Ice Cold

Chapter Nineteen

          When my parents got home Hayden had explained what had happened and said he would accept any punishments. My parents weren't those kinds of people so they had told him that everything was okay and everything would be okay. My dad told him that he needed to calm down because he was worrying too much.

          "But, Chad─," Hayden started, "I... marked your daughter," he said, sounding strained.

          "I know, but you're stressing out way too much about this, calm down," he said.

          Hayden nodded and sat down in a chair at the kitchen table. Hayden was staring off in the distance and my dad squeezed his shoulder, "don't worry, Hayden, we knew the risks when we took you in, but we still did it," he said, giving him a smile. Hayden nodded once more and looked at my mom.

          My mom had only freaked because she was wondering if I was okay. Now she smiled at him too, "dinner will be ready soon," she said and turned to the stove.

          Hayden got up and walked to his room. I followed him and when I opened the door I saw Hayden lay back on his bed, throwing an arm over his face. I walked in and quietly shut the door. I sat beside him on his bed and he jumped.

          Hayden settled back down, looking at me. "You're becoming as stealthy as a vampire," he said and closed his eyes again.

          "How do you feed?" I asked.

          "What do you mean?" Hayden asked, looking at me once again.

          "You were practically starving when you drank my blood," I said.

          "Oh, I used to feed every other day from animals in the woods, but since rogues are trying to kill me now and they're littering the forest I'm only able to feed two or three times a week. It's fairly frustrating and it's probably why I lost control earlier," Hayden explained.

          "When's the last time you fed? Other than earlier," I asked.

          "Probably about four days ago," he said.

          "Eating real, human food doesn't satisfy you does it?" I asked.

          "No, it's out of habit and simply for show to eat," he said.

          "Are you hungry now?" I asked.

          "No, it usually takes a day or two for me to get hungry to the point where I need food, then it takes three or more days for me to become starving," Hayden said.

         I looked at him in sorrow, "how many times have you been starving recently?" I asked.

         "The rogue problem has been going on for a couple months now, so I've probably been in that state once a week for the past couple months. That's why I've almost lost control so much recently around you, it was never headaches or cramps from football," Hayden explained.

          "I hate knowing you have to starve yourself," I said.

          "Don't worry, I'll get by," he said.

          I looked away and out his window. "Since you marked me, how much is the want for my blood now?" I asked.

          "Greater than before, if you can imagine," Hayden said, closing his eyes again.

***

          I decided that it would be best if I went to school the next day. I'd already missed two days of school. I sat on my bed, stunned. So much had happened in the past few days.

          I'd just found out that vampires existed. I found out that there were two kingdoms around the world that were run by vampires. I'd kissed Connor. I'd been marked by Hayden.

          I put a hand on my head as I thought about it. I checked my phone for the first time in two days and saw that I had one hundred and seven text messages, thirty calls, and twenty-two voicemails. All from Jade. I pulled on my boots and wrapped a scarf around my neck for the fact that I had a vampire bite.

          It worked out quite nicely since it was winter. I looked around for my bag and when I found it I threw it on. I went over to my mirror and brushed out my dark brown hair that looked black now and put eye liner on over my electric blue eyes. I got up and texted Jade:

Coming 2 school 2day. Sorry. I haven't checked my phone.

          I then walked out the door and towards the kitchen. I heard Hayden come out his room behind me and follow me to the kitchen. I grabbed the keys from the counter and told my parents goodbye. I then walked out the door with Hayden on my heels.

          I drove to school with Hayden and we didn't talk, as usual. When we got to school Hayden seemed to be hovering closer to me than normal. I looked over at him but he didn't look at me. Our shoulders touched but he didn't move away.

          I didn't mind, it was a comforting gesture. Hayden walked me all the way to my class and then stopped me outside the classroom and leaned in to whisper in my ear.

          "Be careful, there still could be rogues here that would try to get to you, Connor is looking out for you for the next two classes and then I will for the last two classes," Hayden explained.

          His whisper was so light I could barely make it out but I nodded and walked into the classroom. I sat down in my desk and Connor glanced at me and gave me a smile. I gave him a small smile back. I could tell he was still angry about Hayden marking me.

          Jade walked in then and seeing me she gasped and ran over to me. I prepared myself as she reached down and wrapped me in a hug. "Oh my gosh! Where have you been?" Jade exclaimed.

          "I've been sick and recovering from seeing... what I saw," I said and Jade gave me a sad smile.

          "It's okay, we've all been grieving over Hannah, the cheerleaders sponsored a memorial for her on a bench outside the school," Jade said.

          "That was kind of you guys," I said and glanced at Connor. He was looking between Jade and I and when Jade noticed she smiled.

          "Hi, I'm Jade, Lex's friend," Jade introduced herself to him.

          "So I see," he said, giving her a small smile before turning to me. "I heard that in our next class Mr. James is making the class pick a partner to work on a project with, will you be mine?" Connor asked and I looked at him in shock.

          Connor still wanted to be close to me after what happened between Hayden and I? Or was it just because he still wanted to protect me? Or was it simply Connor keeping his word to Hayden?

          I glanced at Jade and she nodded her head several times, "yes," I answered, looking back at him.