Chapter 11:

That first day faded into the first week, the first week turning suddenly into the first few months, and still nothing happened that wasn't ordinary. Everything was wonderful. When Zarabeth wasn't with Jim, she was becoming better friends with her roommates. Even though Jewel and Anaise were already good friends, they soon became attached to Zara and Genevieve as well.

Every once in a while, Zara would run into Calypsa, getting to make small conversation before having to separate until their next accident encounter.

Zarabeth liked all of Jim's friends pretty well. Cane was fun to be around. He enjoyed making people laugh, always poking innocent fun or making jokes to keep everyone smiling. Cygnus got along well with almost everyone he was with, a fiercely loyal friend even after such a short time of being with his roommates. Talyn was what Zara expected, a jock, but not exactly typical. Strong and brave, a big heart beat beneath all of that muscle, and he wasn't afraid to show it.

The only person who still didn't seem to fit in was Logan. The few times that he did spend with everyone together, Logan was constantly looking around as if he were afraid of something or someone seeing him there. Zarabeth and her roommates did their best to be friendly to him, but after a few times, Zara was the only one left trying. She still couldn't tell whether the viperman was shy, scared, or just insecure, but whatever the case, Logan was anything but comfortable.

Zara took her time leaving the CTA building, happy to be done with another day of classes. She'd gotten out a little early and was planning to surprise Jim with a box of chocolate-covered cream puffs that she and Felicia had made.

Zara carefully placed the box of pastries inside her messenger bag before opening the door in front of her. Stepping out onto the stone path between the college and the dormitories, Zarabeth expected to hear nothing but the stillness of the day, maybe some breeze through the pulfur trees, but another sound quickly caught her attention. Zara stiffened as she picked out the unmistakable sound of low laughter and a girl's pleading voice as the noise was carried from somewhere to her left. Looking around, the girl caught movement from behind a large tree, quickly making her way over to see what was up.

By the time Zara had gotten to the tree, the girl instantly felt her stomach reel in anger as she saw the cause of commotion. Standing behind the tree were Damian and two boys she'd never seen before. One had short yellow hair, his skin only slightly tanned, the other was a dark feline creature, his skin and hair the same dark brown color. The three boys were encircled around a girl, who Zarabeth immediately recognized.

When she was only a few feet away, Zara made her presence known as she yelled above the boys' taunting and cruel laughter. "Hey!"

All four heads simultaneously spun in the girl's direction as Calypsa's quiet voice broke out in relief. "Zarabeth!"

Zara smiled reassuringly at her friend as she gently took her arm, pulling the girl out of the ring of bodies before placing herself defensively between the boys and Calypsa. The girl crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes locked with the skin changer's. "Damian, do you ever quit?"

The purple-eyed boy smirked as he leaned up against the trunk of the tree, his look almost pleased as he stared down at the girl. "Zara, have you been avoiding me?"

Zarabeth poured as much sarcasm into her reply as she could, her nose scrunched in irritation at the boy. "Oh what do you know? The boy has a brain after all."

Damian shook his head, making his jagged black hair swish around his face as he chuckled. "I may have a brain, but I'm not so sure that you do, you or your friend there. It's a shame really. You girls don't know what you're missing out on."

Zara grit her teeth, her head telling her to get out of the situation with as little trouble as possible, but the anger in her gut was prodding her onward. "That's because there's nothing to miss out on. Come on Calypsa."

Turning around to leave, Zarabeth and Calypsa nearly ran head first into the feline man, his body blocking their exit as they tried to get around him.

The skin changer's tone was evident with mischief as he walked closer to the two girls, the blond boy also advancing until Zara and Calypsa were penned in. "Now really girls, where are your manners? I think you've gotten the wrong idea about me, I have no idea how, but you have."

The memory of Damian slapping her flashed in Zarabeth's mind as she tried to keep her voice even and calm, speaking without turning around. "Almost every girl at this school would fall at your feet if you gave the word. Why don't you go bug one of them?" The hair on the back of the girl's neck stood on end as she felt Damian's breath low to her face.

"Where would the fun in that be? Isn't this better? The hunt, the challenge, it's so much more entertaining when I have to fight for what I want, as long as I get it."

The girl tried desperately to look calm as she made her reply, turning around so that her eyes locked with Damian's. "It just has to be all about you, doesn't it? Well, you're not gonna get it this time, or any other time. So lay off!"

"Conrad?" An unexpected voice suddenly caught the group's attention as everyone turned to see Genevieve a little ways off from where they stood, Talyn a few feet behind her. The Brendorian girl clung tightly to the books in her arms as she looked on in astonishment at what was happening.

The blond boy beside Damian suddenly stiffened upon seeing the girl. "Genevieve. What are you doing here?"

