"Cramps? You're trying to tell me that that was cramps? How stupid do you think I am?" Christian all but yells.
"What do you want me to say? I'm only telling you what the doctor told me, it's not my fault you don't believe me!" I groan and try not to feel bad for lying. How am I supposed to tell him the truth when I barely understand it myself?
"Why do I even bother? Why do I even care? If you want to lie, go for it, but don't expect me to sit around and wait for you to tell me the truth! Good luck." With that he storms out of the gym that I was training in. I groan softly before deciding to put it out of my mind.
It's been a few days since I was discharged and I had done everything to keep my mind busy, including long hikes through the woods to keep me occupied. On one of these hikes I'd found this beautiful sanctuary like clearing with a small water fall and lake.
After I finish my solo training session I start my jog to the clearing seeing as I have nothing better to do. Lissa had been increasingly hostile and distant which gave me a lot more alone time than I was used to.
It doesn't take me long to get to my spot but when I get there my head spins like I'm experiencing vertigo and I immediately puke as agony rips through my midsection.
It takes no time at all for my world to fall into darkness.
Something warm and wet keeps passing over my cheek. Almost like something is… licking me? What the hell? I open my eyes and am greeted with eyes so blue they put the royals to shame.
It takes me a moment before I look at the face around the blue eyes and see a huge gorgeous wolf staring at me curiously. Not knowing what else to do I put my hand out for it to smell and it immediately dives its head underneath my palm and rubs its head on my hand.
Surprised is an understatement as I gingerly pet the almost playful wolf. Said wolf plops on the ground and rolls onto their back to reveal it is very much a he. I blink before petting his belly, not really sure what I'm supposed to do in this situation.
Animals don't like dhampirs so when the wolf stands up to rub his head into my neck I am speechless.
"Hello there," I murmur in a rough voice that makes me wince. The wolf stands and trots to the waters edge before sitting and staring at me pointedly. I almost laugh as I force myself by the water to rinse my mouth out.
When I'm finished I take the wolf in. Its body is lean and deadly, not to mention his height in intimidating to say the least. But his face, it's soft and almost curious as he regards me. I can only imagine what I look like, a little pale? Maybe brownish hues under my eyes to give away restless nights.
I look around and see that I've been gone from campus a lot longer than normal and I need to get back.
I struggle to my feet and watch the wolf as I make my way out of the clearing before I start jogging. The wolf lops alongside me as I make my way to campus, he stops when I get to the outside of the wards before sitting to watch me walk back onto campus. When I look back, he's gone, almost like he was a figment of my imagination.
Walking through campus it seems like everyone is staring and pointing at me with sneers on their face. Painting it as paranoia I make my way to my dorm so I can take a shower.
In the lobby Avery and Adrian seem to be deep in conversation, both of whom look up when I enter. Adrian's face gets dark as Avery says something, he scoffs loudly as I start to walk by, not trying to interrupt their "intense" conversation.
"I can't believe I wasted so much time on nothing but a blood whore." I feel my stride halt. "Bitch wouldn't even put out and I'm the idiot hooked. Avery, babe, thanks for opening my eyes about the Hathaway whore."
Anger pools in my stomach and before I can think better of my actions I turn to face the spirit user.
"You have no right to speak about me that way." I growl. "At no point have I ever made any inclination that I wanted you as more than a friend, if you misread it that's on you, but don't think for a second that can you talk about me like I'm one of your meaningless one night stands." With that I send a pointed look to the bitch on his arm. I have no clue how she's doing it but something tells me she's behind what's been going on with my friends the past few days.
"That's right, you're only into cradle robbers." He sneers. Darkness swells in me and before I can get a hold of myself I reel back my fist and punch him square in the face. I can't deny the satisfaction when I hear the corresponding crunch of his nose as he falls on his ass.
"Go to hell Adrian, my relationships are none of your concern. Rumors don't suit you very well." I all but growl. I take him in for a second, I really look at him and see that he looks like he hasn't slept in days.
According to Lissa's vague memories of the partying the three of them have been doing the past week, he hasn't slept much. But his eyes… they look like he's trapped and screaming behind bars, but then again I could be wrong.
"What the hell is the matter with you, blood whore? Hate the truth?" He smirks, even as blood pours from his nose.
"No not at all, but leave me and mine because you wouldn't like it if yours got out." I respond without a second thought. Avery helps him up and I hear her whispering in his ear.
"Let's get out of here and leave this bitch alone, it's about time we had some alone time." With that they disappear.
I suddenly feel like all the energy has been sucked out of me and I break out in a cold sweat. I sway uneasily on my feet and have to steady myself before making my way to my room. I need to be alone right now, I wouldn't want anyone to see me this way.
I try to stick the shadows for the next couple of days. Quietly trying to process the sudden hell my life had turned into in the matter of days.
When the restlessness catches up to me the following week I know I need to get off campus. I feel trapped here at campus so it doesn't take long for me to show up by the water fall. I relax there for a while before I hear the soft shuffling near by shrubs and soft foot steps.
I look up lazily to see the wolf walking to me before he all but flops in my lap. I raise an eyebrow and shake my head before petting him
"I'm glad you're here, boy," I whisper as I think of the past few days. "I feel so alone." That being said I break down. I sob and cry for the people that have walked away and the life that I'm losing.
In that moment I grieve the future I could have had. I let myself accept the fact that the future I had planned for myself, the life Lissa and I had spent many late mornings talking about, would never come to pass. And somehow I've managed to end up here alone.