Elora
P
he blaring of my alarm pulled me violently from my slumber. I showed no remorse as I attempted to smack it silent in tired desperation. My hits were haphazard, missing nearly every time and leaving me with a sore palm and a splinter. That was enough for me to crack my lids, my tired eyes searching for my early morning torture device before I finally turned it off. At least it was finally Friday. This week had crawled
by, and I still needed to prepare mentally for Duke and Felix’s return.
They’d been gone so long, and I still didn’t know what I’d say (or do) when reunited with them. Part of me was still in disbelief that they were actually returning. Lucifer being home was surreal enough as it was. All I knew was that things would never be like they once were; everything had changed.
No–I was not going to ruin a perfectly good morning by overthinking and hyping myself up. Forcing my mind elsewhere, I stretched and got out of bed. I made it quickly and correctly before pattering my way toward the bathroom. It was time to get ready.
Once I showered and dried, I dressed myself in a cute little number made up of a tan skirt, a white button-down crop top, a pink cardigan, and white Converse shoes. My hair was pulled from its unruly braids and left to style itself. It had always been wild and unmanageable, and with everything on my mind, I wasn’t exactly in the mood to battle with it either. Instead, I pushed it back with a white headband and called it a day. I looked adorable, regardless.
I grabbed my backpack and went downstairs. A stinging in my palm reminded me of my alarm clock-related battle wound, and I squinted in an effort to find the little sliver of wood. I could barely see it, but I knew it would bother me all day if I didn’t get it out as soon as possible.
“Morning,” I called as I passed by the living room. I didn’t bother glancing at those in the room; I knew Quin and Eugene would be watching something ancient as usual.
As soon as I stepped into the kitchen, I found Dane. He was right where I expected he’d be–sat at the counter, browsing on his laptop. Letting my backpack fall to the ground, I scooted onto a stool beside him and thrust my injured hand in his face.
“Can you see anything?” I asked, knowing vampires had impeccable eyesight.
Dane tore his gaze from his computer screen to study my face before looking at my hand. Once his eyes were back on mine, he spoke. “Uh, your hand?” He questioned, his look just as incredulous.
“No,” I began, shaking my head. With my free hand, I pointed to where I thought my battle wound was. “I have a splinter. What do you think, Doc? Am I gonna make it?”
He chuckled lowly, grabbing my hand and prodding the tender area. I’d guessed he’d found the little piece of wood by how he seemed to only poke where it hurt, but the way he kept glancing at me made me second guess that. “That’s what you’re worried about this morning? A tiny splinter?” He questioned.
My shoulders lifted into a slight (and somewhat lazy) shrug. Truth be told, I didn’t really understand what he was asking. “What else would I worry about?”
There was a pause–a deafening, all-consuming lull as Dane stopped what he was doing and looked at me with wide eyes. “You didn’t see‒you didn’t,” he started, his tongue tripping over the words before he shook his head.
Puzzled, I watched as he continued his previous activity. Things didn’t feel quite right, and I could tell he was keeping something from me. Did I need to be worried? Was it bad? My mind reeled, trying to solve the mystery behind Dane’s words.
“I don’t mind driving myself to school,” I stated, overthinking and wondering if that could be it. He probably wanted to spend time with Lucifer–not that I blamed him.
“I’m driving you.”
His voice was like a cannonball that dropped straight on my chest. My heart pounded, and my eyes widened. No. It couldn’t be. I’d know that
voice anywhere. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t heard it in (what seemed like) eons. That voice was as memorable as the back of my hand, as swimming or riding a bike.
It was soft and kind, the sort of timbre that brought warmth; he was warm and always had been. And now that he stood somewhere behind me, I felt none of his signature comfort but nerves and shock instead.
There was supposed to be more time; that was what my guys said. I wasn’t ready to face him yet. There was supposed to be a weekend to prepare, not five seconds!
Keeping my hand in front of Dane, I attempted to turn on my stool. Instantly, my eyes locked on his, causing chills to run down my spine. This man who was once my everything felt almost like a stranger.
“Duke,” I whispered, dumbstruck by his presence.
He looked just as I remembered him, with his brown hair styled to perfection and his eyes dark enough to be mistaken for brown. As always, kindness was swimming through them. Despite my many growth spurts, he still towered over me, not that I expected him not to. He stood before me with his hands tucked into the front pockets of his light-wash jeans, his white button-up complementing them perfectly. By the way he stood, I had no doubt he was just as nervous as I was.
“Got it!” Dane exclaimed, pulling away from my hand. He was grinning proudly, only to let his lips relax once he noticed the tension between Duke and I. Instantly, his eyes were back on his computer screen, a soft ‘oh’ leaving his lips.
Duke took a few cautious steps toward me, his body language reminiscent of a zoo keeper approaching a predator. “Hi, Elora.”
The urge to tackle him with affection was strong, but I suppressed it, battling it into submission. I should have been upset at him. I’d played through hundreds of ways to tell him how wrong he was for leaving me. And now that he was there, standing a few feet away? I didn’t have the heart to scold him.
“I thought you weren’t supposed to come back for another few days?” It was all my malfunctioning mind could think of as I spoke, my gaze locked on him with no intention of faltering.
