“Vincent Salvatori asked about you.” Jenny alisema as I joined her for lunch today.

“Who?”

“The recluse. He introduced himself to me during class.” I decided to ditch class this morning. I don’t want to spend an saa and a half beside arrogant Vincent Salvatori.

“I told him wewe overslept.” Her eyes narrowed as she took in my bloodshot puffy eyes. “Care to explain to me what last night’s sobbing was about.”

“Some other time, Jen. Don’t want to talk about it.” I murmured then picked up my cup of coffee and took a sip.

“Okay….Listen, do wewe want to go to Jessie’s for dinner? wewe need some cheering up.”

I shrugged.

“Who are wewe and what did wewe do to my friend? Give me back my cheery roommate before I kill myself!”

I rolled my eyes and gave in. “Jessie’s fine.”

“Yay! I’ll meet wewe there at around 6:30, okay?”

“Why can’t we go there together?” I whined. I don’t feel like going out. I need someone to literally drag me.

“I need to hit the maktaba after class. Research.” She alisema exasperatedly.

* * *

7:30 P.M.

“Hello?”

“I’m so sorry, Nessie. I got an empty bat. I Lost track of time and nobody knew your number so I have to dash back to the dorm and charge my cell to call you.”

“What happened?”

“I can’t jiunge wewe for dinner. Please, please forgive me. I thought my group’s going to ripoti inayofuata week not tomorrow. I still don’t have my material.” She alisema almost shrieking with panic now.

“What is it about? Maybe, I could help you.”

“No, no, no! Eat dinner, take a stroll au something. Try to do something fun. wewe need it.”

I sighed.

“I need to go back to the library. My groupmates are still there. Bye, Nessie.”

I shook my head. What am I supposed to do now? I really don’t feel like eating.

* * *

“Great!”

It’s now raining, still no cab.

I would have run to the dorm but I don’t want to get all soaked up. I really really miss my spyder.

The gentle purr of the engine interrupted my musings. I saw a black Jaguar XKR parked in front of me.

Nice ride.

My appreciation immediately soured when the windows whirred down and I saw the owner.

“Hop in. This rain will last for hours.” He said.

“No, thank you.” I replied stiffly.

“You sure about that?”

I didn’t reply. Where’s a stupid cab when wewe badly needed one? I saw him shrug then started to drive slowly away.

A sudden clap of thunder made me kumeza my pride.

“Wait!”I yelled. Are wewe playing tricks on me? I thought in chagrin as I stared at the sky that's getting blacker kwa each passing second.

Beep! Beep!

Does he really need to do that?!

I hunched my shoulders against the pouring rain and hurried towards his waiting car.

* * *

“You're still mad.” Vincent ametoa maoni after sekunde of deafening silence.

I sat as faraway from him as possible, my arms crossed in front of me. I’m sure he could drive faster than this.

He raised one perfect eyebrow not missing my impatience.

“We have speed limits to follow, wewe know.” He alisema wryly.

Yeah, right!

“Aren’t wewe going to talk to me?”

He must be insane.

He sighed then stop the car along the curb.

“Oh! Can’t wewe just drop me to my dorm without antagonizing me?”

“At last….”

“You’re a jerk.”

He smiled in amusement.

“You’re an arrogant jerk!” I fumed.

“Is that all wewe can come up with?” He taunted.

“Ugh! I so hate you.”

“That’s good.” He murmured.

I was immediately perplexed. He was teasing in one intstant then brooding the next.

“Who are you?” I whispered.

“Vincent. Vincent Salvatori.”

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

He sighed. “I’m just like you, half human half vampire.”

“I know that already.” He nodded absentmindedly. He stared at the windshield. I could see him wrestle with the decision whether to answer my swali au not. He sighed. He apparently decided to give me what I want.

“You could call me an experiment. My human mother has a gift of her own. She could Converse with plants. She could ask them to kubeba zaidi fruits au ask flowers to bloom beautifully. My father, who is also gifted, wanted to experiment – to see how strong a child of such union could be.”

I listened in silence. His eyes were faraway.

“My father was ecstatic to find out I inherited both their gifts. Well, it has a different twist actually.” He alisema in a grim voice.

“What can wewe do?” I whispered.

His brows where now pulled into a deep V. “I could manipulate plants with just my thoughts. I don't have to ask them." He paused.

"You alisema both their gifts..."

"I could also heighten au lessen any emotions.” He looked meaningfully at me. “I could heighten whatever you’re feeling right now, if I wanted to.”

My moyo thumped wildly in response to what he said.

“How does that work, your gift with emotions?”

“Well, the emotion has to be present already. Fear, for example.” He glanced my way. “You have to be afraid already. I could turn it into hysteria au phobia and use it to my advantage if I wish.”

“What does your father exactly do?”

He seemed relunctant to answer. “He can make wewe feel no emotions at all.” He didn’t explain further.

“What’s your father’s name? Do I know him?”

He averted his eyes and shook his head.

I wanted to know zaidi about him. I know there’s so much more. My curiosity is out of control au is that just an effect of his gift?

“Last night, it seemed like you’re telling me that wewe needed to stay away from me. Why?”

His eyes became guarded – too guarded.

“I was raised in an entirely different world than yours, Renesmee. I don’t want wewe to be ensnared.”

He sighed then started the engine. “It’s late. I’ll take wewe back to the dorm.”

* * *

I couldn’t sleep. Vincent's revelations gave me zaidi maswali than answers. I wanted to bombard him with maswali but I was afraid he would really stay away if I pry too much.

I realized I wanted him to stay…too much.