Entry 2- (Andrew) First day

I was woken up at two o´clock in the morning when y cel phone started ringing.
“Hello?” I said in a groggy voice.
“Hello Desiree!” answered a peppy voice on the other line.
“Andrew? It´s two in the morning… and, how did you get my cel phone number?”
“Oh I have my sources…” he teased. “Anyway, I was wondering at what time your first class is tomorrow.”
“I have Geography at 8:00am. Why do you ask?” involuntarily I yawned and I heard him chuckle on the other side of the line.
“I was wondering if it would be alright if I picked you up and brought you to school tomorrow.”
“Sure, I guess it would be alright. I normally take the bus…” I seriously did not think he would come and pick me up, so I decided to play along with it.
“Great” he whispered into the phone. “I will see you tomorrow bright and early. Sleep well.” And hung up.
My alarm clock seemed to ring too soon after I hung up with Andrew. I quickly got dressed and ran down to get breakfast. Both of my parents were already sitting by the coffee table eating breakfast when I walked down. I gulped down my cereal and as I ran out the door I almost bumped into someone.
“You actually showed up?” I exclaimed.
“Of course I did. Why would I not?” Andrew said, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek.
It was too early for me to think of a better answer than; “Because I didn´t think you meant it.”
He frowned at me. “You really have been hurt by guys before, haven´t you?”
Before I had a chance to answer my father walked out.
“Oh, hello, Mr. Chaucer.” He smiled and shook hands with Andrew. “What can we do for you?”
Andrew put his arm around me and pulled me close. I could feel my face getting red from embarrassment.
“Well, I would like to ask your permission to pick up Desiree every day and take her to school and then bring her back home afterwards.” Andrew said in a serious tone and with a playful smile dancing on his face. Obviously that was no what my father expected because his smile faded and he began speaking in his “father-authority” voice.
“Desiree does not come home after school. She goes to the hospital to do her homework in my office where-I-can-keep-an-eye-on-her.”
Andrew was not discouraged. “Then I can drive her after school to the hospital if you like. It really is no trouble at all.”
I felt embarrassed with the way my father and Andrew were acting. Yet I enjoyed the feeling of Andrew wanting to be with me bad enough to come to an arrangement with my father. I suddenly looked down to my watch and saw that my class started in twenty minutes.
“Dad!” I said “We have to go. My class starts in less than twenty minutes. Andrew is being kind enough to give me a ride to and from school. You said yourself that you thought the bus wasn´t safe anymore.”
“Very well.” My dad said as he grabbed the keys to his car and looking at Andrew. “You may take my daughter to school today. Please bring her to the hospital afterwards and meet me in my office. Both of you.”
“Of course Sir.” Andrew replied as he opened his car door for me. My father gave me one last stern look before Andrew started the car and took off. He has an old navy blue Jeep 4X4. We rode in silence for awhile, only the music on the radio playing in the background.
“Thank you for being nice enough to tolerate my dad. I know he seems overprotective.” I said breaking the silence.
“It wasn´t as awkward as I thought it would be, honestly.” Andrew said showing me his mysterious smile. “During your free hour do you want to hang out? Then I can answer all the questions you have.”
“Sure! That would be great! Where do you want to meet?”
“I have to stop by the library to look for a new book. So I’ll meet you at the entrance around 12.”

Before I knew it we were already in the school parking lot. Like a true gentleman Andrew walked around and opened my door and handed me my backpack. The day started off pretty well, until I arrived to my second period class, Anthropology, and remembered that I hadn´t finished the homework. My teacher was furious and would not let me forget that I was being “a bad student” by not being punctual. All throughout my second and third class I started getting a strong migraine. Finally by 12 I felt my head would explode as I walked to the library to meet Andrew. He was there standing by the entrance talking with a beautiful girl. I'm not sure if he is simple oblivious to the fact that girls love to flirt with him, but by the look on his face he had no idea why she was rubbing his arm. I was about to turn and walk away, when Andrew saw me.
“Desiree!” he called. “Where are you going? Here I am…”
With no energy to argue I dragged myself over to him. The beautiful girl stared at me as if I had interrupted them.