“I sped home the second I could,” Duke admitted with a nod, his eyes telling me everything his lips wanted to and couldn’t. All those years ago,
he’d promised me he’d be back before I knew it, and while he didn’t say it, I could tell he tried. The effort alone meant a lot to me.
I stood from my stool and walked his way, wrapping my arms around his waist once I was close. “Good,” I conceded, though my tone remained casual, distant. “I’m glad you’re home.”
When his arms wrapped around me in an attempt to hug me back, I felt a tingling sensation radiate from his touch. It was almost as though my muscles were falling asleep or waking up after an uncomfortable nap. It gave me another excuse to pull away from his embrace, the first being my hesitance to completely forgive him. That didn’t mean I needed to be cold toward him. After all, he did just get back home.
“Well,” I stated, bending down to grab my backpack. “I don’t want to be late for school.” With that, I made my way to the kitchen’s exit despite school being the last thing on my mind at that moment.
Duke trailed behind me at a distance. He knew how much I’d been hurt and how fresh the wounds still were, so the space was something of a Godsend.
My feet sped to the door, eager for us to get going. The sooner I was at school, the sooner I could be alone to process the morning events.
“Elora,” Quin’s baritone voice rumbled.
“Yeah?” I had stopped, turning to watch my messy-haired friend.
The vampire wore a sharp look as he regarded me, his unkempt hair gently touching his eyebrows. He pointed toward the kitchen. “Lunch.”
Leave it to me to forget, even though Duke’s unexpected arrival was a good excuse. Quin always packed my lunch while I slept, and while it was typically leftovers, it was always delicious.
“Oh, right,” I chirped, turning so that I could hurry back and grab my lunch pail from the fridge without running too behind.
The sight of a large body looming in front of the refrigerator left me frozen. I didn’t need to see his face to know it was him; I was a fool to think Duke arrived alone. As my eyes drifted down Felix’s muscular back (something I hadn’t really noticed before), I knew–just like the others–he hadn’t changed.
My nerves were racing as I watched him. In all the years he’d known me, Felix hadn’t liked me. He’d let me know it too. Would he feel differently after not seeing me for five years? One could only hope.
It only took a few steps before I was behind his hulking form. Swallowing my anxiety, I greeted him. “I didn’t know you were back too.”
As soon as he heard my voice, the red-eyed vampire turned away from the fridge and looked at me. His face blanched, and I’d say I scared him if I didn’t know any better. I know I couldn’t have; it was literally impossible to sneak up on any of them.
His luminescent red eyes made calculated movements as he looked over me, and I felt goosebumps cover my skin. I really didn’t remember any of my guys being so handsome, not even Duke, yet now I felt myself entranced by their beauty.
After some time, Felix began to blink, his mind waking from whatever trance he’d been in. “Shouldn’t you be at school?” He questioned.
My eyebrows shot up in shock despite the sudden wave of sadness that washed over me. He couldn’t even muster up a simple ‘hi’? It seemed five years hadn’t changed his dislike for me. He wasn’t wrong, though. Despite always arriving at school twenty minutes early, I was running behind, and his presence wasn’t exactly helping. As a matter of fact, being off schedule was already biting at my brain, annoying me beyond belief.
“Yeah,” I muttered, averting my eyes quickly. In doing so, I could finally spot my lunch bag behind him, only to notice it was open. Not just that, but the sandwich inside had a few bites taken out of it.
Instantly, the itching in my brain became a burn. He… he ate my lunch. I hadn’t even been out of the kitchen for two seconds, and Felix didn’t just show up early, but he ate my lunch. It wasn’t like he could mistake it for his. It was in a lunch bag; he wasn’t dressed for work and didn’t attend school.
I bit my tongue to keep myself from complaining. He already thought I was a slacker for not being an hour early to school. I didn’t want him to think I was insolent as well.
The whole morning had gone wrong, and everything was the complete opposite of how I wanted it. Now, I was frustrated and confused, and my OCPD was in full panic mode. I was late to being early; Felix and Duke were two days early, and the lunch that Quin had packed for me every day since the dawn of time was ruined. What was I going to do? I’d never eaten cafeteria food or been off campus for lunch.
What I needed to do was leave before I had a meltdown. I could already feel one rising, and I didn’t really want to cry or scream in front of
everyone–not with Lucifer, Felix, and Duke there.
Without another word, I turned to leave, my body burning with discomfort at my lack of lunch. When I tried to leave the first time, I forgot it by accident, but it was ruined this time.
My need for isolation grew. Being alone in a car awkwardly with Duke was no longer on my to-do list. Though my reaction may have seemed a little much, I couldn’t help it. My blood was heated, boiling within my veins, and my head tingled with the false need to sneeze. I was beyond annoyed, and rightfully so.
“Theo, give me your keys,” I ordered quickly. Despite my warring emotions, my voice sounded calm, and a part of me found pride in that.
His eyebrows rose, but he reached for his keys nevertheless, tossing them effortlessly in my direction. I caught them with ease.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Duke look forlorn, probably thinking I was upset with him. “Are you sure?” Duke questioned gently. There was some hope in his voice, but it was subdued by the desire not to push me too far. “I can drive you, Elora.”
