Drunk In Blood. © [EN]

3. Jealous rivalries

The sound of running shoes echoes on the asphalt court as April and I jog together. Today is the last exam of the week, and we're in physical education, a break after days filled with magic, books, and, of course, cursed potions. I feel the tension between us, so I approach April as we run, hoping to ease things a bit.

"Are you still thinking about giving the potion to Levi?" I ask, trying to sound casual, though my voice betrays my worry.

April gives me a quick, almost offended look, and answers without hesitation:

"Obviously. It's the perfect chance; Sidney is throwing a party tonight, and Levi is going to be there. What better place to do it?"

I bite my lip, wanting to say something she doesn't want to hear. My anxiety has twisted into a knot in my stomach, but I respond quietly:

"Just... think it over before you use it, April. These things never turn out as expected."

April frowns without stopping and looks at me with a mix of distrust and disappointment. I can almost hear what she's thinking: Don't you trust me? Don't you trust your own magic? She pulls away from me without another word, picking up the pace, and I feel the discomfort hanging in the air. My words have hurt her or, at the very least, have stirred a worry that I now see in the tension in her shoulders.

When the teacher blows the whistle, the class reorganizes, and the tense air between April and me momentarily dissipates. The teacher announces that we're going to play dodgeball, using the excuse that it wouldn't be fair to measure strength between witches and vampires, though we all know that won't soften the competition. He explains the rules, and I'm already nervous; this isn't my strong suit.

I look at the team and notice that Luka, April's brother and one of the few vampires I'm comfortable with, is beside me. He offers me a conspiratorial, friendly smile, which soothes me a bit. Maya is also on the team, though she doesn't look much more enthusiastic than I am about throwing and dodging balls with this level of intensity. I glance over at her, and she gives me a supportive smile. Then, suddenly, someone stops beside me.

"Ready to make sure our team wins, Leia?" a familiar voice rings out.

Looking to my left, there's Luka, with his characteristic easy, friendly smile. He gives me a light pat on the shoulder, offering an encouraging smile that brings a small smile to my face. Luka has always been someone easy to get along with, a breath of fresh air amid the constant tension between vampires and witches—even though he's one himself.

"If you're counting on me to make a difference on the scoreboard, you're putting way too much faith in me, Luka," I say, half-joking.

Luka lets out a brief laugh, shrugging as if that wouldn't deter him.

"Nah, don't worry," he says in a casual tone. "If they throw a ball at you, you can hide behind me. As a good teammate, I'll be your shield."

I laugh, despite the tension inside me. There's something about Luka that lightens the heaviness of the day, a sort of levity that does me good. His comment makes me feel that, at least here, I'm not alone, with all the tension in the air.

"Then I'll hold on to you, fangs," I joke. "But don't throw me to the wolves."

"Deal," he replies, giving me a friendly pat on the shoulder before looking at the opposing team with a sly gaze. "Though I can't promise I won't make Vincent sweat... you know, he deserves it for old times' sake."

I follow his gaze and see how his eyes meet Vincent's across the court. There's something almost electric in that exchange; their rivalry doesn't need words, and just by looking at Luka, I can tell this match will heighten the tension between them.