• Ch.2
    SIMMERING DOWN


    “Jeez”-I said yawning-“I hate mornings…and mornings hate me” I said as I treaded to the bathroom to take care of things, I cleaned myself up, brushed my teeth, and headed off.
    “I’m going to have to do whatever it takes, to make sure that Daisuke isn’t ‘him’…but just how am I going to be able to communicate with someone who won’t say a word to me? I don’t care, just as long as I don’t have to do anything, and just as long as my grandmother doesn’t sink her century old fangs into my business.”
    “Kaori it’s been two weeks since your first day. You’re still breathing; see I told you it wouldn’t be so bad right? It’s not so bad.” Mom trailed off into one of her, I told you so kind of teasers. Her sarcasm is one of the many things that could send me off. Especially when I am feeling frustrated or livid, her sarcasm made things all the more worse. She’s lucky that I haven’t let loose on her, and if I did, my dad would give me hell to pay (excuse the French). I was saved by the bell, and raced off to the locker rooms and met up with Suzuki and the rest of the 1st period girls.
    “So-um…what are we doing today?” Suzuki asked shyly, she wore a lot of make-up. A lot more than what I was used to, which was no make-up at all. I didn’t understand why the girls here wore make-up, I thought that being you was the best type of make-up there is….as corny as it sounded that’s what I thought. Then again, make-up wasn’t allowed at my old schools.
    “Kaori?”
    “What? Oh! Sorry Suzuki, I’m a little out of it.”- oops spaced out again-“Umm judging by the nets being out up, we’re probably going to play volleyball. Sounds fun.” I honestly wasn’t too thrilled; my mind wrinkled its nose again from the emanating apathy this class stank of. Not one person was going to be a challenge by the looks of it.
    And if the boys were the only challenge there, some seemed like they could crush me in half if they got mad enough (if I wasn’t a vampire).
    “Okay class, today we’re going to pick teams for volleyball.” Coach stated.
    “You called that one Kaori.” Suzuki whispered in my ear.
    “Shouta! Who do you pick?” Coach was oddly loud today, most of the time he says things once and keeps the same face throughout the period.
    “Ummmm…..her”-again I am the one pointed at-“uh….what’s her name?”
    “It’s Kaori, learn it.” I said as I marched in line for the new team I was in.
    “Hmmm….oh! Another team huh? I wouldn’t expect anything less; I wonder…nah probably not till a few more weeks. ” I had spaced a lot in P.E. that day, probably from the lack of sleep the night before. I had been going vamp a lot since I came to Templeton, I had tons more control back in the city.
    “Hey Kaori, are you feeling okay?”
    “A little tired, but I’m okay Aneko.” Aneko was also a newbie like me and Suzuki. Aneko was an animal lover, tall, long dirty blonde hair, and well around.
    She reminded me of my old friend Robin in O.C. Man how I missed her. Suzuki (like I said) was a reasonably tall girl, had naturally curly locks of red that looked like deep orange, brown, and red ribbons fashioned together into curly Q’s.
    I on the other had been nothing like them, I was shorter than them by an inch or so, had medium sized blonde hair, and was fairly skinny. I without a doubt, showed my Swedish heritage through my skin. In sixth grade a girl in my class said I looked albino. If only she knew. But all the same I’d never tan like the other kids, I fried. No not by the vampirism, that junk’s been a myth passed down for generations. In other words I’d get nasty sunburns, so whenever we had an outdoor activity, my mom lathered me in SPF 50 sunscreen when I was little. And no I don’t sparkle, I wouldn’t be living in California had that been the case. My eyes I guess was my best feature, to me at least. From a distance they look blue, but when you get up closer it’s a deep forest green, with yellow specs dotted near the iris. But if you were to take a look at my eyes last night, they would’ve been a maroon red. I never liked pictures of me, and it would take a few years for me to say,” Hey I look kind of nice in that one!” Daisuke (of course) gave me the warm welcome I had expected from him, the welcome I got the 1st day of “COUNTRYVILLE MIDDLESCHOOL”. When I was walking to math with Kimiko, Daisuke and his friends were rough housing with each other, and one of his friends nearly launched Daisuke in the air. But he caught his ground and in doing so, he along with his book filled backpack rammed me in my right side. Almost causing me to create a domino effect.
