Chapter Nineteen

Chapter 20

A part of me feels guilty about all of this. It’s been two days since the party, and I’ve spent all the time I could by Seth’s side. It was awkward at first, but it is getting easier.  Once I forced myself to forget what had happened in the past, opening up to him was as easy. It was as if i finally had my old friend back after all this time.

Though this was originally Zayden’s , I noticed that he wasn’t comfortable with it at all. Ever since that night at the party, he has been calling me, coming over unexpectedly, always bringing flowers, writing me letters and poems and even coming to school.  It annoyed me. I know he is concerned and that we’re together now, but I can’t exactly earn Seth’s trust with him always lurking about and watching my every move.

“Aralynne, are you okay? You have been staring at your tray for the past five minutes,” Seth’s voice brought me back to reality. The cafeteria was pretty empty because of the lovely weather outside, but Seth suggested we’d stay here. I’m glad for that.

“Seth, I’m fine. Besides, you know I really don’t eat any of this...” he placed his hand on my shoulder.

“Yes, I do, but many of the humans don’t. It’s not like you to give up pretences.”

Without warning, Seth’s hand was pulled off my shoulder, startling both of us.

“Get your hands off my girl.” A familiar voice growled. It was Zayden. Once again, he made another unwelcome appearance, interrupting my mission. I glared at him, but I doubt that he noticed, his eyes were focused on Seth’s, murderous intent lurking in their centres.

“Stay out of this,wolf-boy. There’s no need to cause a scene.”

“There would be no need to cause one if you just knew your place.”

“Oh, I know my place perfectly well. I am where I belong- next to someone I share a past and hopefully a future with.” Seth’s voice was calm, but ice cold- cold enough to give me the shivers.

His words only triggered more anger from Zayden. I knew all of this was a mistake, I tried to warn him, I told him that he would get jealous but he refused to listen.

“Boys, now is not the time or the place for this. We’re in a school. Try and act civilised.”

“Oh, I don’t have to act, Aralynne,” Seth interrupted, eyes still boring into his rival’s. “...this mutt however, could benefit from an etiquette lesson or two. Teenagers nowadays are so unrefined.”

Before long, words turned into action, insults into fists being flung.

I wanted to lose my eyes and look away, I didn’t want to see either of them get hurt, no matter how much Seth hurt me in the past and how badly Zayden was pissing me off at the moment, neither of them deserved any pain, especially with me as the cause.

“You do know that you don’t deserve her, right, Zayden?” Seth snarled, ignoring the few drops of crimson that escaped his now slightly torn lip. Even though the amount was minuscule, the sent was more than enough to grab my attention. I had to focus on keeping my cool. The fight was drawing more than enough attention as it is, a ravenous vampire suddenly attacking the neck of one of the brawlers would not help the situation in any way, and it could blow my cover. I would not be able to protect Cara if I couldn’t be with her at school, she spends too much time here.

“Sooner or later, she will have to choose.” Seth continued. Though my throat was already burning, his words caught my attention.

“She always has and always will choose me. You were around for hundreds of years without making a move, so don’t try to steal her away just because she has finally moved on.”

Moved on? What was Zayden talking about? Was he insinuating that in the past I must have had some feelings for Seth?

Maybe he was right. Seth and I cared about each other, we had a bond that was impossible to describe or explain, one that only the two of us can understand, but neither of us ever mentioned a romantic  relationship or even hinted towards it.

Seth stopped hitting back, he looked as if Zayden’s words hurt him more than the blows ever would. Though quite impossible, for a moment I could’ve sworn that he was blinking back tears.

“I’ve lost her once before, Zayden. I won’t let that happen again, not when she is willing to forgive me.” He wiped another trace of blood from his brow.

“I’ve learned from my mistakes. I don’t ever want to suffer like I did that day, I won’t be able to survive that pain...not again....” and with those words, he took off. Some people in the curious crowd heckled and made their aggravation known, but he didn’t care. I wanted to follow him, to go comfort him.

I wanted to tell him that he will never lose me.