Octavia (Completed - 2018 Watty's Longlist)

Chapter Thirteen - Edmund

"You're oddly quiet today." Octavia observes, her eyes staring into mine as if they were digging for answers. "What are you thinking?"
I look up at her, defeated. I didn't want her to catch me thinking about her being a vampire because I'm scared I might blurt it out. "Oh, nothing really. Just coming up assignments and papers due." I lied, trying to steer the conversation from me. I think it worked as her puzzled expression relaxes and her eyes are no longer seeking information.

My mind was elsewhere, thinking about all the questions I wanted to ask her. But I kept biting them back whenever I thought of blurting them out. I was just so curious to know what she is. To just have my theories confirmed and for her to not build those walls up around herself anymore.

Octavia's eyes were focused on something behind me. Out of curiosity, I follow her gaze to see Crystal standing a few yards away looking - scratch that, more like glaring - at us as she stands beside her locker.
What's her problem? Who am I kidding - she always has a problem with someone. That's why I try to stay away from her because of that, and she's also annoyingly flirty and clingy.
I turn away, expecting Octavia to still be standing beside me, but am left feeling a little hurt and confused when I see her walking away.
What happened?
I immediately begin to run after her, and when I call out her name the same pang in my chest returns when she doesn't turn around.
What did I do?

"Edmund!" An all too familiar high pitched voice calls from behind me. I sigh in irritation and turn around.
"What's up, Crystal?" I grumbled. Crystal's eyes widen at the tone of my voice, but she smiles hiding any trace of hurt on her face. I feel kinda bad, and I want to apologise but I don't feel like she deserves it. A part of me feels as though she's the reason why Octavia left me.
"There's a party tonight at Graham Steel's house. Do you wanna go with me?" She's asks hopeful, her big blue eyes looking at me like a puppy does when it wants your food. I tried to ignore part of her question where it involved me.
On a school night? Not something I've done before. "Are the other guys coming with us?" I ask, praying to god that they are. I don't want to go with her alone.
Her eyebrows furrow together in surprising disappointment. "Yes."
"Oh, okay. I'll think about it." I was about to turn around and go find Octavia when a thought enters my mind. "Can I bring a friend?" Crystal looks disappointed as she answers with no interest at all.
"Whatever." And with that, she abruptly turns away and stomps down the hallway. I raise my eyebrows in confusion. What's her problem? I shake my head and begin my search for Octavia.

My heavy footsteps echo through the unusually quiet hallways as I run through the large building, searching for a certain dark haired girl. It shouldn't be hard, this place is practically deserted. I wonder why that is. . .
Just as I was about to give up and go dig myself a hole to die in, I see two figures standing beside each other at the end of the hallway. They seemed to be in deep conversation, both seeming very serious as they stand rigidly. Her long dark hair stands out and I sigh in relief that I've finally found her. The girl beside her turns her head in my direction. I immediately freeze in place when I recognise who it is. How did I not see her blonde hair and similar pastel skin?

I want to run and hide when the
girl's - Octavia's sister, Audrey - eyes suddenly meet mine, her lips curling up into a smirk as if she knew something I didn't. I could definitely run away right now and Octavia wouldn't even see me. My plan immediately fails when her soft golden eyes look up and meet mine. She looks puzzled, almost annoyed as she stares at me and begins walking over to me without an explanation for her sister. I look at the tall, blonde girl for a few more seconds before she smiles at me as if we've known each other for years and skips away. Yes, skips away.