I look at the same schedule with the same bullshit I don't care about.
My many goals for today were incredibly short-lived, including ignoring my new friends because sitting alone is one of the most embarrassing things ever.
I pulled out my notes and started to half-way listen to what the teacher was saying.
Like, I don't think I will ever use a butt fuck class called demonology and supernatural history, but anything to pass the time, right? Right.
The great rift.
Now what the hell is even that?
A very important moment in demon history that started the divide between humans and demons.
Oh. This is where demons' sense of elitism is from.
Demons slowly became better and stronger than humans, taking over jobs and pushing them out of neighborhoods. Soon they took over economies and full countries as well, causing humans to make their own societies to hide from them. Most of the highest elite demons would not even allow their children to see humans in their lifetime because it was extremely frowned upon.
Oh god.
I look up from my notes.
Now I feel like I am being watched.
I looked around the classroom, but there was not a single eye on me. "What's wrong with you?" Jasper asked, not looking up from his phone.
"Nothing, I just felt off," I mumbled.
"Okay, let me know if there is anything I can do to help," He said, and I nodded.
God, that is weird as fuck.
The staring feels fucking suffocating, and it is making it so hard to focus on what the teacher is saying.
It's like a heat picking on my neck.
But what's weird is, no one is looking at me, or at least no one in this classroom is. But for some reason…I feel it; I feel like someone is watching.
Anyway, let me go back to taking notes.
Big-horned demons aren't supposed to exist. They were a mistake caused by selective breeding with humans and medium-horned demons.
So does that make every big-horned demon technically half human? That's interesting.
That's also crazy how the people they hate most are the very ones who created them.
I feel that actually.
I understand. I understand that a lot.
I felt my eyes scanning the room.
I wonder if my Dad was a medium-horned or a small-horned; would I have demon features? Or is it because he's a big-horned and they have some human blood in them that makes me appear human?
All questions, zero answers.
I rub my neck and sigh.
That feeling still won't go away.
I…I wonder if it's.
No, don't think about him, don't.
"What class do you have next?" Jasper asked me.
I felt myself let out a sigh. "Combat and defense training."
"Oh, I love that class."
"Yeah, well, your man is in that class, and he is making me dread it a lot right now. Also, I am human, so combat and defense training is useless because I can't use magic."
Jasper rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry about Vincent, just, ugh, I don't even know, I will talk to him about it during lunch."
"It's fine." It's not at all, but okay.
"Well, tell me if he does anything; I will see you at lunch," Jasper said, patting my back.
And just as he started walking away, I heard it. "Baby."
Jasper turned around, and I felt myself do the same.
Wow! The man of the hour.
"Hi honey," Jasper mumbled and gave him a side hug.
Vincent quickly kissed his head, and I watched the two pull back from each other. "Do you wanna go out for lunch today?"
"Sure, are you paying?"
"Always, baby." They are cute, really cute actually.
Vincent turned to me. "Would you like to tag along as well?" For some reason, his asking me feels like an exterior motive, but hell yeah.
"Oh yeah, that will be fun; we could show you all the good food spots around school!" Jasper said.
"Yeah okay."
"Perfect."
"I'll see you, baby," Vincent said, and Jasper waved him off.
Fuckkk.
Don't leave me, please!
I felt Vincent throw his arm around me and put me in a headlock. "Let's go."
The two of us finally made it to class and then sat down.
And today was thankfully a note-taking day, so I pulled out my notebook.
"You smell good." AH NAH!
"Thanks."
This fucking weirdo.
"Yeah, I think I will have one day note-taking, one day combat day, and so on." Great, I couldn't care less either way.
How do predators track prey in the wild? Using fear and biological signals to stalk their prey.
Key point: demons don't just see you; they smell your fear, hear your heartbeat, and sense weakness.
Now that is fucking horrifying.
"I hear your heartbeat," Vincent mumbled.
AH NAH!
I felt my eyes go wide as my mouth fell open.
Vincent started to laugh as he lightly pushed me. "It's a demon thing." But why would you say that out loud?
"Way to go, now I'm heartbeat conscious," I said, and the two of us started laughing.
"Anything you'd like to share with the class?" The instructor asked.
"For you to mind your damn business!" Vincent said, and the class started laughing.
Okay, so let's maybe not say that to the teacher.
I watched as Instructor S let out a sigh. "Why don't you and your boyfriend take your conversation outside to the office then?"
Now boyfriend is too far; we were literally just talking.
"He's not my boyfriend."
"Now the human has something to say." I snapped my head towards the instructor in shock.
Dawg, you are a teacher; what do you even mean by that?
"We were genuinely just talking about what you are teaching. I didn't know demons could hear heartbeats," I said.
"Of course you didn't," Instructor S said.
What?
I watched as Vincent started to do something weird with his hand.
Then I watched as chairs in the room started floating.
Am I high right now?
"That's not very nice," Vincent said with a smile, and I watched as one of the chairs got launched at the instructor.
Oh, he's doing that.
Damn, that's genuinely insane.
"Vincent! Put the chairs down."
"Wow, assuming it's me, that's not very nice either." Another chair got launched.
"Okay, okay, put the chairs down. I apologize to the human."
"He has a name."
"I apologize to Cassidy." And just like that, I watched the stairs thrown to the front of the room make their way to their original spot, then I heard the metal of the chairs hit the ground.
"Now, back to the lesson."
I turned to Vincent, who raised his eye at me weirdly.
"Wasn't that cool?"
Did he just stand up for me? "I guess."
That's so weird.
Anyway, I am going to go back to taking my notes now.
Demons detect adrenaline, sweat, and pheromones.
Demons, specifically big horns and some medium horns, can hear human heartbeats like a drum.And because they can do that, it makes it easier for demons to calm their heartbeat and make their opponents spike.
Strong emotions, like anger, lust, and terror, act like beacons to demons.
I felt myself gulp. Then Vincent grabbed my notes and wrote something down on them.
"You're okay about the heartbeat thing; not all demons can do it."
I don't know if that makes me more worried or less.
I took my notes back and looked down at the random scribble Vincent wrote down.
Homework: answer the 6 questions online and do journal reflections on your personal fear responses.
Homework on the second day is crazyyyy.
"Hey, you wanna send me those answers?" Vincent asked, grabbing my backpack from me and holding it along with his own.
"Oh, thank you, and I will think about it," I said, and he nodded.
"You are better than Nate; that stingy fuck won't send me anything. I mean, shit, it's always something with him."
I gulped again as Vincent slung an arm around my shoulder. "He's making your heart race, isn't he?" He asked, mumbling with a smile.
"No."
"Liar, I hear it."
"I'm scared of him because of yesterday."
"It doesn't sound like fear."
I turned my head to him as we continued walking. "What do you mean it doesn't sound like fear?" AH NAH!
"Your heartbeat," Vincent said. "What class do…" I watched as he stopped dead in his tracks.
What is this dude on right now?
"I hear my baby."
"What do you mean?"
"I hear his heartbeat."
"You know the sound of his heartbeat?" That's really weird.
"Of course," he says, and he turns around. "Hi honey bear, you need me to carry your backpack?"
I turned around as well and watched Vincent pull off of me, grabbing Jasper's backpack and holding it along with mine and his.
3 backpacks for someone who was on their phone the whole period is crazy.
And what happened to their relationship being a secret? Why are they so open about it? Or maybe it's because I already know; that's why I can spot it immediately? Probably.
"Anyway, what class do you have next, Cassidy?" That's the first time he said my name.
"Elemental and shadow magic theory," I said, saying that goofy ass class name.
"Okay cool, that's close to Jasper's class," Vincent said.
"Babe, you have class on the other side of campus; don't be late."
"I won't, baby, I won't."
