The professor’s still preparing the powerpoint as I take my usual seat in the back of the classroom, so I take my time pulling out a composition book and a pen. Most of the kids fire up their laptops, the little windows giving the darkened lecture hall an eerie glow. I take a look in my compact mirror. I don’t look great, in fact, I look sick. God, I thought this was over.

I finger the cross I usually keep beneath my shirt. I like to think it’s ironic, me wearing a cross, like a little joke between me and… Just me, I guess. The professor starts up the projector. “Ok, everyone settle down.” No one was talking to begin with, not in person anyway, although everyone with a laptop is on AIM , gabbing away.

“The first disease we’re going to look at today…” I start to tune him out, doodling in the margins of my notebook. I start thinking about the party I know is going on tonight. I know I’m going, and I know I’ll look for her.

“Who here believes in vampires?” He asks, I snap to attention, ”’Cause you should.”