“Honestly, us vampires have always homeschooled. And…here in the States, the general consensus is that the quality of education depends entirely on where you are located. So, this change won’t interest most of my kind. But it did help other paranormals, I suppose. Those who have always integrated well with humankind.”
“Right, let’s get up.”
“Yes, food! But first we need to get dressed, and I have just the jumper for you to wear!” Foxx rolled off him and off the bed, springing to his feet.
“A jumper is a…sweater, right? Either way, no,” Harlow said as he sat up.
The vampire’s smile grew tight. “Yes.”
“No, Foxx. I will not be wearing one of your bright, awful sweaters from hell. Though, I don’t think I could fit into one of your sweaters even if I tried.”
“Yes, normally, but this isn’t my jumper, it’s yours. And it’s not bright, it’s black. I made it just for you!” Foxx chimed with excitement.
“No.”
Foxx narrowed his eyes, smile creepily still in place. “It’s your size, perfectly fitted. You have to wear it, it won’t fit me.”
“How the hell do you even know my size?”
“I measured you in your sleep.”
Harlow’s head tilted. “That’s… I mean, correct me if I’m wrong, but most normal people would find that invasive, wouldn’t they?”
“Yes, but you aren’t normal, so don’t even try to claim you are offended.”
Well, he had him there. Harlow couldn’t even say he found the idea creepy. More indifferent after hearing it. Hmm…
Foxx crouched down out of sight. He heard the sound of rustling, and then he suddenly popped back up with a knitted black sweater in hand. “Tadaa!”
He stared at it for a moment. “No.”
“Oh, come on. I worked hard on it, and it’s perfect!”
Harlow eyed it blankly. It wasn’t…horrible. The whole thing was black, except for the yellow eyes and mouth that made up the frowning face in the center of the chest. Narrowing his gaze on the face, he asked, “Did you have to add the face?”
“Yes!” Foxx said sternly.
He sighed, eyes slipping from the sweater Foxx was holding…and freezing on the one the vampire was wearing. It looked to be crocheted vertically, and seemed to be the exact same design as the sweater he was holding, except it was lemon yellow and the eyes and mouth were black—the face smiling.
“No,” Harlow growled.
“Oh, come on!”
“I am not wearing a matching sweater with you. We aren’t a couple.”
“It’s a friendship jumper!”
“We aren’t friends.”
Foxx gasped. “We are friends! You said you’d be my friend, and you can’t back out now! It’s too late! I made a jumper of friendship and you will wear it!”
“I’m not wearing your stupid sweater!”
“YOU WILL WEAR IT!”
* * *
Foxx smiled brightly,humming as he unzipped his blue panda bear sunsuit in the restaurant and wiggled out of it. Putting it on the seat next to him, he sighed happily. “There! It’s a pity the fair doesn’t start at dark. That way everyone would get to see our jumpers together. Just seeing yours, they will miss the full effect. Oh, but maybe they will have lockers and I can store my suit? That would be the best option, don’t you think, Harlow?”
