“On vampires?” Tyler asks.
“On Crime and Punishment,” Mr. August says through gritted teeth.
“On how Crime and Punishment would have been enhanced by having Dracula as a secondary character,” I murmur to Tyler so the teacher can’t overhear.
Tyler grins. “I won’t try to corrupt the new girl anymore,” he says, holding up his hand.
“I’m not corruptible,” I mutter as Mr. August goes back to droning on about whatever he’s been droning on about.
Tyler snorts. “Everyone has their limits.”
“Don’t test mine.”
“No? Or else you’ll go all vampire turned into vampire hunter on me ala Blade?”
“Basically, but Blade is a dhampir.”
“If I’m a vampire, I’m definitely the bat and fog kind.”
“My blood is off limits.”
“Is everything else?”
I flush. “I’m the new girl. Fresh meat. I know how that goes, and no, I’m not the desperate kind who wants to spread her legs for any and all guys who look her way.”
“No Scarlet A for you, huh?”
“No.”
“I don’t picture you as a Stepford Wife either.”
“Hell to the no.”
“More Buffy?”
“You could say that again.”
“You really do want to slay vampires, huh?”
“More like personal demons.”
The words are out of my mouth before I can think better of it. That’s way too personal, but Tyler just smiles at me and then turns his attention to the cheerleader-type in front of him.
I don’t mind, though. Whoever this Tyler guy is, he seems pretty cool. He’s smart and funny, witty too. Nothing at all like that asshole Brett.
When class is over, I grab my stuff and head out. Without intending to, I leave right behind Tyler. He moves aside to let me go first, but I have to move along the wall to check my next class. As I pull it out, hating the footprint reminder of the shit Brett put me through, I can't help glancing up a few times to watch Tyler as he walks away. He's smart, but he's also popular, high-fiving guys and talking to just about everyone he passes.
“Tyler Tremaine caught your eye? Seriously? Out of all the guys here, you really want to pick him?”
Startled, I jump. “Andrea.”
“You don’t want him,” she says.
“I don’t,” I assure her.
“Sure. You really need someone to stick around and give you the ropes, teach you the inner workings here because, left on your own, you’ll end up in a really bad place. I’ve seen it before.”
“You dated Brett,” I say defensively. “Seems like maybe you don’t know the inner workings of here any better than I do.”