Red Dawn

by Bonds, J. J.

  “No worries,” she tells, me waving off the damage. “It can be repaired. What did you see?”

  “Car accident.” I don’t have the heart to yell at Anya for putting me through that. It might be a first, but I’m too tired to fight. Judging by the wrecked chair, I took a complete nutty. These lessons are chipping away at my sanity.

  “That’s it?” She sounds surprised. “Just one memory?”

  “Yeah. I think that was more than enough, don’t you?” I ask, eyeing the torn arm of the chair.

  “I know you’re upset Katia, but that’s progress.”

  “So you say,” I respond wearily. “Can I go now?”

  Chapter Six

  When Anya finally releases me, I head straight for my dorm and the comfort of my bed. I need a nap in the worst way. And something pleasant to take my mind off the hell they call Talent Development. With visions of Nik dancing in my head, I don’t even notice Pratt making his way toward me. By the time I see him it’s too late to make a detour. He’s blocking my path. Not a good sign. Hell’s bells!

  “Miss Lescinka.” He says my name like he’s just swallowed a mouth full of poison. His mouth is pinched and his tone is anything but friendly. Just what I need right now.

  “Headmaster.”

  “Is it possible you are the only student in this school who didn’t receive a copy of the new student handbook?” he asks, waving a worn copy in my face. His copy has had quite the workout and I know I’m in trouble. For what, I’m not sure though.

  “No,” I respond, trying to keep an even tone. I scan the hall looking for a way out, but it’s pointless. The hall is deserted. I am completely alone with this self-important, student hating lunatic.

  “No, sir,” he returns through clenched teeth. “You’d do well to mind your manners Miss Lescinka.”

  “Of course. No, sir. I have a copy in my dorm.”

  “Well then, if you have a copy of the handbook, there is no excuse for violating the uniform policy. Page eleven, section 8B.”

  Is he for real? I’m wearing the stupid uniform and I’ve seen a hundred different students break the dress code without penalty. Too bad none of them are around right now. Pratt’s on a bender and his dislike of me probably makes this the highlight of his day. Hell, maybe his week. I look down at my uni and immediately see what Pratt’s talking about. My tie is MIA. I’m pretty sure I was wearing it this morning, so I must’ve pulled it off during my session with Anya. Crap! I rack my brain trying to remember if the handbook said anything about a punishment for a uniform violation.

  “I’ve just come from Talent Development with Miss Petrova,” I tell him, straightening my collar and refastening the top button. “I must’ve lost my tie there. I didn’t realize…”

  He cuts me off before I can finish.

  “I do not wish to hear your ridiculous excuses. I am tired of your entitled attitude Miss Lescinka,” he spits, shoving his bony finger in my face. I contemplate knocking it away, but I don’t give it serious thought. It’s not worth the trouble or the punishment Pratt would rain down. “Walking around here like a disheveled mess and blatantly thumbing your nose at the rules. I’ve told you before that I do not care who your uncle is. While you are in my school, you will follow my rules.”

  Who’s he calling disheveled? Okay, so maybe he has a point. But after what I’ve been through today, my appearance is the least of my concerns. And really, it’s hard to believe it’s his top priority either. Surely he must have bigger things to worry about?

  “It’s a first offense, sir.”

  “That is irrelevant, Miss Lescinka.”

  He moves closer, invading my personal space. He’s getting dangerously close to pushing my temper into the red zone. I take a deep breath and steel my gaze. His words don’t matter and neither does the punishment, no matter how unjustified. I bury my clenched fists in the pockets of my skirt. I’m in enough trouble already. I can’t let Pratt bait me into a greater infraction just because he’s got a stick up his….

  “You will be assigned work detail for the next two weeks. You will report to the kitchen immediately after dinner. I’m sure the staff can find something fitting for you to do,” he finishes dismissively before stalking past me.

  I watch angrily as Pratt turns the corner. Could this day possibly get any worse?

  **********

  “Where’s Jade?” Nik asks casually as he sucks the last drop of blood from his mug. He licks his lips suggestively when he notices me watching him. Perv.

  “Who cares?” I return sweetly.

