The Blood Catalyst

Chapter 16

Ethan stared at her, still fuming, even though something in his chest kept telling him she was telling the truth.

"I don’t believe you," he said, dragging a hand across the side of his neck like he was trying to calm himself.

"Okay. Then don’t. What the actual f**k do you want me to do about it?" She asked. "I don’t really care if you do or not. If you think I’m lying, fine. If you want to kill me, then go ahead. I mean, isn’t that what you guys do? Humans are food or something, right? So just get it over with."

Ethan blinked like she had slapped him.

He opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but before he could, the door creaked open.

Noah stood there, holding a bag of chips and looking extremely confused.

"Okay, wow. I definitely walked in on something," Noah said. "Sorry. Is this, like, a murder or pre make out scene in progress? Should I come back with popcorn or what?"

Ethan took a step back.

"We'll continue this conversation later," he said, pointing a finger at Zara. He turned around and walked out, bumping Noah's shoulder as he passed.

"There's no later you jerk!" She yelled after him.

Zara sighed and leaned against the desk.

"What was that?" Noah asked, walking in fully and shutting the door behind him.

"Shut up," she said, grabbing his chips.

He raised an eyebrow but let her take it.

"Stop looking at me like that," she scoffed, taking another from him.

"Soooo... Are you going to tell me what that was about? Because from here it looked like the vampire boy and my best friend were about to throw hands or kiss or maybe both."

"He’s a jerk."

"That’s not a denial."

Zara sat on the edge of a desk and picked at the edge of her sleeve.

Noah raised a brow. "You okay?"

She nodded. Then frowned. Then looked at him carefully. "Noah, can I ask you something?"

"Shoot."

"Did you ever tell anyone... you know, about Ethan? About what he is?"

Noah gave a weird laugh. "About him being a vampire? Yeah, sure. I ran around the cafeteria yelling 'vampire alert!' and then handed out garlic bread. Zara, come on. If I told anyone that, they’d think I was out of my mind. I’m not trying to get locked up in a mental hospital, thank you very much."

She looked down at her hands, then asked, "So... you don’t believe it? Like, not even a little?"

He scratched the back of his neck. "Z, come on. I mean... yeah, okay, he's fast. And he's weird. And kind of has that whole 'brooding darkness' vibe going on. But vampires? That's a lot."

"Yeah," she said softly. "A lot."

She watched him carefully. "But you believe me, right? I mean even though you don't think they exist... You believe he’s not human?"

"We've been here before, only seconds ago you asked me the same question but with different words Zara."

She tilted her head at him.

He scratched the back of his neck. "I believe you believe it. Does that count?"

She groaned. "Wow. So supportive. Thanks."

"I mean, it’s either that or you had a weird dream and made it my problem."

"He’s such a jerk," she muttered, chewing loudly.

"You've said that before," Noah commented dryly.

"It's just unfair," she said. "People work hard for these things you know. But he... He can just... Wait... Wait a f*****g minute."

"What now?"

"What if Reina isn’t just... good? What if she’s not human? Or what if she used to be, and now she’s not? Maybe that’s why she suddenly started improving."

Noah made a face. "You think she’s a vampire too? I’m gonna need another bag of chips for this theory."

Zara shook her head. "No, no, never mind. My dad always says that when people don’t win, they start making up stories about the people who do. I’m not doing that. I don’t need to. I just need to train harder."

"Wow. That was almost motivational."

She punched him lightly in the arm and stood up.

"Come on. We’re going to miss the last period if we stay here."

"You actually want to go to class? Are you sick?"

"I might be," she said. "In the head."

*+*+*+*+*+

Zara showed up to practice like she was being forced at gunpoint. She walked across the field slowly, her arms crossed, her hoodie up, and her headphones in even though nothing was playing.

The moment her coach saw her, the woman’s eyes narrowed like she'd just spotted a rat in her kitchen.

"Well, well, nice of you to join us today," Coach Ayers said, blowing into her whistle with that same fake cheer she always used when she was actually annoyed.

Zara pulled her hoodie off and tucked it into her bag. "Yeah, well. I was considering spending the rest of the day in bed instead of coming to a place where I'm clearly not wanted or appreciated."

"What’s with the attitude? You’re damn lucky I didn’t tell your dad you skipped two days of training," her coach said, raising her brows in annoyance.

"Well, I didn’t ask you not to tell him," she said, folding her arms after she dropped her bag in the grass. "You might as well go ahead and do that. I could not care less."

