Bitten – Episode 21

Chapter 21

 

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By the time lunchtime rolled around, Vincent, Fiona, and Joel were the talk of the school. I wasn’t too surprised though— every new kid had their five minutes of fame at my school. While it was large structure wise, it contained a small student body. We barely got any transfer students.

 

Currently Fiona, Joel, Vincent, and I were headed toward the school cafeteria. Somehow we’d all managed to find each other in the mob of students who were also moving toward it. Fiona was chattering excitedly, telling me how awesome her day was going. Not to anyone’s surprise, she got three guy’s phone numbers. Joel, on the other hand, was sulking.

 

“What’s wrong with you?” I asked him as soon as Fiona was done ranting.

 

He heaved a heavy sigh. “The things you guys are learning are things I’ve already learned more than—”

 

“Don’t say it,” I interjected quickly, making a face. “Just use a general term.”

 

After giving me a curious look, he shrugged. “Okay. I’ve already many years ago. It gets really boring after awhile.”

 

“You’re telling me,” Vincent grumbled, his face set into a moody scowl. “The teachers make me feel like I’m three with the way they teach. How can you stand it?”

 

I winced, a little insulted by that. Sometimes I had a hard time understanding what they taught… “Haha,” I laughed awkwardly. “Who knows…?”

 

“Well knowing you, you probably have trouble understanding it, huh, Stupid?” Gritting my teeth together, I decided not to answer him. How long was he going to keep calling me stupid? He must use the damn word one hundred times a day! Didn’t he ever tire of it?

 

“Emily!”

 

By the sound of his voice and the annoyed expression that crossed Vincent’s face, I knew it was my brother who’d called out to me. Turning around, I greeted him with a bright smile. “Hey Jake!”

 

“You forgot your lunch money this morning,” he informed me, handing me a five dollar bill.

 

I blinked. I hadn’t even noticed. I’d been too busy forcing Vincent out the door. “You’re a life saver, Jake.”

 

He ruffled the hair on my head. “Someone’s gotta keep an eye on you… Who are these people?” he added, noticing Fiona and Joel staring at him.

 

“Umm, these are my friends Fiona and Joel. Fiona, Joel, this is my brother, Jake.”

 

“Hi!” Fiona chirped brightly, her eyes lighting up. “As Em just said, I’m Fiona!”

 

I suppressed a grin. She definitely had her flirt on. Unfortunately the poor thing didn’t know my brother he had a crush on Leah. I had to remind myself to tell her later…

 

and tell her all the other guys at school were taken. Even if it were fun to her, Sebastian would probably be hurt if she progressed further than friends with any of them.

 

“I’m hungry,” Vincent grumbled, shoving me in the back. “Show me where the food

 

is.”

 

“Hey—”

 

“Don’t shove her!”

 

“I wasn’t talking to you, guard dog.”

 

Joel snickered as Jake glared at him. “I could have my parents kick you out.”

 

He rolled his eyes. “No you couldn’t, trust me.”

 

“You little brat—”

 

“Hey, hey,” I interjected, pushing my brother back as he tried to advance on Vincent. “Can’t we all get along?”

 

Jake jutted out his chin stubbornly. “No. Not when that monster is around my little sister.”

 

An awkward silence passed by us. Monster . That’s what I’d referred to Vincent and

 

his family by at one point. Now the word made me feel uncomfortable. It sounded

 

degrading.

 

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Luckily, Leah, who nearly tackled me to the ground when she seemed to jump out of nowhere, broke the moment. Joel reached out to steady me as my brother started

 

 

laughing, relieving the tension. Vincent looked down at her like she was an unwanted bug in his room. Grimacing in pain, I unwound her slim arms from around my neck, pushing her off me. She beamed at me. “Hey Emily! You didn’t tell me you knew the transfer kids!”

 

“I haven’t seen you all day,” I pointed out.

 

“Are we going to go eat or not?” Joel complained. “I’m with Vivi. I’m hungry.”

 

Vincent threw an elbow in his direction. “Don’t call me that!”

 

Jake looked at Joel appreciatively. “Vivi? I see great minds think alike.”

