13. Selene
Chapter 13
Selene
I ’m sitting in my car, staring at the school building in front of me. My heart is pounding like crazy, and I can’t shake off this nervous feeling. I mean, I’ve been tutoring here for a while now, but today is different. Today, I’m not Selene, the tutor. The principal has asked me to substitute for one of the other teachers. I have no idea which class I will be teaching, and I’m a bit nervous.
So, today, I’m not Selene, the tutor. I’m Miss Black, the vampire teacher trying to blend in with the humans. I don’t need this anxiety along with my thirst, but it’s an opportunity I can’t pass up.
I glance over at the mini fridge I installed in the backseat. Six blood bags chilling in there, just in case my cravings get out of hand. I’ve gotta keep up this charade and make sure no one suspects a thing. It’s not easy being a vampire in a world full of humans, let me tell you.
But just as I’m about to gather my courage to go inside, I remember that it’s the first day of school, and there’ll be an assembly first thing.
I rush into the school assembly, trying to keep my nerves in check. My heart’s racing like a freight train, and I’m pretty sure I’ve got a permanent case of butterflies in my stomach. As I take a seat among the other teachers, I can feel their eyes on me. It’s like they can smell the nervous energy radiating off me.
Principal Johnson takes the stage, and I force myself to focus on her words. “Alright, everyone, settle down. We’ve got a bit of an announcement to make.” Her voice booms through the auditorium, commanding attention.
I glance around, trying to spot Mrs. Berkley.
Principal Johnson clears her throat before continuing. “As you all know, Mrs. Berkley had a bit of an accident last night. She’s going to be out for a while.”
Murmurs ripple through the crowd, and I can practically feel the tension in the air.
The poor thing broke her hip. Ouch. That sounds painful.
“And so,” Principal Johnson says, her eyes scanning the room before landing on me, “we’ve asked Selene here to step in as a substitute teacher for Mrs. Berkley’s science class.”
My heart plummets to my feet, and I can feel the blood draining from my face. Me? Teach a bunch of fifteen-year-olds science? Are they insane?
But before I can protest or make a run for it, Principal Johnson is already moving on to the next topic. My head is spinning, and I can’t shake the feeling of dread settling in my bones.
I stumble out of the assembly, feeling like I’m in some sort of nightmare. This can’t be happening. I’m barely holding it together as it is, and now they want me to teach a class? Long term?
I make my way to the staff room, trying to steady my breathing. Maybe if I hide in here long enough, they’ll forget they asked me to teach.
But as luck would have it, I barely have a moment to collect myself before someone walks in. Great, just what I need.
“Hey, Selene,” one of the other teachers says, giving me a sympathetic smile. “Heard you’re filling in for Mrs. Berkley. Tough break, huh?”
I force a smile, trying to play it cool. “Yeah, tough break, alright.”
The teacher nods, pouring herself a cup of coffee. “Well, if you need any help or anything, just let me know. Teaching science isn’t so bad once you get the hang of it.”
I nod, grateful for the offer but still feeling completely overwhelmed. “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.”
She gives me a reassuring pat on the shoulder before heading out, leaving me alone with my thoughts once again.
I glance at the clock, realizing I don’t have much time left before class starts. I take a deep breath, trying to summon up some courage.
Alright, Selene, you can do this. Just take it one step at a time.
With that mantra running through my head, I gather my things and head towards Mrs. Berkley’s classroom. Here goes nothing.
I walk into the classroom, trying to psych myself up for teaching about the circulatory system. Of course, it’s just my luck that today’s topic is blood. My mouth waters instinctively, and I can feel the hunger gnawing at me already. This is going to be a long class.
I start going through the lesson plan, trying my best to focus on the diagrams and explanations. But it’s like my brain is on autopilot, and all I can think about is sinking my teeth into something warm and pulsing.
“Hey, Miss Black, you okay?” A voice snaps me out of my daze. It’s the same kid who brought me soup yesterday. I’m certain that he’s supernatural in some way. He smells delicious. I just need to keep myself fed, and I’ll be able to resist.
“Grayson, was it?”
The other students’ oohs and aahs make the kid look panicked. They must think that he’s trying to act like the teacher’s pet or something.
“Yes, Miss Black.”
“Thank you for your concern, but I promise I am just reeling from the holiday break. Now, let’s all get back to it. Can you turn your books to page twenty-seven?”