“I can drive myself,” I replied with a nod. “Thanks.”
Everyone looked at me, watching me with confused expressions. Even Lucifer, who usually was disinterested in my antics, looked puzzled by my behavior. I felt their stares but opened the front door anyway.
“Wait,” Quin called out, his tone laced with irritation. “You didn’t grab your lunch.”
“I know,” I snapped back, closing the door behind me. The hot sun warmed my skin as I walked to Theo’s car and got in.
If there was anything I hated more than mushrooms, it was driving. Just being in the driver’s seat made me clench my jaw, though it was already stiff, to begin with. Everything about the morning had been horrible, and school hadn’t even started yet.
Once the house was out of sight, I felt the overwhelming urge to cry, and I was not a pretty crier. My face would get all red and splotchy. It was not a good look for school, but I couldn’t help it; everything was just too much all at once.
Duke was home, and it was more awkward than I had predicted. Then there was Felix, who couldn’t even be bothered to say ‘hi’ before criticizing me. Just thinking of his words brought about a sadness that made me tearful.
For years, all I could think about was showing them how much I’d changed since they’d been gone–how much I’d grown and excelled in everything I tried. Instead, I looked stupid and weak. I couldn’t even be in the same car as Duke, and Felix was clearly less than impressed by me.
I let my tears fall down my face, deciding to deal with my appearance when I got to school. I don’t know if it was because I was annoyed, my obsessive compulsive personality disorder, or sadness, but I felt atrocious.
Shouldn’t you be at school? His words echoed repeatedly, and I wished he’d said anything else. To think I was ready to give him a welcome-home hug and tell him how much I’d missed him, and he didn’t even care.
After parking my car in the back of the lot, I took a moment to weep into my hands. I’d been irritated before; my OCPD flared up when things were not on my idealized schedule. This time, I wasn’t only crying because of that but also because of them and how they made me feel. Duke tried so hard this morning to drive me, but I shut him down. He was probably heartbroken because of me.
Too lost in my thoughts, I hadn’t seen the figure near my passenger door until the door was yanked open. It made me yelp, thinking I was about to be abducted.
My eyes widened momentarily, only to relax when I realized it was only Quin. A sigh escaped my lips while the vampire slid into the passenger seat, closing the door behind him. In his hand, he had my lunch bag; on his face, he wore an angry expression.
“You know better than to leave this door unlocked,” he scolded with a glare.
Remembering what I’d been doing before Quin’s arrival, I couldn’t help but wipe any residual wetness from my cheeks in embarrassment. “What are you doing here?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
“I know you, Elora,” Quin replied, cocking his head to one side and gesturing to my (probably blotchy) face. He then held my lunchpail out for me to grab. “Your morning routine was messed up, and I know how you get. I remade your lunch.”
As soon as it was in my hands, the bag was unzipped, with everything inside uneaten, fresh, and just right. I glanced at Quin and felt like I should have explained myself. He knew it wasn’t like me to storm out the way I had.
“Thank you,” I began. “I just got so angry. He didn’t even say hi to me. Felix just shows up after five years, eats my sandwich, and doesn’t even say ‘hi.’ I mean, who does that?”
Quin sighed, reaching for my hand. “He didn’t know, Elora. Dumb on his part, but he didn’t know it was yours or that you’re particular about your things,” he reasoned or attempted to. “I think he was just surprised to see you–that’s why he didn’t greet you.”
“Surprised to see me?” I scoffed, my tone sarcastic. “He knew I was behind him. He wasn’t surprised. It’s not like he’s ever liked me anyway, but he didn’t need to be mean.”
There was a brief lull, the car quiet as Quin contemplated what I’d said. “That’s no reason to cry, Elora,” he responded softly.
“I’m crying because my routine was messed up,” I rushed with wide eyes, knowing that was only a half-truth, “and I’m frustrated.”
The vampire raised a brow before rolling his eyes. Before I could grasp what was happening, I was manhandled over the center console and sat down on his lap side-saddle.
I knew I should have felt awkward, but I’d been sitting on all of their laps since I was young. If anything, this helped calm me.
He ran a hand through my wild hair as I curled further into his chest, loving the comfort he was providing.
“You’re crying because you weren’t expecting Duke or Felix to be there this morning, and you’re overwhelmed. Don’t lie to me, Elora,” he consoled gently, though his last statement seemed stern in comparison.
I bit my lip, knowing Quin was right. I didn’t want to look any weaker than I already did, though. I hated how them simply being there early was enough to make me run out of the house and break down. I should have handled that situation better.
Pulling away from Quin’s embrace, I looked up to study his face. He appeared stern as always, but he also seemed concerned. I mean–why else would he be here unless he was worried?
“You should have warned me,” I mumbled while absentmindedly fiddling with the buttons on his shirt. “Someone should have at least told me so I wouldn’t have looked so stupid.”
“You didn’t look stupid,” he began, the hand not in my hair tracing circles around my knee. His lips pulled into a smug grin as he squeezed my
leg gently before resuming his drawing. “If it makes you feel any better, Duke and Felix were just as surprised to see you.”
