We're Not Drama Queens

Chapter 3: The Truth Comes Out

 Evangeline must've seen Fabian, because she starts walking away from us.  Nicolette and Mathias glide over to someone else's table.  I don't recognize them, but Nicolette does because she smiles and hugs one of the girls. 

Violetta and I sit in silence, watching everyone else.  I clear my throat. 

"So," I begin.  Violetta turns to face me.  "In the car, before, when you said Nicolette 'stole' Mathias--"

"It's true." Violetta interrupts.  "She stole him the moment she saw him.  I was his girlfriend.  But it was a secret.  No one knew.  Until she met him.  It was an accident.  I told Nicolette that I finally got a boyfriend.  I was stupid.  I was just so proud...so she arranged a date for us.  But," her teeth clench.  "But she stole him." 

"And you blame Mathias?"

She looks at me like I was insane.  "No! I blame Nicolette."

"Oh." I say awkwardly.  I mean, what would you say if one of your friends told you a horrible truth about your best friend?  I didn't know for sure if this was true, but Violetta wouldn't lie.  She looks away. 

 Evangeline and Fabian come towards us hand-in-hand.  I was so happy for Evangeline, she had found a mate she actually loved.  So had Nicolette.  All of our mates were vampires, of course.  Mathias was tall and blond, with dark, dark blue eyes that you could get lost in.  Fabian was tall too, but he had dark brown hair and piercing green eyes to match Evangeline's piercing blue ones. 

And Darius.  Darius had honey blond hair and clear, hazel eyes.  His eyes were easy to get lost in as well, but in a different way than with Mathias.  At times, I wished that he attended school just so I could see him.  But he's forbidden.  His creator had forbidden him to be known to the public, except for me and his other friends.  Which is understandable, but I still wish it sometimes.  Now, I know what you're thinking.  Don't vampires have red eyes?  Yes and no.  We keep the color of our eyes from when we were human, but our red eyes come out when we're in "vampire mode", like hunting, or fighting.

 Thinking about everyone's mates maes me think of Violetta.  She doesn't have a mate.  But what she said, about dating Mathias...somehow I couldn't imagine it.  Goth Violetta and gentle Mathias.  I just couldn't see it.  But why would she tell me if it wasn't true?  She wouldn't lie.  I mean, she's unpredictable but she wouldn't lie.  Or would she? 

I'll have to ask Mathias.

 The first bell rings.  Everyone jumps up and scurries off.  The freshmen wander around looking confused, and I want to help them but I'll be late.  I look at my schedule again, but it isn't necessary.  I had already memorized it.  As well as all of my friends's.  What can I say?  It's a vampire thing.  Anyway, all of my classes besides Art consist of at least one of my friends, except for Fabian.  English, Pre-Calculus, Chemistry, Government, Spanish, Typing, and Art.  I have English with Mathias, so I'll ask him then.  In Pre-Cal I have Violetta and Evangeline, and in both Chemistry and Government I have Violetta and Nicolette.  In Spanish I have Evangeline and in typing I have Violetta.  Art is the only class I have without any friends.  I guess it'll be a good way to end the day. 

 I race to my English class and notice I'm the last one to get there.  Just my luck, the only seat left is next to Mathias.  I sit down and tune out the teacher, who was droning on about the rules and expectations.  "Mathias," I hiss. 

He turns and looks at me.  Seeing the glares of people around me, I settle for a different way of communicating.  I rip a piece of paper from my notebook and write on it: I talked to Violetta.  Care to explain?  I slide it to him and watch his eyes move as he reads it. 

Gosh, his eyes are blue.  What am I doing? Don't look into his eyes.  I force myself.  As I watch his eyes, I have a weird feeling.  It was in the pit of my stomach, but I can't stop it.  It makes me uneasy, so I just stare at the table instead.  That seems to work.

  He taps the table in front of me and I look at him.  He gestures to the note and raises an eyebrow.  I sigh and write: Were you and Violetta-- I don't finish writing because he snatches the note from under my hand and slips it in his pocket. 

"Later."  He whispers in my ear.  I shiver.  He's staring at me and the intensity in his eyes is creeping me out.  Well, maybe not creeping me out, but I get that feeling again, in my stomach.  I shift uncomfortably and clear my throat.  Apparently, Mathais can't take a hint.  I try to ignore him, and eventually he stops. 

 After class, Mathias grabs my arm and drags me into the hall, then the janitor's closet. 

"Um, Mathias---"

"You must never, ever, ever speak of what happened between Violetta and I.  That was a mistake.  Don't even dare tell Nicolette.  Or else."  His dark eyes burn with an intensity so strong that I can't look away. 

  I gulp.  Since when had he become so aggressive?  He's always been so gentle, so shy, so quiet, so... No.  I cannot be falling for Mathias.  I have Darius.  But something about Mathias, about his eyes...no.  I can't.  This was not happening. 

He senses my nervousness and his eyes soften a bit. 

I look away and down at the floor.

He grabs my arm again and opens the door.  We walked out like nothing even happened, and I went to Pre-Calculus without even glancing back. 

 I look forward to seeing Evangeline, the only one of my friends not tangled up in some sort of drama.  At least, not that I knew of.  I see Violetta and wave, but when she comes closer I notice her eyes are red.  Uh oh. 

"What do you think you're doing?  Following my boyfriend into the janitor's closet?! Well, two can play at that game, Dru.  Just wait 'til Darius hears about this," Violetta screams.

"Violetta! Mathias isn't your boyfriend.  He's Nicolette's mate.  And he just wanted to talk to me, in private." 

"Yeah, right.  About what?" 

Great.  I'm a horrible liar. 

"Um...about our...English project.  We didn't want anyone to steal our idea."

I'm not used to lying, but I couldn't tell Violetta that we had been talking about her.  Especially since he said she was a mistake.

"Yeah, sure.  They did not give you a project on the first day back.  You are a dirty liar, Drusilla.  I cannot wait to tell Darius.  Oh, and Nicolette, too.  I'm sure she'll just love to hear about how you tried to steal Mathias."

"Violetta."  Oh, no.  I could feel a burning in my eyes, which meant they were turning red.  Great.  My jaw clenched.  "Mathias and I were talking, ok? What's the big crime?  Am I not allowed to talk?  Since when did you become my mother?  And why on earth would you think I'm trying to steal Mathias?  You're so protective of him, but he's not even your mate."

"He used to be," she sneers. 

"No.  He never was and he never will be.  I'm sorry Violetta, but it's time to move on."  My voice grows softer, and I feel my eyes return back to their natural color.  Violetta's did too.

"Sorry, Dru," she mumbles.  "My emotions are...strong.  I'm protective of him." She looks down. 

"I know.  But I really do think that you should move on.  Mathias isn't interested."

Violetta sighs.  "I know."

 Pre-Cal went by fast enough, and I didn't even get a chance to say hi to Evangeline.  Oh, well.  I walked down to hall to Chemistry with Violetta.  She was telling me about someone she had met, but I really wasn't listening.  I felt bad about tuning her out, so occasionally I'd nod and shake my head.  But I couldn't stop thinking about Mathias.  Why didn't he want me to talk about him and Violetta?  And what did he mean when he said 'or else'?  Was he threatening me?  I had to talk to him again, but after school he was Nicolette. 

English was the only time I could talk to him.  Alone.