    “Jeez Daisuke, pulverize the girl why dontcha?” Kimiko asked laughing so hard while helping me regain my balance. He didn’t answer nor look back at me to apologize.
    “Kaori are you okay?” Kimiko asked, obviously worried about my present state.
    “I’m fine, if it weren’t for my own backpack, I probably wouldn’t have fallen over anyway. But since I had it on… it was a close call.” We made it to class on time.
    “Okay, something is seriously up. He’s been at this for awhile now. If he hates me I can understand that, but it kind of sucks to be treated like this when you don’t even know the reason why! All the same though...I guess the less interaction the better. But for some reason…it just keeps on getting worse.” I became so infuriated from all of these thoughts; I accidentally snapped my crayon in two during art class. I probably would’ve snapped the table in two if I stepped deeper into thought.
    “Jeez Kaori, what’s got your panties in a bunch?” Kimiko asked helping me pick up the crayon pieces. Most of it was colored dust. Whoops.
    “Sorry Kimiko, I hate it when they do that…”
    “Same here, but instead of crayons try snapping those bozos behind us” she said flexing her thumb to a table of guys, who looked like the arrogant sport type. They made up the male population in the advanced art class. I had to laugh, she was more accurate than she realized.
    “Hah hah, trust me they aren’t worth it.” And they weren’t.
    “Hey horse lover, neiiiigghh!!! Neiigghhhh!!!! Hahaha!” pathetic insults thrown Kimiko’s way….original. I meant it when I said arrogant.
    “Shut-up! Say that again and you won’t live to see the next day!” Kimiko shouted. I had hand it to Kimiko, she’s loud and crazy enough to back that threat up. But the guys just egged her on, despite my attempts to calm her down. Again the bell rang a savior for many people, but an annoyance for my head. I ate lunch quietly with Suzuki and Kimiko; afterwards we headed off to our 6th period class.


    “OMG!!! YOU DREW THAT!” exclaimed an odd boy, who was in awe of my anime picture that I drew in art today.
    “And again with the texting lingo! Jeez when will people talk normally?”
    “Uh huh!”-I nodded-“I always draw these, especially when I get bored or have some spare time on my hands.” Since my parent’s separation, due to matters that only I and my father know of…and my grandma (My mother and my brother are completely oblivious to what the real reason was and we planned to keep it that way. As far as my mom’s concerned, my father was “abusive, horrible, broke things, and threatened to slit our throats, and not to mention controlling.” I knew my father, and he made some mistakes, but nothing like those statements….he was wonderful to me, but he was way worse. With that fact spreading in her head, my mother took me away from the only person who could read me, and understand what I was going through.) I needed an outlet. When I was normal I drew anime as an outlet, and they look pretty good too. For those who don’t know what anime is, they’re Japanese cartoons. Manga is Japanese comic books, and they’re pretty graphic too. Hence as to why average book stores like Barnes and Noble or BORDERS, keep them in either the “Graphic Novels” section or the “Manga” section, they’re very fun to draw and they get out my frustrations quick and easy. But….my other outlet…. I drink animal blood. Only the evil predators who hog all the meat to themselves, I don’t completely drain them, but I drink enough to sate my thirst. Honestly I find no point in biting humans, it shows that my kind exists, and I’d have given away our location. I’m not moving again! But now that I think about it….nah. Besides, the traditional “vampire hunters” weren’t the only danger to those who stepped out of line.
    “Can I buy it?!” He looked like a puppy begging for his treat. Wide eyed, and let the classroom lamps light them up. It was interesting.
    “Excuse me?” did he say BUY my art?
    “Pleeeeeeaaaaaassssseeeeee?!” correction…now he’s the puppy, a pure bread beggar.
    “Keiji turn around! Class has started.” Mrs. Devanio sternly shouted.
    “I’ll sell it.” I whispered to him. One thing’s for sure, Keiji was definitely runner up for most unique. He wore a pitch black jacket, black and white striped gloves, black slacks, and black shoes. Peach/ light apricot toned skin, and rectangular eyeglasses. His hair was pretty long for a boy, slightly resting on his shoulders, but then again “long hair” was the fad nowadays. His hair was dark brown, with streaks of blonde highlights.