My eyes narrowed, and I gave Quin a sharp look. “Whatever,” I replied, doubting his words.
Seeing movement out of my peripheral, I looked up at the school to see people milling around. Excellent–I was late to being early now.
“Can you take this back?” I asked sweetly as I handed Quin the keys to Theo’s car. “I don’t like driving, and Dane can just take me home after my meet.”
Quin shook his head and chuckled. “I figured as much,” he responded and grabbed the keys before opening the door for me.
My skirt rode up when I clumsily slid out of his lap, though I pulled it down as soon as my feet hit the blacktop. That didn’t stop me from glancing around to ensure no one else saw anything. All clear!
“The whole world almost saw my butt!” I turned towards Quin, laughing. I definitely felt much better after our heart-to-heart.
“Nope,” he replied, his tone teetering on the edge of playful for some strange reason. He shook his head, lips pressed together. “Just me.”
“Thank goodness! I don’t think I’d ever be able to live that down around here. I have a reputation, you know,” I teased right back, though my words weren’t wholly inaccurate. I did have a reputation to uphold at school, the kind that exposing my knickers would definitely ruin.
Besides, it was better that only Quin saw anything. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen my butt before. He used to give me baths when I was a kid! Though he did look really uncomfortable now…
I shrugged the thought away and grabbed my bag. A second later, I was out of the car and jogging to school, calling out to the vampire behind me as I did so. “See you after school!”
 |
The locker room was full of chatter as I changed into my track clothes, and it was hard not to listen in. Willow changed ahead of time and bolted
out to the track, leaving me to cringe at the gossip.
If only Willow hadn’t left me behind, I wouldn’t be alone in hearing my peers gossiping about the Homecoming Dance.
The event was right around the corner, and I swore it was all anyone talked about anymore. Who were they going with? What were they going to wear? Was anyone concerned with midterms, which were the week after Homecoming? Talk about priorities.
I finished getting dressed, deciding to tie my shoes when I got to the track. I carried my sneakers in my hand, walking out to the rubber cement track. Germs were constantly on my mind, but being barefoot or wearing socks on the ground didn’t bother me. I figured it was because the ground wasn’t something I could avoid–that and my feet were squeaky clean by the time I got into bed each night.
Our school wasn’t a big one, but neither was our town. Around here, football was all anyone really cared about. Coaches and teachers put the sport as their top priority, and other sports got less practice time and funding because of it. As annoying as it was, there was nothing any of us students could do to change it.
That was why the football team practiced in the field within the track despite our meet being in less than an hour. It was our normal. We ran during scrimmages all the time.
After a quick scan of the area, I found Willow seated on the track and approached her. “Thanks for abandoning me with the Homecoming crazies again.”
Dropping next to her, I let my eyes fall on those around us. The bleachers were a ghost town, but that was to be expected. We had at least fifteen minutes until our meet started.
Once seated, I made quick work of slipping on my black shoes and tying their equally as dark laces. Despite our relaxed dress code, Willow and I always seemed to match in our sports bras, shorts, and thin jackets. The only differences were in colors, with my ensemble black and hers blue. Typically, it was the other way around, but I’d grown accustomed to wearing dark athletic gear. Plus, it was nice diversifying my wardrobe every
once in a while.
“Why would I subject myself to that longer than I have to?” She smirked with an eyebrow raised.
“Fair enough,” I agreed with a giggle.
For a moment, Willow and I soaked up the sun, enjoying the nice weather and unsure when it would be like this again. As usual, our track coach, Mrs. Daily, wasn’t here yet. Her husband, Mr. Daily, was the football coach, and while they thought they were being sneaky with their constant disappearing acts, we all knew what they were doing…
“Question,” Willow prompted as she watched me with interest. I nodded and gestured for her to continue. “You don’t have to tell me because it’s not my business…”
She turned towards me as though we were gossiping about the cheerleading squad, and I was intrigued. I nodded, waiting for her to continue. She sucked in a breath and did just that.
“…But you and Simon?” Willow nearly spat, her countenance as judgmental as could be.
My brows furrowed. Simon? He was the captain of the chess team–the same one I spoke to the night before. “Me and Simon… what?”
Willow put her hand on my knee and jokingly nudged me. “Girl, he told everyone that you two hooked up after school,” she revealed.
Instantly, I glanced around only to find Simon in the bleachers with the rest of the chess team. He looked smug from where I was, and I noticed a few popular guys high-five him as they strolled by.
“Hooked up,” I began as I looked back to Willow. Even I could tell I looked and sounded as confused as I felt. “As in, I met with the whole chess club to discuss funding?”
“What an asshole,” she mumbled with a shake of her head. “No, he told everyone you two boned.”
I could feel my blood boiling. “Like sex?” I whispered.
Anyone who knew me knew I didn’t like talking about sex. It made me uncomfortable. Heck, even the word felt dirty coming from my lips.
Willow nodded slowly, her lips pressed together. “I knew something was up when I heard,” she continued. “First of all, because–no offense–but you’re you. And second, ew, Simon!” She visibly cringed at the mere thought.
