The forever seventeen

I looked at the picture and gazed at it for a while. Looking deep into those amber eyes, I saw my own portrait reflected in them. The portrait was in black and white, portraying the misery of my life. It also held the dark secret of how many years old I was—forever seventeen.

I scribbled something into my diary, shut it abruptly, shoved it back into its place, and turned toward the window. The sunlight burst through the curtains and hit my face.

“Ugh.”

I immediately turned away, raising my hands to shield my eyes. Outside, green meadows stretched endlessly beneath the morning sky. No buildings. No concrete streets. No noisy roads. Just grass, trees, and an unsettling amount of silence.

I threw my blanket aside, nearly tripping over it as I got out of bed, and hurried straight to the bathroom.

The mirror greeted me with the same face it had shown me for the last hundred years.

A pale woman with wild, curly black hair, striking amber eyes, long eyelashes, swollen lips, and faint blood-red stains resting against them.

I leaned closer to my reflection.

“How many times have I brushed my teeth in this last century?”

I stared at myself for a moment.

“Maybe once or twice.”

I paused.

“I don't quite remember.”

A crooked smile appeared on my face.

I tossed my toothbrush aside, looked at myself once more, and ran my fingers through my curls. They were a complete mess, springing in every direction, refusing to behave.

Perfect.

I fixed a few strands anyway, took one last look at myself, and headed for the shower.

When I came back, I wore a long-sleeved black top. I left two buttons undone, revealing my collarbone and a small patch of skin. I paired it with denim bootcut jeans and boots.

My curls were still chaotic, spilling around my face in thick coils. I tried to tame them.

They fought back.

I laughed.

“Fine. Have it your way.”

I looked at myself in the mirror, tilted my head, and gave my reflection a playful wink.

I looked so, so pretty.

Forever young.

Forever seventeen.

Forever a vampire.

I smiled to myself and walked out.

Lately, I had been unbearably bored. I wandered around the house, opening random drawers, picking things up, putting them back, and accomplishing absolutely nothing.

I didn't want to watch television. Every show was boring, and I had been doing that for the last century.

I needed something else.

Something chaotic.

Something that could make that old spark inside me burn again.

Then I glanced through the window.

A school bus rolled past.

I froze.

A slow smile crept across my face.

“College.”

Of course.

I had been to school before, and the experience had been terrible. The teachers were far too strict, and the students were painfully dull.

Maybe college would be different.

Maybe college would finally be my place.

And if it wasn't...

Well, I had lived for a century.

I could certainly make things interesting .

I sighed and glanced back at my wardrobe, running my eyes over the clothes hanging inside.

I want to go to college, but I don't want to look like I'm stuck in the 2000s. I need something baggy, something edgier… maybe even a new haircut.

I caught my reflection in the mirror and smiled to myself. Then I picked up my phone and called her.

“Oh my God, where are you?” I muttered, waiting for her to answer. “And when are you actually going to pick up the phone?”

My voice turned completely dead on the last sentence. I rolled my eyes and called again.Still nothing.

“Ugh.”

I let out a frustrated sigh, slipped my phone into my pocket, and reached for my leather jacket. I shrugged it on, grabbed the door handle, and headed out.

“So, Kyle…” Mother dragged the word out as she peeled an apple. “When exactly are you planning to become a decent man and find your mate?”I reached for another apple.“Never.”I began peeling it.She glanced at me. “Never?”“Sounds peaceful.”

She clicked her tongue. “Oh, Kyle. Don't be like that. I know you love me.”

“I do.”

“And I know somewhere in that cold, miserable heart of yours, you desperately want a mate.”

“I don't"

“You do.”

“I don't.”

“You absolutely do.”I continued peeling the apple, refusing to give her the satisfaction of an argument.

She leaned closer. “You're almost a century old. Don't you think it's getting embarrassing?”

“I've been seventeen for most of that century. I'm not sure what exactly you expect me to do.”She rolled her eyes. “I'm serious, Kyle.” “So am I.”She sighed dramatically and threw her hands in the air. “Humans, vampires—everyone is finding someone. And what are you doing?”

