The fountain in the courtyard gurgles softly at me as I sit on the cold marble rim and open the envelope Headmaster Crumpet gave me. I think it's asking me for more blood. "Next time I injure myself, I'll give you some," I promise. I'm lying. Again. But since the fountain is so far the best friend I have at this school, I don't want us getting off on the wrong 'foot.'
My heart races as I unfold my class schedule and read—
First Semester Classes - Waverly Marie Fishwater:
Daily:
1. Math is Cool! - Professor Gil Fishwater
'Math is Cool!'? Come on, Dad. Does he really think anyone is buying this course name?
2. Interspecies Bio, Blood and Reproduction - Headmaster Crumpet
We get to learn about sex from a professor who looks like he's twelve and also study blood in a room full of vampires? I wonder if there's any way to switch classes. I'd rather study the history of sand than biology.
3. Lunar Psychology - Professor Skender Woolfson
Sounds fascinating actually. Werewolves and the moon. Wow!
4. Lunch
Usually, lunch is the highlight of the day, except that we have to eat in a cafeteria that serves blood. Urgh! Maybe we can take our food outside.
5. Study Hall
Yay, time for homework! My favorite thing ever.
When the planets align, and Gaia is in the mood:
6. Life Drawing and Sculpting - Professor Glorious Goddess Gaia
I'm not the greatest artist, but maybe I can convince the Goddess to add underwater basket-weaving to the curriculum so I can get an A on at least one assignment.
And on full moons:
7. Enchanted Dance - Fairy Princess Iridessa
Fairy Dance sounds ominous. Mermaids aren't the greatest dancers in the world. We can't help it that we don't have legs most of the time.
All in all, the schedule could be worse. I could have seven periods of math! I try to look on the bright side.
And speaking of the bright side: thinking about my upcoming classes has kept me from obsessing too much about Pierce and Shelly taking off arm-in-arm to discuss bed options.
Okay, that's a lie.
I'm totally obsessing.
Look, I know I should be happy. Maybe Pierce will drain Shelly's delicious mermaid blood and not mine. Staying alive is a definite plus. And deep down, I know I'm acting ridiculous. I just met the vampire, after all. And he's so annoying with his blood-lust, arrogant smirk, pointy fangs, and embarrassing mind-reading. Plus, he lied to me about being able to fly!
I wish Pierce and Shelly all the happiness.
Honestly, I do—
—Not.
Ugh! Waverly Marie Fishwater, get a grip!
With an angry sigh, I close my eyes and lie down at the fountain's edge, allowing the sun to beat down on my legs. After a while, the sound of the waves crashing from far below the school beckons me, and I long to feel the cool water on my tail. But before I can get up, something blocks out the sun, and I open my eyes. "Aargh," I cry, bolting up to a sitting position.
I really shouldn't be surprised. Pierce gazes down at me, smirking. "Scared you," he says, as if he's scored a point in debate class.
"Of course, you scared me. Isn't that what vampires are good at?"
"You wound me, Waverly. I am here to escort you to your first class."
"We have classes today?"
"This is a school," Pierce teases. "Not a spa."
"I know that. But it's the first day. I thought we'd ease in."
He holds out his hand to me. I ignore it and stand on my own. "I don't need an escort."
"Please, allow me." Pierce takes my hand with his icy one. I absolutely do not notice the strawberry smell of him and the electric eel–like jolt zipping up my arm.
Mortified that he might hear my thoughts, I remove my hand from his and stomp up to the main building really impressively. Like I totally know where I'm going. When I look back at him, he's smiling.
"You have no idea where your classroom is, do you?" he says.
"Here?" I point to the building, hope in my eyes.
"Nope. Follow me."
I follow him, but I do not enjoy it. Not one bit. Well, maybe a little bit. Pierce's backside is not bad to look at.
***
Before he opens the door to another building, he turns to me, locking those piercing blue eyes with mine. "Look, I'm sorry I teased you. I know coming to a new school is hard enough without having some jackass of a vampire giving you a hard time. Can we please just start over?"
"Hmmm," I say, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. "Starting over would require time travel. Is that another of your vampiric superpowers?"
Pierce taps one of his index fingers on his chin. "Definitely not a time traveler, but I might have some other superpowers. Not telling, though. It's much more fun when you discover these things for yourself."
"Eels meals. You are so annoying," I say, trying not to let my brain think about how happy I am that Pierce came to get me. I'm pretty sure he knows, though because he's grinning too. Maybe I haven't lost him to Shelly after all?
He opens the door. Inside, a swarm of students is making its way into various classrooms. Naturally, the first people I recognize are Shelly and Lily-Bella. When they see me with Pierce, they start whispering to one another. Then Shelly smiles at Pierce and opens the nearest classroom door. "Come on, Lily-Bella. Let's get seats in the front. See you in a minute, Pierce." Shelly flips her ponytail to the side, but Pierce seems unimpressed. My respect for him goes up a smidgen.
"Jealous, Waverly?" Pierce says, spoiling the moment.
This guy has some ego. My fists clench. So does my jaw. In my mind, I'm tossing him to the ceiling where he's stuck dangling upside-down from the chandelier like a bat. Oh, wait, but he'd just fly down. Stupid flying vampire. "I think I'll take my chances and find the classroom on my own."
Pierce clicks his tongue. "Wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Why not?"
"I heard the teacher has a bad temper and hates when students are late."
I roll my eyes. "Then show me where it is already before I die from suspense."
Pierce points to the door Shelly just walked through. "Here we are."
"Are you serious? We were standing in front of it this whole time? Vampires suck!"
"Very true," Piece says, with absolutely no irony. "Hey," he whispers in my ear. "Don't worry about Shelly. She's just insecure. And I'm here as your knight-in-shining-armor. Well, knight-in-plaid, but you get what I'm saying."
I ignore how my cheeks heat and look past the door Pierce pointed to. Dad is bouncing on his heels at the front of the classroom, practically bursting with mathly enthusiasm. I groan. The Fates must hate me because on top of everything else, we have math class on the first day.