The alarm clock's blaring beeping brought me back from the trance I was in. I had no need to sleep, it was just a luxury that I occasionally partook in. Instead I had spent my night setting up my room to be less bland and more me. At some point during the night however, I moved to looking out my window at the street before my house. Studying the other houses around me, wondering if any of them housed kids my age. Wondering if maybe, just maybe, someone would be like me.
I cringed as I made my way over and slammed my hand on the alarm clock, the beeping giving me a slight headache from the sheer volume of it. My first day of South Park High was just beginning and I already wished for it to be over. I opened my closet, glad I at least got some clothes put away during my unpacking spree. Picking out my dark grey skinny jeans and black, a rose printed shirt with lace sleeves, and an over-sized skull print sweatshirt I sluggishly dressed and made my way to the bathroom to brush through my galaxy style blue and purple hair.
"Luna, you need to get to the bus stop!" My mother yelled at me as I was running a hand through my hair to finish parting it just right for my bangs to fall and frame my face.
"Okay, I'm coming!" I groaned as I left my bathroom, stopping by the hall closet to grab my book bag, and finally heading downstairs to get this inevitable day moving. I went to the kitchen, my mother already standing waiting for me, a thermos in hand and a hand on her hip.
"This, I believe, I told you to have for dinner last night." The tone in her voice letting me know I was in big trouble. "Luna, you have to eat still. I know you left it just because you're upset. You're too old to be acting like this. Plus you should know better!"
The words were going in one ear and out the other. I know I shouldn't ignore meals, but my mother was way overreacting. "I'm fine mom. Please, just let me get through today and later you can get on me all you want about me not eating because I wasn't hungry."
"At least take it with you for lunch for when you finally decide you are hungry. Just be careful." My mother handed the thermos to me and gave me a look that didn't dare make me question her.
"Thanks mom," I quietly replied as I turned to leave the house before pausing in the kitchen doorway, "Also, I'm sorry about last night."
"It's okay, just please have a more open mind about this place."
I nodded silently in agreement as I tucked my thermos into the side pocket of my backpack and left the house. The bus stop was not as far from my house as I initially thought as I made my way down the street. The sign came into view not even five minutes after I left my house. Fresh snow crunched slightly under my steady steps and each brought me closer and closer to the bus stop. When I arrived I was shocked to find that no one else was at this particular stop. Relief fell over me as the thought of not having to deal with people just yet ran through my head, but then again I also knew I was probably just the first to arrive.
I pulled the hood of my sweatshirt up over my head and leaned against the pole for the bus stop sign with a sigh. I took this time to look around and really take in my surroundings from outside instead of out my bedroom window. I took in all the details from the snow covered ground at my feet to the clear blue sky above. If I did have to put up with living here, I may as well take in my environment. The snow was fairly fresh and gave off a white shimmer in the early light of the sun. Living in Seattle, I have not had a chance to see this much snow at one time. I took a small sniff of the air taking in the smell. It was a mix of things that I couldn't quite put my finger on, but I had to admit it smelt better than a city. The smell of fresh mountain air mixed with the slightest smell of a city, which was the only indication that there was a town nearby. The distant sounds from the main part of town reached my ears, cars going up and down the streets and the crunch of snow as people walked to their destinations.
Well, this place sure is a lot more peaceful than Seattle. I guess that's a plus. I thought to myself as I looked up to the sky, my hood still pulled over my head hiding my face. It amazed me how clear and pretty the sky was. Even on the nice days in Seattle the sky was never this clear. I smiled slightly at the sight. I had to admit the more I admired the surroundings around me the more I could see myself enjoying this type of weather, despite how bright the sun was here.
The sound of snow crunching coming from the direction of the street I now live on made me rip my gaze away from the sky to look towards the route I took to get to the stop. My time of solitude was coming to an end and fast. The crunch of snow got louder and louder, and there was more than just one person at that. It didn't take long for me to pick up the sound of the voices that accommodated the footsteps. Boys, laughing about something and approaching fast. I kept my gaze focused towards them just waiting for them to come into view. Pulling on my hood one last time to ensure it was in place I waited. The seconds ticked by and even though I knew it was only a couple minutes before they finally came into view, it felt like an eternity to me. The anxiety of having my first contact with the other kids of this town made me want to run back home and ask my parents to drop me off.
They were still a pretty good distance away, but were in my line of sight which was good enough for me. Four boys, all around my age it seemed, were headed this way. Each were still laughing among themselves at something that a heavy- set boy wearing a red jacket and a light blue hat had said. The other three boys were all relatively skinny, with two of them adorning their own jackets and hats while the last one wore a bright orange parka with the hood pulled up and tight so that most of his face was covered. As for the other two boys, one wore a brown jacket with a dark blue hat and the other an orange jacket with a bright green hat. From the distance they were away from the bus stop I knew they could see me if they looked, but they seemed to be too busy with their conversation to notice my presence.
