13: Now What?

Melia observed him with a mix of amazement and amusement, her smile reflecting his own happiness at discovering something he deemed unlikely. It seemed to her that in this day and age, people were easily amazed by the smallest things. She couldn't help but draw a comparison to the way she felt when she first laid eyes on Shakespeare himself, standing before her.

"I hear you loud and clear," she heard him exclaim in disbelief, his voice barely above a whisper. She remained seated on the bleachers, watching him with curiosity as he paced back and forth, his fingers running through his unkempt, dirty white hair. Despite the strangeness of the situation, Melia found herself finding his astonishment rather amusing.

"Vampire..." he murmured, his gaze shifting towards Melia. "Perfect!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms up in a rare moment of elation. "It explains everything. It explains why you're still here, alive. Why... Or maybe... How do you become a vampire?" he asked abruptly, his curiosity getting the best of him.

Melia arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

"I'm not going to tell you that," she replied firmly, her voice as cool as a winter breeze.

Elijah snorted, but the young man before her looked genuinely perplexed. "But...why?" he asked, his shoulders sagging.

"Because I'm not here to play games, and frankly, I don't feel like it," Melia answered with a shrug. "Now, come here." She beckoned him with a crooked finger.

He hesitated, his eyes darting between Melia and Elijah.

"No, I won't," he said finally, his voice shaking just a bit.

Melia sighed.

"Stop being scared," she said, her tone softening. "I'm not going to do anything to you."

"How will I know if you're serious or not?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

"Because I'm talking to you, and I didn't do anything to you the first time I saw you," Melia said, stepping closer. "And I won't do anything to you now."

""I do recall vividly your words, Miss Amelia. You assured me that you wouldn't take my life... yet. Your memory still lingers in my mind.

But I must admit, the tone of your voice reminds me of another encounter I had before. The last time someone spoke to me in such a manner, let's just say, I ended up indulging in activities that aren't meant for polite company.

It brings a smile to her face as she pens down her next thought. She reminisces the ecstasy and pleasure she experienced with that man, now long gone, buried six feet deep.

"I haven't forgotten what I said, Mr. Elijah the Third," Melia sneered as she stood up, causing Elijah to take a step back. "Look, I'm not going to harm you, alright?"

"You did say you were hungry," Elijah reminded her.

"And I am famished," she retorted, "but don't worry, I have no intention of sinking my teeth into you or anything of the sort."

"Are you some sort of demon?" Elijah asked, his face contorted with curiosity.

His sudden change of subject made Melia laugh. Elijah's inquisitive gaze, paired with his infectious smile, was almost as alluring as Melia's own striking appearance. To be honest, he was utterly captivated and full of curiosity, not just about the diary, but also about her.

"You're crazy," Melia chuckled, "I don't know what I am, and I already told you that I'm not going to reveal anything to you." She reached over and plucked some fruit from Elijah's hair. "Listen, young man..."

"I'm not a young man," Elijah protested, and Melia laughed in response.

"Elijah, I understand that you're upset about what happened with Jackson Park and your best friend, Fox. Speaking of Fox... he's quite the troublemaker, isn't he?" She grinned, but Elijah remained silent. Fox always seemed to command attention without even trying. "You're a remarkable young man, Elijah," she continued. Orleans glanced up at her, and she looked back down at Elijah. "But you must understand that people will treat you the way they treat themselves. You cannot allow them to define your worth."

"But they treat me the way I deserve," Elijah countered.

"You're mistaken," she replied, wiping her face. "They treat you based on their own insecurities and biases. You're a kind and handsome boy." She reached over and pinched his rosy cheek, noting his blush. "And you look even more handsome when you're blushing."

"What? No, I'm not blushing," Elijah protested, turning away.

"I'm not blind, Elijah," Melia said with a chuckle. "Yes, you are." She pinched his cheek again, and Elijah couldn't help but laugh along.

It was like the sun before it sets behind the great mountains, appearing small in comparison to its immense brightness and beauty. Only those who see beyond what they think they see can truly appreciate it. "Here we go again with another note, with another silly, literal thought," Elijah remarked.

""You think so little of your own thoughts, but they are precious to me," Melia replied. Elijah looked at her, surprised by her words. "I say this to make you feel good, but it's also because I truly believe it."

The snow-haired boy's cheeks turned red with embarrassment. He felt like a girl being complimented by a boy, but this time, it was the other way around. Melia's brown eyes were fixed on him, as if she could see into his soul and wanted to know more about him just by looking into his eyes.

Elijah cleared his throat and took two steps back, his arms swinging at his sides. "So... You're not going to kill me?" he asked, changing the subject. Melia noticed and decided to follow him.

"No," she replied, "For now."

"See? You said what you told me days ago."

"Yes..." Melia responded, frowning from under the bleachers. "You'd better get back to your friends," she added, her attention focused on the hill behind the bleachers. Melia's jaw tightened.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked helplessly. Melia looked up at him and noticed the brown in his eyes slowly fading to black.

"Rebekah is looking for you," she said, evading the question. "She's coming for you."

Elijah looked towards the campus and saw Rebekah, the one with the rabbit smile, coming for him. He felt a rush of air, looked back to the front where Melia was, but she was gone. How did she know his friend's name? Elijah wondered, searching for answers. Melia had told him that she could hear everything from anywhere, that she knew every person's being. She must have heard Rebekah's name from someone who had called her.

"So here you are," Rebekah said when she arrived a little shaken, having run. "How much are you staring into nothingness?"

Elijah looked up at her, barely noticing Rebekah beside him.

"She was... Just looking," he answered, now looking under the bleachers, trying to see what had made Melia so tense. But he couldn't see anything, just small bushes and dirt. "Just looking," he repeated, looking back at Rebekah.

"Well..." she said unconvinced. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"It's... You left, and I was worried about you. Are you really okay?"

"Yes, Rebekah. I just needed a moment alone to realize how worthless I am."

"Don't say that," she pleaded gently. "You're worth a lot, Elijah."

"That's what someone told me... a few days ago," he replied, lying to her.

"Listen to that person. I want to know who it is so I can see if they make you see what you're worth," Rebekah said. "Let's change your shirt for one borrowed from one of your brothers and talk to the director."

"So he can do the same as always, which is to make a stupid note about Jackson and tell me in words he thinks I don't understand how little I know how to defend myself," Elijah frowned. "No thanks, I'm happy here."

"Well... At least let's see what will happen with Fox. The fight stopped, but the blows he threw at Jackson are enough to get him suspended."

"That's all we need," Elijah let out a sigh. He felt bad because of him, they would suspend his best friend, the only one who could save him from Jackson trying to do something else to him.

Rebekah took his hand and they headed for the rectory.