The guys finished their lunch, and took off, leaving Chace and I alone once again.
"You don't need to worry about your neck." He'd sounded nonchalant and a little smug.
"Really?" I touched my scarf.
He pulled on it, tugging it away. "Yep, the bruises are gone," he said, giving me a half-smile.
I yanked the scarf from his fingers. "Do I even want to know how you knew they'd be gone?"
"Doubtful," he chided, and tossed a couple of fries in his mouth.
I'd noticed he'd eaten several bites of cheeseburger along with more fries. "How can you stand to eat that?" I asked, scrunching my nose in disgust.
He laughed. "You get used to it. I need to pretend to be a normal, human boy." He smirked, and bit into another fry.
I looked around and said, "I think it tastes like ash. I haven't been able to enjoy food since right after you bit me." I tried to look frustrated, angry, but thoughts about how it'd felt the first time... his lips on my neck... and each time since, only filled me with longing.
His eyebrows pinched together, but just as quickly relaxed. "You really are exquisite, Snow. I knew you were extraordinary from the moment I first saw you, but I never realized how much until these past few days."
I would've blushed, but he had me curious. "You could tell just from biting me the other day?"
"No, I'm talking about the very first time. When you were young."
Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. Had he been the one? "You-you marked me?"
He dipped his head and took a large bite of burger. I watched him chew, biting the inside of my cheek, nervous. But there wasn't any reason to be. Professor Pops said drone vampires marked the young.I knew the answer. It washim. That meant several things. He was older than seventeen or eighteen. He'd watched me for a long time. And, "Do you know how my mother died?" I blurted. If he'd been around that long, surely he must've seen her.
At that moment, the bell rang. He stood and said, "I'll see you at practice." Taking his tray he merged into the thick student traffic and was gone.
Chapter 5
The final three classes of the day were torture. Not because I wanted to drink the blood of my fellow classmates. No. I was agitated. About Cindy.About revenant training. And, about Chacecoming over. Did I really want to get to know him?
I had a feeling if Professor Pops knew what I'd been doing, he'd be upset, or at least concerned. But he'd said he'd fallen in love with his Marked. Now that I'd been spending time with Chace I wondered what that meant. Had Professor Pops bitten her, and she him? Had she died because of their love? I knew Professor Pops would tell me, but raising the subject would be awkward. I felt like I'd already failed him.
Chace would have the answers, but would he be honest? I sighed. I had to at least try.
In the locker room I changed out of my jeans and t-shirt and into black shorts and a burgundy shirt. After tying my shoes, I headed out to the field.
It'd been an unseasonably hot Fall, with little rain. It looked like that was about to change. Thick storm clouds filled the sky, and thunder rumbled in the distance. The rest of the team appeared oblivious, and stretched on the field.
They never waited for me.
That's because you never participate. Duh, my inner voice reprimanded.
Chace sat in the front, a pretty girl on either side, his legs extended in front of him, his hands touching his toes as the Team Captain counted slowly.
I stopped, admiring him, trying to see any of the telltale signs proving he was a Vampire. Hehad angular features, his body muscled, especially his arms.
I suddenly remembered Kenmei showing me the arrow tattooed on his arm. He'd said it was the mark of a Hunter. Where was Chace's? I stepped closer, working to see it. Chace wore a black tank, so it should be easily visible. He glanced up, giving me a smirk.
I smirked right back.
"Hey, Snow, move out of the way." It was Sabrina, the Team Captain. Apparently I was blocking her view.
I stepped to the side, and around to his back. I couldn't see it on either arm near the shoulder.
"Looking for something," Chace asked, laughter in his voice.