“Ruby, its dinner time,” called Eli through the door.
I pulled it open.
“Why aren't you dressed?” he asked. “Have you been asleep this whole time?”
His voice wasn't angry or annoyed; I think he was more amused than anything.
“Give me ten minutes,” I said, rushing over to my wardrobe and pulling out a knee length, flowy, Athena styled dress. I raced to the bathroom, ripped off my clothes and slid into the dress. I brushed my hair down, regretting that I didn't brush it this morning as my brush ripped massive knots from my hair. I applied a base foundation and some light mascara, I was done. I slipped into a pair of black flats and opened the door again. Eli didn't say anything, he didn't have to. His loss of breath and long gaze said it all. I looked good.
“We’re late for dinner,” he said, clearing his throat. With a broad smile on my face I walked beside Eli to the dining hall.
“I'm not dangerous; I don't need to be escorted.”
“You are dangerous and you do need to be escorted.”
I guess I did attack another student, but still that didn't mean I would attack other students.
We made it to the hall. As I entered, some people clapped, some people gasped, and some even stared at me in fear. Apparently, at my level of detention, I wasn’t allowed to sit with friends or near other students. Eli and I sat at the far end of the room at a single table, well away from everyone. Shortly after, burgers on Turkish buns were placed in front of us.
“Ugh, just my luck,” I groaned as I looked over and saw Raina walk through the door. My eyes focused directly on hers, no matter how much concealer, foundation, and eye shadow she had used, her bruise stood out like a sore thumb. I was trying to figure out whether she had a concussion from the hard hit to the head or if she was just plain stupid. She spotted me and came storming over, no doubt trying to gain her dignity back. As long as Eli was here she knew I couldn't touch her.
“How dare you!” she boomed. A few people close by heard her and stopped to look but no one else paid attention.
“Raina,” Eli warned, rising from his chair and standing in front of her, blocking her path to me.
She stopped in her tracks and peered around Eli to look me dead in the face. “You are a psychopath!” she yelled. This time, drawing a few more gazes to us.
“Brilliance is impossible without a touch of insanity.” I smiled.
Raina growled in frustration.
Eli signalled Sera over; she walked over casually but quickly, trying not to draw any more attention. She stood by Raina and tried nudging her slowly to the far end of the room.
“This isn't over.”
I stood up. “What are you going to do? What could you possibly do to hurt me?” I yelled.
The majority of the room was staring at us now, including the teachers. A few students yelled fight, some wolf whistled, and others watched silently.
Raina’s facial expression made it clear she didn't want to get into another fist fight with me, we both knew who would come out on top in that one. Knowing Raina and her vindictive personality, she was going to try and dig up some dirt on me. She played mentally not physically. It was safe to say I was Raina’s new worst enemy, not Mila. Bad choice on her part though, I clearly wasn’t afraid to throw the first punch or the last. She turned and thundered to the other side of the room.
Eli sat back down in his chair, I followed suit. “You need to control your temper,” he stated, taking a bite out of his burger.
“Me? She provokes me,” I scoffed.
“Ignore her.”
“I try to, but she keeps pushing.”
“Let me teach you.”
“To ignore people? That's useless; teach me how to fight.”
“Judging by the size of her black eye, you already know how to fight.”
“Punching a skank is easy; I need to learn how to take down vampires or at least a student angel.”
Eli flickered an expression of disapproval when I swore, but he didn't bother pulling me up on it.
“Not going to happen. That's why you have me, and student guardian angels are still deadly.”
“You get all the fun.”
Eli flashed a sexy smile and it drew my attention to his lips, making me ponder the thought of tasting his lips again.
Most of the time I was unsure about how Eli felt about me. Sure, we kissed and it was passionate and unforgettable, but since then he has hardly given any indication of how he feels about me. This morning we connected, but I wanted more, I wanted to be on a physical level with him.
I cared for Eli, a lot more than I should, but I wasn't sure whether it was lust or if my feelings went beyond his godly good looks. We continued to eat dinner in silence. Eli texted a few times and it brought my mind back to when I was in the underground cell. Camilla's words were so alive and real in mind as I thought about her. She had been so sad and frustrated with me. I wanted to call her again but I was afraid.
“Rubes!” called Rylan, walking over to us.
Eli shifted in his seat and watched Rylan cautiously.
“Wow! Did you see the damage you did?”
“Yeah…” I replied, feeling embarrassed. “I'm not really allowed to socialize. I'm a criminal right now.”
“Oh okay, well I'll see you—”
“Actually, Rylan, sit. Keep her company whilst I run a quick errand,” Eli interrupted. He got up from his chair and walked out the door. I stared after him.
“You can throw a mean punch! Half the school is buzzing with gossip.”
“What's new…”I mumbled.
Rylan didn't seem to hear me. “I didn't come over here to talk about that, I actually came over here to tell you that every year we hold a dance and it’s coming up in three months. Would you like to go together?”
I almost choked on the piece of lettuce I was nibbling on. Wow, this was awkward. Rylan was cute and wore cologne you could get lost in, but I didn't want to be his date, for anything, at any stage in my life.
I wanted a guy who made my stomach flutter, who was polite and respectful to everyone because he didn't think of anybody as beneath him, a man who did good things not because of what he’d gain but simply because it was the right thing to do. I wanted someone that cared about the injustices of the world and tried to help even if the issue didn't affect his life; I wanted a man like… like Eli. I had answered my own question, the feelings I felt for Eli went deeper than his appearance, he had been my rock, my support beam throughout everything that had happened to me these past few days and he didn't have to be.
“This is honestly not what I was expecting,” said Rylan.
