41Chapter 4 – A Pureblood's heat
School was a bore and my classmates were predictable. With Valentine's day around the corner, every girl (and the occasional boy) were busy making shrill noises out of their throats, buzzing like bees as they gossip about their chocolates and being extra possessive of their chosen idols.
Apparently, each one has a fan base and each of the vampires are 'theirs'.
I don't know how'd that work but there they go.
The boys were more sullen during these time – mostly sighing and cursing the night class guys under their breaths as if it was those poor guys' faults they were so handsome. The guy on her left kept glancing towards that brown-haired girl in front who was sat with her friends, enthusiastically planning how they were going to approach Kaname-sama.
My focus sharpened at the name and I almost absently took note of the girls' features. The moment I had them ingrained in memory, I internally groaned and slowly rested my face against my scribbled desk.
I was starting to act and think too much of a prefect.
I brought my arms in and used them as a cushion. The cacophony of buzzes, bursts of laughter and shouts became muffled and I closed my eyes at the small comfort. I was about to fall in a nap when there was a small gap of noise as a number of students fell silent and shuffled about as if to give way to someone approaching from behind.
''Well at least, we have Zero here. I'd rather have these girls fall over one of us than those arrogant dudes in Night class…'' A non-important boy spoke softly as if to be careful not to let the rabid 'fangirls' in our class hear him which, in this case was actually all the girls save Sayuri, myself and my sister. But then again, I don't really know the girl or every girl in my class. I'm not sure if they secretly all follow and love the Night Class or if they are just following the 'norm' in this school – which was to have someone to like very passionately.
Several male murmurs of approval followed. I bit the inside of my cheek in thought. Seriously, everyone in my class has someone they like. It was one more of the things that boggled me. Me, who has definitely and literally feel nothing towards any boy I've come across. Yes, I found some the Night Class guys attractive. An image of sad eyes and a fragile smile flashed in my head and I closed my eyes tight and threw it away to my mind's trash-land. Beauty is a part of them, is it not? It was the same with lions, tigers, snakes, crocodiles and all other animals. So beautiful and so deadly. Even Zero was quite attractive. But he was too disgusting and too much of a jerk to be considered even in the 'slightest crush' sense. There were some guys in this class too who were actually quite cute.
But none made my heart beat fast. No one gave me butterflies in my stomach. No one made me want to squeal, grab my hair and tremble. A part of me wants to try, actually. Try and like someone. But it will take too much energy to both fake it. Not to mention, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't suit me.
At all.
It probably isn't something I could just decide to do either.
A rush of cool air brought a scent of freshly-mowed grass. His clothes still carried the scent of jasmine from the fabric conditioner we use at home as well as the time he spends with his beloved horse. Zero has been staying in the headmaster's residence recently which was strange because he seemed to me as the type to value his time alone. With no greeting whatsoever, I felt him sit beside me, leaving a chair unoccupied between us. Then without a word, he collapsed into his seat and with a thumped, his head flopped on our desk. I twisted my head to face him, peered up over my arm to see his messy mop of silver hair. Seeing none was amiss, I fidgeted in my seat until I found a more comfortable position. I found myself closing my eyes, mind wandering.
I've been feeling like something was amiss since Saturday. I woke up in my dad's bed, feeling oddly calm and my bones as fragile as a bird's. Dad said I had a fever last Friday night so high that it was probably the reason why I cannot remember anything.
Barely was the missing word there. But he didn't need to know that.
The 'white lady' has incorporated herself in my mind as the most horrifying nightmare creature my imagination has every concocted entirely because of how real she felt. A race of goose-bumps ran up both my arms up to the back of my neck and I stifled a shiver before it could fully break out. Something about her touched a voice from the deepest abyss in my memories – the forgotten among the forgotten. Although I couldn't properly place where or whose, I felt like I know her from somewhere. I've seen her before. It was like trying to catch the word you already know at the tip of your tongue or sensing a déjà vu. It was making me restless. Even more so now that my dad has postponed our morning practises, saying I need to catch more sleep, eat more food and relax.