“Who is she?” the nameless-girl asked. Andrew answered by putting his arm around me and kissing the top of my head.
“Annabelle, this is Desiree. She is my girlfriend.” He answered.
“You´re dating her?” Annabelle questioned.
Andrew simply nodded and led me into the library. We walked down the several halls filled with books and all the way to the back. Mainly the bookworms or couples were in the back, but today no one was there. Before I could ask what book he was looking for, Andrew pressed me against the wall and stared into my eyes.
“Ouch!” I complained. “What was this for? You´re hurting me! Let me go…”
“No, “ he said. “Something is wrong, I can tell, eyes never lie. And you wear your every emotion in your eyes.”
“I have a headache.” I said putting my hands up to my head. “it hurts…”. I could feel tears swelling up my eyes.
Andrew let me go and held me in his arms, my head rested on his chest. Then he ran his long fingers through my hair, massaging my head. I have to admit it felt nice, it felt relaxing and “loving”. My headache started to calm down.
“Does it feel better?” he asked.
“Yes… thank you.” Suddenly I started seeing little black dots and I could feel myself growing limp in his arms. Before I fell, I grabbed on to his shoulders, almost taking him down with me in the process. Luckily he was strong enough and reacted fast enough to grab me and sit me down.
“Are you ok? What is the matter?” his voice showed that he was really concerned.
“I am sorry… I don´t feel well. My sugar level must have dropped… “ I said dizzily. “There is a piece of candy in my bag, can you hand it to me please?”
Quickly Andrew rummaged through my bag and pulled out a sugar mint. He unwrapped the plastic and stuck it my in mouth. I still didn´t feel well, but I tried standing up. Andrew tried helping me but I pushed him away.
“You don´t want to be with me… I'm too much work, I'm too weak.” I said trying to back away. “I think it would be better if we just forgot about everything. I let myself get carried away with excitement, but you´re right. I would never be able to deal with your life as a vampire…”
Andrew grabbed my wrists and pulled me so close to him I could feel his breathing on my neck.
He inched nearer and started kissing me, eagerly, passionately as if I would disappear any second. I was grateful for a moment that I had a mint in my mouth to make my breath nice. I suddenly felt an urge or spark of energy go through me and could feel myself getting stronger, better. When Andrew let go, I gasped louder than I expected and realized I hadn´t breathed when he kissed me. (I have admit I was a bit disappointed it ended soo fast!! Whomever said kissing was overrated was wrong! Even if I didn’t kiss back.. it was nice)
“How do you feel now?” he asked with a cunning smile.
I put my hand up to cover my mouth. “What was that? Why did you kiss me?”
With a mischievous smile Andrew leaned back against the wall and chuckled.
“You should never ask a guy why he kisses you…So you do feel better?.” When he saw I was serious he continued. “… all vampires have small special abilities or powers. I have ability of being very intuitive and the power to transfer a bit of my strength.”
“Through a kiss?” I asked.
“or CPR or by simply blowing or breathing on them….”
We sat on the carpeted library floor in silence for a few minutes. I kept thinking over and over what had just happened. My thoughts were interrupted when he took my hand and held it in his.
“I don´t want you to go Desiree…” he began. “I don´t want you to ignore me or forget me. You are important to me now.”
“You don´t even know me. How could I possibly be important for you? “
“Vampires, we have this instinct that just tells us when someone is trustworthy or when someone is worth protecting. Your eyes are what enchant me. You stare that doesn´t judge. Your eyes show your soul, and I would love to hold just a small piece of that.”
I was speechless; his words were so powerful and direct. How could I not fall for what he was telling me?
“I don´t want to become a vampire like you…” I said. “I want to live my life fully and die when my time comes. Life is too cruel to want to relive it for eternity.”
I'm not sure exactly what emotion appeared on his face at that moment, perhaps it was hurt.
“Life also has many things worth reliving for.” Andrew assured. “However I understand your point of view. Believe me, I have no plans of ever asking you to become a like me.”
“Good” I said smiling entwining my fingers with his.
“So, will you agree to be my girlfriend?”
“I will only prove to be disappointing and boring.”
“I guess I will have to find that out the hard way.”
