The Haven High Book Series (Wattys2017)

Chapter 15

Kelly met up with the gang in various classes during the afternoon, but she kept her head down and her mind on her work. She had one goal in sight for the end of the day and that was to beat Donnie in a duel.

A one on one purely friendly sparing match for it all, he couldn't possibly think of her as mean spirited or being ugly if he lost fair and square, could he? So what if the odds were stacked in her favor. That was life. At least she was giving him a chance, right?

As the afternoon progressed she became more and more anxious. How would she broach the subject with him? Would he accept the challenge in the manner in which it was intended or would he be even more insulted by the gesture?

There was no use agonizing about it, or even putting off the inevitable. In fact, she was too worried she would chicken out; so when she spied his dark head in a crowd of boys in the training gym she did a beeline for him and when he locked eyes on her she cocked her head to the side to indicate she wanted to speak to him alone.

He was still behaving coldly towards her and frankly it stung. She just hoped that offering this olive branch would salvage the friendship they'd created over the last several weeks.

When they were far enough away from the crowd, though not exactly out of earshot, you're never out of ear shot when you go to school with a bunch of magical creatures, she cleared her throat and dove in nervously," Donnie I'd like to challenge you to a duel."

He looked at her incredulously as if to say 'And' like he was saying 'it must be Tuesday' and who could blame him -- dueling was a common practice in their schooling.

His brows furrowed together as he seemed to puzzle out the outcome of the duel.

"Cara what do I win if I am victorious?" he asked as a tiny smirk bloomed on his lips.

Kelly cleared her throat again and said matter-of-factly, "I go to the Ball with you."

For some damn reason it was hard to keep a small smile from gracing her face when his eyebrows shut up to the top of his hairline in surprise.

"I accept your challenge. I'm sorry Cara, but only once I wish you do not win."

She was about to head over to her position on the mediation mat when she overheard the first whispers.

Khalan a fifth year Fury was whispering to Mackayla a third year Nix sitting next to her, "Did you hear what I heard? I just overheard the fourth year Norse demigoddess challenge the fourth year Cait Sith to a duel. And if he wins she'll go to the dance with him. Isn't that romantic!" she squealed loud enough for everyone to hear

"No way! When?"

"They didn't say, she staged whispered, "But if it's after training I'm not missing it." The fury declared.

Kelly groaned when she literally watched the rumor mill start its powerful engine. Next thing she knew she say Xander's head pop up out of the crowd like a gofer head pops out a hole, and his eyes lock on hers. He was nowhere in earshot, but since when did the Slavic Demigod of gossip need to actually hear a rumor to know it?