A/N: Okay so… here's the chapter! I think it's the longest one I've written. Daemons are based on the idea from the His Dark Materials book series. I didn't have any plans on writing another high school chapter, but here I am… haha. I don't remember the world from the books well enough to set it in that world, even if it would have been way cooler, and I needed a place where they could all interact, and high school is certainly the easiest for that. I had lots of different scenes I wanted to write so sorry if it's not all coherent together story-line wise. There's still more characters that I want to write about so if you like it, I will try and continue this. Just let me know. :) Also, please excuse the random daemon names, I picked some of them from a daemon name generator, as I needed a decent number!
Walking down the long corridor with her daemon beside her, Steff glanced around in curiosity. Her daemon, Zell, was a white-tailed deer, having settled years prior. She was nervous to be starting again without any of her friends, but at least with Zell, she never felt alone.
Moving schools in grade eleven was hard enough, let alone moving countries as well. However, Steff had little choice in her move from London to New York. Her stepbrother, Loki, had gotten suspended at his previous school, and her parents had some business deals go sour. Despite Loki being a couple of years older than her, he would be attending grade twelve that year, as he had to repeat a year due to his poor results.
"I can feel your nerves from here, Steff," Zell remarked, looking over at her. "Don't stress. It won't be hard for you to make friends here."
Steff gave a slight smile, reaching out, her fingers brushing his antlers, before her hand settled on his fur. "I know, I know. I'll be better after this day is over, I promise."
Zell snorted, although he grew quiet when another girl not far off her own short stature approached them, a small rabbit daemon hopping along behind her. "Oh, you must be Stephanie. Am I right?" she beamed, her golden locks bouncing when she moved her head. She was dressed in a cute, floral dress, and she seemed rather enthusiastic to see her.
"Just Steff is fine," she replied, in a friendly manner. "And this is Zell."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Rose," the other girl replied, her little rabbit looking up at Zell. "And I'm Ellie," the rabbit added, also sounding peppy.
Steff thought it was unusual that her daemon was a female as well, although it could happen rarely.
Rose gestured for Steff to follow her. "Welcome to your new school! I'm your tour guide today. I'm actually the vice-captain. I'm in your grade as well, but they encourage the vice-captains to be picked from year eleven, while the actual captains come from grade twelve," she explained. "The school captains are Savannah and Mason. Then Lev and I are the vice-captains."
"Congratulations," Steff replied, tucking some hair behind her ear. She and Zell followed close behind. "You must be popular if you were picked for such a position."
"Oh, I'd like to think so," Rose grinned, looking glad at her words. "Anyway, I'll show you around… This is one of the locker areas – yours is number 314 over there," she said, pointing it out. "But you'll be given your code and everything later."
Steff nodded to acknowledge her words. "Oh, great."
"The cafeteria is just at the end of that hall, and sick bay is beside it," Rose continued, her rabbit bounding enthusiastically with her. Steff and Zell exchanged a quick look, mostly to convey their amusement at how adorable the pair were. "And there's the office. That's where you can go whenever you need anything. By the way, if you ever need anyone to sit with, feel free to sit with me," she added, which Steff thought was kind.
"Thank you," Steff smiled. "I will probably take you up on that offer."
"Oh, it's nothing," Rose replied, waving away her words. The tour went on for a while longer, as Rose pointed out all of the important spots, before she paused at a classroom. "And here's your first class for the day. Chemistry with Mr Thorn. Although we all call him by his first name - Percy." Glancing at her timetable, Steff nodded, thinking that she must be a little late.
"Are you coming in too?" Steff questioned, and both Rose and Ellie giggled, as if the very idea was amusing.
"No, chemistry isn't for us," Rose said, with a sweet smile. "Besides I have some other things I have to do. Enjoy your first day, Steff."
"Thanks again for the tour," Steff replied, glancing between them both, before she knocked on the door and started inside, closing the door behind Zell.
It was a lab set up with different desks and equipment, and Steff immediately grew shy when she felt the class's gazes on her. Zell was nervous too, staying behind her.