Why would he lie and tell people that? Nothing I said or did hinted that I was interested in him in any way. To make matters worse, the entire chess team was there and could have vouched for me, but they didn’t.
“Hey, girlies,” Jason called out as he jogged up to us in his football gear. He was a good friend, even though he wasn’t super close with us. We
only talked as often as we did because we shared a social circle.
“Hey,” Willow greeted with a smile, and I noticed her confidence dim into something much more timid. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out she liked him.
“So,” Jason started as he sat down next to us. “Simon’s been telling everyone you guys fucked. Most of us know he’s full of shit, though. Want me to kick his ass for you?” In true jock fashion, he smirked, displaying his cockiness for all to see.
“No,” I replied with a blush. I really wanted to give Simon the benefit of the doubt, no matter how difficult it was. “I’m sure it’s some kind of misunderstanding?”
Willow and Jason laughed quietly before rolling their eyes. “Come on, Elora,” Willow stated with a tilt of her head. “You’re smarter than that.”
She was right, but that didn’t mean I wanted to admit that Simon would do such a low, despicable thing on purpose. Not to mention that this was not something I necessarily wanted to deal with, not with the morning I’d had.
“I’ll go talk to him,” I reasoned with a gentle smile as I stood up, “and get things straightened out.”
“If you need backup, you know where to find me,” Jason joked… or at least I thought he did. With how he was flexing, I couldn’t tell. Dane’s biceps were exponentially more considerable, and he was the ‘small’ one out of my guys.
Turning away from my friends, I walked towards the bleachers and pondered how I was going to approach this. My gaze flitted around, never settling as I continued to contemplate my course of action until they landed on the top left corner of the bleachers. I couldn’t help how my breath hitched at the sight of my guys. Even Felix and Duke were there.
How long had they been there? By the looks of it, they’d been there a while. They definitely seemed comfortable. How much of that had they heard? Oh goodness–Theo would never let me hear the end of it!
They all watched me with a variety of expressions. Theo, for example, was grinning like a madman, no doubt finding this awful situation hilarious. On the other hand, Duke and Felix looked extremely angry, and I had to avert my eyes from their fierce gaze. Yikes. Eugene was in full predator mode, standing up with such ferocity that I feared he’d jump down and take out Simon.
With a wave and a smile, I tried to lighten the mood and let them know I didn’t need their help. In all honesty, I wasn’t that upset by what Simon did; just irritated. It was nothing that couldn’t be fixed with a little passive aggression.
“Sit down, Eugene,” I mumbled, knowing full well they could all hear me. I had to be discreet when I whispered to them, or else I’d run the risk of looking insane.
“Do you want me to kill him?” Eugene mouthed with an eyebrow raised. He’d used exaggerated hand motions and gestures to help communication before sliding a finger across his throat for good measure.
Shaking my head, I couldn’t help except giggle at Eugene’s antics and willingness to defend me. “I’ll let you know,” I joked.
Eugene looked disappointed as he sat down. He loved confrontation and scaring the living daylights out of people.
Though I would have handled Simon’s behavior no matter what, facing him also allowed me to gain back a little self-respect after my early morning fit. It was my chance to show Duke and Felix how strong-willed I was, that I could stand up for myself, and that I was no longer a little kid but a young woman instead.
Simon looked like a deer in highlights when he finally saw me approaching him and his friends. He knew what he did, and his expression proved it.
I walked up to where they were in the bleachers, standing just in front of the first row with my hands on my hips. “Hi, Simon,” I greeted sweetly. “I just wanted to follow up with you about our meeting yesterday.”
“Oh,” he stammered, looking as though he wasn’t sure what to say. His hands were anxiously clenching at his sides, and I could see beads of sweat begin to pool around his hairline. It was kind of disgusting in a slightly funny sort of way. “Um–uh… Is there any news?”
If there was one thing everyone could agree on, it was that I was nice. I didn’t get any satisfaction from being mean to others or bringing them down. Eugene and Theo thought it was a weakness, likening it to my Achilles Heel, but just because I was soft didn’t mean I was a pushover. I had my own ways of getting even.
“Well, people are saying the weirdest things today,” I answered, keeping my composure collected and calm. “Lots of rumors are getting spread around. That’s really the only new news.”
Simon’s already pale skin paled further. “I–I don’t know what you’re talking about, Elora,” he fibbed pathetically. Anyone with ears could tell he was lying.
My smile never faltered, not even as I shrugged in reply. “Don’t stress about it,” I replied cheerfully. “Anyways, I’m actually here to tell you that I’m going to defund and get rid of the chess club.”
Instantly, Simon’s shoulders slumped. His friends began protesting, but not a single one of them looked my way. They were too busy scolding their friend, knowing I was not only justified but also doing it out of spite.
“Why would you do that?!” Simon furrowed his brows and glared at me before relaxing. As a matter of fact, he seemed to take on a whole new air–a confidence he didn’t deserve to have. “You can’t do that. You don’t personally have the power or say in what clubs get shut down.”
His attempt to gain control of the situation was pitiful, and I suppressed the urge to cringe at the display. “Unfortunately for you, I do,” I explained with a smile. “You see, the materials and supplies for the chess club aren’t exactly cheap. Add on that you haven’t even won a game in over a year, and I really doubt the school board would want to keep your club open. Financially, it’s smarter to disband it.”
