He quietly watches her from behind the trees. Though he is several hundred yards away, he can detect traces of perfume from the soap she used in the shower this morning. Even if she was not transfixed on her book, brow creased in concentration, she would still not know he was watching her. Yet she casts an occasional uneasy glance in the direction of the trees he is hiding behind.

She is quite lovely, but he finds her vulnerability most appealing. Though she is popular and friendly, she prefers to spend her mornings before school reading quietly on a secluded bench. In the last few months, she has read every book in her favorite series several times without seeming to tire of them. She takes special care of her books, and despite excessive use, they remain in mint condition.

The bell alerts her that it is time to set her story aside and start the school day. As much as he loves viewing her behind the trees, she is in most of his classes and he yearns to be close to her. He waits until she is out of sight before following her to class.

When she speaks to him in class, she blushes easily and is awkward and clumsy. He relishes this for he knows exactly what it means. Attempts at conversation seem futile because she is so shy and unsure of herself that she stutters and can’t finish her sentences. This only adds to her appeal.

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The night is clear and the full moon so bright it causes the stars to hide from its intensity. Her house is secluded on a lonely country road masked by trees. The moonlight casts a surreal glow on her house, and he is pleased to find her parent’s car is not in the driveway. On the side of the house, there is a trellis with the remnants of long dead bougainvillea still clinging stubbornly to various parts of it. Just above the trellis is a flat section of roof that leads to her window. But he decides to climb the oak tree next to the house instead because it will conceal him. Effortlessly, he climbs to the upper branches and is shrouded by branches and leaves. Despite the foliage, he can see her lying in bed; ingrained in her favorite novel about a vampire who falls in love with a teenage girl. He refrains from laughing. Stupid lamb.

Like the mornings before school, she sends an uneasy glance in his direction from time to time. Finally, she puts down her book as she stretches and yawns. Wearing an over-sized T-Shirt and white ankle socks, she is breath taking. Brushing back a few unruly curls of auburn hair that refuse to be constrained by her pony-tail, she exits her room.

He descends from the sanctuary of the tree to observe a light go on at the back of the house. Curious, he decides to investigate. She is in the kitchen drinking what appears to be a thick red punch. She glances out the window tensly, but he is safely hidden.

Instead of going back to her room, she paces the kitchen spooked by something. Now at the back door, she turns on the porch light and surveys the backyard. Not satisfied, she retrieves a flashlight from a kitchen drawer and uneasily steps outside scanning with the light. She moves skittishly through the yard and jumps when she hears the backdoor slam shut from the wind. She hurries back to the door and tries it, but it won’t open. Clearly upset, she scrambles to the front of the house while he follows her silently from behind the brush.

To her dismay, she discovers the front door locked as well. Concerned, but unsure what to do next, he takes a step causing the leaves under his feet to crunch loud enough to startle her. Whirling around in alarm, she apprehensively holds out the flashlight in front of her as if a weapon or some sort of talisman.

Not wishing to frighten her any further, he steps behind the trees to reveal himself. Relieved that it is him, she offers him a weak smile and demands no explanation for his presence. Instead, she looks at him beseechingly, and says “I’ve managed to lock myself out”. She then asks, “Can you help me?” Worried that her parents might come home and find him there, he answers uncertainly, “Won’t your parents be home soon and unlock the house themselves?” Seeing her face fall, he regretfully adds, “I doubt they’d be happy to find me here when they come home.” She bites her lip before replying “My parents are out of town, and won’t be home until late tomorrow. It’s cold and I would rather not spend the night on the porch.”

He heart accelerates on hearing this, and responds by making a show of his efforts to aid her. He tries every window on the bottom floor, and not finding success, points to the room on the second floor with the light on.  He innocently asks, “Is that your bedroom window?” She nods her head vigorously. “Yes, and I don’t believe the window locked. I had it open earlier and I’m sure I didn’t lock it.” she tells him. “Perfect!” he says, and proceeds to climb the trellis. He almost gets to the top when the wood under his foot snaps. He tries to grasp the side of the house, but finds himself falling backwards, arms milling helplessly in the air. Landing on his back with a loud thump, he hears a sickening crack.

She saunters calmly to him and leans over, grin stretching widely across her face. His grimace of pain gives way to an expression of muddled confusion because he can’t understand why she is smiling. Assuming she doesn’t understand he is badly injured, he weakly croaks, “My legs… I can’t feel them.” She nods with understanding, and casually asks, “Ever read any stories about vampires?” Flabbergasted, he blurts out, “Can we save the book club for later? As you can see, I need help”. Looking down at him with unruly auburn strands of hair flowing in the breeze, the moonlight illuminates her beautiful face revealing a broad wicked smile. This is when he notices the sharp, pointed fangs protruding from her mouth. She giggles and replies “Stupid lamb”.

__________________________________

She sits on the bench quietly reading her book. She smells him from behind the trees, but pretends she doesn’t see him. Every now and then she throws a nervous glance in his direction because she knows it will excite him. He does this every morning.

He is in most of her classes, and smells so delicious she has to control herself from pouncing on him and devouring him on the spot. He hides from her now, but eventually, will make the mistake of sneaking around her house. She is starving. Still, she can’t resist playing with her food.