Vincent turned to me. "I was gonna ditch, but I guess not anymore," He said, and I started laughing as Jasper hit the back of his neck.
Vincent handed me my backpack, and I thanked him.
"Anything for one of Jasper's friends."
Rightttttt.
I opened the classroom door, and I quickly found a seat.
I watched as people slowly started to trickle in, but no one sat next to me. So I just took my notes as people whispered and talked among themselves.
"Hello everyone!" Wow, very loud.
And we are going right into notes, because why would we do anything else?
Lesson objectives
1. Understanding the branches of forbidden magic, focusing on shadow weaving.
Because that makes a whole lot of sense to me.
2. Analyzing a big horn's abilities, a random case.
3. Explore psychological vulnerabilities that weaken/strengthen control.
Great, I love when teachers have lesson objectives like this.
What makes a magic 'forbidden?'
I guess it could be subjective.
It is subjective, and I guess it can be anything where there are ethical limits, or things that cause irreversible damage/when someone loses their autonomy.
"Cassidy." I perked my head up and stopped taking notes as my name rolled off the teacher's tongue.
"Would you like to answer the question? I see you are taking lots of notes."
No. "Uh yeah sure. So I think that uh forbidden magic can be in the eye of the beholder. Uh, it is basically anything that has ethical limits or pushes that boundary. I feel like if it uh causes irreversible damage or when someone loses their autonomy that could be forbidden."
"Amazing answer, thank you," The teacher said, and I nodded and went back to my notes.
What the fuck is shadow magic?
A forbidden branch of arcane manipulation (what) that draws power from the absence of light, both literal and metaphysical (now what does that even mean). It specializes in dominance, deception, and the erosion of free will. Unlike elemental magic, which bends external forces, shadow magic invades; it seeps into mind, twists bodies, and feeds on emotion.
The more you know.
I looked up from my notes and squinted at my board.
Now she's got this crazy ass table on the board.
Ability: life essence drains; it steals vitality on touch; leaves victims withered, weak. Required eye contact or skin contact. Body manipulation (AH NAH!) controls limbs, speech, and even organs; only certain demons can do this on certain beings (thank god). Heart seer hears heartbeats (that's what it is called); loud environments like yelling or a lot of talking can disrupt focus and hearing it. Compulsion words forceactions/speech (AH NAH!); target must hear the command and part of them must be at least slightly willing. Aura lock: emotional fixation creates an obsession, meaning the person the lock gets put on becomes obsessed, and the user doesn't; it backfires if the user feels lust, fear, or shame.
Critical detail: power grows with rage, but crumbles with desire or shame.
"And here, I have your exit ticket." I heard the class sigh. "It is one question, and it is easy; stop complaining."
I watched as she went around the room, dropping a paper on each desk until she reached mine and did the same.
Would you use shadow magic if there were no consequences?
So basically, are you a terrible person or are you normal?
No. I would not, even if I could use it. But if someone uses it on you, I feel like that's when the question gets weird. I don't know, but I know my answer is no.
I waited for her to come back around, and I handed it to her, and she smiled at me.
Great.
I furrowed my eyebrows and licked my lips.
What a weird question.
I feel like. I don't know, I just have this weird feeling.
But I can't really put my finger on it.
Whatever.
After that bullshit-ass class, I walked alone to infernal literature and languages.
Then I slowly made my way into the class, and I already felt bored.
I sat down, and the teacher immediately started yapping.
I know who doesn't give a damn about demonic poetry, ME!
I raised my hand. "Uh, can I go to the bathroom?"
The teacher nodded and I beeline out the door.
I know I said I was going to pay attention, but literature is just not my thing; I mean it is, but anything with reading or reading out loud is a hell no from me.
One problem is, I don't know where any of the bathrooms are, so I am just gonna keep walking until I find one.
As I watched, the hallways felt oddly silent. I mean, shit, I don't even have to go to the bathroom; I just can't be bothered with literature.
I pulled out my phone and continued to walk.
I clicked on Theo's contact.
Immediate response: hello. "Hi honey," he said, sounding very out of breath. "Is everything okay?"
Oh, that looks like a bathroom. "Yeah, uh, I am going to go out to eat with my new friends during lunch."
"Okay, I will have Daddy." Disgusting. "Send you some money. Do you know how much you are going to need?"
"I don't know, uh, like 15-20."
I heard shuffling on the other end.
"Sorry, was I interrupting something?" I asked, laughing.
"Yes," I heard my dad say.
"No, honey bear. Your dad will send you 100."
"I'm not…"
"Your dad will send you one hundred dollars. Call me later to let me know the pickup plan, okay?"
"Okay, bye."
The line went dead.
I put my phone in my pocket and pushed open the bathroom door.
I felt a wave of chemicals hit my nose
Oh my god, who is vaping in here? That's gross.
I felt myself gulp as I completely pushed the door open.
Motherfucker.
I heard the door shut behind me.
Maybe I should turn around before he sees… "Oh look what the cat dragged in," Nate said, leaning up against the sink, vaping as he started smirking.
And I thought this guy couldn't get any worse.
Not only is he a creep, but he also vapes.
I walk towards one of the bathroom stalls, but he blocks me.
He has this weird smile on his face and a look…I can't really explain, but it felt really off and weird.
"Move."
"Why are you skipping?"
"I'm not; I just have to go to the bathroom. Now move!" I spat at him, and he just started to laugh.
"No one goes to this bathroom unless they are skipping. Who are you hiding from?" He asked, smirking. "Are you hiding from me?"
"You aren't that special; now get the fuck out of my way," I said, and I tried to shove him, but it was no use.
"Oh, the kitten's got a bite." Kitten? AH NAH!
"Kitten is crazy," I said, and I turned around heading back for the door.
I watched as the lock of the door clicked. "I asked you a question."
I felt my legs start to walk back towards him.
It was magic; what a cheap shot bitch.
I felt him pin me to the wall with one hand beside my head and the other one still holding that vape.
He is, without a doubt, high, so I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt right now, because ain't no fucking way.
I felt myself gulp as he blew smoke all in my face. "No one is getting in here, baby."
Baby is disgusting.
"Who the fuck are you?" He asked.
Okay 180.
"You know who I am; you stalked me."
"Why did I react that way yesterday?"
"Ask yourself that asshole," I said as he blew another round of smoke in my face.
"Why do I feel like I have met you before?"
It's because you are high, and "You're a freak; that's why."
He is so getting off on this, because why the fuck is he smiling at me like that? Fuck that's some crazy demon shit.
"You are human, aren't you?"
"Half demon."
"Whatever, still human. Why did you react like that? It's just some life essence; was that some kind of stunt?" He asked and then continued without letting me respond. "If you want my attention that bad, just say it. Like shit, I know I'm hot."
And humble too.
"There's plenty of demons that want me. If you faked the reaction, just say it, and we can move on from this whole thing."
"Yeah dude, not only am I not gay, but if I was, I would not be going after you."
Correction: I am not completely gay.
"Why?" He asked, snapping a little too fast.
He blew more smoke in my face.
"Not only am I not into vapers or smokers or whatever BULL SHIT you are blowing in my face right now." I pushed him back, but this time he pinned both of my arms, dropping his vape on the floor in the process.
"You are ugly," I said, lying straight through my teeth.
"You liar, I am not ugly. I hear your heart racing right now. Would your heart be racing if I was ugly?" AH NAH, the way he said that was all off.
"It's racing because my life's in danger right now."
"I also, if I were to go after a man, it wouldn't be a big horn who is a fear monger," I added.
"What's that fucking mean?"
"And a dumb ass too," I mumbled under my breath, and I felt his nails dig into my wrist.
This bitch.
"A fear monger is someone who tries to make people afraid or is scary for no reason, like you are doing now."