Simon’s face reddened as he stood up. Despite our slight height disparity, I stood my ground, not even flinching when he pointed an accusatory finger in my face. “You can’t do that!”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I watched Simon’s pathetic tantrum. I could tell he was trying to be intimidating, but I literally lived with vampires. He seemed like a whiny toddler in comparison.
My smile faded, and my eyes narrowed into a glare. “Sit down,” I demanded.
Simon flinched and sat back down, peeking over at his friends while I continued.
“Believe me, I get no joy out of closing a whole club down,” I made sure to address the entire group, even though the majority of my focus was on their leader. “Unfortunately for you, Simon, your actions have consequences. Next time, choose your battles more wisely.”
I stood there for a moment, watching the group’s faces change from angry to sad as realization dawned on them. They still would have had their precious club if they hadn’t lied.
As sympathetic as I wanted to be, the show had to go on. So, I plastered a new smile on my face and placed my arms behind my back. “I’m delighted we had this chat,” I chirped before rejoining my friends.
Honestly, they should have known better than to spread a rumor about the Student Council Vice President and Debate Club Captain. Did they really think it would’ve ended well for them? I may have been nice, but I was not the one to mess with.
As I went to leave, I peeked toward my guys and smiled. Theo wore his pride like a badge of honor, head nod and all, while Felix looked pleasantly surprised. His reaction made my heart soar, and my ego grew three times in that second alone. Poor Duke still looked unsettled but gave me a small smile nonetheless.
“Thank you,” I whispered with a giggle while I continued making my way back to the track.
“Oh my God, you made Simon cry!” Willow covered her mouth as she laughed. “What did you do?”
“I pulled the VP card,” I replied with a shrug as I sat beside her. “I’m going to defund the chess club.”
Jason widened his eyes and laughed, clearly not expecting such a drastic outcome. “Remind me never to get on your bad side, Smalls,” he teased before getting up. His eyes met Willow’s quickly before he turned to leave, but not before calling back to us. “Kick ass, girls!”
Willow and I stood, seeing Coach Daily finally make her way over to us. Her husband wasn’t trailing far behind.
“Oh my God,” Willow murmured and nudged my arm. “She’s limping!” Willow was right; she was limping. Every other step looked incredibly painful, and I couldn’t help but voice my concern. “Hopefully, she didn’t
hurt her leg too badly,” I said.
“My sweet Elora,” Willow sighed before gently hugging my head. “You are too innocent for this world.”
|
Once I’d changed out of my track outfit, I left the locker room and mulled over the meet results. I’d ended up getting second place in my division, and though it wasn’t first, I was still proud of myself. Then again, I would’ve been pleased with anything other than third or fourth. My OCPD didn’t like those numbers, and many days had been ruined by my placement in them. So, second was good–second was welcome.
When my win was announced, my entire body lit up, my grin blinding as I radiated pride and joy. Even Felix looked pleasantly surprised, clapping for me alongside my other guys. He must’ve just had a rough morning; it was the only explanation for his previous cold shoulder and current zeal.
Eugene was probably my biggest cheerleader. His competitive edge was way higher than mine; he enjoyed watching me and was excellent at giving me tips as a result. He was my go-to guy if it had to do with sports or academics.
My nerves raced when I located my guys near the bottom of the bleachers. They were waiting for me, and it sort of felt as though I was walking into the lion’s den while I made my way toward them. It had been so long since I’d seen them all in one place, and they took up so much space. Literally–they were massive.
A few cheerleaders stood nearby, drooling and pining pathetically. I rolled my eyes at their display. Yeah, no. I was never going to let that happen. For some reason, the mere thought of any of my guys giving their attention to another girl made my blood boil.
Duke turned around when he heard me approach. “Great race!” He beamed, all previous nervousness seemingly absent. “You did wonderfully.”
The rest followed his lead and turned to watch my approach.
“If you didn’t trip over your own feet,” Eugene teased, “you could have gotten first.”
“It’s a talent,” I joked sweetly, lifting and wiggling my foot for emphasis. I was famously clumsy. In sophomore year, I tried out for the cheerleading team only to be rejected once the captains realized I couldn’t stand on my own two feet, much less jump or dance.
Grabbing my backpack, Duke hauled it over his shoulder with ease. “Come on,” he stated as he began leading us toward the parking lot. “We’ve got reservations.”
“For what?” I asked with raised brows and grabbed Dane’s hand while we trailed behind Duke. Quin rarely allowed us to eat out. He said it was all
junk and insisted on making us ‘nutritious’ meals at home.
Lucifer was walking on the other side of me, with Felix following and everyone else walking ahead of us.
Glancing at Lucifer, I felt awful. He looked so listless, as though he’d rather be anywhere else. In an attempt to cheer him up, I grabbed his hand with my free one. His gaze focused on our hands before slowly drifting up my arm until it stopped on my smile.
I lightly swayed his arm along with Dane’s rhythm. “Do you know where we’re going?” I asked Lucifer.