The teacher paused, looking over at her. He looked to be in his mid-forties, some white streaks evident in his hair and a blue scarf to match his eyes, around his neck. A capuchin monkey sat on the desk beside him, its tail flicking to the side. Adjusting his glasses, the teacher cleared his throat. "You must be Stephanie, our new student. I'm Mr Thorn, although I don't mind Percy either," he said, before scanning the room for a free seat at once of the benches. "Ah, there's a free seat at the back there, if you want to join Luca. We're working in pairs today."
"Thank you," Steff replied quietly, moving towards the free seat at the back of the room, Zell weaving between the tables behind her. Reaching the seat that was beside the student she assumed was called Luca, she found a fox sitting on her seat. She hesitated, glancing at Luca briefly. He wore a heavy black coat, his brown eyes lined with some kind of liner, his black hair slicked back messily. He eyed Steff in silence, and Zell was a little skittish, not moving too close to the fox. Folding her books under her arm, Steff waited a moment longer. If he would not get his daemon to move, then she would just have to stand.
It took another long moment, before his daemon finally moved, sitting beside his chair, on the other side. Breathing a sigh of relief, Steff slid into her seat.
"I was only playing with you," Luca remarked, keeping his voice low as the teacher continued talking. "I'm Luca, by the way. And you're Stephanie, right? It looks like we're working together today. I didn't find anyone else suitable to partner with."
He didn't introduce his daemon, and Steff looked over at him again, wondering whether he deemed her suitable or not. "Just Steff," she corrected, setting her books and her pen down on the bench. There was something about his gaze that made her feel like she was being watched intently. "And this is Zell. I don't mind working in pairs, usually."
After that, she grew quiet, looking over at Percy again. He was talking passionately about their experiment that day, but she found she was still a little distracted, especially since she had missed the beginning. All she knew was that they would be graded on how well their experiment ended up. Once Percy said they could start, she picked up the piece of paper near Luca with the instructions, trying to read over them.
Luca however, seemed more interested in engaging in conversation again. "Deer are shy, right?" he remarked, glancing over at her daemon. "Are you shy, Steff? You must be."
Feeling the need to defend Zell more than her own personality, Steff sat up a little straighter. "Deer are gentle and sensitive and adaptable. They're agile too."
"And demure," Luca said, with a hidden smile. "In any case, I never said those were bad things."
Steff shifted her gaze to his fox daemon. "We all know that foxes can be… sly and cunning. Perhaps that is why you don't have a lab partner yet."
"Stereotypical, but not untrue," Luca replied, languidly. "They're innovative and picky, and they rely on their smarts rather than physical ability to hunt. I wouldn't mind being known for those things."
Steff gave a slight laugh, trying to focus on the instructions again. However, she was distracted by the two students on the other side of the desk, realising they had already started. They worked well as a team, and they seemed close, the red-haired boy working on following the tasks, while the other boy with dark beige hair and gold highlights paired with bronze eyes, read out the instructions, step by step. Their daemons were both different types of birds, and they flew together overhead, one a snowy owl, and the other a smaller bird that she couldn't quite identify.
Luca followed her gaze. "Kellan and Ethos. They're best friends – inseparable since Ethos moved here from wherever he came from. Iceland, or something like that. English isn't his first language, but he does pretty well considering," Luca said, keeping his voice low, as if he enjoyed sharing gossip.
The red-haired boy laughed, looking back at the other boy, and Steff couldn't help but think that the adoring way he looked at him looked more than what someone would look at a 'friend' with. But perhaps she had been reading too many romance novels, and she didn't want to say anything to Luca about it when she didn't even know them.
Seeing her read the instructions again, Luca gestured to the bench. "Well, you better get to it. The time's ticking."
Steff couldn't help but frown. "Aren't you going to help?"
"I've already done this before, and you obviously haven't," he replied, leaning back in his chair. "I'm already doing an advanced chemistry course."
Steff looked a little embarrassed. Science and math were her least confident subjects, finding she much preferred English and history. Anything that involved reading or writing, basically. "Well, you could at least give me some pointers, if you're not going to help," she sighed.