He smirked. "Oh, but you like that, don't you?"
"No, in fact I do not," I said, trying to push him off me.
"Oh, but you do; you wouldn't have faked your reaction like that if you didn't."
"I didn't fake my reaction."
He raised an eyebrow, and his look started to soften. "You didn't?"
"Why would I do that?"
He blew more smoke in my face as his expression changed.
AH NAH, what is that look?
"Hop off, don't look at me like that and stop vaping in my face."
"Your reaction seemed too dramatic."
"Hop off, I have never experienced something…so uh awful, and I reacted like that against my own will."
"Hop off, what baby? Tell me." This guy's a freak, holy shit.
A weird smirk appeared on his face. "Tell me, baby." he paused, and I felt his hand on my jaw. "Why don't you look me in the eye?"
Hell no. "I learned my lesson; that's why."
"Oh, I don't think I have."
Oh my god, I am getting ACTUAL chills right now.
"I can see that. Now let go of me, you freak," I said.
He wouldn't move.
There is no way this is happening again.
I shut my eyes as he kept moving my jaw to the left and then to the right.
"Come on." he paused. "Your eyes are really pretty; just let me take a look."
"Dude, they are dark brown."
"Like honey."
"Like shit, now get off of me." I opened my eyes, and I quickly yanked one of his horns.
He let out this weird ass noise as I tried to move past him.
"You…you bitch." Why is he stuttering? "Let go of me."
"You get the fuck off of me, and I will think about letting you go."
I can feel his heartbeat. I can feel it in the horn; it's pounding, it's pounding so loudly.
I feel myself gulp.
"I asked you to let go!" He screamed at me. I feel my arms come to my side, just like he had done, just like my dad had done, and I feel my feet lift off the ground.
I watched as he tilted his head back up as this awful feeling took over my body.
This feeling of no control has taken over my body.
"Now look at you…stupid," Nate says as he stares at me.
I can't.
I
"You know," his expression was different. "You actually have a pretty face."
I don't know if that's a compliment coming from this crazy bitch.
"Uh okay?"
This feels all types of weird.
"Can you let me down?" and stop looking at me like I am a piece of meat
"No, I don't think I will." bitch.
He was actually staring at me so hard, oh my god.
"How tall are you?"
"5'8."
"How much do you weigh?"
"Invasive ass question that I don't know the answer to," I mumbled.
"Are you half black?"
"No, I am fully black? Both of my parents are black; why?" I asked.
"I don't know; I was just wondering. Do you look more like your mom or your dad?"
"My stepdad says I look like my dad when he was younger," I said.
"How old is your stepdad?"
"41."
"And your dad?"
"42."
"Is your stepdad black?"
"No, uh, he's half Chinese, half Puerto Rican."
"That's cool."
"Yeah."
Talking about my family for some reason gives me a lot of comfort in this situation.
"Who do you like more, your stepdad or your dad?"
"My stepdad, just because he's more hands-on and my dad's monetary support because he's not good with emotions."
Nate nodded intently.
"Do you have any siblings?"
"I don't count them as my siblings because I hardly see them, but there are 3 of them, and they are my half-siblings. Like it's not their fault, but because my mom remarried and had them, I was no longer her only child and no longer even her child. They are half demons and actually have horns. And I guess I don't hate them because it's not their fault, but I'm indifferent towards them. So yeah."
Random lore session.
"Any more questions?"
He was looking around for more stuff to say, to complain about.
I watch as he pauses. "You smell like Vincent."
"I smell like Vincent? That's fucking gross. It's probably because he was all over me trying to hold my stupid backpack," I said, laughing.
Before I could say anything else, I felt myself get slammed into the wall, my legs finally touching the floor.
But I still couldn't move; I still didn't even have control over my own body.
I looked at his eyes, and they looked…different. They looked…I don't know, but they made me feel scared. I couldn't explain it.
"That fucking bitch," He said, and then he started to mumble incoherent words, but the more he spoke, the harder he grabbed onto me, and I could feel my arms and legs start to hurt.
"Nate."
"He already has Jasper, but he just wants to be a greedy fucking piece of shit, huh?"
"Nate, you are hurting me," I said, and it's almost like he didn't hear me because he went back to ranting.
One. I need to get back to class. Two, I need to get him off me because he is genuinely hurting me, and if my dad sees these marks, I know he won't let me go to school anymore.
"Nate." he was not listening.
Magic is crazy because why can I not break out of this?
"Nate." Nothing.
Oh, wait a minute. I know something that will throw him off.
I took a deep breath.
And all I gotta do is just run afterward.
"Vincent," I said.
Nate snapped out of his rage-induced trance to look at me, and before he could let out another word, against my better judgment, I made eye contact with him.
I felt him completely let go of me as he stumbled backward.
Oh my god.
Oh my god.
I need it.
I have to put one foot in front of the other.
But I need.
I just have to make it to the door.
I need him.
Out the door.
I want him.
Run.
I want to.
I yanked the handle down as hard as I could.
But I have to go back.
And I ran.
He needs me.
Ignoring the voice in the back of my head and ignoring the heat that was taking over my whole body.
All I needed to do was run.
After that whole thing, I calmed down and gave the teacher some bullshit excuse to save my ass, and just like that, it was time for lunch.
Great, now I have to see him again.
I walked over to the cafeteria.
"You ready to go out to eat?" I heard Jasper's voice ask from behind me.
I turned around and nodded.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Nothing, you just look a little weird."
"Ouch," I said, laughing, and the two of us walked.
"All you have to do is sign out, which is the same password and username you use to check your assignments and stuff."
Which I don't know, but I am sure Theo put something weird.
Cassidyveyne
Okay, uh, what password would Theo put?
Something cringe.
I squinted at the computer in front of me.
What has he done in the past?
Mybabyboy6478.
Bingo.
He's so weird I can't.
After that, the two of us walked outside, and there Vincent and Nate were.
I am not even gonna look in his direction because what the hell.
"Okay, where would you like to sit?" Jasper asks me.
"Not next to your freak of a man and not next to Nate, please."
"Okay, I will ask Vincent if I can sit in the back with you."
Excuse me? You're gonna…ask?
The vibes of their relationship just changed in front of my eyes, holy shit.
"You are going to ask him? Why not tell him?"
I watched as Jasper's expression changed, and he gulped.
Right in front of my eyes, holy fuck.
That's not a look I ever want to see, especially from someone in a relationship.
That was fear. AH NAH!
Jasper walked over to Vincent and mumbled something to him. Vincent then looked over at me and back at Jasper in front of him.
"But I want you to sit next to me."
"I know, baby, but you know how…"
"But I want you to sit next to me. I don't care what…" his voice dropped low, and now I couldn't hear them.
Oh my god, I am getting chills.
I looked over at Nate.
The way Nate is just looking at me like he wants to eat me tells me this happens a lot. And it's giving; Jasper doesn't wanna be saved.
"Baby, please," Jasper said. "We are going to be late coming back."
"And it's going to be your fault. Sit with me or stay here."
"Nate…"
"Don't call him."
Mister mediator. "I will gladly sit in the front." Never mind.
I watched as he took the front seat without a second thought.
And I got into the back seat and shut the door.
Andddddd they are still arguing.
Then I watched Jasper pull away from him and get into the back seat with me.
After Vincent got in the front seat and turned on the car, along with some music.
I felt myself jerk as he reversed out of the parking lot.
Driving angry is not good.
"Ignore him," Jasper said, smiling at me.
He don't wanna be saved.
"Where do you guys wanna go to eat?" Vincent asked when we were stopped at a red light.
"Let's show Cass where we always go," Jasper said, reaching over to pat Vincent's leg.
What the fuck?
"Fine."
