A/N: 10.04.20

Here is another update!

Please don't forget to leave a voteee

P.S: I've been reading all of your comments, I feel as if we've lost so many Mistrid shippers ahaha. The number of "Dicko" and "Migo" comments I've seen rolling in caught me by surprise, whoops.

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Two of the teachers were absent the next day so Noah didn't have class. Micka, Issa, and Roman headed to the library. Noah said that he needed to clean out his locker and said that he'd join them later for lunch.

Noah put his bag down and zipped it open, taking out the books stuffed in his locker. His lips were unconsciously pulled to a frown, his brows creasing slightly as he thought about Micka's ultimatum.

Should I ask Aleksei to the dance? What if he rejects me again? Wait, does he even like me? I've been open about my feelings since the beginning, but he doesn't seem to feel the same way about me. Maybe he's not good with words? Or maybe there's a different reason why he doesn't want to date me? Maybe he's straight?

Noah paused, finally coming to a realization. Wait, what about me? Does this mean that I'm-

"Thinking about me?" said a husky voice. Noah's eyes widened and he jumped up in surprise, accidentally hitting the lower part of his locker door before crouching back down in pain.

"Ouch," he whined, rubbing the top of his head. Aleksei stared at him with a nonchalant gaze. Noah slowly looked up, unintentionally pouting. He looked like a sulking puppy and Aleksei felt him slowly crumble. He looked to the side, leaning against the lockers with his arms crossed over his chest, waiting for himself to control his feelings before doing something he might regret.

"Are you okay?" he finally asked, glancing back towards Noah who quickly avoided his gaze.

"I'm fine," Noah grumbled coldly, closing the locker door before standing up. "I'm doing absolutely amazing."

A small smile etched on Aleksei's lips, almost looking apologetic. "Are you?"

"Fantastic."

Before Noah could leave, Aleksei took a step towards him and gently rubbed Noah's head. Noah stiffened when he felt Aleksei's cold hands run through his hair.

"Well, you don't have a bump," Aleksei murmured, letting his hand fall back to his side. Noah frowned.

He quickly lowered his head and attempted to slide past Aleksei, but Aleksei stopped him, grabbing Noah's arm and gently pulling him back before his eyes. Noah bit his lowered lip, confused.

"I've been thinking about you," Aleksei said, breaking the silence. "A lot," he added, almost as if he himself was in disbelief. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Have you been thinking about me?" Aleksei asked with a smile so sweet, Noah was left speechless.

'Of course I've been thinking about you,' is what Noah wanted to say. Flustered, his words didn't come out the way he wanted.

"I need to go," he blurted, pulling the straps of his bag over his shoulders and clutching them tightly. "I have class."

"We don't have classes today," Aleksei reminded him. Noah paused.

Darn it.

"Hey," Aleksei murmured, reaching out to touch Noah's face, but Noah quickly retreated, staring at his feet with his lips pressed tightly together.

"I want to be alone," he whispered, sounding like he had just received a punch in the stomach.

Aleksei's jaw tightened, but he didn't want Noah to feel pressured, so he kept his distance.

"I'll let you go if you hear me out," he said. "And then I promise that I'll leave. If that's what you really want."

Noah remained silent for a few seconds.

"Fine," he finally agreed. "But-"

"I like you," Aleksei said, cutting him off. Noah's eyes widened, his brows furrowing in confusion. "You're right. Everything you assumed about me was right," he admitted. Never in a million years would he have imagined that he'd be scared of a human.

Aleksei had fought dangerous beasts, notorious creatures, deadly monsters, and even at the brim of death, he showed no sign of fear. But here he was, standing in front of a boy who had the kindest of eyes and a heart so pure and innocent, scared.

"You're reckless and naive and you do the most unpredictable things imaginable. You look timid and shy but really, you aren't afraid to stand up and speak your mind. Your lifespan is so short but you aren't afraid to confront death so long as you protect those you love and Noah," Aleksei's voice pressed with so much conviction when he said his name that Noah flinched. "I don't think I've met a soul so brave and ethereal as yours," Aleksei said, letting it all out.

Noah stared at Aleksei, wide-eyed, forgetting how to breathe.

"You look at me with bright eyes that sparkle with excitement and hope, so full of life," he said, almost in defeat, as if he was no match against Noah's charm. "How in the name of Hades do you expect me to not fall for you?"

Aleksei took in a tight breath, shaking his head with a strange smile.

"Noah Sorin," he chuckled in a husky voice that released butterflies in Noah's stomach. Noah's name resonating like poetry. "I'm afraid you've cast your spell on the wrong creature."

He stepped closer towards Noah who didn't retreat this time. The look in Aleksei's eyes were so intense, Noah felt his cheeks turn ablaze.

"I thought that letting you go was the right decision, that it'd be better if you didn't get involved with me, but then..." Aleksei's voiced trailed off, his expression turning rigid. "But then I thought about the risk of losing you, and I thought I'd lost my mind."

