Star, Starland Vamp Series, Book 1 by Theresa Oliver Page B

me.
    Alicia, a girl with light brown curly hair cut into a bob, with heavy makeup and chewing gum loudly, smirked at me. “So, you’re the flavor of the month?”  Big mistake.
    I raised an eyebrow.
    Beside me, Zac glared at her. Everyone at the table held their breath watching the exchange, awaiting my response.
    “No, honey,” I replied with my own smirk, looking her directly in the eye, my green eyes flaring slightly. “I’m the full fledged dinner and desert. What were you, the appetizer?”
    “Whoa,” someone at the table said and everyone laughed appreciatively.
    Alicia had no comeback ready. She glared at me, fuming, then ripped her tray from the table and marched toward the exit.
    “Guess not.” I replied under my breath, then turned my attention toward the others with a sweet smile.
    “Sorry about that,” Zac said, then changed the subject. “I’ll get you a Mountain Dew.”
    “Thanks,” I said, smiling as I watched him walk away.
    Sandra smiled, then moved closer to me. “Don’t mind her,” she said. “She likes Zac, but he didn’t return her … um … advances. Now she’s jealous of anyone he talks to.”
    “No problem,” I replied smiling. “And thanks.”
    “No problem,” she returned.
    “So, does Zac have many girlfriends?” I couldn’t help but ask. Actually, it was none of my business. But, somehow, I wanted it to be.
    Sandra looked at her Coke for a minute, then replied, “Actually no. I’ve never really seen him with anyone. This is a first.”
    I smiled, feeling my heart flutter at the thought. It surprised me that there was no one special for Zac, as wonderful and gorgeous as he was.
    Sandra and I talked animatedly for a few minutes, waiting for Zac to return. I liked this girl. In another life, I knew we could be friends, but I wasn’t here to make friends.
    “There you go,” Zac said, placing a Mountain Dew on the table before me.
    “Thanks,” I replied, taking a drink of the golden delicious liquid. I don’t know what it was about Mountain Dew, but I didn’t question it.
    Sandra brought Zac and me into the conversation with ease as we dug into our salads.
    “So do you like it here so far?” Zac’s azure eyes met mine, looking into my soul as my heart stopped.
    “Yes, I do,” I replied, smiling, looking into his eyes. We talked and laughed casually with everyone, just a nice lunch with friends. No pressure. Some of the guys were football jocks, too, and threw teasing barbs at Zac, and he threw them right back as I laughed. I also talked to Sandra. She was a nice girl who didn’t seem to let much bother her. She was so easy to talk to.
    Zac cleared away our tray and salad containers when we finished, quite the gentleman. It had been a while since I’d had a salad and it tasted pretty good. My throat didn’t even burn being around the humans since I had such a good breakfast this morning, thinking of the cougar and white-tailed deer.
    Then the bell rang loudly and we said goodbye to everyone as we all headed off to our next classes. 
    “What class do you have now?” Zac asked as we walked, taking my hand. And this time I didn’t pull away. I cringed, thinking he would notice the differences in our body temperatures, but Zac appeared not to notice.
    “Advanced English Lit,” I answered. “And you?” 
    “The same,” Zac grinned. “Since you’re an advanced student, too, we’ll have a lot of the same classes together.”
    I was counting on it. As we walked, I kept a lookout. Even though there were no other vamps around, I knew if one could find him, then others could, too. It made me nervous to leave him alone tonight at his home, but I had to go to the city to find out what I could. And if we were going to a vamp club, it would take all three of us. I made a vow to myself to go by his house to check on him later tonight.
    “What are you doing tonight?” I asked, but from the look on his face, he thought I wanted to get together and do something.