After a little more driving, we made it to this small restaurant.
The 4 of us then got out of the car and walked into the restaurant.
OH MY GOD, IT'S DUMPLINGS. I fucking love dumplings.
"Order," Vincent said to Jasper, and he did just that.
I want pork dumplings.
"Is that all for today?"
Vincent looked at Jasper. "You only want six dumplings?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah, right," Vincent said. "Okay, can you let one of them go first, and then we will order after."
The guy at the cashier nods, and I step forward.
"Can I get 12 pork dumplings and a water cup?" The guy nods.
"Cash or card?"
"Apple Pay," I say, and the guy nods. Then I tap my phone, get my receipt, and get my water cup.
Nate orders, and I go back to eavesdropping on my favorite couple.
"I know you are hungry; order more."
"I'm not; that's all I want to eat," Jasper mumbled.
So they're just fighting everywhere now.
"Look, I'm sorry for earlier; I didn't mean to yell at you."
"You aren't sorry," Jasper said, and I watched Vincent's eyes get angry. "You are never sorry; you just say you are, so I stop acting a certain way."
"Well, I don't want you not eating because we fought. You always do that."
"I don't always do that."
So you guys are both the problem, is what I am hearing?
"You can be mad at me later, just order what you want and be mad at me later," Vincent said, and after more convincing, the two of them walked back over to the cashier.
"Can I have 12 pork soup dumplings? One cucumber salad. And then 6 shrimp pan-fried dumplings and 6 steamed pork dumplings."
"You ordered for me too?"
Jasper nodded slightly, and Vincent then paid, and the four of us went to sit at a table in the back.
I sat down, and Nate sat next to me against my better judgment.
Then I watched Jasper sit on Vincent's lap and start to talk to me like nothing was wrong.
"Are you having fun?" Jasper asked.
I nodded. "Yeah." It's nice to have friends even though y'all are arguing like my damn parents.
"Vincent," Nate muttered.
"What?"
"Does Jasper know you can't keep your hands to yourself?"
Here we fucking go. Neither can you bitch.
"What does that mean?" Jasper asked.
"He knows what that means," Nate spat.
I watched as someone came over and put all of the plates in front of us.
"Thank you."
They continued to argue as I tuned them out.
I mean, I kind of figured they would argue a lot; secret relationships normally end with a lot of arguing, and Vincent's weird as hell, so that also makes it worse.
Anyone who acts like that wouldn't be good in a relationship, respectfully.
He seems like a very aggressive, no, actually he doesn't seem, he IS very aggressive. Them not having to hide their relationship in front of us two also means not having to hide their fighting in front of us as well, so you win some, you lose some…I guess.
I shoveled food in my mouth.
There's so much I don't know about the three of them, yet they know so much about each other.
I gulped.
And now the feeling is back. The feeling of knowing I will never belong.
"Let go."
I will never be like anyone.
No humans.
No demons.
Hey, my own mother didn't even want me.
Noooo, but she wanted her other half-breeds, right?
Right?
But not me.
"Vincent, let go."
Oh god. Why am I spiraling while watching these two fight and eating dumplings?
I guess new environments have that effect on me.
I started to tune back in and finally pay attention to what was happening.
I mean, I missed a few chapters because they were sitting back down and Vincent, I think, had one or both of…both of Jasper's arms under the table.
It's scary how fast they went from lovey-dovey in the hallways to this in the span of a couple of hours.
Maybe it's big-horn emotions, some shit I won't ever understand.
I think that's why people say they shouldn't be together. Too much of anything is a bad thing.
"You are hurting me, let go." Jasper's tone was softer, quieter, like he didn't want me and Nate to hear.
Almost like clockwork, Nate looked up from his phone. "Vincent, he said let go."
What the fuck?
I watched as Vincent's eyes went black, his head went backward, and his whole body almost went limp.
What the fuck…
Jasper rubbed both his wrists as he pulled away from Vincent, and I watched the color return to Vincent's eyes.
"You didn't need to do that; I could have handled…"
Nate cut him off, standing up. "But you didn't. And I know you are into that weird crap, but…whatever."
Did we learn about that shit during class or what?
"We are going to be late," he said to the whole table and started walking towards the door.
What a weird group of people
I finished my food and grabbed the trash to throw away.
"I'm still mad at you."
"I know, honey bear, and I'm sorry."
"You always are," Jasper said.
"Come on, I'll make it up to you later," Vincent said, smacking Jasper's ass.
They are so fucking
We got into the car.
Vincent pulled out of his spot with his hand touching Jasper's knee. "Keep your hands on the wheel."
"I have one on the wheel; I just want my baby to stop pouting." Respectfully, he is too big to be pouting.
After a hard lunch of third wheeling, Jasper and I made it to our next class and sat down.
Damn right into fucking notes, let's run it.
Heat cycles in greater demon lin…lin…I can't spell that word.
Let's cross that out, uh heat cycles in big horned demons, great.
Oh my god, this can't be a lesson objective.
Oh right, so don't give me any time to read that, right, right.
"Today's lessons are on heats, and yes, they are real. Most of us don't have them, except for a select few, and they are very annoying. And no, this isn't sex ed," The teacher said and then started writing on the board.
Only big-horned demons and a select few medium-horned experience cycled heats.
From the day, week, or month they turn 18 till they die, they experience that heat.
That sounds fucking awful.
Oh…wait. I think this is what my dad has right now.
Wait, how come I never remember him having these before?
Without having suppressants tamed, these demons experience the following for a week:
1. Mental haze. The mental haze is basically a difficulty focusing on anything except their bonded mate or potential soulmate.
Oh, so he and Theo are really meant for each other.
That's somehow really sweet and just…makes me wanna smile.
2. Heightened physical sensitivity and irrational behavior. Many demons have to stay home from school or work because of these rash outbreaks that often cause fights and incite unnecessary violence.
3. Extreme emotional fixation. Similar to the first ones, they have an emotional fixation on a single person, and it's impossible to break out of that.
4. If unbonded. They often project those feelings onto whoever they are drawn to, which is very VERY dangerous if misdirected.
I think it might be dangerous, because she capitalized very…
"This is not just about sex. But you guys are old enough, so yes, your brain will start thinking about it nonstop, so to our 6 medium horns in here pray you don't have the gene and to Jasper, our lovely big horn, good luck with that."
The class started to laugh, and Jasper just smiled. "Thank you!" he beamed.
I smiled and then looked back at the board.
Consequences of untreated heats.
Without medicine or a bonded partner to release this pressure. The demon may: Enter a hyper-possessive state, have extreme aggression if anyone threatens or gets close to their desired person.
That's what my fucking dad was doing.
But they can't sense blood? Like I'm your son; why would I want my stepfather? That's so weird.
Become physically weak from magic loss and hormonal imbalance
And magic used during heats extends the cycle and weakens the demon further.
"In rare cases, it turns violent." Almost ended up on the news today because of it, god damn. "That's why there are laws that require registration and suppressant access once you are of age."
I
That's so crazy.
I am genuinely at a loss for words right now.
How come I never remembered my dad acting like this or having this before these past couple of days?
Or maybe my stepdad just hides it really well.
Suppressants and soulmates.
Here we go, a new topic.
Little pills exist that suppress heats, often taken monthly by elite demons, or in the few cases of medium horns, are suppressants.
The soulmate theory is controversial, but documented cases show demons breaking control when exposed to their matched partner.
I am going to be 3 hundo; I have no clue what that fucking means.
So how does it work if you are both big horns?
Like Jasper and fear monger boy?
And do only men get it? Or do women also experience it?
And are they different urges? Wait, I am so confused.
I squinted my eyes.
I wonder if my dad can stay alone while he is actively experiencing it, because I swear he was acting fine, like a day ago and the morning of as well.
