When I wake up to the sound of croaking frogs, all I can think about is, "What time is it?" A part of me wanted to get up from bed and sneak a peek through my curtain to see if anything other than frogs was outside watching me. Hoping that my best friend Paul, in wolf form, was looking at me from outside my window, where the bottom floor was located. But nothing was seen there...Nothing. Just emptiness. I curled back into bed, covering my face with my blanket. Not wanting to go to breakfast with the creatures of this Academy. It's like someone read my mind when someone knocks loudly at my door.
"Wake up, sleepy head!!!" Said Justin, the vampire jock of the school, and a senior.
I sighed, hoping my silence would drive him away. Still, it did nothing to his patience; he opened it with a key.
"Hey!" I retorted, "What if I was naked?" I furiously furrowed my brows and got out of bed. I wanted to punch him right across the face, but my nails dug into my palms as they were at my sides in fists. My family would be thrilled for me to be pursued by the jock of the Academy, and also to have a friend, at least. No matter how annoying he was to me.
"Get dressed; I will wait outside," he said, winking like a crazy puppy. He kissed my hand as he took it in his, then went outside my door. Closing it behind him quick. Of course, I got dressed in my non-uniform outfit because it was Saturday; weekends were family visit days. My gray strapless top and black tights were matchable with my black gothic boots. I was a black-and-white-themed vampire who only loved dark colors, even brown. Right when I put on perfume and deodorant, Mom's name appeared on the caller ID of my cell phone- iPhone. I picked it up and went out the door fast. Mom said, "Finally."
"Yes, Mom, you're coming for family visit day, right?" I asked, which was obvious, but I still would ask either way.
"Yes, of course. What kind of question is that?" she replied, chuckling in the background, as if Dad was chuckling too that his laughs were visible with my hearing over the phone.
"Okay. I am going to eat breakfast; see you at 11 A.M." I told her, while evading more questions from school moments that made me feel uncomfortable. Already shy around the jock, Justin. But I noticed how much he liked me because he gestured for me to go to his table and eat. So I wouldn't end up alone, I walked with my food on a tray in my hands and sat down near him at the corner tables. He smiled, touching my hair as if he liked it.
"Why are you touching my hair?" I asked, grabbing the carton of milk in my hand.
"Because your hair is beautiful and straight."
"Aren't you older than me?" I laughed hysterically.
"Yeah, and?" he stopped touching my hand as he noticed it was too fishy that he was touching me at all. "So tell me...what do you think of school?"
"Nothing yet. Let more time pass." I bit a slice of my rectangle pizza with lettuce on it, as I always enjoyed mixing it with veggies. As I continued to eat, all I can do is think when can I see that wolf shifter again. I'm positive it was Paul. The eyes. He knew, too, that I wanted to see him in human form, but he ran off. That's when I see a young sixteen-year-old, junior, perhaps. But his eyes had me hypnotized. Paul? His hair was white, not black. I dropped my napkin on the tray, and salivated in a nervous way. Then he smiled in my direction. Like if he could tell, I haven't changed. But he has. He ended up in front of me now.
"Hi, old friend, Elena," he winked.
Something inside Justin swirled as he pulled me closer with his free hand on my waist, as if I was his property already. I shook his hand away and raised my own towards Paul. "Hey, long time," I said. As I grabbed his hand in mine, I felt warmth coming from him. Wow! Was I so cold that he seemed warm to me? I held his warming hand for a long time.
Justin coughed, annoyed to see me paying attention to Paul.
"I'll see you around," Paul said. He let go of my hand, and I continued to ignore that I wanted to know why now, Paul? So I drank my milk, put the tray on the dirty dishes side of the cafeteria, and put the garbage in the trash. Unlike other vampires, I can eat more human food and survive a while without blood. To prevent accidents, I hunted animals, but not werewolves or other shifters; they were dangerous to us.
While a couple of hours passed, and Mom&Dad met me in the dorms during family visit day. They looked at my pink-decorated room, surprised I didn't choose black as the room color, and then Mom confessed that a coronation for someone special would happen at the Homecoming dance on the Academy Halloween night. Well, all I could think was, who'll be my date...Mom thought about me receiving the real royal crown of the Lunar clan of vampires as queen. But that was later on. When I'd be ready. Yet can Mom just stop making decisions for me when all I wanted was to survive school days? Will I? If I could, I'd not be in danger in front of an enemy shifter. Now that I see the new Paul, I've irrevocably fallen in love with him, which is bad. Mom would not allow it.
I hesitated to get up from my bed, then gave up. I stood up and took them to lunchtime for all the creatures in the Academy. Before I came, it was just for vampires; now it was for shifters and faeries too. Which was odd that we needed to coexist around each other and attend classes learning same thing.
