The next day, Raven was in the cafeteria sitting alone at a table having
compelled anyone who had dared come close to go sit somewhere else. She picked
at the food on her plate, wondering why she couldn’t stop thinking about the
guy in her class. It had happened again today, the scent of his blood had
permeated her defenses and it was only by running to the bathroom and gulping
down the bottle of human blood her father had given her that she was able to
cope with it.
“You don’t mind if I sit here do you?” Eric asked not waiting for Raven
to answer. He set his tray down and flashed her an infectious smile. “Hi, my
name’s Eric,” he said offering her his hand.
Raven after a slight hesitation took it but her mind was reeling. Her
compulsion did not seem to work on him. He was sitting there with that charming
smile of his, chatting away like she just hadn’t told him to get lost. She
tried again, looking deep into his eyes but still nothing happened. Her mother
had told her there was only one type of person who could not be affected by
their powers of compulsion and she had hinted this town had such kind of
people. But what exactly did he want with her?
As if hearing her unspoken question, Eric said “This may sound a bit
weird and in the light of things, it probably is but I noticed yesterday that
you weren’t very comfortable in our classes and I somehow feel it has something
to do with me.”
Raven stared at him, wishing she could read his thoughts. “What do you
want from me?” she whispered urgently.
Eric leaned back, surprised at her aggression. What was wrong with this
girl? “Nothing,” he said after a moment. I just want to know what I did for you
to keep looking at me like you wanted to eat me or something.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Raven said, keeping her gaze
level, ignoring his delicious looking neck.
“You don’t know what I’m talking about? Well that’s funny because you’re
doing it again. You’re staring at me like some piece of meat and I wanna know
why. I can be a dick sometimes but I’m pretty sure of my activities of the one
day I’ve been in this school so far and I’m certain they do not include pissing
you off so what the hell is going on here?”
“I have no idea,” Raven shrugged. “But since you’re the werewolf,
why don’t you tell me?”
“What?” Eric blurted, but before he could say more, she got up and
headed off leaving him staring angrily at her receding back.
“What exactly did she mean when she said you’re the werewolf?” Tristan
asked. They were at the Arena, shooting some pool after school and Eric had
been telling his brother about the weird conversation he’d had with Raven. The
Arena was almost empty, no one really hanging around after a hearty meal and a
quick drink at lunch as was usually the case. Most would be back for an early
dinner and as soon as something more interesting appeared on the television
other than what was showing now.
“I don’t know, probably some female slang for being too macho or
something. I tell you dude, there’s something really off about that chick. I
just can’t put my finger on it. I’ll tell you one thing though, that’s the last
time I try to be nice. From now on, she’s gonna get exactly what she wants;
silencio.”
“Damn! I gotta meet this chick. She’s definitely going on your wall of
the ones that got away.”
Eric scoffed. “I don’t see you with your Cinderella.”
“All in good time mate,” Tristan said. “I’ve got a date with her
tonight, right here.” He tapped one of the tables for good measure.
“Ha! Aren’t you forgetting a little something Casanova? I may be wrong,
which I rarely am, but I seem to recall that she’s got a boyfriend somewhere in
the woodwork.”
“Well she certainly hasn’t told me shit about no boyfriend so the way I
see it, she definitely wants some Tristan in her life.”
Eric chuckled. “You’re gonna get us ran out of this town aren’t you?”
“If need be,” Tristan replied, “but I’m sure it won’t come to that.”
Eric sunk his last ball, noticing a commotion at the door before Bryce
and a couple of his friends walked in. “Heads up,” he said as the group headed
straight their way. “We’ve got angry boyfriend twelve o’clock.” Tristan turned
just as Bryce and his friends reached them.
Bryce clearly was the leader of this little pack as he stepped up to the
pool table, the others just nonchalantly sliding into the seating booths along
the windows. “Hi there,” Bryce said. “My name’s Bryce and this is Paul, Luke,
and Calvin. You must be the famous Xavier brothers Eric and Tristan.”
“Famous?” Tristan queried. “Now why would anybody call us famous?”
“Well you seem to have caused quite a stir in school, especially among
the female species.”
Eric smiled and shrugged his shoulders. He was well aware of his and
Tristan’s good looks. A gift from their real parents as their mom would say. “I
guess it can’t really hurt our social status to turn a few heads.”
“Oh I totally agree with you,” Bryce said, taking and spinning a pool
ball in his hands. “But you see when one of those heads is that of my
girlfriend then your social status could have to endure a little bump here and
there. You know what I mean?”
Tristan shook his head, a practiced look of confusion on his face. “No
actually not really. What do you mean?”
Bryce let out a dry laugh, his mates joining in. “Yeah you’re a funny
guy, I’ll give you that,” he said, still laughing. He cleared his throat and walked
up to Tristan. They stared at each other face to face, neither one wanting to
be the first to back down.
Eric leaned casually on the pool table, calculating the odds. He knew
they could handle themselves one on one with Bryce or any of his crew but four
against two was maybe pushing it a little, especially with this burly - looking
bunch.
“Let’s just get one thing clear here. You stay the hell away from Jade
or you might not like life in this town.” Bryce said his voice dangerously low.
“If she really was your girl mate, we wouldn’t even be having this
conversation. From the look of things, I’d say she’s fair game.” Tristan said.
Bryce smiled without mirth, turning to walk away. It was the oldest
trick in the book and Tristan was ready for the blow when it came. He
sidestepped daintily to his left and applied a quick jab to Bryce’s ribs,
knocking the air out of his lungs but Bryce was a big lad. He quickly recovered
and surprised Tristan by charging and picking him up bodily, slamming him onto
the pool table. Then all hell broke loose. Bryce’s friends rushed to help him
and Eric took up his cue stick, smacking it hard into the one called Luke
nearest to him. Paul advanced on him and Eric swung the cue stick again. Paul
caught it and yanked hard. Eric stumbled and fell right into a fist from Luke
that sent him careering into the tables and chairs behind him.
Tristan meanwhile, hadn’t been faring any better as he was pulled up and
held by Calvin while Bryce used his stomach as a punching bag. Finally deciding
he’d had enough after a few punches, Tristan crushed his head hard into
Calvin’s face. He heard a grunt and felt Calvin let him go just as Bryce was
about to deliver a huge fist to his jaw. Tristan blocked it and in a fine judo
move, hurled Bryce over his shoulder.
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