Missing You

Chapter 4: A Bad Joke (or Two)

[The Night World Series]

Uncomfortably, I unwrapped my sandwich and started munching on it. Although I wasn't hungry, I needed something to do.

Behind me, I heard Charles inhale, as if he was about to say something, but then he just sighed out with frustration. I shifted uneasily, the tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a butter knife.

"Eliza."

A shiver went through my entire body when I heard him say my name. Say my name again. A small voice from the darkest corner of my mind whispered. I brusquely shut that idea down, and poised myself before I turned to face him.

"Yeah?" I swung around to look at him, and almost lost my composure immediately when I met his eyes.

I felt an even stronger shock. I know you. I couldn't deny this feeling of absolute recognition. And more than that, I couldn't resist him. I wanted to touch him, to make some sort of physical connection, and it took every ounce of my willpower to resist this irrational urge.

For a moment, he didn't say anything. We just stared at each other. I struggled to put my hormones under strict control and regain my composure.

"Did you have a question?" I asked politely, prodding him out of his sudden speechlessness.

"Sorry," he apologized, "my mind went blank for a moment."

"No-no it's alright!" I blustered, laughing nervously. Mine did too.

"I actually have something very important to tell you, which you most likely won't believe," he continued.

I managed to regain my senses enough to take another bite of my sandwich, and chewed on it without really tasting it. "Mm?" I mumbled through a mouthful of sandwich.

He lowered his voice and leaned in towards me (I nearly spit out my sandwich when he did that), "You're in danger, Eliza."

I almost choked on a chunk of bread, "E-Excuse me?"

"There's a sort of…organization called the Night World, which consists of beings that are not human, such as vampires, shape-shifters, werewolves, and witches. They have a strict code of laws not to tell any human that this alternate world exists, or to fall in love with a human. And if they break these rules, they will be," he looked at me with dead seriousness, "…severely punished."

I nervously laughed, "Great joke. Next you'll tell me ghosts exist. How much money did you get for this stupid bet? It's okay, you can tell me."

"I swear to you, it's not a joke," Charles said and looked almost offended that I had laughed.

"Okay, fine," I said. "Hypothetically speaking, let's say I believe you. Why are you telling me this? How do you know about this? And, even more than that, what do you mean that I'm in danger?"

"First, I want to prepare you for what's going to happen," Charles said seriously. "Second, that's personal. And third, you will find that out by yourself."

I thought about this for a few minutes while I finished off my sandwich. Charles stayed silent, watching to see how I took in this new information. I realized he had neatly avoided directly answering all three questions.

I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms, "Okay, well, since you have no valid answer for any of my questions, I don't believe you. That, and, I don't believe you on the basis that this is completely crazy." I added for good measure.

Charles furrowed his brows, "What can I say to make you believe me?"

"Answer my questions," I retorted flippantly.

"I can't," he nearly growled, his voice deepening in what seemed to be genuine frustration, "I would but I—"

Abruptly, Charles broke off, and leaned away from me.

"Turn back around," he ordered. I followed his instructions, too surprised to protest. A second later, Mr. Fern opened the door and walked in menacingly.

"I hope you both have enjoyed yourselves," he intoned, not even trying to pretend that he hoped that we actually enjoying ourselves. "Lunch hour is over. Your detention is done. Pick up your bags from the front and leave now. I hope you two have learned your lesson about tardiness."

Without wasting time, I shot out of my seat (barely remembering to carry my lunch trash with me) and retrieved my bag from the front of the room. I dumped my trash in the trashcan by the door Under the disapproving eye of Mr. Fern (he really seemed to dislike the kid), Charles followed close behind. The minute I stepped out of the classroom and away from my awful homeroom teacher, I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Well, it was nice to spend time with you," I said politely, while cringing inwardly at my awkward manners. After all that, and that's what I chose to say?

"Likewise," Charles returned tactfully, catching my eyes for a second (which sent an increasingly familiar shock through me) before I looked away.

"I'll probably see you next class, since you seem to be in all my classes" I joked. He didn't laugh, and I felt my face heat up. Ugh, I was so not funny. Note to self: stop with the bad jokes.

"Yeah, I guess that was a bit too obvious," Charles muttered to himself.

"Sorry, what?" I couldn't have heard that correctly.

Charles almost looked guilty and pulled his hand through his dark hair in an uneasy motion, "Actually, I am in all your classes." He admitted.

I looked at him in confusion, "Wait, what? How do you even know that?"

"I requested it," he said simply.

"What the—I don't even know you…" I started to protest but trailed off when I caught sight of his expression.

He just looked so sad.

And, to be honest, I was lying to him and myself. There was something about about him that I couldn't place but I seemed to remember from a hazy dream…

"That's right," he murmured with his eyes lowered, "you don't know me…but I know you. I've known you for longer than you know."

For some reason, I wanted to comfort him. I wanted to take back my words and tell him that there was something that I did recognize about him. But the rational part of myself held me back.

"I don't—I can't—" I stumbled over my words. I didn't know what to say and so I ran away, "Um, I need to go to class. I'll see you there, I guess."

I needed to get away and think about this on my own. Or, at least, I needed to get away from him and his magnetic presence before I actually started to believe these things that he was saying.

"Wait," Charles almost pleaded (cats don't beg!) and I stopped without turning around. "You can forget everything that just happened, but please. Please. Believe me about the Night World. You're in danger, and things are about to change very soon. Brace yourself."

"…I'll try," I said, and walked away as fast as I could without looking like I was actually running away.

Behind me, I heard Charles groan in frustration, but he made no move to follow.