Pursuing Mr. Perfect (While Hiding My Fangs)

Ming's POV

Okay, so maybe hiding behind a 500-year-old pottery display wasn't my finest moment.

But in my defense, Kamon looked absolutely gorgeous today.

"Ming, what are you doing?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin. My roommate Ploy stood behind me with her arms crossed, wearing that look that screamed 'I'm about to expose all your secrets.'

"Research," I whispered, peeking over the ancient vase at the boy who'd been haunting my dreams for two weeks straight.

"On the Architecture building?"

"It's called... interdisciplinary studies."

Through the window, I watched Kamon measure something with those beautiful, paint-stained hands. His dark hair fell across his forehead just right, and those intense eyes were focused with the kind of concentration that made my stomach flip.

God, he was perfect.

"OH NO, HE'S LOOKING!"

I dove behind the display case faster than humanly possible—which, considering I'm only half-human, probably wasn't the smartest move.

CRASH!

The Ming dynasty replica exploded into a thousand pieces.

"Smooth," Ploy said dryly. "Really subtle."

I peeked over the broken pottery. Kamon was staring directly at our window, those gorgeous dark eyes confused and slightly concerned. When he caught me looking, his eyebrows furrowed in that worried way, like he was wondering if I was hurt. He hesitated for a moment, then gave a small, uncertain nod—the kind of polite acknowledgment you give a stranger when you're not sure what else to do.

I fell backwards into another display case.

"MING CHEN!" Professor Siri's voice boomed across the department. "What is happening over there?"

"Sorry, Professor! Just... practicing my excavation techniques!"

Ploy snorted with laughter. "Is that what we're calling stalking now?"

"I wasn't stalking!" I protested, standing up and brushing dust off my jeans. "I was... observing. For science."

"Right. And I suppose you've been 'observing for science' every day for two weeks? Including the time you followed him to the cafeteria and hid behind a potted plant?"

Okay, she had a point there.

"That was different. I was hungry."

"You ordered nothing but a bottle of water and stared at him for thirty minutes."

"I was... hydrating."

Ploy rolled her eyes and started helping me clean up the broken pottery. "Just talk to him, Ming. How hard can it be?"

If only she knew. Talking to normal people was already complicated when you had to remember not to mention your supernatural strength, enhanced hearing, or occasional blood cravings. Add a massive crush to the mix? Recipe for disaster.

"It's not that simple," I muttered.

"Why not? You're smart, you're pretty, you're funny when you're not being a complete disaster—"

"Thanks for the pep talk."

"—and besides, what's the worst that could happen?"

I could accidentally reveal I'm half-vampire and ruin everything. But I couldn't exactly tell Ploy that.

"I could embarrass myself," I said instead.

"More than you already have?"

"Rude."

Ploy grinned. "Actually, I have an idea. You know how my dad's garage is always looking for part-time help? Well, guess who started working there last week?"

My head snapped up so fast I probably looked like an owl. "Kamon?"

"Bingo. And guess who's getting picked up after class today and could use a ride?"

I stared at her in horror. "You're evil."

"I'm helpful. There's a difference."

"What if I say something stupid? What if I trip? What if I accidentally—" I caught myself before I could say 'show my fangs.'

"Accidentally what?"

"...smell like old pottery?"

Ploy looked at me like I'd grown a second head. "Ming, you're overthinking this. He's just a boy."

Just a boy. Right. A boy who made my undead heart do backflips. A boy with the most beautiful dark eyes I'd ever seen—intense and mysterious, with this underlying sadness that made you want to know all his secrets. A boy who moved with quiet confidence but had this gentle way of speaking that made everyone around him feel important.

A boy who was probably going to run screaming once he realized I was a supernatural disaster waiting to happen.

"Fine," I said, because apparently I enjoyed torturing myself. "But if this goes wrong, I'm blaming you."

"Deal. Now come on, Professor Siri's class starts in five minutes."

As we walked toward the lecture hall, I caught another glimpse of Kamon through the window. He was bent over his drafting table, completely absorbed in his work. His dark hair fell across his forehead in that effortlessly messy way that belonged in a music video. There was something almost brooding about the way he worked—intense and focused, like he was pouring his soul into every line he drew.

The late afternoon sunlight caught the sharp angles of his face, highlighting that quiet intensity that made him so different from other boys on campus. He had this way of moving that was both graceful and strong, like he was comfortable in his own skin despite whatever weight he seemed to carry on his shoulders.

I sighed dreamily.

This was going to be a complete disaster.

But maybe it would be the best disaster of my life.

"Oh, and Ming?" Ploy said as we took our seats. "Maybe don't mention that you already know his name. I forgot to tell him that I told you about him."

I turned to stare at her in horror. "What do you mean you forgot to—"

"Good afternoon, class!" Professor Siri boomed. "Today we'll be discussing ancient mating rituals!"

I slumped in my seat.

The universe definitely had a sense of humor.

[End of Chapter 1]