Julie quietly ate the meal that was specifically bought for her. While taking a bite from the sandwich, she noticed how everyone at the table was quiet. Roman hadn't spoken a word, but he did continue to sit next to her. Her friends, who had returned to the table, had been surprised seeing Roman sitting at the table.

  Leaning towards Roman, Julie asked him, "Your friends aren't going to wait for you?"

  Roman, who was sipping the coke, turned his gaze to look at her. He had one of his hands pulled back to rest on the chair like the delinquent he was.

  "They know why I am here," responded Roman nonchalant, but his attention was on her. "I am sure they will survive without me."

  "You aren't eating anything," Julie pointed out, realizing how he barely ate anything except the chips and coke. How did he maintain his body eating and drinking that? She asked in her mind. "Research says that having coke all the time is not healthy."

  The corner of Roman's lips pulled up into a faint smirk, "It is good to see you worry for me. Trust me when I say that this is everything I need to get myself going, I am fine. Eat up."

  Julie wondered if Roman may have added alcohol in the can. Because of the way he was behaving, it sent chills down her body, and the others felt a different chill from him. It felt as if his behaviour had done a one-eighty degree turn when it came to her.

  Curious, Julie raised her hand, and Roman tilted his head in question.

  "Can I have a sip from it?" asked Julie, eyeing the can of coke.

  Roman's eyes subtly narrowed at her request. Julie's curiosity often got her into trouble. He didn't want to claim that the can was empty, which was why she couldn't have it.

  The other people at the table raised their eyebrows, wondering when Roman and Julie had turned into a couple because yesterday at the bonfire, it seemed like they were still friends. Or maybe they were wrong. It was because Julie was asking Roman to give the same can that he had been drinking from.

  "We have shared cold drinks before, let's share it in a better way as there's only one more sip left," stated Roman, bringing the can to his lips. He took a mouthful of it before moving towards her.

  Julie turned bright red and quickly said, "That's fine, I will take another one." He did it out of purpose! Roman knew that she wasn't bold enough to kiss him in front of everyone and drink it from his lips.

  Roman, who had leaned towards her chair, gulped down the cold blood, and a crooked smile appeared on his lips. Right now, he had handled the situation with ease, but he knew that there would come a day when Julie would come to find the truth about the existence of the vampires.

  And as much as he wanted to tell her about it, now didn't seem to be the right time for it. He wanted to ease her around him and spend time with her as a human would. His eyes shifted to look at Dennis, who hadn't said a word since he had sat next to Julie.

  Sensing the gaze, Dennis looked up from his meal to meet Roman's eyes, a crackle of electricity passing in the air. While one of Roman's hands was on the table, tapping on the surface of the table, he put his other hand on Julie's chair for support.

  Conner cleared his throat and spoke to break the silence, "I heard that there's a football match that is going to take place tomorrow. Have they picked all the team players?"

  "We have. Sorry to hear that they cut you out of the team after the last match," Roman didn't sound sorry, but he did respond to the boy as he was Julie's friend. Not to mention, Conner was also the hunter's son, who had shot him in the forest of Greasy Corner.

  Conner laughed, "That's fine. I just wanted to fullfill my wish of being part of the football team and now that I have, I can rest in peace. I heard that there was a new recruitment for the team players for this season's matches."

  Roman gave a nod, "Yes, we have. We had to get players who have a higher strength and agility."

  "Sounds like it is going to be more aggressive than usual," commented Melanie.

  "That's what football requires, else you will be on the losing team," remarked Roman, turning the can in his hand as if to check if there was any more liquid left in it.

  Melanie nodded her head, "I am glad that Conner was cut out. I mean last time he fell so sick after the game." Turning to Conner, she said, "You should have known that it would make you exhausted," there was a small frown on her face.

  "I think it is worth the exhaustion if you get to fulfill the wish," Reese replied to Melanie's words as if wanting to support Conner.

  "If it is going to warrant you infirmary time with broken bones, I am not sure," Melanie replied, a grim expression coming to form on her face.

