Hayden was almost certain that Nathaniel was bluffing when he mentioned that he got enrolled at this university. Imagine his disappointment when that wasn't the case. When Nathaniel showed up in his class once more, causing his attention to divert multiple times, especially when Nathaniel was sitting right in the first row.
"As… I was saying that is how our body maintains homeostasis." Declared Hayden, in the middle of class, trying very hard not to deviate from the topic.
With his habit of asking questions, he was having trouble not to, somehow feeling like he'd be derailed if he did.
Finally unable to keep it together anymore he decided to call Nathaniel out on purpose, "You, I in the front row, get up". Hayden ordered.
"I'm Nathaniel Sinclair, "He declared for the class.
"Mr. Whoever you are, please refrain from answering the questions I never asked." Hayden declared.
Even though Nathaniel kept a straight face, he smirked from within. "My apologies, Professor Rushmore". He added.
"Tell me how to identify whether the Red Blood cells are of adequate size or microcytic under the microscope" Hayden asked. He figured an ancient vampire like him who was old enough to be a henchman of the infamous Vampire King, then he will not be familiar with the advancements in modern science, specifically in a question like this where even his regular students were bewildered to hear the question.
"We compare its size to a small lymphocyte. If it's equal in size the RBC's are fine. And if they are smaller they are microcytic". Declared Nathaniel. The shock on Hayden's face coupled with the muffled noises consisting of "Damn"! And "whoa" warranted another (and this time visible) smirk from Nathaniel.
"And how do you figure out whether a lymphocyte that you see is small or large?" Nathaniel was asked by Hayden once more.
"We compare it with other leukocytes." Nathaniel shrugged. "Apart from a monocyte, a large lymphocyte is of comparable size. A small lymphocyte…as its name suggests, is smaller by nature." Nathaniel shrugged. The whispers of admiration just grew louder.
Hayden was baffled by how much he knew, especially for someone of his rapport.
Hayden had no other choice but to vindicate Nathaniel in regards to his knowledge about the blood components. Turns out Nathaniel had kept up with the science as the time progressed.
"Well, I guess someone finally did their reading." Hayden shrugs. "I can finally start grading papers a little less leisurely," He smirked, shocking his entire class, earning nothing but horrified silence from them. "Sir down." Hayden ordered Nathaniel.
"Professor, I have a question, May I ask that?" Nathaniel tried to sound as inquisitive and curious as possible.
It was hard to say no to that, so Hayden proceeded with a "Yes."
"I was just wondering… how much blood can be removed from a human being so that it wouldn't kill them?" he asked.
Hayden almost broke the pointer in his hand in halves upon hearing that. It was like Nathaniel was provoking him on purpose. "I think a murderer or a fictional creature like vampires…" Hayden pressed curtly on the words 'Vampires' "will be able to answer your question more accurately."
"There is nothing that our theory suggests?" Nathaniel pressed again.
"It's subjective. Depending on the duration of blood loss, and patient to patient it varies, but of course there is a critical point. No one can survive with one litre of blood, unless of course it's a little kid." he shrugged.
"Thank you professor. It was very, very helpful." Nathaniel let out a tiny but clear smirk and sat down.
The rest of the class wasn't that pleasant for him to teach, so when the tiny alarm in his clock went down he declared, "Class dismissed" and cleared his room, except for one person. "Don't you have a class to attend to? 'Student'?" Hayden scoffed without bothering to turn around while he wrote something on the board.
"I have a free period." Nathaniel shrugged and approached Hayden.
"No one had a free period after my class." Hayden finally turned around. "I made sure of that so that no students linger around in my class."
"Don't you mostly take the last periods?" Nathaniel raised an eyebrow.
"Kids are excited to go home." Hayden shrugged.
"I gotta say, I didn't expect you to remain this calm." Nathaniel mumbled in a deeper voice. "You continue to amaze me," he chuckled.
"I figured if you stay in proximity, I might have an easier time figuring out how to get rid of you permanently." Hayden shrugged.
"Professor Hayden Rushmore, I am deeply hurt by that statement as your student." Nathaniel teased his professor.
Unable to keep a straight face anymore, Hayden approached Nathaniel and stood face to face with him, "You better watch out your tongue while you're here, or I'll make sure I'll cut it right out." he threatened.
Nathaniel smirked, and in his swift but fast motion, he pinned Hayden to the wall behind him and smirked, "You really think you can get my tongue?" he scoffed in a whisper. "You can't do anything, even if I am standing this close to you." he added while taking another step further such that their faces are mere inches apart.
For some reason this much proximity with Nathaniel bothered Hayden in a whole different way. He could feel his throat drying up coupled with a little arousal. Must be the part of vampiric influence that helps them capture their prey. Mustering up his strength, Hayden pushed Nathaniel away and added, "I will figure. It. out." Hayden declared, spelling the last few words as clearly as possible, after which he stormed off of his own classroom.
Nathaniel stood there in the classroom with a smirk, except he had no problem admitting that apart from the pulsations in Hayden's neck, Nathaniel did find his gaze lingering to the thick lips of the said professor. Maybe there wasn't a definitive way to drink his blood, but perhaps there was a way to eat the original hunter after all.