𝕳𝖊𝖒𝖔 𝕳𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖙

𝔊𝔬𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔅𝔞𝔠𝔨 𝔱𝔬 ℭ𝔩𝔞𝔰𝔰

You turn around and start to go up the black stairs to your health class. So many students.... so many vampires watching... You pushed open the tall door lightly and stepped into the classroom. You saw four others there including your friend Rosetta. You sat down at your desk and put down your stuff. Rosetta gave a closed mouth smile to you and waved. You waved her over but couldn't manage a smile, you were too stressed out with life. She slyly came over and sat down in the desk next to you.
"Scarlett." She smiled and took your hand. You took her hand as well and replied with,
A) "How are you?"
B) "Rosetta."
You took out your health homework and started to speak.
"Have you finished this?" You pointed to it and she looked over the paper for a moment.
"Hah, yeah. It's easy yet so dull." She rolled her eyes.
"Mmhmm." You hummed an agreement. Is Epiphany okay? What are they doing right now?
"You know Serenity, Casper and I were going out this lunch to the field and we saw this totally cool..." Her voice was hard for you to concentrate on. Why do I have so much homework?... Is this school too challenging for me? And the whole "It's a school meant for Vampires" kinda throws me off... But the money and intentions everyone has put in for you... It's only a year... Just get through this year... You can do it, Scar-
"Scarlett?" Rosetta's voice shook you awake into the outer world. You looked at her for a moment.
"Huh?" You uttered.
"I was just saying- You know, never mind." She breathed out then looked at you as you scribbled things onto your paper.
"Are you okay?" She asked. You quickly looked at her and nodded.
"Yes." You say. She narrows her eyes at you in a curious way.
"You can tell me, it's alright." She said softly and gripped your hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. You looked down for a moment and exhaled softly.
"Well...
A) I guess I'll tell you what's on my mind."
B) there is something worrying me..."
She looked at you patiently, waiting for you to continue.
"It's about my friend, she's in grade ten and she's totally head-over-heels for this guy and it's just..." You trailed off not wanting to hurt her feelings.
"He's a Vampire?..." Rosetta finished the sentence. You looked down at your lap for a moment, than to Rosetta's hand that rested on yours.
"Mmhmm." You nod your head in agreement.
"It's okay to say it, Scarlett. It doesn't hurt my feelings, and besides, I understand your worry. If I were you I think I'd be worried too." She said.
"Really?" You ask.
"Yeah, of course. We can go check on her if you'd like. I mean, there's only five minutes left but we could still do it anyways." She offers and you smile at her.
"Okay." You two get up and exit the class together, pushing past the students who are trying to get to their own classes. As you two walk down the hall you accidentally trip on your own foot and fall into someone. You hear a crack! Quickly you look up.
(If you read the chapter called, "Rosetta got you a bandage" read option A. If you read the chapter called, "Meeting Duke" read option B. If you read the chapter called "Persisting Rosetta" read option C. If you read the chapter called "Offering to Rosetta" read option D.)

