Why Can't I Hate You?

CHAPTER 13

MICHELLE

Today, out of all days, Arthur was late for the lecture. I couldn't take my eyes off of the door. I've been waiting eagerly to speak with him because I couldn't talk to him at home with Judy around me. Arthur said he would ask around in his group, showing my mother's picture. I just wish nobody recognizes her or my father from the magical world. There are many testaments to prove that I might be a witch. However, I hoped that if nobody knew my parents, the chance of me being one of them will nullify. That wouldn't change a thing. She gave her valuable comment. "Just shut up!" I mumbled under my breath.

Elijah entered the classroom, looking straight into my eyes. I locked my gaze with his bright blue eyes until he sat at his desk. I don't know if he really is a vampire. But I am sure that he would never, ever, hurt me or anybody else. I've seen him with people. He is so good with them. Even Ashley has told me about Elijah's kindheartedness. Not that I don't believe Arthur, I just don't believe this statement he made. Honestly, I was quite mad at him when he said something like that about Elijah. Elijah didn't avert his eyes from mine, either. The more I looked at him, I realized something was different about him, though I couldn't put a finger on it. His eyes were of same electric blue color, but something has changed about them. Almost like they were fake. "What's changed?" I whispered and watched his expressions alter.

"Michelle?" Arthur's voice broke my trance, and I looked away from Elijah.

"Where have you been? I've been dying to talk to you." He chuckled and sat on his seat. "So, what happened? Did you - "?

"Shh," he shushed me, "not right now." He whispered, stealing a glance at Elijah. I turned to look at Elijah. He was scribbling in his notebook, not paying any attention to Arthur or me. When I looked back at Arthur, he wrote something on a piece of paper and pushed it towards me.

Meet me in the library after this lecture. We can discuss everything over there.

I nodded frantically at him and looked towards my book. Why not now? Why did Arthur look at Elijah as if he would hear us from over there? Elijah was minding his own damn business. I pushed all the thoughts to the back of my head and focused my mind on the lecture.

After the class, I rushed towards the library, repeating all the questions which I wanted to ask Arthur in my mind. The library was nearly empty, a couple of students scattered here and there. Sitting at the back, I waited for Arthur to show up. I'd never skip a lecture if this was not more important. How the hell did I end up in the middle of this? I am so unprepared for this whole witch thing. I don't feel that I'm qualified to handle all the responsibilities because I have no clue even about the basic things.

Looking around the library, I recalled my argument with Elijah the other day. I had expected to set things right and get past the awkward start of friendship which we had. But he seemed to have some other plans. He was so rude to me. And now everything just seems so insignificant, given the truth about him and me. There is no way anymore for us to get back together as friends... or more. Perhaps that is why he stayed away from me. Because he suspected something was not normal about me. Nothing normal has ever happened in my life.

Arthur, who scurried and plopped in the chair beside me, interrupted my train of thoughts. He scanned the library in all directions, making sure no one hears us. "Okay, first things first," he said, still looking around. "Vampires are extremely powerful creatures. They have magnified senses. Each of them can hear a sound even lower than a whisper, if they are around. They can see things better and far ahead, smell things better, and can sense someone else's presence. They run faster than the wind. And, can lift an elephant with one hand." I don't move or breathe. Just put on a blank expression on my face while processing the recent information. Arthur glanced at me and continued. "Always be on high alert when you are around any vampire. Because, if they want to, they can hear every word when they are in your vicinity. So, no more talking about any wizardry stuff in class or at lunch. Elijah will hear us." I nodded, still not convinced that any of this was even true. Arthur's words are like a part of a fantasy movie. Oh, what more do you want? A demo? I rolled my eyes at her sarcasm. If I really think about it, I already did sort of have had my demo. The way Elijah heard my conversation with Alex on call. There is no way a normal guy could tell the gender of the person on the call with such conviction. I brushed Elijah's thoughts away from my head and tried to focus on myself.

