Fighting Destiny (Central Coven) (12 page)

“Why did you laugh so hard when she called you a witch?” Finn asked.  “I’m not sure.  It has just been a long couple of days.  I guess some bobble-headed bimbo calling me a witch, to hurt my feelings, pushed me over the edge. It was funny to me because she has no idea she is only calling me what I am.  What was I supposed to do, call her a
human
?”  “You have an odd sense of humor,” Finn teased.  “I know, it’s a witch thing,” I said laughing again. 

“I just need to grab my book bag, and then do you want to get a coffee?” I asked.  “Sounds good,” Finn agreed.  I unlocked my door and found Dean and Anita taking advantage of the extra time before class.  “Whoa, put something on the door would’ya,” I teased.  “Hey we’re dressed,” Anita said defensively.  Dean just laughed.

“It looks like you two are getting along again,” Dean observed.  “We worked things out,” Finn affirmed.  “And we are going to get a coffee.  We will see you in class,” I said with a wink.  “Yeah, yeah, get out already,” Anita urged.  “Okay, see you in class if you can pull yourselves away, have fun.”  Anita launched a pillow at me as I closed the door.

We all made it to History, although Dean and Anita walked in just as class was starting.  I tried not to glare at the girls who were paying more attention to Finn than they were to the professor, but I was only mostly successful.  It was easy to ignore how confused I was though as soon as Dr. Anderson began delivering her lecture.  I took notes feverishly, and before I knew it the class was over. 

“Are you ready to deliver your monologue today?” I asked Anita on our way to the theater.  “Sure am,” she said with enthusiasm.  She chose a piece from
Les Liasons Dangereux
, because the, “characters are so twisted and immoral.” Dean said, “At least it isn’t the
Vagina Monologues.
” I still had never bothered to read a word of them, but the boys were still amused by their joke. In fact they were still laughing when they left us outside the
Tower.
  I was doing Shakespeare’s
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
. I couldn’t resist a play with all of that magic.

Anita made full use of her powers of hypnotism during her performance.  She used her voice and mannerisms to lull them into a trance.  She could really work a crowd.  Thank God she was not succumbing to her bloodlust, because every person in here would follow her wherever she led them. 

Not to be outdone, I layered my voice with magic.  Everything I said they could picture clearly, except they thought it was their imagination.  After Anita and I were done, no one wanted to volunteer to go next.  The instructor didn’t insist on anyone following us either. 

I went to the rest of my classes and returned to the dorm exhausted from waking up earlier than I had anticipated that morning.  I knocked on my own door and Anita shouted, “You are just so funny!  Come in already.”  “I am so tired!” I exclaimed, and flopped down on my bed.  “No kidding.  I hate getting up early, but I can’t say I hate spending a few hours with Dean before class,” Anita waggled her eyebrows.

“You two were…uhm…
involved
when I came to get my books.” Anita laughed, a little embarrassed.  “Things are progressing nicely.  He is so sweet.  I have never met any one like him before.  He seems so protective of me, which is wonderful and odd since I can totally take care of myself.  But I like it anyway. Enough about me, what is going on with you and Finn?”  “I’m not sure.  It’s weird because we have only known each other for a few of weeks, but it felt like he was mine.  Which is totally stupid because he wasn’t.  He was totally a jerk, but he hadn’t promised me anything, so…I don’t know, I guess we are friends now.”

“Friends with benefits?” I took a cue from her and tossed a pillow at her, “No.  Friends, plain and simple.” “So then what is going on with you and Grey?” Anita asked.  “He is gorgeous, charming, and a great kisser,” I gushed.

“Oh Chloë come on!  He is a vampire.  You have no idea what you are messing with,” Anita chided.  “You might not know him as well as you think you do,” I argued.  “He can be anything he wants to be for you Chloë, try not to forget that,” Anita warned.  “I hope he can be anything I want him to be,” I said raising an eyebrow.  Anita laughed, “You are horrible.”

“We should go to the dining hall before we fall asleep and the dinner service is over.  I really hate wasting my meal units at the convenience store,” I complained.  “Especially since you only end up choosing
Ben and Jerry’s
anyway. I’m going to go see if Dean is ready to go.  Do you mind if Finn comes too?”  “No. Like I said, we’re friends, it is a weird friendship, but we are friends nonetheless.”

