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(XXXVII.)

"Okay, everyone. Drop your pens. We're done with the test."

Those who were still writing grudgingly put down their pens and pencils. Mr Porcupine went around, taking the papers. He paused at Eric's desk, gave him a sly smirk, and picked up his script.

Eric sighed and leaned back in his chair. He'd been bored out of his mind since he finished writing fifteen minutes ago. As Doudall had told him, Mr Porcupine had given him a set of special questions, completely different from what he'd given others.

He didn't mind, though. Physics was no big deal for him. He'd been tackling it since the 1800s. Although, it was one of his worst subjects. Yet, he couldn't avoid it.

His dad had advised him to do it if he was going to fully control the departments belonging to him in Roshlin Incorporated after graduation.

Besides that, every other elective in science didn't seem adventurous. Or challenging. Well, both meant the same thing in Eric's dictionary.

Today, Craig was sitting beside him. As usual, he sat near a window. It looked like every other student in his classes knew his favourite sitting position, because no one ever dared to sit in the last row at the window side.

"I'm sure you busted it to nuts."

Eric gave him a sideways glance. "Yeah..." He drawled in a bored tone.

"I heard you had a special set."

He faced him. "Who mentioned?"

Craig tried to hold his gaze firmly. "Heard it in passing."

He nodded once, slowly. "I see." The boy looked away quickly. He stared harder, before focusing his attention on the scenery outside the window. Not that there was much of a scenery.

Craig had seemed to be a problem in the beginning. Smart, curious, competitive. After a series of tests and Eric was made an academic star, the boy turned to hostility. He hid it in fake smiles and short nods. Sometimes, he teased him with his words, trying to rile him up.

He smelt weird, but still human. Reading him had not been so easy. Getting something off his mind was like trying to suck water from a rock. Yet, he was an open book. Eric could tell that underneath the calm exterior and nerdy look, he had a dark heart. If someone like him became a vampire, they'd be a danger to mankind. But not as much danger as Eric. Never like him.

Just then, his mind drifted off to Jessica again. Wondering why a vampire or revolver would want her. He shut his eyes and cleared up his brain. He couldn't help it. She was a burden to his thoughts.

When she'd warned him to watch his front, he understood the threat she'd posed. She hoped to beat him academically.

Well, it was going to be fun watching a human try to beat a Talgan genius. So much fun. A corner of his lips twitched. That was all it did—twitch. It might be fun this time, but he suspected that it won't be next semester when she must have gained enough solid ground to floor him.

Raindrops fell, wetting the window panes. The walls and thick glass blocked out the titter-tatter they made against the roofs and cobblestone. Soon, the clouds parted and disintegrated into a heavy downpour.

Before the students headed for the last class of the day, the rain had begun in full force.

Jess ran towards the exit doors. She pushed them open, ran through the foyer and to the main front doors.

It was too late. She couldn't walk under the rain and soak herself.

The sound of footsteps approaching made her turn and look back.