 

“You call him that too? Well, great minds think alike,” Joel responded smugly. “Two against one, Vivi.”

 

“Whatever,” he growled, pushing past me. “I can figure out things by myself.”

 

On instinct I made to go after him, but my brother grabbed my elbow, yanking me

 

to a stop. “Hold on there.”

 

“What?” I asked wearily.

 

“Make sure he doesn’t deal any drugs or anything, Em. He looks like the type.”

 

I almost laughed. Drug dealing? Vincent? Could vampires even do drugs? That wasn’t actually a bad question. I’d have to ask one of them when no humans were around. “I’ll be sure to, er, keep an eye on him.”

 

Jake crossed his arms. “Good. I have to go; otherwise I’ll be late for fourth period. Enjoy your lunch.”

 

“I’ll walk you to class!” Leah offered enthusiastically. She threw me a quick glance. “Make sure you save me a seat at the table.”

 

After bidding adieu to her and my brother, I gestured for Fiona and Joel to follow me the rest of the way to the cafeteria. When we entered, the first thing I noticed was Vincent. He was sitting at one of the tables to the far right, brooding. No one was approaching him. A gaggle of sophomore girls stood near him idly, shooting glances at him and whispering every now and then, almost as if they were trying to gather up enough courage to go sit with him.

 

“Can you guys figure out the lunch lines?” I asked, turning to Joel and Fiona. “The one on the far left is a la carte, and the two on the right are main lunch.” Joel flashed me a grin. “I think we can figure it out.”

 

“Okay, then meet me by the door again, okay?”

 

They nodded and took off together. I turned back to Vincent and his followers. One of them took a hesitant step forward, causing her friends to giggle. After a second she moved back into her group, shaking her head. Before any more of them could try to approach him again, I quickly strode across the cafeteria, coming to a stop next to him. “Let’s eat outside,” I blurted.

 

 

He glanced up at me, dropping his brooding look for the moment. “Why?” “Because there’s—” I cut myself off, my eyes widening. I couldn’t say it was because there were too many girls in here. That would make it seem like I was jealous…

 

While it was okay to be jealous since I had a crush on him, he didn’t know I did, so I couldn’t act like it. “It’s a nice day?” I finally finished. “So?”

 

I scowled at him. He had to make it difficult, didn’t he? “Look, I’ve been locked up inside your house for nearly two weeks. I want to eat outside,” I told him, lowering my voice.

 

He gave me a bored look. “Why do I have to come?”

 

“I want you to,” I responded in a duh voice. When I realized what I said, I bit my cheek to stop from blushing.

 

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He gave me an annoyed look. “Stop being such a pansy.”

 

“I’m sorry I don’t want to get suspended!”

 

“We’ll be back before anyone notices we’re gone.”

 

“Fiona!” I shouted, seeing her enter my field of vision. “Help me!”

 

She turned to me, her eyes widening slightly in surprise as she took in Vincent dragging me. “Where are you guys going?” she inquired, jogging up to us. Vincent paused for a moment. “Taco Bell.”

 

“Oh, dang. I wish I could go. I already bought my lunch though,” she said glumly,

 

holding up her lunch tray of food.

 

“We’re not going! Tell him to stop!”

 

Her head titled to the side. “Why would I do that?”

 

I gaped at her. Did these two even know the meaning of rules? “It’s against school rules!”

 

She laughed softly. “If they’re not vampire rules, we don’t have to follow them.” “See? Now let’s go,” Vincent ordered, staring toward the day again.

 

“Ugh!” I groaned in frustration. “Fiona, we can’t just leave you alone in here—”

 

“Your friend Leah is over there,” Vincent interjected. “Fiona, go hang out with her.”

 

Fiona followed his gaze and nodded. “Will do!”

 

“At least come with us, Fiona,” I begged her. I wasn’t going to go down alone if I was going down.

 

She shook her head. “It’d be a waste. I’ll see you two when you get back!”

 

“What about Joel?”

 

“He’ll sit with Fiona,” Vincent told me. “Now you have no more excuses. Move.”