I simply laughed and picked up my backpack to go to my last class. Andrew followed me, suddenly we hear a young girl, standing in the row behind us, drop a book.
“ouch!” she said to someone who was close to her. “I just got a paper cut! Look, my whole finger is bleeding. “
I looked up at Andrew and saw his facial expression change dramatically. His nostrils were flaring and his hands were in fists. His eyes showed a dark power taking over him and he started walking determined over to the next row. I grabbed his shoulder, trying to hold him back and shook him.
“Andrew! Andrew! Look at me!” I said franticly. “Andrew stop!”
He looked down and me and violently grabbed my wrist. “Get out of the way.” He hissed.
I pulled my hands away from him and without thinking twice I slapped him across the face. His seemed to snap out of it for a second, and then I grabbed his face between my hands and whispered in his ear.
“You promised to protect me, to never hurt me. Keep your promise. If you attack that girl you will hurt me. If you spare this girl´s life I will take you to the blood bank tonight. I care for you and if you make a scene it will be worse. Keep your cool. Look into my eyes…” I said and stared into his dark eyes. “…let it go. Breath… Just breath.”
“You play with fire when you´re with me..” Andrew panted. “I'm more dangerous than I seem”
“And you play with water..” I said smiling and brushing hair away from his face. “ when you´re with me, because I ´m unstable. I'm not as strong as I seem… So, aren´t we two a match?
“Water can take different forms.. it can be strong; solid. It can be weak; liquid, it can be free; gas.”
“Fire can also create as well as destroy..”
“Touché.”

In that moment our eyes locked and if it is possible, I think we each were able to see a piece of each other’s soul. And I knew that our friendship was going to last awhile. We needed each other, we supported each other. We were good for each other.
The rest of the day went by very fast and before I knew it I was back in his car on the way to the hospital. I tried convincing Andrew that he did not have to come in with me, but he insisted he followed my fathers instructions of meeting him in his office. Luckily when we got to his office, he wasn´t there, so the lecturing didn´t start immediately. Andrew looked around the office, admiring all the diplomas and awards my father had won. He paused and looked at all the pictures me father had of me on his desk. He smiled when he saw an early baby picture of me.
“You were a cute baby…” he said.
My defenses automatically went up with the words ´were´ and ´cute´. “And what am I now? Not cute?”
Andrew looked seriously at me, his face became solemn again. “Don´t attack me Desiree… I didn´t mean it like that.” Embarrassed I looked away. “You were a cute baby, but now you´ve become a beautiful woman.”
“ I don´t want to talk about this. I don´t want you giving me compliments to make me feel better just because you think you need to…”
I could tell that he wanted to pursue the topic more, but he respected my wishes. The awkward silence made the minutes that ticked by seem like hours.
“If I took a picture of you would you appear in it?” I asked. Andrew chuckled.
“I don´t like pictures, love. I am not photogenic.”
“That´s not what I asked you.”
“… if you took a picture of me, you would see a blur of a person. It would look like I was a fuzzy person in the picture.”
“oh…” I sighed, bowing my head. I would have loved to have a picture of him to carry in my wallet like most of my friends. Suddenly I felt his hand on my cheek, directing my face to look up at him. His thumb rubbed my cheek in the most relaxing and constant circles.
“Are you worried that we could never have a picture of both of us together?” He teased.
I was about to answer then I hear someone clear their throat. I looked over and saw my father standing by the door. Andrew quickly pulled his hand away from my face and look seriously at my father.
“Good afternoon, Dr. Tryson.” He said.
“Hello Mr Chaucer. I see you brought my daughter to me safe and sound. Thank you.” My father said with a hint of irony. “Now, Desiree, could you please step outside for a second, I would like to have a word with Andrew in private.”
I was shocked, what was he going to say to Andrew? Reluctantly I step outside the office. I could not hear what they were saying, but I could see them through a small window he had. First of all, obviously, my dad offered Andrew a seat. They sat down and my father began speaking. There were a lot of hand movements during the conversations. Things seemed to go well until I saw my dad stop talking and simply stare at Andrew as he spoke. My father looked shocked at what Andrew was telling him, then pleased, then shocked again… emotions were flowing through my dad´s face. I back away from the window when I saw them get up and walk to the door.
