Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Three weeks has passed and life hasn't been so fair to me. For Shade, her project is going fine, meaning fate is supporting her unlike me, who's sadden almost every time. She's submitted the atheistic portrait and it's pending, I think she'll get result of her success tonight which is the time the company gave to respond back to her.

Mia, on the other side has changed completely— she and Shade are bossom best of friends. They spend time together than with each of them with me. Not that they wouldn't, but I haven't been paying much attention to them. I'm busy on offering my end of the bargain — finding out who Nicklaus Original is. And I don't care about distancing myself from my friends at all, finding Nicklaus hidden identity is my main priority. And I can't explain the obsession. It's like a charm— if that makes sense.

When the bell rings, startling me as I'm brooding over my plans of discovery for today, totally not hearing all what Mr. Charleston has been saying — the chemistry teacher.

I bolt up from my seat and regain myself before I rush out of the room faster than any of the students. The hallway is now crowded and I ruffle my way to the lunch room. While I pass through, I notice the somber expression on everyone's faces and since today is Thursday it seems odd. We're getting to the end of the week. The mood usually gets elated.

Shade nor Mia has arrived when I glance at our tables. I don't bother to pick a tray since I'm not taking much food, so I just grasp an apple and a soda.

I gait to the tables and sit, darting my eyes around, looking at the bickering of the students — some of the boys which I remembered as players for the cricket team jokes about random stuff, not sitting appropriately on the table but at its hem.

Ridiculous! That's one thing my subconscious calls them and I agree.

Shade's figure comes into view while I watch the boys and then, I notice that Mia is accompanying her. They both occupy our table with their trays in their hands. I approach them.

"What are you staring at?" Ask Shade.

"Nothing, just thinking actually." I never lie about 'it' but I never tell people what the 'it' I'm thinking about is.

"You've been thinking since the last few weeks." Mia points out and I scoff.

I open the cap of the soda and take two sips. The gas, erupting from it into my throat, waters my eyes and I manage to cough it out.

"Enough about what's wrong with me — it's my personal problem," then, I change the topic, "what's wrong with everyone?"

"Oh, that... it's about the old man. Many pity him."

"The principal? Why?" I already blurt out before it clicks, "is it about Lydia?"

"Yeah. She's still nowhere to be found and the principal is on a panic treatment."

"He had panic attacks?"

"Yeah," Shade state as if it's the most obvious thing I should have noted, "aren't you in school or what?"

"Oh," I release my grip on the Coke and stare down to the table. I only knew that Lydia was missing, but I didn't know that the incident has lead Mr. Parker, the principal—Lydia's father— to land in a hospital.

When I get to know about two weeks ago that Lydia hasn't been coming to school, my mind went straight to Nicklaus. It must have been his fault and that makes me get even angrier at him — he irks me like crazy and luckily for him to save his handsome ass, he hasn't been coming to school either. Ever since the other day we talked last in the woods, I haven't seen him. All these retracts me into his words, repeating in my brain. I'm a killer. I'm a villian. He hurts people. His words are true. Maybe he's a Vampire after all. Well, since he's not told me himself, I can't be absolutely sure. I still have to take it as an assumption.

I checked the woods every night, but found nothing out of place, not even the wavering of the leaves on rims. Plainly no lead. It's like he doesn't exist anymore, but I know, he still does. He's avoiding me.

Him, avoiding me and Lydia's predicament only prompt me to finding more on the case and that leads my researches to a website owned by the main library of this town. I've been visiting the library for the past few days but haven't found the kind of Vampires myth I'm looking for — since that's one thing I'm thinking of Nicklaus to be, and of course, he acts so much to be one.

The occasional visit of mine to the library has earned me a grace from the female librarian. She's offered to help me to collect one of the most well-explanatory book that deals with all hidden myths of vampires from her boss, which I'm grateful for.

I'll be going to the library tonight which is the plan I was thinking of during chemistry.

"The police are on patrol for her, checking all the woods and neighbourhood, yet no one has seen her." Another thing here is that there are many woods in this small town. "I really pity her," Shade pierce her fork into her pasta, "and I last saw her in the party. I'm sure that's where she must have gotten lost."

"I think so too." Mia whisper and I sigh, knowing nothing to say.

As they continue to talk about Lydia's pitiful situation, I feel loathfulness for myself and Nicklaus. Instead of thoroughly hating him, I still find myself imagining his precious, delicate, smooth, attractive and yummy face. Why can't I just hate, as in, really hate him?

I couldn't drink my soda anymore, my mind flashing back to the argument between Carl and I. He hasn't come to school since that last time and I can't help but feel faulty. Perhaps it's because of the way I had spoken to him. But on the other way round, talking to him that way shouldn't be his reasons not to come to school for a whole three weeks. Why is everyone — especially boys — I feel attractive to act strange and weird?

After the bell to go back to classes rings, I leave again before Shade and Mia could and they didn't stop nor ask me anything. I thank them, inwardly because I actually have nothing to say.

The bell for my last class rings and I grab my bag, cross it over my shoulder, and hurry out of the room. In the hallway, opening my locker, I stuff the books back to its space and close it when Shade meets up with me as she's almost reaching the exit.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Rayne. I may also give you a call tonight, suppose good news chimes in." Shade says as she's gaiting ahead of me. I snicker.

"I'll whoop you some hallelujah." I decide to play a little, making her laugh this time.

"Ha. Okay. See you." Shade taps my shoulder and I watch her as she hugs Mia when she gets to her car.