As if his queer recipes were not punishment enough.
''Ya missed breakfast. It was avocado soup.'' I drawled out, voice scratching against my throat.
A girlish squeal from the crowd pierced through my eardrums. Zero and I winced at the same time.
''Too bad.''
Too bad, his ass. He knew full well that when he's not around, I had to eat his portion too. But I was too tired to complain about that and the pending torture was killing me already. ''We got prefect duty later.'' I half-groaned, half-whined.
He growled. ''I know.''
''Oh, I hate my life.'' I whispered to myself miserably, not expecting a reply. Nevertheless, I received one -strung, chained and laden with so much more misery compared to my teenage-induced one.
''Tell me all about it.''
He was always so good at making me feel bad.
I shuffled through a throng of young and impressionable girls with hearts in their eyes and heartsick smiles in their mouth. I ducked for cover, evading their flapping arms and bodies. My head-phones were in place, playing Mozart's Requiem in D minor. It suited the violent state of my mind at the moment. It helped to keep my irritation at bay but also fed it, heating the acid in my chest just enough that I could feel it simmer. It was a curiously strange sensation. One that I will analyse later on when I have nothing else to ponder about. Perhaps later during Night patrol when I have nothing but time.
Time that I should be using for sleep.
I sighed as I looked over the mob, up to the towering stone gates of the Night Class and then towards the twilight skies. The gates will open soon. My eyes fell on the group of girls carrying a rickety stand and frowned, confused when I saw others doing the same. A girl – the brown-haired girl from my class was holding a bag full of chocolates while another who I vaguely recognised as her friend was directing the remaining girls carrying the wooden structure. I noticed the whistle hanging from her neck as she waved about and whispered-yelled her friends to be careful. The next familiar sights greeted me and their little idea clicked and finalised into place.
They were so entertaining sometimes. The amount of effort they put in to express their feelings… If they weren't so noisy and irritating, perhaps I would find it even cute.
Seeing my sister's efforts at containing the girls were futile, I scoured my surroundings for a good place to stand or sit. I chose the one farthest from the gate. With my hand on top of my bokken, I positioned myself, ignoring how the girl nearest to me flinched away. She was holding a banner, neatly rolled against her chest. Behind her were her friends and judging from the frantic expressions on their faces and their broken stand, they were running late and growing desperate. One may even think it's the end of their world.
''Be quick! The gates will open soon and we're not even ready for Akatsuki-senpai!'' One of the wailed. In response, the girl in front of me straightened and ran towards her friends; gone was the scared girl.
''Get a hammer! Do we have a hammer! We need to assemble these! Oh my god! What happened to our table!?''
Well, it happened to be limb-less. It looked too deliberate to be accidental too.
''Misaki said she found them like this! Must be those girls! What bitches, they obviously want to have Akatsuki-senpai to themselves!''
I raised an eyebrow before chuckling quietly to myself, shaking my head at their drama. That is, until I found two other girls from the opposite side of this group smirking and whispering to themselves. Near them was a completed stand and table with the banner, 'We love Akatsuki-senpai forever!'
I turned towards the girls on my left, watching them desperately do multiple things at once and then fail. One of them look like she was even going to cry. To feel such distress over such a petty thing. How infuriating.
''You're not putting on enough strength. That's why the nail's not coming in.'' The girls jumped. Before they could refuse me, I gently pushed the girl with the hammer away and snatched the tool. All the while, I was muttering indecipherable curses under my breath. I couldn't believe I was actually…feeling sorry them. Crouching down, I brusquely ordered them to hold the top piece steady and started to hammer the knees into the skirt which was the under-framing that connect the legs to the table top.