“…it was a pleasure talking to you Andrew.” My dad said, then he looked at me. “Walk him to his car and then come back to my office. We need to talk.” And closed the door on me.
Andrew put his arm around and as we walked to the car, I drilled him on what my father asked me and what he told him.
“You dad mainly wanted to know what was going on with us. He wanted to know more about me and find out if I was ´good´ company for you.”
“What did you tell him?”
“Everything, the truth, expect for the fact that I am a vampire. I told him we had just started dating and I was more than happy to give you rides to and from school. That I respected you and I would never want to put you in an uncomfortable situation…”
“You told him we´re dating?”
“Well, aren´t we love?”
Whenever he calls me ´love´ or ´beloved´ I melt. “I can´t be mad at you if you talk to me soo sweet. “ I said.
I wanted to ask him more things but he had reached the car and he had told me he had to go to work.
“Will you stop by the hospital later tonight?” I asked.
“No, not today. Perhaps tomorrow…” he said, kissing me on the cheek. “I´ll pick you up tomorrow at your house.”
I can remember well how I got back to my father´s office, I think perhaps I actually floated over. My father was waiting for me and I knew he was going to start questioning me.
“Desiree… he seems like a nice boy, but I can´t allow it. He is seven years older than you…There is too much of an age gap.”
“So? What is the problem. There is no age limit for love.”
“Love?” my father almost had a heart attack. “you are only nineteen years old, what do you know about love?”
“I know that there are different levels of love. He cares for me and I care for him.”
“When did all this happen?... you never even mentioned him before and now he´s your boyfriend?”
“It simply happened. .. we met, me clicked and we´ve decided to see what happens.” I said, I took my fathers hand and held it in mine. “He is very nice dad. He respects me and understands me like no one else does. Even he recognizes that there is a big age difference between us but he is willing to let me grow on my own…”
My father looked at me and I think he understood that I was old enough to make that kind of decision. I think it hurt him to think that I was old enough to have guys be interested in me and that he hadn´t seen it coming.
“Are you comfortable with him?” he asked.
“Yes. He treats me with respect… he is a true gentleman. Perhaps the last gentleman on earth.“ I teased.
“No, I'm the last and best gentleman.” My father joked. “…so, you really like him?”
“Yes.”
“I guess I can´t say anything that will change your mind…You know what I think is funny?…” He got up and put on his white doctors robe. “Before I even had a chance to ask him what he wanted with you. He respectful asked me for permission to date you….Just like a gentleman, like you said. “
“He asked your permission” I asked surprised. “What did you say?”
“I said I would have to ask you first. And I believe you´ve made it clear that what you have is serious with him. Even though you are still in an early stage of dating, you two have a bond.”
Smiling he walked out of the office.
I stayed at the hospital with my father until quarter to eleven that evening. When I got home I was exhausted, but as usual, when I got home, Mother was waiting to hear how my day was. She had a plate of just baked sugarless cookies and hot tea ready by the table. Mother had been diagnosed with cancer a few year ago, and she spent most of her days at the hospital or with friends. She was hardly ever at home, she believed it was better that I didn´t see her go through all the treatments. Around that time my father had decided it was best I went after school to the hospital and not be home alone. Even though my mother and I were close, I resented the fact that she preferred her friends to help her through the treatment than her own family.
We talked for an hour in the kitchen. I told her about my day at school and then I told her the big news of Andrew officially being my boyfriend.
“That is wonderful honey.” She smiled. “You, know? He actually came by earlier to talk to me.”
“What did he want to talk to you about?” I asked trying to act calm, but I was boiling that he came to see my mother without telling me.
“He just wanted to talk and see how I was…. I think he was trying to prove that he was good enough to date you. “ she put the plates in the sink. “I think he is very nice. I am glad you found someone like that.”
I forced a smile and said goodnight. When I got to my room I was still choking back tears. I hated it when she talked like that… as if she would die tomorrow. No one can replace her, can´t she understand that having someone else loving me doesn´t substitute the fact that she won´t.