Aaron took the hearing plugs out of his ears, and turned off his IPod. Stuffing it into his pocket, he made his way to the cafeteria, where he saw Vlad, his one and still only friend, talking to a Goth girl with purple and black hair. Vlad always hung out with the Goth kids, yet insisted that he himself was not Goth. Which was something Aaron thought was kinda funny, since all that Vlad ever wore was black and... black. Vlad had told Aaron that he didn't approve of labels, and Aaron completely agreed. Why should you look at a person, and decide where they belong, or who they should hang out with? It just wasn't right. Aaron grabbed his hot lunch from one of the old, wrinkly lunch ladies, and took his seat at an empty table towards the back of the room. He ate in silence, and waited for the bell to ring. It seemed that everyone at Bathory High had friends.... except Aaron. And Eddie Poe of course, but he didn't count. He never counts. Aaron almost felt sorry for him, the tiny boy with no friends and no life, but Vlad had told Aaron all about him, about what he did to people who were different. He took your picture, and wrote bogus stories about you, posting them in the school paper. And the only reason Vlad said this, is because that's what happened to Vlad freshman year. Aaron shook his head, high school had no purpose. At all.
Aaron was almost finished with his lunch, when Vlad walked over to his table,
"Hey Aaron, what's going on?" He smiled as he said it, as if he really was happy to see Aaron. Aaron smiled back, happy to finally be talking to someone other than a teacher.
He shrugged as he said it, "Nothing much. You?"
Vlad looked around, as if he were waiting for someone, but he forced another smile, and distractedly said, "Same as always I suppose."
Aaron just nodded and looked out the window. Snow coated the ground, and ice covered the windows. The trees were bare of their leaves, and looked empty and dead without them. Which was fitting, Aaron thought, because in the winter, they were empty and dead. Kind of like Aaron's heart lately. His entire life felt stranger than it ever had. His mother was finally working again, something she hadn't done in years, and the new house felt empty… and too quiet, much too quiet. Pictures of his family, including his father, filled the hallways, and sat in frames on the counters. But nothing felt right, his spirit wasn't filling the house, and his smell wasn't lingering on the couch. Aaron felt lonesome when he got home after school, having no one to talk to about his day when his mother was working. He still had only one friend, the ever distracted Vlad. Vlad, who smiled one minute and frowned the next. Vlad, who had the most popular boy in school as his best friend. Vlad, the only one that accepted Aaron, the only one that talked to him and listened to him. Vlad, the only one who understood.
Aaron finished his lunch, and crumpled the rubbish into a ball, throwing it into a near trash can. Vlad got up, and so did Aaron.
"What class do you have next?" Vlad asked.
"Art," Aaron answered. Vlad nodded, and sighed, "I have algebra." He said, a disappointed look crossing his face. Aaron smiled, "Sorry man."
Vlad just shrugged, "Naw, it's all right. See you after school, right?"
Aaron nodded, and the bell rang, signaling them that they only had five minutes until class started.
They walked in separate directions, not saying a word. Aaron quickly grabbed his books and walked toward art class, dreading today's lesson. Aaron couldn't draw a stick figure to save his life, but the only reason he liked art was because it wasn't a homework-giving class.
Aaron walked down the steps, thanking time for letting the day be over so fast. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, and dragged his messenger bag behind him, too heavy to keep on his shoulders. He walked into the street, crossing so he could get to the right sidewalk.
"Aaron! Watch out!" someone called from behind him, whom he recognized as Vlad's voice. Aaron turned, wondering what was going on. Before he could do anything, before he could even see Vlad, Aaron was knocked to the ground, feeling very much like he was being punched in the gut several times. He groaned and turned over on his back, his clothes feeling very wet. He couldn't feel anything, which was good, because he suspected that if he could, he would be in a lot of pain. His vision blurred as people gathered around him, voices and shouts filling his head. He groaned again, starting to feel the pain. His back hurt the most, but also his left arm and right leg. He closed his eyes, and waited for the pain to stop. When it didn't, he opened them again, now seeing Vlad's face. His eyes looked worried, and he shouted something to a teacher behind him. He put his hand on the ground next to Aaron, and then quickly withdrew it. He looked at his shaking hand, which was now covered in Aaron's blood, and suddenly, hunger filled his eyes. His eye started twitching, and he opened his mouth, reveling two, very sharp, very long teeth. Aaron gasped, and despite the pain, pointed at Vlad's mouth. Vlad's eyes grew wide, and he snapped his mouth closed, looking embarrassed and mad. He out one finger to his mouth, as if her were telling Aaron to be quiet. Aaron nodded his understanding, and without further interference, closed his eyes and let himself be swallowed by the pool of darkness, which waited just underneath the line of his subconscious.