"I can't understand why I'm so weak lately." I say as I cross my legs.
Lucca is next to me, we are sitting on the bed watching a rerun of Friends, Lucca ordered some Chinese food and we've been cooped up in my room all afternoon.
"Maybe it's because you need to drink blood." He says lightly.
"No way!" I immediately deny.
"But you'll have to drink someday, otherwise you'll end up getting worse and worse."
His face showed sadness.
"Maybe I'll drink someday, just not now, I still need to get used to this idea." I say through gritted teeth trying to avoid a fight.
Lucca has tried many times to make me change my mind, but we always end up fighting.
"Whatever. But you should know that when you turn twenty-five, maybe even before, you'll transition and only be able to drink blood; regular food will make you nauseous. This happens to all supernaturals, except the Nephilim." He says trying to gauge my reaction.
"Great way to change my mind!" I grumble.
Out of nowhere Lucca is on top of me, pinning my wrists with one hand above my head.
"Don't be so grumpy, you'll see that I'm right." He says in my ear.
"Your charm won't work on that!" I retort.
He makes a mock offended face.
"I'm not using charm, but that means you admit that I can affect you with my beauty, right?"
I laugh.
"It's good to know I can use my honey trap on you."
My white tank top rides up my belly.
His thighs clamp on my hips.
I feel the brush of his jeans against my skin (I'm wearing very short light blue shorts).
He leans in and his chest hovers lightly over my breasts.
He kisses my neck gently.
"I'll keep trying to make you change your mind." He whispers again in my ear again like he's trying to seduce me.
Lucca kisses me deeply with an open mouth, he tastes a little sweet somehow and I keep wanting more and more, then he releases my wrists.
I grab his hair and the back of his neck.
He's supporting himself on his forearms, one on either side of my head.
Trapping me with his body.
I have no escape. I don't want to escape.
***
The matric farewell ball is approaching.
The school is frantic.
I've never been to a ball like this before.
In reality, no one had invited me to one so I never went.
I think about all the dances I had gone to with my parents (since Sammy always attended them all), I guess they count though.
A ball thrown towards my face catches my attention.
I see the route at a slow speed, which is weird. Like the ball is rotating on molasses, very slow and the air current around it is clear.
I see it come inches from my face, and all I do is grab it.
A cry for caution echoes in my ears, and then I realize I've been daydreaming.
Marcy had thrown the volleyball in my direction. I scowl. I'm sure it was on purpose.
A confused expression appears on everyone's face.
Marcy is furious. Good.
The coach tries to hide her disbelief by scolding Marcy.
I just look at the ball in my hands, it's a perfectly normal ball. There's nothing different about it, it's even a little dirty. So why…
***
Lucca is waiting for me in the parking lot (he's been driving me lately since Lou has disappeared from my sight).
As soon as I get closer he pulls me towards him and kisses me.
When I catch my breath, I notice that the previously empty parking lot is now packed, and I'm the main attraction.
"What do you see in that idiot? I'm so much better than her!" Marcy shouts as she approaches.
I'm in disbelief of her shamelessness.
"She's wonderful, it's impossible to compare her to you! And you're no better than anyone else!" Lucca says with a smirk on his face, still holding me against him.
Everyone around starts murmuring in groups at Lucca's response.
Marcy is bursting with rage at being humiliated.
Deep down I am loving it.
Finally someone is standing up to her.
"I get it, you just want to have fun with this idiot!" Her voice sounds shrill and hysterical. I guess she can't take it anymore after seeing us together for so long.
"Oh, you're wrong, Marcy, I love her."
The way he said her name was like he was talking about trash.
Wait a minute. He said he loves me. Lucca had never said he loved me.
Okay, I'm not going to freak out…
My heart skips a beat, my chest aching, I try not to smile but the corners of my lips keep trying to go up anyway.
A sudden cold sensation on my spine makes me stop moving involuntarily but it's gone quickly and I'm happy again.
I can't wait to declare he's all mine.
He turns to face him, my legs are a little soft but his hold is strong enough for both of us, he holds my hand against his heart and looks deep into my eyes.
'I can see your soul' this phrase comes to mind from nothing, like it's someone else talking but it's so strange I shake my head trying to ward it off.
