by Kunz, C. A.
“Tomorrow? What’s this about?”
“Some of the council members are worried about the ramifications of our Catherine knowing what we are. They have requested an audience with us to help clear the air of their concerns. I know it is short notice, but I feel we must abide by this summons. We surely do not want a bunch of rogue Varulvs coming our way and causing more trouble.” Sam gave Aldon a strained look. “Don’t worry. It will be fine. We shall convince them all is well and quell their concerns.” The door to the study opened and the clanking of teacups announced Elsie’s arrival. “Elsie, lifesaver that you are, is that homemade hot chocolate I smell?”
“Yes indeedy,” she replied.
“Mmmm, good. Come, Sam, let’s enjoy.” Sam cracked a smile but feared things were not going to go as smoothly as Aldon believed.
“So, Dad, when will you be back?” Cat asked at breakfast the next morning.
“Hopefully I’ll only be gone about three days,” Sam answered, trying to keep the worry out of his voice.
“It’s because of me, this council thing, I mean. They must not like the fact you adopted a half-vampire, huh?”
“Let’s get this straight, Ms. Catherine Colvin. Whether they like it or not has nothing to do with what we want. What you have to remember is that we’re your parents and we love you. And we’d love you even if you had three heads and fifteen toes! Got it?” He grinned at Taylor’s expression.
“Hey, wait a second, if she had three heads and fifteen toes, I’d seriously have to rethink this whole brother bit. I mean, it’s bad enough she’s red-headed, left-handed, and pale as a ghost, come on! Oww, Mom!” Taylor moaned as Rachel swatted him with the newspaper.
“You, young man, better hurry and eat, with less talk. Your sister is beautiful.” Rachel laughed as Taylor made a face then took a big bite from a piece of bacon.
“Everything will be fine, Cat, no worries. Now I have to go and pack. You two be good for your mom, and I’ll be back before you know it,” Sam said, leaving the room. Mounting the stairs he mentally crossed his fingers, hoping that he was telling the truth.
Cat walked into Biology and immediately realized that her usually calm and collected teacher looked frazzled. She was reading the textbook with her fingers drumming on the desk beside it. “Good afternoon, Miss Amaya,” Cat said softly so as not to startle her.
“Oh, I didn’t hear you come in.”
“What are you reading?” she asked.
“Nothing, just…the next chapter. I’m going to practice on your class today. I really didn’t sign up for this you know. I’m sure Melvin…Mr. Pierson would’ve handled this just fine. But I know I’ll just make a mess of it. Ugh,” Miss Amaya groaned and put her head in her hands as Cat leaned over and read the chapter heading: Sexual Reproduction.
“Ah, I see…well-” Cat stopped as the rest of the class began to trickle in. Taking her seat, Cat watched as Miss Amaya rose to her feet. She noticed Miss Amaya’s knees were a touch rickety.
“Now, for today’s class I have a little movie to show you. Dustin, the lights, please?” She turned on the projector and nothing happened. Tapping it a few times, Miss Amaya became more flustered when it still wouldn’t turn on. “Dustin, turn on the lights, please.” I don’t understand! It’s plugged in! This was the last projector too! What am I going to do? Miss Amaya complained to herself. Looking around the room at the students, “It would appear I’m having technical difficulties at the moment, we will begin shortly.” Well, I guess I’ll just have to use those darn show-and-tell diagrams in the closet, she thought as she continued to fiddle with the projector, trying to make it work. Cat felt bad for her teacher. Miss Amaya was so flustered and the class could sense it. Cat hoped the students would behave themselves, but figured that was a long shot.
“Okay, now here we have a diagram of the…uh…female body,” Miss Amaya stammered, her face slightly flushed.
“Where’s the ta-tas?” a muffled voice came from the back of the class, along with a few snickers.
“Jeremiah Karns! The BREASTS are not shown on this poster. No more questions until after my presentation, please. Now where was I? Yes, the female body is made to house a fetus for about nine months-”
“How did the fetus get in there? And is it true that Valentine’s Day is the best day for a fetus to start?”