  Dennis, who hadn't spoken until now, commented, "In Veteris, it is a game for people who like to fight, to behave like uncontrollable animals."

  Roman's gaze shifted to look at Dennis and stated, "You seem to have a problem with a lot of things."

  "I have problems with people breaking rules. I believe all of us here are well informed with your reputation, so it is only obvious why you like the game. Someone who can't control his temper and goes around beating people without blinking your eyes," replied Dennis, while he took a break to take a bite from his meal.

  Julie looked at both the boys on her left and right. She felt her nose tingle, and she scrunched her face.

  Roman placed the can of coke on the table and leaned forward. He said,

  "Football is a sport that most of them enjoy. Just because a weak boy like yourself cannot carry more than a book's weight, doesn't mean the game isn't worth it."

  Dennis had a look of disgust in his eyes directed at Roman, but he tried to keep a passive expression on his face. He remarked, "So you agree that you are a delinquent."

  Roman crushed the can until it turned into nothing but a piece of round metal on the table. Julie's eyes widened at his strength. He nodded his head,

  "Nothing wrong in accepting who you are, better than hiding behind the phoney appearance to please others, isn't it?"

  Dennis dropped his fork and glared at the bad boy with narrowed eyes, "That's quite an accusation about me. It's called basic etiquette on how to behave in public and be considerate about others—"

  "Why?" questioned Roman as if he didn't understand the boy who often came second. "I find it to be pointless to be considerate about people whom I don't give a fuck about. What a pointless waste of energy in pleasing others."

  Julie's nose tingled again, and she sneezed. It was enough to break the glares that the two boys were giving each other from their seats. Julie hoped they would drop the subject because she could feel a slight headache rise. She said, "Let me go and get something to drink."

  Roman said, "I need to get one too," and he stood up from his seat.

  When both Julie and Roman made their way to the less crowded counter of the lunchroom, Julie turned to face him and whispered, "What was that my girl about?"

  "That you're my girl?"Questioned Roman, walking in front of the counter. He waved his hand at the man behind the counter and then asked her, "What do you want to drink?"

  "The same that you were earlier drinking," said Julie, crossing her arms against her chest.

  Roman turned his gaze to the man behind the counter. He said, "You heard the young lady."

  Julie went back to talk to him in a low voice, "Why did you address me like that? Do you know that people are calling me your new playtoy? Like a new trial because you might be bored with your usual girls whom you make out…" she stopped speaking when she noticed him staring at her. "Roman, are you listening to me?" she asked him. When another student walked towards the counter, they moved to the side.

  "I am. People calling you as my playtoy. You worry that I might break your heart once I am bored with you," said Roman, twisting his lips and letting her know that he was listening to every word that had left her lips.

  Julie pursed her lips. It wasn't like she had only heard the rumours and gossip about him, but she had witnessed it with her own eyes. Roman had every bad reputation attached to him, and she had seen his uncaring attitude towards others. Not to mention the awkward atmosphere that had formed earlier around the table because of the meal.

  "I thought I already cleared it. Don't believe what others say and instead go with your gut feeling, that will avoid you overthinking about it," said Roman. Raising his hand, he placed his finger on her forehead.

  "My gut is very nervous to think about anything," replied Julie, being truthful about it.

  When the man at the counter returned with two coke cans, Roman was about to pay for it, but Julie raised her hand in front of him.

  "You paid for my meal. I will buy you something too," said Julie, not wanting to feel that she was letting him buy things by Roman. Also, because they weren't a couple, Roman and she were their persons.

  "You don't have to do that," stated Roman, his eyes curiously watching her.

  "I insist," Julie used the politest tone and smile. Roman gave her a nod, and she turned to ask the man at the counter, "How much is it for both of the cans?"

  "That would be fifteen dollars," replied the man and Julie's eyebrows raised at him.

  "Is it made with traces of gold?" asked Julie, baffled. But seeing the serious expression on both Roman and the man at the counter, she opened her wallet before handing the money, which was all she had in there.

