The next day at school, the halls were buzzing with gossip. Whispers filled the air like static. Students were glued to their phones, snickering, gasping, nudging each other. Just like last time. My stomach twisted. I couldn't help but think: What has Pink posted about me now?
But as I walked down the corridor, no one was looking at me. That was strange. I kept my head down, reached my locker, dropped my bag, and grabbed my textbook for class.
That's when I spotted Genora, her eyes locked on her phone, brows furrowed in disbelief.
"You too?" I asked, nudging her. "Don't tell me it's about me again."
"What? No!" she shook her head quickly. Relief washed over me until she stepped closer, holding out her phone.
"You need to see this."
A headline blared across the screen:
"Anonymous Tip: Mr. Ray and Joy Caught in Secret Affair?"
My jaw dropped. "Wh-What?!"
I snatched the phone from her hands. The article was short but damning, filled with vague accusations and wild speculation. The comments were even worse, vicious, accusatory, unforgiving.
"What the hell is this...?"
The hallway around us grew louder, filled with a chaotic buzz. I scanned the crowd for Rejoice. She was always somewhere in the center of it laughing, talking, radiant. But today, she was nowhere to be found.
Is she okay?
Who the hell would start such a rumor?
The bell rang for first period. Students began filing into classrooms like tides receding.
In class, the room was unusually filled. I scanned the room and spotted an empty seat next to Zack. Without thinking, I rushed to it before Clary could get the chance. This was my shot. He'd been avoiding me lately, and without Pink around, maybe I could finally talk to him.
I sat down beside him. "Hey," I said, giving a small wave.
He glanced at me, forced a tight-lipped smile, then turned away.
The math teacher walked in, calling the class to order. Silence fell like a curtain. The tension between us was thick, but I had to try.
"Hey," I said again, softer this time.
"Hey," he replied, eyes still on his desk.
"Normally I'd try to explain everything, but I'm guessing Jesse already did."
He finally looked at me, briefly. "Yeah," he muttered.
"So… why are you still avoiding me?"
No answer.
"Zack, come on. This silent treatment is killing me."
He sighed and finally faced me. His eyes were unreadable, his voice cold but steady.
"It's true my brother was out of line, and you were caught off guard. But what I don't understand is… why did you leave? Just like that?"
"I—" I began, but he cut me off.
"You made it feel like i said something wrong" he said and i was short of words, "Things are really awkward right now. It's probably best we keep our distance."
Then he stood abruptly and raised his hand. "Sir, may I change seats?"
The teacher nodded, and Zack gathered his things without another word. He moved to the front of the class, leaving me behind, flushed with humiliation.
During Recess.
Zack sat in the library with Daniel. They weren't talking much. Jesse appeared a few minutes later.
"Hey Jess, what's up?" Daniel greeted him.
"I'm cool. What are you two up to?" Jesse asked.
"I dunno… something that doesn't concern you," Zack snapped, eyes fixed on the book in front of him.
An awkward silence followed.
Jesse turned to Daniel. "Could you give us the room for a sec?"
Daniel hesitated, then nodded. "Sure."
As he left, silence settled again between the brothers.
"Hey, bro," Jesse finally said. "I know you're upset. I'm sorry for what happened."
"You should be," Zack snapped. "That wasn't just messed up, it was reckless. What were you thinking?"
"I wasn't. I got caught up. But we'll get through this. We always do. We're brothers."
Zack sighed, tension slowly draining from his shoulders. "Yeah. I just… I need space, Jesse. Just for a while."
After school, I crashed at a dimly lit bowling alley, empty lanes, flickering neon signs, the occasional clatter of pins breaking the silence.
I was drinking, alone and spiraling. How did life get like this?
The place was quiet. Too quiet. Lonely in a way that dug deep. I remembered my first time here, laughs, jokes, shared fries. We came to hang out. But now? Just me. Ghosts of happier moments haunted every corner.
A few minutes before ten, I was still hunched over my table, head heavy, lost in thought.
Then
knock knock.
I jerked upright, disoriented and dizzy.
"We're about to close, ma'am." A young employee stood by my table. His concern cut through the haze. I tried to stand, but a sharp pain struck my head like a lightning bolt. My legs gave out, and I collapsed into the chair again.
"You're drunk," he muttered, this time softer. "Is there anyone you can call to pick you up?"