When I rushed into my next magical creatures class, I bumped into a shifter. Little did I know it was Paul, but he looked like he had aged more than yesterday; he was sixteen but looked mature, with his facial hair prickling on his face, growing more than usual. Was it because he was a shifter wolf? Maybe. Perhaps that was the reason. I couldn't help but bow my head, not daring to look at his features again. I didn't want to make it obvious that I loved him as much as I did as a kid. He lifted my chin with his index finger.
"Why must I find you colliding with me every time now?" he laughed, as he asked the words I was expecting from him.
I dreaded the feeling of being swooned by him. So I turned my face and entered the class too as he went behind me, sitting in the seat behind me. Still laughing from my clumsiness as a fledgling who still needed to adjust to becoming a vampire at a later age. I was younger than him, a freshman. He was a junior skipped once. He would have been fifteen if it wasn't for late school entry being his birthday. I aged slower than him so my birthday was during the holidays when school would be epic and all parties and no classes. Until January came into fruition and new semester would strike. As I pulled out my three-ring binder from my brown bag that I switched out this morning, and opened to the page we left off yesterday at the same time. My quill was ready with ink as Paul whispered behind me, "Can I borrow a pencil or quill?"
"Don't you have one?" I asked back, annoyed as his interrupting my concentration on the lecture of all creatures of the world in hiding. Today was about the faes and faeries adjusting to build a new life alongside the vampires and shifters. Some heretics lived apart us in this Academy because they were more adjusted to the lessons and needed a challenge so the top floors were their rooms of learning their new lessons. But only one was in this class, his name was Cael my neighbor who wouldn't let me sleep at night for partying all night. He was a fae with elven ears and big brown-yellowish eyes. With leaves around his blonde hair. Made him look elegant. He was friends with Paul and the other vampire buff senior I argued with to lowered the music so I could rest for my first day of class the next day. He listened but only made things worse the next night by making his music louder, like rock that I had to intrude the party and balled my fists, clawing at my palms at my sides holding in the anger as my emerald green eyes glittered on the reflection of the vampire senior called Matteos. Italian and gorgeous but annoying and prudent.
I pulled out my pencil case, handed a pencil to Paul, and said, "Keep it, you will need it." I continued to imagine what life would be if I'd confessed my feelings to Paul now. My hair was brunette now, but I died it that way, before when I noticed my eyes changed from brown to green my hair was light brown. More likely a blonde, bit different to what my mom's hair was: Black and dad's was red. When grandma died from a shifter's bite for fighting with them, all I remembered was the smell of metallic blood coming from her vomit. She looked very aged and lost of strength. When she died I lost sight of my artistic side so no muse ever made me do art again. Until days ago, when I saw the most beautiful shifter ever with Paul's eyes, a wolf and its pack. But the wolf had no intention in hurting me. It even almost let me touch its snout. But when my curiosity got the best of me...I smiled and left inside the Academy leaving the wolf mesmerized of my curiosity.
That night all I could think about was him: Paul and the connection between the shifter I've encountered. Were they the same or was I seeing things because I missed him? Troublesome came when I wanted nothing but answers.
Ring, ring, ring...
What was that noise?
And it took me awhile to realize it was Mom calling me during class in my cell phone. Weird? Since when electronics worked in the deepest parts of the forest of the Academy? I ignored it. Texting: I'll call later in class now, annoyed teacher straight ahead. Love you, bye.
She left me on read and I turned off the phone, sliding it into my bag fast preventing the teacher from taking it away. I continued to take notes of the lesson. When the first bell rang, the teacher dismissed us by saying, "Quiz this Monday, so get ready for it, students. Class dismissed." he picked up his books and left the room as well as the student as it was early day today, so during lunch time...teachers hurdled up and spoke of the next PTO meeting with the parents for visit day.
I rushed myself towards the cafeteria, forgetting to go to my locker and put all my books and bag away as I was not in need of it during lunch time. The meal was scrumptious yummy meatloaf with a bit of cow blood, warm and delightful to my throat. I drank my animal blood in a Stanleycup I had since the mundane world. They had so many new things adjusted in the shops of the humans. The green Stanleycup caught my eye as my favorite color was emerald like my eyes now.
"Hey, stranger!" Paul called out to me, hoping we'd sit together at the table of his pack of shifters, but I shook my head and sat alone next to the cheerleaders whom were faes. They looked at me with disgust like my smell was revolting but I smelled of strawberry and vanilla. Even Paul liked that about my scent when we were toddlers. Well I was the toddler and he was the kid. I sniffed at my blazer and realized I smelled just fine. So why the scrunchiness of those cheerleaders? Paul walked to me, sitting in front of me.
"Why ignore me?" he asked rhetorically, sounding wounded perhaps. I guessed. I couldn't read minds so no way of knowing the truth of his mind. Unless I asked and he answered truthfully.