A) Your eyes are met with a tall boy with silver hair. He wore a black choker, black pants, and a black blazer that had silver lining the edges of it, matching his hair. He wore a grey shirt and appeared to be bandaged up at his stomach, however you couldn't tell if it was just for design.
"Dang it!" He muttered looking down at whatever smashed. Your heart was beating fast, he defiantly looked like a vampire to you, and now you just broke something of his.
"I'm sorry!" You bowed your head apologizing, hoping he wouldn't kill you for your mistake. Rosetta placed a hand on you arm, in a protective sort of way. She studied him the way you did. You watched as he picked up what appeared to be a watch, except the glass was now cracked. It was attached to his hip by a chain and he unhooked it and looked it over. Then his vibrant eyes slowly looked up to you. You shivered and felt like running for your life.
"It's alright..." He looked you over carefully and you swallowed. Then he looked at Rosetta and she gave him a serious look. Suddenly a little smile appeared on his face, a fang visible to you which made you nervous.
"It belongs to my grandfather... I'll just have to return it to him. Heh." He laughed lightly and someone called him, "Duke, come on!" Giving you another quick glance he made his way down the stairs. You gulped and continued up.
"That was a close one..." You whispered and held your hand over your heart.
"Tch, I wouldn't let him get to you, don't worry, Scarlett." You felt touched that she is willing to protect you.
B) Suddenly you felt a heat wave come over you and you were terrified. It was that boy. The one who found you in the halls and bit you. You looked up at him and he looked down at you. The silver hair, black choker, sharp eyes and slender figure. You were frozen. You didn't know what to do. Rosetta was quick to recognize him and came in front of you, then said, "Sorry Duke." He looked down at his now shattered watch that was attached by a chain to his hip. You stayed silent. He picked up the small clock then looked at Rosetta for a brief moment, then you again, this time into your eyes. You were so scared. He opened his mouth, his fang appearing causing you to shiver with fear and he spoke up,
"Oh, I remember you. Back about a month ago, right?" You swallowed and students walked past you two. "Yeah yeah, you're the girl who had the cut and Angelina-" He cut himself off with a small laugh. "She was so mad. Anyways, sorry about that. Didn't mean to give you a scare just now." He says and you can only utter a few stutters. "I... uh..." Rosetta was still in front of you, which you were thankful for. He observes you a little before unhooking his watch from his hip and holds it up. "Don't worry about this. It's my grandfathers, I'll just return it to him. Okay? No hard feelings?" He questions. Your brain and thoughts are spinning. You were about to force an answer when someone called him.
"Hey, Duke, get over here!" Another guy called. "Kay, a second!" He shouted back then looked down at you two one more time. "See ya later, ladies." And then he went down the black wooden stairs. Hopefully I won't see you again... You thought to yourself.
"That went better than expected." Rosetta said exhaling. She patted your shoulder.
"You okay?" She asked.
"Yeah... thank you, Rosetta." You say gratefully.
C) It was a tall man in black and grey and silver. His black choker and silver hair something you mildly recognized. Oh wait... the man who brought me bandages when Rosetta bit me! You thought to yourself remembering.
"I'm sorry!" You bowed your head in apology. Rosetta linked her arm with yours, an action that brought you comfort. He was silent for a moment looking the watch over, then when his bright and vibrant eyes came to you to now look you over, you couldn't help but shiver. He was defiantly a vampire.
"It's... alright. It wasn't mine anyways. It belongs to my grandfather. I'll just return it to him." He stated and unhooked the watch from his pants. You broke a sweat because you felt bad. He gave you a light smile. "Hey Duke, get over here!" Some of his friends called. Duke! That was his name! You mentally noted. He went down the stairs and Rosetta watched him.
"You good?" She looked to you and asked. You smiled at her concern.
"I'm alright, thank you."
D) "I'm very sorry!" You speak up but stopped when you peered into the persons eyes, a student, a Vampire ... Rosetta instantly took your hand in hers and stood a little in front of you. You felt protected and it calmed you down slightly. You recognized this boy and you had a feeling that he recognized you too. It was that guy who was in the nurses office with you. Silver hair, black choker, black pants and jacket, but the blazer had silver lining that matched with his hair, and he wore a grey shirt with silver whiteish bandaging across his stomach. You wondered if the bandages were actually for an injury or not.
"Heh..." He suddenly tilted one side of his mouth up, giving him a cool smile, yet it felt eerie as it exposed one of his fangs.
"It's alright, don't worry about it." He said and looked at his watch that was attached to his hip by a chain carefully.
"I...Uh-" You struggled to find words. He must of been acting strange at the nurses office because of your wound! Duh! You suddenly realized as you thought back to the memory.
"It belongs to my grandfather, he owns a few cool things like this... I'll just return it to him." He says calmly, looking at you with those almost yellowish dark brown eyes. He hardly payed a glance to Rosetta. You tried to find words but his friends suddenly called him over.
"Hey Duke! Over here! Come on!" They called. He looked at them for a moment then to you.
"See ya." He waved lightly and made his way down the dark stairs.
"Do you know him?" Rosetta asked.
"Well... I bumped into him back in September in the nurses office." You said.
"Oh... Are you okay?" She asked gripping your hand.
"Yes, thank you Rosetta." You smiled and she couldn't help but return it.

You two realize that you were out of time to go anywhere so you headed back into the classroom. For the last three periods you mildly thought about Epiphany and Alex, and this stranger Duke. However, all your work and Rosetta kept your mind off it for the most part. You'd have to see how things go after the weekend.

(Go to the chapter called 'Introducing Rosetta'.)