[The affectionate tone of her voice doesn't escape Shell -- which only makes what she goes on to say that much more tragic, causing him to turn and look back at her again.]

...I don't know if we'd get along that well. I don't think you're a monster at all.

[It was a strange thing. Shell hated himself, and he hated that he was a vampire -- but he didn't hate vampires. It was like she said: they couldn't help what they were. Did he wish things were different? Of course. But he doesn't begrudge his kind for feeding on humans. They did what they had to do in order to survive.]

[But Shell saw things differently when it came to himself.]

I know what you're saying is right. I know... I'm only hurting myself. Maybe it's true that there's nothing I can do about what I am, and eventually I might have to go back to feeding on humans again... but I'll never know unless I try, right?

[His gaze falls again, a little smile spreading over his face as his cheeks flush.]

...I didn't actually finish my story before. Ellie was the reason I started to love humans. But the one who made me want to change... was the human I fell in love with.