Chapter Seven: Big Dog
702 Words
For the first time since arriving in Blackwood...
Elara wasn't alone.
The realization came as a surprise.
She was quietly eating lunch by herself when a tray suddenly appeared across from her.
Elara looked up.
A beautiful blonde girl stood there smiling.
Bright eyes.
Friendly face.
The exact kind of person Elara usually avoided.
"Hi!"
Elara blinked.
"Hi?"
The girl grinned.
"My name's Sydney."
Elara stared.
Sydney kept smiling.
The silence stretched.
Then stretched some more.
Finally—
"Can we be friends?"
Elara nearly dropped her fork.
What?
Normally, if someone approached her this enthusiastically, she'd find an excuse to leave
Or at least pretend to be busy.
Instead she found herself saying—
"Uh..."
Sydney waited.
"I guess?"
Sydney's smile somehow got bigger.
"Great!"
Before Elara could change her mind, Sydney pointed at the empty seat.
"Can I sit here?"
"I mean..."
Sydney was already sitting down.
"Too late."
Elara couldn't help laughing.
A little.
Just a little.
Sydney immediately noticed.
"Oh my God."
"What?"
"You can smile."
Elara rolled her eyes.
"Apparently."
The conversation flowed surprisingly easily after that.
Mostly because Sydney talked enough for three people.
"And then he literally tripped over his own backpack."
"What?"
"I'm serious."
Sydney laughed.
"The entire cafeteria saw it."
Elara shook her head.
Blackwood Academy was strange.
Very strange.
Then Sydney leaned forward.
"Oh, and by the way..."
Elara immediately knew trouble was coming.
"What?"
"I loved what you did this morning."
Elara groaned.
Sydney pointed dramatinodSev
"That guy."
"Jace?"
"The one and only."
Sydney shivered dramatically.
"He's so arrogant."
Elara nodSeve
"Agreed."
"Nobody ever stands up to him."
"Someone should."
"You did."
Sydney raised an imaginary trophy.
"I've decided you're my hero."
Elara laughed despite herself.
"Thank you."
"No, seriously."
Sydney grinned.
"It was beautiful."
For the first time all day...
Elara felt normal.
Not like a hunter.
Not like a vampire.
Just a girl talking to a friend.
And strangely enough...
She liked it.
---
After lunch, Sydney headed off to meet some classmates.
Elara decided to take a walk.
The school grounds were quiet during recess.
Most students were inside.
Others were gathered around the football field.
Eventually, her feet carried her toward the basketball court.
It was empty.
Or so she thought.
Elara stopped.
Someone was there.
She could feel it.
A familiar scent drifted through the air.
Dog.
Her eyes narrowed.
Without turning around, she spoke.
"Very nice to see you too."
Silence.
Then—
"You embarrassed me."
Elara smiled.
Slowly.
She turned.
Jace Ryder stood at the opposite end of the court.
Arms crossed.
Silver eyes glaring.
Looking like he'd spent the entire day plotting revenge.
"How tragic."
His jaw tightened.
"You embarrassed me in front of everyone."
"How fun."
"It wasn't fun."
"It was for me."
Jace groaned.
Elara almost laughed.
Almost.
"You're impossible."
"That's rich coming from you."
Jace raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Elara folded her arms.
"Arrogant."
Strike one.
"Bratty."
Strike two.
"Spoiled wolf."
Direct hit.
Jace looked personally offended.
Then he smirked.
"Oh, please."
He stepped forward.
"That's coming from someone whose family descended from generations of bats."
Elara blinked.
Then laughed.
Actually laughed.
Which somehow irritated him more.
"At least I'm from generations of bats."
She shrugged.
"Better than coming from generations of dogs."
The smirk vanished.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Elara stared at him.
Completely serious.
"You're a dog."
Jace's eye twitched.
"A wolf."
"Dog."
"Wolf."
"Dog."
"Wolf."
"Big dog."
Jace looked seconds away from exploding.
Elara continued.
"You should probably go find another dog."
His eye twitched again.
"So you can sniff each other's butts."
The silence that followed was glorious.
Absolutely glorious.
Jace looked horrified.
Offended.
Disgusted.
And somehow speechless.
For once.
Elara walked past him.
As she passed, she casually shoved his shoulder.
Not hard.
Just enough.
Then continued walking.
"See you around, puppy."
Jace froze.
The basketball court became completely silent.
Elara disappeared around the corner.
Leaving Jace standing alone.
Fuming.
Growling under his breath.
His hands clenched into fists.
Somewhere in the distance, a basketball bounced.
Birds chirped.
Life continued.
Meanwhile, Jace Ryder was having the worst week of his entire life.
And somehow...
Elara Vale seemed determined to make it worse.
- Writer
