Callan had spent most of his boring college day pretending to care about his classes. He sat lazily in the back of the lecture hall, doodling in his notebook, half-listening to the professor drone on about something he didn't care about. The only thing mildly interesting today was the buzz of rumors going around campus-mostly about drama, hookups, or some poor freshman who embarrassed themselves. The usual. Between classes, he spent time hanging out with his friend group in the quad, legs sprawled across the bench, phone in hand, snacking and scrolling aimlessly through his feed. The afternoon sun warmed his skin through his hoodie, and the faint smell of fresh grass filled his nostrils.

Until he saw it.

A photo that made his stomach tighten and his claws itch beneath his skin.

His vampire roommate, with a girl. Of all things. HIM? With a GIRL? No way. She had her arm looped around his waist, her head resting against his shoulder, and worst of all-he was smiling. That stupid, smug little smirk that Callan hadn't seen in days. It looked too intimate. Too close. And something about it pissed Callan off more than it should've. He stared at the image, eyebrows twitching, jaw clenched tight, his thumb hovering over the screen like he was about to crush the damn thing. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth as his fangs pressed against his lower lip.

He stuffed his phone into his light green bookbag with a little too much force and stood up abruptly.

"Hey. I gotta dip," he muttered to his friends, not even bothering to explain further. He didn't wait for a response-he was already walking off, sneakers hitting the pavement faster than usual, a light growl under his breath that no human would catch. His tail, hidden beneath his baggy hoodie, twitched restlessly.

By the time Callan got to the dorm, he was already fuming. The moment he stepped inside, he kicked the door shut behind him and tossed his bookbag carelessly onto the couch. The frustration boiled in his chest, claws threatening to show through his palms, fangs pressing against his lips. The scent of the vampire was stronger here, mixed with the faint aroma of his expensive cologne. He didn't understand why it got to him this much. The vampire was just... his annoying roommate. Arrogant. Smug. A pain in his ass. Not someone he was supposed to care about.

But the thought of the vampire getting close to someone else-it lit something ugly in him.