My Ice Prince

– Okay, I'll just change and come back» I answered and went to my room.

As I sat on the bed, I thought about how busy my second day had been. It was my second day living away from home and my vampire environment. My second day in the human world.

I changed into an old pair of jeans and a T-shirt and went back to the kitchen.

– I made you a salad: it's just tomatoes and cucumbers» Mary said, sitting down at the table.

I looked at the table by the window, where there were plates, forks, a large teapot, two mugs… And a deep plate of salad.

– Mary, you shouldn't have! – I felt terribly uncomfortable, and then I was afraid I'd have to eat the nasty stuff.

– I don't mind! – Mary replied, cutting into pieces the roast meat on her plate.

«She's so anxious to please me! It's so touching!» – ran through my head

– Thank you for taking care of me, but I can only eat fresh vegetables» I found myself seeing that the salad had been drizzled with sunflower oil.

– What a shame! Damn, there was no hurry! – Mary said a

– No, don't! I'm not hungry! – I exclaimed hastily.

She raised her eyebrows in surprise and sat back in the chair from which she had already risen.

– You're awfully strange! – said my neighbour. – But I won't insist.

– Thank you. – I sat down opposite her.

While Mary ate her lunch, I sat on a chair with my hands on the table and looked out of the window. It was an incredible sensation to sit next to someone who was eating roast meat and potatoes and drinking tea. And it's going to happen a lot.

– When do you start school? – Mary asked.

– Monday» I said. – And I'm a little nervous.

– Of course you are. Do you know anyone there?

– No, nobody at all. But that's no problem.

Mary took a sip of tea.

– It must be so exciting: new people, new acquaintances! Are you going to join any hobby groups?

– I don't know yet» I admitted. – I have to…

Suddenly there was a persistent loud knock on the door.

– Who is it? Are you expecting someone? – Mary asked me.

– I don't know anyone here but you! – I answered, surprised at the unexpected visitor, and listened: someone was shuffling from foot to foot, his heels clicking on the stairs.

CHAPTER 4

– I'll get it, and you have your food» I said, rising from my chair.

– Thank you» Mary said.

When I opened the door and saw the guest, I was surprised to see Harry Smith.

– Good afternoon, Miss Mroczek» he said kindly.

– Good afternoon» I replied. – I don't think you called me that formally yesterday. Why did you come?

– I came because of Mary. I sincerely apologise on behalf of our family for the inconvenience» he replied.

– What inconvenience? – I didn't understand.

– Mary's arrival: she shouldn't have come and interfered with you, since you're renting-» Harry began.

– It's nothing! Mary didn't inconvenience me at all! – I interrupted him. – I'm even pleased that we're going to live together. Your sister is an amazing girl.

– And I thought you were very unhappy about her coming. Then I should lower the rent for you.

– Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Mary is not a burden to me, and there is no need to lower the price» I said hastily, thinking that Mary would be surprised to see that she had been repaid some of the rent, and would investigate why.

– But…

– That's my last word. But why are we standing on the doorstep? Come in, we're just having lunch.

I went inside, Harry came in too, took off his grey jacket and shiny black shoes, and made his way into the kitchen.

– Brother! What are you doing here? – Mary exclaimed cheerfully: she was washing the dishes. – I'd give you a hug, but my hands are wet!

– Hello, Mary, I've come to find out how you got here» said Harry, sitting down on a chair.

– Would you like some tea? Misha will make you some now.

«Me? Make him tea?!» – My eyes went wide at that statement.

– No, Misha, you don't have to: I won't be long» Harry told me.

Phew! I was certainly looking forward to human life, but I certainly wasn't going to make people tea!

I felt the urge to leave them to talk in private. Besides, I felt superfluous – this was their human family and their human relationships, and none of this was my business.

Quietly leaving the kitchen, I hid in my bedroom. It now seemed to me that living in the same house with Mary had not been the best idea, and that I had rushed into this decision. Mary was too much. Too much.

After about ten minutes, Harry left.

Mary knocked on my door.

– Misha, can I come in? – She asked.

– Yes, come in» I answered.

Mary came in and sat next to me on the bed.

– Why did you leave? – She asked.

– I was sorting out my things. – I nodded at the empty bag.

– You weren't mad that Harry came round?

– No. What did you two talk about?

– He said it was very rude of me to come without telling my family or you.

– How did he find out?

– Aunt Mel rang him… Are you tinting your eyebrows? – Mary suddenly asked, looking intently at my face.

– Yes. Alas, I can hardly see them» I replied with a smile.

– No, you can see everything! It's silly to tint your eyebrows.

– Well, you can definitely see them! – I said with a laugh. – You're a brunette!

– Listen, I'm going to meet some old friends. Would you like to come with me? I'll introduce you! – Mary offered.

I was terrified of her offer: No new acquaintances! I've had enough of people!

– No, thank you, I'd better go to the post office to wait for a letter from my mother» I said.

– Well, as you wish! I'll go and get ready. – Mary went out, and I heard her rummaging through her wardrobe and humming some children's song.

I quickly put on my sneakers, grabbed my jacket, grabbed my passport, wallet and house keys, put them all in my purse and left the house. After a bit of thought, I got on my blue bike, determined to try it out, and rode down the flat alley, looking around to make sure I didn't miss the post office.

Thanks to the advice of passers-by, I successfully made it to the post office, where a registered letter from my mum was waiting for me. But when I left the building, I discovered that the bicycle I had carefully leaned against the lamppost had disappeared without a trace. I was distraught: Wow, had my bike been stolen?

I looked around, hoping to see my bike, but it was gone, and I was left to stand outside the post office and wonder. On the one hand, it was fu

«But it's not my bike, it's Mary's! What do I do?» – This thought made me angry: I've only been here for two days and already my bicycle has been stolen! – What do people do in such cases? Go to the police!» – I said to myself.

Thanks to the same kind passers-by, I found the police station. The policemen were very nice to me and even offered to drive me home, as it was quite far from the station, but I refused in favour of a regular bus.

I was very pleased with myself, for I had behaved sensibly, carefully, like a real young lady, and had even been to the police station.

At home I found that Mary had gone.

«I should have got her phone number. Why didn't I think of that before?» – I thought with a

My neighbour came back around ten o'clock in the evening. She was cheerful and flushed. She thought I was asleep, so she tried not to make any noise in the hallway, and went quietly to her room. On the way, Mary stumbled over something and cursed under her breath with a word I didn't know.

I went in to see her.

– Oh, did I wake you? – Mary frowned, pulling off her warm grey sweatshirt.