That's so weird.
"For your assignment tonight, which you can get started on in class. I want you to take out your computers and research different types of suppressants, their side effects, and the ethical debate about soulmate bonding." That is a lot of hickory shit.
I pulled out my computer, and I started opening up a whole bunch of tabs.
"Do you have insta?"
I turned to Jasper. "Oh yeah."
"Oh cool, here you type yours in and give me your phone so I can give you my phone number."
I nodded and handed him my phone.
@cassfitz_looks
We swapped back.
"Why the fuck do you have 34.7k followers?"
"Uh, I run one of those fashion Instagram and my stepdad helps me run it, because he loves to buy me clothes."
"You are ripped dude…okay…damn why are you shirtless in all of these?"
"I don't know," I said, and Jasper and I started laughing.
I don't know why, but I completely forgot about that.
Cycle regulation in elite demons: risks of soulmate rejection and suppression imbalance.
That is an incredibly long title for an article.
Uh, okay.
Class A suppressants: strongest type. It fully numbs physical symptoms but causes temporary memory loss, emotional flatness, and magic depletion.
That sounds like a BITCHHHH.
Next one.
Class B suppressants:
It says that they are the standard.
It reduces symptoms to manageable levels, but is less effective when near a soulmate.
Side effects: dizziness, nausea, irritability, and horn dulling.
Whole bunch of bullshit.
Class C suppressants: mostly used for emotional regulation.
And it is often used by demons not bonded in pairs who don't want to lose full control but still feel the "pull."
It says that this is the weakest option.
When a big horn is in active heat and near their soulmate, class b and class c suppressants frequently fail due to magical rejection.
This often leads to forced fixation or loss of impulse control.
Why is that last part in small text? Like, why did they not say that earlier?
So, uh, near their soulmate, the potions or suppressants just stop working?
So…what if Nate goes into heat?
What will he do?
Does…does he have anyone?
I shook my head quickly.
Wait, why am I thinking about that?
That's… that's so fucking weird.
He's.
That guy is fucking weird.
My eyes lingered back onto the article I was looking at.
In rare, unmedicated cycles, demons may develop violent compulsion toward rivals or anyone perceived as a threat to their soulmate bond. And basically, possessive behavior is amplified, and in extreme cases, it causes permanent aura scarring to the partner.
I'm sorry?
So…Oh, hopefully that doesn't happen to Theo. I mean, I don't think my dad would hurt him? Would he?
I gulped.
But then again, it's my dad.
"You good?"
I looked over at Jasper, who was on his phone.
"Oh yeah, I'm just thinking about everything, because my dad's a big horn and all that." And he's in heat right now, and I don't want him to hurt my stepdad.
"Yeah, I understand that," Jasper says as he slowly nods. "It's heavy stuff. The whole soulmate thing has always freaked me out too."
"That's rich coming from you and homeboy."
Jasper's face slightly dropped.
Oh… Damn.
I cleared my throat.
"Yeah…I guess we are soulmates."
"You guess?"
"Yeah… I mean, I do feel the pull or whatever. But I think. Yeah. I don't know. The pull isn't very romantic. It just feels like obsession with extra steps."
"Yeah… it is," I said.
"Sometimes I feel like," Jasper continued to type on his phone. "His love for me isn't love; it's obsession."
Oh, that's not good.
"Yeah, but it's like whatever."
"Is it?"
"Yeah, I love him, so it's okay. And it's just how he is. He remembers the little details for everything…"
My brain started to tune Jasper out.
That's not a good feeling to feel, especially about someone you are supposed to "love."
Who does this remind me of?
Lowkey Theo and my dad, in this weird way.
I mean, I found out they were married a couple of years ago, and the only reason I didn't find out earlier was that they don't show any emotion, affection, or any of those things that couples "do."
I think Theo loves my dad, but my dad. I don't know.
He doesn't really love; it's not really his thing.
But, I guess he loves Theo even though I feel like it's obsession sometimes, just like Jasper just said.
He kind of flinches when my dad raises his voice and does stuff like that. He's always telling me to be mindful of my dad, not to bother him after work.
Which is weird, very weird.
God, now my mind is racing another direction.
I looked over at Jasper, who had finished speaking and was now back to looking at his phone.
I turned back to my open tab and typed in the dreaded words: Forced bond.
Yay, something actually came up. Thank you, Reddit, for never letting me down.
I clicked on the first article that popped up, and I started reading it.
My brother bonded during a heat. Now he can't be near his soulmate without blacking out or getting angry. They fight constantly, but they can't let each other go. It's a curse, not fate.
New fear unlocked.
Okay, next question.
Can you resist a soulmate?
Yes.
No.
No.
If the pull is strong enough, it doesn't matter if you want them; your body has already decided.
That doesn't sound fun, not at all.
I heard the bell ring and the teacher announced some other homework I would hopefully remember.
Then I closed my laptop.
Fuck, there is actually no fucking way. I have class with Nate.
After a hot minute, I made it to whatever the name of this bullshit class was called and sat in the same spot.
"Anyone sitting here?" Yes.
I looked up.
Oh, still yes.
I watched Nate sit his ass down before I could respond out loud, and he flashed me a smile.
I squinted my eyes at him.
I have seen you too many times in one day.
"Why would you ask if you are just going to sit down?"
He shrugged. "I like to give you options."
I gave him a weird look, and he started to laugh. "That sounded so weird, and I'm sorry."
He's becoming aware.
I felt myself start to laugh as well. "Yeah, I don't know why you said that."
"I don't know either. It sounded better in my head."
I smiled as I reached down to grab my notebook out of my backpack.
"Uh…" I turned to him as he started speaking to me. "How has your…day been so far?" Oh wow, he can actually be normal? That's very surprising.
"It's been fine, but also it has been a lot lowkey. It makes me feel like I want to go home and never want to come back."
He smiled. "This place will do that to you."
"My old school felt like this too, besides the talking."
He raised his eyebrow. "You didn't talk at your old school?"
"More like I didn't have anyone to talk to. It was just meh."
"You went to a human school?"
"You can say that. It was something in my parents' custody agreement to keep me normal, but it hardly worked," I said, and he smiled at me.
Oh woah…he's actually very good looking.
I blinked slowly.
"I'd say it did; you are pretty normal."
"That sounds like an insult coming from you."
"Do you think everything I say is an insult?"
"Yes," I said, laughing. "It's just the way you say stuff. It all feels so, I don't know…rude."
He slowly blinked at me. "Mhm. I have never gotten that before."
"It's because of the people you surround yourself with," I said.
"My friends?"
I nodded. "They are used to it, and Vincent's a fucking weirdo, so when you are next to him you seem so polite. And the little goons that follow you around act like the sun shines out of your ass, so they aren't going to tell you that."
"That's very interesting. Do you think it's because I'm a big horn?"
"Uh yeah maybe. I mean my dad's a big horn, and he has this massive complex…"
He interrupted me, asking, "Do you think I have that?"
"Yes, that's what I was getting at. I think it's mainly society's fault but also kind of your parents in a way. Like being taught from a young age that you are objectively better than someone is not good."
"Oh."
"Yeah," I said.
Now he was looking for something to say.
But I know this feeling all too well. This is how most of my conversations went at my old school, or with anyone: once they are done talking about themselves or we are done talking about them, the conversation dies off. And I think it is simply because I am not that interesting.
"Earlier, I didn't mean the word 'normal' as an insult. I meant that in like a you aren't weird kind of way?"
"Still teetering on insult, but okay," I said, laughing.
He smiled at me. "You know I didn't mean it like that."
"I know. I know."
After the words came out of my mouth, the silence returned, but this time we were both reaching for something to say.
"You."
"Your."
