Bloody Skies//g.d

Chapter 9

It didn't take long for the rest of my classmates to show up to my party. Billy unanchored the boat from the dock and sped off towards the middle of Pines lake. The darkness of the night quickly crept its way out onto the lake, but could not penetrate the deck of the boat since Margot had decorated it with several sets of blue and yellow string lights. Somebody Else by the 1975 played quietly in the background, barley audible over the laughs of my classmates.

I was talking with Bruce, Elliot, Scarlett, and Margot. Grayson sat behind me with his arms draped securely around my waist. He didn't once say anything and instead just sat quietly placing gentle kisses on the back of my neck whenever he got the chance.

"Have you been thinking about college yet?" Elliot asked the group as he took a sip of his coke. The question wasn't directed at anyone in particular but instead was a general inquiry meant to be answered by everyone. Despite this, I couldn't help but to feel a painful pang in my chest. Truth was, I didn't know if I was going to college or not. If I were to be changed, could I even go to college? I knew I could take a gap year if I wanted, but even then, would I be able to resist my animalistic vampire urges? I wanted to become an Old Age like Grayson, but according to him, being a New Age was a much more viable option.

Grayson must've sensed my discomfort at Elliot's words. He gently whispered an "I love you" in my ear. Gray's gentle voice was enough to diffuse even the most tense of situations.

"I didn't want to tell you guys at Emily's party since this day is all about her, but..." Scarlett trailed off looking over to me with a look that seemed to ask for my permission. I nodded with a smile. "Okay!" She chirped happily. "I got into Cal Tech!"

Margot and I immediately embraced our friend into our arms. I couldn't help but to smile, and nearly cry happy tears along with Scarlett. Cal Tech was her dream school, and she'd worked exceptionally hard throughout high school to achieve this dream.

"Well that's a tough act to follow," Bruce said jokingly. "Say hello to a future University of Southern Maine alum baby." He opened his arms wide and shimmied his shoulders around. None of us, even Grayson, could contain our laughs.

"Why am I your friend? You're so weird." Margot asked playfully punching Bruce in the arm.

Bruce shrugged off Margot's question and instead asked her one of his own. "So Mags, you haven't told us where you're headed after graduation?"

She shrugged. "Oh you know, just a little place called Manhattan. I got an internship with this up and coming fashion website."

"You're kidding," Elliot said with a broad smile on his face.

"Not in the slightest."

"That's fantastic Margot!" I exclaimed, reaching over and pulling her into a hug.

"Grayson, Emily. What about you two?" Asked Elliot. I looked over towards Grayson. He didn't look back into my eyes and instead looked down at his hands.

"I'm on the Cornell waiting list, but I don't know if I'll get in though." I replied. Everyone shifted their attention over to Grayson.

"And you?" Bruce asked Gray.

"Peninsula community college in Washington. I have family there, in Forks."Grayson's response was quick, like he'd thought up his lie long before having to tell it. "Or maybe I'll take a gap year. Hang around Pines for awhile."

I looked to Grayson shocked. He'd never mentioned wanting to take a gap year. I thought about it for a moment, and realized I would likely have to take a gap year, or years maybe, if I were to become an Old Age like Grayson. Of course, he wanted me as a New which wouldn't take as long to get used to the blood lust. Besides, New Ages could eat and digest human food whereas Old Ages could not. Still, I wanted to share as much of my being with Grayson. I needed to be an Old.

It was getting incredibly late and I could tell a lot of people were getting tired. Billy was exhausted so much so that every time I looked at him, he was stifling a yawn. Grayson pretended to be sleepy in order to not draw attention to himself.

Billy docked the boat, everyone gave me a kind "goodbye" and a "thanks for inviting me" before sleepily heading back to their cars and driving home. Scarlett, Margot, Bruce and Elliot all helped Billy and I to clean off the boat. Grayson headed home claiming he'd see me in the morning. I knew better though when my eyes caught sight of a raven perched on a nearby pine tree.

Soon my close friends left as well and it was only me and Billy. "Some party huh?" He asked walking towards the truck. I lagged behind a bit feeling so lethargic that I couldn't help but to picture myself collapsing down onto the dew slicked ground and falling into sleep's arms.

I must've fallen asleep during the ride home because next thing I knew, I'm headed up the stairs to my room. I slid the window open before burying myself under the warm comforter.

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