“Jeremiah, that is quite enough. Silence, please. And no, Valentine’s Day has nothing to do with fetuses. It’s just a holiday next week.”
“If it’s a holiday, then why do we have to come to school?” Jeremiah asked with a big grin on his face.
“I don’t know. You’ll have to ask the school board next time they meet. Alright, CliffsNotes version. Male sperm meets female’s egg. Egg grows into a baby and nine months later it’s born. Any questions? No? Well then we’re done,” Miss Amaya said, ignoring the numerous hands in the air. “Turn to page 300 and read the next ten pages. Quiz tomorrow.” Moans filled the room. “That will teach some of you to act better in class. And for all the others who didn’t act up, I’m sorry.” Miss Amaya plopped down in her seat and buried her face in the textbook.
Cat’s eyes filled with tears as she tried to suppress the laughter wanting to come out.
Sam came home three days later. He practiced his smile on the drive home. The meeting with the Varulv Council had been rocky. Most members were supportive and backed Aldon’s reassurance that Cat was no danger to their existence. A small faction, though, wasn’t happy with the results and had made their voices heard. The verdict was that as long as Aldon and Sam kept control of the situation in Astoria, no intervention would be necessary. During the flight back, Aldon finally broke his positive demeanor and revealed his true feelings to Sam. “I lied, Sam. I lied to the council,” Aldon said softly with a sigh.
“I know, we both did Aldon,” Sam replied.
“We have to get a handle on things. Thankfully, no one has told the council of what has transpired in Astoria. And they can never find out. Our future depends on it.”
“What should we do?” Sam’s worried eyes met Aldon’s.
“I don’t know. For the first time, I just don’t know.”
Opening the front door Sam was met with a welcoming party. His family acted like he had been away for years instead of days. It’s good to be home, he thought embracing them all in a hug.
“Leif, what are you doing behind the bleachers?” Cat asked, peering underneath them.
“Cat, you’ve got to help me. I’m being hounded by a thousand girls all bearing presents for Valentine’s Day! It’s all a bit too much. I just can’t handle it.” Leif whispered urgently, relieved it was only Cat who had found his hiding spot. His voice was shaky, but his British accent was still delightful to Cat’s ears. She would’ve laughed if Leif hadn’t looked so stricken.
“You can’t hide in there all day, you know. Come on, I’ll protect you from those vicious vixens,” Cat joked, reaching her hand out for his.
“No, thank you. I don’t feel like being punched in the face by the school’s famous running back today,” he stated.
“Come on, lover boy,” she said as she grabbed his arm, and pulled him out in the open. “We’re just two friends taking a stroll down the hallway to your next class. Nobody will dare mess with you, I promise.”
Opening the door to the gym, Cat and Leif made their way down the hallway without incident.
“See you after class, Leif,” Cat said loudly as she walked away. Turning around she found Ryan in front of her with an eyebrow raised.
“Did I just see what I think I saw?” Ryan asked.
“No, you didn’t. You saw one friend helping another friend who’s being harassed by half the female population at this school.”
“I was just teasing. I actually kind of feel sorry for him. That was cool of you to help, though. And that, Red Hot, is why I love you.” Ryan kissed her and then jogged off toward the gym.
“You what?” Cat called after him, but her voic
e was drowned out by the bell ringing. “Crap! I’m late!”
After class Cat was still mulling over Ryan’s remark as she made her way to her locker. Did he really say that he loves me? Pulling open her locker, she blinked. A bundle of black roses greeted her.
“Hey, Cat, what’s up?” Matt’s voice came from over her shoulder. “Cool, black flowers. Who left you those?”
“I don’t know,” Cat replied blankly, thinking they could have possibly been from the three girls.
“Is that a new trend or something? If so, I wonder if Hannah would like them. Uh, I don’t know. If it’s a cool trend she might, though. But-”
“Matt, please be quiet. It’s neither a trend nor cool. Not cool at all.”
“Are those black roses? Why would anyone give someone black roses?” Elle’s voice came up from her right side.
“I was just wondering the same thing,” Cat replied, still distracted by the sight of them.
