CH.6: Talking to girls
Marco did his best to survive the next week of school though for the most part it was by the seat of his pants. Star had sort of become a permanent fixture in his life…like it or not. His other two friends fell into the background, what were their names again, kidding…still the life he knew before was over. He and Star were out hunting more and it left him drained and he came close to missing school a few times. Oh and there was also the fact that Janna kept spooking him as he would wake up to find her watching him. Star had also wound up attending school with him.
"How are things with Janna by the way?" Marco inquires when they are at school. He opens his locker and looks over at the blonde who seemed distracted.
"Huh, who…oh right, Janna yeah she is…so fun." Marco raised a brow and looked over noticing she had bite marks on her arm.
"Star…why are there…oh, uh…I'm not judging but-." Marco notices her now staring where he was and she covers up her arms flushing.
"Those…well…how can I say no to Janna? She is still getting used to being a vampire and it does sort of help her, right? I don't know…it seemed innocent at first. I feel fine…fine…" Marco reaches out for her as she falls into his arms.
"Oh sure, fine, had me convinced. I thought you were going to talk to Tom." Marco shakes her a bit and that is when Jackie skates by.
"Hey Marco…is your friend alright?" Marco freezes as he isn't sure what to say. Jackie…was right there…so close…to him.
"Her, Star, yeah…fine…you…are you fine?" Marco can't believe he just asked that. Of course she is fine; she is Jackie Lynn Thomas after all.
"Yeah, never better. Well I will be seeing you Marco…we should talk again sometime." Jackie goes to skate off and Marco lets out a breath.
"Ooh, you and Jackie…do I hear wedding bells?" Marco looks down to see Star watching him. He then drops her to the ground and regrets doing so as she lets out a yelp.
"Oh, I am so sorry Star…butterfingers, heh. And wedding, pfft, that is so not in the cards. I mean I like Jackie, and, well have had a crush on her for a while and she has been my next door neighbor and…she deserves to be with a guy who can formulate a thought let alone a sentence around her."
"I see. Well…perhaps I can give you some pointers…when you aren't busy dropping me. Ouch." She aims a side long smile at him and he laughs nervously.
"I promise that will not happen again. However, speaking of help, I feel we should take Janna to see Tom after school. It is important to get her proper training before she goes all rogue…or…looks to us for source of food." Marco shivers a bit at that.
"Right…after school…I will make sure to clear my schedule for that. I should get to class…still getting used to going to class and all. I've been homeschooled for so long now…it kind of is nice though being with other students." Star smiles as she heads off with her skirt gathering about her. Marco looks away not wanting to look any.
"Hi Marco." Marco lets out a yelp as he turns to see Janna standing there. "You know we have really got to stop meeting this way. You know…you have a different scent compared to Star."
"Uh…thanks. Look Janna should you even be in school? I mean after what happened you think you would be resting up-."
"Marco a week has passed since that night…I am fine. So you have a crush on Jackie, but, you also seem to have a thing for Star-."
"Pfft, what, no way…I mean…Star is my friend, and, besides like you mentioned I have a crush on Jackie. You should stop reading into situations that do not concern you." Marco makes sure his locker is closed before moving on…with Janna in tow of course.
"I call it as I see it Marco. I see the way you look at her, oh, and I did manage to catch her kissing your cheek back in that crypt. Your heart was beating quite loud…and so delicious too."
"I…like…Jackie," Marco says slowly enough so she can hear, hopefully. "Jackie has been my neighbor for long as I can remember and when I am around her…my feelings are just all over the place. Star is my friend…she fights with me and…that is that."
"Keep telling yourself that Marco but we both know that is not true. Anyway I need to get going…fun talking to you though, oh, and thanks for not plunging a stake through my heart. I mean, don't blame you if you had done it…if it were you I'd have." She winks before walking off.
"Not cool Janna…not cool." Marco sighs before he walks off hoping class will distract him enough.