  Roman picked up the cans, opening one's lid and handing it to her, "There is your special coke."

  Taking hold of it, Julie took a sip, and her eyebrows furrowed, "This tastes like any regular coke." In doubt, she looked at Roman, who seemed like he didn't have any complaints, as he took a sip from his can.

  He raised his can and said, "These are refrigerated differently because of the traces of ingredients it is made of."

  Julie didn't find any difference between the regular coke that she was used to drinking and this expensive can. She took another sip and then looked at Roman, who seemed like he was enjoying his drink while looking around at the people who were in the lunchroom.

  Roman then looked at Julie and said, "Come watch me play tomorrow at the bleachers. The football match."

  Julie nodded her head, "If it is in the evening it should be fine. Ms. Piper didn't mention about any rehearsal tomorrow."

  "The game will start earlier. We are going to have two matches between the four teams so that we know who is playing in the finals that will be on the annual day. It will start around fourish," Roman let her know, his gaze taking in Julie's glasses as she pushed it up her nose.

  "You mean skip class," stated Julie, and Roman gave her a nod.

  "Yes. It would be nice to have a nurse at the bleachers," Roman's lips twitched. "See what you can do," came his casual words, and he took another sip before running his tongue across his lips, as it was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted.

  Julie noticed Roman's lips appeared to have more colour.

  "I didn't know Mcoy had turned to be part of your friend group," he commented, his eyes shifted to look at the table where they had earlier been sitting.

  Julie's eyes followed the direction where Roman was looking. His eyes narrowed, and his lips set in a thin line. She replied, "Dennis doesn't have anyone to sit with during meals and sometimes he joins us."

  "Hm," came the short response from Roman. He then said, "Don't go adding people into the group. I thought the warning would be enough to get people away, but it seems like people need some visuals," a small frown appeared on his face before it disappeared.

  Julie tried not to smile at his words, and she said, "He is only a friend."

  "To you, yes. For him, I doubt he understood that part," remarked Roman, and he then said, "I should get back to my friends. Will you be okay?"

  "I am not sitting with sharks," pointed Julie, but Roman didn't seem to agree to it.

  "You never know," replied Roman, and he nudged his chin in the direction of where her friends were sitting. A small frown appeared on her face, making her wonder what Roman meant by that. "See you later."

  Roman held onto the can in his hand, watching Julie make her way towards the table.

  When Julie returned to the table and took a seat, Melanie offered her a knowing smile, but she didn't comment on anything. She had shifted back to sit next to Julie with her meal.

  "Did you know that a football match takes place every time during the Fall Annual celebration. This match is more intense than the other ones," commented Conner, showing his excitement for the game even though he wasn't going to play for the team.

  "Isn't it always intense?" questioned Julie before taking a large sip from her can.

  Conner shook his head, "Those are just normal matches, but here, the players go all out. They get injured and end up in infirmary more than the usual count. It happened last year. I think that is why this year they replaced some of them to play."

  Julie turned to Dennis and said, "I thought you liked it. You came to watch the match the last time Conner was playing."

  Dennis nodded his head, "I was only curious to see how people played it," he offered her a small smile.

  "How unfortunate that I missed watching you play in the team, Conner," Reese pursed her lips, and Conner smiled awkwardly.

  "I am glad you didn't. I was in horrible shape and had ended up in the infirmary. I didn't even tell my parents about it so that they wouldn't worry about me," explained Conner to his girlfriend.

  While Conner and Reese spoke to each other, Dennis asked Julie, "Do you like the sport? Football I mean. You don't think it is violent?"

  A smile spread on Julie's lips, "No," she shook her head. "It isn't wrestling. Just that, you need good speed and strength, it looks fun."

  Dennis gave her a nod as if he was trying to process and understand what Julie liked. On the other hand, Julie could only guess that he had been brought up in a prim and proper way, where games like footballs were probably frowned upon.