“Hey, what’s with the flowers?” Ryan asked, coming up behind her.
“If this is someone’s idea of a joke, it’s not funny,” Cat said, picking them up.
“Are they from them?” Ryan whispered to Cat, out of Elle and Matt’s earshot.
“I don’t know, maybe.” Her wobbly tone worried him.
“Here, let me have those. They belong in the trash!” Ryan stated, noticing the bewildered look on Cat’s face. Grabbing the roses, Ryan dumped them into the nearby garbage can.
“Well, that was a perfect way to end the day,” Cat said sarcastically.
“Yeah, well if I find the creeps who sent them, they’ll wish they hadn’t,” Ryan stated, putting his arm around her and trying not to act suspicious.
“Even if it’s your buddy Isaac?” Elle asked.
“No, he’s too cheap. Just ask Amelia,” Ryan answered with a chuckle.
“I guess I won’t be buying Hannah any. I get the feeling it’s not cool,” Matt said to himself, and then realized the others had moved down the hallway while he was still looking through his locker. “Hey, guys, wait for me!”
“Mr. Thomas!” A teacher shouted from down the hall.
“I know, I know,” Matt said, seeing the teacher giving him a stern look. “No running in the halls. Got it.”
“So Cat, do you and Ryan have anything special planned for tomorrow?” Rachel asked as they ate dinner.
“Huh? Oh, I don’t know. We haven’t really talked about it.”
“Cat, you seem distracted. Something wrong?” Sam asked, a frown marring his forehead.
“Nothing really. Just a weird thing happened at school today, and I guess it shook me a little,” Cat answered nonchalantly.
“What happened?” Rachel asked, seeing through Cat’s ruse.
“After school I went to my locker and there were black roses inside. It was kind of creepy and gave me the wiggins. But Ryan took care of them, so no worries.”
“Do you have any idea who might have put them there?” Sam asked.
“No. But it was probably just someone playing a joke or something,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
“Is there someone who likes you, but you don’t like them?” Rachel asked, looking at Sam who gave her a comforting smile.
“No. Not that I know of. Oh well, it’s really nothing right?” Cat asked.
“Of course, a gag I’m sure. Just keep an eye out for anyone acting funny, okay?” Sam replied.
Cat laughed hollowly. “It was probably Kirsten or somebody from her group. She’s still kind of being a pill.” Sam and Rachel looked at each other hoping that was the answer.
Valentine’s Day arrived with a bright sun and temperatures warmer than usual. Cat opened her front door to find Ryan standing there with a bundle of pink roses, a box of chocolates, and his lips exaggeratedly puckered waiting for a kiss. “How long have you been out here?” Cat asked surprised, a huge smile on her face.
“Uh, just long enough to see your neighbor check me out like five times, and have an awkward conversation with your father on his way to work,” he joked, his lips still puckered up.
“You should’ve just rang the doorbell,” she said, trying to hold back a giggle.
He laughed. “Well, then it wouldn’t have been a surprise now would it? Are you going to kiss me or not?”
“Oh Ryan! They’re beautiful!” she exclaimed, taking the flowers from him and then grabbing him in a hug, kissing him soundly. “Thank you, I really needed this!”
“Well, I had to make up for yesterday.”
“Let me just go put these in water,” Cat said as Ryan followed her inside.
“Randy, Randy, you’re never going to believe what I just saw! A boy just went into the Colvin house with Catherine. Without parental supervision,” Maude exclaimed.
“And?” Randy replied flipping through the morning paper.
“And? And? Didn’t you hear me? No parental supervision! On Valentine’s Day! He’s luring her with flowers and candy. Someone has to put a stop to this right now,” Maude announced as she headed for the front door.
“Leave ’em alone, Maude. It’s none of your business anyway.”
“Darn, I’m too late,” Maude murmured, ignoring Randy’s comment. “They’ve left. You better believe that Catherine is going to get an earful when she gets home.”
“Everyone always gets an earful from you, my dear,” Randy said under his breath as he turned the page of the paper. Great, she remembered it’s Valentine’s Day. I guess I’ve got to go get her something now. Damn holiday! Randy thought.