“Peeling an apple.”She stared at me.I took a bite.Her eye twitched.

“Do you know how difficult it is to find a suitable mate these days?”

“Apparently very. You've been trying for a century.”Her mouth fell open.I smiled innocently.

She pointed the knife at me. “You are becoming increasingly disrespectful.”

“Thank you.”

“That wasn't a compliment.”

“I know.”She groaned and sank back into her chair.

“Your father and I are going to find your mate ourselves.”I laughed.

“Mother, didn't you say that last century?” “Yes.”

“And did you find anyone?”“No.”

“So perhaps the universe is trying to tell you something.”She stood up so quickly that I almost laughed again. “This is how you repay me?” she demanded. “After I carried you for nine whole months?” I stared at her.

“Mother, I'm nearly a hundred years old. Do you honestly think the nine-month argument is still going to work on me?”

“Yes.”She said it so confidently that I actually had nothing to say. Then she grabbed her things and marched toward the door.I thought I had won. I was wrong. She stopped at the doorway and looked back at me.

“Oh, and there's a girl at your college.” I frowned. “Maybe you should look at her.”

“I'm sure she'll be thrilled.”

“I'm serious, Kyle.”

“So am I.” She narrowed her eyes. “Try talking to her.”

“Why?”

“Because perhaps she is a vampire too "I stared at her.She smiled.I knew that smile.She was enjoying this far too much.“Mother…”

“Yes?”

“Please leave.”She winked at me and finally walked out.I stared at the door for a moment, frowning.Then I sighed.

“Oh, my mother. My wonderfully mother.”

“What do you mean? I'm not getting any of this. Are you too dumb to explain it properly, or could you please be a little more straightforward for once?” The voice sounded increasingly annoyed.

Before Kyle could respond, someone knocked on his door.

“Hold on. Let me deal with this. Someone's at the door,” he said, pulling the phone away from his ear.

He placed it on the dressing table and walked over to open the door.

A maid stood outside, holding a tray piled high with freshly made pancakes. Kyle glanced at her, flashed her a playful wink, and leaned casually against the doorframe.

The maid ignored him completely and walked away without sparing him a second glance.

His smile faltered.He picked up the tray, returned to his room, and grabbed his phone from the dressing table. Bringing it back to his ear, he settled down with his breakfast and continued the conversation.

“Now, where were we? Oh, right. I was about to tell you something.”

“My parents,” he said, stuffing a pancake into his mouth and exaggerating the word parents with a dramatic gesture of his hands, “have gone absolutely crazy over the fact that I need to find a mate. ASAP.”

The voice on the other end of the phone burst into laughter.

Kyle put his pancakes down, looking increasingly annoyed.

“Could you please shut your mouth, Ryan? This isn't funny.”

Ryan paused for a moment, trying to compose himself before speaking again.

“My parents are dealing with the same issue. Mate, mate, and mate. I don't know what's so fascinating about pairing me with a woman. It's not like I'm going to start crying and screaming with happiness.”

Kyle sighed, rubbing his forehead.

“Exactly. That's what I was thinking.”

“Well, let's leave that topic aside before I accidentally offend you,” Ryan said, still struggling to suppress his giggles. “What about your plans? Are you finally going to tell me?”

“So, the plan is…” Kyle paused dramatically, taking another bite of his pancake before continuing. “Actually, my mother gave me a hint that a new vampire is coming to our college.

“How does your mother know that a new vampire is coming to our college?” Ryan asked suspiciously.

Kyle rolled his eyes.“My mother is literally the—she knows things. She's very well-connected right now. You know, connections? Do you know what that word means? Connections. It rhymes, doesn't it?”

Ryan went silent for a moment.

“Guess I offended someone,” Kyle muttered to himself, a smug smile appearing on his face.

He put his phone aside for a moment and walked over to his wardrobe. After rummaging through his clothes, he picked out a plain, oversized white shirt, a pair of light-wash blue jeans, and his favourite boots.

Once he had dressed, he slipped on his daylight rings, checking that they sat securely on his fingers before picking up his phone again.