  "How do you spend your time, if you don't like the Bonfire and Football matches?" asked Reese, turning her head to look at the senior, who shared the same table.

  "I spend my time reading books. Isn't that why we are here?" answered Dennis as if it was the most obvious thing to do.

  "You must have really good grades," commented Reese, and Dennis' back straightened.

  "I actually do," Dennis basked in the subtle compliment.

  "Dennis is the second topper of the senior year. Unfortunately, he isn't our major else we could have taken his help," Conner let Reese know, and she nodded her head.

  "If Dennis is studying so much and getting second position, I wonder how much the person who gets first must be studying," Reese had a thoughtful expression on her face.

  Hearing this was enough for Dennis to turn sour as if he had taken a bite from the bitter gourd. Julie, who already had the answer to it, decided to stay quiet. But her blabber mouthed friend Conner had a different idea, and he replied,

  "The topper of the senior year was sitting with us until now. Roman Moltenore."

  "We should get some tips from him. He doesn't look like someone who spends a lot of time studying," murmured Reese, looking more impressed compared to when Conner had mentioned Dennis. Julie had to agree to what Reese said. She had rarely seen Roman with books in his hands, and he was usually outside the classes and in the detention room. He seemed more like a person who held books only to beat someone with it.

  Dennis then stood up and said to Julie and others, "I should head back to my class now. I will see you all later." Everyone nodded their heads, offering polite smiles and watched him leave.

  "That was a little awkward," said Melanie. "Thanks to Conner."

  "Me? What did I do?" asked Conner, clueless.

  Julie felt bad for Dennis. He didn't seem like a bad person, but like Roman, he believed he was the best, and he was walking on the right path. No, that would be wrong, Julie corrected her thought. Roman knew he was walking in the wrong path, and he accepted it.

  While she was looking around, her eyes fell on Conner, who had a smile on his face, "So how are things going between you and Roman?"

  "Nothing is going on," Julie was quick to deny.

  "Don't be shy, we totally support the about to sail ship," Conner raised both his hands with a thumbs-up sign. Julie shook her head, making herself busy in drinking the cold drink. "I think all of us know that something is cooking. Dennis would have known if he had attended the bonfire last evening."

  Thankfully Conner got occupied with Reese talking to him and Melanie, being the understanding friend, didn't tease Julie more than she already had in the girl's restroom.

  Julie turned her head, her eyes looking in the direction where Roman was sitting with his friends. He had leaned his back against the chair, his gaze appearing to be of amusement in them while he heard his friends talking at the table. He then parted his lips, responding to something before a crooked smile appeared on his lips.

  Julie had only noticed Roman enter and leave the lunchroom in the past, but now her gaze seemed to follow him. As if sensing her gaze, he turned to look in her direction, staring at her from a distance before she looked back at the can that she held in her hands.

  In the evening, when Julie finished her classes and returned to her dorm, a letter laid next to the window. Dropping everything on the table, she grabbed the letter and sat on the edge of the bed.

  'Stealing glances from across the room while thinking I am not looking at you. It is going to make me believe you are falling faster than I expected.

  Don't dream too much about what happened last night. Else you will end up late tomorrow too. I have to get my team players ready for the game and will be busy with it. Have a goodnight, Troublemaker.'

  It was the first time Roman had wished her goodnight in the letter, but it seemed like she was stuck with the name 'Troublemaker'.

  Bringing her book from the table, she tore a page from it and started replying to him,

  'I was just looking around when my eyes met yours.' But then Julie ended up scratching the line because who was she kidding? Roman probably had two more eyes on the sides of his head to know who was looking at him, she thought in her mind.

  Crushing the paper in her hands, she tore a fresh page and started once again,

  'Thank you for lending me your wristbands today. I will try to find something to cover my wrist before I turn comfortable enough to let others see it.

  I forgot to tell you something in the lunchroom. Yesterday before I fell asleep, Mr. Evans came by my dorm's window. He was patrolling outside, and we had a little chat, where he seemed suspicious that I was up to no good. Why don't the management hire more guards than having teachers patrolling through the grounds at night? It makes me feel as if they are very dedicated to Veteris.'

