Tenth Grade Bleeds by Heather Brewer Page B

looked to be the most pleasant detention ever experienced by mankind. Further proof that librarians should run the world—or at least be in charge of detention at Bathory High.
    Vlad pulled his new leather notebook from his backpack and began a new journal entry—nothing even remotely vampiric, on the chance Eddie caught a glimpse. Instead, he wrote about him and Meredith, and just how much he’d enjoyed their stolen moment. He left out his urge to bite her and made a mental note to write that in later, in private.
    The entire time, he could feel Eddie’s eyes on him.
    Vlad shot Eddie a look of irritation. “Don’t you have something better to do than stare at me?”
    To his immense surprise, the corners of Eddie’s mouth rose in a smirk. “I was just thinking . . . it’s pretty amazing how well you blend in with humans.”
    Vlad’s stomach sank. His fingers fumbled over the pen he was holding and it tumbled to the ground, but he didn’t bend over to retrieve it. He held Eddie’s gaze in fearful surprise. Maybe it was stupid, but he had really thought Eddie would have let go of that whole Vlad-is-a-monster thing by now.
    He parted his lips to offer up his usual protest, but Eddie shook his head with an air of confidence that made Vlad squirm. “No need to deny it, Vlad. I’m quite convinced that you’re not human. And after some long nights of research and watching you . . . I think I know what you are.”
    Vlad’s heartbeat picked up its pace, and he had to struggle to calm his panicked breathing. “Why are you doing this, Eddie? You used to be an okay guy. But now . . . you’re just obnoxious.”
    Eddie tightened his jaw. “I wasn’t an okay guy. I was a loser. But I’m done being a loser, Vlad. And if you get hurt on my way to becoming a winner . . . well, that can’t be helped.”
    Vlad shook his head. “You’re not a loser, Eddie. You’re not what people say you are. You’re whatever you make yourself out to be.”
    â€œI wish that were true. But it’s not.” Eddie shook his head sadly. Eventually the corner of his lips rose in a small smile. “Luckily, I’ve found the road to success. It’s paved with your secrets.”
    Vlad stuffed his notebook inside his backpack angrily. “You’d better back off, Eddie. I’m getting really tired of all of your bizarre theories.”
    Eddie chuckled. “I can’t believe I didn’t see it sooner. Your pale skin, the way you always bring your lunch to school . . .”
    Vlad’s heart was racing in panic. Eddie knew. How could he know? Somewhere, somehow Vlad had royally screwed up, and now this determined little weasel knew what he was. He stood up and threw his bag over his shoulder in a frightened huff. He was leaving detention early, and he’d happily deal with the consequences, no matter what Nelly or Snelgrove or anybody else had to say about it.
    Eddie leaned back in his seat, arms crossing his chest, not so much as a thread of doubt weaving through his soft-spoken words. “You’re a vampire, Vladimir Tod. And I’m going to expose you to the world.”
    Vlad didn’t think. He reacted with all the anger, hurt, and shaking fear that was coursing through his veins and pushed into Eddie’s mind, shoving the boy back as far as he could. He slipped out just in time to watch Eddie tilt back in his chair and hit the floor, whacking his head against wood. Eddie yelped. Vlad all but ran out the door.
    As he pushed open the front door of the school, he noticed that his hands were trembling. He wasn’t sure what he was more afraid of—that Eddie knew that he was a vampire or that he’d wanted to hurt Eddie far worse than he had.
    He brushed the threat of tears from his eyes, shoved his still-shaking hands into his pockets, and headed for home.

12
    A DRUDGE’S LOYALTY
    H ENRY