I started making a rough list of questions to ask Xander as soon as I got home. I didn’t know when to call him though. I really wanted to call him the minute I finished the list, but I didn’t want to seem too eager. But on the other hand, I didn’t want to make him wait around for my call all night. I decided I’d call him at 5:30 because it just seemed like a really reasonable un-over-eager time. So there I sat on my bed, phone in hand with his number on my screen for a full minute, and as soon as I saw the transition from 5:29 to 5:30, I hit send faster than you can say…I dunno, something relatively fast. To my surprise, Xander answered with equal swiftness. It seemed that he really was waiting for me to call.

“Hello?” He said as if I’d hang up if he didn’t immediately say something.

“Hi,” I began, taken a bit off guard by his tone. “It’s…me. Virginia, obviously.”

“I know, I know. I’m glad you called.” He slowed down and he sounded relieved.

“Well, I guess I just want to know what,” I didn’t want to call him a “what”, but I couldn’t think of anything else. “You are.”

“And that’s totally fair. It’s the least I could do, really.” His concern still confused me.

“Why do you care what I think so much?” I didn’t mean to ask. I should’ve bit my tongue.

“I told you, Ginny. I knew when I saw you that you’re,”

“Special,” I interrupted. “But don’t get too attached, I still have questions.” If I were to get through this, I needed to be firm.

“I guess you should just start then,” He braced himself for the interrogation. “I promise to tell you the truth.

“Ok, I’ll start with,” I looked at my list, already losing myself. “When you said your teeth weren’t fake.”

“They’re real, yes.” He stated, quietly.

“Yes, that is the opposite of fake. Do you think you could explain? Does that mean...”

“I’m a vampire. Yes.” He maintained his “bracing” tone.

“This has got to be a fricken joke.” I whispered loudly to myself.

“Not like one of The Chad’s followers, though. I’m not like that,” He stressed. “I’m ‘the real deal’ as they say.”

“So you like, kill people then?” I said it so nonchalantly, it was weird.

“No, no, not at all. There are a lot of misconceptions that might scare you. But,” He paused “I don’t want you to be afraid of me. I just need you to believe what I tell you.”

“I’ll try,” I complied. “So you’re telling me you don’t kill people?”

“No, not people. Not even animals. Well, unless it’s an emergency. But even then it’s nothing big.” He said as if we were talking about shoe shopping (which sounded so delightfully normal at that point in time).

“Then how do you survive? You need blood right, that’s not a misconception I take it?” I couldn’t stop twirling the fringe on my pillow. I always fidget when I’m nervous.

“Yes, I do need blood. But in order to keep a low profile, most vampire families take up profession in what we call ‘Bloody Business’; jobs like undertakers, butchers,”

“Lawyers,” I quietly joked.

“What?” Apparently I wasn’t quiet enough.

“Nothing. So I thought vampires only came out at night. The sun killed them or something.” I moved on.

“Well,” He sounded thoughtful. “The best way to describe it is to compare it to Darwin’s theory of evolution, survival of the fittest mostly.”

“Ok, I aced a test on evolution once so…let’s hear it. I’m sure I can follow.” I subtly boasted.

“There have always been different types of vampires; in this instance, some more photosensitive than others. Over time, and through adaptation most of the vampire population, although still sensitive to the sun, can go out in daylight.” Dr. Xander explained. It was like he turned into a professor, but I guess he was just trying to get me to understand. But it worked.

“Have you been practicing what you were going to say? This sounds like a speech.” I laughed nervously.

“A little,” He admitted. That shocked me, mostly because I was kidding. “This isn’t the first time I’ve had to explain myself so I thought I’d prepare answers to the questions I knew you’d ask,” Then I realized he had probably been writing down answers to the same questions I was writing down at the same time, and it kinda blew my mind. “But you seemed to know what you were asking. Did you write down questions?”

“No,” I said a little too quickly. “Well, yes I did actually. I don’t know why I just said no.”

“It’s ok,” he laughed. There was another noise I heard in the background, a weird noise that almost sounded like someone talking but didn’t sound quite human enough. Probably another vampire saying something in some freaky vampire language. And it was freaky, it gave me the chills. “Shit, I have to go. Can we meet somewhere tomorrow?”

“Uh, sure. The park across the street from St. Stephen’s?” I suggested.

“Four o’clock?” He replied.

“Ok.” I agreed.

“Ok. See you then.” And with that, and a quiet click, the conversation was over.

Sure, he answered my questions. But how was I supposed to be sure that it was all true? What if he was just some sick twisted kid trying to lure me to do…well, to do God knows what!? But I really did trust him, and that’s saying something since I don’t trust most people. I was determined to find out for sure what to believe tomorrow at the park. But at that particular moment, all I wanted was a nap.