  Shaye rolls her eyes. Nik ignores us both. As a result of Nik’s determination to force some kind of truce between Jade and I- even he’s not naïve enough to think we’ll actually be friends- he continues to sit with Shaye and me during feedings. Jade and her entourage usually follow suit, but today only Lexie and Blaine are here. Pity. Blaine and I do our best to ignore one another entirely, but Lexie and Shaye seem to get on well enough. Their banter helps break up the tension and makes feeding together semi-tolerable.

  “I care. What’s Jade up to?” he repeats, directing the question to Lexie this time. “I haven’t seen her around all day.”

  It’s a harmless enough question, but it gets on my nerves a little bit. Nik and I have been spending a lot of time together training and making out, but I’m not really sure it’s going anywhere. It’s fun, but that’s all it is. And that’s fine. No strings, no heartache. It’s better this way. I’m free to do what I want and so is he. Still, his interest in Jade grates. After all, they’re just friends, right?

  “She’s off playing grab ass with some douche,” Blaine snickers swirling the blood in his glass.

  I can’t help but laugh. Shaye joins in, but the look on Lexie’s face suggests she doesn’t see the humor in Blaine’s explanation.

  “That douche’s name is Trey,” she clarifies indignantly, making everyone laugh even harder. This time even Nik joins in. How could he not? Lexie may be well intentioned, but she’s a little dim sometimes. “He’s a transfer student.”

  “At least I got the grab ass part right,” Blaine counters as he tips his chair backward, balancing it on two legs. The guy may be a tool, but he is funny on occasion.

  “That is not what I meant!” Lexie trills in a futile attempt to defend her friends honor. As if she could anyway. We all know what Jade is like when she wants something.

  “Trey?” Nik asks. “Never heard of him. What’s his deal?”

  “I don’t know a lot about him,” Lexie replies perking up. She didn’t get a reputation for being the school gossip for nothing. “But I do know that he’s a total hottie and that he got kicked out of his last school.”

  “Try his last three schools,” Blaine interjects slamming his chair back to the floor on all four feet. No one bothers asking how he knows. The answer is obvious. He’s a hacker. Most likely he pulled Trey’s academic records. “Dude’s a three time loser.”

  “Daddy must have a lot of money,” Shaye cuts in. “It’s not like Pratt to accept a last stop reject. After all, he does have to protect the Crossroads image.”

  “That would be my guess,” Blaine confirms. “His dad’s some kind of hot shot lawyer.”

  “Yeah, well, Pratt’s on the warpath so it’s probably just a matter of time until the new guy gets booted,” I say as Nik grabs my hand under the table. I glance down at our intertwined fingers and smile. This is a new development.

  “What do you mean?” Shaye asks, sliding her glass to the center of the table for the staff to collect later.

  “Oh, nothing,” I say, twisting a loose strand of hair with my free hand. “Pratt and I had a little run in earlier today.”

  “Over what?” Nik asks defensively. He looks cute when he’s concerned. Maybe I should get in trouble more often. It’s not like it takes much effort around here.

  “Pratt nailed me for flagrant disregard of the new uniform policy and, of course, his authority at Crossroads.”

&nbs
p; “Seriously?” Lexie asks, looking surprised. I guess she’s never been a target of Pratt’s indiscriminate wrath. Lucky girl.

  “Seriously,” I tell her, shaking my head. “Pratt busted me for a missing tie.”

  The group stares at me in disbelief, probably because they’ve all done worse.

  “It’s whatever,” I say waving it off. “Pratt hates me. He was probably just looking for a scapegoat to make his point. So if you don’t want to join me on work detail, I suggest you follow the uniform guidelines. Unless of course you want to get on Pratt’s bad side? In which case, keep calm and carry on.”

  Shaye groans. She’s probably remembering the work detail I got last year for mouthing off in class. “What’s the punishment this time?”

  “Kitchen duty,” I tell her pushing my chair back from the table. “Speaking of which, I’ve gotta run. I’m going to be late.”

  “As usual,” Nik observes, pulling me in for a quick sendoff kiss. It’s totally PG-13, but no one told the rampant hormones raging through my body.

