Succubus Happens

Chapter Two

When lunch is over, which incidentally is right after free period, I head to English. It is my last class of the day and I am looking forward to having something positive to look forward to. Granted, if the assigned reading is something intense like Of Mice and Men, it won’t exactly be positive, but at least it will get my mind off of what Natalie had told me during free period. Is it possible that everyone in this school is messed up? She basically threatened me and then walked away with a smile like it hadn’t even happened.

I walk through the doors of the English classroom taught by, Mrs. Hathaway. She is a younger woman, probably mid-thirties with soft eyes and a friendly smile. Part of me wonders how real that smile is after the day I’d had. I look around the room, seeing if there are any familiar faces as Mrs. Hathaway looks through her papers to find her seating chart. I spot Natalie near the back and I pray to whatever higher power there is that I won’t have to sit next to her. I don’t want her crazy to rub off on me. I bite my lower lip and I look back at Mrs. Hathaway and she smiles at me.

“I have you sitting between Mr. Riley and Mr. Sinclair,” she said. “Raise your hands, boys,” she says. I turn to look and I spot Carter’s brother, Jake I take my slip of paper from Mrs. Hathaway and head toward the two boys. I sit down and decide not to speak to either of them, in the case that Alex already told them his news.

The second I sit down though, the boy in front of me, Knox, turns around and grins at me. “So you’re the girl.”

I look up at him. “What girl?”

“The girl that turned down Alex,” Jake answers.

“From what I’ve heard, that’s big news,” I say sarcastically, turning back away from him and looking up to see what Mrs. Hathaway is writing on the board.

“It is,” Knox says. “But I guess it was bound to happen sometime; we just never expected it to happen this soon.”

I shrug. “Glad to be of assistance,” I answer rolling my eyes.

“The piece of literature we’re going to be reading this semester,” Mrs. Hathaway says holding up a book to her chest with a smile on her lips. “Is Romeo and Juliet.”

There are groans, and I hear someone ask “again?”, but I sit up straighter in my seat. I love William Shakespeare. He is my all-time favorite playwright, and I collect copies of the play. If I go into a shop and I see a copy of it that I don’t already own, I’ll buy it. It’s nice for me to have one thing that’s really mine, especially after all of the moving around.

“Oh come now,” she tells the class, sounding slightly annoyed. “William Shakespeare is one of the most celebrated playwrights in the world.”

“But isn’t that a chick book?” Jake asks from behind me. I roll my eyes.

“First off, Jake, it’s a play. And while yes, it does have romance, it is a tragedy,” Mrs. Hathaway corrects. “But it’s more than that. It’s a classic, and you’ll find out why when you’re reading it.”

“Can we do something like an essay so we don’t have to read that?” a guy in Natalie’s row asks.

“It’s not an either or thing, you guys,” Mrs. Hathaway says. “You’re reading the play and you’re writing an essay. Together, it’s worth fifty percent of your grade. And then we’ll watch the new movie directed by Baz Luhrmann at the movie theater at the end of the semester.”

The new version. Here we are, years later and the version from the nineties is still considered the “new version.” It’s going to be weird living here. I’m probably going to start to lose track of the outside world and consider movies from the previous century as “new.”

“It’s a great play, you guys, I promise,” I tell the class. I’m not one to speak up normally, at least not on the first day, but it is my favorite. I feel the need to defend it. Everyone turns to look at me and I bite my lip, blushing slightly. It only takes them a few moments to look away from me and back to the front of the classroom. Way to remain inconspicuous at this school.

Mrs. Hathaway looks pleased and sits down at her desk with the box of books in front of her. “Okay, come on up by row so I can check these out to you.”

☽

After the period ends, I head back to my locker to put the rest of my stuff away. The only thing I will be taking home with me is our assigned reading. Even with how many times I have read this play, it’s always be nice to get a refresher.

I stop by my car toss the book into the passenger seat, heading toward the gym. It has become a habit to check in on my dad now and again after school. I open the door to the gym and see the team already on the court doing their drills. I see my dad sitting on the bleachers looking through his playbook and I make my way over, sitting down next to him.

“Hey, dad.”

Dad grins and looks over at me. “Hey kiddo,” he says, giving me a quick hug. “How was your first day?”

I make a face.

“Uh-oh, that doesn’t look promising,” he says. “Were they not nice to you or something?”

I shake my head. “It’s not even that,” I said. “It’s this town. It’s…it’s so…small.”

He laughs. “That’s kind of the point, honey,” he says. “Your mom wanted a change and we gave it to her.”

I sigh.

“Did you meet any of the guys?” he asks, gesturing to the court.

I look up and I spot them. They are spread out among the court and look happy as they run their drills. And I don’t blame them. Basketball is their thing; they’re good at it.

