Darkly Devoted (Book 1, 2, 3)

DD Chapter 8 - My Sister's Boyfriend

Chapter 8

VIVIENNE DIDN'T SEE how the day could get any worse. Not only had she made a horrible first impression by starting a fight in the girls' locker room, but she had alienated Zissa, the one girl who might know where the demons were coming from.

After the last period ended, and the students rushed out the double doors, Vivienne just wanted to go home. She lurked by the front entrance, wanting to forget about meeting Janun at the carnival. The school was nearly empty now. Vivienne stopped by the trophy display and caught sight of herself in the reflection there.

Messy hair. Sharp chin. Collar bones were noticeably protruding from her too-large t-shirt.

Inside the cabinet, there were several trophies. Grandmaster of Remin, one said. What kind of sport was it for? Vivienne wondered. Definitely not for gymnastics.

Vivienne slowly left the school building and contemplated going home again. She'll tell Janun she mixed up her dates and thought her sister had gymnastics practice.

It was too late.

On her way to the bus stop, Vivienne stumbled onto Janun sitting by an old, weathered bus bench. Janun wasn't alone. There was a tall, hunky, dark-haired boy standing beside her. Watching her sister giggle with the boy's every glance, Vivienne suddenly understood why Janun was upset at the idea that they might have to run away again.

Janun was in love.

And why shouldn't she be? The boy looked like he belonged in a magazine. No, even the heartthrobs in the most lustful movies couldn't match the looks on that boy. He had a jaw that went on for miles, shoulders that belonged on a Greek God, and a laugh that belonged to an angel.

Vivienne had to admit, she was jealous. At least Janun was getting what she deserved — what every girl deserved — a love story wasn't marred by death and horror.

As Janun turned and caught sight of Vivienne, her glowing smile turned into a glower.

"My baby sister is here," Janun said with a sigh. "My mom said she has to come with us to the fair. Let's go, Julian," Janun said, tugging at his arm. "I am starving for some popcorn and cotton candy."

"Hey, Janun's little sis," Julian said with a smile that could only be described as rakish. "We finally meet. I've heard so, so much about you."

Janun laughed and playfully punched him in the arm. "He's joking. I never mentioned you until now." When Julian smiled, dimples appeared prominently on his cheeks. Vivienne had to admit that she was captivated. Not even in Manna City had she ever seen a boy who was so breathtakingly beautiful.

Julian offered Vivienne his hand to shake, but Janun jealously slapped his hand away. She giggled playfully and clung to Julian's arm.

"Don't worry about her. She's not important. Do you even want to come with us, Vivienne? You can go home and work on your homework if you are tired."

"Of course she wants to come," Julian interjected. "Look at her. She probably doesn't know a single thing about Remin. Homework can wait."

Vivienne felt Julian's eyes looking her over from head to toe. Suddenly, she wished she had taken up her mother's offer to shop for new clothes. There was something about Julian that made women want to impress. Vivienne was sure she was missing the mark by about a mile.

Julian continued to smirk while taking in the sights. It was as though he was thinking to himself that he had definitely chosen the right sister.

Then Vivienne shook her head. What was she thinking? Julian was Janun's crush. He was completely off limits to her.

The carnival was taking place in a meadow a short walk away from the school. All the lively revelers of all ages amid the twilight forest were a sight to behold. There was a fortune-teller stand, a funnel cake cart, dozens of rides, and even a tent containing a petting zoo. Most spectacular were the fall colors on the trees lining the carnival. It was as though the forest wanted to be part of the joyous affair, coloring all the trees in vibrant reds and oranges.

Remin wasn't a large town, and Vivienne realized with dismay that most of her class were there. Vivienne tried to keep her head down. She ducked behind her sister and Julian closely to keep from being recognized as the locker-room-fight-girl. Janun kept whispering into Julian's ear and giggling. Vivienne wished she had stayed home instead of being a hardcore third wheel.

Julian and Janun got into line for the Ferris Wheel, which surprised Vivienne because she thought Janun had a lifelong fear of heights. Vivienne also noticed that each car had only enough room for two people, which meant she would be sitting alone.

"Vivienne," Julian called out when he noticed she was starting to wander off on her own. "Don't you have anyone who wants to sit with you?"

"No."

"No boyfriend?"

"Oh, Julian," Janun teased with another playful punch. It was clear Janun was looking for any excuse at all to touch Julian's magnificent body. "Vivienne doesn't have a boyfriend. She's not even into boys."

"I would offer to sit with you," Julian teased. "But only if there's absolutely no one else who will."

"Oh, stop it," Janun insisted as she hung onto Julian's well-toned arm for dear life. "She probably has some homework to do. Let's go."

"You two sisters sit together," Julian offered as the rusty green Ferris wheel came to a ready stop. He seemed to recoil at the idea of sitting in that dirty old seat. "I can wait down here."

Janun gave Vivienne a deathly look that said "scram," so Vivienne shook her head and ran off.