I paced the restroom, and he growled low under his breath. Then I heard a tumbling noise. Crap! I was upset they returned to the school. I understood it was the place his uncle and all their friends were, but the thought of him there freaked me out. What if they got infected? Before I could calm down and reach for Uta, he was already on his feet, staring at me the way a starving three-hundred-pound-man look at a double cheeseburger.

I shivered from head to toes. What if he attacked without thinking? As I reflected, I felt the blood coursing down my neck. I put my fingers in the warm stream and brought to my face. My blood smelled good. He was still staring at me or, was it the blood on my fingers? I moved my fingers right and left and his gaze followed. This was amusing to me. I brought my finger to my mouth and deliberately licked the blood away. He had caught me off guard. I’d not expected him to, and now he wanted blood and I could give it to him. I could let him finish what he started since I desired Uta to have my blood. Aside from wanting to experience what it was like; a vampire was more satisfied and filled by the blood of the one who loves them most.

“Ji-Hye. What’re you doing?” I lifted his hand to my neck, wanting him to feel my throbbing vein.

“I know you want to. And it’s okay. I want you to finish what you started.”

He breathed as his eyes searched mine. “What happened was a mistake.”

“Was it really?”

He brought his mouth close. His breath was against my skin when a loud bang came at the door.

Classes were out for lunch. Uta jumped, backing away from me.

“What’re you doing in there?” A voice demanded.

Uta was still weak and shaken; he leant against the wall for support. Glancing down at the blood on my hand, I rushed to the sink to clean it. I grabbed sheets of paper towel and dabbed my wounded neck. I hurried over to Uta and wiped the blood from his mouth.

“Ji-Hye, you’ve to calm down,” Uta said. “Look at me.”

“Just give me a sec.” I’m busy trying to figure out how to get him out without drawing too much attention.

“Please look at me. Look around the bathroom. It’s important that you relax,” he said this through clenched teeth.

I reluctantly lifted my gaze, though I knew what I would see. Another banging came that made me jump. I heard students walking past and talking. I looked back at Uta and his eyes remained fixed on me.

“Ignore the noise.” He instructed.

“I can’t. It’s too many. They’re too loud.”

“Hey!” the voice yelled. “I want to use the restroom. Why did you lock the door?”

Oh, God! This wasn’t happening. I couldn’t get my hair to stop glowing.

Stop panic!

Stop panic!

“Ji-Hye!” Uta’s voice jolted me. I looked at him. “It’s just you and me, all right?”

I nodded, as if it was taking me a while to understand his words.

“Just you and me.”

I breathe, in and out, in and out, and regain composure.

“That’s it.” Uta approved. “Almost there. Good. Now let’s go before either of us loses it again.”

~*~_~*~

The hallway buzzed with the sound of student voices. I felt stares as I passed them with Uta leaning against my side. It felt like everything was playing in slow motion. The curious stares lingered on me even after I passed them. My heart was pounding as I thought about what would happen to Uta if I didn’t get him out of their fast. I continued down the hall, mixed in with lunch students.

“What’re you doing?” he asked as we approached his car.

“I’m taking you home.”

“Let me drive.”

“You can’t! You’re weak.”

I helped him into the car, then got into the driver’s seat and started the engine, my mind racing with thoughts and oblivious to my surroundings. The wheels screeched to a stop when I nearly hit Witt. He didn’t move out of the way.

“Watch it you, idiot!” Cece snapped, leaning against Witt’s jeep.

Witt winked in my direction and I made the mistake and grin. That was when I noticed Uta looking from me to Witt with a dangerous glare.

“Let me take the wheel,” Uta insisted.

I clenched the steering wheel and bit my lip. “No.”

“I’m fine. I can drive.”

“You keep glancing over here. Is there something I can help you with?” Witt asked Uta.

Uta narrowed his eyes and got out of the car. He walked toward Witt, who leaned against his jeep. Witt pushed his body forward as if ready to fight.

What a joke.

I opened my door when I noticed Uta closing in on Witt and his friends. I rushed in the middle of them. “No!” I said. “Uta, no. Let’s go.”

“Are you going to let your girl stop you from doing what you want to do?” Witt pushed for some action. I glared at him.

Low blood count. Upset Uta. Might not equal good ending for Witt.

“On another day, I would’ve made you beg.”

“For what?” Witt asked.

Uta’s voice was hard and cold as he said, “Your life.”

“You are threatening me in front my friends!” Witt argued.

“You are lucky that’s all I’m doing.” Uta turned away from them. I followed, right after letting out a breath.

“Don’t forget, your girl and I attend the same school,” Witt shouted to our departed back.

Uta went to a halt. He looked back at the group. “I warned you. Remember that.”

Inside the car, I looked at Uta. “I’m sorry.”

“Why?”

“None of this would’ve happened if I didn’t smile at Witt.”

He didn’t comment. His silence made me anxious.

The car engine roared and filled the silence between us. Uta looked at Witt again. Without moving his gaze from him or looking down, he put the car into gear and the tires screeched angrily as he drove off, leaving only smoke behind.