• Mystic Vampire
    Chapter 6: Friend or Foe?

    The next day I went to school, I decided that I would trust Jayden, under some special circumstances: A Test of Friendship.

    Test Number One: Does he trust you?

    I find Jayden in the halls the next day and run over to him waving as I gracefully thank him for yesterday.
    “Hey!”
    “What’s up? How are you feeling?”
    “Great. Thanks for taking me home.”
    “No prob.”
    “So, what do you think of Mason High so far?”
    “It’s okay, I guess. The people sure are spirited.”
    “Yeah! Everyone gets excited when the school breaks away from tests and school assignments so we can finally do something fun once in a while.”
    Jayden blushes and smiles as he turns him head sideways.
    “If there’s anything you need help with, just tell me!” I say glaring at from the corner of my eye.
    “No, its okay,” he instantaneously blurted.
    “Okay… Well, I’ve got to get back to something. See you around?”
    “Sure,” he says blandly as he walks away.
    My result so far is that he’s…. well, how should I say this in the most polite way possible? He’s…bipolar! Absolutely rude! I just come there to talk to him, offer him a helping hand, and then he just happens to lose interest in the conversation? I mean, he’s the one who approached me yesterday. You’d think he show me a little respect. Right now… I’m leaning more to the side that he’s my enemy.

    Test Number Two: How much does he care?

    I waited by the stairwell all day until I would see Jayden walking towards his next class. This is going to be the most imprudent thing I’ve ever purposely done to myself, but here goes. He was coming near, so I physically and mentally prepared myself for this. I took smalls breaths in short intervals, while lightly slapping myself on the face. Then I repeated over and over, “You can do this Katie, you can do this.” I peak around the thick wall, and there he was. I took one deep breath and screech, then I plunge myself down the stairs!
    Things didn’t go especially well. He did run toward me, but by the time he got there my head was pulsating with pain. My entire body was bruised up and my head was bleeding. Before my sight faded, I looked at his face and there was no concern at all! He didn’t look petrified, sorrowful, worried… nothing!!!! He’s a monster… inhuman, I say!!! That plan sort of worked and failed at the same time. Okay yeah, I ended up in the hospital with a concussion, but at least I found out how much of a beast Jayden Hayes was. This is it; time for the final test!!!

    Test Number Three: How does he treat you?

