I don’t want to get to school early, but I can’t stay in the house any longer. I head out under the pouring rain, huddled under my jacket, and head for the Pontiac. I don’t even get to admire my new car, I just want to get in and avoid getting soaked. The dampness in my hair and the sound of my rain boots splashing in the puddles is annoying.
Not even the hot air now blowing into the car warms me up. The tension makes me stiff. It’s the first day back to school, and I know it’s going to be miserable. I turn up the heat, but my shivering doesn’t stop.
It’s not hard to remember the way to school, I know it by heart. It’s not far off the highway. When I get there, I drive past the bulletin board to check my schedule then head for the parking lot, the first car there. I promise myself that I will sign up for finals tomorrow. The campus is a collection of buildings all built in dark red brick. If I didn’t know better, I’d never have guessed it was a college campus.
When I’m home, my father does nothing but keep a watchful eye on me, but at class the opposite is true. Everyone here keeps away.
I was in a bad condition when I went back to school in the fall, after the accident on the night of the full moon, and nobody wanted to sit next to me. As time went on, I limited myself to leaving the house only to go to work. Even Jamie, who usually never missed a chance for a chat, began to keep her distance, as she felt invisible to me.
I remember my first day as a student in Boston, how I wished to fade into the background of the dark red brick walls, but felt like a fish out of water. And now that wish has come true, four years too late. It’s as if I don’t exist. Even the lecturer’s eyes slide over my desk, as if it were empty.
I listen to the voices around me, trying to catch up on the latest gossip, but the conversations are so fragmented that I give up. Jamie looks annoyed. She doesn’t even turn to look at me when I slip into the seat next to hers for the English literature lecture.
Professor Columbus’ class ends a few minutes late, and it takes me longer than usual to gather up my things. When I enter the cafeteria, I see my usual table is occupied by Jamie and Seth Riley, the redheaded sophomore who lives with his father Ronald behind Scott’s house. Next to him is Eliot Keats, Jamie’s younger brother, who I barely recognize. He’s changed his hair––it’s slick, black, and shiny. Seth’s hair is different too, it’s longer now. But his shyness hasn’t changed along with his look. Amber, a blonde sophomore new to Seth’s department, is also sitting with them.
I wonder how long they’ve been there. I can’t remember if it is since the first day or if they’ve started sitting there recently. I feel uncomfortable. It’s as if I have been locked in a stagnant compartment for the start of the first semester. Nobody looks at me when I take a seat next to Jamie, despite the chair scraping noisily against the floor when I pull it out. I try to join in the conversation. Seth and Eliot are talking sports, so I avoid it immediately. It’s the main topic of conversation at the bar and it bores me.
“Where’s Tess?” Jamie asks Amber. I wonder if Seth and Tess are still a couple.
“Tess has some forms to hand in,” replies Amber. “She’ll be here any minute.”
I look at the entrance of the cafeteria, hoping that when she arrives, Tess will be more empathetic. Am I so invisible that nobody would have a problem talking about me right in front of me? But as soon as I’ve finished asking myself that very question, Seth turns to me.
“So, how was your weekend, Stella?” His tone is unconcerned. Everyone already knows about the party, thanks to Ronald.
Now I’m getting more attention than I wanted. Everyone is looking at me, expecting a reply, except for Jamie.
Eliot raises his eyes and gives me an encouraging smile.
“I worked at Jeff’s bar on Saturday and spent all day Sunday at home, studying. But in the evening, Scott threw a surprise party for me.”
“You’re Stella Whitely, aren’t you?” Amber asks, with a furtive glance at Jamie and Seth.
“Ella May” I correct her without thinking. Jeff’s return and the reappearance of Tyler seem to have conditioned my reflexes.
This time everyone, even Jamie, turns to look at me. I sigh. It really is like starting new.
“I’m Amber,” says the blonde girl enthusiastically.
Where’s your next class?” I ask.
“Um…” She checks her schedule in her bag. “Public Relations, with Owens, in the main building.”
“I’m going to 640. If you like I can show you the way.”
“Thanks,” Amber smiles.