"Okay, so what happened? Did you ask around about my mother?" I asked Arthur.

He nodded. "Yeah, I told the entire story of yours to my teacher. He ordered you need to be trained. Like I said, without a proper training, you are unpredictable and can be dangerous to people near you... and, even dangerous to yourself." My eyes nearly popped out of my head. I could hurt people? Does that mean I am an evil witch? I would never want to hurt people, no matter what. "So, do you want to start the training?" Arthur asked.

I shrugged. "It's not like I have any other choice." He nodded and sighed. "Does anyone recognize my mother?"

Arthur answered after a momentary pause. "I asked my teacher. He knows every witch and wizard in our community, including their families. I showed your mom's picture to him..." he wandered thinking of something. I waited for him to continue, crossing my fingers under the table. "Apparently, he doesn't recognize your mother. Therefore, it is very unlikely that even your father was a wizard."

"How can you say that? You didn't know I existed until yesterday."

Arthur thought about it for a second and nodded. "I guess you are right. But, if that's true, then this whole thing is so irresponsible. We are all supposed to stick together. We believe in this phrase 'Together, we're stronger'"

I nodded. "Okay, How will I get trained? Do I have to join the school or something?"

"No, no. There is no school anymore. My teacher, though, runs a low-key school for all the young wizards and witches." I hope the fees for this whole training thing fit my budget. Else, I'll have to take a part-time job or something.

"How much will it cost?"

He narrowed his eyes. "How much will what cost?"

"The training?"

"Oh," he waved his hand, "there is no cost for this. Everyone has to learn it. It's for the strengthening of our society, you know." Oh, that's the best news I've heard from a long time. "But, my teacher won't be teaching you." What? Then, how will I get trained? I don't want to hurt anybody. I gave him a quizzical look.

"Who will train me then?"

"I will train you." I stared at him, thinking about this whole thing. "Unless, you're not comfortable with this arrangement."

"Oh, no. It's not that. It's good that you'll be training me. You know, as I am your friend, you won't be so hard on me." I said, to lighten everything.

He laughed. "Don't expect me to be very lenient. I can be a strict teacher. You won't be my friend anymore when you are my student."

"Is that so?" he chuckled. "Okay, from when do we start this, then?"

"Uh, it's Friday today. I'll send you my address. Come over today after college. We'll start right away. On weekends we'll have more time to practice." He stated in a very bossy way.

"Um, you mean I'll have the training for all seven days?"

He glanced at me. "Actually, you know what, just take a day off on Sundays. Have fun."

I dramatically joined my hands and said, "Oh, sir, how kind of you. You are so generous and kind to think about the happiness of a student."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Don't embarrass me and don't call me sir." I laughed, and he joined. "Just be careful with Elijah, okay?"

I nodded. "Can I ask you something?" I dared to ask the one thing that's been bugging me from the time I learned Elijah was a vampire.

"Sure."

"If Elijah is a vampire, uh... why am I not afraid of him?" Arthur smiled a million-dollar smile like he won a lottery.

"That is because you are a witch. You are not supposed to be afraid of anything. Instead, you must hate Elijah. Am I right?" Arthur said. I opened my mouth and closed it again. Hating Elijah seems to be an impossibility in my mind. I can be angry with him, truly angry, but I don't think I can hate him. It's such an odd feeling. And seems so foreign that I neither hate Elijah nor I am afraid of him, after knowing about his true self. I am so indifferent. I feel the same as I felt before I came to know about anything.

"You hate him, right?" Arthur repeated.

"Um... I don't know, actually."

"If you don't hate him yet, you will someday." He stated.

"You say it so decidedly." I contradicted.

"Yes, indeed. It is decided. You will eventually hate what opposes the nature. It's your duty. Now, enough of all this. Let's go. I don't want us to skip our next class as well." He stood up from his seat. I slowly followed him outside the library. Arthur asked me to sit with him for lunch and strolled away for his next lecture, leaving me very much confused by what he said about my duty.

