Vampire Shifter Academy, page 6
“Vampires don’t really like werewolves that much,” Bella whispered, as if she was afraid that someone might hear her, but everyone was too immersed in the cheering and no one was paying attention to their barely audible conversation.
“Why?” Eva repeated.
This world was completely new to her and she was learning something more about it every day, which made it all the more appealing, more cryptic and unfathomable. She didn’t want to admit it to herself yet but she was delighted and even aroused to be a part of it.
“I think it has something to do with the principals,” Bella started the story she herself had heard upon arriving to Ridgeview Academy. “Apparently, Ridgeview and Pleamore were one school back in the day. It was called,” she paused a little to remember, “Holmerry, Institute of the Arcane. Vampires and werewolves attended it, all together. No fights, no arguments, no nothing. We all seemed to get along just fine. The main person responsible for all those students was Principal Sorwyce. He was a vampire, married to a werewolf. He had two children. One of them you’ve met.”
“I have?” Eva was surprised to hear that.
“Of course. It’s Principal Rannulf,” Bella nodded. “The other is that man over there.”
Bella tried to hide her pointing index finger, aimed in the direction of a man, who stood by the side of the other bleachers. Eva couldn’t see the man properly. He was too far away. But, her subconscious assured her that she had seen that man before somewhere. She had no idea where but she was almost sure of it. The shape of that face, the way he carried himself, the position of his shoulders, it was all somehow familiar.
“Who is that?” Eva asked, not taking her eyes off of him.
“That is Principal Douxora. So, that man over there is a werewolf and our own principal is a vampire. What happened was that Principal Sorwyce disappeared one night and no one knew what happened to him. There were a few silly theories but it remains a mystery to this day. No one knows where he is or what happened to him. Then, Rannulf and Douxora both wanted to step in and take their missing father’s place, because the institute needed a strong guiding hand, like the one that belonged to Sorwyce.”
“What happened then?”
Eva was straining more and more to hear Bella, when finally the players started coming out on the court, arms raised up high in the air, their audience cheering for them and the noise completely drowned out Bella’s words. She gestured at Eva that they couldn’t talk anymore. Eva agreed.
She continued watching the players and forgot all about the man she was so focused on a few seconds ago. Now, her mind was busy concentrating on something else, actually someone else. That someone else was a boy from her class. A handsome boy. One who tickled her fancy more than the others. She remembered him looking at her while she was giving that horribly embarrassing first speech about herself. He kept gazing at her, listening intently. He didn’t laugh, but she could swear there was a hint of a little smile on his face. She could only hope it wasn’t a sneer.
Right now, he was running out on the court with his teammates. He was number twenty. From the way he talked to everyone else, gesturing, shouting, giving out orders, she guessed he was Mr. Popularity. He was the hot shot of the school. He was also probably the one dating Katrina Hampton - as these things usually go.
“Who you lookin’ at, sis?” Bella elbowed her gently.
But, she didn’t need a vocal answer. She could see it in Eva’s eyes. She could also guess, because Dorian Moore was the one who usually caught everyone’s eye. It was like Zeus himself lent him his own body, minus the beard. Everything on Dorian Moore, from his head down to his toes, was simply god-like.
“Oh, don’t tell me it’s jock boy?” Bella asked, rolling her eyes.
“What?” Eva didn’t even hear her.
“Oh crap, you’re already in love!” Bella burst out laughing.
At this point, the clamor from the bleachers had died down a little and the game started. The girls could talk casually, keeping it on the low down, as they whispered to each other, making sure not to bother others.
“Who’s in love?” Eva pretended not to hear this time.
“You!” Bella punched her on the shoulder playfully, “with that guy.”
Bella was dying to point her finger at him, but she didn’t want to give her friend away. So, she just eyed the guy who had just scored, and was rewarded by happy cheers from the audience. He was the star, and all eyes were on him. Eva knew she probably had a whole lot of competition.
“Who is that?” Eva asked a little shyly, not taking her eyes off of him.
“Dorian Moore,” Bella whispered back. “He’s your typical pretty boy. I’d say he’s like a girl version of Katrina.”
“Seriously?” Eva frowned.
She didn’t like that idea. She didn’t want him to be a dick. He didn’t look like a dick. That smile couldn’t belong to anyone unkind. But, still, Bella had been here longer than her and she probably knew who was who.
“I’ve barely spoken to him all this time. He talks to me only if he needs some help with homework and by help, I mean he expects me to do it for him, and just deliver the goods. Typical,” Bella snorted, annoyed.
Eva didn’t reply. That sounded about right. She had already met such pretty boys, and they all behaved like that. She had no intention of being involved in any way with such guys. Still, she couldn’t keep her eyes off of him. There was something about his muscular body, his golden locks, the authoritative yet friendly way he guided his teammates. He was gorgeous beyond words.