Setting up the Bunsen burner and the beakers, she carefully measured out the ingredients. However, Luca got up, catching her hand and setting it back near the place to adjust the fire of the Bunsen burner. She inhaled, a little surprised at his actions, and she studiously avoided looking at him. Getting her to twist it, he nodded in satisfaction as the flame changed.
"You don't need to be scared of the flame," he remarked, as if to justify it, releasing her hand and letting her continue.
Having left the classroom for a 'toilet break,' mostly just to escape the noise and the monotony for a bit, Blake wandered through the corridors with his daemon. She was a dingo with a ginger coat and white paws, the one constant in his life.
"They'll notice if we're gone for too much longer," Fang sighed, her nails making a sound against the floor as she walked.
"Just a bit longer," Blake replied, running his fingers through his black hair.
As they approached another corner however, Fang's ears pricked, and her steps grew more careful. There was a conversation going on, and it didn't sound friendly. Looking around the bend, Blake watched as a small girl with blonde curls was cornered. Rose, he was sure her name was, thinking she had done speeches before at school events.
A few guys with larger daemons – a Doberman Pinscher, a Rottweiler and some kind of terrier drew close, their daemons snapping as they eyed her rabbit.
"A rabbit is a rather helpless daemon, don't you think?" One of the boys snickered.
Biting her lip in worry, Rose bent down to pick up her little rabbit, hugging it to her chest. "That's mean," she said, taking a step backwards, into a locker. "You should all be at class."
"So should you, little girl," another boy replied. "Our daemons just want to have a little play."
Blake hesitated, not particularly liking the situation, although neither did he like getting involved in things. Fang looked up at him, as if to say, 'Are we going to do something?' Sometimes she was like his moral compass, and he sighed, before stepping forwards.
Fang followed his movements, before running forwards and growling. The other canine daemons paused, looking back at her. She was an unknown, and she bared her teeth in an aggressive gesture, warning them off.
The dogs backed off, and Fang moved to sit near Rose, watching them carefully.
The boys looked back at Blake, giving him a displeased glance. "What's your problem? We were just having some fun."
"Go have it somewhere else," was all Blake remarked, folding his arms. After exchanging glances, they finally ran off, and Blake released a sigh of relief. It could have gone much worse.
The girl – Rose – hugged her daemon for a moment longer. "Thank you," she stammered, still looking a little worried. "I don't know what their problem was… How can I repay you?"
"I don't need anything," Blake replied, turning away to dismiss her words and her presence. "Just forget about it." Fang rose to her feet, giving Rose another look, before following him.
"I won't forget it!" Rose called back, although he continued on, not wanting to give a response. He usually just looked after himself and Fang, and that's what he wanted to continue doing.
All in all, her first day had been a pretty good one, and Steff decided she couldn't complain. At least most of the students she'd met had seemed welcoming. Making her way with Zell back to their new house, Steff adjusted her bag over her shoulder, slipping inside. She'd hoped she wouldn't run into anyone on her way to her room, but she froze when her father and Loki looked up from where they were sitting at the table.
"Stephanie. I noticed you haven't done those jobs I left you," her father said, narrowing his eyes as he looked at her.
"I'm sorry-… I didn't have time before school," she said, inhaling quickly.
"Then you will work on them now, and if you don't get them all done, then you'll have to take tomorrow off school. Do you understand me?"
Missing school was always something she tried to avoid, but she nodded quietly, playing with her plait. She'd just have to focus on getting it done that evening and try and get up early in the morning to finish her homework. "… I understand."
"Your brother is busy with football training after school, so he doesn't have time for such things," he continued, as if it was a suitable excuse.
"I'll get it done," she said finally, before moving away to head to her room and set her bag down. Zell nuzzled her arm, as if to give her some support, and she smiled in response. Picking up a broom on her way out, she moved to sweep in one of the bathrooms, while Zell waited nearby. He'd expressed before how he wished he could help more, but his hooves made such a thing impossible.