Anita paused by the door and looked at me with her eyebrows scrunched together.  “Hey, uhhm…Finn told me about your family.  I hope you aren’t mad.  I wanted to tell you though that if you need to talk, I’m here,” Anita offered.  “Why did Finn tell you about that?” I asked annoyed.  “He wasn’t trying to tell your secrets, he wanted to know more about supernatural families.  I really couldn’t help him though.  After all, I was born human.  Dean said his family is very close, all the shifters he knows are.  Then again, they have a pack mentality so they are closely knit.”  “I understand why he talked to you about me then.  I’m not mad.  That is interesting about Dean’s family.  I am really glad at least one supernatural race has close families.  Do you know why your dad took off?”

“I had the misfortune of being born Anita Sanchez.  My father doesn’t have the excuse of being slowly desensitized by living for hundreds of years.  In fact it is the most pathetic reason of all, my father falls prey to being a stereotype, a father who abandoned his family.  That is my story.”  “Is that what your mother says?” I asked.  “No.  She says I will understand him more when I get older.  I don’t agree, so we don’t talk about it.” 

“Aren’t we just the dysfunctional group?” I added.  “Yeah I guess so,” Anita said with a half smile.  “Do you think that bird of yours might have a clue where Finn’s parents are?”  “I’m not sure. She usually comes to me when she has a message; I’ve never gone looking for her before.  I suppose there is a first time for everything though.”

I reached for the door, and my phone rang.  “I wasn’t expecting a call.  I don’t recognize this number.  Weird, hardly anyone has my number.”  “I’m sure the guys are downstairs playing pool as usual.  I’ll go down and see if they want to go get dinner. See you in the rec room after your call.”  I pressed my touch screen, and heard Grey’s voice.  “Hello, beautiful.  I wanted to let you know I will be away for a few days.  I have located a spell book I believe will be helpful for you to understand how to fight these necromancers.  I must travel to Spain to go retrieve it.”  “Be safe,” I said disappointedly.  “Try not to be too bored in my absence.  I’ll return as soon as possible. Save this number in case you need to reach me.”  “I will. Hurry back.”

I walked down the stairs glumly.  I came upon Dean, Finn and Anita in the rec room without being noticed, and stayed just outside the door.  I was about to make my presence known, when I overheard their conversation.  “Are things really serious between Chloë and that bloodsucker?” Finn asked.  Anita pursed her lips and thought for a long second.  Finn appeared irritated by her delay.  “I’m not really sure.  I don’t know if serious is what she is looking for, not anymore.  I think you had a chance at serious with her before your freak out, and now she is looking for something else.  At least I hope she isn’t thinking about having a serious relationship with Grey.”

“Hi Finn,” purred Cynthia the bubble-headed cheerleader from the second floor. She pranced by, also not noticing me.  Anita rolled her eyes at the overly made-up bottle blonde, and Dean tried not to laugh.  “Oh, hi there Anita and Dean, I didn’t see you there,” Cynthia added.  “Sure you didn’t,” Anita mumbled under her breath.  Dean gently elbowed her in the side.  Anita plastered a wide fake smile on her face, the effects of which were naturally a little frightening since she was half-vampire.  Cynthia took a step back.  “Hi Cindy, nice to see you!” Anita replied falsely.

I put my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing out loud.   I was going to go in before Cynthia arrived.  She and I got along like oil and water.  “Finn, do you have plans tonight?  It is Friday.  I would hate for you to be all alone.”  Damn her.  Anita and Dean are going to the movies.  If Finn takes her up on her offer I’m going to be alone.  How selfish am I?  Well I guess I am about to find out.

I walked into the rec room, and Cynthia cast me a dirty look.  “Hello everyone, and Cindy,” I nodded.  “So what is going on tonight?” I asked pointedly.  “What no va..a…vacation this weekend?” Finn finished awkwardly avoiding the word vampire.  Dean, Anita and I stifled laughter.  “Uhm, no, no
vacation
plans this weekend,” I said using his code.  Finn quickly turned to Cynthia, “I’m going to the movies with my friends tonight.  Sorry.” 

Cynthia stormed out of the room.  “Good riddance!” Anita exclaimed.  “You don’t like her do you darling?” Dean asked playfully.  Anita wrinkled her nose in disgust, “No. She smells like cheap polyester.”  I chuckled.  “Let me guess, is it because of her cheer uniform?”  “You guys are horrible,” Finn said.  “You only think that because she is willing and eager to do any depraved thing you can come up with, or make some suggestions if you don’t have any ideas,” Dean told him.  “Whatever,” Finn said and angrily folded his arms across his chest.

