Tinted Lenses: Julian (continued...) - Part III

Mik wasn't exactly as stoic as he came off, but to some unsuspecting stranger, they were as good as dead if they thought they'd pull one over on him. Of course, that wasn't as simple as it sounded. Mik and Topher came from two prominent figures in society, and one of them was as close to the original vampire that started our entire species.

The grant total? Three beings, which gave no fucks about upending your mortal or immortal life, and one who absolutely enjoyed the gore of it. I shivered at the thought of Mik's mom, before making a mental note that I still didn't want to cross paths with their grandmother.

I had never met her, but the idea of woman that stood taller than most basketball players that I'd seen on the TV unnerved me. I had to believe that she was more gangly, thin, and skeletal, but from the photo that Mik and Topher had with her that they'd shown me, she just looked like a giant woman that was likely never human to begin with. Her frame was full, like a regular person, just... larger.

I shuddered to imagine what she looked like when she didn't look eerily human-like. I remembered uttering that out loud and Mik making a face that looked like he'd seen something of a nightmare... I couldn't bring myself to ask him to describe it.

"Did you already order anything?" Topher asked as he slid into the booth across from me.

My gaze snapped to him, seeing the dark, nearly black hair, and off-brown toned skin. I studied him for a moment, trying to make up my mind before finally giving him a flat and resounding "no" to answer to that question.

"Why do you look so beat down then?" Topher asked me as he picked up the menu from the center of the table. He opened it up, giving it a quick once over before seeming to make up his mind as Mik leaned over the back of my booth.

"I think J is either fantasizing over a human he's enamored with, or his parents likely caught him in a lie," Mik joked quietly.

"Fuck off," I snorted at Mik, rolling my eyes at him. "No. I just cut my new teeth today," I rumbled.

"Cut teeth? What, like your baby fangs?" Topher asked, smiling at me.

My eyes dodgedly darted up from the table to glare at him, and his humor didn't die off like I hoped. "No. I- Couldn't drink my coffee. I threw it up." I ran my hands over the back of my neck and down. "Not that it should be a big deal, but I don't think I can get over the sensation of the drink going out my nose when I tried to push it all down. It just happened so quick," I lamented.

"Sounds like you finally bit the dust on your caffeine binge." Topher leaned back in the seat, looking over his shoulder. "Doesn't make it idea to run out of your house dramatically."

"Yeah- well, I'm not a dog okay!" I watched Topher slide me a curious gaze with one eyebrow popping up before I simmered down. "I'm technically old enough to leave the house on my own. I can go out at night. My parents can't stop me."

"I don't think that's what anyone is insinuating, but it sounds like you're on your soap box," Topher shrugged at me, giving me the floor. "Let it out then."

I deflated, feeling the ripple of those words. I knew what Topher was saying. Don't be a bitch about it, but articulate your problem without whining. It was a sort of attitude him and Mik had, and honestly, I was sure it had a lot more to do with their upbringing. I knew my dad let me get away with it to an extent, but he always sort of reeled it back in to get me to think critically, and this had to be one of those points.

My hand flew up, and just as quickly as it caught air, it slapped the table in defeat. "Fuck, I don't know. Maybe I do, but I know that I have this discussion my parents are going to want to have with me about this, and I haven't been out and about enough to go perusing for a host. Humans are-" I cringed, gross. They always seemed kind of flighty, worried about the slightest perceived threat, and in some ways, it got my Hunger ticking, in others, it was revolting.

Mik raise a brow as he looked at Topher. "That's-"

"Don't you dare tell me that a strip club is the alternative." The thought felt slimy, and I shuddered. "I don't know. I haven't really given it much thought to really pour into the idea of a host. I just don't want to go completely psycho on anyone because packets are the only thing I've had."

Topher shrugged. "Red never complains."

"Uncle Red also doesn't have a vampire partner either, so that's kind of an unreal litmus," Mik added.

"Fair point," Topher amended, conceding to that. "Okay, so maybe it's not the most idea or the best discussion to have, but we're not exactly vampires."

"Haven't tasted one either," Mik said calmly.

I winced, then slowly turned my head up at him.

"What? My mom- says... you guys, you know what, I'll shut up."

"Yeah," I breathed. "Thanks for that." I pushed my hand up to my forehead, shoving the short bangs that brushed the top of my forehead back. My fingers dug between the strands, parting my hair as I raked my hand back smoothly. "What am I supposed to look for in a human? Blood type?"

"Question for your parents," Mik shrugged. "Maybe?"

"Obviously," Topher said quietly.

"Yeah, well, I'm welcoming not-parental managed ideas right now. I really don't think I want to go walk home and act like some school-kid going, 'Mom, Dad, how do I fucking eat a person?' Okay?"

"Ouch."

"That's a little harsh," Mik added to Topher's retort, not letting it hang. "I mean, vampires don't stick to one human. That's why I said the club."

"Absolutely fucking not. My first time isn't going to be a club. I know if I fuck that up, I'll never live it down."

"I mean, we could all just swear to secrecy," Mik snorted, laughing a little.

"Not helping," I growled under my breath.

"You elected this committee, not us." Mik shrugged, finally getting off the back of my booth to come swing around and sit down next to me. He shoved me in against the corner of the booth, and I dragged the menu with me.

"Maybe blood-infused food?" I suggested.

"That shit is going to piss your stomach off," Topher told me candidly. "That takes time to work up."

"I'll do whatever I damn-well want, okay?"

"Your funeral," Topher sighed, giving up. He shrugged his shoulders, letting his head fall back against the seat before looking at Mik. "Did you text Dad and ask him if were supposed to meet up tomorrow or if that was postponed for the weekend?"

"Forgot," Mik answered quickly, crossing his arms as he leaned forward over the table.

"Dammit." Topher grabbed his phone from his pocket to unlock the screen and start typing in it.