Eleventh Grade Burns(34)

“Why are you smiling?” October had a thin black eyebrow raised and was looking at Vlad in the way that said she was pretty sure he’d lost his mind, and she was totally cool with that.

Vlad shook his head. “The voices in my head said something funny. So what are you up to tonight?”

“Hanging at The Crypt with the guys ... and Snow.” She pursed her purple-painted lips as if her next words were delicate ones. “She likes you, you know. And I think you like her. So why aren’t you two dating?”

Deep inside Vlad’s chest, something twitched. He was pretty sure it was part of his heart—probably the part that had really liked the way it felt when Snow kissed him. He shrugged slightly. “What makes you think she likes me?”

“Because when you’re not around, you’re all she talks about. And when you are around, her eyes light up and she looks genuinely happy. I know that look in Snow’s eyes, because it’s something rare to see.” She snatched a cookie from his hand and took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. “You’ve met her father, Vlad. You’ve gotta know Snow’s home life is nothing to smile about. Her school life is stressed, and until you came along, our nights at The Crypt were just about the only thing Snow had to smile about.”

Vlad pulled his collar away from his neck. Was it hot in here? He glanced around nervously, desperately looking for a change in conversation.

October pointed the half-eaten cookie at him. “I know she likes you, because she’s my best friend. I don’t have to hear her say it—just like I don’t have to see you two kiss to know you’ve done it.”

With every word she said, Vlad sank down in his seat just a little bit. If she kept talking, he was going to wind up on the floor, feeling like a jerk for having let Snow kiss him.

Finally, October sighed. “So ... why aren’t you dating?”

“Because ...” Vlad tried to resist, but his eyes flicked to Meredith as she passed their table.

October shook her head. A subtle anger burned on the edges of her frown. “Oh, I see. She’s good enough to make out with, but she’s not Meredith Brookstone?”

“This has nothing to do with Meredith. I like Snow, but we’re friends. Just friends.” But even as he spoke the words, he wasn’t confident that he believed them. Admitting that to October, however, wasn’t going to help things at all.

“I swear, Vlad. I know that Henry McMillan is your best friend, but I really didn’t think that you were that much alike.”

Vlad winced at the thought of sharing Henry’s reputation. Was he that bad? Was it so obvious to the world that he was allowing his inner monster to use Snow, and treating her like less of a person than she actually was? Guilt gnawed at his insides. Eddie and Joss were right. He was an inhuman beast. He had to be stopped.

October picked up her tray in one hand and gathered her books into her free arm. “You’d better tell Snow that you’ve got her stuck firmly in the Friend Zone, Vlad. Because she’s falling hard for you, and I don’t want her to get hurt.”

Vlad gulped. He was pretty sure he was more afraid of October’s fury than D’Ablo’s ritual and Dorian’s cravings combined. “I will.”

Before she walked away, she leaned down and hissed into his ear, “And if you think I buy that ‘this has nothing to do with Meredith’ crap, you’re dreaming.”

Vlad laid his head back on the table. October was right. Something had to be done about Snow, and not just because she had a huge crush on Vlad. Ever since she’d kissed him, Vlad found himself lingering for hours in the alley after feeding sessions. He found himself spending more time around her, which wasn’t a bad thing. But he also couldn’t shake Meredith from his thoughts, which was completely unfair to Snow. He couldn’t date one girl knowing he still loved another. And he did love Meredith.

Didn’t he?

He liked her, cared deeply for her, couldn’t stop thinking about all the hand-holding they did, all the meaningful kisses they exchanged. He missed her. But did he love her still?

Vlad looked over at Meredith, who was giggling at something Joss said and twirling a lock of her hair around one finger.

Yes, he decided. Yes, he did still love Meredith. And probably always would.

And that meant he needed to take a step back from Snow. Maybe a lot of steps.

The rest of Vlad’s day crawled by in a clouded mist of contemplation. He barely paid attention to his teachers. And surprisingly, he didn’t think much about his feelings for Meredith. He thought about Snow, and which was more important to him, her blood or her feelings. He liked Snow and really enjoyed their long conversations about anything and everything—her rotten home life, his struggles with Elysia—but she confused him in ways that no girl ever had. They were friends. But something more than friendship was starting to burn around the edges and it scared Vlad.