“Very well, kids. Today, we'll learn to use these." She said, showing the class a small knife. “This is a knife, more specifically, a paring knife or a fruit knife. It's used to peel and cut fruits and vegetables, and it's especially good to cut out bad spots. You'll find one in your first drawer.”

On cue, the students began to open the aforementioned drawers. Adam hesitated for a second, looking at Mark for a clue on what he wanted him to do. He seemed more focused on his phone, though, only sparing him a glance and gesturing towards the drawer. Seems he wanted him to be the one to… put his hand in the drawer…

Adam sighed internally and braced himself, opening the drawer slowly. 

He knew he was just delaying the inevitable. However, Mark wanted fear, so fear he would have to show--

Adam held his breath as adrenaline suddenly hit him like lightning. But… the pain didn't come.

“Well, you going to take that knife out or…?” Mark questioned, his eyes still on the screen and his other hand on the drawer's handle.

Adam stared at him for a second, but Mark only glanced at him and flashed him a quick smirk, before returning to whatever was on his screen that was so interesting…

He swallowed dryly and slowly began removing his hand from harm's way--

He jolted back as the drawer slammed shut, the sensation of wood brushing against his fingertips echoing through his nerves.

“Now grip the knife like this." She demonstrated, pinching the handle between her thumb and index finger. The remaining fingers look relaxed and natural.

Adam looked at Mark, hesitantly trying to hand him the knife.

He stared at him and put his phone away in his pocket, accepting the tool. 

Adam immediately regretted his decision as images of Mark plunging the knife into his belly flashed into his mind-- No, he was being stupid. Mark wouldn't just straight up stab him! Not here with so many witnesses, at least. Part of him wished he did, though. At least then, maybe, just maybe, someone would step in. The teachers, the director, hell, maybe even the Public Guard! But… another part of him knew that it was useless, that Mark's father would probably just buy his way out of trouble…

He looked at the clock on the wall. 72 minutes. Another 72 minutes of this shit…

He tried to calm down and concentrate on the lesson. 

Maybe time would go by faster that way.

“Good, good… David, relax that grip a little. You're going to strain your wrist like that. Kevin, you too, don't choke the knife." She pointed out, scanning the room again. “Very well, now grab your cutting boards, the pack of carrots in the mini fridge, and a bowl from the cabinet.”

Adam took a deep breath discreetly as he fetched the supplies, putting them gently on the counter.

“Now, pay close attention." She said, grabbing a carrot and placing it flat on the board. “The carrots don't leave the board; your knife goes to them, not the other way around. Understood?”

“Yes, Ms. Reyes.”

“Good. Now, with your free hand, you'll hold down the carrot like this." She demonstrated, gripping the thicker end of the carrot with her fingers flexed inwards. “Then, you're going to press the knife against the carrots lightly, just enough to penetrate the skin, and then you'll twist it like so and glide away from your hand." She instructed, the knife gliding through the vegetable like butter, slicing a thin and uniform peel. “Then you rotate the carrot and repeat the process. Understood?”

“Yes, Ms. Reyes.”

“Good. After you're done, you transfer the peeled carrots into a bowl, and the peels are for the organic trash. You may begin.”

Adam almost jolted when he saw Mark move out of the corner of his eye, but he was just reaching for the carrots…

The classroom was rather silent, save for the usual “the teacher shut up, so let's whisper and murmur with the volume of people in a busy restaurant”. 

Adam stayed quiet, watching David talk Cassie's ears off between glances to the back of the room, to which Adam answered with a reassuring look.

He was fine. He was holding up just fine, and David didn't need to worry about him--

“Why are you sticking your neck out for her?” Mark's voice hit him like a bucket of mop water. “Do you know her or something?” he questioned, eyes still glued on the carrot as he worked.

“...No,” he answered, looking down. “We never even talked before. I just met her.”

“Are you telling me the truth? You know I have ways of discovering if you're lying, and the punishment will be much, much worse.” Mark reminded, regrounding his grip on the knife. “Hey, look at me. Are you suuure you have never met this girl before, Adam?”

“I'm telling the truth," he said, looking him in the eyes, “Didn't even know she existed until the teacher presented her to the class today.”

“...Very well. So, what is it?” he questioned, putting the peeled carrot in the bowl and grabbing another. “Do you just have a thing for any newcomers that try to smart mouth me or something?”

“No, not really.”

“Then…?”

“I… just don't want her to get hurt, that's all.” He justified, his eyes stealing a glimpse at her, only to see her looking back as well, those beautiful, sweet, caramel eyes sending his heart rushing and warming his frozen veins as he lowered his eyes back to the counter.

“...You can't be serious--” 

Both went quiet when the teacher approached.

