Bloodlust (The Blood Series #1)

Chapter 4

"Did you hear about Rebekah Bilson? Her dad found out about her 'lewd ways' and now he's sending her to a Christian boarding school in Alaska!" Andrea gushes to me and I gasp. The whole day I have been waiting for the sky to fall on me but nothing has happened. I still feel like everyone's staring at me but now I know it's just my nerves messing with me. I've been throwing myself into schoolwork and just savoring the normalcy of everything. There are no strangers calling out my name, no lost hours, no stolen first times. 

Everything's going as good as it can. That is until I notice a boy leaning against a expensive looking black BMW convertible parked near the school entrance. "Oh my God", I breathe out.

Andrea follows my gaze and lets out a low approving whistle. "Who is that?"

I decide it's time to head for the hills and pray that Nathan Blood has yet to notice me. "I don't know. Listen, I forgot my math text book in my locker so I'll see you tomorrow."

"It looks awful lot like Nathan Blood but it can't be, I heard he got suspended last Friday. There is no way he'd hang around school during his suspension -- Wait, don't you want a ride?" Andrea asks. She usually drives me home after school or rather to mall or her house. I don't have my own car because mom and I don't have enough money and because I don't want my father to buy me one. He has the money but I don't want to owe him anything. Anymore.

"My mom's picking me up", I say over my shoulder. I catch a glimpse of Nathan, he is already looking right at me. Damn it. He knows I'm here and he knows I'm running from him. Great.

I rush back inside the school building with my cheeks burning with embarrassment. I'm going against the current since most students are leaving the place so it takes me a while to get there. By the time I actually manage to sneak back inside, the hallways are empty. I run down the hall and hide in the ladies' room. I know it's stupid but I'm hoping that he'll get bored and leave. Maybe he isn't even here for me. I'm just so egoistic that I'm jumping to ridiculous conclusions. He could be here just to pick his friend or sibling or girlfriend...

A sudden pain flashes across my chest when I think of him having a girlfriend. I have no right to be upset, though. I have a boyfriend. I just don't want to think I've put a similar strain on someone else's relationship. It's bad enough that I've broken something irreplaceable between I and Troy who was supposed to be my first. I can't bare the thought that I'm the reason for someone else to have the same problem. Although... I might not remember it but I'm pretty sure that anyone who looks the way Nathan does or lives like he does is not a virgin. So at least if he does have a girlfriend I haven't robbed them of their first time.

Just in case I'm going to be stuck here a little longer, I text my mother and tell her that I'll probably go by the store on my way home. It's a simple excuse and I might even do it. She texts me back a thank you and then informs me that she'll be staying overtime at work and hopes that I'll find myself something to eat. As usual. I assure her that it's fine and then put the phone back to my bag. I lean my hands on a sink and let out a deep breath. Just as I had thought I could put this mess behind me Nathan Blood shows up. I thought I'd at least have this day without him. We do go to the same school but he's not exactly a straight A student like myself so I figured that if he'd sleep in he wouldn't bother going to school at all.

I have heard so much about the Blood family but I've never really conversed with any of them. And there's a very obvious reason for it. They are not good people. As if the surname wasn't ominous enough, members of their family are always linked to bloody deaths and high level crimes. Most people in the city try their best to stay out of their way and I'm no different. I have always tried to remind myself that the name doesn't automatically make someone a criminal but truth be told, the Blood family makes the hair in the back of my neck stand out. There's something... unnerving about them. Often when one of their family passes me by, I suddenly feel cold and somehow wrong. The feeling isn't as powerful with Nathan but it's still there which is why it's even a bigger mystery as to why I'd ever hang out with him voluntarily.

I keep checking the clock on my phone but it seems that time is going at a snail's pace just to spite me. I huff in annoyance. I try to listen if there's still any student voices echoing in the hallways or cars being started but I don't hear anything. After waiting another ten minutes I peak my head out of the door. I don't see anyone. I start to make my way down the hall. Just to be safe, I'll take a different exit. Our school is big so there are a lot doors that lead out. I decide to go out of the door located next to the music room. Before I'm able to take another step, I'm stopped by a familiar voice.

"Haley."

"Oh no", I whisper to myself when I too late notice Nathan Blood sitting in the lobby, obviously waiting for me.