After driving her to school, Ryan left Cat at the gym entrance with a quick kiss. The hallway was deserted except for a few stragglers. As Cat made her way to her locker, the warning bell rang, but in her current mood she didn’t care. When she opened her locker, Cat came face to face with a huge paper heart hanging there.
Something was attached to the heart with a large paper clip. Cat’s heart sank when she saw it was a pocket protector. She gasped, realizing it was not just any pocket protector, but Melvin Pierson’s. His name was written in bold print on the back. Beginning to tremble with worry, Cat grabbed both items and rushed to the biology classroom. Everyone looked up as Cat burst through the door. Whispers began flowing through the class as she just stood there in shock.
“Class, please begin reading page 401. I’ll be right outside, no talking,” Miss Amaya instructed. With a gentle push she guided a stricken Cat back out into the hallway.
“Cat, what’s wrong?” Without a word Cat held up the paper heart and Melvin Pierson’s property, with tears filling her eyes. “This is Melvin’s. Where did you get it?” Miss Amaya clutched the pocket protector tightly.
“It was in my locker. Yesterday I got black roses. Today I got this. He always had this on him. It was his security blanket. He’d never be without it.” Cat stared at Ms. Amaya’s hand, “Do you think he’s still alive?” she whispered as a teacher walked by.
Ms. Amaya raised her head to look at Cat, “He might be. I have to talk to Gretchen. Don’t tell anyone about this until I do. This is our secret. Oh Cat, I hope he’s alive,” she answered with tears in her eyes.
Cat was relieved when the school day ended. Everyone was caught up in the Valentine’s frenzy and thankfully no one noticed how quiet she had been. Rounding the corner leading to the sophomore locker hallway, Cat spotted one of the janitors standing in front of a locker, appearing to be in a daze. Walking up to him, “Are you okay?” she asked.
“Huh?” he replied startled, breaking out of his trancelike state. “Oh, yeah…I’m fine, I think,” he mumbled out. Without another word, the janitor turned away from Cat and headed down the hall. Why am I in the sophomore hall with the master key to all the lockers? I don’t remember how I got here. Now, what am I supposed to be doing? The janitor thought.
“That was odd,” Cat stated, watching him walk aimlessly out of view.
“Hey, who’s the jokester that put this in my locker?” Matt asked loudly to the ot
hers standing beside him. He pulled out the paper heart, and began reading it aloud. Cat’s heart sped up as she approached him.
What Would You Do If I Cut Your Heart Out
Would You Scream, Would You Shout
Or Would You Enjoy The Pain
As I Watch Your Blood Drip Down Like Rain.
“Eww! That’s sick! Who’d you piss off?” Amanda grimaced, opening her locker. “What the hell? I have one too!”
You Think You Know It All
Yes You Do, This Much Is True
But Your Heart Will Stop Beating
Once I Get Through With You.
“Alright, who put this in my locker? I’m about to kick someone’s ass!” Amanda shouted into the crowded hallway while waving the valentine about.
“Wait…I have one,” Elle’s shaking voice made everyone turn toward her.
They Used To Call You Metal-Mouth
You Were Happy When They Came Out
And Now You’re Quite The Social Butterfly
I Should Pull Your Wings Off And Watch You Die
“This is too creepy! Who gave these to us? They even used my nickname,” Elle’s worried face met the others.
“I don’t know, but we need to show these to someone. I mean this is just messed up!” Matt’s voice was laced with anger.
“Shhh, Matt, give them to me. I’ll take them to Ms. Landers. Now guys, we don’t want to give whoever did this the satisfaction of seeing us upset.” Cat gave a sigh of relief as they all handed their valentines to her. Making their way down the hall, Amanda glared at everyone they passed, thinking the sender could be any one of them.
Later that evening, Cat phoned Julie to see how she was doing. “So how are you feeling? Missed you at school today.”
“I’ve been better. So anything interesting happen? What did I miss?”
“Oh you know, a quiz in English, terrible lunch, Amanda beating up on Matt, and sick valentines. Just your average day at Astoria High.”