All of a sudden, he looked straight at her. Instinctively, she leaned back in a futile effort to hide herself in the masses. Could it be? Was he really looking at her?
It was probably just a fluke. It was all in her head. With this story about vampires and werewolves, she’d started imagining things. They hadn’t even met yet. There was no way he was looking straight at her. It was just a coincidence and if she looked at him again, she’d realize how silly she was, she thought.
Yet, there he was, getting closer to the bleachers for some water and to wipe himself a little with his towel. His eyes were in a lockdown with hers. She felt mesmerized, like his gaze was making her unable to move. He seemed to smile, then he turned around and rushed back to the court.
“What…” Bella turned to her, “the heck was that?”
“What do you mean?” Eva asked, looking at her.
“Is there something happening between you and the pretty boy that I don’t know about?”
“Me and him?” Eva eyed her, then Dorian playing on the court, then back at Bella again. “No way. I haven’t spoken a word to him.”
“And yet you exchanged meaningful glances in front of everyone.”
“I... don’t know…” Eva gave a half shrug, feeling flushed and confused with what just happened.
She really had no idea what that was, or whether it actually happened, for that matter. But, it obviously did. Bella saw it, too. But, what did it mean? What did he want with her?
“Okay, okay,” Bella decided to let it go, for the moment. “Let’s just enjoy the game.”
They both let it go, but Eva couldn’t get it out of her mind. Something was telling her that there would be more to this story. Much more.
Chapter 8
When the game ended, Bella was surprised to hear that Eva wasn’t going back to the dorm with her. They were still sitting on the bleachers, trying to avoid the leaving crowd, and opting rather to stay behind, and start when everyone had already left.
“Are you sure?” Bella asked.
“Yeah,” Eva assured her. “My swimming stuff is in my locker, plus it’s Friday, so there will be no one there, I hope. Swimming calms me down, and I’ve been kinda stressed out this week, being new and all.”
“You’ll probably be all alone,” Bella nodded, “there is this new bar opening, but it’s a bit far away, down in one of the villages. We could go if we arrange a lift, maybe my boyfriend or other, could hook us up. What do you think?”
Eva laughed at Bella’s label of her boyfriend.
“I appreciate the offer, but I don’t feel like going out, really.”
Eva was honest. This week had exhausted her, and the last thing she wanted to do right now was go somewhere dark, loud and crowded. She just wanted the peaceful embrace of the water; to submerge herself in the depths, until she could hear nothing but the sound of her own heartbeat.
“I understand,” Bella smiled, “then I won’t go either.”
“If you wanna go, then go, I don’t mind,” Eva smiled. She didn’t want to ruin anyone’s good time.
“Well, Darlith offered to either go there or maybe stay in the woods and do some star gazing,” she giggled.
“That actually sounds much better than a stuffy, smoky bar with overly loud music.”
“Well, it’s a village, so I doubt it’s anything we were used to seeing back in the city. Probably just a barn, some lights and a record player,” she laughed. “But, you know what? You’re right.”
She leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
“He’s actually more of a woods and stars type of guy, so when I tell him you urged me to skip the bar and do this instead, I think he’ll consider you his new best friend.”
The girls laughed. Eva felt like Bella was her true friend, and she was grateful that in this horrible situation, she at least had gained a new friend she could lean on.
“But, I’ll have to tell him you’re taken.”
Eva gazed into her eyes. For a second, she felt so happy that a surge of tears started coming on, but she convinced herself quickly that there was no reason to cry. She was joyful, despite everything.
“I’m really happy I ended up here, with you,” Eva told her.
“Same.”
The girls hugged.
“You sure you’ll be okay on your own then?” Bella asked again, just to make sure.
“I am,” Eva laughed. “Go enjoy your… um, star gazing.”
“Will do!”
Bella jumped up, and rushed over to the exit, where Eva saw Darlith waiting for her. He looked at them, his hands in his pockets, but his face lit up when he saw her approach. They walked out together, though they didn’t hold hands, nor did they reveal to any possible onlooker that there was anything going on between them. But, if one only looked a bit more carefully, he could see it. Their faces couldn’t hide it.
Eva remembered Bella’s warning again and it also hit her that Bella didn’t finish her story about the reason why there are two schools and two principals, and what actually happened to Principal Sorwyce. It sounded like a mystery worth getting looked into, but not now. She could play Nancy Drew some other day. Now, it was time to relax.
She looked around, and saw that there were only a few students in the gymnasium, including herself. She grabbed her backpack, and rushed over to her locker for her suit, then straight to the swimming pool.