School was pretty uneventful and Marco wondered where his friends had gone off to…seems they faded into the background a bit too much these days. He was sure they would have something to say about his…situation. Once again though Marco found himself lying to his parents about being busy with some school project that he had to do over at a friend's house; his parents understood. Man he felt low for doing that…when did he become such a rebel?
"Marco, hey, did you hear a word I just said?" Marco lifts his head noting that Star was looking at him.
"Huh, oh right…yeah we take Janna to Tom and I be on my best behavior." That was more or less what she told him. Truth was he did not trust this Tom and something about the way he looked at Star set him off.
"Close enough…now Janna try and control yourself once we get in there. This will no doubt be new to you and not sure how these other vampires will respond to one…such as yourself." Star notes and Marco can see that speech was about the same one he had been given. Had Star lumped him in with Janna?
"Trust me Star…I know how to control myself. Hey you…how long do your fangs get?" Marco looks over to see another vampire heading in the direction they did.
"Uh…long, you heading to the club as well?" He flashes a smile and ruby glints of blood ooze forth from his fangs.
"And we're moving along, have a nice night." Marco takes Janna and leads her along with Star apologizing to the guy before following after them.
"That was rude Marco…why didn't you answer the man?" She asks though Marco was more intent on just getting this over with. He could be hunting with his family but no he was here taking Janna to see a guy that may or may not have been responsible for Janna's whole vampire turn.
"I just want us to get this over with…and besides…aren't all fangs alike?" He never really took time to study about a vampire's fangs when all that was needed to know was staking them and being done with them.
"No they aren't…some vampires happen to have long fangs while others have shorter ones. The longer fangs have deeper penetration of the skin drawing more blood quickly while those with smaller fangs don't puncture too much-."
"There goes my sleep tonight," Marco sighs, "well anyway we are here so we can get in and out and be on our way." Marco knew he was being irrational and that he should calm down…but…every hunter instinct told him there was more going on with this operation.
"Will you relax, sure Tom can be unpleasant at times but he is the only one we can turn to in order to help Janna." Star's reassurances aside Marco knew that Tom was the only vampire who seemed to not be out to drink their blood.
Once they arrive at the place they get past the bouncer and Marco spots Tom across the dance floor. His smile showing off his fangs and Marco wanted to pull out his stake but those things were only as skilled as the hunter so throwing it from afar would just leave him open.
"Star…hey, and, you…what was your name again? Kidding I know it is Marco. And you must be the girl Star mentioned, Janna right?" Marco looks over at Star and she shrugs.
"So Tom and I still talk…no one said that exes don't talk. Anyway Tom do you think you can help Janna? She is still new to being a vampire and I sort of kind of let her drink from me…and she took it as an invitation to sort of go overboard." Star shows off her arms which have several marks on them.
"I couldn't help it, look, it won't happen again. So why did you two break up anyway?" Marco face palms himself and Tom seems a bit irked over the question.
"Star broke up with me…but I haven't stopped caring about her well-being. It happened some time ago, but, suffice to say I am over it. Come with me Janna and I will help ease your cravings some. Consider this to be your second home. Oh and you two feel free to stay…I won't be long."
Tom held a gaze with Star and Marco once again felt a bit insecure. Once he walked off with Janna into the back he looks at Star. "Star…you know he is trouble right?"
"Marco leave Tom alone…he is just…handling things the way he is. And what did he mean over it; over me…is that what he meant? Pfft, I am so over him…like there are so many guys asking me out and all…it is insane. Anyway we should get going…Janna will be fine, you don't need to worry about her."
That was the thing…much as he and Janna didn't get along…he couldn't shake the feeling something was amiss here. Part of him wanted to stay and snoop but Star was already pulling on his arm and they wound up leaving…his mind still not made up on this situation he was thrust into.
Authors note: As another day ends Marco continues to have his suspicions. Will they play through and mark Tom as a suspect? Meanwhile next chapter Marco finally gets past his nerves and worry and talks to Jackie…well…we'll just see how that goes.