"I didn't ignore you." I shrugged his sadness off not being paid attention to. "Why call me to that table? You know they hate me for what I am."
"They don't hate you." he tried to convince me otherwise.
"Sure and I was borned yesterday." I rolled my eyes.
"Really? Rolling those eyes at me?" he chuckled loudly.
"Glad I can make you laugh." I said, sarcastically.
"It's okay, my pack may have differed to your liking but they mean well." he smiled, touching my face gently--brushing his index finger on my hot flushed cheek. "You're cute when turning into a tomato." he showed off those batted eyes my way that for a second I could see his eyes turning bright yellowish-brown.
"Their yellow?" All I could say and wished I hadn't but he laughed, realizing that's all I could manage to ask him.
"Ask me what you really want to know."
"Are you the wolf shifter I saw outside in the Academy where I was hunting animals?"
"I was curious to know you guessed it was me. What gave me away?"
"Your eyes." I blushed more. Feeling the hotness creeping into my face, and down my palms of my hands making me sweat. I nerve-wrackingly wiped my palms with my skirt and hid the idea he could see through me. That he knew I felt attached to him since forever. That I've never really gotten over him. Missing him all those years drowned me in tears that now, made me whimper a sigh.
"Well, you are cuter now for a fledgling at age fourteen." he grinned, showing pearly whites...as he continued to brush his warming fingertips on my cheeks.
"Why are you touching me this way?"
"Ain't it obvious?" he winked.
"No it isn't. Tell me." As I said those words his yellowish eyes glittered showing my emerald eyes reflecting on his too. I didn't know how long but it felt like hours of us staring at each other with wonder. Or was it attraction?
That's it. He could see right through me now. He knows I love him. And he felt the same way.
As I finished eating my meatloaf and drank my cranberry flavored animal blood, I made a move to get up but he grabbed my arm and pulled me into a hug. I've forgotten I left my tray in the table for the cleaners to clean it. And Paul, kissed my forehead; making me close my eyes in awed. He pulled away quick, grabbed my hand in his, and led me to the gardens. We spoke in silence about what was this that we were doing.
I told him, "I'm not the same girl anymore--the one you knew back then is gone." I felt confident now. As I stood in front of him staring at his lips. I wanted to feel his warming lips again but this time on my own lips, brushed and soft.
"I understand," he said, as he started; "But neither am I the same boy you knew back then. I've grown." he kissed my forehead again, soft, gentle, and most definitely warm.
"My heart still beats for you, though, Paul." I blurt out, but when it's out I realized I hit a nerve and he pulled me into his arms, embracing me into them--ready to show me that he did care.
"You are always welcomed in my arms as you are the girl of my dreams, Elena."
What? Did he just...say, dreams? He loves me? He loves me.
*"I...*love--"I break off.
"Love what?"
I shook my head. "Nothing." I couldn't tell him yet, not now. When his pack seemed skeptical of me as I was a fledgling soon to be a vampire.
"Don't lie, I can hear your heart skip beats when you are not saying truthfully what you mean." As he pulled apart from embracing me into his arms, I ran back inside the Academy and rushed to my locker putting away my things as school was over and it was time to go to our dorms and study or worse party. Fridays were early days in the Academy nowadays, but I didn't expect to attend my dorm neighbors party and seeing Paul there too. He was accompanied by his pack, there were five guys and one girl--she was a shifter who had a crush on him since he began last week this school grounds. Part of me felt jealousy. I didn't want to share him with anyone especially another shifter girl part of his pack. My hair was wavy down my shoulders, and with a bat pin-like on my hair to part my hair-do. I was dressed into the black dress mom made me, long time for homecoming. But I didn't go. Didn't have a date. Yet now I didn't care for a date to accompany me I needed fun and this vampire and shifters party was the way to go for now. The silver heels were so uncomfortable I changed in the bathroom for some flats: black colored. When Paul saw me outside the bathroom, he grinned at me like he was mesmerized. As both our eyes glittered, he held out his hand to me fast before any guy asked me to dance.
"Care for a dance, my dear Alpha mate?" What the heck he said? Mate? That meant he wanted to be more than friends or is I on the wrong?
"Yes," Without overthinking it through now, I coiled my arm around his. And we danced like that normal dance teenagers normally wouldn't do, the type parents slow danced in the past. My hands on his shoulders, while his on my waist.
"You look, beautiful." he smiled once more but there was more to his expression. He meant it as a compliment and chance to want me more than a friend.
"You are too, elegant as well." His blue suit looked like he was heading to prom instead of a regular party. We were the headlights of the party, because the spotlight was on us, dark room with pink and red circle lights circuling around us. As we danced. I heard a loud growl of annoyance, and it was her...his pack friend. The girl in his pack that hadn't stopped staring at us in a disturbed look.