“Those look good, Mark. Well done.”

“Thank you!”

“Now, why don't you let Adam do a couple? He also needs to practice.”

“Sure. Here, take it,” he instructed, placing the knife on the counter and stepping back.

Adam took the knife and stepped closer to the cutting board, holding down the already half-peeled carrot with his hand and adjusting his grip.

He took a deep breath and got to work, his heart beating faster and faster as he felt Mark's eyes on him, looking at him, examining him, choking the air around him.

“That's… good. But you're cutting a bit too deep. Flatten the knife a little.” The teacher instructed. “And don't follow the direction of the blade, follow the direction of the carrot.”

Adam twisted the knife so it was a bit more parallel with the carrot and sliced, the peel coming out unevenly and almost breaking in several places.

“Well, it's a good start. Keep trying. Mark, you can sit back for now.”

“Yes, Ms. Reyes.” Both answered.

The teacher walked away, the already thick air becoming oppressively heavy as Adam continued to work.

“Adam, really? You never even talked with this girl,” Mark pointed out, looking genuinely incredulous, both hands on the counter as he lowered himself until they were eye to eye.

Adam felt his ears turn red.

“I can still find her attractive, can't I?” He tried to keep his eyes on his work, each peel coming out uglier and uglier.

“I'm not saying you can't. It's just that…” Mark trailed off, looking towards the matter at hand.

“Just what?” Adam asked, trying to sound polite.

“You're playing yourself,” Mark shrugged. 

“Huh?”

“Adam, just look at her. The hair, the clothes, the make-up. She obviously craves attention. When she realizes she can't get any because she got tangled up with you, she'll drop you, regardless of how much punishment you take for her. Just like that.” He snapped his fingers. “You're just playing yourself.”

Adam paused and looked at the girl in question. 

Mark, as much as it pained him to admit it, was generally a good judge of character. So the chances that he was right about Cassie were… way too high for comfort. Still, when Adam thought about all the things he could be planning for her--

“Are you going to kill her family too?”

“Excuse me?” 

“Are you going to send someone to kill her family, too?” Adam questioned again.

Mark clicked his tongue and straightened his posture.

“This again? I already told you I had nothing to do with that.” He rolled his eyes, going about washing his hands in the small kitchen sink. “Come on, Adam, you know there are things much worse than death. If I wanted to get rid of her, I would've gotten her deported or something.” He said, closing the faucet.

“...Right.” For fuck's sake, why couldn't he just admit it?! Even if he gave him a confession, it's not like Adam could do anything with it… But of course, Mark didn't have a big enough shred of humanity in him to at least give him that closure, now did he? Adam sighed. “So, you're getting Cassie deported?”

“Hmmm, let me think,” Mark dried his hands on the apron and took out his phone, something on his screen making him grin. “No, too merciful. I'm thinking… Oh! Maybe I could get her dog taken away? A Caucasian Ovcharka? Ooh, bet that thing could maul someone real good if caught in a mood! Bet it'll also eat anything you put in front of it without a second thought, even if it's not good for it.”

Adam sighed.

“What do I need to do for you to let her 'transgression' slide?” he questioned.

Mark stared at him, his smile gone as he put his phone away.

“Adam, are you sure?” Mark questioned, getting closer, whispering to him like a devil on his shoulder. “She's not like David. She'll probably just repay your kindness with a knife to the back. And don't you have enough on your plate already? Come on. Why don't you just let her deal with the consequences of her actions, hmm?”

“It was just a mistake…” He couldn't help but argue.

“So is manslaughter. Yet, people still go to jail for it, don't they?”

Returning his energy could hardly be compared to manslaughter, but it'd be easier to convince a vampire to go vegan than to make Mark see that.

Adam stared at the blade.

Even if she decided to turn her back on him later, he couldn't bring himself to let her suffer… The guilt would just eat him alive. And he knew that. Mark knew that.

“It'll be the same deal as David, right?” Adam asked, looking him in the eyes.

A smile appeared on Mark's face, a malevolent, diabolical smile from ear to ear.

“Exactly,” Mark confirmed in a low voice, his still damp hand warping around the back of the other's neck, holding him in place. “She'll be your responsibility for as long as she stands by you. She'll be completely socially isolated, only allowed to talk with you two, and anytime she steps out of line, you'll be the one to answer for it. Deal?”

“...Deal,” Adam accepted the terms, the cold fingers around his nape and the other's toothy smile sending shivers down his spine. “So, what will it be?”

“Let's see… Your little ninja giggling at me, plus your dark mistress or whatever smart mouthing me… Hmmmmmm.” He hummed, a child-like playfulness and mischievousness on his face, as he tapped his chin in deep pondering.