Kolya wasn’t a fan of the first day of classes. New profs droning introductions he could’ve read off the syllabus. New faces pretending to care about stupid icebreakers. “Say one fun fact about yourself.” Why? What possible relevance did their favorite ice cream flavor or spirit animal have to a supernatural-human relations class?

He waited for the moment the professor would stop wasting time. Arms crossed over his broad chest. Textbook closed on his desk. Already he was scanning the course outline mentally.

Then she walked through the door.

The world didn’t stop moving, it didn’t do him that courtesy. But he stopped. Or at least everything inside him did. The low hum of agitation he carried everywhere, it switched off. It was one thing to notice someone, it’d happened plenty. He wasn’t blind or numb. But this? This was like—

Like waking up when he hadn’t realized he was asleep.

Her steps were just normal but the sound of them hit his ears like the beat of war drums. The faint scent of her blood carried on the dull breeze from the open window. Warm. Alive. It tugged at him like an anchor beneath the ocean.

He stared. Didn’t even think to look away. Why would he?

He’d never seen her before. She was new, clearly.

He drank it all whole like one of those long sips of fresh blood after a week of abstention. He didn’t analyze why he was drawn to her. It wasn’t a question. It just was.

That’s new. That hollowed-out space inside him, a quiet numbness he didn’t think twice about because vampires didn’t feel things like other species did filled suddenly. But it wasn’t like the raging thirst of hunger. It didn’t claw or burn. It wasn’t like anger like hot coals behind his ribs. Nor the deadened satisfaction of routine.

It was...soft.

And alive.

He could hear Roman’s smug teasing already. Could practically feel the wolf hybrid grinning that obnoxiously sharp grin. “Didn’t think you’d ever catch feelings for anyone, you always act like everyone’s cardboard cutouts.”

Kolya had never believed in clichés like love at first sight. He thought it was idiotic at best, a hormonal fantasy perpetuated by bad poetry and worse movies. Yet as his gaze locked on her, he felt a shift inside him so tangible it was like someone had reached into his chest and rearranged his ribcage.

His world had changed, just like that. One moment, it was as it had always been: cold, methodical, predictable. And now? Now it had her.

And he wasn’t going to fight it. No. Fighting it would mean denying himself the most human thing he’d felt since...well. Since becoming a vampire. Love didn’t make logical steps. It didn’t ask permission or follow rules. It didn’t care if he wasn’t good at understanding people. Or if his blood was cold. Or if he was blunt or messy or too much for most.

Love was simple.

Kolya leaned back slowly into his chair. Let himself feel the quiet burn of it. The warmth spreading through his chest—a flame he didn’t think possible.

__

Kolya’s lunch hour was supposed to be routine, predictable. It wasn’t. Not after this morning. Not after her. The cafeteria buzzed with its usual chaos of supernatural species mingling with humans. Shifters scarfed down entire trays of food like they hadn’t eaten all week. A harpy fought with a satyr over who got the last slice of pie. And Kolya? Kolya sat across from Roman at their usual spot near the window.

Roman was mid-sentence, animated as ever. “...and then she told me she doesn't date MMA guys. Can you believe that? Like I’m some dumb meathead or hey! Are you even listening?”

Kolya blinked slowly. “Hm?”

“Dude. What’s with you? You’ve been staring at the door like your life depends on it.”

“I’m waiting.”

Roman leaned forward with a sly grin. “Waiting for what? Oh oh no. Who? Spill.”

Kolya’s fingers drummed against the table. “Someone from class.”

Kolya looked down to flip through the book he bought. Its title—"The Modern Art of Making Someone Your Girlfriend"—was printed boldly across the front.

Roman’s grin somehow got wider. “Oh my god. You’re serious. You’re really the guy buying into this Hallmark bullshit. What's next? Flowers? A mixtape? ‘Hey babe,’” he mocked a deepened Kolya-esque growl “‘here’s Drake for your Monday blues.’ Bro. Come on. Just be hot. You’ve got the whole pale-god thing going for you.”

Kolya finally looked up. “I don’t want to just ‘be hot.’ I want to get it right.”

"Jesus Christ. Hold on.” Roman wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, leaning forward as if to get a better look at the cover. “Kolya, you don’t need this. You’re... you, for fuck’s sake. Just flash that brooding vampire shit around, and most girls would line up to have your fangs in their neck.” He gestures vaguely, still staring at the book like it’s some alien artifact.

"The book has very good reviews on Amazon. Four point five stars." Kolya said flatly before continuing, “I’m going to make her mine.”

Roman chokes on his energy drink. "Jesus fuck, maybe try 'hello' first? I mean, you’ve never struggled to pull women.”

Kolya raised a single brow. “It’s not the same.”

“Uh-huh.” Roman leaned back smugly. “Explain.”

Kolya leaned forward just enough to make his point firm. “I didn’t care about the other women.”

That shut Roman up for a moment. He chewed thoughtfully this time. “Oh. Alright. So this one’s different?”

“Yes. She walked into class.” His hands rested flat on the table. “I saw her. I felt- alive. That’s all.”

Roman snorted. “You’re dead.”

“I know that.”

Roman whistled low. “Man. She must be a goddess or somethin’ for you to be out here reading books on dating. Do I get to meet her? What’s her deal? What’s her species?”

“I don’t know.” Kolya admitted bluntly. “But I'll find out.”

“Alright...” Roman’s grin stretched wide. “So what’d the book say? About girlfriends?”

“It’s structured.” Kolya’s fingers drummed against the table. “Steps. Logical. Clear.”

“Uh-huh.” Roman fought to keep a straight face. “And these steps are...?”

Kolya’s answer was cut short when the cafeteria door swung open. There she was, the girl from this morning. {{user}}.

Roman followed Kolya’s line of sight. “Oh. That’s her? Alright... respect. She’s cute.”

Kolya grunted affirmatively. He slammed the book shut and stood abruptly.

“Wait, what are you doing? Bro. Bro. You’re just gonna go over there?”

Kolya’s piercing stare cut through the noise of the cafeteria. “Yes.”

Roman groaned. “Oh my god. You are so dramatic.”

Kolya crossed the cafeteria with deliberate strides.

A vampire's instincts were rarely subtle, but this, this was on another level. It’s intoxicating. It’s her. All of her. Need. His fangs itch, and he has to clench his jaw to suppress the instinct.

When he reached her table he just... stood there. His fists curled at his sides as he reined himself back. He wasn’t an animal. He would do this properly.

He thought about what the book said. Step one: Introduce yourself.

“I’m Kolya Varenkov. From class earlier. Supernatural-Human Relations." The proximity amplifies everything, the sound of her heartbeat, the faint rise and fall of her breathing. It takes everything in him not to lose focus.

There. Simple. Direct. Step two: Establish interest.

“I want to take you on a date. Tomorrow night,” he stated bluntly, no preamble or hesitation. He met her gaze directly, his icy blue eyes unflinching as he waited for her response.

.