Chapter 3: How Not to Explain Your Sudden Exit

Ming's POV

I 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 if you were okay and if there was anything he could do to help!"

My heart did a little flip. "He was worried?"

"YES! And instead of a normal explanation, all he got was you screaming about metal allergies and running away like a lunatic!"

I groaned and flopped back on my bed. "I'm a disaster."

"You're an IDIOT!" But Ploy's voice was softer now. She sat down on the edge of my bed. "Ming, what really happened? You were doing fine, and then suddenly you looked terrified and bolted."

I couldn't exactly tell her that my vampire fangs had started tingling when I got too close to Kamon, which meant my supernatural side was reacting to him in ways I didn't understand.

"I panicked," I said instead. "He's just... really good-looking up close."

"So you RAN AWAY?"

"It seemed like the logical response at the time!"

Ploy stared at me like I'd grown a second head. "Ming, normal people don't run away when they're attracted to someone."

"I'm not normal people!"

"No kidding."

We sat in silence for a moment. I could hear other students laughing and talking in the hallway, living their normal, non-supernatural lives where they didn't have to worry about accidentally revealing fangs to their crushes.

"He probably thinks I'm completely insane now," I said miserably.

"Probably," Ploy agreed cheerfully. "But here's the thing—he still seemed interested."

I sat up so fast I got dizzy. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, after you left, he spent the next ten minutes asking questions about you. What you study, what you're like, if you're always so... energetic."

"He asked about me?" My voice came out as a squeak.

"He also said your scooter offer still stands, if you want to bring it by the garage."

My heart started doing gymnastics in my chest. "Really?"

"Really. But Ming?" Ploy's expression got serious. "Next time, maybe try staying long enough to actually have a conversation?"

"There's going to be a next time?"

"There better be, because I'm not letting you waste this. Kamon doesn't talk to anyone, and he was actually smiling when he talked about you."

"He was smiling?"

"A little. It was subtle, but it was there."

I felt like I might melt into a puddle of happiness. Kamon had been smiling when he talked about me. Even after I'd made a complete fool of myself, he'd still been interested enough to ask questions.

"So what do I do now?" I asked.

"You're going to apologize for your dramatic exit, bring your scooter to the garage like a normal person, and try not to run away this time."

"But what if I panic again?"

"Then you take a deep breath and remember that he's just a boy, not some mythical creature."

If only she knew how ironic that was, considering I was the mythical creature in this situation.

"Okay," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "I can do this. How hard can it be?"

"Famous last words," Ploy muttered.

The Next Day - Campus Coffee Shop

I was sitting in the corner of the coffee shop, nursing my third cup of coffee and trying to work up the courage to walk across campus to the garage, when I saw him.

Kamon was in line at the counter, looking tired and gorgeous in a simple black t-shirt. His dark hair was slightly messy, like he'd been running his hands through it, and he had that serious expression he always wore when he thought no one was watching.

My vampire hearing picked up his order: "Just a black coffee, please. Large."

No sugar, no milk, no fancy flavoring. Even his coffee order was quietly intense.

Before I could lose my nerve, I stood up and walked over to him.

"Hi," I said, appearing beside him at the counter.

He turned, those dark eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Oh. Hi."

"I wanted to apologize," I said quickly, before I could chicken out. "About yesterday. At the garage."

"You don't need to apologize."

"Yes, I do. I was... weird. Weirder than usual."

The corner of his mouth twitched. "Are you usually weird?"

"More than I'd like to be."

He was quiet for a moment, studying my face with those intense eyes. "Are you feeling better? You seemed... distressed."

"I'm fine. I just..." Think, Ming, think of a believable excuse. "I have anxiety sometimes. Social anxiety. And being in new places with new people can be overwhelming."

It wasn't entirely a lie. Being around him definitely made me anxious, just not for the reasons he thought.

"That makes sense," he said quietly. "I get that."

"You do?"

"I don't really like crowds either. Or new situations."

His coffee was ready, and he took it with a small nod of thanks to the barista. I expected him to leave, but instead he lingered.

"Did you still want help with your scooter?" he asked.

"If the offer's still open."

"It is." He paused. "Maybe we could start somewhere less... overwhelming? I could take a look at it here on campus instead of at the garage."

My heart did a little dance. He was making accommodations for my supposed anxiety, being thoughtful and understanding in a way that made me like him even more.

"That would be perfect," I said.

"Tomorrow afternoon? Around four?"

"Yes. Definitely yes."

He nodded and started to turn away, then stopped. "Ming?"

"Yeah?"

"For what it's worth, I don't think you're that weird."

And then he walked away, leaving me standing there with a stupid smile on my face and a heart that was beating way too fast for someone who was technically undead.

Maybe I wasn't completely hopeless after all.

[End of Chapter 3]