I have made an ally. Amber showers me with questions throughout what’s left of the lunch break. Little by little, the others begin to strike up conversations too, but they keep an eye on me. Maybe they’re wondering why I have this sudden, desperate need to be around people. I have to get back into the swing of things quickly to keep up appearances with Jeff, which means I will be able to stay in Medford.
Tess and Josh, a junior who takes classes with Eliot, appear at our table, and Tess cries out with joy.
“Hallelujah! Stella is back!”
When she sits down next to Amber, Tess chats with Seth and me. As soon as I get up to put my tray away, she follows me, along with Amber and Ronald’s son. Jamie, Josh, and Eliot also get up and Tess whispers in my ear. “Good to have you back, Stella.”
I smile, incredulously.
“Really?”
“I’m glad you’re back. And I’ll prove it. I know you’re busy today, but things are quiet on Fridays.” She knows that there are hardly any classes held on Fridays. “I could come over to your place, bring my notes. I guess you’ve fallen behind a bit.”
“Not a bad idea,” I grin.
“Right, get ready for overload. This should take about six hours,” she winks, nodding down at the mountain of notes in her bag.
Who knows how many classes I’ve missed by staying stuck in my head?
“Maybe we should take a break for lunch, though,” I suggest.
“Deal!”
She picks up a can of soda from the tray and offers it to me. Then she picks up one that is already open and raises it into the air. She makes a toast to my return. This makes us feel grown-up and responsible. I smile and clink my can to hers.
When lunch break ends, we pull on our jackets and head out into the pouring rain. I go with Amber to the main building and the rest of the day at school drags out uneventfully. I have my usual mood swings, my highs and lows. I get to class late. Tess and Seth seem willing to take me back into the fold and forget about the time when my behavior bordered on the absurd. Jamie is still resistant, even after the next class. Maybe she needs an official letter of apology.
After two lectures, I start to recognize all the old faces, with a few new ones peppered here and there. A few people act friendly and say ‘hi,’ asking me if things are going better. I try to be diplomatic, but I lie through my teeth. At least I don’t need Tess and Seth, anchored to my side, to bail me out.
I could swear that the people sitting behind us, including Jamie, are straining their ears to hear all about the past week and yesterday’s party. I hope I’m not being paranoid. Eyes move from Tess to me and back. Seth seems irritated.
Before the start of the last class, Tess calls me over to sit next to her. Jamie seems to have dealt with the situation well and even seems happy about being at the center of attention. She and her friends join us. Trying to pay attention to their chatter, but feeling out of place, my heart beats loudly, as I wait for the moment I’ll see Vuk again.
I relax and lean back against my chair. Jamie asks me about Bryan––she probably heard that he was at the party. She confesses that she had a date with him a few days ago, but that he didn’t make a move, so nothing happened. She whines about it for a while until we hear the bell ringing. She smiles at me as she gets up to join Tess for the next class.
I’m the last to leave the lecture hall, exhausted. I know that when I see him, a warm, comforting feeling will come over me. But when I exit the room, instead of Vuk, I see Donn.
“Hi,” I say shyly, surprised.
He smiles at my unenthusiastic greeting.
“How was your afternoon?”
He tries to take my hand and sighs when his cold fingers find mine. Contact with him sends a new shiver through me.
“It flew by, strangely enough,” I reply. “Maybe because it was my first day back in class.”
“Mine dragged on,” he whispers in my ear. “I couldn’t wait to see you.”
Then I see Vuk approaching, and by his pace I can tell he’s annoyed about seeing me with Donn.
He mumbles something and stands with his arms crossed. His idea of being protective of me veers a little on the extreme.
“Hey, Vuk!” I say. “Look who came to see us.”
He’s not my usual Vuk. He’s changed. As of late, he has always something on his mind. But I’m sure he will revert back to his old ways soon.
“No, little girl, you’re wrong,” he bursts out. “Donn Brooks is here to talk to
me
.”
“Talk?” My voice shakes.
“More or less,” says Vuk. “That’s up to Donn.”
Donn brushes a lock of hair from my face.
“Don’t worry, baby. I’m here as a representative of the Council. But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t hoping to see you.” He fixes his gaze on Vuk.
“I just want to remind your werewolf friend of some of the fundamental points of the pact that he agreed to abide by exactly one year ago.”
