Fatal Attraction: I Just Want to Be Near Him

I hadn't sought out Jason yet when his friend request popped up on my phone. That saved me the hassle.

[Olivia, I've given it some thought. This mess is my fault. If only I hadn't botched the game, you wouldn't have called me out, and we wouldn't be in this mess...]

I was bewildered. Was he for real? Had he taken a page out of a cheesy drama?

I was about to respond with [Are you crazy?]

But recalling Grandpa Clive's advice, I erased those words and typed instead: [Then make it up to me with dinner.]

His reply was swift and affirmative.

He chose a restaurant with a great vibe, turning heads as we walked in.

No denying it—Jason is a head-turner, and tonight he'd really cleaned up well.

What was he playing at? This wasn't a date.

Not that I'm usually one to swoon, but under different circumstances, his charm might have stirred even my cold, undead heart.

Right now, though, all I cared about was food. I was starving.

Sensing my impatience, he asked, "You that hungry?"

I gave him a sideways glance. "Starving... almost enough to drain you dry."

He turned away, his ears reddening—a sight that made him look even more appetizing.

Once the food was served, I realized something was off. Jason was sitting too far away across the table.

Why was my distraction sitting at arm's length? If the mountain won't come to Muhammad... I grabbed my utensils and moved right beside him.

Getting closer, I could almost taste the sweet scent wafting from his neck. Inhaling deeply, I began to eat, trying to convince myself of the illusion.

Grandpa Clive was onto something—it really did make a difference!

I ate voraciously, feeling better with every bite after days of barely managing to eat anything satisfying.

So engrossed was I in the meal that I didn't notice how close I'd gotten to Jason, nearly leaning against him.

He coughed slightly and shifted, creating a little space between us, and suddenly the food didn't taste as good. I grabbed the back of his head, pulling him closer.

"You said you were making amends, right? Just sit still and listen."

Jason complied, mostly watching me eat for the rest of the meal, his face turning the shade of a ripe tomato. He's strangely adorable when he blushes.

After dinner, he escorted me back to the dorms. All the way, I pondered how I could make such a lucky charm a fixture at my meals.

Inviting him out seemed like a good idea, but then I thought of my dwindling finances. I used to have a bit of money, back before we invested in the village for the elder vamps. Now, keeping a cute guy on the payroll seemed out of reach.

What a hassle.

As I let out my forty-seventh sigh of frustration, Jason finally broke his silence. "Olivia, what's wrong? Something on your mind?"

"Just figuring out how to keep you close..."

I hadn't finished my sentence when his phone rang. After a brief conversation, he ended the call, and then turned to me with a formal bow.

"I appreciate your sentiments, Olivia. I'll give it some thought."

And with that, he dashed off, leaving me baffled at the base of the dorm.

What was that all about? Did he misunderstand something? How does someone with such scrambled wiring ace his exams? I was puzzled yet oddly impressed.