SWNOVELS Chapter 3: Jay
It’s been a week since I’ve had what Sage believes, no, insists, is blood. Sage has been hovering over me, only leaving me alone when I’m at home, but I’ve felt alright. Coach has been on my case and wondering why I’m not pitching as well as I usually do, but it has nothing to do with being a… A Vampire. I’ve just had a few bad practices.
I have a full water bottle with me at all times. I’ve been trying to get rid of this thirst, but nothing has helped.
“Sage, for the hundredth time, I am NOT a Vampire! I am fine!” I jerked my bag out of my locker and ran off before she could convince me to get a ride with her. I needed to walk home. Alone.
I managed the 20-minute walk home and saw my mom cooking in the kitchen when I walked through the door. The smell of food cooking was everywhere. I drifted into the kitchen, following the delicious scent, and saw her cooking steaks. I sighed and backed out of the kitchen. Of course, just another way to get me to drink blood. Steaks. I involuntarily licked my lips. Steak… Bloody, medium rare steak...
I ran upstairs, taking two at a time before mom could coerce me into eating dinner. I took my books out of my bag and started on homework. I was almost done with Chemistry when my father came in to tell me dinner was finished.
“I… I’m not very hungry...” was my short reply. I’ve been using that excuse all week. It was lame, but it worked.
Instead of leaving, like he usually did, my dad came in and sat down on the bed. “Son… Your mother and I are getting worried about you. I rarely see you eat anymore. You aren’t sleeping as much as you used to. You never practice baseball in the backyard. You’re always hiding up in your room now…” He hesitated. We usually don’t have serious talks. That’s usually mom’s department. “Did something happen at school? Are you getting bullied? Are you having girl trouble? Are you and Sage fighting? Mom said you didn’t get a ride from her today.” He put his hand on my shoulder, trying to be comforting. I just shook my head.
“Dad, I’m not getting bullied. And there’s no girl, either. Sage and I just had a disagreement, we’re fine. Everything is fine. I’m just not very hungry.” I looked back at my worksheet, pretending to understand how to balance equations, avoiding my dad’s hovering eyes. I could see dad opened his mouth to say something through my peripheral vision, but then he closed it again. He ruffled my hair before standing up and leaving my room. He shut the door and went downstairs to have dinner with mom. I put my hair back in place and stared at my worksheet. I could take a break now. Dad was right, I wasn’t getting as much sleep as usual.
I laid back in my bed and closed my eyes. A little nap couldn’t hurt…
I slapped my hand down on my phone and turned off the alarm. I sat up, stretched, then I realized that my “little nap” had me sleep through until the next morning. I quickly took my shower and got dressed. By the time I finished the last of my chemistry problems I was running out the door.
Thankfully Sage’s car was sitting in my driveway. I hopped into her car, momentarily forgetting about our fight yesterday, and she mumbled something about making us late before driving off to school.
Today was a very off day for me. I was weak and my throat was constantly dry. It was hard to stand up and walk from class to class. By lunch, I could barely hold myself up without holding onto the wall. I didn’t even notice when I bumped into people. I barely even noticed there were other people in the halls. Just bodies. Bodies of skin, bones, and blood.
Blood…
By the time I got to the cafeteria I didn’t even make it to the table before collapsing in a heap next to my seat. A few of my baseball teammates on the other end of the table snickered about me being hungover. As if I was the one that stayed out at Jeremy’s party last night and not them. Or was it Michael’s party? The conversations yesterday were all a blur.
I heard someone sit next to me and I lifted my head, saw Sage, and noticed she bought a tray for me. I picked up a fry covered in ketchup, but I remembered the deal I made and dropped it.
Sage groaned in frustration. “Jay, you are going to have to eat something eventually. I’m not going to have you attack some innocent student!” She set a water bottle filled, unmistakably, with blood, next to me on the table. “Drink. Now.”
My anger rose and I looked around, making sure nobody heard her. I shook my head and stood up, a surge of strength washing through me with my anger. “I am not a Vampire. I won’t attack anyone. And I am not. Drinking. That.” I pushed the water bottle over and off the table and stormed to the bathroom. Everyone who was in my way took a look at my face and backed away, giving me room, unmistakable horror written over their faces. I slammed the door open and went to the sink. I filled my hands with cold water and splashed the water on my face to cool down.
I glanced up at my reflection before jumping back, my anger dissipating and strong fear replacing it. I hit my back on a stall. I couldn’t keep my eyes off the mirror. What was that? That wasn’t me. I slowly stood up straight and watched as my reflection moved as I moved. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t want to believe it. That black-eyed, fanged, thirsty looking creature… Was me.