The next thing I know, the table was standing, albeit a little weak to my standards, just before the groans of the gates sounded. ''Go fix your offerings ready.'' I nodded to one of the meek girls, returning the hammer carefully, making sure she actually was carrying the thing before letting go. Last thing I wanted was throwing it at her and her failing to catch it. That happened with Yuki once. Only it was with a knife.
The knife fell in a thump, its sharp point burying itself into the wood. My sister gasped; blood weeping out of her palm. I felt my heart throb so hard that my breath caught. There was blood on my sister's hand and a vampire in our dining room.
''Shizu! What were you thinking!''
It was the first time my dad angrily shouted at me for being irresponsible. He was never angry. That image, with anger and fear etched on his usually smiling face still brought me goose-bumps. It never left me. When I close my eyes and remember, I still could see his face and feel the guilt in detail.
The last thing I want was blood to spill near these bloodsuckers.
As expected, the girls parted like the red sea to Moses as soon as the rest of the Night class formed their usual respective formation. I fished for my iPod and increased the volume of Saint-Saens's Danse Macabre. I focused instead on the usual autumn trees surrounding us while the music dominated my ears.
Seeing those beautiful creatures have always brought me a headache. They've has always annoyed me for some unknown reason. Their perfection always makes me want to throw some paint on their faces. The manner in which they neatly position themselves around their leader vexed me. If only I could run towards them and just messed them around a little.
As expected, the girls went crazy too. A Danse macabre, indeed.
I paced a little in my impatience for the whole fiasco to be over. I threw a short glance towards the first group to approach the end of the line. It was Kaname-senpai, of course and behind him was that bitch Ruka and that rather handsome red-head who I was guessing to be the Akatsuki-senpai from the ''We love Akatsuki-senpai forever!'' banner, judging at how the girls I just helped a while ago was trying to get his attention.
I love and hate that he was trying his best to ignore them.
''Shizu…'' He called out to me, luring my attention back to him with a voice like an incubus. Such gentle eyes. Even the curve of his lips was… My face heated and I quickly removed my headphone out of my ears. The cello's D string was doing crazy things to my head.
I cleared my throat and stood up straighter. ''What?'' I asked. ''I mean, I'm sorry, you were saying something? Uh, senpai?'' I seriously tried to ask as politely as possible. And failed, of course.
His smile grew. I had nothing else to do but pray he cannot read minds because I cannot believe I just thought of him…that way. Oh God, I was so disgusting.
''I heard of what happened last Friday. I hope you're feeling well?'' His head tilted to the side in question. His eyes forever warm and intense, drawing one into its depths. I gulped, starting to heat up. I tried to look away but found myself returning to him once again. I wanted to run away but he was only getting closer. A hand on my cheek brought my hazy thoughts into a pause. ''Shizu. I do believe you're still not feeling quite well—''
''I'm okay. I'm okay.'' I swatted his hand away with a polite smile. I had to leave and catch my breath somewhere. The music still playing from my headphones has changed from dark and energetic Danse Macabre to a sultry cello. My eyes widened at seeing his gaze descend to the stupid head-pieces.
''I don't know this one, Shizu. What's is it called?''
''Ah...'' I pulled out my iPod from my hoodie's pocket even though I knew full well what the title was. ''It's called 'Night Dance' by this guy called Adam Hurst. I found him from the internet. He's good.''
He nodded, smiling at me once again. ''May I?'' He asked, motioning to the earpieces anchored around my neck.
He always asks me nicely. In fact, he was so nice all the time, it was hard to even say no to him. My pride as a human being won't allow me to. Never mind that my manners are probably as a little as a raindrop. Just thinking about denying him was making me feel like I was some ruthless villainous villain already. So, I offered him the headpiece. He turned to this grey-haired girl behind him and handed her the gifts he's just received. I ignored the accidental touch of his hands to mine. I repeated the track for him.