  “Well, maybe I can be a little late.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Hurry up, Shaye! We’re going to be late,” I call through the bathroom door. “You’ve been in there for-ev-er!”

  She cracks the door and peeks her head out. “Go ahead without me.”

  “What? No way!” I cry. “You’ve been looking forward to this for weeks.”

  Tonight is the annual Halloween Masquerade, but first we’re heading out to Holloway Farm for Moonlight Madness. Last year Shaye and I stumbled aimlessly through the twelve acre corn maze together. Needless to say, it was a complete disaster. We both have a suck sense of direction and didn’t stand a snowballs chance at winning.

  This year we have a plan to improve our odds: stay with Nik. As long as we don’t slow him down, there’s a good chance we’ll win. It’s practically foolproof. Nik has a keen sense of direction and has only lost once. Last year he got held up settling a fight between Jade and me. It cost him his winning streak, but he didn’t seem to mind too much. I smile remembering the mud caked in Jade’s hair when it was all over. Good times.

  “Sorry.” Shaye coughs, looking a little green. “I don’t feel well. I think it’s better if I stay in and rest.”

  “Are you okay?” I ask. I don’t say it, but she looks kind of wrecked. “Maybe I should stay with you?” I hate the idea of leaving Shaye here sick and alone.

  “I’ll be fine. Really,” she promises with a forced smile. “I just need to sleep it off.”

  I watch as she crawls into bed with her cell phone and pulls the covers up to her chin.

  “I don’t know, Shaye. This came on pretty fast, didn’t it?”

  She was fine earlier today and even helped me with my Chem homework. In fact, this is the first time all semester she’s actually admitted to feeling sick. I’ve suspected, but she’s been in full blown denial mode.

  “Quit nagging me and get out of here,” she says rolling over so that her back is facing me. “I’m trying to sleep. Besides, Keegan is just a text away if I need anything.”

  I don’t point out that he can’t actually enter the dorms without getting into trouble. That’s probably not helpful feedback when dealing with a sick girl whose boyfriend is persona non grata. Eventually Shaye’s soft snores convince me that she’ll be alright without me to watch over her, at least for a few hours. I quietly grab my boots and leather jacket and slip out into the hall, promising myself that I’ll check on her again as soon as I get back.

  As I descend the stone steps at the front of the school, my heart flutters at the sight of Nik standing at the bottom. He’s waiting for me, something I never would have thought possible or even desirable at this time last year. I’ve come a long way, I suppose. From troubled loner to… what? I’m not really sure. I’m not Kate Osborne, Homecoming Queen, anymore. But I’m learning to let go of that life and the grief that sent me spiraling out of control.

  It’s harder to let go of the atrocities I committed, but I’m working on it. After everything that’s happened, I can’t imagine my life without Shaye, or Nik, or even Anya. Each of them, in their own way, has opened my eyes to this world and shown me a different path. I’m not quite so alone anymore.

  “Hey, beautiful,” Nik greets me, sliding an arm around my waist and steering me toward the waiting charter buses. Only the best for Crossroads students.

  “Hey, yourself.” I can’t help smiling as I bury my face in his shoulder, all worries about Shaye’s health and the past slipping from my mind.

  “Where’s Shaye?” he asks, realizing we’re short one quirky vamp.

  “Not coming,” I say, tensing up. I don’t offer any further explanation. I don’t want to betray Shaye’s confidence. Her illness isn’t exactly common knowledge and I don’t want it to become a source of gossip around the school.

  “Meaning I get you all to myself,” he purrs, looking like a tiger about to pounce on its prey.

  “Something like that,” I reply, rolling my eyes. The boy is incorrigible. I swear he has a one track mind lately.

  “You smell delicious,” he whispers while nuzzling my neck. “How do you expect me to concentrate with you at my side?”

  “I’m sure you’ll manage,” I tell him deadpan as I begin climbing the steps to the bus. “After all, I don’t kiss losers.”

  “Harsh, Katia. Very harsh,” he replies, dropping my hand.

  “What? Can’t handle the pressure?” I ask, giving him my most dazzling smile. He’s not fooling anyone. Nik likes a challenge.