Lucifer’s hand was almost frozen to the touch, way colder than Dane’s, but I felt warm nonetheless. It was like drinking a cup of hot cocoa on a rainy afternoon; the ceramic cold against the lips while the liquid within warms the body.
I watched Lucifer nod before looking away.
Well, that didn’t go as planned. I rolled my eyes, giggling as I squeezed his hand to get his attention again. “Where?”
“Don’t be annoying, Elora,” Felix ordered as he followed after us.
Instantly, my smile and excitement over getting second place were gone. All it took was three words that sat in my stomach, weighing me down and churning my gut all at once.
Felix thought I was annoying? Was I annoying?
I only wanted to know where we were going.
Was that why Lucifer didn’t answer? Did he think I was annoying too? He seemed like he was being his usual, quiet self.
From now on, I’d just have to do my best not to annoy anyone. It wasn’t like Felix had been welcoming anyway. He hadn’t said one nice thing to me yet, only acknowledging me when I did something he didn’t like. I shouldn’t have cared so much what he thought of me, but I did–I really did.
We were silent as we made our way to the cars, and I detached myself from Lucifer and Dane once we got closer to Theo’s car. I didn’t even have to say anything; shotgun was mine, and my guys knew it. Plus–he gave the best rides; he was fun.
The others piled in the remaining vehicles, with Duke sliding into our backseat. I knew he preferred to be in the front, which meant that he was probably only in Theo’s car because I was. Part of me knew he wanted to talk. Call it intuition, but I could just feel it.
Theo sped off, expertly weaving his way through the crowded parking lot. He didn’t turn toward me, but he still said, “You’re not annoying, Elora.”
I sighed, not wanting to speak about Felix’s criticism at the moment. Sometimes, I really wished vampire hearing wasn’t as perfect as it was. With how in tune Theo (and the others) were with my emotions, I wondered if they were also mind readers.
“I don’t know why Felix has been in such a sour mood since our arrival,” Duke comforted or attempted to while leaning closer to the back of my chair. “Don’t take it personally.”
How could I not take his words to heart? He treated me like a nuisance! “It’s not a big deal, and I don’t care,” I spat. My tone was violent, but I
wanted them to get the hint that I didn’t want to talk about Felix right now.
Theo narrowed his eyes. “Watch the attitude.” He warned. “Watch the road,” I snapped back.
“He really got to you, huh?” He pried with a chuckle.
“Of course he did! He didn’t even say hi to me, Theo. He’s been nothing but mean this whole day. I know he’s like a million years old; maybe he’s getting menopause,” I raged as I slumped into my seat. Should I have said that? No, probably not, but I didn’t care. It wasn’t like I lied.
Theo’s laughter increased, and he shook his head before smirking in my direction. “I bet he got jealous.”
“Theo, don’t start,” Duke cautioned. His voice was shockingly stern; I’d never heard him speak like that.
I looked between the two, my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “Jealous of who?” I asked. Why would Felix be jealous of anyone or anything? The vampire literally had it all.
Silence filled the air as neither vampire was eager to give me a response. Theo was even shaking his head, his lips pressed into a forced line. They were keen to keep it a mystery–one that would bother me until the end of my days (or at least a few days).
Duke cleared his throat in an effort to change the subject. “I found a frozen yogurt shop where you can choose your own toppings. I thought you’d like it,” he stated with a hopeful look.
He was trying so hard to rekindle what we once had, but that connection seemed so distant. “Is that where we’re going?” I asked.
Through the rearview mirror, I watched him nod.
Frozen yogurt sounded wonderful–a true treat. I really liked it too. “Yummy,” I commented, smiling at Duke before looking back at the road. I still didn’t know how to act around him.
|
Felix and Eugene didn’t join us for ‘dessert for dinner,’ which was their loss. I don’t know how I’d spent my entire life in our little town without ever knowing that the little froyo shop existed. Kudos to Duke for finding it.
We all ate way too much frozen yogurt. Well, I knew Lucifer and I did. Our outing was actually a lot of fun. I just wish everyone had been there to enjoy it. It didn’t feel right celebrating without them.
As soon as Theo threw the car into park, I was out and headed toward our front door.
The entire day had been odd, not just because the guys had returned. Something inside me was changing. I’d never thought of any of them as attractive or… hot. They’d always just been them–my guys.
Now, I’d begun to notice how their jaws moved when they talked, and I’d caught myself itching to run my fingers along them. I was suddenly paying attention to how their muscles bulged through any clothing they wore. Even their speech patterns (which hadn’t changed) made me feel some way.
It was probably just my mind playing tricks on me, but it made me feel guilty. In human years, they were all in their mid-to-late twenties, which wasn’t bad in itself, except they raised me. Bad Elora!
Dane walked to my side, grinning down at me as he pulled me from my thoughts. “Call me crazy, but I think we all just had ice cream for dinner.”
“I’ve waited eighteen years to do that!” I beamed right back. I wasn’t lying either–I’d asked Quin for a dessert dinner more times than I could recall.
“Hope you enjoyed it,” Quin shouted from somewhere behind us. “It won’t be happening again.”
I gave him a sheepish smile over my shoulder, which he returned with a somewhat apologetic one. It was nice he put so much effort into keeping me healthy despite nutrition not mattering as much to the rest of them. They were vampires, after all. “You know I like your food more,” I complimented.