With a pained look on her face, Zarabeth's roomate approached the group swallowing hard before replying. "I'm going to school here. The real question is what are you guys doing?"

Damian smiled slyly as he pulled Zara over to him, placing an arm around her from behind as if in a romantic gesture. "Oh not much. We're just having a little heart-to-heart talk."

Zarabeth grit her teeth, ramming her elbow as hard as she could into the boy's stomach behind her.

Not expecting the reaction, Damian let out a gasp as his hold loosened on the girl.

Talyn was instantly in action, pulling Zara and Calypsa out of the ring of boys as he motioned for them to begin walking back toward the dorms. "Looks like the conversation is over. If you know what's good for ya, you'll leave them alone, Damian. Come on girls."

The feline man made a move forward, but was abruptly stopped by the skin changer. "Now now, Leo. The harpy's right. We're done for now. Until next time, ladies."

As they were walking back, Zara dared to take another glance over her shoulder just in time to see the three boys laughing as Damian blew a kiss in their direction. Hurriedly redirecting her gaze back to the pavement beneath her feet, Zara felt relief flowing through her as Talyn spoke up.

"Hey, you girls ok? What happened?"

Zarabeth looked up at Calypsa waiting for her answer, curious as to how things had gone wrong.

The feline girl bit her lower lip, avoiding eye contact as she slowly made her answer. "Well, I was coming out of class when Damian and the other boys just sorta ambushed me. I don't know why. That's never happened before. They didn't do anything, it just scared me."

Zara picked up the story from there. "I must have only finished a few minutes later. Something didn't seem right, so I went to go check it out. I'm glad you two found us when you did. But why are you out here? All of your classes are at the other side of the dorms."

Genevieve smiled comfortingly as she placed an arm around her friend. "We got bored, so we were on our way to see if Cane was done yet. I'm glad we decided to take this little trip."

As soon as everyone was safely back inside the dining hall, Calypsa quickly thanked Talyn and Zara before beginning to walk back toward the elevator.

Talyn reached out slightly, as if to stop the girl as he called out to her. "Hey, Calypsa?"

The feline stopped, her ears twitching as she turned around, a look of pleased astonishment on her face. "Y-you, know my name?"

The harpy suddenly stuttered, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to explain. "I've heard Zara talk about you. Um, but I'm glad you're ok. See ya later?"

A hint of a smile crossed the girl's lips as she quickly said goodbye. "Thank you. See ya."

Zarabeth and Genevieve simultaneously made eye contact, the same thought running through their minds. Zara crossed her arms, a teasing look on her face as she smiled at Talyn. "I've never talked about Calypsa before."

The boy swallowed hard, his dark cheeks tinted with red. "S-sure you have!"

The girl hurriedly shook her head as she looked back at Genevieve. "Nope. I haven't. You already know her, don't you?"

"What?"

"You're both from Santori, so it wouldn't be a surprise. Did you go to school together or something?" When the boy didn't try to answer, Zara decided it was time to jump to their conclusion. "Oh my word. Talyn, you like Calypsa!"

The two girls couldn't help but giggle as they watched the harpy's reaction. "W-why would you think that?"

Genevieve joined in the banter as she playfully pushed the boy's shoulder. "Look at you! I've never seen you so flustered before! Oh this is just adorable."

The girls continued to pressure the boy for answers as they giggled.

Seeing that he was beat, Talyn placed his gloved hands over his face in resignation, mumbling through the fabric as he confessed. "Fine. Yes, I like Calypsa, but she doesn't even know who I am. Isn't that obvious? I don't stand a chance."

Zara walked to the other side of the boy so that both she and Genevieve were on a side of him. "Nonsense! She doesn't know you now, but we can fix that. Just let us help you, Talyn."

"Ya, Talyn, just be patient. Zara and I can handle it."

The boy looked skeptical as he turned his head from one girl to the other. "I-I dunno..."

Zara placed an elbow on the boy's shoulder, leaning closer so as to make sure he was watching her. "Out of you and me, which one of us has a solid and amazing relationship?"

Talyn chuckled, deciding he'd better play along. "You."

"That's right. Now, do you trust me? I promise we won't go crazy, we'll just give fate a little nudge."

Talyn, scrunched his nose, asking a question he already knew the answer to. "Do I really even have a choice?"

Her face completely serious, Genevieve shook her head. "Nope."

"Well then, I'd better just say yes and thank you."

The two girls looked knowingly at each other as they giggled, excited by this new turn of events.

Zara opened up her messenger bag, pulling a cream puff from the box inside as she handed the treat to the boy. "You can thank us later. Now, I have some goodies to deliver, so if you two will excuse me, I will see you later."