Oh, now we are talking at the same time.
I couldn't help but laugh, and he did as well.
"You go first," I said, gesturing towards him.
Oh god, what's with that look he's giving me?
"You are very good looking," He said, and I rolled my eyes.
"Get your zesty ass away from me," I said, pushing him lightly, and he started laughing.
It's crazy how fast a dynamic can change.
"You get one ogle a week, dude; you have checked me out too many times today."
"When else did I check you out?!" he asked, raising his hands.
I watched as he started to think, and his hands slowly dropped. "Oh. Hey, that didn't count."
I rolled my eyes again.
"It's all just a joke; I'm straight anyway." Yeah, right.
"Sure."
I watched as the teacher finally walked in, and Nate and my conversation died down.
Oh my god, why does he actually have me flustered right now?
I watched as he started to pull stuff out of his backpack. "I didn't know you actually had stuff in that bag."
He pushed me slightly as he started to write in the notebook.
"Today we will be covering soul resonance and aura compatibility," the teacher announced.
So a bunch of bullshit.
I heard Nate snicker.
I shot him a look. "Nothing, I just like your notes," he said, and I pushed him back.
The teacher explained the assignment. "Okay, so you can get into pairs and go from there."
I watched as one of Nate's goons quickly walked over here and stood in front of him.
Bitch.
"Are you still doing charity work with the half-breed?"
I felt my mouth drop open.
You are not real, because there is no way you just said that.
AND charity work? ME? CHARITY WORK? That's funny. My dad is literally the top donor at the school, and you wanna talk about me being charity work? Right. Right.
Nate didn't respond, and I don't know if I should be thankful or not.
"You know…" Nate's goon continued to talk as I started to ignore him.
I'm feeling…angry. I can't explain it.
Actually, no, I think I can. I very much can.
It's this…this possessive feeling.
Like, like he's MINE.
What the fuck?
I blinked.
Nate looked at me with a smile as the guy continued to flap his fucking mouth and touch Nate.
Bitch.
I know Nate hears my heartbeat too, so I need it to stop and actually get over myself right now.
"Hey, I'll think about it," Nate said, pulling his goon's arm off him slowly.
Think about what?
Bitch ass.
"Don't worry, you have me for today," Nate said, turning his attention to me as his goon walked away.
"I wasn't… I." I can't find the words I wanna say. I took a deep breath. "If you do work, you can have me as well." FUCK.
Nate smiled.
"I tried really hard not to say anything weird," I said.
"And it still came out so desperate, I like it," He said, and I felt myself making a face.
Yo, can we switch back to the Nate from earlier and not whatever this is?
"I'm sorry," he mumbled.
Post nut clarity ass.
"You should be."
"Your heartbeat always has me acting weird, I don't know. Uh, so do you wanna split the work up or work together?"
Okay, so we are just going to move on from that statement? Okay, you know that's fine.
"We can work together."
"Okay."
After that, the rest of the class went by pretty fast, and we ended up finishing early, so now we were walking to basketball together in the empty hallway.
"I almost forgot we had practice today," I said.
"Me too, because I hate directly after school practices."
We continued to walk in silence.
Then after a while we finally made it to the locker rooms.
I put my backpack by my locker and started to change.
I felt eyes.
I felt his eyes.
"Nate."
"What?"
"Stop looking at me."
"I'm not."
I turned around, and his eyes quickly met mine.
He started laughing as I rolled my eyes.
I turned back around. "Nate."
No response.
I rolled my eyes.
This bitch.
I quickly turned around as my shirt was ripped out of my hand.
"I fucking knew it," I said, and the two of us started to laugh.
"For a human, you have very good senses."
I pointed at him. "You are very heavy-footed, and you breathe heavy too, so as soon as I stopped hearing both of those things I knew something was up," I said, and he smiled.
I put on my shorts and changed shoes.
"Can I have it back? My nips are cold," I said, trying to cover myself as I hurdled a bench to get over to him.
"I'll think about it."
"What do you mean, you'll think about it? I need a yes; here's your shirt back," I said.
Fuck he was so fast; it was something about that demon stamina.
"No way your heart is beating from that; you are very out of shape."
"Uh, rude," I said as he continued to do laps around the locker room.
I stopped.
I would just catch him off guard.
"You tired?" he asked, laughing as he walked over to me. "It's no fun if you aren't chasing me."
I have you right where I want you.
I quickly reached out, but he pulled back immediately so I couldn't grab it.
"Fuck," I mumbled.
"I knew you were going to try that."
"Just give me my shirt back and stop being weird," I said as I continued to chase him around.
"I told you to come and get it."
Okay, holy shit, I am actually starting to get tired.
I hurdled bench after bench as he didn't lose energy at all.
Fuck.
I jumped over another bench, and then I felt my right foot clip it.
Welp, there goes all my teeth.
I closed my eyes, put my hands out, and braced myself for the impact.
But it never came.
I opened my eyes; I was frozen in place.
"You're okay, I got you."
I watched as Nate walked over to me.
He was using magic
"Here's your shirt," he said, helping me down from the…air and sitting me down on a bench.
"I can't move anything."
"I used the wrong magic thing; I just didn't want you to bust your head, so I wasn't thinking. Just give it a couple of minutes, and you will be back to normal."
He helped me put on my shirt and started to rub my arms like you do to a cold child.
"This helps, I swear."
"Why don't I believe you?"
"Up to you."
He continued to feel my numb body up.
"Sorry, if I knew that you were going to clip your foot, I wouldn't have done all that," he said.
He is so freaking nice, but why do you act so fucking crazy?
I felt his hands more and more as the time passed.
"This is lowkey why I don't use magic. I am not very good at it… and I know you are going to be like, oh but you used it blah blah. Literally every time I meet you, you use magic. I don't even know," He said, and his hands started to slow down, rubbing my arms, and it felt more and more like he was…seducing me.
Weird.
"Like I know you don't understand because you are human, but there are so many magic tricks or whatever they are called, that I can't remember what hand motion is which or whatever goes with which. So that's why your limbs don't have any feeling right now instead of just me freezing you and then you being unfrozen."
"That's very interesting."
"Yeah…"
A little part of me didn't want to tell him that I can feel my arms again.
And that same little part of me wanted him to keep going.
I blinked.
I…I have been suppressing my feelings for so long that A MAN touching my arms has me going crazy.
Fuck, why am I thinking so much right now?
So much about him, so much about everything? Why do I give a fuck?
"You have oddly muscular skinny arms."
He cut me off before I could even say anything. "No, I don't mean that as an insult; I just mean it like it fits your frame nicely."
He's checking me out AGAIN.
I can't even say anything.
"Like you are nicely proportional…you also have nice hips," He said, and I feel myself flinching at his touch as his hands left my arms and started to travel down my waist.
"I'm sorry…" his voice was drowned out by two arguing voices that felt all so familiar now.
He stood up quickly, and I stood up just as fast, like we got caught doing something we weren't supposed to be doing, caught by two people who won't even give us the time of day.
"Baby, come on."
Nate gives me this 'Here we fucking go,' look, and I can't help but laugh.
Jasper turns around towards Vincent, teelnovela style, somehow missing the two of us standing here, and starts to go off on him. "I'm genuinely not doing this with you. You are always like this. All I'm asking you is to have a sleepover with Nate, and you are literally going to be there, and you are still having a problem with it."
Vincent steps forward and grabs Jasper, hard.
I look at the mediator next to me, who looks very invested. "Let go of me." I turned back to the drama unfolding in front of me.
"You know why I have a problem with it."
"We are all friends…let go of me." Jasper was trying to pry Vincent's hand off of him.
"Vincent… I'm not doing this with you today. You need to work on whatever is going on, because now more than just Nate knows…"
"Don't talk…"
"You can't act like this, truly you can't." Hold on, my show is on, oh my god.