“I haven’t forgotten,” growls Vuk. “The truce, your family, and the pact are the only things that prevent me from slitting your throat, right here, right now.”
“What pact are you talking about?” I ask.
Donn keeps staring Vuk down, as if he hadn’t heard me. Then Donn looks at both of us, an incredulous look on his face.
“You haven’t told her anything, have you?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Told me what?” I ask, perplexed. “Vuk?”
Vuk looks at me out of the corner of his eye.
“The pact is very clear. If I don’t fulfill my side of the agreement to protect you until the day of proclamation, the pardon will be revoked. Do you realize how close I came to breaking the pact on the night of the full moon? I should have been protecting you that night, too.”
“I was perfectly safe.”
“No,” shouts Donn. “I almost broke the truce to make sure you were!”
I realize now that the pact and the truce are two different things. The first one is about me, but the second must be about something much bigger, something epic and extraordinary.
A more pressing thought crosses my mind. I want to explain to Donn who Vuk really is, to defend him from any unjust accusations. But something tells me that now is not the time. “The truce? What sort of truce?”
Donn scowls and takes a deep breath.
“Baby, you’d better ask Aaron. It’s complicated.” My mouth opens to interject, but he cuts me off. “And don’t ask how I know. You should have learned by now.”
“What’s Aaron got to do with all this?”
“Nothing, little girl. Too much blood, it’s gone to his head,” cuts in Vuk.
I stare blankly without seeing anything. I turn to my best friend again, disappointed.
“You knew about the pact and…”
“Yes,” he interrupts. I take my head in my hands.
“And you didn’t breathe a word to me?”
“Are you upset?” he asks, cautiously. “I didn’t want you to worry.”
I can’t say anything, a knot in my throat stops the words from coming out.
“I would have told you about it later. I couldn’t risk losing you!” Vuk says.
My body is motionless. A tormented Vuk presses his fists against his temples, his eyes shut as he wraps his arms tightly around himself to try to stop his seizures. His pale face turns a sickly shade of green.
“Vuk, are you ok?”.
I take a half step toward him, but Donn pulls me back and shields me with his body.
“Careful!” he cries. “He could lose control and become dangerous!”
But Vuk is already cooling down, only his arms are trembling. He looks at Donn, pure hatred in his eyes.
“You think I could hurt her?” he asks, furious.
A threatening howl escapes Donn’s lips. Vuk’s fists tighten. I implore them both with my eyes. I see Donn, immobile and tense in front of Vuk, his eyes fuming with rage, his teeth exposed. Then the muscles of his face relax and he is the picture of serenity again.
“Before you go on,” Donn murmurs, “I’d just like to say one thing.”
Vuk’s body twitches again as he grinds his teeth hard. His fists tighten.
“Words cannot express how grateful I am to you for having looked after Stella in my absence. Thank you.”
Vuk looks at him, confused, the seizures steadied by the shock. His face shows understanding for an instant, before putting the usual mask of strength back on.
“I didn’t do it for you.”
“I know,” continues Donn. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not grateful. I just thought I should tell you. Now, if I could do something for you…” He breaks off, his voice trembles with sincerity.
“Right … so where is the catch?”
“Really, thanks for protecting Stella until the last full moon. But that night you almost broke the pact, putting her life at risk…”
“I can control my actions. It won’t happen again,” Vuk assures him.
“The fact is,” sighs Donn, “that tomorrow the Council is ready to make another deal. And they’re willing to agree that you don’t have to stay away from Stella, despite your serious mistake, given your… friendship. The only downside is that she won’t be allowed to go into your territory.”
My eyes widen with surprise. Maybe the truce is about dividing up the territory between wolves and vampires.
Vuk turns his nose up.
“And what conditions will the deal impose?”
“That I become Stella’s guardian.”
“That’s crazy!” he cries, as hostility laces the softness of his voice.
“Basically, what used to be my responsibility becomes yours.”
“Not exactly,” explains Donn. “As soon as the Council approves the new deal, until they vote in favor or against, Stella will not be in any danger. She’ll be as secure as if she were at Fort Knox. Unless you know someone who plans to defy the Council, which would mean certain death.”