Even with Tara’s healing and two days of rest Chase was still weak. His face was white like a ghost and he had lost the appetite.
“It must have been of the spell. His body is still adjusting,” said Tara.
She insisted he shouldn’t go back to school but he refused.
“I only have a two weeks to live. I wouldn’t miss the school for the world.”
It was lunch break and all students headed to the cafeteria. Chase escaped himself to the isolated place in the school, behind the Science Lab. The school’s serving was worse than the Vampiress’ vomit. He sat there alone, watching the blue sky.
“Hello there,” said Tara.
She was wearing her white robe that covered her whole body and wore shades to protect her eyes.
“Tara? What are you doing here?”
“I came to say goodbye.”
Then heavy clouds replaced the bright sun. The place turned dark. Chase was impressed. It was Tara’s doing.
“You can do that too?”
“Amazed?”
“You bet! Is there anything you can’t do?”
“Fortunately, yes. I don’t want to be burdened with great duties. They are gifts, I know but they can be tiring too; at some point.”
She sat right next to him.
“Thank you for last night.”
Chase remembered about the ‘shocking kiss’. It made him smile.
“You said you were leaving. Why?”
“Duties call.”
She looked upset.
“I’ve enjoyed your company. But all good things must come to an end.”
“I guess so.”
“But, before I go, I want to give you something.”
Chase looked excited. He had never received a gift from anyone before.
“But this will hurt.”
“Okay?”
“Give me your right hand.”
She loosened her fangs as he held out his right hand. She took it and bit his knuckles slowly. The pain wasn’t greater than last night’s shock.
“I’ve passed a gift to you; a siren. Whenever you’re in grave danger, bite your knuckles until you bleed and snap your fingers. Help will come. I promise you that.”
He didn’t think he would get into anymore troubles considering the situation now but he said his thanks.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
“Yeah?”
Tara kissed Chase on his forehead.
“Enjoy your sun!”
She snapped her fingers and a tornado appeared. She jumped into it and it all felt like a dream. She wasn’t there anymore. He was all alone, sitting on his butt, looking at the sun. He wondered if it was just his imagination or true.
“Here,” said Gina.
Chase was surprised anyone would come down here. It was his secret place. And now people have known. She passed him a set of lunch in a brown paper bag.
“You need to eat something. You don’t look well.”
“Thanks.”
“So who was that girl? I’ve never seen her around.”
“Her? Well, she’s a friend of mine.”
“Just a friend?”
“Yeah, I think so...”
Chase was confused as well. Tara was pretty and she was a good kisser but he doubted they were more than that.
“So, erm, where’s your brother?”
“He got transferred to a new school. My parents freaked when they found out about the bullying thing.”
“You miss him?”
“Yeah. I’ve always had lunch with him. And now he’s gone, I think I’m all alone.”
Chase didn’t believe that. Gina was popular, smart and nice. Everyone in the school would want to be her friend. She wasn’t your typical head cheerleader bimbo type of girl. She was popular because the attitude she carried around. She was elegant and classy in her own ways. Every girl would die to be her.
“What about the girls who’s always with you?”
“Theresa and the others? They’re not really my friends.”
She looked like she was about to cry. Her blonde hair covered half of her face. Chase couldn’t tell if she had tears in her eyes or not.
“Forget Theresa and the others. You’re better off without them.”
Chase heard her voice was stuck in her throat. She tried really hard not to cry.
“You’ve heard?”
Chase had heard a rumour about Theresa backstabbing Gina but he didn’t know the specific details. He blurted all thoughtful things to say to her.
“They’re not worth it. If they don’t want to be your friend, it’s their loss, not yours. You have to remember that. Okay?”
She turned to him. Her eyes were solemn red. She looked like she was about to burst a storm.
“Can you please hold me?” she requested.
Before Chase could say anything, Gina had already thrown herself into Chase’s arms. He knew the appropriate thing to do was to hug her but it was too awkward and he was too shy. He let her hold on to him until the bell rang. As requested, Chase walked Gina back to her class.
“Thanks.”
“Oh, don’t mention it. Really.”
She kissed his cheek, leaving him all flushed in front of the class.
***
Chase sat underneath a dying tree, in the backyard. At first it was sunny but then it turned cloudy. He didn’t want to budge. He needed his space. Emilia and Jocelyn had kept bugging him, he had to get away. They hated being outside because of the sun and it made the perfect spot for him to escape.
