Human school was a lot of fun, I think I was enjoying myself more than I have in a long time. But I was learning so much about them, not just the subjects they taught, but their culture, their history, even the way they think. I also got to understand what humans thought of vampires- a species they created.
"Vampire teeth aren't much longer than humans most of the time," subconsciously I'd started to run my tongue along my teeth, "until they initiate in combat or let their thirst get too great-"
"But sir, why did they create vampires that would consume human blood?" Georgia asked with her face full of freckles, and bunches either side of her frame.
"Well, to be honest, I don't know the answer to that. A lot of the research of how vampires were created was lost during the war. But I theorise that it was either a byprodct of other traits or because they would be attacking and consuming the enemy."
"Did they not think about what would happen after the war was over?" I asked. His expression faltered for a split second, and I wondered if id said something strange again, but he continues to answer my question.
"After the war was over I'm sure they thought they would get rid of them." He answers simply.
"Get rid of them?"
"Yes. They were created as weapons after all. But that led to the vampire uprising, which would be questions for your history teachers not biology." History? I wonder if they knew their history was our reality? what would say if they knew one of those weapons was sitting right next to them?
"Now, does anyone know what would happen if a vampire and a human fell in love and try to reproduce?" he continues with the lesson steering away from the direction I was heading.
"death." I answer.
"Shion will you elaborate?"
"well, human and vampires are different species. Usually when two similar species breed, they create a cross breed, but vampires were artificially designed to have a different number of chromosomes to humans, therefore during meiosis the chromosomes can't match up and a foetus cant form."
"very accurate as always. So does anyone have any questions?"
"so a half vampire cant happen?" a boy across from me asked.
"well thats not entirely true either. Although a half vampire cant occur naturally, theoretically through genetic engineering they could splice human or vampire genes into another organism."
"then why didn't they create vampires that were immune to sunlight?"
"in next lesson we will learn about how genes interact with each other, but to give a short answer to your question, it is likely that to eliminate that side effect they would sacrifice other more important traits." the end of his speech is lost in the sounds of people shuffling in their chairs and getting ready to leave for lunch. I was amongst them, shoving all the items carelessly into the rucksack and slinging it over my shoulder. I was almost out of the door when, "Shion!" the teacher called.
"Sir?" I asked at the door, stepping aside before im forced out by the flow of people.
"are you interested in vampires?" he asked me. I studied the middle-aged man, the slightly too baggy shirt, and the graying stubble forcing it's way through his skin on his otherwise handsome face.
"Yes sir."
"Did your father teach you about them?" I thought of all those tedious lessons I was put through, the ranting, and the heated outbursts that came from my father.
"Yes. Something like that." I answered.
"I see. You seem to know a lot; he must be a good teacher."
"I'm sure he would be happy to hear that."
He trails off, staring into space, thinking. I take this as my cue and make my escape.
I'd managed to get into a routine. At lunch, I would follow everyone else, Thalia and Jacob would meet me in a canteen with some of the others, I would buy human food (im currently working my way through the school menu), eat roughly half of it, before excusing my self just before the second bell to sick it back up again, and I'll make it back just before fifth lesson begins. Barman was right, it really worked! I easily blended in with the humans.
"So Shion, what weird concoction have you got today?"
I look down at the jumble of items on my plate and list them off, "lamb curry, onion rings and beans." I sat next to him, and fork at the ready, began to eat.
He grimaced, "dude, that is not right."
Before human foods, I never knew so many tastes existed- there were so many that I couldn't begin to learn the names of them all.
"well I have to get through the menu." I argue, picking at a bit of meat.
"yeah well, at least pick things that go together!" he complained, while biting into his sandwich.
"you know you have two more solid years to finish it, right?" Thalia piped.
"…yes. I know…" but in reality, I didn't know how long I would manage to stay here. If people found out I would most likely be driven out of here, and then there would be no opportunity to finish it.
I bit into something sour and made I face.
"what did I tell ya, it don't taste good does it?" she jeered.
I shrugged and shovelled another mouthful in my mouth, thought after a few more I decided it really wasn't worth it. I nibbled on the onion ring but gave up on that as well as the sauce had made it all soggy.
"Yo Shion, Jacob, want a deal in?" asked Jackson, from the next table over, leaning back on his chair, shuffling a deck of cards. "don't worry, I'll explain the rules."
"Don't I get an offer?" Thalia huffed.
"Guys only." He replied shortly.
