lefu spotted a sign reading- Family cooking lessons. Lefu thought back to his mother's notorious cooking and nudged his father. Following Lefu’s gaze, he naturally saw what was being hinted at but only shook his head.

“I tried to get her to take some, but the teacher disappeared after looking at her dish.”

‘Mother, could you put some effort into learning how to cook,’ Lefu shouted internally. Giving up on giving his father ideas, Lefu walked with his father a few blocks before arriving at the small diner that was open 24 hours a day, outside of holidays.

Opening the door they were greeted by a friendly old man who was wiping the tables. Glancing up, he spotted the two with a smile forming on his face. Waving at the two, he summoned them over and seated them at the table he just wiped. Recognizing the old man as Ronald, both of them smiled; he was the owner of the dinner and had met them quite a few times.

“Good morning, Lefu and Matt, let me guess. One of you angered Violet again,” Ronald guessed.

“We had a slime battle this morning, and this time it developed with acid and we nearly got our hands burnt off,” Matt stated, making the old man chuckle.

“Since today’s Friday, it should be hash browns with scrambled eggs with a piece of toast. So two dishes please,” Lefu asked before Ronald got talking or they would never get their breakfast.

“Coming right up, do you two want the usual tea?” Ronald asked, not minding since he knows his personality the best. Once he gets talking he won’t stop until he was interrupted or the other party leaves.

Watching the old man walk into the kitchen they soon heard the stove click on and the sound of eggs breaking soon after. After waiting a few minutes their meal soon arrived while the old man pulled over a chair.

With a quick glance around the restaurant, Lefu didn’t spot anyone else as it wasn’t even 5:20 yet. Scanning the wall, Lefu saw them covered in sports teams. He then dug into his meal while Ronald and Matt chatted about whatever came to mind.

After finishing their meals, Ronald brought a chess board out for them as he knew neither of them were leaving anytime soon. Looking at Lefu’s stuff, he realized that he didn’t have his bag.

“Lefu, where’s your school bag?”

Hearing that he didn’t have his bag or his books, Lefu recalled that he doesn’t remember grabbing it or seeing it in the apartment. Taking a quick glance at his father who just shrugged since he didn’t know, Lefu responded,

“Must have lost it couple days ago when the car hit me.”

“Are you going to be fine without your books?”

“Yeah, at worst I have to borrow. Anyways, how’s your granddaughter doing?”

Answering in a prideful tone, Ronald said, “Great, she just graduated from the medical department in Farwell University.”

“If she wants some work, send her to our gym as Violet gets swamped somedays,” Matt replied after hearing the news.

“I’ll ask her but no guarantee if she agrees, also it’s regretful that she’s engaged or I would try to play matchmaker,” Ronald stated with slightly regretful tone.

Not knowing if he should cheer or act regretful, Lefu just smiled. With a joyful laugh, Ronald looked out the window and spotted a customer approaching. Walking over to the door in order to greet them, he left Matt and Lefu to themselves as they set up the game board.

“Prepare to lose again.”

“I think I won last time old man.”

***

Clare’s Bedroom, 7:00 A.M.

’Beep~, Beep~’

The sound of an alarm clock went off a few feet to Clare’s left, causing her to raise up with severe bed hair. Reaching over with her delicate looking arm she smashed the clock through the nightstand, killing the clock forever. Opening her tired eyes, she looked at the nightstand and sighed as that was the fourth nightstand this week.

“Young mistress, it is time to get ready for school,” a young maid stated as the door opened.

Peering at the young maid who barged into her room, Clare climbed out of her bed and rapidly approached the maid. Grabbing her shoulder she tossed the maid out before slamming the door. With a light kick to the air to release her morning stress, she made her way to her bathroom.

Twenty minutes quickly passed before she left her bathroom with wet hair draping over her back. Drying her hair, she looked on the bed where her maid delivered her freshly washed school outfit. The navy blue skirt reaches her knees and the long white sleeved shirt with a light blue overcoat fits snugly.

Looking over at her black undergarments she saw a note attached which had her mother’s handwriting. Reading over the note she nearly crumbled it as it read:

’Dear Clare,

When I went shopping I spied these in the window and instantly thought of you. I got you a black set as you always say it’s your favorite color.

-Love Mother’

“Mother, I think you need your brain check as few screws are loose,” Clare grumbled as she held up the underwear which she questioned if it was even legal or not for high school girls to wear. Tossing them to the side, she opened her dresser and grabbed blue ones instead and quickly threw on the uniform.

Clare exited into the hallway where the young maid patiently waited the entire time. A quick glance at her, she shrugged before heading towards the dining room where her father was reading the newspaper. On the table in front of him was two plates of pancakes and sausage. Sitting down next to her father, Clare silently waited for her meal to be delivered.

She looked around the room as the layout was changed as spring themes had taken over the dining hall. On the walls, painted with bright paintings of spring were hung while the flowers were in the corners and doors. When the sound of rustling paper to her left entered her ears she drew back her sight and faced her father.

“Care to tell me why the boy didn’t appear and four of my men are now in the hospital?” A stern tone was voiced from behind the paper.

With tiny beads of sweat forming on her back,“The kidnapping plan failed as an unexpected element appeared.”

Without putting down the paper and an angry tone from behind, “And why were your kidnapping?”

“Because Lefu didn’t go to school yesterday and his mother wouldn’t allow me to see him at his house,” her voice gradually lost volume the longer she talked.

“And why was that?”

“Because when she asked if I was his friend, I said no.”

“Well instead of lying to meet him you managed to put them on guard and put four men in the hospital. Even if I don’t care about the men, you failed to bring him and caused unneeded trouble so you’re getting a punishment, but I will allow you to bring him along if you can convince him. The recording starts Monday.”

“Yes, Father.” Clare’s voice had a hint of sadness in it as she ate in silence. After finishing her meals she quietly left the room with red eyes. Heading back to her bedroom, Clare appeared to be cheering up but whether that was the case or not was up for debate. Looking into her mirror she saw herself before her red irises began flashing.

’Calm down, Clare, it wasn’t anything bad. He’s only asking for you to act inside ’Vampire Life’ for an episode and I will drag that man along.’ She thought, cheering herself up. After thinking that she appeared normal and her irises were back to blue.

“Young mistress, it’s time to leave now or you’ll be late for school.”

Glancing at the maid, Clare grabbed her bag and headed towards the door. Standing near the door was Bill who was holding another school bag that she hadn’t seen before. Looking at the bag she wondered who’s it was as she approached him.

“What’s with the bag?” Clare asked.

“It’s Lefu’s, he left a few days ago, and seems to have forgotten to grab it,” Bill said.

Hearing who the bag belongs to, Clare began smiling as she began planning on how to drag him into her punishment. Her planning was really simple as she would return his bag, he will ask how to repay her, and she would say he has to act in one episode of ’Vampire Life’ with her.

“Oh, Lefu this is your punishment for yesterday’s failure.”

’But what happens if he doesn’t go today?’ Clare thought after cooking up her plan. But she quickly tosses that plan aside as she could use this as an excuse to see him at home. She stood in the doorway for a few minutes before a deep cough brought her attention back.

“Miss, you’re going to be late if we wait any longer.”

“Let’s get going then.” Clare energetically said as she walked out the door.