Pursuing Mr. Perfect (While Hiding My Fangs)

Ming's POVOkay, 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

Ming's POVI was hiding under my blanket like a five-year-old when Ploy burst through our dorm room door."MING CHEN!" she yelled. "What the hell was that?!"I pulled the blanket tighter over my head. "I don't know what you're talking about.""You RAN AWAY! From the garage! While Kamon was still trying to teach you about engines!""I had to leave suddenly.""You said you were allergic to METAL!""It's a very serious condition."Ploy yanked the blanket off my head. Her face was red, and she looked like she was about to explode. "You are the most ridiculous person I have ever met!"I sat up slowly, my hair probably looking like I'd been electrocuted. "How mad is your dad?""He's confused! He spent twenty minutes asking Kamon if you seemed sick, and Kamon had no idea what to tell him because you literally sprinted out of there like the building was on fire!"Oh god. "What did Kamon say?""That's the worst part!" Ploy threw her hands in the air. "He was actually WORRIED about you! He asked

Ming's POVFor three days, I avoided the campus parking lot like it was contaminated with garlic.Which, considering my vampire heritage, wasn't entirely inaccurate."You can't avoid him forever," Ploy said, not looking up from her textbook as I paced around our dorm room for the hundredth time that morning."Watch me.""Ming, your scooter is literally sitting in the parking lot, fixed and ready to go. All you have to do is walk over there, say thank you, and act like a normal person.""But what if he asks questions? What if he wants to know how I crushed solid steel with my bare hands? What if—""What if you stop being dramatic and just go get your scooter?"I flopped down on my bed dramatically. "I can't face him. Not after the metal-crushing incident.""Fine. Then walk to class for the rest of the semester. I'm sure your legs could use the exercise.""You're not being helpful.""I'm being realistic." Ploy finally looked up from her book. "Besides, he texted you twice asking if you'r

Ming's POVI changed my outfit seven times."You look fine!" Ploy yelled from her bed, where she was supposedly studying but actually watching me have a complete fashion meltdown."Fine isn't good enough for my first real date!" I pulled off the blue dress and threw it on the growing pile of rejected clothes. "What if he thinks I'm trying too hard? What if I'm not trying hard enough? What if—""What if you pick something and stop spiraling?"I stared at my reflection in our tiny dorm mirror. My hair was doing that thing where it looked cute from one angle and like I'd been electrocuted from another. My skin was its usual vampire-pale, which looked either ethereal or sickly depending on the lighting."What if I accidentally do something embarrassing?" I asked quietly."Like what?""Like crush his hand when he tries to hold mine. Or react weird to the smell of food. Or—" I stopped myself before I could say 'extend my fangs if he tries to kiss me.'"Ming, you're overthinking this. It's ju

Kamon's POVSomething was wrong with Ming.I'd been watching her for weeks now, and the pattern was becoming impossible to ignore. The way she startled at sounds no one else could hear. How she seemed to know things she shouldn't know. The impossible strength that crushed solid metal like it was paper.And then there was yesterday's lunch, where she'd practically drooled over my beef dish while picking at a salad she clearly didn't want.I was walking across campus after my last class, still thinking about the disappointed look in her eyes when I'd asked about her secrets, when I saw her sitting alone on a bench near the archaeology building.She was on the phone, and even from a distance, I could tell she was upset.I shouldn't eavesdrop. It wasn't right, and it definitely wasn't my business. But something about her body language - the way her shoulders were hunched, how she kept looking around nervously - made me worry.I moved closer, staying behind a large tree where she couldn't s