Page 111 of The Good Vampire’s Guide to Blood & Boyfriends

r/occultboston

u/tastefulnobody

You guys convinced me, but now I’m scared to go back to campus

Basically what the title says. I thought all of this was a load of shit when that guy was first talking about dark omens and animal attacks, but having been in this sub for a few weeks and seeing all the weird shit over break, I am totally convinced something is going on.

But now I’m anxious and paranoid over going back to campus, especially with that bullshit email from the school reiterating the same old safety measures while people are dying and going missing.

What are you guys doing to feel safe on campus?

>> u/micahlandau: If you’re open to meeting up on campus, I’m happy to give you one of my protective herb spell bags. They brought me a great sense of security on campus the weeks leading up to break.

>> u/btchywitchy: pepper spray for men. silver knife for dark creatures.

Cole

Just got in!!

Can’t wait to see you

Brennan

you too! i can come over to yours?

Cole

yes!

mari isn’t here yet, she took a later flight

Brennan

The week leading up to Cole’s parents visiting, Cole gave him a crash course.

His dad was a big-shot consulting yuppie type who never learned what privilege was, believed affirmative action was “reverse racism,” and buried himself in work to avoid his family and his own emotions.

His mom was a semi-popular crafting YouTuber and self-proclaimed “yarn guru” who thought gay was a curse word, cried on a hair trigger, and bowed to her husband’s decisions in order to avoid conflict.

Cole warned that Brennan had the honor of first ever boyfriend to meet his parents. He’d only ever had a series of flings (“Mari calls it my slut phase,” Cole had admitted), so this was new territory for all of them.

Cole’s dad (“He’ll insist you call him Christopher, and he’ll be offended otherwise, so nomisters, okay?”) was there for a conference and would be busy most of the time, so they’d only have a few hours to spare for their son. Brennan thought it was kind of shitty, but for Cole it was a relief.

“So,” Cole said now, pulling at the edges of his jacket sleeves outside the T station, a block from the restaurant they were meeting his parents at. “They’re gonna be judgy and terrible and it’s gonna suck.”

“Way to really sell it.”

“I’m trying to be honest about what you should expect.”

Brennan flicked Cole’s hands away from where they were mutilating Cole’s tie out of nerves. He straightened it for him, more of a weak excuse to offer Cole some sort of physical support than anything. But Brennan was way out of his comfort zone either way; he hadn’t been at a restaurant nice enough to wear a tie to since high school graduation. He hadn’t had to meet a partner’s parent ever, so there was that, too.

He meant it as a joke but it came out limp and sad: “Do you think they’re gonna hate me?”

“No!” Cole said, immediate and emphatic. “That’s not it. Of course not. It’s not you, it’sthem.Don’t panic, please, because ifyoupanic, then we’rebothpanicking, and at least one of us should keep their shit together.”

“Cole, there’s no reason for either of us to panic, it’s gonna be okay.”

Cole nodded to himself, trying to convince himself to believe it. But he still didn’t make any motion to move. Brennan could hear his pulse racing, and not in the fun way.