Coach frowned. "What is this sudden attitude about? You’re slacking. Very much so, in fact. You’re not running at your best. You’re not even close to the record you set last year. And now you’re acting out?"

"Is that all?"

"Zara, seriously, what’s going on with you? You’re slacking—badly. You’re not running like you used to. And now you’re mouthing off?"

Zara shrugged. "Maybe I’m just tired of pretending to care when clearly no one else does."

Coach Ayers stepped forward. "No one else? I’m literally here, coaching you. Trying to get you back in shape. You think I enjoy riding your ass all day? You’re acting out, and you’re acting like you don’t care about the team. Reina is—"

"Oh, here we go again," Zara said, interrupting her coach. She rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt. "Reina this, Reina that. Why should I even be here? You've got your new superstar. Let her carry the team."

Coach Ayers sighed and rubbed her temples. "Zara, this isn’t about Reina. This is about you. You’re letting all this mess get in your head. Just stop."

"Whatever," she muttered, tying her hair into a bun. "Let’s just get this over with. Instead of standing here and arguing with me, maybe let’s get to training? We’re running out of time."

"Zara—"

"Coach, we don’t have time for this argument if we’re trying to train, do we?"

Practice started after that. People stretched, Coach Ayers yelled the usual warm-up commands, and everyone fell into a loose routine.

After a ten-minute break, Coach Ayers clapped her hands. "Alright, three miles. Let’s go in fifteen."

Zara bent down, tightening her shoelaces.

"Seriously, Zara?" Reina’s voice popped up next to her like a mosquito.

Zara looked up. "What?"

"What the hell is your problem?" Reina snapped.

"Excuse me?"

Reina stood with her hands on her hips. "You can’t even be happy for me, can you? Your teammates are getting better, and all you care about is that you’re not number one anymore."

Zara scoffed. "What makes you think I care? Honestly, I’m so happy for you. Beyond happy. Like, I cry tears of joy every time someone compares the two of us and says I suck now."

"You definitely care," Reina said pointedly. "And you're clearly not happy about it."

"No, I literally do not give a s**t. What makes you think I care?"

"Zara."

"Like I said Reina, I’m very happy for you. I am so freaking happy for you that it doesn’t suck at all when every single time I walk into practice, everyone is comparing us."

"Zara—"

"Yeah, I get it. State championships. You were fifth, I was first. Now you’re doing better, and somehow that means I’m lazy and not trying. No one even cares if something might be wrong with me or if I’m struggling. They just care that you’re faster now."

Reina folded her arms. "Wow. You really think everything is about you. You act like the world revolves around you. Did it ever cross your mind that when you were the top runner, when everyone looked up to you, I was still pushing myself through the same drills? You don’t get to be mad that I’m improving."

"I’m not mad you’re improving," Zara snapped. "I’m mad that everyone thinks my downfall is part of your glow-up arc. Like I have to lose for you to win. And don’t come at me with this fake-ass concern. I know you’re talking crap behind my back. The group chat stunts? Yeah, I know about that."

Reina scoffed. "Seriously? You’re that paranoid? Zara, get over yourself. Yes, I know I placed fifth last year. Fifth. You were number one. Maybe people are just excited to see someone else rising. That doesn’t mean they’re against you."

"Yeah, tell that to everyone acting like I’ve committed a crime for not running like I used to and just assume I’m being lazy."

"You're not even listening to a f*****g thing in saying. Oh my f*****g gosh Zara. You are so self-centered. You always act like the world revolves around you. You think I didn’t get crap last year for not being good enough? You think the coach didn’t yell at me every other day while you were being praised?"

"Good for you," Zara snapped. "Now you’re getting your praise and you still find a way to act like you care. Like you’re concerned about me."

"I do care! That’s why this sucks. There’s no fun in winning if you’re just falling apart. There’s no competition, no energy."

Zara laughed dryly. "Oh, save the motivational speech. You want the title? Take it. I’m not dying on that stupid hill."

"Then stop acting like I’m out to get you. I’m not the enemy, Zara."

Zara stepped back and grabbed her water bottle. "Just stop talking to me, Reina. I’m not in the mood to fake-smile my way through this. Don't talk about competition like there aren't enough of them from other schools and in the whole damn state."

Reina opened her mouth like she was going to keep going but then shook her head and walked off.

Zara took a deep breath, then muttered under it, "So much for team spirit.”