 

Grumbling under my breath, I allowed him to lead me away from the crowded

 

cafeteria and into the now empty hallway. If it weren’t Vincent, I’d be putting up

 

more of a struggle. Since it was, and I knew he was a hundred times stronger than

 

me, I knew it was no use. He’d kidnapped me once. He could do it again with ease.

 

“I hate you,” I finally settled on.

 

He smirked at me. “No you don’t.”

 

“It’s getting there. Why do you want to go Taco bell so bad?”

 

“To get out of this place,” he responded simply. “It reeks of cheap perfume and body odor. And that cafeteria food.”

 

I sniffed the air, furrowing my eyebrows. “It doesn’t smell to me.”

 

“You’re not a vampire.”

 

“Shh!” I hushed him, whipping my head around. “Don’t say that so loudly!”

 

He rolled his eyes. “No one else is in the hallway.”

 

“Still you can’t just say that word out loud. People will think you’re crazy. Or like, a

 

Twilight fan.”

 

“What if I am?”

 

I gave him a flat look. “You’re not.”

 

“I said what if.”

 

“You know what? You’re really annoying. I liked you better when you didn’t talk.”

 

He gave me a sly smile. “You like me?”

 

I struggled to keep my composure. “N-not like that.”

 

“Sure,” he responded skeptically.

 

“I don’t!”

 

He feigned a hurt look. “Ouch. You don’t have to deny it so vehemently.”

 

I clenched my fists. He was doing this on purpose. “You stupid, narcissistic vamp—

 

”

 

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“Someone’s coming,” he interrupted, covering my mouth with his hand.

 

I struggled to pull his hand, his surprisingly soft hand, away from my face. Laughter echoed through the hallway as two people came around the corner. I recognized them instantly— Alli, and my other friend, Kai. Kai was the first to notice me. His brown eyes lit up as he bolted toward me, yelling my name. Vincent tensed up, stepping in front of me protectively… Wait, protectively? Did he think Kai was some kind of threat?

 

 

Kai came to a stop about a foot away from Vincent, his naturally dark hair falling into his eyes. He shook it away easily, narrowing his grey eyes at Vincent. “Who are you?”

 

“Who are you?” Vincent responded in the same tone.

 

“Kai!” I said before the young boy could respond, moving around Vincent to hug him. “Long time no see!”

 

He squeezed me tightly, cutting of my breath for a moment. “You’re telling me! You went off to California without mentioning it to anyone it seems!” I laughed awkwardly, peeling myself from him. “Um, surprise!”

 

“Hello Vincent,” Alli greeted as she closed in on us. “How’s your first day been?”

 

He frowned at her. “Fine. We’re leaving.”

 

“Vincent!” I protested as he grabbed my hand, jerking me away from Kai. “Stop!”

 

“Bye Emily!”

 

I turned my head to give Alli an incredulous look. Why was she so calm about Vincent dragging me away? She didn’t know him! He could have been a serial killer! “Alli!”

 

She grinned at me. A knowing grin. A grin that made me think she knew I had a crush on Vincent. Sometimes having a best friend like that was creepy. “Have fun! Come on, Kai!”

 

“She looks like she doesn’t want to go,” Kai protested, attempting to walk toward me.

 

Alli blocked his way easily. “Nope, she wants to. Let’s go eat lunch.”

 

“But—”

 

“Move.”

 

“Alli!” I called again, this time more frustrated.

 

Vincent chuckled darkly. “It’s too late. No one can save you now.”

 

I pursed my lips at him. “What if we get in trouble?”

 

“I don’t have a problem with it.”

 

“We have to go out the side door,” I muttered in resignation. “Otherwise they’ll catch us on the visitor camera they have installed in the front.” Vincent grinned at me. “That’s more like it, Emily.”

 

My heart gave a little flutter as he said my name. I was so unaccustomed to it. Was it a bad thing I was getting used to being called stupid? Probably. But Vincent was in an unusually good mood. He was the time we snuck out of the mansion too. Did he get a kick out of breaking the rules? I grinned a little bit. That was cute. His little boy side came out during these situations. Even if we could get in trouble, I decided it was worth it to see this side of him.

 

 

Suddenly a different thought hit me. “How are we going to afford Taco Bell? I only have five dollars.”