I took in how his broad shoulders seemed to relax. It was so subtle, I would've missed it if I wasn't staring at him. His eyes closed as he cradled my headpiece next to his ears. Like this, even though we were surrounded by seemingly millions of eyes, it felt like…
With a jolt, I gathered my wits once again. I brazenly pulled his hand towards me and then placed the music device in his palm. ''Here, senpai,'' I told him. ''You can borrow it for a while. Hm?'' He opened his mouth as if to ask me again if it was alright. I nodded my head at his unasked question. ''Yup, it's alright.''
''Thank you, Shizu.'' My heart ached as I noted how he cradled the device in his big hands as if it was precious. I, on the other hand, have dropped the thing too many times than I could count and even throw it around carelessly many times.
''Yeah. Sure, senpai.'' I nodded and shuffled slightly. Finally, I caught my sister's form in between the Night classes' uniforms.
Cornered.
Behind Kaname's tall frame, nearly the rest of the Night Class has gathered behind him without my noticing.
I cursed silently. Again, and again.
Like a blessing, Hanabusa Aido finally caught up to the rest of the group followed by the other blonde from the other night – Takuma something. ''Oy! Akatsuki! How many chocolates do you have!'' Hanabusa waved at his cousin, arrogance seeping off his pores.
''Have a good night, Kaname-senpai.'' I bowed my head a fraction, cool and collected once again. Time for you to leave.
He just smiled at me. As always. ''Thank you, Shizu. Go, take a rest tonight. I will talk to the headmaster about it.'' He told me softly. ''I will bring this gift back to you tomorrow.''
My nodding stopped. I frowned. What gift? With one last lingering smile which looked a little mischievous compared to his normal, he walked on ahead; his minions following him like graceful shadows. I ignored the glares but smirked at Ruka, loving the way she visibly bristled at the sight of me. She hated me as much as I hated her, that one. To be fair, she disliked me first.
My stupid memory can still remember her and Kaname that one night. I visibly shivered in disgust. My poor sister and I were both traumatised for life afterward. How dare them. Ugh!
My poor sister…
I cursed again and ran a hand through my bound hair. She was currently facing Zero, shoulders pulled in. looking so heart-broken. Growling, I pulled the hair-tie and freely messed the way-ward curls, now making my way towards the two.
''Ah. Shizu-chan…''
I turned to the guy who materialised beside me. ''What?''
The president of our class blushed and shyly brought a blue box towards me as if it was an offering. ''Pleaseacceptmyffffeelings! Shizu-chan!'
''As if she'd accept the president…he's so lame…''
''He seriously did it, dude!''
I regarded my fellow teen. I've always thought he was such as troublesome guy too. Often, criticising Zero and me for sleeping in class. Who knew he actually liked me? Seriously, if he liked me so much, shouldn't he just let me sleep?
But I had no time to let my mind wander further again. ''Does it have nuts in it?'' I asked. ''Cause I love nuts.''
'' Yes! Yes! It has nuts! I knew you love chocolates with nuts!''
He didn't. I could tell from the tightness of his facial muscles and the excited gleam in his eyes that he was lying. I thought I saw him talking to Yuki the other day...
Knowing my sister, she probably gave this one a tutorial and a recipe for making my favourite chocolate. Hence, if the president can follow instructions unlike my sister, this should be good. ''Yeah. Thanks, President.'' I gave the boy a rare teasing smile as payment, grabbed the thing and walked away.
My dad would make a nice tester.
AN: My early night turned out to be a very late night for me. And I keep saying Shiori instead of Shizu...Ugh. So if you notice it, just ignore kay? What do you think of the story so far? Any suggestions? I literally have no plans whatsoever. I didn't read all the mangas and I really want to limit my exposure time to the canon. I can't stand Yuki. Ugh. But I love Kaname so much. God, he's so hot. It's so hard to write Shizu and Kaname though. So, I need some of your advice guys! SO please, speak up! Thanks for all your reviews! Oh, the manga is not mine. The mentioned music are not mine either. Just Shizu, really.
xoxo Dear author