“I met some of them,” I say, slowly kicking my feet back and forth.

He looks at me, narrowing his eyes. “What happened?”

I shake my head again. “It’s nothing,” I tell him. “Everything is good. We’re reading Romeo and Juliet in English this semester.”

Dad groans. I’m glad he took the bait for the subject change. My almost threat isn’t something I want to discuss, or something I want my parents to know about. “Oh great,” he says sarcastically. “I bet you’ll teach the entire class what that story is really about.”

I laugh. “Actually I think this year I’m going to be quiet,” I admit. “Keep things on the down-low. Not really get into anyone’s business.”

“You sure you can do that?”

“I don’t know; but I can try,” I say. “At least that’s how I feel right now. If anything, I’ll probably just wait a few weeks before stepping on anyone’s toes.” Anyone else’s that is.

Dad grins. “Give ‘em hell.”

“Oh, I have every intention.”

The twins run over to us and I look up at them. “Did you meet the Sinclair twins?” Dad asks. “They’re going to be my secret weapon.”

They grin. “Yeah, I’ve met them,” I answer “They’re both in my math class and I’m in English with Jake.”

“Is she always this much fun?” Jake asks, probably referring to my remark in English.

I roll my eyes. “I wasn’t even that bad today.” I look at my dad. “Honest.”

Dad looks up at the twins for a second opinion, who shrug. “Ah,” he says waving a hand. “You guys wouldn’t know. It’s her first day.”

I roll my eyes at him and get up from the bleachers. “Ha ha, you’re so funny Dad,” I say with a smirk. “I think I’m just going to head home.”

“So soon?”

I look at Carter, surprised that he spoke. He is really the only person out of his group that I figure I could possibly be friends with. Granted, we talked for less than five minutes so I don’t quite know what he’s all about, but he seemed nice enough. Time can only tell how the rest of the week will go.

“I wouldn’t be much help during practice,” I say, shifting uncomfortable under his intense gaze.

“All right, well then tell your mom I’ll be home in a few hours,” Dad says, ruffling my hair before getting up and walking onto the court. He hadn’t noticed a thing. Oblivious as always.

“Nah, but you could stick around and provide moral support,” Jake says.

I narrow my eyes at him, confused. “Why do you need moral support if it’s just a practice?”

He shrugs. “It was just a suggestion.” He grins at me before he runs back onto the court.

I glance over at his brother. “That wasn’t weird?”

Carter smiles at me. “We’re not used to having a new person in our school. It’s making us antsy.”

“All of you?”

“Yeah, is that so hard to believe?”

“Actually, no,” I tell him. “Everyone seems to be a little upset that I turned down Alex. I was even potentially threatened today?” I shrug. “I have no idea actually what happened. But it was…it was different.”

Carter looks amused. “Who was it?”

“Who was what?”

“Who threatened you?”

“Oh,” I say. “Natalie Monroe.”

He grins and laughs loudly and the noise echoes around the gym. I look around the gym to see if anyone noticed. They hadn’t.

“What’s funny?” I ask.

“Alex used to date her.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah,” Carter says.

“When?”

“Oh, it seems like years,” he shrugs. “It was a back to school party and they hooked up and dated for maybe a month after that? And then he got bored and moved on.”

“And she never got over it?”

“Obviously not, if she’s threatening you.”

“But that doesn’t make any sense,” I tell him. “Why would she threaten me if she’s not over him?”

“She doesn’t like people hurting his feelings.”

I raise my eyebrows at him. “Okay, now you have to be kidding.”

“No,” Carter says. “They’re weird, those two.”

I sigh and run my fingers through my hair. “I don’t know if I want anything to do with that.”

“Yeah, I’d stay as far away as possible.”

I look at him curiously. “You’re really giving ‘stay-away’ advice to the girl your friend is pursuing?”

“Is that not normal behavior?”

“Definitely not,” I say. “I mean, you were the one that said you had each other’s backs.”

“We do,” Carter says. “I’m just…looking out for a new friend.”

“So we’re friends now?”

“Couldn’t we be?” He watches me for a second before my dad calls his name. “See you tomorrow.” Carter says before grinning and running back onto the court.

I’m not quite sure what had just happened. Was Carter just flirting with me? Flirting with the girl that one of his best friends has shown an interest in? Granted, Alex has probably only shown an interest in me because I’m new and he hasn’t had a shot with me, but still. I don’t know much about the bro code and whatever rules they have to abide by, but I’m sure it’s something like bros before hoes. That’s what I had heard anyway.

I can’t keep the smile off of my lips as I watch Carter join the rest of the team, and that is a mistake on my part. Alex catches my gaze and follows it to Carter. I so don’t want to stick around for whatever is coming after that.

