"So how was your weekend?" Dax asked Aradia.
He leaned against the lockers as Aradia opened hers.
She shrugged before her response. "Needless to say, getting the gifts back home was epic not to mention how shocked my parents were when they saw it all. The only downside is now my dad has to figure out where to keep them."
"The stuff you don't like you can always return to the store or sell you know," Dax pointed out.
Aradia glared at him before slamming her locker shut. "That would be rude Dax."
He merely shrugged, indifferently. "It's not like you knew half the people who gave you the gifts anyway."
"But still..." She trailed off once she turned around and saw Roy.
Slowly, she gulped in awkwardness.
He, however, cheerfully greeted her, "Hey Rai-Rai," and moved to hug her as he always did.
This time, however, she stepped back.
Roy was stunned and his arms dropped to his sides.
For a while there was nothing, but awkward silence between the three of them. Roy, Aradia's best friend, standing in front of her and Dax, her boyfriend and consort, standing behind her. The two of them glaring at each other, lethally.
On one hand, Aradia wanted to be perfectly blunt with Roy about Dax's request, and not returning his feelings. Most especially how awkward he had made things between her and Melina. On the other hand, she couldn't bring herself to be so mean so instead she took her boyfriend's hand and left without another word.
"It will be a miracle if he ever forgives me," Aradia muttered.
She hadn't meant for Dax to hear her, but he did.
"I don't see why you should care," he snapped, "It's not like you're dating him. Unless of course you want to..."
Irritated, Aradia spun around and snapped, "What is your problem Dax? Didn't I just do what you requested? Didn't I just blow him off?"
She let the question hang for a while before saying, "My God! You know I love you, but I wish you would stop acting like a jealous school boy."
"I AM a jealous school boy," He snapped.
"No, you are a jealous vampi..."
She silenced herself as she quickly noticed her peers in the classroom staring at them.
Aradia sighed as she took Dax's hand. "Look Dax, I don't know how many times I have to tell you that I love you. Only you. I don't love Roy or anyone else. I don't want anyone else. I want you and only you."
Dax sighed before finally drawing Aradia into yet another one of their passionate embraces and kisses. They lingered even after the bell rang again signaling the start of class.
They stopped, however, as soon as the teacher cleared her throat and said, "If you two are quite finished, would you mind sitting down?"
They both giggled as they did so, still holding each other's hand.
Aradia had never been a fan of school, but this year made her feel especially frustrated. Last year, she had been so preoccupied with her hidden activities that she had failed many of her classes. So much so, that she was going to have to repeat her junior year. Aradia, of course, was indignant at such an idea, but according to the school officials, she had no choice. Once she thought about it though she supposed it was a mixed blessing because by repeating her junior year, which colleges considered the most important, she would have the opportunity to not only get better grades but to also get better scores on her S.A.T's. Still it was embarrassing that while most of her friends were going to graduate from high school, she would not be doing so.
Upon learning that Aradia was being kept back a year, Dax managed to convince the school officials to keep him back as well. Aradia had been stunned when he told her this, but Dax had pointed out that that was one of the benefits of being a vampire.
"Mind control," he had said at that time. "Can be deadly useful."
Therefore, he was going to repeat a year as well, his senior year to be specific.
"I am glad of it really," said Aradia as she and Dax walked hand in hand to her next class.
"Glad of what?" asked Dax.
"You being with me because God knows how miserable I would be without you."
Dax smiled and brought her hand to his lips. "You know ever since the day I was changed I have wanted to die."
Aradia's eyes grew wide with shock. "Why?"
He shrugged as if his answer should have been obvious. Nevertheless, he explained it anyway. "I hate being what I am especially whenever I...eat."
He paused awkwardly. "But ever since I have met you not only have I been loving my life like never before, but for the first time I have started feeling grateful to the man who turned me."
"Why?"
"Because if he hadn't have turned me, I never would have met you." He smiled sexily as Aradia sighed.
The bell rang, interrupting their tender moment. Dax then gave her a swift peck on the lips, turned, and began walking to his own class.