“So what happened with what’s-his-face?” Finn asked.  “He had to leave town for a few days.”  “Did he say why?” Anita asked curiously.  “Yeah, he tracked down a spell book he thought we could use,” I answered.  “Do we really need this guy’s help?” Finn sulked.  “Sorry, but it sounds like we do,” Dean affirmed.  “So are we going to go to get some dinner and got to a show or what?” Anita asked changing the subject.  We all turned and looked at Finn.  “Sure let’s go,” he answered, and we all left the dorm.

Dean and Anita wanted to go back to the Chateau for dinner by themselves; as a result, Finn and I were left to have dinner by ourselves.  “Do you like Mexican food?” Finn asked.  “Yes.”  “Good, Dean and I went to a great place the other day at lunch.  Let’s go there. We are supposed to meet them at the movie at seven fifteen.” “Sounds like a plan, whose car do you want to take?”  “I’m the guy, I’ll drive.”  “Finn this isn’t a date. We are just friends. Remember?” 

“C’mon Chlo, we weren’t
just
friends.  I see the way you still look at me.  Is all this distance because of the dead guy?”  I shrugged, “In part yes.”

“How would he feel about you being out with me?”  I paused for a moment before I answered.  “I have no idea, but I’m going anyway.  I don’t know how this is all supposed to work out Finn. I told you he isn’t my boyfriend, but I think he wants to be.” “I want you back,” Finn replied and grabbed hold of my hand.  I smiled weakly.  “I’m an idiot. I guess we will just have to see how things work out. That is the best I can do.”  “I can’t promise I won’t get in the way with him.”  “That’s fair. You’re just being honest.  And as long as we are being honest I should tell you I hate Cynthia.”  Finn laughed.  “I know. It is the only reason I have gone out with her at all.” “Ugh, you’ve actually gone out with her?” I asked irritated.  He just shrugged. “So where does this leave us?” I asked.  “Like you said, I guess we will just have to wait and see how things work out.”

“Who picked that movie?” I demanded. “Guilty,” Anita said raising her hand.  “That was the sappiest load of crap I have ever watched in my life,” Finn complained.  “Hey I liked it,” Dean said, defending the romantic comedy we were leaving.  “That’s because you didn’t watch it,” Finn said and jokingly punched Dean on the arm. 

“We walked here, so we are going to walk back.  Don’t wait up,” Dean told us.  Anita grabbed his elbow and giggled.  I sighed, “Do you think those two are going to get worse, or get over this puppy-love phase?” I asked Finn.  “Oh, I foresee this getting worse.  Neither of us has been kicked out of our rooms yet.”  “Ugh, I hadn’t thought about that.”  “I guess we wouldn’t have minded if we were up to the same thing,” Finn mumbled. 

This was going to be an uncomfortable evening.  The five-minute drive from the movie theater back to the dorm was silent.  Finn grasped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white.  He kept his gaze directed forward, and occasionally clenched his jaw so tight the muscle bulged at the side of his face.  I was afraid to offer him comfort, because it might send the wrong signal.  Instead, I stared out of the passenger side window. 

Finn pulled into the lot directly behind the freshmen dorms, and whipped into a vacant slot.  The car lurched instantly to a halt, and I tossed off my seatbelt.  “Well, that was a relaxing drive,” I said sarcastically.  “Sorry, I have a lot on my mind.”  “Forget it, I shouldn’t be giving you a bad time,” I chastised myself.  “I mean what are we going to do tonight?  You saw them.  Odds are they are going to be occupying one of our rooms.  And as much as I want to spend time with you, I would much rather you weren’t thinking about another guy while we were together.”

I looked at him, raised my eyebrow, and told him, “Finn, you have no idea what I think about when we are together.”  He looked deeply into my eyes, and gave me a tiny crooked smile.

We walked through the back door of the dorm and found Cynthia holding court with a group of her fellow cheerleaders and a few football players.  As soon as she noticed Finn enter the room, her fawning over the athletes intensified.  Finn shook his head in amusement, and tried to conceal the smile threatening to break free.  I was desperately trying not to laugh.  Obviously, she thought he was using me to make her jealous.  He took the opportunity to place his arm over my shoulders, which, given the circumstances I didn’t prevent, and we went upstairs.