“Case in point,” Jen concluded. “So, he has to be supernatural.”
Jen did have a point. Seth did have a strange influence over the students and teachers at Setemple High, including her. Reason enough for her stay away from him. But to call him a vampire? Jen had clearly been watching too much Buffy on the telly.
“Why vampire?” Wanda asked. “He doesn’t glitter, and he doesn’t hide from the sun with a cool pair of shades.”
“That’s only in books.” Jen waved her off. “Or maybe he just uses a lot of sunscreen.”
“Maybe.” Wanda nodded. “Or he could be something else. Maybe he’s a werewolf?”
Kevin snorted a laugh. “Explains the impulses and party animal he becomes on a full moon. Though, he must shave every hour on the hour to hide all that hair.”
Jen smacked Kevin’s shoulder. “You know nothing about the paranormal world. Werewolves don’t have to look any different than the rest of us. And it would explain his animal like behavior, but it doesn’t explain how he lures woman into his arms so easily. Werewolves tend to be more aggressive. More like his friend, Ky, over there.”
They watched Ky scarf down one of his four burgers whole. Natti placed down her fork, suddenly feeling sick, and pushed her tray aside.
“Well, maybe he’s a Fae then?” Wanda offered.
Kevin nearly spat up his soda with laughter. “What do you girls all read in that book club of yours?”
“What? You don’t believe in male fairies?” Kevin laughter roared even louder, and Wanda’s cheeks burned with rage. “Shut up, Kevin! I didn’t mean it like that!”
Natti rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, guys. Let’s all be realistic here. He’s human. Not a vampire or werewolf or some fairy creature of lore.”
“That we know of.” Jen pointed her fork at her. “It’s not like they all wear a sign around their neck saying ‘I’m paranormal.’ Otherwise, scientists would gather them up for study purposes.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Natti glanced back that the plaque, the last name of the donor striking her suddenly as one piece of the puzzle fell into place. “Seth O’Keefe is probably just a spoiled rotten, rich kid. And his only charm is his family’s money.”
“Yeah, well,” Jen eyed Natti, “the point is I had totally counted on you being his lunch today, whether it was willingly giving up your blood or by other means. I guess I just blew that dollar.”
“A dollar?” Natti’s eyes darted between Kevin and Jen. “Are you people taking bets on me or something?”
Kevin gave a nervous cough. “There’s sort of a school pool on how long it will take you to fall victim to Seth’s charm.” He pushed his carrots around his plate nervously. “I’m down for tomorrow afternoon.”
Natti raised a brow, her anger and humiliation on the rise. “Really?” Kevin and Jen shrank in their chairs when she shot them her death glare. “Well, I hate to disappoint you, but I’m not going to fall for some spoiled jerk.”
“Oh, yeah, sure.” They nodded sympathetically.
Jen looked at Kevin. “You think the slot for Friday lunch is still open?”
Enraged, Natti grabbed her tray and headed for the door. She couldn’t believe this! Yes, she would admit she might be curious about Seth and who he was, but for students to think she would fall for his so-called charm in one day? How easy did these people think she was? It didn’t exactly take an Einsteinian leap to see what a creep he was.
“She was kidding, Natti,” Kevin called. “Natti!”
“I was not!” Jen snapped.
“Shut up, would you!”
The continued banter between Kevin and Jen just made Natti’s twisted stomach even tighter. She threw the rest of her lunch out and stormed into the hall where it was quiet. Even through several calming breaths, her rage flared when she thought about what Kevin had said. It was no wonder all the kids were watching her or that teachers were surprised to find her in class. They all assumed that she would become Seth’s plaything for the day. And they seemed to be counting on it happening eventually.
Tears brimmed in her eyes and poured down her cheek. Natti swiped at them furiously, trying to keep hold of her emotions. She failed miserably. For every tear she rid herself of, two more trickled out. The salt burning her skin. Frustrated with herself, she slammed her fist into a locker before marching outside.
“I hate being the new girl,” she hissed, not sure which she thought was worse: what the students thought of her or the fact she was letting them get to her. “Well, I’ll show them. I’m not going to let myself fall for—”
Two entangled bodies slammed into the wall right in front of her just when she rounded a corner. A blond girl with a raised short skirt had her silky, long legs wrapped around Seth’s hip. She panted hard while he kissed he neck and pressed her spine into the stucco wall.
“Oh, yes, yes, yes!”
“OH GOD!” Natti shrieked.