Hearing some familiar claws clicking on the floor, Steff looked over at Loki's daemon, a Komodo dragon, as it approached. It was a large lizard that always freaked her out a little, its yellow forked tongue flicking out, as if to taste the air. It moved closer to Zell, and Steff put her broom out in front, to keep it away.
"Don't," she said quickly, not liking to play games. In the wild, while Komodo dragons often ate whatever food was available, the Timor deer was often their natural prey, so she knew how dangerous they could be. Not to mention their powerful bite that could contain venom.
Spotting Loki in the corner of her vision, she looked over at him. "Don't tease. Keep your daemon under control."
"She's not doing anything," Loki replied, with an amused gaze. "Calm down, Steff." He walked closer to Zell, and Steff eyed him carefully.
She was taken by surprise when he reached out to touch Zell, as if patting him. Zell pulled back quickly, and Steff suppressed a shiver. While daemons could touch other daemons, it was taboo and uncomfortable for humans to touch other daemons.
Loki looked back at her. "Did you enjoy your first day?"
"It was fine," Steff replied, clutching her broom a little harder. His daemon didn't move any closer, thankfully, merely watching her in a languid manner.
"I bet you haven't made any friends yet," he mocked. "I doubt you'll find it too easy."
Steff ignored the sting of his words. "I think you have more interesting things to do than bother me."
Loki merely laughed, watching her for a moment longer, before his daemon started to the doorway, and he followed her. "Enjoy your night cleaning."
After they left, Steff moved over to Zell, patting his coat briefly, as if to make sure he was fine.
"It's okay, Steff. Nothing happened," Zell commented, and she exhaled slowly in relief.
Pushing through the gate at the front of his house, Milo was in good spirits, watching as Zarni, his german shepherd daemon ran up to the door, her tail wagging. He smiled, opening the door for them both.
Rye's daemon, Kalanie, was quick to sense them, adopting the shape of a small sparrow and flying over their heads. His younger brother Rye was receiving treatment for leukemia, so he was home-schooled. Since he was younger and only just in the puberty phase, Rye's daemon still hadn't settled yet. It was handy really, being able to adapt to the shape of any animal. Milo almost missed those days, although he was perfectly happy with Zarni's permanent form. She was great to spend time with, and they could even play soccer together.
His brother wasn't far behind, giving him a hug, and Zarni licked Rye's leg in greeting. Milo returned the hug, before ruffling his brother's hair when he pulled back. "Hey. You have a good day?"
"Same as usual," Rye replied, and Milo knew that he never complained, even if he wanted to go to school and make friends more than anything. His brother was so skinny and tired all of the time, and sometimes it scared him. "Nothing exciting or anything… What about your day?"
"Ah, just had some science and math classes," he said, taking his studies seriously, although he didn't find his classes very memorable afterwards. "Then I had soccer training this afternoon."
"Oh, cool," Rye replied, his daemon flying to rest on his shoulder with a chirp. "Can I come and watch your first game when you play it?" he asked, sounding eager. Milo knew that any excuse to get out of the house was a good one.
"Of course. I wouldn't want you to miss it," Milo replied easily, watching as Zarni curled up on the mat to rest after their day out.
Following his gaze, Rye sighed. "Zarni's so sweet. I hope Kalanie settles as an animal as cool as yours."
"Your time will come," Zarni said, speaking up as she listened. She had a kind and warm voice that often put people at ease.
"Yeah. I'm sure your daemon will settle as something nice. Just like your personality," Milo agreed.
"I think some kind of bird would be nice," Kalanie remarked, her voice still young. "So I can always keep a look out."
"As long as you always stay close to me," Rye said with a sweet laugh, gently brushing his finger against her.
"Well… I had better go get cleaned up," Milo remarked, and Zarni rose to her feet.
"If you have time, could you help me with some of my homework?" Rye asked, glancing over at him.
Rye was a smart kid, and Milo didn't doubt that he'd be able to do whatever it was on his own. But he liked the company, and Milo didn't mind helping most of the time. "Okay. I'll meet you in your room in five, okay?"