  Realizing that he might pick the letter later when she was asleep, Julie wrote, 'I hope you had a good practice. Have a goodnight, Letterthief.'

  Folding the page into three folds, she was about to place it next to the window when she sneezed, "Achoo!"

  Scrunching her nose, she placed the letter in its usual place.

  Later when it was time to sleep, Julie turned off the study lamp of her room and slipped inside her blanket. She had pulled the curtains away from the window as she didn't want to wake up in the middle of the night and find the counsellor standing outside the window, staring at her. Just the thought of it sent shivers down her body.

  With Roman, who was busy, he was yet to come by to pick up the letter from the window, and she realized that one of these days, she would like to ask him how he unlocked the window.

  Her wrist was bare, showing the two scars. She had placed Roman's wristbands next to the letter so that she could return them to him.

  As her eyes turned heavy, Julie slowly started to drift to sleep. Her soul and mind left her body to step into the dreamland. She found herself in the middle of the forest, surrounded by the tall and lean trees that branched into many branches above her, where she couldn't see the sky.

  The night was as dark as she had last seen through her window. An eerie silence that surrounded the forest with not even the sound of a cricket's chirp or an owl's hoot to let her know that she had company. As much as Julie knew that she was dreaming, she didn't know why it felt real. She could feel the bite of the cold weather, and just as she thought about it, something soft fell on her face. Not soon, she saw snowflakes falling, some drifting in the wind.

  Julie wondered where she was. Turning her head, she found nothing but darkness. The more seconds passed, the more it felt as if hours had passed.

  Wanting to get back to the Dormitorium, Julie wondered which was the way.

  While trying to find her way back, Julie heard something rustle behind her. She quickly snapped her head around, but she found no one until she caught the sight of a person wearing a cloak. It was hard to see the person's face because of the black cloak and the darkness present in the forest.

  Julie parted her lips, ready to call and stop the person. To ask on which side of the Veteris campus she was in, but sensing the silence of the forest, no word spilt out of her lips.

  She was in her nightdress, shorts that reached her mid-thighs and a sleeveless top. Not knowing where else to go and slightly more than curious, Julie quickly tried to follow the cloaked person. Her feet were bare, and with every step she took on the ground, she felt the stones and pebbles, grasses and the roots of the trees that had pushed themselves towards the surface of the ground.

  Not soon enough, the mist started to crawl on the ground slowly. Or maybe it was there from the beginning because she was moving further towards it.

  Julie tried to keep up with the cloaked person, hearing the person's footsteps turn louder and faster. And before she knew it, the person had disappeared into the mist, which had turned denser in such a way that she couldn't see anything beyond three steps from where she was. It took a while before she came to stand in front of a creaking bridge.

  The lonely bridge stood there with no one to walk through it. Its path was made out of wooden planks, and the railings looked like they were made from thin branches of the trees. But Julie could hear the faint sound of metal that came from it.

  Julie felt her heart starting to beat in her ribcage, and it wasn't the kind when Roman was around her. The nearby trees that hovered near the bridge looked bald with not a single leaf on the branches.

  She wondered if the cloaked person had walked past this bridge, making her question where this bridge led to. The mist that surrounded this place turned colder. Taking one brave step towards the bridge, she started to walk and came to stand right in front of it. When she took six steps forward, she felt the bridge lightly sway, realising that this bridge was built midair.

  Just when Julie took another step forward, the wooden plank beneath her feet broke, and she fell into an abyss of darkness.

  The following day in the evening, the football coach let the four teams know which team was going to play against the other. Some of the students had boldly skipped classes and now stood at the bleachers, ready to watch the match.

  Roman entered the field with his team as they were going to play first.? As he made his way towards the centre of the football field, his gaze turned to look at the stands trying to find the girl with the glasses in sweater. But she wasn't there.

  He wondered what was taking her time.

  —


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