The closer and closer they got to the stop, the more and more tense I got. It didn't take long before the smell of them began to invade my nose too much to ignore. The smell of their human blood. The sweet yet metallic smell of the liquid that runs through their veins is nothing new to me, I mean after all I grew up surrounded by humans. The one thing that did stick out to me was a more delicate, light smell that I would know anywhere. The smell of a fellow immortal. The smell of immortal blood was very faint, but still there enough for me to be able to pick up on it.
My breath hitched as I came to the realization that I may not be the only immortal in this town. I let a slight smile creep over my face, making friends with another person like me this fast would be amazing.
Get a grip Luna, you gotta be careful when trying to find others like you remember. Be casual and just look for clues. I mentally kicked myself. I did have to approach this carefully, for even though I could smell the scent it was odd at how very faint it was. I could be picking up remnants of my parents on my book bag or something, yet I know what my parents smell like and this was not the same smell.
"Uh.. Hello?" I let out a slight gasp as a voice brought me back to reality. I slinked further into my hoodie, quietly cursing myself for letting my guard down I looked up just enough to see the owner of the voice.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you." The boy in the orange jacket with a green had said. "You must be new. I'm Kyle." He introduced himself as he shifted his book bag from one shoulder to the other.
"H..hi." I squeaked out, barely audible as I gave a small wave. I held my breath, the smell of their human blood so close to me causing my throat to burn with thirst. I really regretted not having any dinner now. I was still fully in control, as always, plus I always had my thermos thankfully. Good old mom always looking out for me even when she's mad.
"Uh.. what's your name?" Kyle continued, his friends watching with curiosity from behind him.
I had stopped breathing, reaching to the side of my book bag and retrieving my thermos, my voice soft, if not a little shaky, as I shyly introduced myself, "L..Luna. Luna Kearne."
All of a sudden the fat one in the red coat burst out in laughter "What kind of gay ass name is that? I bet your parents are dirty hippies!"
"Shut up fat ass!" The boy in the brown jacket yelled as he hit the fat one on the arm. "You'll have to excuse Cartman, he's a jerk. I'm Stan, and that's Kenny." He introduced, pointing to the boy in the orange parka last.
I stayed silent, angry about the outburst of the fat one named Cartman and laughing at my name. I gripped my thermos tightly, but then a thought came to me. I was wearing a relatively baggy sweatshirt while covering my face and I haven't really spoken to them save for some barely audible squeaks. Maybe, just maybe they assumed I was also a boy. That would explain the outburst from Cartman.
"Not a huge talker are you?" A different voice reached my ears. It was almost barely noticeable in the volume change, but it was quieter than the others. I assumed it came from Kenny's hooded self.
I reached up and pulled the hood away from my face, revealing my galaxy style hair that shaped my face and clear violet eyes. "Actually, I'm still trying to get over the fact that the fat one assumed I was a boy. But all in all no, I'm not good at talking to new people." I spoke at full volume, pushing away my nerves and taking this chance to attempt to get somewhere with making new friends.
The boys all looked at me in shock. A feeling of dread began to rise in me as they stood there, silent. Great Luna, that's a perfect way to start trying to make friends. I mentally scolded myself at my stupidity. I returned my attention to the thermos that was still in my hands to avoid looking at the boys standing before me.
"Aw weak! New kid is a girl!" Cartman whined, "At least that explains the gay name."
"Cartman, shut up! You don't ne-" Stan began to scold Cartman before he paused and had a second thought, "Wait, you could understand Kenny?" He took a few steps towards me. "Usually we have to tell people what he says when he has his hood up. You're a good few feet away and could understand him, that's pretty impressive."
"Yeah, I have good ears." I awkwardly laughed a little as a gust of wind blew the scent of the boys towards my nose once more.
It was there again, the smell of immortal blood mixed with the overwhelming smell of human blood. I finally opening the thermos in my hands and lifting it to my lips, remembering that this whole time I had not been breathing and needed to not be suspicious. The thick liquid reached my lips as I took a few good mouthfuls. I slightly cringed a bit as I pulled the thermos away and replaced the cap, the taste of cold blood was never a pleasant one and the snowy weather had done nothing but help make the contents of my thermos become thick and slightly congealed. I just have to hope that by lunch I could find a microwave or that the the thermos would be warm enough for it to not be so cold. Feeling the burn in my throat slowly diminish to nothing but a slight tickle I turned and nervously fumbled with trying to put my thermos back in my side pocket of my book bag. I silently cursed to myself, knowing I should be able to move flawlessly but let my nerves of talking to people get the better of me.
"Uh, h.. here let me get that for you." Kenny's voice came again as he walked over to my side and swiftly slid my thermos back in place for me.
"Th.. Thanks." I took in his smell as he casually went back to waiting for the bus. I looked at him wide eyes as I realized the immortal smell was coming from him, but once I got a good whiff from him I realized it was not vampire blood like my family has. He had a different type of immortal blood, but also human blood.
That's impossible. I thought to myself, my eyes glued on Kenny as I took in his scent one more time as the bus finally arrived, the driver lazily motioning for us to get on after opening the door. We all boarded one by one, the boys going first and claiming seats near the back of the bus. I took my place near the front of the bus, putting some distance between us for a while, needing to let my brain process what I suspected. The suspicion that there is another in town who is immortal, yet also has human blood running through them.