“Mazzy. Mazzy.” Jackson tugged Maya’s hand, forcing her to look up at him. “What are you daydreaming about that’s so much more interesting than us?”

“Nothing…” Maya said, drawing it out. She stared up at the clouds. Jackson clapped his hands loudly, startling her.

“Okay, group council. What is up with her?”

“I think she’s in love,” Bridgette smirked, her two blonde braids falling forward against the grass.

Maya rolled forwards against the grass and buried her face in her hands. “Stop.”

Jackson peered next to her. “Oh my god.”

“Stop.”

“You are!”

“Jackson!” Maya covered her eyes as he laid down next to her, even though she already had sunglasses on.

“Your face is so red.”

“Probably a fucking sunburn because you guys are always trying to tell me not to wear my hat.” She stared at him, and he held eye contact until she had to glance away. “Just a friend,” she said, covering her smile.

“Oh my god!” Jackson grabbed her hands. “Who is she? What does she look like?”

Maya shoved him softly— she had to be soft. He had no idea how much stronger than him she really was. “She’s really pretty. She has, like, this really shiny curly dark hair, and she’s taller than me.”

“Everyone’s taller than you.”

“Shut up, no they’re not.”

Jackson pushed off the grass onto his knees, where he towered above her. “Sure.”

Bridgette leaned in as they both sat up. “And you’re ‘just friends?’” She used finger quotes.

“Yes.” Maya leaned backwards onto her heels. “We actually just met. At the meeting. We’re barely friends.”

“At the meeting?” Noemi asked. “Is she…”

“We have the same condition,” Maya said. It didn’t matter much to her, but she had noticed that her friends always skirted around the name of her condition. She herself had forgotten it, the “diagnosis” screenshotted somewhere on her phone. Maybe they had too.

“Send us photos when you get one,” Bridgette begged. She glanced at Noemi jokingly. “Don’t be like Nomi. Remember when you wouldn’t introduce us to your boyfriend for months?”

Noemi blushed. She’d been with her boyfriend, Jack, for almost a year now. Maya didn’t love him– he was too loud, abrasive– but she was happy for her friend.

“I’ll tell you, don’t worry,” Maya said. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling. “Her name is Gabriela.”

“Gabriela,” Jackson mused, rolling the name around in his mouth. “Gabriela. Mazzy and Gabriela.”

Maya giggled and leaned against him, his arm casually falling around her shoulders. “You guys will always be my favorite, don’t worry.”

“I’d never worry.” Jackson picked up Maya’s hand and swung it back and forth. His nails were painted blue. “But damn, your hands are cold. Are you okay?”

Maya froze for a second, then forced a smile. She could pretend all she could, but being a vampire would always be there in the background. She wished she could escape it. It was like a curse. 

“I’m always okay,” she said.