Chapter Ten- Second Date
Jaden ran his fingers through his hair before bounding down the stairs and out the door. He had lied to his parents about his date; claiming he was hanging out with his new friend, Syrus. He dashed down the street and arrived at the small café five minutes before one. Zane arrived two minutes later and both smiled happily as they sat.
Once they ordered, Zane said, "So, what kind of movie do you want to see?"
"Believe or not I actually like movies about werewolves and vampires. I find it fascinating about how humans view us as well as how far off they are."
Zane smirked. "I believe it. I also like seeing movies like that and it so happens that a vampire movie is playing at two."
"Sweet. Then, that's what we're watching." The food arrived and silence descended on their table.
It was four o'clock when the pair left the theater. Jaden had a big amused smile on his face while Zane had a smug smirk on his. Most of their fellow movie-goers found the film scary and were happy about that the vampire had been destroyed. Of course, Jaden and Zane didn't find it scary and hated the vampire's destruction.
"The film's portrayal was wrong in most ways, but right in others," Jaden said. "The most obvious wrong thing was sunlight being harmful."
"Yes as was the garlic, running water, and no reflection," Zane added. "They were right about the pale skin, silver, crosses, and stakes, though."
"Yeah, but lucky for us, humans don't believe we exist despite the evidence of bodies that indicate wolf attacks."
"We are indeed lucky. So, shall we show off our strength at the arcade?"
"Oh, it is on." Jaden dashed ahead while Zane moved sedately behind him. Jaden's joy of life and his werewolf heritage was a quality Zane like about him. It complemented his restrained behavior, though he did express an occasional emotion. Jaden brings out in me a joy of existing I had forgotten. I guess I had spent so much time just existing and surviving that I discarded having fun. It is time for me to embrace fun again.
Zane tossed another basketball through the air and it bounced off the rim. He quickly shot another ball and it went through the net before the timer ran out. He grinned at the score; it wasn't as high as Jaden's, but higher than a human's.
"All right! Nice, Zane!" Jaden complimented.
"Thanks. How about some air hockey?"
"You got it." Jaden grinned as they headed to the table. He was having so much fun and it was clearly rubbing off on Zane. One would think that Zane is boring, someone who is a stickler for rules and only cares about blood and his clan, but they would be wrong. He likes to have fun and enjoying another's company. As Zane fished the puck out of the slot and put it one the table, Jaden knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Zane: His mate.
It was a quarter to seven when they decided to have dinner. As they sat in a restaurant, conversation turned to their families, such as what they told their parents about the date.
"I lied," Jaden confessed. "I said I was hanging out with Syrus."
"I also lied. I said I was having a meeting with the freshmen vampires. A kind to ask how they were adjusting and I would answer any question as well as asses their feeding techniques. I'm sure they wouldn't approve of the two of us on a date."
"Same here. I don't think my parents would approve of me having a vampire mate." Jaden blushed when he realized what he said.
Zane raised an eyebrow in amusement. "Your mate, huh? I like the sound of that. I would also like it if I could call you my mate."
Jaden's face lit up as the blush faded. "I would like that."
"Then, I will. You and I are now mates, Jaden."
The brunette's heart pounded and he resisted the urge to howl with joy as they were in a public restaurant with humans. He settled for a beaming smile as the drinks arrived.
An hour later, both mates decided to take a walk around downtown before they would depart for their homes. They held hands and spoke quietly about family views, the different points of their 101 classes, their clan or pack, and the prejudices between their races.
"It is so stupid," Jaden complained as they sat in an alley. "I want to convince at least my pack that we shouldn't think less of vampires and should be friends. There's no reason to not be friends when we have a workable partnership."
"I agree with you. Most vampires that werewolves are stupid, mangy dogs. Obviously, I don't as I have a werewolf for a mate and one for a brother."
"And most werewolves think vampires are undead snobs."
"Do they? Well as Head Vampire and Alpha Wolf, perhaps we can start a revolution to change all that." Zane stood and pulled Jaden to his feet.
"Yeah, perhaps we can."
"Jaden, I had a wonderful time with you and I have the perfect way to end it." He put his arms around Jaden's waist, leaned down, and brought their lips together.
Jaden's eyes widened at Zane's bold move before closing them and putting his arms around Zane's neck to deepen the kiss. This is wonderful! A pair of disgusted gasps were heard and both pulled away to look.
There were two teenagers there who Jaden recognized: They were seniors; twin werewolves named Chad and Brad. They were gaping at Jaden and glaring hatefully at Zane. Jaden stepped away from Zane and drew himself up, his Alpha role coming to the surface. "All right, you two. Move along, show's over."
"You…you were kissing him," said Chad, glaring at the vampire intensely.
Jaden didn't know what to say. Yes, he had been kissing Zane, but they had just declared themselves mates and it was only natural for mates to kiss and show affection.
"We're thinking of starting a new age of understanding between our races," Zane said, taking a step closer to the twins.
Both brothers looked at each other and nodded before pulling out silver crosses and holding them out in front of them. Zane's eyes widened at the items before hissing like a cat and fleeing to the back of the alley. Both seniors laughed at his reaction and stepped into the alley and past Jaden.
"What's the matter?" Brad chortled. "Can't handle a little silver?" He moved closer and Zane hissed again, fangs bared protectively. Brad sniggered and Chad joined in.
Jaden growled angrily at their actions. He put himself between his mate and the twins before shifting to wolf. He snarled at them. "Leave him alone! That's an order!" Brad and Chad backed up as Jaden advanced, ears pinned back, growling with teeth bared, and he crouched like he was going to leap at them. They exchanged looks and fled the scene.
Jaden resumed human form and raced back to Zane. "Are you all right?" he asked, concerned.
"Fine. It's just painful to be near silver, crosses, and stakes." He smile. "Thanks for protecting me."
""No problem, but maybe I should lead you home in case they show up again."
"Agreed. I just hope they don't try to cause more trouble later on."
"You and me both," Jaden said as they left the alley.
