To Mai Surprise

Disclaimer: I do not own The Nine Lives of Chloe King, nor do I profit from any of my stories.

Chapter 2

I slipped my phone into my pocket before the teacher noticed. A confiscated cell phone was the last thing I needed. With a sigh, I scanned the classroom. Sure, I know people here; I'm just not exactly friends with any of them.

I try to keep my distance from humans. Not that I think the Mai are better than humans, because I don't. I just know that The Order could attack at any time. It is easier to defend myself when there are no suspicious bystanders, and I definitely wouldn't want any humans to get caught up in the fights.

Another beep! announced a text. "Meet me, Telegraph Hill, 7pm." It was Jasmine; apparently we have to train tonight. I don't mind training, as long as it's not stairs. Last week, Aunt Val made us run up the stairs to the top of Coit Tower.

A piece of paper landed on my desk. "English 11, European Literature," with an outline of the class syllabus and the teacher's late-work policy. On the back of the sheet there was a place for a parent signature. I quickly forged Aunt Valentina's name. She won't be back until November, and the form was due next week.

As the bell rang, I stuck the paper into a folder and threw it into my backpack. I pulled the crumpled half-sheet of paper out of my pocket. Up next on my schedule? AP United States History. I looked down at my feet as I shuffled through the hall. Why did I sign up for APUSH?

Suddenly, my path was blocked by a light-blue cotton-clad muscular arm. Alek! I froze. Maybe he forgot about earlier... I was worried. If he was angry, he had the power to turn the whole student body against me. He leaned in closer; I tried to take a step back but there was a wall behind me.

Alek spoke, his thick British accent made my heart melt. "That was very impressive," he smirked. "Maybe you could show me your moves sometime."

I gasped, and then squeaked out, "no moves. Just a lucky shot."

His voice went lower as he leaned closer. "I wasn't really talking about... basketball."

I rolled my eyes and tried to get further away. "Subtle" I sarcastically replied.

Alek smirked again, "I'm not trying to be." He grabbed my waist, his other arm still against the wall on the other side of me. There was no way to get past him without making a scene.

When I finally found my voice, it was about an octave higher than normal. "Um, you haven't talked to me in like two years. Let's get back to that," I said, my nerves getting the best of me.

Unfortunately, Aleksander Petrov chose that moment to lean down and rest his head on my shoulder. He inhaled deeply, his face in my hair. "You smell very good," Alek said, only loud enough for me to hear.

I pushed him away and met his eyes with my own. "Um, okay crazy non-sequitur man, it's called bathing. Try it!" My response seemed to only spur his interest.

He leaned back, with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Why are you giving me such a hard time?" he asked, smiling. "Chloe King?"

He knew my name? Part of me was angry that I had been so careless as to attract attention to myself. Another, much larger part of me wanted to run and tell Amy.

I was a bit flustered, and said the exactly what I was thinking. "Believe me, if I knew it would have this kind of effect, I would have never touched you ball."

Okay, now every part of me wants to run. Not 'run and tell Amy,' just run. Alek let out a quiet laugh and opened his mouth to speak.

"Don't say it!" I cringed before he even had a chance to.

To my surprise, he leaned towards me. "Something tells me we're going to be very good friends." Alek's accent was killing me!

He leaned even closer, then— "Alek!" Oh, thank God! Jasmine to the rescue!

Alek paused in his advance towards my lips to look up. I had almost let myself get kissed! Why does Alek always make me freeze up? Jasmine was furious. She glared at Alek and motioned me towards her. I pushed past him, stuttering out, "uh, well, nice chattin', this was fun, let's try and never do it again." Jasmine grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hall as the bell rang. The look on her face meant that I was going to get a lecture later.

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