We followed Dane as he led us inside our home. Immediately, our eyes settled on Felix and Eugene as they sat on the couch with beers in their hands. Their attention was focused on an old football rerun from years ago, barely noticing our presence until Eugene raised an eyebrow and looked our way.
“You all smell sickly sweet,” he judged. He spoke like he wouldn’t have pigged out on all-you-can-eat froyo with unlimited toppings if given a chance, which was a big fat lie.
“Jealous?” I smirked, skipping until I was behind the couch. Leaning over, I let my feet lift off the ground while the sofa supported my full weight. “We had frozen yogurt for dinner.”
Eugene was shocked and looked behind me in slight disbelief. “Really?” He asked, and Quin replied with a sound of regret. With an approving nod, he looked back at me.
“Look at that,” Eugene teased. “Duke’s back for a day, and you finally get your dessert dinner.”
“To be fair,” I began, trying to make myself sound less spoiled than I already was, “I didn’t ask to go.” Duke used to spoil me rotten before he left. I loved it back then, and I still did now too. Not that I wanted my guys (especially Duke) to know that. In fact, I preferred they didn’t.
“You didn’t have to,” Duke smugly replied as he joined Eugene on the couch. He glanced over his shoulder, his crimson gaze meeting my sapphire-shaded eyes. “Put your feet down, Elora. You’ll hurt yourself.”
As much as I wanted to resist, I did as instructed before joining my guys on the sofas. Sadly, the only open seat was between Lucifer and Felix. While Lucifer wasn’t too much of a concern, I was still confused about Felix. Every cell in my body was so upset over what he’d done and said, but I still found some comfort in his masculine musk. He just smelled so good.
Tucking my sock-laden feet under my butt, I attempted to relax. It didn’t help that I could feel Felix’s stare on the side of my face, giving me goosebumps and shivers by the sheer intensity. Locking my eyes with his
only made it worse. He may have been insanely handsome, but he was still the most intimidating being I knew–more so than anyone else.
“How did you get to be Vice President?” He asked in a low tone, genuine curiosity riddled throughout his baritone timbre.
My eyebrows raised in surprise. I wasn’t expecting him to say anything to me, much less ask about my achievements. This was my chance! I felt myself easing against Lucifer’s arm, though I doubted he minded in the least bit. “Well, I was Treasurer last year, so I kind of learned about the Student Council and their responsibilities. So, I decided to run for a better position this year. It was a lot of fun,” I chirped, smiling as I remembered how stressed Theo was during the campaigning process.
Felix just stared at me blankly, yet I knew he was some flavor of intrigued. “And you’re in the debate club?” He inquired further.
I loved that he was asking about me. It made me feel like he genuinely cared. That’s all I’d wanted from him since his return: for him to show a sliver–a hint–that he missed me and ask how I’d been.
“Captain of the debate club,” I corrected with a nod.
He replied with a nod of his own. In all honesty, he looked impressed, and I couldn’t help but preen under his acceptance. “And Eugene says you’re on track to become valedictorian.”
“What?” Duke sounded shocked. “You’re top of your class?”
“Well, there’s still a few months left,” I explained with a shrug, “but as of right now, it’s me.”
Duke looked around at everyone, gauging their reactions. He was acting like I single-handedly found the cure for cancer. “That’s outstanding,” Duke praised as he beamed with pride.
My cheeks flushed under his flattery, and I had to look at the TV so I didn’t seem too cocky with who I’d become. After everything, it turned out to be a pretty good day. Felix may have thought I was annoying, but at least he now knew what I was capable of. And Duke wore a starry expression as he continued to watch me, seeming dazed and elated all at once.
Silence fell over us as our collective attention focused on the television. Slowly, my body shifted until I found myself relaxing against Lucifer’s side. I loved physical contact, so much so that Dane often joked that it was my love language (whatever that meant). I couldn’t help; it just felt so good to be right next to someone. It was relaxing, a sort of warmth that seeped
deep into my bones; it was comforting, knowing that whoever it was couldn’t leave without me knowing.
Besides, Lucifer didn’t seem to mind any. He actually had wrapped his arm around my shoulders, his hands finding their resting spot on my lower ribs. He was comfortable, I was relaxed, and together, we fit.
It wasn’t long before I ended up completely enveloped in Lucifer’s embrace. His legs were on either side of me, and our positions had changed just enough for my back to recline against his hard chest. One of his index fingers drew delicate patterns across my stomach, lulling me to sleep with every soothing stroke.
As for my legs? They ended up draped over Felix’s lap, though I wasn’t entirely sure how that happened. Either way, he didn’t mind the contact, and I reveled in the warm tingles that spread along my skin from his touch. Each time his fingers brushed my ankle, I felt a comforting warmth, as if he were the sun and I was Icarus, ready to soar.
With Lucifer’s arms wrapped around me and Felix’s fingers gently caressing my legs, I felt a profound sense of safety and coziness. It had been so long since I’d felt this way, but having all my guys around me made me feel whole. I drifted off to sleep like that—wrapped in care and love.
