Surprisingly I have no witty remarks at the moment. Weird. Anyways, thanks for the reviews! And all that fun stuff! Makes me happy!
So yes. What do you think of this so far? I would really like to hear your thoughts and comments. Good or bad. Really, I would! I've noticed that they have gotten a little ooc, buuut don't worry. That's going to change.
The Truce 17
It was a wonderful morning so far. Charley did his normal everyday things and his mother was already gone to work. Which gave him plenty of time to figure out a really good excuse for everything when she asked later today. He felt a lot better being back in his own home and away from being surrounded by anything to do with vampires. Finally he had privacy when he wanted it, and it was very quiet. No surprises.
What woke him up was the warmth of the sun on his face and hearing birds outside. Cliché, but it brought a smile to his face.
But he knew today was going to be a challenge none the less. He didn't do any of the work he was supposed to have done during his week suspension. So now he was far behind in his work, so far behind that he was positive he was going to be staying after school everyday just to get it done. He tried not to think about the vampirism while he got ready for the day. The less he thought of it the less it would be a worry.
Charley did everything he would normally do in the mornings. He had a shower, brushed his teeth after eating a bowl of fruit loops, changed his clothes, avoiding dark colors and nothing out of the ordinary happened. No fangs, no freaky eye changes, no smells, not even the super hearing. It was a totally normal morning.
He was in the greatest of moods. Maybe today wasn't going to be so bad. He felt like nothing could break his mood. Grabbing his phone from the bathroom counter and started checking his missed messages as he went down the stairs. A lot were from Amy. He groaned lightly, completely forgetting to call her. Beginning to feel like a jerk. Figuring making her wait over a week to call her back was just harsh, Charley sent her a quick text message assuring her he would call her at lunch and that he was alright.
He sighed and stuck the device in his back pocket as he started looking around for his bag. If he didn't leave now he would be late. After running back up to his room figuring it would be there and to grab his light sweater. Wishing he had a sweater that wasn't so dark as he slipped it on and he grabbed the bag by the door. Stopping to see how he looked today in the mirror at his dresser, giving a small breath seeing that he still was very white. Kind of sickly. Checking his teeth quickly and zipped up the sweater. Thinking maybe he should have borrowed Peter's stage make up. He breathed out looking at his eyes, stunned by the brightness of the green.
He turned and went back downstairs, glad the school was only a twenty minute walk. But he had ten minutes to get there according to the clock. Pulling his shoes on quickly, nearly falling over in haste as he hopped on one foot with a groan. He was going to have to run if he was going to make it on time.
He slammed the door as he jumped down the front steps, breaking into a jog. Narrowing his eyes and ducking his head as the morning light was in his face as he started sticking ear buds into his ears and connected it to his phone. Music blasted into his ears. He turned it as loud as it would go so he couldn't hear anything else but the rhythm. Not caring if it caused his ears to ache.
The neighbors who were outside stared as he jogged past, making Charley feel awkward with the looks they made. That feeling would only increase when he got to the school. So he was going to have to get used to it.
As he jogged down the street for a few minutes, he still felt as though he could go faster. Even when he went quite a ways already, he wasn't even breathing heavily yet. He exhaled slowly as he pushed himself to go faster. Feeling the muscles in his legs push him further and faster down the street as he broke into a run. Skidding around corners and seemed to be going even faster. Gaining so much momentum Charley wasn't sure how to stop without getting hurt. Everything passed by quickly as the wind wiped against his ears. He realized he was going too fast.
Looking ahead seeing the street before the school grounds flowing with cars. His stomach clenched nervously. Knowing he wouldn't be able to stop his sprint in time without falling to his face, he was going to have to jump the gap. Or at least try to.
He took a breath riding the flow of adrenaline and pushed himself off the concrete as he reached the end of the sidewalk. His arms spinning at his sides maintaining his balance as he drew his feet up. Scaling over a moving vehicle easily and he let out a loud laugh of amazement. Dropping one foot onto the back of another car and pushed himself to jump once more. Breathing out as his feet touched the sidewalk on the other side falling forward and dropped to a tumbling roll. He grunted as pushed himself to his feet and staggered a few steps, catching his breath as he leaned forward.
"Holy shit!" Shocked that he even made it. He laughed out loud and shook his head. He was going to try that again sometime. That was an amazing rush. He pulled the ear buds out and shoved them into his pocket, looking around quickly as he breathed out.
"Whoa, nice moves Charley!" Someone called out and he rubbed his nose without a reply.
"Wow! That was awesome!"
"Did you see what he just did!"
Charley stood straight, brushing his shoulder off slowly and started walking towards the school with a sheepish look casted at the ground. Hearing different people say different things, all the positive comments made him smirk. He felt on the spot and stopped when Mark came up to him. Putting on a small smile as he looked at the ground for a moment. Hoping this would go well.
"Hey Mark."
"What the hell was that? That was sick dude!" He commented with honesty, Charley didn't know what to say to that. Looking over his shoulder thinking quickly as he gave a small nod.