He looked into Noah's mossy green eyes that reminded him of the forest he loved so much. They were just as brilliant and vivacious.

"I'm not great with expressing my feelings, most of the time because I don't have any. But you make me feel a certain way, Noah, you make me feel like life is perhaps not as meaningless as I thought, and that there is a world out there for me to yet discover."

"Wait, so you don't hate me?" Noah blurted, astonished.

"Of course not!" Aleksei snapped, sounding even more surprised. "Why on Earth would you think that?"

Oh, Noah had an entire list.

"You've avoided me, kept a one-meter distance, glared at me, called me weak, and not to mention, despised the baby we raised," Noah pointed out. "Shall I go on?"

"I told you, I have problems expressing myself," Aleksei admitted hoarsely.

Noah sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We're going to have to work on our communication skills if we're going to start dating."

Aleksei blinked and Noah's eyes widened.

"I uh, I thought you were confessing and asking me out," he stuttered, realizing that there may have been another miscommunication. He started to panic. "I'm sorry, maybe I got the wrong idea, I-"

Aleksei couldn't hold himself back and pulled Noah towards him. Noah's eyes widened, his lashes fluttering in surprise, but he didn't pull away and kissed back.

Noah felt roses grow inside his chest as their kiss deepened with passion and lust. He placed his hands against Aleksei's strong chest when he was pushed against the lockers. Aleksei pressed against him and Noah's slid his hand up Aleksei's shoulders, reaching out to ring them around his strong neck.

Aleksei's tongue traced over Noah's and his strong tightened around his waist, licking his lower lip to tease him before delving back into his mouth.

He pressed one leg between Noah's, and Noah gasped, granting Aleksei better access to his mouth. Noah felt his face feel hot, his entire body felt like it was burning inside-out, and there was a strange tingling feeling around his crotch that made him embarrassed and shy.

"Alek-" but his voice was interrupted by a moan when Aleksei slid his hand further up his shirt.

Aleksei wanted to cover Noah in marks and hear him whimper under his body, caress his thighs and remove his pants. He didn't care if they were standing in the halls, he didn't care if anyone saw them, he wanted to pin Noah down and sink his fangs into his soft, tender skin.

I want to bite him.

When the thought echoed inside his mind, his eyes cracked open and he abruptly pulled away from Noah.

Noah was out of breath, panting, but he had caught a glimpse of the veins growing around Aleksei's blue eyes before Aleksei looked away.

"Sorry," Aleksei quickly muttered, almost ashamed. This was exactly why he wanted to keep his distance from Noah, even more since he had drunk blood at Nyx's castle, which only made his cravings worsen.

This wasn't the best time being with a human, if he lost control then...

Noah saw doubt flash through Aleksei's eyes and wasn't planning on letting him go again, not this time.

He slowly stepped forward and reached out, gently turning Aleksei's face back towards him. Aleksei's eyes had darkened, shades of black fought with the splashes of blue. This was the first time he got to see Aleksei as a vampire so close up.

"You're beautiful," Noah whispered, genuine.

"I'm fighting the impulse to eat you, there's nothing beautiful about me," Aleksei laughed bitterly.

"You won't hurt me," Noah said, pressing on the tip of his toes and gently pecking Aleksei on the lips. The veins around Aleksei's eyes started to disappear and Noah smiled, blushing. "See? Harmless."

As much as Aleksei wanted to kiss him back and Hell knows what else, he knew that he'd have to take things slow with Noah.

"Are you free now?" he asked, trying to hide his frustration.

Noah nodded. "We don't have classes so I'm not doing anything. Why?"

Aleksei picked up Noa's heavy bag and slung it over his shoulder as if it weighed nothing.

"I'll take you for a ride."

"A ride?" Noah asked, suddenly excited. "To where?"

"You'll see," he smiled, walking away.

"H-Hey, wait for me!" he called, quickly joining him. Noah's eyes slowly trailed towards Aleksei's hand, and he pressed his lips together.

Would he mind if we...?

Before he could ask, Aleksei reached over and enlaced his fingers around Noah's, giving him a gentle squeeze.

"Is this what you wanted?" Aleksei asked, raising a brow.

Noah turned red and looked to the side.

"Can vampires read minds too?"

"Lucky guess," he winked. Noah blinked, then smiled.

"Well, then, it was a very good guess."

He gently squeezed Aleksei's hand. Aleksei's skin felt nice and cool against his, strong yet smooth, and ironic as it may sound, it made him feel safe like the world was nothing but a tiny speck compared to the wildfire of their passion.

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A/N: Btw, I would like to know what you guys like/dislike about this story (the characters, the plot, the words, etc)! Just for a little feedback to see if I can improve anything :) It'd mean a lot if you could leave one <3 thank youuu