Instincts ✔️ [COMPLETED]

Chapter 9

I get tired in third period, running the mile in four minutes. I am faster than most, and I laugh as I watch Chelsie trying to run, her makeup ruined by her sweat and her skin glowing in an unpleasant and unnatural way. Yes, I'm in PE with Chelsie... and Jax.

My cheeks flush a bright red as Jax walks over, in blue shorts and a red sports top. He is sweating, and his muscular arms are showing. I beat him by a couple of seconds, and I teased him about it.

"Hey Kate, did you read the book?"
I nod, finding the butterflies in my stomach flapping wildly, not letting me speak. I clear my voice and say, "It was... interesting."
He holds my hand... he holds, MY HAND! My heart beats faster, and Jax smiles slowly, feeling awkward.

"Would you like to... run after school?" he asks, and I nod sweetly. He tries to hide his smitten face, but fails. He breaks his hold on my hand and walks over to the lockers.
Jasper is also in my PE class, and finishes in thirty or more seconds after me.

"Hey... are you flirting?" he asks, and I turn pink.

"No, I-I'm just making conversation." He clearly isn't convinced, but just says okay with a polite nod of his head.

Third period is over, and I drag myself to fourth period, sweat still drying as I sit down, and for some reason, I feel my heart echoing in my ears as Jax takes a seat next to me. Chelsie, Vera, and Jasper aren't in the same class as me, so it just me... and him. He waves, and I just smile in return.

Thankfully, the teacher shows up, and I am saved from embarrassment. He scratches "Mr. Splash" and takes a seat. Mr. Splash, what a silly name.

"Class, this is no ordinary English and foreign language class. We will be studying old English, and the language of your instincts. I do know many instinct languages, and I will help you. Today, we'll take it easy and start with old English, saying we'll go back to Great Britain, before English was modernized in the west."

Man... he talks a lot, was my first thought. I sat through it, and after, we were excused for lunch. I had to find Chelsie.

~ ~ ~

I managed to get Chelsie's email, and sent her a notice:

Chelsie...

Meet in our room, please, I want to talk about the game.

She quickly responded:

Kate,

I'll be there. Take the book out. F.Y.I., you're still my enemy.

I figured as much, and after a couple of minutes, I heard rapping on the door. It slowly opened, and I saw blue eyes, staring at me.

"Hello, I assume you read the book?"

"Yeah, I did, and I want to ask you some thing."

"What?"

I looked at her, and bravely asked, "What's your instinct animal?"

She smiled, and her hand reached up to her hair band. Her eyes narrowed, and her skin turned white and brown.

"You're a snow tiger?" I asked, and my brain started swirling,

"You get it now, right? We weren't meant to be friends, ever. It's fate, Kate Rayson, and you can't run away," she meowed, her whiskers twitching. She lightly padded over, and opened the book with her paws.

"You are the 100th generation cheetah, and Jasper is... guess what?" she asked, her ears flicking back and forth.

"The... 100th generation wolf?" I ask, even though I know the answer.

"Yes."

My arms quiver, and a tremor runs through my body. I touch my shoes, and turn into a cheetah, wanting to get even with her. I growl with frustration, and lunge at Chelsie. She laughs and leaps away gracefully. Her paws land lightly, and easily batter me away when I run headfirst into her.

"Kate, dear, I know you're mad at this spell, your instinct, the book, and me. I think the best option for you is to talk to Jax and Jasper," she purrs, and drops her paw down when I pant, tired, and flop down. I nod, and decide a civilized conversation is batter than blind rage. Just like in the book with the Kakos Lykos, I think.

"Oh, and that Vera friend of yours may be important...she has a big role in this game, which you now know is called war."