He was confused. He thought he didn’t care about his life but now that things are slightly better, he questioned if it really was the right decision to make. He was missing out so much since he was a child. He never knew his parents, was never loved and never had friends; until now.
“Sitting alone? Where’s Tara now?” asked the Vampiress from the back door.
She didn’t have to scream. Her voice was loud enough to be heard by him. Chase wasn’t in the mood to talk. He remained quiet. The Vampiress knew something was bothering him so she went out under the cold weather to sit next to him.
“Someone is emo,” joked the Vampiress.
In normal circumstances, it would have made him laugh but he didn’t.
“I thought vampires don’t joke,” he said coldly.
“Oh we do, rarely.”
Chase managed a scoff. Then from the house, they both heard Jocelyn and Emilia calling Chase about cleaning up their tore down room.
“You’re not going to answer them?” she asked.
“Maybe later. My hands are sore.”
He lifted his hands and they were cut and red. The Vampiress let out a sigh.
“You didn’t have to do what they say.”
Chase looked at her, dissatisfied.
“Really? And you’re only telling me now?”
“Had to teach you a lesson.”
Her face was filled with an evil smile.
“Why? Because your sister kissed me?”
He asked with a child tone, sulking.
“Was she such a good kisser?”
She didn’t dare to look at him. But she was eager to know the answer. She didn’t want to show it.
“Well, maybe. I don’t know. How am I supposed to know? I’ve never been kissed before.”
He had a point but the response didn’t make the Vampiress relieved.
“Ever?”
“Ever.”
He said, reassuring. He tried to look at her but she was looking at the other way.
“Well then, how about this?”
She grabbed his collar and pulled him in as she kissed him deeply. Only this time, he felt no pain when the kiss ended.
“Now, you’ve been kissed twice.”
As much as Chase wanted to believe it, the kiss didn’t really count. Both of the kisses came from vampires, not from real girls. He felt more upset. His jaw was tensed.
“What’s wrong now?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
He looked down at grass, feeling it must have been great to be a grass instead of an unlucky boy. But he couldn’t tell her that. It was not a habit of the Vampiress to be nice to him. He had to enjoy that moment.
“Speaking about your sisters. Did they bring ‘someone’ in two nights ago? Coz the room sure looked like-”
“Like ‘hell’?”
“Yeah, sure, we’ll go with ‘hell’ instead.”
Neither could use the actual word.
“They have companies every once in a while. Vampires have needs too.”
Wow, he felt more like a loser now. Even vampires who lead an eternal life had more fun than him. His curiosity rose.
“When you do ‘that thing’, is it the same like humans?”
For the first time ever, Chase saw the Vampiress was blushing. But he didn’t dare to mock her.
“Well, yes, but far ‘greater’ than yours. It could be really nasty sometimes.”
“Is it so great?”
Then the Vampiress knew about the ‘pure condition’ Chase was in. The Vampires thought of teasing him. She started with a wicked smile.
“First it starts with a kiss,”
Chase as usual, didn’t have a clue to what was going on. But he started to suspect when the Vampiress kissed him again. And she didn’t stop this time. He could only blink his eyes rapidly.
“Then, we move on to touch.”
When her hands slid by his stomach, Chase jumped backward. His small brown eyes grew wide. She stopped.
“But I haven’t got to ‘intimate’ part yet,” she joked.
He got up and started to change the topic.
“Well, look at the time! I have homework to do. See ya!”
He ran back inside and she laughed hysterically. She had a good laugh indeed. It wasn’t everyday she gets to spook him.
“Silly human!”
She said to herself.
“But adorable.”
Then something bugged her. The things Tara had told her were true.
“Sister, do not let this one go. He’s the one for you,” begged Tara.
“What a thing to say when you kissed him.”
“How could have I avoided him? He was so charming.”
“Charming? You’re calling him charming? Really?”
“Sister, I know you. You wouldn’t take him in if you didn’t like him in the first place. He does have an appealing side, doesn’t he?”
Yvonne kept quiet. She didn’t want to comment.
“Win his heart. And I’m sure he’ll bring you happiness. He already has. Anyway, you’ve got competition.”
The word ‘competition’ attracted Yvonne alright. She was threatened.
“Who? You?”
Tara laughed.
“I will be your competition if you let him go. But as the time being, a girl in his school is.”
***
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