"I don't wanna do this to you, baby…because I love you, but I swear to everything if you do this shit again we are done."
"Done? That's funny." Oh, I just got chills.
"Done! I'm not going to be treated like this when you get in your weird moods…" Oh.
Now I feel like we should step in, because Jasper is crying now.
Vincent's grasp loosens. "You treat me like shit, and your parents don't even know we are dating. Imagine how that fucking makes me feel?"
His crying is starting to get worse. "I'm truly not going to do this anymore. I can't. All this soulmates bullshit, THIS IS NOT how you fucking treat someone who you claim is your soulmate. It's not, and I'm genuinely done."
Vincent doesn't say anything.
"I'm sorry, baby, don't cry, you know I don't like it when you cry," Vincent said and pulled him in for a hug.
"Let go of me. I'm gonna go get Nate to come and handle you."
"Get me to do what?" Dang, out here ruining my show.
The two of them quickly jumped back like they weren't just fighting in public.
I watched as Vincent quickly put Jasper behind him.
"Nothing. When the fuck did you get here?" Vincent asked, and then he started to point at me. "And you?"
"We have been here this whole time, and you should truly be embarrassed and never show your face here again. And when were y'all gonna ask ME if you wanted to have a sleepover?"
"Right now."
"Die," Nate says to Vincent.
I watched as Jasper tried to recollect himself, still using his man as a shield.
My heart is aching right now, oh my god.
Finally, Jasper pulled away and went to change.
"Baby…"
"Go!" Jasper said, putting his finger in Vincent's face.
Vincent turned to us. "Two things." He looked at me. "Wait, three things. Can we have a sleepover at your house?"
He turned his attention to me, and I felt myself get chills again. "Do you want to come with us?" Now his attention was back on the both of us. "And what the fuck were you two doing ALONE in here?"
"To the first question, yeah sure."
Yeah, I just met y'all, so no to the second question. "Uh, I think I will pass, thank you for the offer." AND my dad is VERY anti-sleepover anyway.
"What were you two doing fighting in public?" I asked.
Vincent eyed me up and down. "And where are your pants?"
I don't have pants on?
I looked down.
HOLY FUCK, WHERE ARE MY PANTS?
I quickly grabbed my shorts; they were literally a couple of feet away from me. Why didn't I put them on?
I turned my attention to Nate and smacked him lightly.
"What?" he asked, laughing.
If that bitch didn't distract me, then I would…
I felt myself stumble forward.
What the fuck?
Nate looked at me. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing… I don't…I just lost my footing." What the fuck?
Wait…run it back. Nate was fully checking me out while I was sitting there in my BOXERS.
Fucking disgusting.
After that whole endeavor, we were in the gym, and coach was counting us off before we started to run laps, and of course I got partnered with Nate.
Vincent got partnered with someone I had never seen before, and Jasper the same.
After everyone got their partners, we started running the laps, then finished and started doing drills, shooting, and light scrimmaging.
"When using magic, make sure we are being careful, especially around our teammates who don't have magic."
Nate smiled at me.
Fuck you; you are the reason he even put that rule in place.
We passed the ball back and forth, running down the court.
"Nate!" I called out to him, and I watched this bitch chuck this over my head on PURPOSE.
Bitch we are actually partners; what are you doing?
I ran over to get the ball.
Oh.
I looked up at the guy who was holding it.
He is Jasper's current partner. "Here you are," He said.
I nodded. "Thank you," I said, then ran back over to Nate and threw it at him.
His eye twitched slightly, and then we kept going.
Weird.
Next up, coach announced these bullshit 2 v 2 matches, and we were up against Vincent and his partner, who wasn't a big horn but still a BIG bitch.
Then the whistle blew, and Natey Dog and I started to do our shit.
I mean, he was terrible at shooting but made up for it in height, because he could dunk.
But because of that, I was getting most of our points.
Now, we were halfway through our match and currently on a break. Nate and I were up like 15 points, and Nate and his bestie were talking as I chugged my water.
"For a human, you aren't even that good." I turned over to the disturbance talking to me, who was also Vincent's partner.
"That's rich coming from someone who is losing," I said with a smile.
The guy was a little hard on the eyes, but his height made up for it.
The taller they are, the less you have to look at their face.
But.
Not Nate.
Fuck, here we go again. I think I am slowly losing my mind.
"It's because you have that tank on your team."
"I have scored most of our points because my tank can't shoot."
The guy snarled at me and rolled his eyes.
Bitch.
The fuck is your problem, bitch?
"Nasty ass attitude."
"Now I know you aren't talking, bitch."
"Who you calling a bitch?" the guy asked.
"You, bitch," I said with a smile.
He rolled his eyes at me again and reached out for my face.
"You are lucky you're so cute, or else I would have punched you in your face already." He stood up. "I know he likes these lips, despite them being so nasty." I pushed his hand off my face.
He smiled and laughed. "What? Can't I appreciate your beauty? Is that why you have those tired eyes? Are you too busy putting your best feature to work?"
I'M SORRY WHAT?
I heard the whistle blow; the guy smiled and walked back to the court.
MY EYES WERE WIDE.
Bro, no one in this school is real.
AND who does this BITCH even think he is?
Making OPEN passes towards me.
And wait, does he think I'm sucking Nate's shit while standing up? AH FUCK NAH.
"Why's your heart beating so fast?"
"I'm just tired."
"It sounds like fear. What'd he say to you?" I turned to Nate, hearing the venom in his voice.
"He said I was cute," I said.
"Liar."
"Liar to what? That I'm cute or that he said that?"
"Both." I shoved him, and he started laughing.
Rich coming from a guy who has been checking me out ALL DAY.
Getting way too much male attention right now, and I am gonna push that shit all the way down.
Fuck no.
"What else?"
"He said I have a nasty mouth."
"And you do."
I rolled my eyes. "Why am I even telling you this?"
After that, we got ready for the rest of the scrimmage, and coach started to count us off to start the match.
"Nate."
"What?"
I am a fold-under-zero-pressure kind of guy.
"He said I look so tired because I am too busy putting my best feature to work…on you."
I quickly got the ball as Nate's mind started to scatter out on the court.
I smiled.
That's probably how that guy felt when he made that comment at me.
Just joking, but I'm a funny guy.
I quickly started dribbling, shot it, and then I scored.
"NATHANIEL KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME!"
I laughed as we ran backward.
The guy started to dribble the ball, and I watched as Nate used magic to get the ball to me.
I started to dribble and I…I felt something slam into my side, and I fell hard on the floor.
Mother fucker.
I watched as the guy I still don't know the name of freeze from the neck down.
"Cassidy, you okay?" Nate asked, bringing me back to my feet.
"Yeah, yeah, just a little disoriented," I said, grabbed the ball, and shot it.
Nate unfroze the evil guy, and I watched as he quickly started to charge at me.
Broddie, I don't even have the ball.
I watched Nate pick up the ball I just shot and dunk it.
Then quickly yanked the guy backward with more of his magic.
Magic is so weird, and probably my biggest culture shock being at this school.
"You're pathetic."
Coach blew the whistle, and we had officially won.
We shook their hands as Nate had his hand on my lower back, and I blew the guy a kiss and smiled at him.
TOXICCCCC.
Since he likes my lips so much.
I rolled my eyes.
We continued to practice and work on stuff until it was just us, the two of us…the two of us alone in the gym.
I was currently lying down watching him dunk over and over again.
That crazy demon strength.
After a couple more minutes of doing that, he came over to lie next to me.
"You're not as annoying when you're this, Nate."
"And you're hotter when you are out of breath and wet."
I turned my head, and he smiled.
