Metanoia, a Ghost Bird Fanfic

Slate has a problem

When we stopped in front of the school I immediately make my way for the front of the bus. If people are going to avoid me I have to act like a grade A jerk from day one. As soon as I step off I'm met with a wall of bodies. High school students were shouting, joking, and making out everywhere while they pushed into the doors.

I pulled my schedule closer to myself and tried to keep my breathing under control while I filter through the gaps in the crowd. Countless bodies pressed into me from every angle, the noise and smell are getting overwhelming especially because they are enhanced from the hunt this morning.

Once I pass through the front doors it's a little less crowded, but barely. I gather a moment to take in my surroundings. Bright lights flicker overhead, my ears catch their buzzing as the air is pulled in all directions from everyone's shouting. I can hear the teachers muttering under their breath as they give up trying to keep control of the situation. A group of girls are squealing over something at other end of the hall. I notice Kota is heading in that direction from his smell. I can feel every step placed on the floor and the breath of everyone on this floor. I've never had such heightened senses in an area with so much activity. I try to zone out, it's better to notice nothing instead of everything at once. I want to bite my lip but instead I hug my schedule closer and focus on finding my classroom.

After crossing through two hallways and up a staircase I take a breather. This floor is nearly as crowded as the first but I'm able to find a small empty space next to a wall everyone walks around. I step in to catch my breath but it's not long 'til someone joins me.

I never turn to look at her, but I notice the girl who stopped next to me was tall with dark hair, her bones stick out angrily on her wrist and collar bones. She also hides under more makeup I've ever been able to gather from the free samples in the mall. The fake eyelashes glued to her face look ready to crawl off, and even from here I can see the pasty texture of her concealer and the detail of her black bra underneath her skin tight white shirt. Even if I wasn't a vampire I would know she was wearing far too much on her face and far too little everywhere else. She'd be beautiful with less makeup and better fitting clothes, and if she stopped raping me with her eyes.

I gulp uncomfortably and pretend I don't notice her staring at me. She looks at me and I feel like a piece of meat in front of a hungry wolf again.

"Hey sexy, you like what you see?", she flirts, "cuz I know I do." She stalks closer to me and I feel her finger under my chin as she pulls my face to look at her. Her fingernail is long and I can't help but think they're like talons, dripping with the blood of her last victim.

Her breasts were now brushing the bindings on my chest- she's way too close. Everything about her makes me want to recoil. I take a step back and realize people have formed a semicircle around us, watching. I wanted to shout "don't you all have something better to do?" but I know they don't. They're just looking for their next fix of gossip. They look at me expectantly, waiting for me to entertain them. This is disgusting.

I hear someone in the back of the group whisper, "Looks like Jade has found her next boy toy. He's pretty cute, he won't be once he becomes her pet though. Should I record this?"

I can't see the stranger but I imagine she's talking to her friend. I could really use one of those, I seriously need help right now. I'm so out of my element.

I take another step backwards, away from her and but she fills the space again quickly.

"Uh I think you're confusing me with someone else." I slur. Oh fudge is that seriously the best I could come up with?

"Oh no I'm not confused. I know you're exactly the guy I want, sexy." She says, pressing against me again.

With her high heels and tall figure she's basically towering over me, I lean against the wall to try to pass off being vertically challenged as looking like I'm slouching so people wont start thinking I'm too small to be a guy. I want to cower away from all the attention I'm getting, or at least press my lip against my teeth. But making sure no one finds out I'm a girl means I have to hide even my nervous ticks.