Page 7 of Dryad, Try Again
I’ve never laughed that much before. In fact, I don’t even think I’ve ever had that much fun before. Tan is…so cool. I didn’t know friendship could feel like butterflies times a hundred.
(TODAY)
The sun has almost set by the time I return with firewood. I step over several lawn chairs in my dryad form, then shift back down when I get to the bonfire. I place the wood pieces on the firepit, and then greet Felicia, a phoenix shifter. Without even morphing into her monster form, she waves her hands and manifests a controlled flame. I like and trust Felicia, but I all but bolt away from her flames?trees and open fires do not mix.
After I set up two large plastic tables, each with several red cups, I hear the howls and hollers of my fellow students. A crowd of a dozen or so young monsters walk down the hill toward us. A baseball player I’ve met once or twice is bumping music with a portable speaker. Above them, giant bats, harpies, and mothmen float down then shift into human form. With the howls and cheers of all my fellow students, I can’t help but smile. I know I’m not the most social creature, but I’ve missed my fellow monsters over the summer.
“Humans, ghouls, and monsters, welcome welcome!” Seth, the party monster he is, riles up the crowd and high-fives half of them. He raises his hands and announces, “Any donations to the drink fund can go into this sarcophagus.” He taps the yellow-and-blue crypt to his left, and, to my relief, the big jocular monsters usher in people to donate. That’s good?most of Seth’s funding comes from the government, and liquor isn’t cheap.
Some of the folks in line appear to be humans, since I don’t recognize them, and I don’t trace monster essence on them?oh, and they seem nervous as hell. Seth shakes a hand of some girl and announces, “If the bonfire is too hot, jump into the riverto cool yourselves off!” Everyone in the donation line cracks up. My best friend has the benevolent pharaoh act down pat, and he manages to calm them down. That doesn’t help me though, so I sip my tentacle tequila in a pink cup and walk away from the drinks.
I take a lap around the bonfire, greeting anyone I know. I walk past some folks playing beer pong and head toward the water. Blake is playing a casual water polo game with some kraken and mermen. My suitemate truly thrives when he’s in the water; in his shifter form, he dons green skin, massive gills on his neck, and webbed appendages. Seeing him splash around with others, he’s as happy as, well, a lagoon creature in a marsh.
I take a sip, then head back to the main bonfire area. While the music blares and students howl and cheer, it’s still possible to have a private conversation, and I’m heading to one right now. Seth is showing off an empty bottle to three people I don’t know yet?must be humans.
It’s okay, you’re not a kid anymore. You can do this.
When I approach the quartet, Seth says “…and that’s why it’s called Ghosta Cola.”
The others nod and hum in earnest. Two girls in glasses and flannel blouses smile and pass around the empty soda pop bottle, and the one dude closest to Seth looks directly at me. Even with the blazing fire behind him casting shadows, I can tell he’s my type. He’s bulky but not too large, with broad shoulders, and trimmed curly hair. When he sips from his cup, I check out his tiny waist and thick thighs. He’s an inch shorter than me, but that’s never been a turn off.Hello, pretty human…
“Ayy! Kovi!” Seth bumps his shoulder into mine.
“Sup.”
“Everyone, this is Kovi, my smartest suitemate. Kovi, meet the humans, they’re new to the U.”
I wave at each of them and they introduce themselves.
“We’re so excited to be here,” one girl Rachel says. “My brother is a minotaur, so I’m pretty comfortable around monsters.”
“And my cousin is a kraken,” the other girl, Shonda adds. “Speaking of which...”
“Right, you wanted to try some tentacle tequila. Let’s see if we can nab a drink.” Seth guides the girls toward the drink area, but the good-looking boy stands still. “Here, Tanner you introduce yourself to Kovi. He’s the dude I work with who’s majoring in environmental science, too.”
Seth walks away and I inch closer to this guy, Tanner. “Hey.”
“Hey. Koh…Vee, right?”
“Yup. I’m Kovi. Welcome.”He’s very welcome. “You…enjoying the bonfire?”
“I am.” We share a chuckle.
“I’d love to chat more, but fires freak me out.”
“Oh, you wanna sit somewhere else?”Handsome and a gentleman. He smiles and points away, and I take in his adorable freckles shining in the firelight. He leads me a few feet to a circle of lawn chairs.
“Thanks.”
We sit down and each take a sip. “So, monsters don’t like fire?”
“Hey, that is a gross stereotype that is offensive to monsterkind.”
“Oh.” Tanner’s face falls, and I grin. “I’m, uh…”
“I’m just messing with you.”
I crack up, and Tanner joins in. “You got me, man.”
