The Beautiful Monster

"Melina," she replied. "Are you new here?"

A hint of a smile crossed Tyler's face as he nodded.

"How did you know?" he asked her as their hands parted.

Melina chewed on her bottom lip for a few moments as her eyes swept over him. She wasn't even sure. She just had a feeling. Maybe the biggest indicator was that he was even talking to her. Most people just ignored her.

"You'd be going to class instead of wandering around out here," she said with a light laugh. Behind Tyler, everyone was walking to their classes, going about their days.

He ended up near her door somehow, but she couldn't blame him. She had gotten lost multiple times on her first day because the place was so big.

"Right," Tyler replied as he shifted the strap of his bag higher up on his shoulder. "Could you show me where my first class is? I have no idea where to go."

Melina needed to get to her own class, but his charming, pleading look was impossible to say no too. Plus, he was nice.

She didn't mind helping him out on his first day. She wished that other people had been so kind on her first day.

"Sure. Can I see your schedule?" she asked him. At this point, she knew where everything was.

Tyler rummaged around in his bag before pulling out a sheet of paper. He handed it over to her.

Melina felt a warm shudder threaten to pass through her body when their hands touched again. She didn't know what that was about, but she did her best to ignore it.

Sure, he was handsome and nice, but she wasn't looking for a boyfriend. She was about to graduate and leave this place behind. She didn't need anyone distracting her.

"Alright… thirst control… defensive techniques…" Melina read some of the classes out loud before her eyes widened slightly in realization. She lifted her head to gaze at him. "You're a vampire."

Tyler smiled a little as he tilted his head at her.

"I take it that you're a witch?" he asked her.

Melina supposed her reaction gave that away. Witches and vampires could get along just fine.

They were all together in one school, but they didn't share classes or even dorm areas.

They tended to stick to their own groups, only mingling at courtyard parties and random conversations outside of class. She hardly talked to witches. She much less talked to vampires.

"Yes," she said before looking down at his schedule again to look at what classroom he needed to be in.

Lucky for him, she took plenty of walks, which had her passing by the vampire classrooms as well. She handed him his schedule back. "I can show you your classroom."

"Thank you," Tyler told her with a grateful look on his face. He took a step back and gestured for her to lead the way.

Melina lifted her chin slightly, trying not to look as nervous as she felt right now. Her heart kept racing as she led him down the hallway to the staircase.

By the time they reached the floor with all of the classrooms, he had moved to her side.

"So, are you a senior?" she asked him. The silence between them didn't feel awkward, but she didn't want to walk in silence. She had quite a few questions.

Tyler nodded, towering over her as they walked side-by-side.

"I am. I'm a little late to the show, but I was a transfer," he explained to her.

Melina noticed multiple girls looking at Tyler with awe in their eyes or devious smiles.

They were interested in him, and Melina couldn't blame them. He was definitely a sight to behold, but she wasn't going to do anything about that.

"I hope you like this place better than your old place. It's a really good school," she told him. He wouldn't have too much time to enjoy it, but he could at least get a feel for the place.

"The people certainly seem kind here," Tyler replied as he glanced over at her.

Heat flushed through Melina's face as she quickly looked away from him, not wanting him to see the prominent blush on her face.

He wasn't even flirting with her. He was just being nice! No matter how many times she told herself that, she couldn't help but feel a little giddy.

"Yeah, people can be nice at times," she said, leading him past the witch classrooms and around the corner toward the vampire classrooms.

The classrooms were built differently since different things were taught. There were more tables, books, and supplies for witches. There was more open space for physical activity for vampires.

"At times?" Tyler asked, lifting an eyebrow at her.

Melina shrugged, not wanting to get too into it. However, he seemed like the type of person that she could tell anything to, and he wouldn't judge her. She didn't know him that well, but she did get that comforting feeling from him.

"People don't really go out of their way to talk to me… like you did," she said quietly.

Tyler remained quiet for a moment before playfully nudging her shoulder with his.

"Well, they're missing out," he told her.

Melina gave him a grateful smile, feeling her cheeks remain warm. She couldn't believe how nice he was being to her.

There had to be some sort of catch. What if this was some cruel prank by someone? She doubted that anyone cared enough about her to do that to her, though.

"Thanks," she told him. "I just focus on my studies, though. You'll learn a lot here."

"Smart witches are just as dangerous as bloodthirsty vampires," Tyler pointed out, flashing a smile at her that showed off one of his fangs.

Melina nearly broke a sweat seeing his smile. The fangs just made his smile look even nicer, which was strange for her to admit.

She wasn't all that into vampires, but Tyler was definitely swaying her a little. Some of the vampires could be pretty cocky and arrogant, claiming that they were far powerful than witches.. He didn't seem to be one of those narcissists, though.

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