“Wakie wakie, Keagan!” Lincoln burst into his room with a pan and a wooden spoon, banging them against each other.

“Shush, old man!” Keagan groaned into his pillow.

“Honey! I said to wake him up nicely!” Eugene yelled from somewhere in the house.

“I am being nice! I didn’t jump on him this time!” Lincoln called back.

“I get it! I’ll be up in a minute,” Keagan sighed, throwing the blanket over his head to try and muffle the noise.

“Uncle Kayden is coming around to pick you up.”

Keagan sprung up and out of bed with big eyes and a wide grin, “really?”

Lincoln nodded.

“Why didn’t you start with that?” Keagan got on his feet and started rummaging through his closet.

“Riley is starting her first day at the elementary school next to your high school. Kayden said he wouldn’t mind picking you up too on his way.”

“Aw little Riley,” Keagan cooed, “with her being closer I can fight off anyone who looks at her wrong,” Keagan flashed his fangs.

Lincoln laughed, “You already know Damien has that girl guarded with her own mini wolf pack.”

“An extra vampire won’t hurt.”

“Get ready for school, you rascal.”

~~~

“Kayden!!” Keagan launched himself at the shorter man nearly knocking him off his feet.

“Keagan! You can’t just run at me anymore,” Kayden laughed, “you’ve gotten too tall for that!”

“Where’s Riley?” Keagan bounced in place very much full of energy.

“She’s in the car and she’s not happy about going to a new school,” Kayden sighed.

“Why not? She was super excited the last time I saw her. Is she scared the kids will be mean again?”

“Oh no. That girl’s got sass and she knows she’s gorgeous. Zero confidence issues with her, which I’m very grateful for. It’s just we were doing our little morning affirmations and she asked me if she was going to have to explain to all the kids what vitiligo is again. She’s a little pressed that schools don’t teach kids about it. She’s been ranting about it all morning.”

Keagan giggled a bit, “of course. That girl is going to come out running that school. But hey, don’t worry too much. She’ll be fine and you know it.”

Kayden shook his head, “oh no. I’m not worried about her. I’m worried about her teachers,” Kayden smiled.

The sound of the window rolling down got both their attention as Riley poked her head out, “You guys are slow! Keagan come on! I want to show you my new doll!

Keagan smiled down at Kayden, “She is a force.”

As soon as Keagan sat in the backseat with Riley she began talking about her new doll which soon turned back into a rant about school. “Papa said that school was dumb. Well he didn’t say dumb he said another word but Daddy says I’m not allowed to say it yet until I’m a little bigger. I think I’m going to become a teacher.”

“I think you’d make a great teacher when you’re older,” Keagan said.

“No, I’m going to become a teacher today.”

Keagan laughed a little, “you can’t become a teacher today. You have to go to college first.”

Riley sighed and stayed quiet for a bit like she was thinking really hard about something. She stayed like that up until they pulled up to the school to drop her off. 

“Bye Daddy! Bye Keagan!” She said, as she hopped out of the car and walked inside the school gate where a staff member directed her toward a line of other kids.

Kayden waited until she had joined the line before he pulled off and drove down the street to Keagan’s school.

“Have a good day today, Kea. Should I pick you up later?”

“Nah. I’m gonna walk to the hospital after school.”

Kayden smiled at him sadly and nodded.

As soon as Keagan stepped out of the car an arm was thrown around him.

“Did you do it?” Ray whispered, getting way too close.

“Yes, you ass!” Keagan shoved him away, “It really wasn’t that great. It’s like a blood bag but warm.”

Ray frowned, “You didn’t drink enough then you’re supposed to feel a sort of high.”

“I drank plenty,” Keagan snapped.

“Hey, why are you giving me attitude? You’re the one who got all emo and said you wished your brain would just stop sometimes. You must have done it wrong or something.”

“Whatever,” Keagan shoved past Ray and walked into the school.

Truth was, he did feel it. Just not with the girl. But he wouldn’t let himself think about that. Especially not when that boy apparently went to this school. The last thing Keagan needed was to have some kind of bloodthirsty outburst in front of a bunch of humans.