    After I got out of the hospital, of which the only people who visited me where my closest friends and Andrew, I came up with the most brilliant plan ever! This plan was a bit less destructive, but still dangerous. Key words: School bullies.
    I walk up to a group of five big guys, who smelled like drugs and had tattoos all over their bodies. Their appearance was amazing! The tallest guy had a red face, and piercing all over himself. There was one in his eyebrow, two in his lip, and like six in his right ear. His left ear had one. This guy was extremely muscular. The second guy has yellow skinned. He was slender and tall. The third guy had the same appearance, except for his hair. Instead of red and black spikes, his was sleeked down with a heap of gel. The fourth guy was a fat midget. I couldn’t help, but snicker at him. He wore a vest with no shirt underneath. It exposed his disgusting hairy chest. His skin was pale and flabby. And, he wore huge shorts that went just below his knees, and hung half way up his butt. The last guy was… gothic. I’m ashamed to admit it, but he’s hot!!! He has a nose ring and wears black eye liner. His hair went over one eye. He had a few blue green streaks in it. He was thin, and tall. I take a deep breath and walk up to them.
    “Hey guys.”
    “What do you want?” the hot guy demands.
    “How would you like to make a little money?”
    “Okay, we’re listening.”
    I whisper my plan to them, offering them each a $20.
    “Deal?”
    They turn to each other and nod their heads.
    “Deal.”
    “Meet me here after school tomorrow,” I say with a smirk.
    That night I prepare myself for the big day. I fold up my uniform and set my book bag aside. For some reason, I’ve been feeling that Andrew’s been a bit neglected me lately, so I go to talk to him about what’s been going on.
    Andrew’s sitting at the side of his bed. I walk over and sit next to him. Our conversation begins.
    “Hiya!”
    “Hey! How are you; are you feeling better?”
    “Awesome!” I exclaim “Well, actually, more weird than awesome…”
    “What’s wrong?”
    “It’s not something that I can easily explain. Don’t worry, it’s nothing serious. But, there is something that I’ve been meaning to talk to you about.”
    “And what’s that?” He says cheerfully.
    “Jayden Hayes.”
    And so, I tell Andrew about my bizarre assumptions about Jayden being a vampire or news reporters undercover. I go on and on telling him how he treated me ever since he came to the school, and my previous attempts to find out who he really is. However, I do leave out tomorrow’s rash scheme. Andrew finally speaks.
    “Have you completely lost your mind?! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!”
    “Now, that wasn’t the plan, you see. I have good reason, and you know why. So, I was thinking…”
    “Katie!”
    “What?”
    “Come on, let’s be reasonable here.”
    “Oh, so you have a better plan?” I raise my eyebrow.
    “Sure, I have plenty.” He stutters.
    “Ohh?”
    “Mmm hmm.”
    “Care to give me some insight on that?”
    Andrew pauses, thinks, and then sighs.
    “That’s what I thought.”
    “But, your gonna get yourself into some serious trouble if you keep doing these things. I mean, who throws themselves down the stairs to see how a person reacts?! And, what good would it have done if you killed yourself?”
    “That’s hardly the issue here.”
    Andrew pulls me close to his chest. He streaks his fingers through my hair, and then lays his cheek against mine. Then, he whispers in my ear.
    “I love you. Please don’t hurt yourself anymore.”
    “Good Night Andrew” I say with a sleek voice.
    “Hey?” He wines.
    “I love you too!” I turn off Andrew’s light and close the door as I leave his room.
    The next day I go to school and I wait in the back, where I met the “guys.” The plan is for us to wait for Jayden. The guys wait on one side of the building and I wait at the side. When we see him coming I just happen to walk into the school bullies. They come up to me bumping me back and forth as though I’m being harassed. And yes, I know this may psychologically damage me for the rest of my life, but I want answers! One of the guys gave me permission to hit him in the arm, so that’ll be my attack. They’re going to strong arm me and pin me up to the wall like they’re going to… Well, I think you get the picture. So, let’s go!
    “You ready?”
    “Show us the money!”
    “Right here.” I spread out five 20 dollar bills in front of them. “When your task is done, you get paid.” Then, the sound of footsteps. “Shush shush, he’s coming!! It’s show time ya’ll!”
    We stand in position and I quickly fix up my hair with one hand, and pull down my blouse with the other. Jayden walks around the corner and I run.
    “Hey girlie, watch where you’re running!”
    “Oh, I’m sorry.”
    One of them says, “Hey, you’re kind of cute.”
    “Well, you’re not.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “Look, can I pass by please? Sorry for running into you.”
    “You’re not going anywhere.”
    “I’m going to be late for class!!!”
    “Hey guys!” The huddle around each other, faking to make a plan.
    “What’re you doing? Stop that!!!!!!” They start pushing me around. “Help!!! Somebody help!!!”
    Andrew comes running up to try to stop this.
    “Stay out of this!” I hiss.
    “What do you think you’re doing?”
    “Just go!”
    “NO!”
    “Go!”
    “Fine! But I’ll be back in five minutes in case these creeps do something to you.”
    “Great, now go!”
    I turn back to the guys so we can continue our plan.
    “Tsss…cute face, hot body.”
    “Wait, what’re you doing?”
    “Hehehe,” they all laugh as a group.
    “NOOOO!!!!!!”
    Jayden didn’t even look our way! He just walked past the school yard, even though there could have been a possibility of being hurt! It’s decided. Jayden Hayes…YOU ARE MY ENEMY!!!!!!!!!!
    “Okay guys, we’re done here. Here’s your money. Thanks!”
    “Anytime, girlie.”
    I run toward Andrew who is lingering behind the tree. He watched the entire thing, which means that I’ll be forced to tell him my reason for this plan. But, just so I might get myself out of his hour long lecture…
    “I know, I know. It was stupid.”
    “Ka--”
    I put my hand up stopping him from speaking. “There’s something weird going on, and I’m going to figure it out. Something’s uncanny about him.”
    “What’re you doing to do?”
    “I’ll let it go for now. He probably suspects that something’s up, like he knows I’m doing these things on purpose. Anyways, let’s go home for now.”