"Thirty-nine, forty, forty-one, forty-two..." Sweat dripped off off Dio's numerous muscles while he did his daily pull-up session shirtless as Tabby kept count. He didn't know why she suddenly volunteered to count for him while his mental energies focused on the bar and philosophy, but he appreciated any help, for that inflated his ego.

"Fifty! You did great, lol," Tabby cheered when he completed the routine. Dio let go and hit the ground, shaking the entire floor. Still wearing his stoic expression, he wiped his forehead with five towels.

"I thank you," he replied and tossed the mess onto the floor. Let the Conductor clean that up. "But you do not have to continue standing there like that. I do not require anyone's help."

"But you let me count for you."

"That...is different. I appreciate your concern, but you must not attach yourself to my every move." To be honest, he enjoyed Tabby's company, even if as an educated lawyer, he was appalled at her low-class education.

"But what if I want to?" She leaned against his side. "What if I said that you were my favorite person in this whole ****** school?"

Dio couldn't help but blush. Him? Someone's favorite? But he was a vampire, a loner. Vampires don't have friends. They live alone in a basement and avoid all social contact. No one could ever bring themselves to have feelings for someone so inhuman as he was.

"I..." He picked up the towels and ran out of the room. Time to find his shirt.

Tabby shrugged it off. She was getting to him. Soon, Dio would be in touch with his emotions and finally admit that he loved her. Time would tell.