Page 51 of Just One Bite
Her momentum stops as if I had been some invisible pole that suddenly smacked her upside the head. Or a branch.
“Parker.”
“I was just going. I’ve got Potions in like two minutes.”
“You’re all … bloody.” Her nose crinkles as she eyes the closed gash on my forehead that Zant so lovingly gave me as payback for earlier this week. I hadn’t had time to clean off the dried blood.
“You’ll get used to that here.”
Chapter Seventeen
Olivia
"I don't want you to go. I'll miss you," he says, while my head rests on his bare chest.
I trace circles with my fingers, savoring every beat of his heart. I don't want to wake up.
“There’s assigned seating.” Someone in the official Doxlothia staff uniform motions to the door. Too young to be a teacher, must be some type of professor’s assistant.
I read the chart, which appears to be hand drawn, and once again, I’m curious as to what the school spends its money on. Once I’m settled into a seat, I skim the book on my desk.Enchantments and Elixirs for the Curious.There’s nothing like this in Groveshire.
Groveshire is primarily a human town. That’s why my dad wanted us to stay. Humans have a habit of sticking to what they know. Many still opt to be magic and elixir free. Just like there’s still a whole range of people who take hormonal birth control to prevent pregnancy even though there’s an elixir that’s one hundred percent effective. There are still humans out there who don’t want to be part of the program and don’t trust it in its entirety. That’s why they flock to secluded places and primarily human towns get formed. Vampires stay close to the city where the pool of donors stays large.
Goose bumps rise on my arm seconds before Parker walks through the doorwith his bag slung over his shoulder and blood smeared on his forehead. He lights up when he spots me. After a quick wink, he eyes the chart, then his smile widens. I watch till he disappears behind me. A chair screeches against the hard floor as he drags it from his desk.
“Hey, baby.” His breath is on my neck.
What are the chances he’d be seated right next to me in the same class?
I’ve never had a nickname. I don’t even let my sisters shorten my name.
“Quick kiss?”
I scoff. “There’s barely anyone in here.”
“Oh, right.” His fingers play with the ends of my hair.
“You can’t distract me. I know nothing about this stuff, and I want to learn.”
“Are you that easily distracted by me?”
I sigh, watching the others take their seats. The class is divided into thick wooden desks that each have an old iron sink and a drain in the pebble floor. There is a windowed ceiling with green vines spread out and flourishing in the sun. It’s breathtaking and rich with history. Along the stone walls are pictures of professors from many years before. The sun hits the colored stone and casts a soft rainbow in the air.
“How did ballet go today? I wanted to drop by to watch, but we’re prepping for the moon festival. It’s an offseason tournament. A bunch of other schools are coming to play, and my team isnotready.”
“You'd want to watch me?”
“Yeah, definitely. Is that not a thing? Will it embarrass you to have yourboyfriendthere?” Parker leans in close to my face.
My cheeks heat. "No. I just didn't think you'd want to."
Since my mom died, no one in my family watches me dance unless it's for a big performance. I can't blame them. It brings up memories.
"If I get in, then I'll probably be in the studio late. You could come then."
I say it casually like not getting accepted wouldn’t be the biggest blow to my ego and leave me in shambles. Ballet is the only thing that filled my time in Groveshire, but everything was low stakes there. My ballet school wasn’t prestigious, and before Doxlothia, I’d prepared myself to audition for a smaller, lesser-known company.
"You'll get in," Parker says, nonchalantly.
