He Is Just Not My Type

Lillith Pov

The first period bell chimed, signaling the start of biology class. Elena and I strolled into the lab side by side. She didn't mention the events from yesterday, and I didn't bring up the party either. It felt like a silent agreement between us to steer clear of Alaric, especially after the council leader hinted at something ominous regarding him. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Alaric than met the eye. What could a human possibly do to cause such a stir? It left me wondering if he was hiding some extraordinary secret.

"Alright, everyone, today we're diving into osmosis," The teacher announced with a warm smile as he stepped to the front of the class. "It's great to see all your faces again. I am Mr. Lovato." He grabbed a textbook from the table, and Elena and I quickly found seats by the window. Mr. Lovato scanned the room and directed his question at Alaric, who seemed completely unfazed. When Alaric didn't respond, one of his football buddies eagerly raised his hand. "Alright, Larry, why don't you give us your take on osmosis, even if you put it in your own words?" Mr. Lovato encouraged, ready to engage the class in a lively discussion.

Larry got up and explained, "Osmosis is when solvent molecules move through a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower concentration to one of higher concentration."

"Great job! You can take your seat now. Who wants to give it a shot next?" Mr. Lovato said, his gaze shifting toward me. "Hmm, I don't think I've seen you before."

Elena chimed in, "This is her first day in your class," while Alaric turned to look at me.

Feeling a bit lost, I stood up, unsure of how to respond since my education at Shadow Academy had focused solely on blood-related topics-like managing fangs, resisting the urge to feed, and defending myself against bloodsuckers. So, osmosis? Not really in my wheelhouse.

"What's your name, Miss...?" he prompted.

"Lillith," I replied, still feeling a bit shaky.

"Can you tell us what you know about osmosis?" he asked again.

I felt a lump in my throat. "Osmo..." I started, but before I could finish, Alaric jumped in.

"Osmosis refers to the natural movement of a fluid, typically water, through a semipermeable membrane towards a solution that has a higher concentration of solute. This process aims to balance the concentration levels on both sides of the membrane." Alaric confidently recited this definition before taking his seat.

"Thanks for that, Mr. Vale," Mr. Lovato replied, glancing at his watch before putting the textbook down. "Now, about the upcoming test."  A collective groan filled the room as Mr. Lovato tapped a ruler on the desk to regain our attention. "It'll take place in the next class, and you'll be working in groups of six. Each group will have five members, so go ahead and choose your teams."

As everyone shuffled to find their friends, Alaric remained seated, while Camilla, too proud to reach out, stayed close to her buddy. Elena and I lingered by the window; she was the only person I felt a connection with. Despite that, she had never visited my home, and I had never opened up about my life since we just met. Who would want to hear, "I'm a Dhampir and might soon turn into a bloodsucker"? That would only make her view me as an outcast.

Mr. Lovato looked around the classroom, his eyes landing on Camilla and Maddie as he encouraged the students to interact. "What are you kids up to? Go ahead and mingle while I assign some questions," he said with a friendly smile.

Camilla, however, seemed more interested in her own reflection than in socializing. "There are no more groups left, Mr. Lovato," she said, glancing at her compact mirror and pouting her lips. It was a bit unusual for someone to bring a mirror to class, and her demeanor suggested she came from a privileged background, perhaps a little too accustomed to getting her way.

Mr. Lovato, unfazed by the situation, quickly found a solution. "Oh, that's an easy fix," he replied cheerfully. When Elena inquired how he planned to resolve the issue, he began counting the remaining students. "One, two, three... Wow. Five. There are five of you, so you'll all be in the same group."

Camilla  immediately declared herself the captain, prompting a sharp look from Elena. "You can't be the captain; all you do is look at yourself in that mirror," Elena retorted, her tone laced with disbelief.

"Are you done?" Camilla shot back, grabbing her bag defiantly.

After a brief pause, Elena conceded, "I guess so."

"Good," Camilla replied, satisfied with the exchange.

Mr. Lovato addressed the class with enthusiasm, saying, "Alright, everyone, we're about to embark on an exciting experiment. Group One, you will be showcasing osmosis using either cellophane or goat bladder." As he moved through the classroom, he distributed questions to each group, and when he finally reached ours, we learned that our task was to illustrate both exosmosis and endosmosis. The anticipation in the room was palpable as we prepared for our demonstration, eager to dive into the science behind these processes.

As the school day concluded with the ringing of the bell, we exited the laboratory, and I began to notice a pattern over the following days. Alaric seemed to observe me closely whenever I was in the company of Elena. One afternoon, as I opened my locker, he unexpectedly appeared before me, casually resting his hand atop it. "You must be Lillith," he remarked, his demeanor relaxed with one hand tucked into his pocket.

I responded with a hint of nervousness, "Yes, that's me."

He introduced himself, and I acknowledged him, expressing my gratitude for his assistance during Mr. Lovato's class. The attention of my peers, including Camilla, was palpable as he casually mentioned having a movie ticket.

My heart raced as I processed his invitation, and I hesitantly asked, "Are you asking me on a date?"

He ran his hand through his hair, letting it slide down to the back as he spoke. "Oh... We...Well, my friend has a ticket for this Friday, but he can't make it," he said, blinking as if trying to gauge my reaction. "Would you like me to pick you up?"

The invitation hung in the air, and I felt a mix of excitement and dread. I haven't even said yes but who wouldn't want to hang out with Alaric Vale? But the reality of my situation hit me hard. As a Dhampir, I was strictly warned against getting too close to humans, especially someone like Alaric, who seemed to radiate charm and warmth.

"What's wrong?" he asked gently, his eyes searching mine. "I can tell you feel something when I look at you. You can't pretend it's not there." His gaze was intense, and I felt a rush of emotions I couldn't quite process. He was right. I do feel something whenever he looks at me. It was an overwhelming feeling. "I'll catch you later," he added, breaking the moment and was about to walk away.

Just then, Elena appeared beside me, introducing herself with a friendly smile. "I am Elena."

Alaric glanced at her, then back at me, recognition flickering in his eyes. "Hey, I know who you are," he said, giving me one last look before heading off, leaving me in a whirlwind of confusion and longing.

"See you later," I said, still feeling a bit on edge.

Elena let out a laugh. "Oh my gosh, can you believe it?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, genuinely confused as I kept watching him go.

"The hottest guy just struck up a conversation with you, and you didn't even have to try!"

I shook my head. "No, no, he... He was just asking about Abraham Lincoln," I explained while shutting my locker, trying not to laugh.

"Abraham Lincoln? Seriously?" She rolled her eyes.

"Yep," I said, stifling a giggle.

"We're not even in history class together!"

"I know, but it really happened," I insisted.

"Okay then," she said, rolling her eyes as we strolled down the hallway. "He better treat you right, or I'll have to step in."

"Step in where, exactly? Alaric and I are definitely not going to happen." I let out a light laugh, brushing a stray hair behind my ear. "You see, there are two types of girls in this world. Some, like you, are all about those high school relationships, while others, like me, are just waiting for the college experience to kick in. I'm really not interested in dating anyone from high school," I stated with conviction.

"I understand that, but if he shows interest, you can't just turn him away," she said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, I absolutely can. It's my choice, and honestly, he is just not my type."

Elena gasped in mock disbelief. "How dare you?" We both burst into laughter as we made our way out.