Its In The Blood Alaric Pt 03

Episode 3

The bell rings, breaking us out.

Finally! Thank you, bell

. We had been studying the Native culture of the area, so I feel a little bit guilty for my lack of attention today. They even have their own story about Moaning Caverns, which is really cool. Old ancient stuff. Who doesn't love it? Mr. Morrison hollers out some last-minute instructions that barely any of us hear as we rush out the door. He should know better. We're fucking seniors! It might only be October, but our asses mentally checked out months ago, my guy. Last class of the day, so we're all zooming.

"You're a traitor!" I accused Ryn. She gave me the classic look of pure innocence as she gasped and placed her hand on her hand over her heart. "I told you to stop throwing chicks my way. I'm not interested. I don't have time, and I just want to get the fuck out of this place." I couldn't hide my irritation as I snapped at her—seriously annoying this one.

She shoved me on the shoulder on our way to my locker, "You know that you love it, Lark! Center of attention. Everyone's eyes on you. Don't deny it." She leaned against the puke green that adorned the entire wall with the lockers, including them. I opened mine up and stuffed some things in there. I grunted in response as I grabbed some things, threw them in my bag, and closed the door. Without another word, I started walking toward the exit.

Pitman High was ok. It wasn't too big, but the classes were a bit overcrowded. Back in my sophomore year, they got rid of the biology lab and instead pushed it into the biology lecture room so they could continue teaching the lab portion. I'm pretty sure they sold half of the supplies. There were some pricy microscopes walkin' out. Teachers were sharing offices, too. Took me until this year to realize that faculty spaces had been condensed. Not surprising at all, though. As I said, there's nothing in this town. Small town equals small town funding.

The sun is beaming bright, just waiting for us as we pile out of the double doors. This side of the building faces the west, and I love to feel its warm kiss on my skin every day when we leave. I dared not look back to see if Ryn was following. The brick of the building was a bright color, almost white. Looking back in this sunlight might blind you. There wasn't much else as far as landscaping goes. They lacked originality and flavor when they put this thing together. We had some sports teams but no gym or field. Our teams had to rent out space at the city Recreation Center. Pointless if you ask me.

I reached my cobalt blue Jeep and threw my bag in the back. Ryn followed suit close behind. We both hopped in and headed to Granny's. It was only about a ten-minute drive, but she had always insisted that we drive together as soon as we got our licenses. Getting our licenses was the coolest thing to her and she wanted to be a showoff. And she says I enjoy the attention. She never drove, though. She didn't even have a car, so I don't see the point in her ever getting one. Just in case, I guess.

She lets out a long sigh in the seat next to me, and I glance over at her. It's obvious she's deep in thought. Her lips always get tight, and her brow furrows. I tap her knee, knocking her out of her trance, "What are you thinking about?" She looks at me questioningly. "The Granny face. You made that Granny face with all the crinkles in the forehead." I say simply as I gesture at my forehead as I furrow it.

Ut oh!

I could see some red start to appear on her ears, a sure sign she was getting pissed. I brace myself, and sure enough, she punches me in the thigh in response. "Wow, you really have a way with words, don't you, Lark? No wonder you have all the ladies!" she said as she threw her arms up. It properly expressed her frustration with me. "Don't ever refer to a woman's face as a Granny face. Ever. Even if she has a Granny face because she's a Granny! Even if she looks like she has replaced her face with a leather handbag!" she snapped. I sit quietly while I wait for her hot head to simmer down. Things were quiet for a bit while she just glared at me. Finally, her face softens, and she says, "I was thinking about tonight."

Tonight. Was she having second thoughts? "What about it?" I reply, trying to stay cool. I was thrilled, but I didn't want to seem too excited. Who wouldn't be excited about getting laid? Ryn and I have never crossed that particular line before, so I didn't want her to feel pressured about it. If she changed her mind, I'd be cool. I'm not that kind of dude. Was I nervous? Sure, but it was Ryn, and if I wanted anyone to be my first, I would choose her. Yes. I'm a virgin. Shut up about it. Another pact me and her made when we were younger. We were saving ourselves for our mates. How noble of us. I let a scoff fly out of my mouth at the thought.

I suddenly realized that she had said something. I didn't even catch it. Before she could speak, I interjected to save myself from a horrible rage rant: "Sorry. I was thinking about that stupid pact we made as kids—about our mates and all." I laughed, and she smiled. It faltered for a moment, and she turned to look out her window somewhat sadly.

"Yeah. I don't know. Part of me still wishes that that would happen to me one day, but I don't want to wait for them forever. I don't want to die a damn virgin, and we promised we'd be each other's firsts." She said, and I nodded in agreement. A sigh escaped her lips before she went on, "I'm just worried things will be weird for us afterward. What if we hate it and can't even look at each other again?! You've been my best friend for the longest time, and I don't want to lose that over some one-off fling." We both sighed at the same time. I'm glad I wasn't the only one struggling with this fear of the 'after.' There was a pause between us before Ryn pepped up her tone, "But I don't want to think about that. We're turning eighteen tonight, Larky! I wanna get drunk, and I wanna get me some! And you know what the stories say. You go crazy if you don't find your mate or if you haven't mated or some shit like that. Sometimes, a very short period after you become an adult in many bloodlines. We're just doing it out of... self-preservation!" She smiled and wiggled her eyebrows at me. I couldn't help but laugh.

The rest of the ride home was silent as we stayed lost in our thoughts. She had a point, though, in the first part. Was it worth throwing away? I don't want to ruin what we have, but what if we could have more? What if we finally connect, and it's the best thing ever? Even if it's not, and we want to go back to everything as it was before, could we? I don't think it would be awkward, but again, I've never been in this situation, and you hear so many fucked up stories about things like this. Great friends who cross a line into lovers. Things go sour, and they never speak to each other again. If I'm completely honest here, I do not connect with people well. Sure, we've already been doing sexual acts together, but if this was it and I fuck it up with Ryn, that would pretty much leave me alone.

I'd have Granny, sure, but ultimately, that would mean I would need to socialize. That means talking to strangers and pretending I care about whatever small talk and mundane bullshit that's coming out of their mouths. I can't do that. It's not that I hate or even dislike people. They're all right, all right? We don't mesh well. Never really have. It's the surface of it all that I don't want to deal with. Conversations need to spark my interest, and talking about the weather or some sports team's performance last night just isn't going to do it for me. It has to be more involved.