Page 18 of Vexing the Viper

I watch as a Mummy and a Harpy grind together on the dance floor next to two humans gazing unapologetically at them. Their eyes are tracking every movement, and I can't tell whether they're fascinated or disgusted seeing a Mummy in their wraps and a Harpy with huge wings spread wide. I’m starting to think I was wrong about humans, and that maybe most of them are more welcoming than I thought.

A gust of cool air hits me as the front door swings open and King walks back into the bar. I eye him as he walks over to his friends, takes the pitcher of beer, and pours himself a new drink. He and Will talk for a while, and I'm still staring as Will flashes his fangs and King leans closer.

Not wanting to see more, I turn away trying to find Mateo again. He's over in the corner with his friend, and I know I've lost him for the night. After downing the last of my drink, I put the cup onto the counter, then decide to head out. I really don't want to be around King, and it seems as though Mateo is occupied.

I head back toward the dorms, going straight to my room, locking myself inside, and hiding away for the rest of the night.

Waking up the next morning,I have a crick in my neck from sleeping wrong. I fell asleep in the chair in the corner of my room while listening to Spookify. Music is always my go-to when I'm having any types of feelings. If I'm depressed, angry, happy—anyemotion at all really—I turn on Spookify and get lost in the music.

I head out to the common area and see that both Mateo and King are already awake. They're sitting on the couch watching some TV show. They both turn their heads when they take me in, but King is the only one to quickly turn away.

Okay, so I do feel bad for how I treated him last night. It’s not his fault I don’t understand my own feelings. Grabbing some juice from the small fridge, I pour it into a cup and take a sip. Mateo stumbles in behind me and I turn around and offer him a small smile.

"Did you have fun last night?" I ask, then laugh when his eyes get big.

"What do you mean?"

"With that guy. Did you have fun with him?"

"Oh, Sam? He's just a friend."

"You guys did look very friendly." I smirk, bumping my shoulder into his.

"Ha. Ha. We are friends. I sat next to him in my statistics class, and we hit it off. He's just a friend," he says it as though he believes it, but the small blush has me thinking maybe Mateo has a little crush on this Sam person.

"Okay, okay. If you say so." Deep down, I hope this guy turns out to be more than a friend. I don't want to see him going back and forth with his ex again.

"What did you do to King? I know there's animosity, well from you, but I was getting it from him this morning too."

"Why? What happened earlier?" Curiosity eats at me, and I want to know.

"I asked him if he wanted to head down to the cafeteria to get some breakfast and he originally agreed, but when I said to wait for you, he changed his mind. He wouldn't tell mewhy he changed his mind, but I can only assume that you did something."

I shake my head scoffing. "Why would you assume I did something? What the hell, Mateo?"

Mateo stares me down and my snakes start to cower. "You've had a problem with him since before he even walked in. Hell, you had a problem with him when you didn't even know who he was. All you knew was he was a human and on the baseball team, and you instantly hated him. I've seen him try over and over again to be your friend, only to constantly be shut down. So yeah, I do assume you've done something, since he's all but given up on being friendly with you."

Peeking around his shoulder, I see King is no longer on the couch, so I can only assume he went to his room or he left. "I told him we weren’t friends," I mumble, feeling like shit.

"Last night?"

"When we were at Zomb-Bar and you went off with your friend. He came over to me and tried talking to me. I told him we weren’t friends, and he got upset."

"Is that all you told him?"

"Yes," I say, rolling my eyes.

"Fucking hell, Niko. What is wrong with you?"

I sigh, slumping my shoulders. "Yeah, I know. I fucked up. I'll talk to him."

"You better. I can't live the rest of the school year under all this stress."

I head back to my room before I close the door and sit on my bed, dropping my head into my hands. King didn't deserve any of the treatment I've given him since he showed up. And he deserves an explanation. Now, if only he'll listen to me.

Later that night, I'm sitting in the common area waiting for King to return. He still hasn't come back to the dorm since heslipped out early this morning, and I know he's doing it to avoid me.

Grabbing all my textbooks, I set them out on the table, then grab my papers and highlighters. I don't know if he'll want to do any tutoring tonight, but I'm going to sit here and wait to see if he does.

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