V for a vampire or a victory?

Lauren and Hazel made their way out towards the office building. They halted their steps when they saw students playing basketball on the field.

Lauren saw how players ran fast and passed the opponent. The match was still in progress. One successful kick would have won them.

Lauren felt her heart race as she watched the player with the ball approach the goal. As he jumped and threw the ball in the air. She held her breath, and the crowd erupted into cheers as the ball flew into the net, securing their win.

The sharp blow of the coach's whistle rang through the air, signalling the break after the practise.

"There will be Basketball match in next month." Hazel informed her.

"I see. Whose side are you on?" Lauren asked and smiled, looking at the players. A boy did something amusing, and the players began to laugh, while a brief break would end shortly before the time limit.

The tall lad was standing, flourishing his arm and saying something to the other player with a stern look.

"I can't choose." she giggled. Hazel had short bob hair that moved with the breeze.

Additionally, she had light skin, hazel eyes, and a mischievous smile. Hazel appeared neat and tidy, with just a hint of femininity. She was wearing a simple, blue dress with a white beanie.

Avel waved in their direction, and Lauren replied with a smile. A man who must be a coach appeared to be speaking with the same boy and clapped a hand over the top of the boy's back, right over his tattoo, getting his attention towards him.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" A boy stood behind Avel and whispered from behind into his ear.

"Yes— I mean no... She's pretty Kai." Avel was taken aback when he realized what he uttered in a tranquil state.

"Sure but don't go saying this to everyone and don't test Elliott in this matter. Keep your mouth shut if she make your heart flutter walk away." Avel's face fell and he couldn't say a word in return because somehow, he knew he was right.

Kai patted his back and walked away not without a look of warning. Avel looked at his hands and back at the girls.

Hazel saw Lauren's eyes on Avel.

"He is Avel Martinez. He is on the Dragon Team. It's difficult to choose whom I should be with, but I prefer Team V," she informed, staring at Lauren. "V for a vampire."

It caught Lauren off guard as she stared at nothing in particular. Her eyes and mind reached the memory she had of the very real vampire. Does anyone know about him? The same question she always had in mind.

"Wow!" Lauren giggled as Hazel tickled her for fun. Did she know a vampire lived here? Lauren thought to herself as she stared at Hazel with a cautious look on her face.

"I'm joking, V for victory," Lauren nodded.

She gave Avel one last look before continuing on her way and entering the building that appeared to be older than the others. Lauren had seen the others, but this one had a good vibe about it, like a castle or an old building.

Lauren stayed silent until Hazel halted in front of the door to her uncle's office. Hazel whirled around to see how Lauren was doing.

Lauren nodded when she thought she was ready to face him and ready for the new hardships of life. She will make an effort not to become very emotional whenever she meets him.

"Let's go then!" Hazel exclaimed.

There was a set of double doors surrounding the office, all made of heavy, carved wood. But before Hazel could reach for the handle, the door flew open so fast that she barely managed to jump back before it hit her.

"Hey, what was that about-" she stuttered, as three people walked through the door as if she didn't exist.

Elliot, Noah, and Zaiden were all dark and brooding and alluringly handsome, but Lauren only has eyes for one of them. The vampire.

He didn't have eyes for her, though. Instead, he walked right by, his face blanked and his gaze glacier cold, as if no one was even there. It's like he didn't even see her, which must be a lie because how was it possible for him to notice her presence?

Except that, as he passed, his shoulder brushed against the side of her arm. Even though everything they said about him was true, heat sizzled through her at the contact.

And even though logic told her the touch was accidental, Lauren couldn't shake the idea that he did it on purpose any more than she could stop herself from turning to watch him walk away.

Hazel didn't say anything to him or the others. Instead, she waited for them to be out of the way before entering the office as if nothing had happened, as if they hadn't been blatantly snubbed and ignored their very presence. It was like they were walking statues with no emotions, which was terrible.

Lauren was greeted by the room's brilliance, which was so intense that she had to strain her eyes away from the windows.

She saw her uncle; his back was showing, and he was looking outside at something that she couldn't see. Sensing Lauren's presence, he turned and smiled at her while taking her in a warm and fatherly hug.

The hug was really warm and showed affection, which Lauren had to admit. She was so far from fatherly love, and she liked it; she liked being in his arms. It was warm, and she had someone.

"How are you feeling, Lauren?" asked Harrison, breaking the hug, which Lauren felt sad about. She nodded and smiled at him when she noticed his eyelashes were wet.

This made her emotional too, but she controlled herself when she stepped out of their house. She decided to start over and will not cry because she knows her parents would not want her to cry and hurt herself.

"Uncle," Lauren whined, "you are making me emotional." She turned to look around the office.

"I am fine, a little cold, but it's warm inside with you. I love the university; it's so pretty out there, and even the teachers are nice." She wanted to say the opposite, but couldn't because she hated being here or the people, buildings, and teachers.

She couldn't simply say these things to him, which she hadn't even said to Hazel.

Hazel would be safe for telling secrets, but Harrison will not take it lightly because he will change the teachers for sure, which he had the power to do anyway.

"Come, let's sit. Hazel, did you show her around?" Harrison questioned his daughter, who was standing at the side of the couch watching the photos on the wall. She also sat down with them and nodded in response.

"No, dad, but I will,"

"Take your time, girls. But be careful, I don't want you to get sick because of the sudden change in weather," he cautioned Lauren, who nodded and looked around. She would definitely stay in her room; after all, who would want to be chilly here?

"Don't leave her alone for another moment, Hazel." Do you hear me?" He said this as he took a few steps closer to her.

"Dad. First, I'm not her bodyguard, and second, I'm her cousin, so I'd stick by her like the bubblegum." They laughed at her, but Lauren felt this was too much.

Lauren couldn't help but wonder if she was being a bother to Hazel, who had agreed to accompany her. She wished she could read her friend's thoughts and understand what was going on in her mind.

Hearing about her aunt's illness, which Harrison had just revealed to them. They both looked deeply sad at the loss. The person who was most hurt and in pain was Harrison; it was his little sister who was depressed. After sometimes spending time with the head president, they walked out of the office and towards their dorm.

Opening the room door, Lauren just dropped herself on the bed. She was tired and wanted a peaceful sleep. She was so happy and relaxed back in her room that she didn't notice when Hazel walked in with her.

Although Lauren didn't mind her, she liked her cousin so much. Her thoughts returned to the moment she saw him for the first time in the corridor, and when he walked out of the office, he completely ignored her existence. Is the vampire related to my uncle in any way? Do they know that he is a vampire? Lauren wondered with sleepy eyes, looking at the ceiling.