    “For how much?” he asked anxious and excited at the thought of hand-drawn anime in his hands. He’d turn his head every few seconds or so, just to make sure Devanio didn’t catch him.
    “How much do you got?” I didn’t want to pry him of his lunch money, and besides I didn’t really know the value of my art. No one had asked me, let alone was willing to pay me for a picture.
    “Uhhh…. $8.00 in quarters”
    “Wow how much lunch does a guy need?” I thought wide eyed.
    “I’ll take 8 quarters.” That should be fair enough.
    “Only 8? Okay here.” Swiftly rummaging through his backpack Keiji gave me the amount I asked. And in return I gave him the picture.
    Keiji was pretty nice, but there were a lot of times he freaked me out. Some of his words were perverse. In 7th period he was talking to a jock/sporty girl, she said something to him and he replied,
    ” yes sealed…like your virginity.” She took that surprisingly well, but he made my stomach do summer salts, and that’s hard to do. At my old schools, this junk was the last thing that came to mind….actually I had no idea there was such a thought. The day had ended, and my brother and I had to walk home. I was an exceptionally fast walker (what can I say, when you have my skills its hard not to be fast). So every few seconds or so, I had to either slow down or stop and turn to see if my brother was still behind me or not. I had started to walk fast for some reason (my feet were literally having a mind of their own!), Yasu took it as a game, he caught up, I went faster, eventually Yasu and I broke into a sprint. Doing so I had passed a pair of boys walking in the same direction as us, near the main park, one of them shouted at me.
    “Hey!”
    I halt and turn around only to see the beautiful boy Daisuke, looking at me as if he was the one who called for my attention, and for me. Wait a second…did I just call him beautiful?
    “A-are you talking to me?” Honestly I was curious; he had been avoiding me all this time. Even though it has only been two weeks.
    “So why now does he decide to take an interest? Oh crap, and of all times too!”
    He replies, in a tone so smooth, but in a sarcasm that anyone could tell. Anyone but me.
    “No, I’m talking to the person behind you.” He rolled his eyes at this. Stupidly I turn around to see if he was right, just to make sure it wasn’t me…there was no one within any talking, or shouting range. I turn my head again to see him and his friend pass me, mumbling to me,
    ” Of course I’m talking to you.” ‘Of course?’ There was no way! I couldn’t believe it! Him, this amazingly handsome boy, olive toned, well brought out, with eyes of chocolate pools was finally speaking to me! I started to feel a wave of blood rush to my face, pumping my heart to 30 miles per hour or even higher (this is what would’ve happened if I were human). But I was blushing tomato red!
    “Th-this is impossible! How can I have scarlet flush to my face when my own heart had stopped a long time ago? What the heck is going on?” I thought. Simple mindedly I froze in that spot, replaying what had just happened over and over in my head.
    “-huff huff- Sis…slow down…you win…” I shook my head back into reality. Honestly I was way more excited than I’d liked, and having all of those fantasized descriptions made me dizzy. I turned around. Yasu looked terrible; he must’ve gone through bushes and trees just to get to me. He smiled sheepishly, knowing that I could read his face…. and his clothes; he looked past me with a puzzled expression.
    “Who were they?” Yasu wasn’t too interested in my private life, and he didn’t talk much when it came to walking home. Like my mom, he just wants to go from point A to point B, no questions asked. Although I may point out that his evasive skills needed improvement, I could tell his clothes agreed with me. He never bugged me, nor did he mess with my stuff. I guess you could say he was an angel of a brother. And for him to now decide to have a voice was very poor timing (again another curse from my family). Besides I didn’t want to answer…not with grandma wanting to know the same thing too.
    “Just some guys who go to my school.” That was an honest response, but Daisuke wasn’t just some guy, he was way more.
    And I was determined to find out why I was so drawn to him, and still keep the interaction on a low key. Accepting my response Yasu and I successfully made it to the house. The heat up here was unbearable; my throat was so dry I was afraid of blowing my cover…. I immediately headed for the fridge, chugging down gallons of water down my esophagus. The ice-cool liquid sliding smoothly down my throat felt like a revelation. I sighed with contentment and headed for my room to start on my homework. A lot of the subjects were easy, and I’d get straight A’s on stuff that I barely even broke a sweat over. Not trying to gloat here, but when there was something I knew and the others didn’t I couldn’t help but blurt out the answer. Of course my hand was raised when I spilled the answer.