Rye nodded, his expression lighting up, and Kalanie took flight again. "Alright! I'll see you then."
It had been a big day, and Rose returned home to the apartment she and her Mother lived at, after a school committee meeting. Finding her Mum wasn't home yet – likely she was out with her boyfriend again, Rose rolled her eyes, walking to her room and closing the door after Ellie walked in.
"They're probably back at his place," Rose said, a little bitterly. She had a good idea of what they were up to. Her mother was alluring in ways that she wasn't.
"Well… it gives us more time to spend together," Ellie remarked, as if trying to remain positive. "Are you going to have some dinner?"
"I don't feel like it tonight," Rose replied, walking to stand in front of her full-length mirror.
"Rose," Ellie admonished. "You need to eat something. It's not like I can eat anything for the two of us."
Rose was silent, tucking some curls behind her ear as she stared at herself. Slowly, she slipped her dress off. Clutching some skin on her stomach, she pinched it, as if to see how much fat she had. Mostly, she looked unsatisfied. Her body was never exactly what she wanted. Her chest was too small, and she was never happy with anywhere else, either.
Pinching another bit of skin, Ellie made a sound of distress. "Rose. Stop it."
Rose ignored her, pinching some more skin, her expression showing little of her thoughts.
"Rose." Ellie wasn't big enough to be able to still her hand, but instead, she bit Rose's leg, and Rose cried out in pain.
"What on earth, Ellie?" she said, stepping back from her.
"I told you to stop. This isn't good for you and you're fading away to nothing. I can't just stand by and watch," Ellie sighed, her ears pricking from one side to the other.
Rose looked a little annoyed, hating to be told off. Her daemon was the only one who did it. "You're sleeping on the floor tonight," she said, as she walked into the bathroom and closed the door.
She could hear Ellie sitting on the other side of the door, and she turned away, brushing away a few tears that she hadn't realised were there.
If you want your bag back, then come and meet me at my house.
- A
Caspian glanced at the text again, shaking his head in annoyance. The message included an address, and Caspian wondered how the hell they'd even got a hold of his number. There was only a few in his grade who had a name starting with the letter 'A,' and it was easy to narrow down to one student who liked to cause trouble. He'd barely talked to him, and he hadn't planned on doing so, either. He'd stolen his bag from his locker, most likely, and it was a petty annoyance that he could do without.
His daemon, a red wolf called Silver, looked up at him, easily sensing his frustration. "Don't play his game," she advised, always a little calmer and better at handling her emotions than he was himself. "Just get in, get your bag, and get out. You don't have to deal with him for long."
"Like it'll be that easy," he replied bitterly, sighing, before pulling out of the school parking lot and driving in the direction of the address. Silver sat on the seat beside him, the afternoon sun catching on her tawny coat.
The house was located not far from one of the busy parts of town, and Caspian parked the car, letting Silver jump out, before walking to the door and knocking on it loudly. Silver sniffed the air, keeping on alert since they weren't sure exactly what they'd find.
After a pause, the door was pulled open, and Aspen was visible, scanning him. The other boy had already gotten changed out of his school uniform, instead wearing some kind of casual dressing gown.
"You came," Aspen remarked, smiling slowly. "I didn't know if you would. Guess your bag was important enough to you, hey?"
Ignoring him, Caspian pushed past him, starting down the hallway and looking in the rooms. Aspen moved, as if to follow him, but Silver growled, blocking his path, her fur raising in a sign of aggression.
"You could just ask nicely, you know," Aspen drawled, folding his arms. "And I'd give it to you."
Venturing into some of the rooms, Caspian moved some things around and peered in the cupboards, hoping to spot it. Finally, he reached a room down the end of the house, looking inside and guessing it was probably Aspen's, considering the school uniform dumped on the ground. Finding his bag near the bed, he rummaged through it.
Aspen appeared at the doorway, and Caspian wondered briefly how he'd made it past Silver, before he noticed a green snake slithering on the ground, that she was keeping a careful eye on.
