His face still burned but it wasn’t the reason he slowed down. Pulling his zippers up. Covering the blood stains on his shirt.

He noticed that he hadn’t even sat down and yet eyes found him.

His eyes swept the space.The wooden tables and benches were arranged in rows with students clustered around.

The hall was loud. Students doing the usual eating and gossiping.

Freshmen kept to themselves while the sophomores distributed broadly like they owned the place.

Finally, he spotted who he’d wanted to see but didn’t expect to be here.

Astrea.

She was somewhere in the middle of the hall. Alone like an island in the middle of the chaos. A piece of paper in front of her, a glass of red wine beside it.

Red wine. In a school cafeteria. Of course she did.

’How extravagant,’ Dean thought, wanting to approach her when his stomach growled again.

Holding his begging tummy, his eyes went to the serving area.

He walked there while his focus was still on Astrea. He didn’t want her to step out before he got to talk to her again.

Filling his tray. He suddenly spotted something at the edge of the table. The last red apple.

’The forbidden fruit,’ Dean thought as he moved towards the apple.

Just as he was about to pick it up, someone got to it first.

Rogue smiled as he brought the apple close to his mouth.

"Seems like you want something to match your new look." Rogue said as he gestured to Dean’s clawed face.

Dean sighed immediately he heard that familiar, annoying voice.

"Today’s not the day Rogue," Dean said simply as he held his hand out. "The apple."

Rogue looked back to his friends almost like can you see the audacity on this guy.

Then he turned to Dean. "Your thieving ass isn’t going to steal this one too?"

He looked over Dean’s shoulders without waiting for an answer.

"Where is that demon spawn of yours?"

Dean scoffed. "Resting... Being a better wolf isn’t easy. Ya know."

The statement tilted Rogue, he gritted his teeth as he tried shoving Dean.

Moving like a feather. Dean sidestepped.

"Easy..Easy.." Dean said as he locked eyes with Rogue.

He was here to eat and not tighten the probation tag that was slammed to his name already.

But there was something about Rogue smiling that tugged at his pettiness.

"We both know..this isn’t going anywhere." Dean said while he kept a close eye on Astrea who was now watching.

Moving closer to Rogue, he stared directly at Rogue. "You can keep the apple–but"

Dean’s pupils moved to the right behind Rogue.

"Is she you-"

Almost like second nature. Rogue followed Dean’s eyes to see Vanessa before he looked forward again.

Crunch!

Dean was already walking past him biting into the apple when he winked at Rogue.

Both of Rogue’s hands clenched into fists. A visible vein was about to pop in his forehead.

This boy had gotten one over him again.

"Y-you son of a b-bitch," Rogue charged but Vanessa moved faster, appearing between him and Dean.

"You’re cuter when you’re angry," she said, not even looking at Dean.

With a wicked smile on his face, Dean headed towards Astrea’s table.

Astrea on the other hand, hid a sly smile behind a wine glass.

***

Dean set his tray down across from her. And sat casually. "Hey."

Astrea didn’t look up and didn’t stop writing.

Dean nodded. Placing the apple on the tray, he began eating the pancakes on the plate.

There was an awkward silence between them then Dean broke it.

"So..." Dean started.

"So?" Astrea replied without looking directly at him.

"Earlier with Marcus.."

"What about it?"

Exhaling slowly. Dean had to admit, this was more difficult than fighting.

"You didn’t have to step in."

Astrea’s pen lingered on a word for a second before she continued.

"Yes I did."

"And why is that?" Dean leaned in properly this time.

"Because liars shouldn’t be killers too," she said.

Dean almost smiled. "Alleged liars. You mean"

Raising her head, she spoke. "If this is your attempt at gratitude. You should stick to fighting."

Dean chuckled this time. "So you like my moves."

With her face still raised. She rolled her eyes while taking a sip from the glass.

"Try to control yourself next time."

"Yeah...thanks," Dean replied after swallowing. "So what’re you writing?"

The question made her pause. Tapping on the page she was on twice. she answered with her face down.

"None of your business."

Dean nodded and took another bite from the apple. "So...you’re writing about me then."

Astrea’s body tensed. As her pen stood still for a moment. Hovering over the piece of paper.

Dean raised an eyebrow. Waiting. But she didn’t answer.

Sitting through another moment of silence. Dean ate even as Astrea wrote.

But something still bothered him. And true to his nature, he wouldn’t stop till he got an answer.

’Why exactly was the number 1 in the draft not attending her own family’s academy.’

Once she was done writing, she folded the paper neatly and placed it somewhere inside her gown.

Lifting the glass of blood. Dean had realized it was blood since earlier.

She looked directly at Dean. Her expression was basically demanding to know why he was still here.

Eating the last bit of the apple, Dean spoke in a hushed tone. Ignoring her eyes completely.

"Why are you really here, Astrea Vermith...?"

She took another sip. "What do you mean?"

Dean placed his hand on the table ignoring the eyes that had been watching them like a telenovela all this while.

"You’re Vermith royalty. Number 1 on the draft. Your family owns an academy." He paused. "Shall I continue..."

Astrea rolled her eyes. She didn’t answer immediately as Dean noticed a certain calmness in her eyes. "The same reason you rejected my family’s offer."

"...Ahh...," Dean smiled. "You know about that?"

"Everyone does."

"I doubt that," Dean retorted.

"Lord Dorian doesn’t just hand out invitations, you know."

Dean nodded. Dorian’s vampire support system made that quite clear during their visit.

Speaking of support systems. Where was Astrea’s?

"So–"

"Why–?" Astrea intercepted Dean.

Dean narrowed his eyes slightly. "Why what?"

"Why did you reject his offer?"

Dean tapped the edge of the metal tray as he looked at Astrea for a second or two.

"Freedom."

Her eyebrows furrowed. She clearly didn’t expect that answer.

"Freedom?" She repeated like it was a foreign concept to her.

Dean smirked. "So you didn’t know–"

He was about to probe Astrea even more when a voice blared like thunder from a communication device mounted at the far edge of the cafeteria.

DEAN GRAY. REPORT TO THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE IMMEDIATELY!!!