“Rylan, I’m sorry, but I…”
“You're going with Hunter,” he replied, bluntly.
“No. I'm not going with anyone. I didn't even know there was going to be a dance.”
“Then just come with me.”
“No, I'm sorry.”
“I thought you liked me.”
“I do, as a friend, but I—“
“—that day in class, you… I thought you were into me,” Rylan interrupted.
I stared at Rylan blankly.
“Never mind.” Rylan left his chair stormed out the door.
I thought back to the day I met Rylan in class, had I really flirted with him?
“Men,” scoffed Hunter, walking up to me.
I looked up to the ceiling and threw my hands up in exasperation.
“Why me, god, why me?”
“C'mon, now, I'm not that bad.” He chuckled.
Truth was, no, he wasn't. He leaned over the back of the chair, today’s attire was baggy jeans and hooded jumper — casual but sexy. However, in reality, he wasn't Eli.
“Don't worry, I would have chosen me over Rylan as well.”
“I didn't choose anybody.”
“Yet.”
“Look, I'm not going to this stupid dance.”
“You have to, it's mandatory.”
“Then I’ll go alone.”
Eli came back through the door and walked over to us.
“Time to go,” Eli said.
“You relax, Mr De Luca, finish your meal. I'm a school prefect; I can escort students back to the safety of their dorm.”
“Not this time,” Eli replied.
Hunter's smile faded in defeat as Eli escorted me out. “Ruby,” Hunter called from behind us.
Eli kept walking as I turned around.
“You look beautiful, as always.”
I gave him an awkward smile, it was a little embarrassing. I turned and caught up with Eli, who was now walking at a frustrated pace.
“You’re walking too fast,” I complained.
“You want to learn to fight vampires and yet you’re complaining about me walking too fast? Great start.”
“What's wrong?”
He didn't answer but increased his speed. I gave up; I wasn't going to play this game. I sat on a bench along the path in between the dining hall and the girls’ dorm.
Eli turned around. “Come on, Ruby.”
I didn't budge. He exhaled loudly before sitting down next to me. There were no students walking around, we had left dinner early. I assumed Eli wanted to avoid another run in with Raina.
“I'm sorry, I just…” he stopped.
“You just what?” I prompted.
Eli sat in thought. “I’m frustrated. I hear what the boys at this school say about you and I just don't want you to be taken advantage of…”
I made a disgusted face as a few images filtered through my head.
“I mean, I understand their teenage boys and all, but—”
“I’m not interested in any of them. I don’t even know why they’re interested in me; I was a vampire, for crying out loud.”
“You have this energy that makes you hard to ignore. The reason you keep having these run-ins with Raina is obvious, you’re considered a threat. Not to mention that you have this humour and charm that no doubt intrigues the guardian angels and gods. Goddesses aren't usually so… like you. You’re special, you’re amusing, and attractive, and just an accomplishment in their eyes.”
Eli looked down. I could tell he had come to the same conclusion I had earlier. We cared for each other, deeply. Our feelings ran deeper than our appearances and as long as Eli was a guardian angel and I was a goddess, we could never be together.
“You really think all that about me?”
“Does it matter?”
“To me it does.”
“Well, it shouldn't. Nothing can ever become of us. You should be dating boys your own age and kind.”
“But I don't want them, I want you.”
Eli stood up. “C'mon, we have to get you to your dorm.”
“No. Listen to me.”
He glanced around nervously before locking eyes with me. I kept my voice as quiet but as stern as I could. “You can’t say the things you do and expect me to not feel anything for you. You know how I feel about you; you can feel it, but I can’t feel how you feel about me and it kills me. You say and do these things that make me think you feel the same way, and then you close off and pretend it never happened. I hate it.”
He pondered for a moment. “I’m sorry if you feel like I led you on, but I feel nothing towards you; you are a student and a goddess, both of which are not okay.”
Pressure grew in my chest as a lump formed in my throat. I fought hard to fight back the tears that welled in my eyes. Eli’s face grew pained; he could feel my heart breaking, but not as much as I did.
I headed off towards my dorm, Eli followed closely behind.
The walk back to my dorm was long and painstaking; I inhaled deeply in relief when I approached the door.
“Ruby…”
I turned abruptly but I couldn’t look him in the eyes. If I did, I would certainly lose my composure.
“What I said was harsh, but you have to understand where I’m coming—”
“I understand,” I interrupted, still not making eye contact.
"Goodnight, Ruby… See you in the auditorium tomorrow after classes."
I didn’t say goodnight; if I opened my mouth anymore I would have choked up. I closed the door and leant against the back of it.
I didn't realize I was holding my breath as I looked at my pillow. No note. Surprisingly, sleep came really easy. I figured that today I’d let out a lot of stress. Besides the threats on my life, being hunted by a vicious vampire that murdered my mother, and detention, I felt pretty good.
I woke up feeling like I had slept for days, I felt alive and rested. It was eight which meant that class was starting in an hour. Taking my time, I slid into a tight pair of denim jeans, threw on a polo shirt and finished with a navy blue jacket. I didn't dress up because I had to clean the auditorium this afternoon. My stomach twisted at the thought of being with him, I was too embarrassed and mad to talk to Eli.
A lot of things were occupying my mind, although I slept well, it still wasn’t enough to de-stress my life. Slowly but surely, I made my way over to my first class — Agrobiology — the study of plant nutrition and soil yields.
“Ruby!” I turned around, it was Mila.
She ran over.
“We have —”
“Agrobiology.” I groaned. “I know.”
“It’s my favourite class,” she squeaked.
“Really? How is that even possible? It’s completely pointless!”
“Not for me, it’s good to know what plants we can turn into medicine and stuff.”