The place was silent and soothing. She was glad. It happened so rarely that she was alone at the swimming pool, seeing there were so many students here, and they all had swimming classes for P.E. The water glistened, as the soft gleaming lights from the corners and depths revealed nothing but clarity. There was no one around. It was a Friday evening and Bella told her that no one goes swimming this late anyway, so she figured she could just change her clothes here and go for the showers, before doing a few laps. It would save her time.
She lowered her backpack next to a little bench, then sat down, taking off her shoes and socks. Next followed her skirt and blouse. She reached in the back to unhook her bra, and as her bra slid down her arms, the doors opposite her opened, and a guy came barging in, big headphones on his ears, humming to some song Eva didn’t recognize.
Upon seeing her, half naked, with a full frontal view of her breasts, the guy grinned, revealing his fangs. Eva quickly lifted her hands and arms to cover herself but it was too late. He’d already seen what there was to see.
“Shit!” Eva murmured to herself, turning around immediately, knowing full well that she was wearing only a thin pair of panties, but at least those covered her butt properly.
“When the thought of going swimming popped to mind, I didn’t know I’d be graced with an extra little something,” he told her, and she could hear from the sound of his voice, that he still had that stupid grin on his face.
“Oh, don’t be a smart ass,” she fired back, “and get me that towel.”
She pointed at a towel which was, at this point, closer to him than it was to her, and the last thing she wanted to do was turn around to face him again, with only her one hand covering her breasts.
“Why should I?” he asked. “You called me a smart ass. That’s not very nice.”
With her whole body still turned away from him, she could hear him walking over to the little bench.
“Plus, I really like what I’m seeing,” he continued. She wasn’t sure if he was doing this on purpose to make her angry or not. “Why should I let you hide yourself, when the odds are stacked so nicely for me?”
Eva couldn’t stop herself from blushing poppy red, especially when she heard him chuckling to himself. From what she’d seen, he wasn’t bad looking himself.
“You really are an ass,” she hissed, turning just a little, to eye him with the right side of her face.
“You know, that is only getting your towel further and further away from you.”
“I could just go and get it myself, you know.”
“By all means,” he replied, took one step back, and extended the hand which was now holding the towel she so desperately needed. “You know, one might wonder why you’re taking your clothes off in here, instead of in the locker rooms, if you don’t want the attention?”
She was furious by this point, all the more so, because he was right. She shouldn’t have done this stupid, silly thing, but how was she supposed to know that anyone would be coming here this late? Wasn’t everyone supposed to have plans on a Friday night, like normal people?
“I thought I’d be the only person here this late,” she explained, nicely this time.
“Funny, I thought the same thing,” he replied. “Here.”
He walked on over, and gently threw the towel over her back, allowing her to fully hide herself from his gaze. A second later, she turned around to face him.
“Thank you,” she eyed him, then her stuff. “I guess it was stupid to do this. I just thought I’d be quick enough, jump under the showers, and do it all here.”
“I know,” he nodded, “I do the same thing.”
Then, he started taking off his shirt.
“What are you doing?” she asked, shocked by the sight of his rippling muscles and six pack. His body was amazing. She was sure that he’d spent half of his time at the academy, here at the swimming pool.
For a second, she thought how it would feel against her fingers. Was it hard, like a rock? Would her touch tickle him?
“Taking off my clothes, of course.”
He threw his t-shirt carelessly on the bench, then pulled down his pants, taking off his shoes before that. He was wearing skin tight boxer shorts.
“What? Why?” she immediately looked away, but not before she could see that he was packing. And, he wasn’t even aroused yet. “Stop! I don’t wanna see that!”
“Well, it’s only fair, no?” he asked, his fingers resting against his boxer shorts, still not pulling them down. “I saw you. Granted, it was an accident, a sweet one as well, but I still saw you. So, fair is fair, and I’ll show you something of mine.”
She was listening to him, and could tell that grin was there again. He was cocky, self-confident, full of himself, even more than he was supposed to be, but despite everything it suited him so well. She couldn’t imagine him acting differently.
“No, don’t!” she shook her head, “it’s fine.”
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes! Just, don’t…”
“Well, alright then,” he shrugged his shoulders.
“Are you decent?” she asked. “Can I turn around?”
“Yes,” he laughed. “Should I put something on, Mother Theresa?”
“No, it’s… fine…” Eva found herself tongue tied.
She approached the bench, and sat down on it. He did the same, without asking. She was fine with it. He smelled like he had just visited the beach. Salty air, the sand, she could almost hear the gentle breeze. She looked straight in front of her, right at the water. She dared not turn to him. Her cheeks were still red and hot to the touch.
