"Go out with me," Puck said, helping Lyta unload groceries from the taxi.

"Go out with me," he said, having just shoveled her walk.

"Go out with me," he said, meeting her after class.

"How many people have you killed?" she asked.

"What?"

"How. Many. People."

"Innocent bystanders or vampires?"

"Innocent bystanders."

"None."

She raised an eyebrow. "I don't believe you."

He shrugged. "It's true."

"How many did you bite?"

"Willing or not?"

"Not."

"None. Zip. Zero."

"I don't get it. You were a vampire."

"Yep."

"A creature of evil."

He shrugged. "I guess. Evil just seemed so stupid to me."

"Stupid."

"Yeah. Pointless. A lot of effort for nothing. Too much work, frankly."

"So, you were just too lazy to be evil?"

"Who knew it could be a virtue?"

"So you're just too lazy to have any ambition? Hardly a recommendation for a boyfriend."

"Honey, you have enough ambition for both of us. Besides, I do have ambition."

"To do what? Be the world's best video game player?"

"To take care of you." They had reached her door. "If you let me, that is."

"I don't need taking care of," said Lyta, haughtily.

"Honey, everyone needs taking care of, especially you."

"You're really irritating, you know that?"

"Yep. Go out with me."

"You're not going to give up, are you?"

"Nope."

"Pick me up at eight," she said. "Don't be late."

He grinned.

"Stop grinning," she said. "You look like an idiot."

"See you at eight," he said.

Next Chapter