  We take seats in the middle of the bus and watch as more students file aboard. I look up just as Jade ascends the stairs with Trey in tow. She spots Nik and heads toward us, rudely evicting the girl sitting across the aisle so that she can take her seat. Evidently Jade’s not worried about looking like a bitch in front of the new guy. Maybe he’s already seen that side of her. Or maybe her willingness to provide regular whorgasms free of charge is enough to make him look the other way. Either way, I suspect we’re in for an eventful evening.

  Jade gives me a dirty look as she settles into the newly vacated seat and I wonder if she can read minds. Wouldn’t that be just my luck? Not that I care if she knows what I think of her anyway.

  “I don’t think we’ve met?” Trey asks, reaching across the aisle to shake my hand. He’s not unattractive and I can see why Jade would be drawn to him. They’re two of a kind. His sandy blonde hair is styled in a blowout not unlike any number of teen pop singers and he’s got the whole too-thin-emo thing going on. He definitely puts off the bad boy vibe, but I doubt he’s really dangerous. His is the look of someone used to getting what he wants and who knows that daddy will always be there to clean up his messes. If Jade has a heart, he’ll undoubtedly break it.

  “We haven’t, but your reputation precedes you,” I reply, shaking his outstretched hand. As a matter of fact, Trey’s all Jade ever talks about anymore. It’s a relief when she sits with him to feed so we don’t have to listen to her obsessive babbling. “Katia Lescinka. And this is Nikolai Petrov.”

  “Lescinka?” he asks, looking surprised. I guess Jade doesn’t talk about us when she’s with him. No great loss. “Any relation to…”

  “Yes, he’s my great uncle,” I cut in before he can finish the sentence. The look of interest on his face doesn’t escape Jade’s attention. She tries to hide her irritation, but her jawline hardens noticeably, giving her away.

  “Nikolai is quite the maze rat,” Jade tells Trey, ending any further discussion of my lineage. Unconcerned with the lack of privacy, she curls up against him and begins rubbing his thigh. “If you want to win, you’ll have to finish quickly.”

  “That’ll be a first,” Trey smirks. He tilts his head at Nik as if to say ‘you know what I mean’. Gross.

  I throw up in my mouth a little bit and Nik looks equally disgusted. Not only is Jade’s new boyfriend a troublemaker, he’s a pig too. Yep. Definitely going to be an interestin
g night.

  **********

  Nik and I enter the maze side by side, but once we’re in he takes the lead. I don’t protest. I just grab Nik’s hand. My game plan is simply to keep up with him, which I hope to do by holding on tight. Moving as quickly as we dare in view of the humans, we cut through the maze without a backward glance.

  It’s a crisp New England night. I greedily suck in the country air, enjoying the rawness of it all. Although the moon is waning, the sky is filled with brightly twinkling stars which provide ample light for our keen eyes. I try not to think about the fact that I’d rather be hunting and pocket my flashlight as we trample through the maze, squashing the remnants of corn that were cut down to clear the path.

  The walls of the maze are even taller than I’d remembered and I recall how easy it is to become disoriented since everything looks the same. I’m thoroughly impressed with Nik’s ability to correctly chart the way. If I were in the lead here, we’d have had to turn around about a hundred times by now.

  “How’re we doing?” I ask. Left, right, left, left, left, right. I’m utterly at a loss. It’s impossible to tell if we’re making good time, but I’m pretty sure we are.

  “We?” Nik asks, glancing over his shoulder at me. He’s been so focused he’s barely noticed my presence. It’s quite obvious I’m just along for the ride.

  “Just because I’m bringing up the rear doesn’t mean I’m not an equally important part of this team!” I challenge him.

  “Of course you are.” He grins and tugs me around yet another corner. Why people enjoy these mazes is absolutely beyond me. Seriously, what is the point? “Actually, now that I’m thinking about it, you might be the most important member of this team.”

  “Oh? How do you figure?” It’s obviously not due to my stellar sense of direction. He’s probably mocking me. Again.

  “Proper motivation. You don’t kiss losers, remember?” Nik turns around suddenly, stopping only when our mouths are inches apart. My breath comes out in small puffs, mingling with Nik’s in the cool night air. He kisses me softly on the lips. “For good luck.”