There was not a hint of regret behind those eyes. He meant every word he just said.
"Nasty ass."
His eye twitched again, and the two of us looked up at the ceiling.
We had help coach clean everything up, and now it's just one ball left that Nate had been practicing with.
We…we weren't touching, but we were close.
It's like I could almost hear his heartbeat too.
Our pinkies were almost touching.
The glow…the glow of the gym lights, once unbearable, felt like this weird, soft vibe.
I turned my head to Nate.
"Oh hello," I said. He was already staring at me.
"Hi," he said with a smile.
Then he rolled onto his side, pushing up onto his elbow, still watching me intently.
"How long have you been staring?"
He smiled. "Long enough to…" he was going to say something weird. "To finally look at those lips that guy was raving about."
I rolled my eyes.
"They are one of your best features, behind your nose."
"My nose?"
"Yeah, it's nice, it's big, it stretches across your face. It's, I don't know, kind of cute."
"Man, all you demons are so weird."
"You are allergic to compliments."
Deny deny deny.
"You are just making weird comments; they aren't really compliments."
"What if I said you were cute, what would you say?"
"I would tell you to stop being weird."
"LIKE I SAID, you are allergic to compliments." Oh.
I am going to push it down, all of the way down.
I rolled my eyes as he got closer to me.
He blinked slowly at me. "You are so interesting. Like I have met humans before but never like this."
"Like what?"
He moved closer. "Like you. You make it…make it hard to stay away from you."
I swallow and feel myself not being able to move.
"I don't. Like.. you are a man, and I am as well, and I know it's not just wanting to be your friend."
What's that supposed to mean?
I wanna ask him that, but the words don't come out of my mouth.
He rolled over on his back. "Ignore me; I'm just talking."
We both jumped at the sound of a whistle. "Thank you for helping me clean, but the gym is closing, so y'all need to get in those showers."
We both got up, thanked the coach, and walked to the showers.
After a very normal shower adventure, we started to walk towards where Theo was going to pick me up.
"Oh fuck."
I felt myself freeze.
"What?"
"Theo is with my dad."
"And?"
"You are a big horn. Fuck, I am so dead."
Nate smiled. "Fine then, I will let you go."
"Okay, bye! Have fun at your sleepover," I said.
And as I started to walk away, I heard my name. "Cassidy."
I turned back to Nate. "Yeah?"
"We should run drills alone together next time."
"Not even in your dreams, weirdo!" I said, laughing, and he smiled. "
I don't dream. I get what I want."
I felt myself gulp and turn around, my legs walking faster.
Now my heart was fucking racing.
I hate it…I fucking hate it.
I sighed as my dad rolled down the window.
Fuck, I should have gotten in on the other side.
"I thought I told you to stay away from big horns," he spat at me.
I opened the door and threw my bag in, and then I sat down, shutting the door behind me.
Ruining my mood instantly is my dad's superpower.
He turned around to look at me.
I made eye contact with him, and I gulped.
I feel…fear.
"Dad…you are scaring me."
"GOOD! And they don't scare you? I told you to stay away from big horns, didn't I? They do not want to be your fucking friend, do you understand? Stay away from them!" my dad yelled, and he finally broke eye contact but continued to look for things to complain about.
Theo started to pull out of the parking lot, with no music at all as he drove slowly.
He was scared too.
My dad reached out for my arm and yanked it.
"Honey, that is your son," Theo said.
"Who put these on you?"
"What?" I asked.
He pointed at the insides of my arms as he was still grabbing onto me.
Oh. Nate and his second personality I met in the bathroom.
"Basketball, I just fell."
He wasn't buying it, but Theo grabbed his arm. "That is your son. That's your son. Calm the fuck down!" Theo yelled, and my dad let me go and slumped down in his seat.
You are way too old to be acting like that, I fear.
Theo flashed me a fading smile through the mirror, asking. "How was your day, baby?"
"It was fine, but a lot happened."
"You wanna elaborate?" Not really because my dad is in the car, but sure, to keep the peace I will.
"Classes were a little boring, but I learned some new stuff." Skipping over Nate and the bathroom. "My friends and I went out to eat, and it was pretty good, so one day we should go there as a family. And yeah, and then basketball was chill, but this guy was all weird."
My dad interjected. "Was it that big horn you were talking to?"
"Surprisingly not. So me and the big horn, his name is Nate, by the way, were doing a 2 v 2 with his best friend and another guy. We were on halftime, taking a break, and he was talking about how I was terrible at basketball, but I was getting all of the points, and we were beating them by like 15."
Tell me why I am out of breath just thinking about it.
"Right," Theo said, listening intently.
"And then he said it's because of Nate that we're winning, but I told him Nate can't even shoot and he snarled at me, like Dad just did."
"I did not," and you will never guess what he did: SNARLED AT ME AGAIN.
"And then he said I have a nasty attitude."
"And he's not wrong," my dad said.
I let out a little smile, glad he was actually listening because he usually never does.
"I called him a bitch rightfully so, and then he said I'm lucky I'm cute or else he would have punched me in the face already."
"He did not," Theo said with this distressed look on his face.
"He fucking did. And then he reaches out to STROKE MY FACE. Gays, do you hear that? HE STROKED MY FUCKING FACE. And then, and I quote." I am getting so angry thinking about this even though it literally happened like an hour ago.
"I know he likes these lips, despite them being so nasty."
"What the fuck does that mean?" my dad said, and I watched as he also got angry.
"My question exactly. But get this, he said, and I quote. What? Can't, I appreciate your beauty? Is that why you have those tired eyes? Are you too busy putting your best feature to work?"
Theo's mouth dropped open as we got onto the freeway.
"What does that mean?" Bruh, my dad is so slow.
I rolled my eyes at him.
"It means he thinks I look tired because I am too busy giving Nate a blowjob."
My dad blinked.
This old ass
Theo patted his leg. "Honey." he gave him a weird look, and then my dad finally got it.
Now his mouth was open.
"So he was flirting with you? And insinuating that YOU suck dick?" my dad asked, gagging.
Bro, you do too.
I mean not too, because I don't.
No, of course not.
I don't.
Why would I?
Yeah.
No.
I don't. Yeah…
"Yes and yes. And then Nate started to dismiss it, saying I'm lying," I said, laughing.
"Do you suck his dick?"
"No bitch!"
"Who are you calling a bitch?"
"No dad, I don't…suck HIS dick," I said, scratching the back of my head.
Note HIS.
My dad gave me a weird look.
"Anyway, that was my day," I said, leaving out Jasper and Vincent's weird relationship and Nate cornering me in the bathroom as well as whatever moment we were having in the gym.
"Wow, uh okay. That was a lot."
"I know."
"You must be tired, baby," Theo said, patting my leg as he held onto the steering wheel.
"I'm dead."
"When we get home, why don't you take a nap and your dad and I will cook dinner?"
"So y'all can fuck?"
"Yes," my dad spat.
"No, we are going to cook FIRST," Theo said, and my dad sighed.
"Whatever."
I laughed and pressed my head up against the window.
I felt my heart start to race.
Thoughts of Nate kept replaying in my brain.
God, he's a weirdo.
He told me to ignore him because he was just talking.
But I can't. I fucking can't.
He said I make it hard to stay away.
Oh my god.
My dad shot me a look.
He can hear my heart beating…I knew that now.
I pretend to shut my eyes.
I don't.
When I'm with Nate, I don't even recognize myself.
All these feelings I have pushed down for so many years are coming back…they are coming back up for this guy.
I mean, they always come back up for guys because liking girls is socially acceptable.
But this time, I can't push them down, which is weird.
I feel like I can always push them down and ignore them.
But this time I can't.
I can't get him out of my head.
I can't get him out of my fucking head.