"Uh...just uh...free running? I guess?" He said and looked at him again. "Exercise and all that. Yeah. What's up?"
He said a little awkwardly as Mark gave him a weird look then laughed. Charley noticed the faded damage he did from the previous week. There was a nearly healed cut on his lip, faint bruises around his eye and he still had scrapes on his hands. Making him feel slightly bad, but he did deserve it after all.
"Yeah. Cool, cool. Where you been hiding out?" He asked looking at him carefully.
"Around." He said, casting his eyes around. "Mostly at home."
"You alright? You're pale, like your dying or something." He commented. Charley could see that he was holding back the contempt he had against him.
"Huh? Oh uh, no. I'm fine, just getting over being sick too." He said, cursing himself. He was horrible at lying. Mark gave him another look, then eyed him up. Charley sighed and put his hands in his sweater pockets.
"Look Mark, I'm sorry for what happened last week. Didn't mean to get that crazy, but what you said was out of line." Charley said, addressing the reason Mark came up to him in the first place.
"Yeah, don't be sorry bro. What happened happened, whatever. But it ain't over yet. So watch your back." He said threateningly towards Charley then walked away. "You just won't see it coming."
"Great." The teen sighed and frowned lightly. A normal day indeed. He hoped that Mark would have dropped it, but should have known otherwise.
"I probably will see it before you do." He mumbled out loud to himself.
Mark was going to try to fight him again or do something to him, and that made Charley worry. He wouldn't be able to fight him without seriously hurting him. So he was going to try to avoid him. Feeling like he was back in the ninth grade. Having to hide from bullies. Only this time he was the dangerous one. Blinking as he watched his ex-friend disappear inside. He moved towards the building with a small jump as the bell rang loudly, knocking him from his thoughts. He took a breath and headed inside to start the day.
Most of the morning was alright, aside from all the stares he got. Especially from the girls and their comments on his eyes. It was beginning to become annoying, repeatedly telling them he wasn't wearing contacts. Deciding to skip the trip to his locker and go straight to class to avoid more looks for a while.
Majority of the morning was pretty normal. Just doing whatever work was required to be finished before he pulled out his phone when it vibrated in his pocket. Casting a careful look around as he opened the message, seeing that it was from Jerry.
'Meet 10PM
Be ready.'
Charley blinked and put his phone away. Meet where? Glad that Jerry didn't quit like he said he wanted too. But where was he supposed to meet him? Worry about that later, he told himself.
He looked around the room for a moment as the teacher explained the new assignment they were just given. Hardly paying attention as he gazed blankly at his desk while remembering the deep, low sound of the vampire's heart. The teen's mind seemed to drift thinking about that. His ears picking up a growing percussion of deep drums everywhere around him.
Charley's body started to tense up and he held his breath. Closing his eyes and forced them away before the soothing sounds took over his senses, the faint throb returned in his chest. The deep pounds faded slowly and he started doing his work again once he was sure it wouldn't happen again.
"Charley, you feeling alright?" His teacher asked with concern, a small frown on her face. He looked at her and nodded quickly, giving a small smile as he looked down at the open book in front of him.
As the time passed by slowly, nothing else had happened. But that throb in his chest didn't leave. He only got used to it and forgot it. This day was turning into something he was sure he could manage. Once he got used to everything going on inside of him of course.
When the second period started, Charley's class had gone outside to enjoy the morning. Which meant he could relax a little and maybe text the vampire. There were a few other classes outside as well, so there were quiet a few people outside. It wouldn't have bothered him so much if it wasn't for Mark's class being there too. He figured he was going to try something when everyone started going into groups and chatting. He sighed as he walked towards a drop in the grass leading to another area of the massive yard.
Charley sat down on the ledge and pulled his phone out, about to text Jerry and ask about the strange pulse he felt in his torso when Mark and two others sauntered over and sat around him. His phone was snatched out of his hand by Mark with a pat on the back. Charley sighed lightly and dropped his hand that was holding the device.
"Can I have my phone back please?" He asked, giving him a bored look.
"Not yet. We need to figure this situation out." Mark replied as he started scanning his phone, Charley was glad he had the auto-lock turned on.
"Figure what out? I said I was sorry. I'm not going to fight you again. So just give me my phone back and ge-" He started to say when the two that sat behind him grabbed his bag and jumped away laughing.
"Really?" He asked and stood up. Getting annoyed as they taunted him, he frowned and stood there. Determined not to give them the satisfaction of getting him mad.
Mark laughed and patted his shoulder.
"Come on man, you know how it is. You can pick one to have now, and one you have to fetch." Mark explained laughing at Charley's frustrated look.
"What? Just give me my shit back man. Grow the hell up."
"Pick or find them both, Geek." Mark repeated, his tone serious as he gave Charley a challenging look. He hated that nickname, feeling like a kid again. He took a deep breath and held his hand out after a minute, rolling his eyes at how pointless this was becoming.