"Everything is still there. Don't worry," Aspen assured him, although he still checked thoroughly, just in case. He caught Caspian's gaze on his daemon, before adding, "That's Cersei. She's a white-lipped island pit viper. Have you heard of those? They're venomous."
Caspian raised his chin a little, his gaze flickering back to Aspen as he zipped up his bag. "Silver isn't scared of snakes," he remarked, trying to think of the easiest route out. "What do you want from me?"
Aspen leaned against the doorway. "Why are you such a loner? You ignore most people at school. I've always wondered why."
"I don't need any company, I'm fine on my own," he replied, keeping his expression even, despite Aspen's prying.
"Everyone needs someone," Aspen countered. "Is it because your parents are always out at work? I've heard they're always busy."
"It's none of your business," he stated, exchanging a look with Silver. She was waiting for any kind of signal from him.
'Shall I grab the snake?' she asked him silently, their minds connected.
'Don't do anything yet,' he replied, not wanting to risk anything if the snake really was venomous.
At a sound at the front door however, Silver's ears pricked up, staying on alert.
Aspen paled slightly. "He wasn't meant to get back until late tonight," he muttered, and he almost looked surprisingly uncomfortable.
"Hide them," his daemon hissed, its tongue flicking out.
"Quick," Aspen said, pushing forwards and urging him towards his wardrobe, sliding the mirrored door open. "I need you to get in here."
Caspian just started at him. "I'm leaving," he said, bluntly.
"Please just… it's better if my… foster father doesn't see you," Aspen urged, sounding uneasy. "Just until he moves away, then you can get out of the window in the next room. It'll be big enough."
Unsure of his reasons, Caspian reluctantly moved into the wardrobe, Silver following beside him.
As Aspen tried to slide it shut again, Silver adjusted, trying not to be in the way.
"Why do you have such a big daemon?" Aspen muttered under his breath, before it finally slid shut.
Hearing the laugh of a hyena nearby, the sound grating on his ears, Silver kept still, sniffing the air.
'I have a bad feeling about this,' she remarked, and he silently agreed.
"Aspen," came an older male voice, and Caspian listened carefully. The hyena daemon moved to smell the room, and all he could think was that Silver could take on a hyena if need be. But he didn't want to risk her being injured, if he didn't have to. "I brought my friends back with me. Come and entertain them."
The whole thing had a strange vibe, but Aspen made a sound of agreement. "Okay… I'm coming."
He thought for sure that the hyena would pick up their scent, but he breathed a sigh of relief when Aspen's foster father left, seeming satisfied with his answer. Aspen's footsteps disappeared as well, and Caspian waited a long moment, before finally shifting the door open and grabbing his bag. Moving to the next room quietly, he and Silver made their way to the window, before slipping out.
Keeping an eye on the house, Caspian was suddenly glad that he'd parked across the road, noticing a few new cars parked across the driveway. Letting Silver into the car, he got settled quickly himself, before driving away.
He wasn't entirely sure how to take the whole exchange, and Silver silently agreed with him.
Closing the curtain, Blake then ran his fingers through his hair. He shouldn't wait up, he knew, and he went to sit on his bed, Fang sitting nearby. His gaze scanned the little detached house that he lived in. It was originally a workshop that was converted by his adopted parents for him to live in. It had everything he needed – a bathroom, a kitchen, a bed, and a tv. They preferred him to live separately, and he didn't mind, being independent himself.
He was about to switch the light off as it was getting late, when he paused, Fang's ears pricking up at a sound at the window. He usually left it open for a reason, so he was unsurprised to see a bobcat daemon jump through the opening, pushing the curtain aside with a catlike grace. A girl with dark brown hair and pretty blue eyes followed soon afterwards, closing the curtain behind her.
Fang was quick to run over to the bobcat, a growl low in her throat, although her tail gave a slight wag. The bobcat was quick to respond, hissing playfully and ducking away from his dingo, before swatting her with one of her paws.
As they play fought, the girl from his school – Savannah – came over closer, dressed in a thin red dress which revealed her figure nicely.