 

“I have money. I just wanted you to pay for my lunch.”

 

I scowled at him. “You jerk!”

 

He smiled in amusement. “I’ll buy your Taco Bell.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yup.”

 

My eyes narrowed in suspicion. He definitely had ulterior motives. “Fine… I’m

 

driving.”

 

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“Nope.” He let go of my hand— I hadn’t noticed he’d been holding it the whole time— and snatched my keys from my belt loop. “I get to drive.” “Hey!” I protested, slapping a hand to my belt a second too late.

 

He triumphantly pushed open the side door, leading to the outside. “Lady’s first.” “You know that was only invented so the guy could check out the girl’s butt, right?” My sarcastic response seemed to have thrown him off guard because he stared at me blankly for a moment. I returned his stare awkwardly, clearing my throat after a moment. Finally emotion came back onto his face. He smirked. “If that’s the case… Lady’s first.”

 

“You’re a pig,” I deadpanned.

 

“Actually, I’m a vampire. Now move.”

 

I stumbled out the door after he gave me a rough push to the back. After glowering at him for a moment I turned and started marching for my car. He was so demanding. Did that come with being royalty? Or was that just him? Fiona and Sebastian weren’t like that… It had to just be him.

 

When we were finally in the car, anxiety finally set in. I kept glancing out the window, waiting to see my principal glaring back at me. I slid lower in the passenger seat. “We’re so going to get caught.”

 

“No we’re not,” Vincent said, starting the engine. “We’ll be out of here in three seconds.”

 

“Don’t speed,” I warned.

 

Vincent ignored me. Within seconds, he had the gas to the floor and we were

 

shooting out of the parking lot. I grappled at the side of my door, trying to find

 

anything to grab on to. “Slow down!” I cried. “We’re still in the parking lot! They

 

know my car!”

 

“Shut up.”

 

“Vincent!”

 

He chose to ignore me, peeling out of the parking lot, and onto the main road. Lucky for him, there was never any traffic on it. Or police. I leaned back in my seat, closing my eyes and sighing.

 

“Stop pretending you hate this. You know you Taco Bell sounds good.”

 

“It does,” I agreed. “But I really don’t like the idea of getting trouble. We have to get there and back in the next thirty minutes. It only takes about seven to get there, so I think we can make it.”

 

A mysterious smile appeared on his lips. I didn’t like it. He was probably thinking we’d be there in less than seven minutes with the way he drove— which was true. Instead of taking the normal seven minutes, it took four minutes. What was even more surprising was that we didn’t get pulled over. Usually you couldn’t speed through a town center without cops taking notice. Vincent was one lucky guy. “What do you want to eat?” he inquired, pulling up to the drive through.

 

I hesitated. I didn’t want to look like a pig in front of him, but I was really hungry…

 

“Um, two soft tacos and a drink.”

 

He looked at me skeptically. “That’s it?”

 

“Yes?”

 

He shrugged. “Whatever.”

 

When we drove up to the speaker box, he ordered my meal, and a five-dollar box for himself. I stared out the window, resting my hand on my chin. It was weird doing something so normal with Vincent. Going to Taco bell was such a human thing. It was hard to grasp how similar vampires and humans actually were, even though I already knew they were a lot alike.

 

“Here,” Vincent said, handing me my bag of food. “And you’re drink.”

 

“Thanks,” I responded, putting the beverage between my legs. “We can eat in the school parking lot and then go in.”

 

He didn’t respond as he rolled up the window, pulling away from the building. I watched him carefully. Instead of taking a right like he was supposed to, he took a left.

 

“Vincent, where are we going?” I demanded.

 

He glanced at me from the corner of his eye. “Not back to school.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I mean exactly what I mean, Stupid.”

 

My eyes widened. “What? No! We have to get back! We’ll get suspended for skipping!”

 

“Suspension sounds good,” he responded with a smirk. “Now, where should we go?”

 

“Vincent! No! Turn around!”

 

“Are you the one driving?” he asked. “No, you’re not,” he continued before I could respond. “So I won’t.”

 

I gaped at him. He seriously wasn’t going back to the school. I dropped my head. We were going to get in so much trouble.