A Tribird’s Love

Chapter 8

Ariah

During my first period I was zoning in and out, I’ve always wondered who would make chemistry the first class of the day. All I can think about is the hazards, you have mostly half awake people in here messing with chemicals. But who am I to complain about it, I just focus on my task. Today the teacher is giving us a year end senior group project. I'm surprised for the first time I’m not paired with Tyler. Don’t get me wrong, we do work well together and he is smart but I always got stuck being paired with him in literally all the classes we have together which is five. That made it easy yet hard to actually make friends, either the girls liked me thinking me and him were friends and I could help them score or they hated me thinking we were a thing. I’ll never forget how he faked that he didn't understand a couple assignments and convinced Mrs.Mars to have me work 1:1 with him. I was surprised when he admitted it, I couldn’t even be upset about it.

My lucky partner is no other than Valtino. I’ve known him for practically my whole life, when my mom got kidnapped by the vampires my dad was adamant on hunting down the vampires that were responsible. He hired a vampire hunter who just so happened to be Val’s dad, one of the few humans that know about the supernatural. We kind of grew up together, when we started high school he all of a sudden became interested in me. Don’t get me wrong, he is a handsome young man standing 5’9 tall, slender yet muscular body and dreads. I’m just not interested in him, not to mention he’s a spoiled cocky brat that thinks it’s his way or no way. Shortly after being assigned our partner, everyone starts sitting next to their partner. Soon Val is sitting next to me smiling, I just huff and roll my eyes. “I hear you gave in to a party this year. Are you also going to give in and become mine?” Val says with a smirk on his face. Of course he would know, his family has been to every event we then had. I frown my face and simply respond “Uhh…. No, I will pass as I’ve always done.” He leans in and is a little too close for my liking and whispers “you’re going to be mine if you like it or not. I’ve been telling you this for years. Guess I’ll have to start showing you.”

 Before I can respond to his comment, I feel a presence standing behind me and turn around just to be met with some beautiful gray eyes. It’s no one other than Tyler, he clears his throat and looks at Val with a c****d eyed brow. I’m sure he heard what he said, he is a werewolf and of alpha blood at that. “Good morning Tyler, anything I can help you with?” I ask with a smile on my face, I will be honest this past year I did start to notice him, he’s very attractive and handsome (Nesha caught me gawking at him a couple of times). I think it started when he told me how he faked his smarts just to get me to work 1:1 with him. It was kind of cute yet sweet, when I told Nesha of my possible crush she couldn’t contain her excitement. “Umm, I was actually coming to see if your partner was open to swapping partners. My partner for his partner.” 

Val wasn’t too thrilled to swap, he was very stern that he stayed with me because that’s how we were assigned. I watched as the two guys had their debate on who my partner should and shouldn’t be. Even though I didn’t want to be partnered with Val it had to be a reason why Mrs.Mars assigned us as partners. He does make me uncomfortable sometimes with the things that he says, but I usually just ignore him, not to mention I’m not trying to cause any problems. Val is the type to make a scene no matter what it is especially when he can’t have his way. Did I not mention he’s a spoil obnoxious brat. Before a scene can really occur because Val started to get loud for everyone to hear so I finally step in “As much as I'd like to be partnered with you Tyler, Mr.Mars didn’t make us partners this go around for a reason.” I felt bad declining him as my partner. My rejection put the biggest smile on Val’s face which I had to shut down before he got the wrong idea. “Doesn’t mean I want to work with you Valtino, unfortunately I’m stuck .” I said with as much sarcasm as possible and rolled my eyes. 

The next period came and went so fast, once again I was distracted with everything. My mom was texting me asking about what I had in mind to wear, how did I want my hair, makeup or no makeup. Cake flavor and any specific design, since I really wasn’t interested in the whole party thing honestly I just told her whatever she wanted was good enough for me. Don’t get me wrong I enjoy planning events and celebrating others, just not myself. I’m a people pleaser, I love to see others happy because that makes me happy. 

“Pssst… earth to Ariah.”I look up from my daze and see Nesha looking at me with concern. “Are you ok, you’ve been in and out of it today. It’s not like you.” I nod my head indicating everything was good. I am thinking about having an early leave today to make sure I’m prepared for this party, it starts at seven. “Umm, I’m going to go home after class. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long day and night. I want to have enough time to be prepared.” Nesha eagerly shook her head no then suggested I go home after lunch instead.”Why? My next period is odyssey. I basically have a ninety minute break. Then the remainder of the day is all electives, I don’t need to be here Nesha” (I already have all my credits to graduate, I just picked up extra classes because of her). “I ordered us lunch, I figured I’ll get my favorite yet bestest BestFriend lunch for her special day.” She said this with pleading eyes and a pout so I couldn’t resist not agreeing to her terms.

Whenever I leave my second period I go to my locker to put my books away and grab one of my books I bring from home to read or homework that needs to be done, then I go to my favorite place. In the back stairway the stairs go all the way up to the roof. I usually sit on the roof enjoying the fresh air but lately I've been enjoying camping out at the top of the stairs. Nesha left our second period early saying she had something important to do. I didn’t even bother to ask her as usual. I’m used to her ditching class anyway. As I walk up the stairs I hear Nesha whisper to someone saying something about loving something I don’t know. Hopefully I’m not interrupting anything, Nesha knows I come up here every third period (I did catch her in a couple make out sessions up here though). Before I continue my way up I holler up the stairs giving her a warning, “Third period is about to start Nesha, you’re going to be late. I’ll like my quiet place back now.” She giggles and tells me I can come up, she’s not doing anything. Once I reach the top, my jaw drops and my eyes are wide.