I root my hands into my jeans pocket and take out my car keys. I made sure to keep my promises of taking my car to school. I open the door and slide in, stretching forth my hands to the ignition. With a tick to the right, the car roars to life and I drive out of the parking lot. I mumble most to myself in the car while the drive last and I make sure to turn on the radio. At least the jazz is able to drift me off thoughts, related to Nicklaus-damn-too-mysterious-Originals.

Opening the doors to the front door, Dad's voice is the first to greet me, "Rayne?"

"Yeah."

"Welcome home." He shouts. His voice is from the kitchen so, I gait over there. Oh, thank goodness. Someone who can lighten my mood.

"When did you arrive?"

"Few hours ago. This afternoon." He chuckles. "It was a surprise, not even your mother knew I was planning to come home. I'm so sorry dear that I stayed away far too long." He release a long sigh. "The job is exhausting, but enlightening as well."

"Okay." I laugh.

I almost crack up into laughter, entering the kitchen when I see the cook version of my oh-too-bad-a-chef Dad. His apron is moist, filled with splashed water and sticky yolks of eggs, even the shells seems to befriend the apron. I smile at that. His hair is of no good, ruffled and tinted with flour, abreast his face and arms... and literally, all over his body.

"What are you doing?" It seems obvious but I needed to ask still.

"Doing some cooking? Fish rolls won't be a bad idea to apologise since I don't know how to cook your—what is it called?"

"Bana-eggs."

"Correct."

"So, fish rolls, then?" I ask and take few steps inside and unroll the apron by the rack, dressing it to my body.

Dad didn't look at me so, I assume he didn't know I'm about to take the cooking from him.

"Yeah. I'm using the catfish I got from the mart."

"Okay, you've tried enough to go and rest," he groans as I take the knife from him, starting to cut the rolls, while he goes to mosaic counter and sits on it, his legs touching the floor despite the height of that thing.

"Why won't you let me? This is why I never know how to cook."

"You're bad at cooking and you know that. You don't actually know what you're doing and you're checking the know-how note to learn how to do fish rolls, which is suppose to be easiest... I mean, what good cook checks a know-how note to do fish rolls?"

"Me?"

"Sure." I cock a laugh. "Take lessons from us, you wouldn't listen, busy all the time with work, and more work, and far much more work." I ramble on while dad gets down from the counter and open the faucet to wash his hands and lower his arms. I watch him from the corner of my eyes.

"I don't think you're right. It's all because I spilled two spoonful of salt into a cup of rice that night." Dad jokes. He still remembers that night. I'm starting to forget.

"I guess you finally know the reason."

I go back to chopping the rolls whose inside is filled with sprinkled fish. When I'm done, I start to fry it. About fifteen minutes later, with numerous chats from Dad about his work and stuffs, I finish with frying and Dad goes to setting up dinner.

"Dad?"

"Hmm." He stops what he's doing to face me.

"I need a nap. When I wake up, I'd eat. That means you shouldn't finish the rolls. And please tell Mom too."

"Sure. But I will be taking your Mom out tonight, which will be in the next," he takes a glance at his wristwatch, "let's say, two hours."

"Okay. I'll try not to be angry that I'm left out—"

"Oh, no, dear. We will still do the family outing stuff. Exercise patience, good?" Dad chuckles while I roll my eyes.

"Okay. I'm off to bed. Just wake me up before you guys leave."

"Sure thing."

With a croaky smile on Dad's face, I walk away from the dinning room to my bedroom. I take a sharp, warm bath to cleanse my body off the dust of sticky flours, and when I'm done, I change into an oversized white shirt and bumster. Ramblingly, I climb into the bed, crumbling the pillows that they fall down but I don't seem to care. Minutes later, I'm off to a trance state.

"Rayne." I wake up to Mom's consistent shaking on my shoulder.

"Yeah?" My voice sounds croaky to my wakening ears.

"Your dad and I — we will be leaving soon. We wanted you to know before we left." Mom tells me. Rubbing my eyes, I blink up at her as I sit up.

"Okay. Have a nice time."

"Thanks. You can go back to sleep, if you want." Mom pats my head as she stands.

"Hm." Before she gets to the threshold, I call after her. "Did I remember to tell you guys that I'll be visiting the library tonight?"

"Sure not, but don't stay long. And go nearby." There, that's a firm instruction. I nod my head in agreement.

Mom leaves the room. I plop up on the bed, brush my hair to a side and hop down. While I walk to the dinning room, I hear the door close. Taking a seat, opening the dishes, I take a piece of the roll when I remember that I left my phone on the mosaic counter, in the kitchen.

I rush to the kitchen to find a missed call from Shade. I dial her number. On the third ring, she picks up.

"Rayne? Where the heck were you?" Shade practically yells into the phone. I frown.

"Sorry, I was asleep. What's up?"

"I was selected." She hums happily.

"Wow, I'm happy for you. How are you celebrating?"

"I am currently with my family. Dad and Mom had to rush here when they heard the news this noon. I still can't believe it. I will go to the company next tomorrow to find out how things are going to work out." Shade is ecstatic.

"Whatever is going to happen, I'm sure it will be great. Just live in this happy moment of yours." I breath out.

"Why don't you come join us? I saw your Mom leave with someone — is he your dad?"

"Yup."

"I'm-a have to meet him someday. Well, as I was saying, come join us, you're alone, right?"

"Actually I have to visit the library. Got to finish on a me-made assignment." I can hear the sigh of disappointment from the other side.

"Okay, then. I will see you later. I don't know yet if I'll come to school."

"Bye, girl."

"Bye." Shade hangs up.