"I didn't think you were coming tonight," he said, his gaze flicking to the side of the room, before it returned to her. She visited when she felt like it, and he rarely knew in advance when she'd show up. It was another advantage to living separately from his adopted parents – they didn't care much, and as long as the two of them kept quiet enough, then they'd never even know.
"I was in the mood," Savannah replied, running her fingers through her hair, and he watched as some fell over her shoulder. "I hope you weren't about to go to sleep."
He made a sound of disagreement, even if he had been. "No, it's fine," he replied, sitting up a little straighter. His daemon was a little bigger than hers, but her bobcat was agile and fierce when it wanted to be, and it enjoyed teasing Fang. They were an odd match considering their species, but it only made it more entertaining to watch. "Busy day?"
"Mmm," she said, sitting near him on the bed. "We had a school committee meeting, plus I had to lead the cheerleading training."
She was ambitious, always wanting more, and he couldn't help but think how different they were in that aspect. She had her college and course picked out, while he didn't even know whether he wanted to go to university, and if he did, what he would even study. Sometimes he wondered what she saw in him. Perhaps she liked the fact that he wasn't ambitious. It meant that he wasn't her competition, after all.
"Was your boyfriend there?" he responded. "At the meeting?"
"Mason? No," Savannah laughed, looking amused by the idea. "He hates those kinds of things. He made some excuse, and he's probably at home studying all night."
"I still don't get why you're even with him," he remarked, although she had explained it before. It was all for image – they were the school captains and the top boy and girl at the school in both academic and sports. Plus his family had good connections for college. She cared about those kinds of things, even if she didn't care for him.
She merely tilted her head to the side, watching him. "Are you jealous?"
"No," he replied, averting his gaze in slight embarrassment.
Savannah smiled slowly, leaving forwards to run a finger down his cheek. "It's nothing real. We don't do these kinds of things."
"I know," he said, keeping his expression neutral. "It's fine." Her finger stopped, and she leaned forwards, catching his jaw and kissing him. His breath caught, and he kissed her back a little too eagerly, his hand resting against her waist.
"It's not like I'll even be with him after school's over," Savannah continued, releasing his chin as she deepened the kiss. She knew what he liked, and she was good at using it. "Besides, I like you much more." Pulling back a little, she then moved to straddle him. His fingers roamed along her dress, wanting more, and she rested her own hands against his chest. As their kisses grew more passionate, she caught the hem of his shirt, working it up and over his head, before discarding it on the ground. He tugged at her dress, and it was soon discarded as well. His fingers could finally meet skin, and he surrendered to her kisses, any thoughts of Mason gone. Their daemons had stopped their game, instead cuddling together, her bobcat purring, and Fang finally let down her guard.
ooOoo
Afterwards, Savannah moved away, clipping her bra back in place, before throwing her dress back on. He was silent, knowing not to ask if she was going to stay. She always left soon afterwards, and he was used to it by now.
"I have to get up early tomorrow," she could often use as an excuse, although he was sure there was other reasons as well, including her family.
Leaning forward to kiss him one last time, she then rose to her feet, her bobcat daemon moving over to rub against her leg. "Enjoy your night, Blake," she said, before she headed to the window.
Blake gave a nearly imperceivable nod, watching her go. "I'll see you later," he said, a little unsure of what else to say. Within no time, she and her daemon had disappeared, a cold wind blowing in through the window in her place. Getting up, he walked over to shut it, before turning off the lights, Fang moving to sleep beside him. She was gone so quickly that sometimes he almost wondered whether he'd imagined it.
"It sounded like you had a good time," Fang remarked with a hint of amusement in her tone.
"Oh, shut up," he said, rolling to the side to hide his cheeks which were flushed in embarrassment. She was his daemon, so she didn't judge him of course, but she occasionally took pleasure in teasing him. "It's not like you don't mind seeing them."
She didn't argue against his words, and they fell into a comfortable silence, closing his eyes as he tried to calm his thoughts enough to sleep.