Chapter 6

English was not all that difficult, we were studying Macbeth and I had already read it, which meant I could be hypervigilant around Kaleb and still not miss anything in the class.

Gym was a bit interesting than the rest of the day. Girls were playing basketball today while the boys were free to give trials for the football team, I saw Kaleb getting ready for the trials too. He was wearing the school's red jersey and black shots with white helmet and gloves for the trials, I saw my brother Stefan too.

He was tall – 6'2", athletic, with sharp jaw line, angular and straight nose and symmetrical face, in simpler words he was handsome, he had brown hair that he usually kept ruffled and my mom's brown eyes and dad's thick lashes – so yeah, I was used to girls staring at my brother and I was used to seeing him not even looking at those girls.

I turned back to my game, I was the captain for my team and hence I got the chance to choose my team players, I chose my friends first, not just because they were my friends but also because they could play really well, and we had the perfect coordination for the game.

The game started for us as well as for the boys. I have to admit every chance I got to look at Kaleb, I took that chance in a heartbeat and from the looks of it he was amazing at what he was doing, my brother seemed impressed with Kaleb and that only made me smile a little bigger and a little brighter.

The hour passed quickly and our team won the match by the score of 5-3, not to brag or anything but I scored 3 out of 5 baskets. I was taught by my brother and my dad so I had to be good at sports, at least.

Stefan gave me ride back home and it was him who started the topic, "I saw you playing" he said with a grin and I grinned back, "You did good" he nodded looking straight ahead now. "Thanks" I started, "I saw you playing too" I mumbled, "Did you like the new guy, Kaleb? He is in your grade" he asked me, "I did not pay attention to him, but I guess he was doing fine" I lied, quite convincingly, "Fine? Are you kidding me? He was amazing!" Stefan was proud, at least he would not stop me from talking to Kaleb.

We walked inside our house together and we were greeted by mom and dad in the living room. "How was your school today?" they asked me as I settled between them on the couch, Stefan went to the kitchen to have a glass of water. "School was fine" I told them, "Did you talk to the Kaleb guy?" dad whispered, and there it goes.

"Uh…I kind of had to" as soon as the words escaped my lips, I knew my parents were not hoping for this answer. "Why?" my mom exclaimed, "We have to do this project in history with our partners and he is my partner" I told them with a sigh, "Was it teacher's choice?" dad asked me, "Yep" I nodded.

"Could you not change your partner?" Mom asked me, "Mom" I whined. Stefan entered the room with his brows knitted together, "What is wrong with Kaleb?" he asked as he sat in the armchair near mom. "We think he might not be who he says he is" dad tried to explain, "He is Kaleb, my star player" Stefan's brows were still knitted together. "Excuse me?" Dad asked, he and mom had bewildered expressions on their faces.

"C'mon mom – dad, he is human" Stefan said coolly, human? What else would he be? "How are you so sure about it?" dad asked Stefan, I was just a mere spectator in this conversation now. "He can play in the sun" Stefan said in a matter-of-fact voice, "We could go out in sun too" Mom told him.

"With a ring, right?"

"Yeah"

"Well, Kaleb does not wear a ring, so give him the benefit of doubt maybe he is just a distant relative of the Walters" Stefan sighed, "You guys thought he was a vampire?" I could not help but ask, neither of them replied anything but just exchanged glances with each other.

"Well, just so you know, I am meeting him at the Grill, today 7:30" I announced before getting up. "No you are not" mom got up too, I sighed and turned to her, "Mom" I started slowly, "He is not a vampire, he is not dangerous, you guys are being paranoid" I clapped my hand together at the end.

"Fine, but you will stay at the grill" dad got up too, "Where else would I go?" I rolled my eyes, "Is Olivia coming?" mom asked me, "No" I continued before they could object, "but I will invite her and Scott" I told them.

"Honestly mom and dad, she drinks vervain" Stefan sided with me, "Yeah, exactly!" I pointed my palm up towards Stefan. "Fine, just be back before dinner" Dad said as he wrapped his arm around mom's shoulder, "Thank you" I smiled before picking up my bag and walking upstairs to my room.

I shut the door behind me and pulled out my phone to call Olivia. She picked up in three rings.

"Hey, What's up?"

"Can you come to the grill with Scott?"

"Why?"

"My mom and dad think Kaleb is dangerous and you know I have to do my project"

"We'll be there but is everything okay?"

"I guess so" I sighed, why was I so eager to meet Kaleb that I lied to my parents and dragged my friends into it?

"Don't worry we will be there" Olivia replied thoughtfully, "Thanks Olivia, you are the best" I told her as a smile appeared on my face, "Anytime for you" and with that we hung up. I kept my phone aside and looked at the clock, it was 5:30 pm, which meant I had 2 hours to do my reading, get dressed and leave for the Grill.

I quickly changed into my shorts and tank top, I had to get comfortable, I could dress up afterwards. I took my books from my bag to the bay window and settled there.

The books were very easy to understand; Kaleb had obviously picked the best books out of the lot. So, he is handsome and intelligent. I was not surprised, he did look like the intelligent type; but tonight I will see how intelligent he is, he took the heavy reading books, now let's see if he is able to finish them.

I don't know how long I had been reading when the door of my room knocked and then opened. Dad stood there with a plate in his hand. I kept my books aside and smiled at him as he entered the room.

"I made you waffles" he announced as he handed me the plate. It looked mouth-watering, I took the plate from his hand as I grinned and he allowed himself to sit beside me, I did not mind.

"Sweetheart" he started seriously, I looked up at him "Don't think that your mom and I are being over protective, we just want to be cautious" he completed, "I know dad, but I can take care of myself" I sighed and looked at the plate again, "I know, I am the one who trained you" I knew he was smiling, just as I was. "Then what are you so afraid of?" I asked, looking up to him again.

"Honey, I was trained for combat during my time" I knew he was talking about when he was in army as a human, "But I did not know how to fight until I was standing in the war zone, and then everything I thought I knew was – gone" he shrugged, "We don't want you to stand in a war zone, it is not as glorious as it sounds" Dad gave me a half smile.

"If I promise to stay in public eye with Kaleb, will that make you feel at ease?" I asked him, "Very much" he nodded, "Then I promise, I won't go anywhere alone with him" I smiled at him too. "Thank you" he kissed the top of my head and I could not help but grin.

He got up from his place and turned to me "You should get ready, it's almost 7" his tone was much more relaxed. I looked at the clock hanging on the wall on my right, It was 6:57 pm!

If I had to reach the Grill by 7:30 I had to leave by 7:10. I jumped up from the bay window and quickly collected my books as dad quietly made his way out of my room and shut the door behind him.

In one hand, I held my waffle plate and with the other hand I was getting ready. I wore a blue fitted shirt with white horizontal strips, black jeans and sneakers.

By 7:15, I was out of the door and in my car, driving towards the Grill while my heart went erratic on the whole ride there, how can I be so ridiculous? I kept smiling to myself like the idiot I was.


A/N: Hey readers,

So another chapter for you guys! I am always so happy to read your reviews, but silent readers it is a humble request to give a minute to review my story, it would mean the world to me! Please guys give me a review, waiting for your criticism, compliments or any opinion. -Finger's Crossed-

-JT