Vampire Queen

Chapter 2: James

           As soon as Chase and I enter gym, I search for Ava. When she got into the car this morning, there was something different about her. We grew up together since she was Jade’s best friend, and once we turned 16, something flipped inside me and I couldn’t stop thinking about her. She grew up and was absolutely breathtaking. I remember a few months before her 16th birthday, her parents died in that drifter attack. We lost many vampires that day, it was the biggest ambush we ever had. Ava took the following year pretty rough, and Karter had no idea what he was going to do. He came to my father and asked for help since our parents were close. I remember him showing up on Ava’s birthday, asking if there was something special we could do to make it a less miserable. My mom started planning a surprise party for her. Jade took her out shopping to get her out of the house and brought her back for the party. She had on a long dark green dress with a black vine design at the bottom, I fell in love with her that day. I caught sight of her, and we locked eyes. I smirked and gave her a wink remembering how I caught her staring at me in the car earlier. I turned to sit down, happy knowing that she will be looking my way during the whole meeting.

            The teachers started talking about all the different careers, which meant nothing to me. I was prepared to become King and didn’t feel the need to have a back-up plan like Jade, although her plan was ridiculous. Chase was going to be my second in command when the time comes, we had it planned out since we were children.

            “I don’t understand why we have to be here,” Chase mumbles in a low voice. “We have our careers planned. If anything, you and Jade should be exempt from this meeting.”

            “As future King, it my responsibility to show leadership and attend, even if I know my path already.” I responded.

            “That sounds like your dad talking, not you.”

            “It was my mom actually,” I said with a smile. Chase knew me too well. Yes, I might be prepared to be King, but doesn’t mean I wanted to start training now. I want to have fun for a while, I want to find my mate and have some time alone with her before stepping into the role. That didn’t stop me from asking to stay home and shadow my dad this week though.

            “Do you think you will find your mate on Saturday?” Chase asks, making me refocus on him instead of my inner whining.

            “If I do, that means Jade is off the hook.”

            “That isn’t exactly an answer to what I asked.”

            I sighed and turned around to look at Ava, she moved her eyes to look at me just as I looked at her. I tried to cover up the hope and pain in my eyes as best I could while I looked into her beautiful brown eyes.

            Thinking I was looking at Jade, Chase leaned over and whispered, “maybe while you and Jade are gone for training, I can keep Ava comfortable, if you know what I mean.”

            My body went stiff and I snarled at him while turning back around. Why did that comment make me so angry? I notice Chase look back with confusion on his face before quickly turning back when I balled my hands into fists. He wasn’t allowed to look at her, or even think about touching her.

            “Why are you angry?” He had the nerve to ask. At this point everyone close to us had noticed my outburst and were trying to be subtle while trying to see what happened. I kept a glare on my face so people would stop looking. I didn’t know why I was angry; this didn’t make sense to me. Ava wasn’t mine; I had no right to get mad when someone else showed interest, but why did I feel like ripping Chase’s head off when he made that stupid comment? He was waiting for me to respond, but I only shook my head.

            This lecture was taking too long. Luckily once it was over, it would be lunchtime and I could get in my car and drive away for the afternoon before coming back to pick up Jade and Ava. I didn’t care if I missed any school, I was turning 18 on Saturday and would be starting my King training next Monday. This week was pointless, the only reason why I even bothered getting out of bed was because Jade told me we would be driving Ava. I couldn’t help but wonder what she was going to do once we left, she still has a while until she was out of this school too. If the sun wouldn’t burn me after Saturday, I would offer to drive her anyways.

            “Dude, you have to relax,” Chase told me. “Almost everyone in the gym is starting to notice you now. Your aura is growing, take deep breaths, it’s almost over.”

            Taking a breath, one after another, I start to feel myself relax. I didn’t realize how angry I still was thinking about not seeing Ava again for two months. Jade will probably have her over every weekend like usual still, it will just be a different type of sleepover. This thought was the final thoughts to bring me back down and make me happy again. Shortly after, everyone was dismissed for lunch. I stayed sitting while everyone else ran to the door.

            I felt a hand on my shoulder and knew who it was right away. “What happened James?” Jade asks me. Maybe I should have rushed out the doors first. I tensed a little than relaxed again when she took her hand off my shoulder.