"Give me my phone. Throw my bag around or whatever. I don't care, but give me my phone." Charley said calmly, despite the anger that he was feeling.
Telling himself repeatedly that he wasn't worth the energy, or risk to deal with his ex-friend like he really wanted too. But violence wasn't really an option, was it? He got into trouble for doing already. Lately that line splitting his world with this one was seriously thin.
"Sure Charley." Mark tossed the phone in the air, making Charley look up and reach his hands out to catch it. When he let his guard slip for a second, Mark punched him in the stomach. Charley swung out his arm, catching the end of his phone awkwardly as he stumbled back with a grunt.
Letting out a small breath as he held his stomach, acting as though it hurt when it barely did. He scowled with annoyance as Mark and the other two he didn't know walked away for a moment, his eyes following where they tossed his bag up high and out of view.
Narrowing his eyes as he glared at the group. Charley caught himself emitting a low growl as he stood straight. Silencing it and looked around in a small panic. No one heard, no one was close. He sat back down on the concrete ledge quickly and unlocked his phone. Immediately calling Jerry as he held his breath, frightened at what he just did. It rang twice before he heard his voice.
"Problems already?" Jerry's voice purred into his ear.
"Uh, I just growled. Like you, when your having one of your moments." He stated quickly, sounding nervous.
"Huh. If your growling, you should watch your temper Charley. If you're planning to survive your idiot plan to go back to high school then watch your mood. Otherwise your secret will come out, then the fear and the chaos will follow. They will scream and run away. Total hysteria..." The vampire replied sounding as though he was daydreaming about it.
"Stop it. That doesn't give me very much confidence. Your supposed to help me, not make me worry about every little thing." Charley stated with annoyance.
"You're asking support from a vampire Charley. That is support sounds like from me. You're going to have to survive a few more weeks. Its going to be very difficult. Can you handle that?"
Jerry had a point, another couple of weeks was a long time to live like this. Still, that was the worst support he has ever heard. Charley rolled his eyes and sighed deeply, squinting as he looked towards the place Mark threw his back pack. His hand rubbed his stomach idly as he shook his head.
"Yeah, I don't know about that. If I killed someone, can I blame it on you?" Charley asked jokingly, but the annoyance present in his voice.
"Absolutely." Jerry replied pleasantly. "I'll even help you."
"Dude, I'm not serious!" Charley gasped is disgust, rolling his eyes when the vampire made a disappointed sound.
"Rain check? Alright then. Now is that all? You're using up my minutes. Not that I don't enjoy being disturbed in the morning when I'm trying to sleep and all of that." Jerry said with a bored tone.
"One more thing. There's, uh, a weird throb or whatever in my chest. It doesn't hurt, but its been there all morning. Is that good or bad?" He said describing it quickly, looking at the ground waiting nervously.
"What triggered it?" The vampire sounded a little more interested.
"Uh...hearing heartbeats...I guess." He said slowly, nervously biting his thumb nail.
"Then don't worry about it if it doesn't hurt. You should when it turns into an ache. That's the tip of our hunger calling for blood. Feels good doesn't it." Jerry said with a teasing tone.
"So now I have to worry about that? Well that's just great." Charley commented, scowling as he looked towards where his bag was.
"Do I have to worry about biting people and drinking their blood?" Charley whispered loudly as a group walked past him. He gave them a small smile as they past, again the girls stared at his eyes.
"I would. You are part vampire Charley. Comes with the package." Jerry purred and chuckled darkly.
"Oh good. The surprises never end! That isn't in the least bit helpful, by the way."
"Oh Boo hoo. Yes it was. Good bye Charley." Jerry said tauntingly then hung up.
"Dick!" He said and hung up.
Charley let out a breath and rubbed his forehead slowly. This was going to be really hard to do, but he told himself that he could do it. He had too. Looking up and around as he got to his feet. Walking towards the spot where he thought his bag was before he casted a quick look around, seeing everyone was preoccupied he figured he could climb up unnoticed.
He stepped closer to the building and looked around again once more before he took a step back and forced himself to jump. His hands latched onto the outside light, breathing as he pulled himself up and grabbed the edge of the lowest roof on the building, dragging himself over the edge with another quick breath. He reached over and grabbed his bag, looking to make sure everything was still inside of it and sat down on the roof. Letting his legs dangle over. Glad there was next to no one around at the minute.
He dropped his head and closed his eyes. So all he needed to do was keep his moods in check. Easier said than done. Especially in high school.
He opened his eyes and looked down while slipping his bag over his shoulders before dropping down. Surprised that he made no sound when his feet touched the earth, he held hid breath and looked around feeling eyes on him. Not seeing where they came from he turned and headed inside. Wait for lunch and the call to Amy. Thinking on what exactly he was going to say when he called her, turning his head sharply as he heard his name being called.
Blinking as he saw the principle motioning for him to come closer, his heart stopped when he noticed that there were two cops standing behind him in the office. Charley swallowed and quickly sent Jerry a text as he walked over.
'Cops! Help!'
XX
TbC!