☽

I am able to get through dinner that night without any big deal being made about my first day at the new school. We have had this conversation way more times that we should. After my mom and I clean up, we head into the family room together to watch an old movie. It’s our tradition after every first day of school that I have had. And I’ve had enough to last a lifetime.

I can barely concentrate during the movie, which is no big thing, since I’ve seen it about a dozen times. I don’t quite know how I’m going to keep out of everyone’s way at school, especially given the way I was treated today. I decide that I’m at least going to try to keep to myself. I don’t want to bother dad when it seems like he’s extremely happy with this new team. It’s more about him than it is me; that’s how I was raised.

After the movie, I head upstairs to take a shower before climbing into bed. I don’t know how my second day at school is going to be and Natalie’s thinly veiled threat makes me nervous. How could I have made an enemy just by turning someone down?

☽

The next morning I make it to the school early so that I can find my classes on the second half of my schedule. I concentrate as I make my way up to the second floor. I turn the corner and instantly collide with someone, knocking my things to the ground. Again. I need to stop carrying my things around like this.

“Sorry!” the voice says.

I recognize that voice. I look up and can’t stop the flutter of nerves in my chest when I see Carter down on the ground in front of me. He grabs my copy of Romeo and Juliet and hands it to me.

“Morning,” he says with a grin.

“Hey,” I say, taking the book from him and stuffing it into my bag. “What are you doing here so early?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” Carter says.

I hold up my schedule. “Trying to find my classes for today.”

“Ah.”

“You?”

“I was planning to get a little bit of studying done actually.”

“Really?”

He smiles at me. “Why do you sound so surprised?”

“I’ve been around a lot of basketball players the past few years. None of them would have admitted to being at school for the studying.”

“Well, I’m not like most basketball players.”

“Yeah, I’m beginning to notice that.”

Flirting. This is flirting. Or at least, I think this is flirting. Maybe he’s just being friendly. I don’t know how to tell. Maybe it’s just small-town politeness. Is that a thing?

“Can I walk with you?” he asks. “I can help you find the rest of your classes.”

“Sure.” I look down at my schedule. “My first class is Spanish with Jeffers.”

“I have Spanish too,” Carter says, sounding please.

“Yeah?” I ask.

“Yeah,” he says. “Yo no soy Jake.”

“You’re not Jake?” I translate.

“You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve had to say that to Mr. Jeffers. And Jake doesn’t even take Spanish.”

I can’t help but laugh. Carter looks at me and the look on his face causes my breath to catch in my throat. “You should laugh more often.”

“Why?” I ask, feeling nervous all of a sudden.

“Because life is good,” Carter says. “Don’t you think life is good?”

I shrug. “I guess…”

“What’s next?”

I look back at my schedule and he helps me find the rest of my classes before the bell rings for first period. It’s funny. In all the schools that I’ve been in, I’ve never found someone who was so easy to talk to. I don’t want to read into anything, especially since it’s only my second day here, but I really feel like I could be friends with him. That is, if there are no further complications with the crazy people at this school.

We head to Spanish and I can’t ignore the stares of everyone watching us as we walk together. I bite my cheek until we sit down and I turn to look at him.

“People are staring.”

Carter glances up, surprised. “Are they?”

“Yeah,” I say. “Is that normal?’

“I guess so,” he shrugs. “I think I’ve stopped noticing it, actually.”

“If only we could all be so lucky,” I mutter under my breath. Don’t be snarky, I remind myself. “Are they staring because I turned down Alex or because you’re spending so much time with me?”

“Is it too much time?” he asks.

“No,” I say quickly. “Just…given my threat from yesterday I don’t think that it’s wise.”

He grins at me. “I wouldn’t worry about Natalie, Daph. She’s not worth it.”

I open my mouth to ask him what he means by that, but the door closes and the teacher is starting the class. I wish that I could talk to him…to get more information about him and this school. I don’t know what it is about him, but I just want to spend more time with him. He’s the only person in this school that I actually like…so far. But that in turn might end up messing with me more than it should.

After class is over, he follows me out and we stop at his locker, which coincidentally is on the second floor. “Are you coming to the game Friday?” he asks.

“Yup,” I say. “I never miss a game.”

“Good.”

“Why?”

“Because we go out to The Den after every game to celebrate.”

“The Den?” I repeat.

“It’s the diner in town. It’s our favorite hangout,” Carter explains.

“So what happens if you don’t win?”

He laughs, but covers it up with a cough as he shrugs. “Then we go to nurse the wound.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Are you inviting me to go out with the team?”

“It’s not just the team,” he says. “The cheerleaders and a lot of the students go too.”

“Oh,” I say. Why do I feel upset that it’s not a date? I shouldn’t even want to go on a date with him. I shouldn’t even be thinking about dating this point, not when I’ve just shown up.

“Will you come?”

“Sure,” I say, smiling at him.