My third lecture went by normally. Ashley by my side chattering about how her yesterday evening went by. Only difference was I could not stop myself from thinking of Elijah. That I will hate Elijah made me want to leave this whole witch thing behind. Till now I kept thinking about how this whole thing can change my life. Now, every cell in my body was desperate to get out of this situation. I know I cannot. I was born with this and it's who I am. A part of me knows I should actually despise Elijah for what he is. But we cannot. She kept repeating the same sentence whenever I thought about hating him. I am in a deeper s**t than I imagined. I groaned.

With everything on my mind, I did not notice when the lunch hour came by. Once I got my food, I informed Ashley that I'll be eating with Arthur and walked to where he was sitting. Elijah sat with his vampire group, stealing my glances now and then.

"I've sent you my address." Arthur said, chewing his burger. Looks like he is a huge fan of burgers.

I nodded. "I want to know their names."

"Shh..." Arthur shushed.

"But, I said nothing." I whispered. Whispering, even though no one can hear you, feels extremely ridiculous. I really wish I actually could believe what Arthur said about vampires. It's just so unreal.

He shook his head while taking his phone out and sent me a text.

Be careful around them. Let's start with the girls: The tall one is Gloria Reed, the one with medium blonde hair is Louisa Diggory, the short one is Agatha Bennett. Coming to boys: The burly one is Elmer Diggory, the one with the black hair is Carlos Martinez and you already know Elijah Reed.

Of course, Elijah Reed, the handsome one, my subconscious said, and I cleared my throat.

I texted back. Are they all related? Few of them share the same surnames.

No, none of them are actually related. The names are for the outside world. It's a mask. For others, Elijah and Gloria, and Louisa and Elmer, are siblings. They run a story that they are all family friends and their parents have sent all of them to study here in Seattle and stay as a paying guest at their relative's house.

It's difficult to believe that Elijah and Gloria are not siblings. They have very similar features. Perhaps that is why they claim to be siblings, because of their similarities.

Who do they live with then?

Some guy called Chester Bennett. And he is a vampire, too.

I looked up from my phone to see the beautiful vampires, but I saw Ashley approaching me with a smile plastered on her face.

"Hey!" she chimed, looking at Arthur.

"Arthur, Ashley. Ashley, Arthur." I said, waving my hands in between them.

"Hey Ashley." Arthur greeted sweetly.

Ashley pulled a chair beside me. "Sorry to intrude. I just wanted to know whoever stole my friend." I looked between her and Arthur before scoffing in amazement. She is totally crazy. Arthur's face beheld a mixed expression of surprise and amusement.

He laughed loudly. "I apologize to steal your friend. I meant no such thing. However, you are more than welcome to join us. I would love to get to know you." There was something in the way they both stared at each other's eyes, which forced me not to look at them. Ash's cheeks turned pink while Arthur just kept staring at her with a hearty smile playing on his lips. My goodness! She exclaimed. There's laughing in my head. This is too cute. They wouldn't even notice if I walked away.

I snapped my fingers in front of them, breaking their cute staring contest. Arthur was embarrassed, and he immediately excused himself, saying he was to receive some important call. While my dearest friend, Ashley Glen, had turned all red.

I chuckled, "So, you came here to know who stole your friend, or, do you intend to steal one of mine?"

She rolled her eyes, acting nonchalant. "Shut up, I came to take my friend away from him."

"Oh! Is that so? Well, it seemed otherwise." I teased, making her blush even more. She finally gave up and covered her face in embarrassment. I laughed and asked, "You like him?"

She smiled widely. "He is even more handsome up close."

"Uh-huh, I never noticed." I smirked.

"Of course. How would you? For that you'll have to avert your eyes off of Elijah." My eyes went wide and my mouth fell open. I looked over at Elijah to find him smirking at me with a triumphant expression. He heard her. Oh, my Gosh! Oh my Gosh! We exclaimed in unison. It was my turn to blush now.