    I finished in a timely manner and called Robin. She was the only person who didn’t leave me to lie, or abandon me. And she’s the only person outside of my private coven who knew my secret; unfortunately for her it took some healing. And I mean a lot of it. Physical and spiritual healing. She found out when an insignificant runt of a 7th grader,( we all were 7th graders at the time) kept on pushing my buttons. I was livid and thirsty; I had enough and decided to try him out. In my state, I sped up to him going down the stairs, but my friend Robin walked in front of me and I tripped her. She tumbled down the concrete stairs breaking her leg…again. I halted at the sight of my friend in agonizing pain; she turned up to my face and saw. My eyes glowing bright maroon red with hatred and shock, and my teeth baring my half inch long incisors, along with my long hair blowing in my aura. I communicated telepathically in her head,
    “Please…I’ll explain later…please don’t tell!” My eyes simmered down and showed sincerity, and fear begging my plea. I wasn’t the only one who heard her tumble down and scream. Sensing more humans I leaped for the large magnolia tree behind me. She covered for me and was carried to the main office. I saw her look at me with eyes that spoke,
    ” This’d better be good. And I won’t tell, not a soul, but this is going to complicate some minor details.” I called her a few days after she’d been in the hospital. The hospital was a danger zone. Not just for me, but for their blood bank.
    “Hello?” She sounded like she’d been out of it for awhile.
    “Hey Robin…its Kaori...” How could I face her? She was the only human who’d ever dared to be my friend. And now I’m trusting her with the secret that defines my existence!
    “-sighs with relief- hey, how are you feeling?” I’ve been better. How could she sound so happy? I could picture her in the emergency room; IV’d, in a rolling bed, her foot elevated, and in a cast! Covered in bruises from hitting each step! How could this happen? I was a natural at hunting! SO why?!
    “I should be asking you the same thing.”
    “I asked you first though.” Dangit…I hoped I wouldn’t have to talk!
    “You did….I’m back to normal…well... what ever you’d consider normal. I-I”
    I broke into sobs; it took me a bit to recover my breaths and my voice.
    “I’m s-so sorry! I-I never wanted…I’d never intended to h-hurt you!” I wasn’t having much success in putting on a brave face.
    “Kaori….you’re a vampire right?”
    “Y-es” It really stung to hear her ask that.
    “Okay then. That’s all I needed to know.”
    “Wha?” What? No “garlic or cross or sun” cracks? Who are you?
    “Kaori…this is a major secret! I won’t jeopardize you or your…um…what’s the word?”
    “heh, it’s called a coven. Our family is actually one of the largest covens in our world.”
    “Is that so?” I couldn't believe she was fascinated by all of this.
    “Yeah…umm…I have to be very careful as to how much I share with you.” I don’t want to have to deal with my dad, let alone the heads of the Kozakura coven.
    “I only need to know what you are at this point; I’ll ask questions later on okay?”
    “This is getting off way too easy…there’s gotta be a catch.” I thought.
    “Okay, are you sure you want to take this on? It’s one heck of a burden.”
    “Yes, of course.”
    “Thank you…thank you. a thousand times thank you!” She and I wept ourselves to sleep. Ever since then she’s never ever asked me about why I am the way I am. Just what she could do to avoid a risky situation, or to help me get the arrogant boy off my back. The line was busy on her end. So I hung up, and headed downstairs to prepare dinner. Mom wasn’t going to come back until 10:00p.m. west coast time. I ate my food and headed back to my room and changed into my night gown. Mom got home at the predicted time, and went straight to bed. As I was about to retire myself, I heard a strange howl in the dark night. Without a hint’s warning, my vampire instincts arose, putting on my disguise and launched myself out into the night. While flying in the shadows, I heard a rustle from the bushes, I prepared myself for anything… it was only a large pack of coyotes carrying a family of rabbits in their jaws. I paused for a moment and decided to head back home. I wasn’t thirsty, nor did I want to take away the lives of these proud hunters. As I turned back, I noticed that one of the dogs smelled familiar, deliciously and earthly familiar. I decided to pay no heed to it, and flew back into my room, collapsing on my bed and falling into a deep-thoughtful sleep. A sleep that determined whether or not Daisuke was going to be my 1st and what I would do to stop it.