            “It was nothing,” I told her. She looked at me like she didn’t believe me, then looked at Chase who shrugged his shoulders. He turned to leave, mumbling something about starving to death. Jade and Ava followed. I sat there still watching Ava walk towards to doors. She turned and took one last look at me before leaving. She had curiosity in her eyes, but I knew she wouldn’t try and ask, she wasn’t the type of person to pry unless it was really bothering her. After she left, I stood up and walked through the school to go to the parking lot. I was almost to my car when Ave appeared next to me.

            “I know something happened between you and Chase, I just wanted to make sure you were alright.” She said softly.

            “He said something that bothered me, I’ll be fine.”

            “Are you going somewhere?”

            “I was thinking of just driving home actually,” I answered honestly. She looked sad for a moment when I told her this, but the look was gone before I could blink. “I see no point being here when my chosen path is already known.”

            “I had the same thought this morning before you and Jade arrived.” She told me sitting on the bench that was in front of my car.

            “Really? You decided what you want to do already?” I asked while sitting next to her.

            She shook her head with a shy smile forming on her face, “Nope. I have no clue, but since I’ll be 18 in two months, I just don’t see why I have to put up with high school anymore.” She looks at me and tilts her head to the side, “If you didn’t want to come today, why did you? You probably wouldn’t get in too much trouble if you decided to stay home.”

            “My parents made me, Jade was more than happy to come because she could show off her new dress, but I just wanted to stay home. I tried to tell my dad that I could start shadowing him around the office before my training starts next week.”

            “It was a good effort at least” she laughs and gently nudges my arm. I looked over and smiled at her. She was so adorable when she had her playful eyes. There was a twinkle that made her look more like a child than someone becoming an adult soon. “I think you will be a great King.” That took me by surprise.

            “How do you know?” I asked with doubt in my voice.

            “The way you present yourself. Mind you, maybe control your emotions a little more while in public,” she teases. “Apart from that, you know how to talk with people, you know how to handle situations in the way. Most of all, I can see it when I look in your eyes. Don’t ask me exactly how I know just by looking at you, but it’s a feeling I get whenever I’m around you.”

            “Thank you, I don’t even think my own parents have said that to me.” I chuckled. It’s nice to know that you believe in me.”

            “I’m not the only one who does.”

            “You’re the only one the counts. Now let’s get back inside before Jade sends out a search party for you.” I stood up quick, so she didn’t have time to think about what I said.

            “Ugh, you go. I am done with her chipper attitude already.” She said while standing up anyways with a big smile on her face. I know Ava isn’t the happiest person, it made me curious why her and Jade were best friends. Ava was dark and broody; Jade was happy and annoying.

            We walked back in silence. It was nice to have a conversation with her without Jade around, even if it didn’t last too long. Knowing she cared enough to check on me made my heart swell. Once I found my mate, it is going to hurt me when I won’t have the chance to be with Ava. I didn’t realize I started walking closer to her when I felt the back of our hands touched, I pulled away quickly after a felt a small shock.

            “Sorry, I get staticky sometimes. I didn’t mean to shock you.” She says quickly than she runs off. Was that a static shock, or could Ava be my mate? I know we both aren’t 18 yet, but sometimes for the royal family, we can tell who our mates are before we become adults. It depends on how strong the bond will be.

            I see Chase walking towards me, as he walks past Ava he looks back at her and I give a low snarl again. He snaps his head back to me with wide eyes. I tried to turn the snarl into a cough, but he saw right through me. He finally reached me and looked me straight in the eye. “Is Ava your mate?” He asks.

            After a while of silence, I let out a sigh, “I don’t really know. There is something there when I’m around her.” I admitted. “It might be the mate bond, or it might be the crush I’ve had on her since we were 16.”

            “Why didn’t you tell me that you liked her? I wouldn’t have made that comment earlier if I had known,” he told me. “It was honestly a joke, by the way. I don’t actually like Ava in that way.” He had his hands up with a sign of surrender. “What’s you plan this week then?”

            “I haven’t decided yet.” I told him truthfully. I wasn’t sure if Ava is my mate or not, Saturday was coming up quick, but she wouldn’t be 18 for a while. Would I find out once I turned, or would I have to wait for her? “All I know is that I can’t wait for Saturday to find out hopefully.”