"I was, but then I got bored and I left. Why do you ask?" asked Simon, as if he hadn't bothered to mention that he was nearby and had entered her room to give her a surprise.

  "What do you mean 'why?', you are in my room and my parents are right outside," she spoke in a low voice and went to the door, turning the lock so that her parents wouldn't catch them. "Leave right now."

  "No," Simon sang. Walking to her bed, he laid down. "I didn't get to poke fun at you for the whole day, do you know how sick I was? I haven't had blood since you left. It is that serious," he then patted the space next to him on the bed.

  Melanie gritted her teeth. Not complying with Simon's words, she said, "I am serious, Simon—"

  "So am I. But really why did you keep the window open? Because you believe your parents are hunters and they will slice people's neck if they enter?" questioned Simon, getting extremely comfortable while he pulled a pillow under his hand. "This is soft."

  "It was a little stuffy here earlier, and I needed some ventilation. I didn't know you would be coming here. If I did—"

  "Would you have waited for me?" Simon asked her with a grin on his lips.

  Oh God thought Melanie in her mind. This boy was going to kill her.

  "My parents are already suspicious about you after their last encounter with you. Trust me, you do not want to be seen with me now, not like this," replied Melanie, and Simon sat up on the bed with a thoughtful expression.

  "What do you suggest I do?" he asked her with a serious look.

  "Go back to Veteris and catch up with your meals. Don't starve yourself," replied Melanie, walking to the window and waiting for him to jump out of her room.

  "Or……" Simon drawled. "I can knock on the front door and reintroduce myself." He stood up, straightening his shirt, and said to Melanie, "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Davis, would you mind if I take Melanie out for a quick walk? I wouldn't mind if you allow me to have a chat with her too."

  "Next time I will make sure you drink blood on time because you seem to be losing your mind. This is not the time to joke—"

  "How caring of you. I knew you would be a wonderful girlfriend," chimed Simon, and he went to look through her things in her room. "You have some cute stuff in here."

  "Stop interrupting me, and leave right—" Melanie's words were interrupted again. And this time, it wasn't because of Simon.

  They both turned to look in the direction of the door, where the doorknob shook, "Mel? Why is your room locked."

  "That, I was changing my clothes," replied Melanie, and she looked at Simon pleadingly.

  "When you look at me like that, it only makes me want to stay here more. Did you forget what you said about me that day during the bonfire?" he asked her.

  This was no time to chat! If he wasn't ready to jump out of the window…… She pulled Simon and pushed him down under her bed.

  "Ouch! I didn't know you are into rough love," said Simon, and Melanie put her finger on her lips so that he could stay quiet. Pulling the blanket to let it hang at the edge of the bed so that it could cover the vampire and then held a shirt in her hand. She finally opened the door for her mother.

  "What were you trying on?" asked her mother, stepping right into her room, and Melanie took a couple of steps back to make space for her mother.

  "The old T-shirts. I thought it wouldn't fit me. Thought I put on weight out of stress," replied Melanie, while her mother handed the glass of milk to her. "You didn't have to get this for me."

  "Calcium is important for your bones and you will need to fight those leeches off these lands," said her mother, and when she turned to look at the window, her mother's lips set themselves in a thin line. "What did I tell you about not keeping the window open, Mel?"

  Her mother walked to the window and shut it close. "Drink that up quick and get to sleep. Unless you are too busy chatting with someone special."

  "Huh?" reacted Melanie.

  "You have been busy on your phone, blushing and moving your lips," said her mother, and Melanie wished her mother hadn't told that. She could only imagine the person's reaction under her bed. "Seems like Conner has finally been man enough and reciprocated your feelings."

  "C-Conner?"

  "Well, yes. His mother and I have known about it for so long, it is only time you both get together," her mother walked towards her, patting her back.

  "You have got it wrong mom. It isn't like that," Melanie tried to clear it with her mother, but her mother only laughed.

  "I will see you in the morning. Don't stay up too late," said her mother before closing her door. Melanie made sure her mother had left, and her footsteps had faded. She carefully locked the door without making much noise.

  "It seems like you do like me more than you think you do," came Simon's words, who had gotten out from under her bed.

  When she turned around, she stared straight into his green eyes, "I am a hunter's daughter, and you are in a hunter's house. Do you know the risk—"

  Simon stepped forward, closing the distance between them, "You forget that I come from a hunter's family as well. And I think some risks are worth it."

  "You are too close," pointed Melanie, and she softly gulped.

  "It was intended to be close…"