She looked offended, "sexiest pigs!" she snapped.
"it's not sexiest. Its smart- you always con us out of our money! I ain't playing with you again!" he exclaimed.
"Never!?" she mocked outrage, but she was really grinning ear to ear. "wimp!" she added, before taking her rubbish and left the table. she waved a dismissive hand "have fun losing, Jackson!"
He ran his fingers through his loose blonde hair before explaining the rules and dealing the cards.
"Shion do you have a three?" he asks. "and now if you have one, you have to give them all to me."
I shook my head.
"right, so now I pick up a spare card."
"I think I understand." I nod.
Kerion and Quin also joined the game, though Quin got more confused than I did, and we ended up throwing the cards at each other and making a mess. One of the canteen ladies kicked us out to the courtyard after that.
I grinned, kind of thrilled that we did something bad, "I've never had this much fun in my life." the three other boys all stopped to look at me and I realised I said it out loud.
"so you do have a delinquent streak!" Jackson hit me playfully on the shoulder.
"a delinquent streak?!"
"yeah you know what I mean!" but his shoulders sag when he realised that I didn't.
"alright then," he grinned evilly, "We'll show you. What you two got next?"
"world history." Jacob answers.
"We have geography. But I think we can find something better to do than studying humanties. What do you think Quin?"
Quin's angled face turned upwards into to smirk. "I think your right."
"Thalia's gonna be so pissed when she finds out when ditched her…" Jacob pondered, "I'm in." he adds with a grin to match there's.
"Where are we going?" I ask.
"Just follow us." He beckoned us.
Some part of me didn't like putting all my faith in them, but mostly, I was charged up with an infectious sensation of excitement and thrill.
"We're going to teach ya to live a little." He winked.
I didn't mention the fact that we should be in class soon, something told me that was the point, so I kept my mouth shut and the three of us followed Jackson round the back of the main building, where the high walls were replaced by much flimsier mesh fence.
"Jakob keep watch." Jackson ordered.
The other two bent down and though it was out of view, I knew they were playing with the mesh. After a couple of seconds, they peeled back a section of the mesh just large enough for a person to crawl through.
"After you."
Without another word, I knelt and crawled my way through the gap. Although at the time I wasn't sure why, my heart was thumping in its cage, and when I was through to the other side, adrenaline surged through me. I bobbed from one foot to the next as I watched the others follow after me.
And then we were running, laughing until the school disappeared behind us. We stopped in a part of town I didn't recognise, "where are we?" I asked.
"Don't worry, we'll just hang around a bit till my brother gets back from work then we can go to mine." Jackosn explained without actually answering my question.
"This way." Quin led us around the block, where the landscape widened out to reveal a court. The hoop was rusted and the tarmac was cracked, but that wouldn't stop a game. He stood over a pile of bins stacked up against the edge, he dragged the third one out, and removed some sacks to uncover a worn-out basketball, which he throws backwards to Jackson.
"I get Shion!" Jackson pulled me over to his side of the court.
"no fair!" Jacob complained.
"I called dibs. Too slow." He threw the ball at me, we wove and dodged the opposition until we were panting and our shirts stuck to our backs with sweat.
"pass!" I yelled, and Jackson reached over Jacobs head and threw the ball in the air. I jumped as Quins fingers skimmed the ball, snatching the ball before he could grip it. I swivelled round and began bouncing on the floor in the opposite direction, closing the gap between the ball and the ring. Then I launched myself in the air and planted the ball through the hoop.
"That three nill to us!" Jackson announced gleefully. I felt myself grinning as well.
"Hasn't it been an hour yet?" Quin complained.
"You admit defeat?" he asked
"Of course. That guy isn't even human." He complained.
I froze. "What?!" I stare at him.
"You're just jealous." Jackson laughed. "ok, I guess my brother should be back by now."
"it's about time." He grumbled, rubbing the muscles in his neck.
"My dad managed to get an old satellite TV working yesterday. We might be able to get some of the Capital's channels if the signals good."
"Where'd get it from?!" Jacob exclaimed, "they're so rare these days!"
He shrugs, "I dunno. He goes to these auctions sometimes. Must have picked it up there."
"Reckon he could get me one?" Quin asks desperately.
"Doubt it mate. These things are like one in a million." He shrugs. He slings his rucksack over from his back and takes out a key while we're walking. "he was still tinkering with it when I went to bed last night so I don't know if its working."