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the whole company, I felt like the fat friend. That was what I saw when I stood in front of the mirror, even as I adjusted the lace on the Victorian choker at my throat and straightened the cameo. The dress I wore was simple, and more importantly warm; winter in Oregon could be brutal. The dress looked like an oversized gray off the shoulder sweater that hugged my body. The gray knit fabric stopped tastefully above the knee. For shoes, I went with a blood red pair of stilettos with a black lace overlay and a clutch that matched.
    I continued to stare my face in the mirror. I was pretty. My eyes were hazel, wide, and almond shaped. My lips— full and pouty. All of these features were set in a heart-shaped face. I had long, sable hair that when wet reached the small of my back. After curling it was slightly longer than my elbows. My skin was that dark olive that so many spent hours tanning to achieve. The end result was somewhat sultry and exotic. After eyeliner and bright cherry red lipstick, I was a knockout—or at least that’s what people told me.
     
    The doors to both Kendra and Leslie’s apartments were open and music softly drifted between the two. People stood in the hallway. Some faces I recognized, some I didn’t. Mostly it was Kendra and Leslie’s Company, but I noted a few surreally pale faces seated amongst the others. It seemed a little obscene, but everyone knew Vampires flocked to the arts since the beginning of time. I moved through Leslie’s apartment, a few of the dancers nodded at me and the vampires just stared…hungrily. Neither of my friends were in there, but neither was Garrett or Aleksi. I was half tempted to just leave . Leaving now would be impolite. I made my way to Kendra’s much larger apartment. Hers was the two bedroom on the floor, the extra bedroom had once been Garrett’s long ago.
    Kendra’s apartment was immaculately decorated, as always. The furniture and electronics were all almost excessively expensive. Everything looked shiny, new and modern. Making my way through the people there I felt like I was moving through Disney’s Tomorrowland. Scanning the crowd, I unfortunately, found Garrett before I found Leslie or Kendra. He was kissing one of the male dancers like he was trying to drink the man’s very soul, while Anna sat in his lap. Her skirt was hiked up, her panties were visible to the whole room and his hand was tucked into that lace. You should have expected this . I stared for a moment and my heart actually hurt. I relived that moment again, coming in with my acceptance letter, and finding him in our bed sandwiched between one of the male soloists and Anna. Was it Anna? Yes, and he asked you to join. It was the day I found out I was accepted into the accelerated program for a Ph.D. in Eighteenth-Century Literature.
    Kendra rounded the corner with Aleksi and her face contorted when she saw Garrett, Anna and the other male on her couch. Aleksi’s brilliant blue eyes settled on me. Even as my gaze fell to the floor, I could feel the weight and press of the vampire’s attention. Still, I wanted to attack Garrett. I pretended like it hadn’t played a part in my chosen path of celibacy, but it did. You can’t attack him, you’re in public. I set my jaw and let out a shaky breath that seemed dreadfully close to being on the edge of tears. Congratulate her now and leave. I fumbled with my clutch.
    “What the fuck Garrett!” Kendra yelled, her voice causing the murmur of the room to fall silent.
    “I’m sorry, I’m being rude. Would anyone else like to join?” Garrett snickered and Anna and the male beside him joined in. “Autumn?” He purred my name and I snapped my attention back to him.
    “Just get out. I didn’t invite you. I don’t want you here,” Kendra continued to shout. Anna stood and pulled down her skirt, covering her panties.
    “I came with John and Anna,” He snickered darkly at his own double entendre. “Oh, c’mon Kendra. We all used to be