"Nah. I'm fine." I forced myself to stand again, wobbling.
"You sure? It's dangerous out there."
"I'll manage," I mumbled.
With his help, I made it outside. The cool night air hit me like a slap. I pulled my jacket tight and staggered toward the hostel. It was past curfew, the streets were abandoned, shadows long and shifting. My steps were slow, uneven. The alcohol blurred the edges of the world.
Then I saw it.
At the end of the block, under a flickering streetlamp, a vampire. Fangs buried deep into the neck of a small boy. The child's body hung limp.
I froze. My breath caught in my throat. Motionless. Praying I hadn't been seen.
I started moving backward, silent, heart pounding then...
Bzzzzt.
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
The vampire's head snapped up. Blood dripped from its fangs. It locked eyes with me glowing.
"Oh no," I whispered, stepping back.
Its skin was deathly pale, eyes feral.
A Blueblood.
Animalistic. Mindless. Unreasoning. With an instinct to kill.
My phone buzzed again. Jesse. Of course.
I fumbled to silence it but the creature was already lunging.
I ran.
My legs barely cooperated, but adrenaline took over. The vampire was faster, far faster. My only hope? The nearby school.
I sprinted across the parking lot, barely ahead, and dove behind a row of school buses in the parking lot, gasping for air, hidden in shadows.
Silence. Except for the pounding in my chest.
Then Bzzzzt.
My phone. Again.
I snatched it up and whispered, "Jesse, now's not the time"
"Why are you whispering?" Jesse asked, confused.
"I'm being chased by a vampire!"
Before he could respond, the vampire leapt from the top of the bus and crashed down on me.
I screamed. The phone skidded away.
We struggled. It pinned me down, jaws snapping. I pushed with all my strength, blocking its fangs from my neck.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw it. A metal wrench beneath the bus.
I reached out, struggling to take it.
Finally, I grabbed it.
I slammed it into the vampire's skull. Once. Twice.
It stumbled back, screeching.
I got up immediately and ran. Blood and fear pumping through me.
I crept through the pitch-black corridors, heart in my throat. I made my way to the school hallway, searching for shelter. Somewhere to hide until daylight.
Then i remembered.
Raymond.
He sometimes stayed overnight. Maybe he'd know what to do. If I could find him…
The halls were pitch black. My phone was gone. I was blind and desperate.
Then footsteps.
Not mine.
I ducked into the nearest classroom, heart racing. The lock was broken, so I shoved chairs and desks against the door. Then I slipped behind the teacher's desk and crouched low, barely breathing.
Maybe I could stay here. Just until morning.
I kept my ears sharp, eyes on the door. But the exhaustion hit me like a wave. And my eyes shut… just for a moment.
Clatter.
I jerked awake.
Something was inside.
My heart dropped.
I peeked, the door was wide open. The barricade untouched.
It opened the other way.
Fuck!
I stayed still. Silent. Maybe it hadn't seen me.
The footsteps paused.
Then BANG!
The teacher's desk flew across the room.
The vampire was there. Bloodstained, wild-eyed.
I didn't scream. I couldn't. My body froze, bracing for the end.
It lunged.
Then THUD!
The vampire slammed into the wall.
I opened my eyes.
Jesse?
He was there, his eyes glowing, fangs bared. My savior.
Relief hit me like a crashing wave, but the fight wasn't over yet.
They clashed, fangs, claws, strength. Jesse fought the vampire, blows landing fast and brutal, he was winning. Well, not until the vampire sunk its teeth into his arm, tearing out a chunk.
I gasped, horrified. Jesse bled, black blood but then his flesh began to heal, slowly.
The vampire tackled him again. Jesse struggled, the creature clawing at him, relentless.
I couldn't watch anymore. I had to help.
I spotted a long wooden stick near the window, a broken chair leg, sharp enough.
I grabbed it, charged, and drove it into the vampire's back.
Straight through its heart.
The creature roared then slumped, body twitching, decaying slowly.
Jesse pushed it off, gasping.
"Are you okay?" he asked, getting back on his feet.
I nodded, trembling. Relief washed over me, but then pain. Sharp. Twisting.
"My stomach," I muttered.
Then I vomited.
Everything spun. My knees gave out.
The last thing I saw was Jesse catching me as the darkness took me.