I am nervous as well because I have never taught a classroom. I am more used to one-on-one classes.
This is nerve-wracking.
Not only am I pushing down the thirst, I am also trying really hard not to make a fool of myself.
“So, looking at the diagram, who can tell me what you see?”
One kid with blonde hair has her hand in the air immediately. “That is the superior vena cava, Miss Black.”
The rest of the lesson goes by in a blur, and before I know it, the bell rings, and the students start filing out of the classroom. I breathe a sigh of relief, feeling like I’ve dodged a bullet.
But just as I’m packing up my things, Grayson comes up to my desk with a sheepish expression on his face.
“Hey, Miss Black,” he starts, shifting nervously from foot to foot. “I, uh, just wanted to say thanks for agreeing to tutor me.”
Fuck!
My heart sinks as I remember the tutoring sessions I agreed to the night before. Great, just what I need, more time spent around his tantalizing scent when I can barely control my cravings as it is.
But I force a smile. “Of course, Grayson. I’ll still be your tutor in the afternoons, after school. We can set up the schedule after classes. Just come find me in the staffroom after.”
He brightens up at my words, relief evident in his eyes. “Thanks, Miss Black. I really appreciate it.”
With that, he hurries off to his next class, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I take a deep breath, trying to push down the panic rising in my chest. This is fine, I can handle this. Just a few more hours until I can go home and have a drink.
But as I make my way down the hallway, I catch a whiff of something that makes my head spin. Blood. Fresh, warm, tantalizing blood.
I freeze in my tracks, my instincts screaming at me to find the source and feed. But I know I can’t. Not here, not now.
I hurry to my car, fumbling with the keys, until I finally manage to unlock the door. I grab one of the blood bags from the mini fridge and down it in one go, the metallic taste flooding my senses.
It’s barely even eleven o’clock, and I’ve already gone through a whole bag. This is not good.
I take a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself down before heading back inside.
It’s going to be a long day, and if it weren’t for those tutoring sessions in the evening, I’d probably just go home and hide under the covers and feed on my supply until I sleep.
The rest of the day is a complete blur. I hear snippets of gossip about other teachers as I work on my lesson plan, names like Mrs. Thompson and Mr. Rodriguez floating around with juicy rumors attached. But as always, I keep my head down and stay off their radar.
No need to get involved in their drama.
Especially not know.
The fact that Mia’s pack has not come after me yet has me on the edge.
The fact that the man who took her body hasn’t either unnerves me.
During lunch, I sneak out to my car to feed. It’s becoming a routine now, a necessity to keep myself from completely losing it.
I down another blood bag, feeling the hunger gnawing at me even as I finish it off. Just two left now, and I’m starting to feel the panic setting in.
By the final bell, I’m ready to call it quits and head home. All this snacking has left my mini fridge with one bag left, and I can’t shake the feeling of emptiness gnawing at my insides.
I’m sitting in the staffroom, idly flipping through my notebook, when I hear a timid little knock on the door. Grayson pokes his head in.
“Hey, Miss Black,” he says, shuffling awkwardly on his feet. “I, uh, just wanted to let you know that I’m done with classes for the day.”
I nod, trying to hide my exhaustion. “Thanks for letting me know, Grayson. And don’t worry about earlier. It’s all good.”
He lets out a sigh of relief, the tension visibly leaving his shoulders. “Thanks, Miss Black. I really didn’t mean to be so disruptive.”
I wave off his apology, trying to be reassuring. “Seriously, it’s fine. We can talk about it in my classroom if you want.”
He nods eagerly. “Yeah, that sounds good. Let’s go.”
I gather my things, and we head to the classroom. The familiar scent of books and chalk dust fills the air, and there’s something oddly comforting about it.
I take a seat at one of the desks, motioning for Grayson to join me. “Alright, let’s talk schedule. When are you free for tutoring sessions?”
He pulls out his own notebook, flipping through the pages until he finds a blank one. “Well, I have soccer practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but other than that, I’m pretty much free.”
I jot down the information, trying to keep my handwriting legible. “Okay, how about Mondays and Wednesdays after school? Does that work for you?”
Grayson nods. “Yeah, that sounds perfect. Thanks, Miss Black.”
I smile, feeling a small spark of pride.
Maybe this tutoring thing won’t be so bad after all.
I just need to keep myself well-fed to avoid any mishaps.