"Alexandra Knight, I fell in love from the first day I saw you, and that passion turned into love when I kissed you for the first time. Since then this love has been growing, now, I give you my heart, would you give me the honor of being your companion?"
I'm going to faint. I feel my face going red up to the roots of my hair. Like I'm melting. My heart is beating so fast it's like it wants to escape my chest and be held in Lucca's palms.
Dreams come true.
There are not enough words to describe what I'm feeling.
I want to throw myself into his arms and kiss him with all my heart.
"It would be the best thing that ever happened to me." I reply before I explode with happiness.
I notice that everyone had gone completely silent.
I can feel Marcy's glare on my back as Lucca holds my face with both hands like something precious and kisses me forcefully.
Everyone but Marcy bursts into cheers and jokes.
All I want at that moment is to remain in his arms forever.
Finally I'm your girlfriend.
When he separates his lips from mine, I turn around in time to see Marcy leave in a huff, completely enraged.
I look over Lucca's shoulder and see a very familiar figure, it's Lou.
She looks at me strangely.
Then she disappears.
***
The scorching sun tans my skin.
I always wanted to travel to Florida, but I never imagined it would be alone with a boy. My boyfriend.
The sound of the sea relaxes me, like coming home after a long trip.
Lucca sits next to me.
His leather jacket highlights his defined muscles. We've been driving a long time now and we're both tired but content.
One moment, leather jacket on the beach?
So I realize it's a dream.
I look at the sea.
Something changes.
My vision wavers.
The water takes on a reddish hue.
The sky darkens. And I already know what comes next.
A pair of golden eyes enter my field of vision.
It's him, Theodore.
"You won't escape me." He says, a dark smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. His voice echoing all around me.
Deep down in my soul I know it's true.
No one can save me, not even Lucca.
In the end, it will all be in vain.
A waste of time.
He has no heart.
He has no soul.
He has no feelings.
And I am his next victim.
"I won't let you take her, even if it's the last thing I do." Lucca shouts and stands in front of me, protecting me with his body.
Theodore laughs.
But unexpectedly Lucca takes off his shirt and jacket.
And what comes next leaves Theodore speechless.
A pair of white wings unfurls from Lucca's back.
He turns and grabs me by the waist, with one push he takes me towards the black sky.
I close my eyes and feel his breath fanning over my head. It all happens in seconds and before I can process what's happening he lands softly on a rock.
I look around.
I'm near the edge of a mountain.
The same one Lucca showed me mentally months ago.
The same magnificent landscape.
"You can't escape me." Theodore roars in his metallic voice.
***
"Wake up!" Lucca says while shaking me.
Only when I open my eyes do I realize he's on top of me.
His hands press my shoulders against the bed.
"Why are you on top of me?" It's the first thing that comes to my mind.
"It's just that you were struggling and you were very scared, so I had to hold you down."
"But did you have to be on top of me?" I ask.
"Are you sure you want me to leave?" he says in a deep, sexy voice.
I smile.
I try to free myself from his grip.
It's impossible.
He is very strong.
"You're stronger than you think. And changing the subject, will you go to the dance with me?"
I'm caught off guard.
"I'm not going to the ball." I say, almost certain of it.
"Why?" He pouts.
He looks like a puppy.
"Because I don't like to dance!"
"Have you ever been to any?"
"No." I whisper.
"So how can you not like something if you've never tried it?"
I don't know how to answer.
This conversation is already taking a turn I don't want.
"Can you get off me?" I say, trying to change the subject.
"Only if you agree to go to the ball with me!"
His lips meet mine.
"Please." He whispers.
I can't resist.
"You play dirty." I grumble.
"Great. I'll pick you up at seven."
"Where is everyone?"
"They left." He says as he gets off of me.
"Is the dance today?"
"Of course." He answers.
"What a shame you asked last minute, I won't be able to go, I don't have a dress." I pretend to be sad.
"You won't be getting rid of me so quickly, Miss Knight."
He disappears.
But as quickly as he had disappeared, he returns, carrying a box with a pair of shoes over it.
"Did you know I would say yes?"
"And I also knew that you would try to make up an excuse not to go."
He is too scheming. Tsk.