"Ignore her. I do." he kissed my forehead, not a slobbery kiss but minty fresh and soft on my skin. I hoped it would had been a mouth kiss. I wanted to taste his tongue on mine, while he kissed me with so soft and gentle pecks then we'd kiss if no one would be watching. But as if he heard my thoughts he planted a kiss on my lips. The warmth of his blood pulsed at my ears and I could hear the sound of our hearts matching every beat. I kissed him back so gentle hoping I'd not mistaken on my first time kissing someone like Paul. He was my first love. My first kiss. Now all I could think about was...us. Kissing. Exchanging saliva as his blood pulsing through my ears making it like fire in my tongue tasting the mint he had consumed awhile ago. I didn't want the kissing to stop. So I grabbed a fistful of his hair with my fingers and coiled them through his hair. I tiptoed reaching his nose with my lips, and back to his mouth. He paused, pulling away.
"Wow." he opened his eyes, now I realized they were closed like mine too. As I opened my eyes with his, he put his hands on my thighs pulling me closer to his body. Whispering, "Want to go somewhere?"
I nodded, and we left the party for his dorm. It was full of books, and a shelves of DVD movies. His brown sheeted bed was made nicely, as I sat down on it. Taking off my shoes, he sat next to me.
"Are you comfortable?" he asked. "You want water?" he pointed as his black small, fridge on the corner of his bed.
"Sure." I nodded again.
He opened the fridge door, grabbed a water bottle, and handed it to me.
I sipped some, and realized this water only helps to calm down my pulsing ears but it doesn't do nothing to the thirst of blood. It had a little satisfaction but not better than blood of elks.
"Do you have chips?" My hunger for something salty other than metallic blood hit me. My stomach growled loudly.
He pulled out a pack of Lays in his nightstand, and hand it to me quickly.
I opened it quick. Took some chips, popped them onto my mouth, and smiled. Finally, something to calm my nerves of being alone with him.
"Are you afraid of something?"
I choked on some of the chips and swallowed some water fast to help. "No." I lied, but apparently he didn't question it instead, he played with my hair.
"You should let it grow."
"It will, I only cut it because the ends were damaged of so many stress I went through getting into this school." I admitted, and smiled.
"Good you realized you look better if you let it grow. No offense you still look beautiful, but even more if it was longer to your waist perhaps." he chuckled, softly.
"You are a jerk." I pushed him down the bed and he pulled me on top of him.
"Um...kiss me again."
I did just that...not caring we were alone. In a bed so comfortable I could fall asleep beside him. My lips brushing on top of his, while he moved those lips towards my neck. Making me nerve-wracking--pushing those nerves aside as I continued to kiss him while touched my tongue with his. I could feel heat arising beneath us. So I stopped the kiss, and backed away. "I must go to my dorm room."
He pulled me into a hug and said, "Stay,"
"I can't. This is going too fast for us." I admitted. Walking away from this room and closing his door behind me, I stay there reminiscing the memories of his lips on mines from a moment ago. We finally kissed, and I didn't have to beg him for it. It happened. So he does love me. Maybe this can show possible love triumphing?
I sprinted downstairs to my room, taking off my dress, and putting a towel over my body as I grabbed my basket with bathroom essentials for me to shower quickly. And when I find myself in the showers of the girls bathroom, I turned on the hot showers, singing: *Lovely birds coming together...*When I lathered my hair into some shampoo and conditioner. I smelled the scent I've always had since fifth grade of the elementary in mundane school grounds. The mist of the air hits me, its pured hot inside. I shut off the shower, and stepped out into my towel and wrapped it around me. I made my way into the front of the mirrors, where its fogged up and all I could do was wipe it with my right hand while the other held the towel in place of my body. I felt refreshed grabbing my basket of shower essentials. Dashing to my room, I bumped into Paul, my towel falling to the ground. Luckily I was wearing underwears. I covered myself with my free hand. He covered his eyes with both hands.
I grabbed my towel, wrapped it around my body, and rushed fast to my room. Forgetting the embarrassing moment of him seeing me naked. Closing my door behind me, I placed my basket on my desk and put a nightgown on; colored green. The smell of baby lotion overpowers my scent of strawberries and vanilla. I threw myself unto my bed and scream into the pillow...of what embarrassement just happened in front of Paul. He saw me...naked. As a true gentleman he covered his eyes for me, but still, why must all of this happen to me?
I heard a knock on my door. "Elena!" Paul. He kept knocking. But I didn't feel the urge to open. So I covered my ears with both pillows, and let the tiredness consume me. I was out like a light once I turned off my light beside me. Minutes later, I wake up, but it isn't fair...Paul left? And then again. Knocking...
"Paul, let me sleep please." I begged, yelling already half asleep in bed.
"Okay then tomorrow meet me at the gardens we need to talk."
"Fine, bye." And back to sleep I went.