Content To Be Claimed (Beauty And The Beast #1)

Chapter 9

"Belle, are you coming?" Amber asked excitedly.

"Yeah, please say you'll come. We've barely seen you all week," Anya pouted.

"Whoa, hold on!" I laughed. "Coming where?"

"Didn't Warren tell you?" Anya asked, surprised.

Now I frowned. "Tell me what?"

"About final practice right now."

"Final practice?"

Anya took it upon herself to explain. "The day before a game, most of the school goes to watch the team practice and to support them so we're all revved for the game."

"It's pregame excitement, basically sneaking a peak at those hot guys sweating on the court," Amber winked, dimpling.

"And this is happening today," I half-asked.

"And the game's tomorrow," Anya confirmed.

I shrugged and smiled. "Why not?"

"Great! You have not seen how hot Warren is until you see him on the court!" Anya gushed.

I closed my locker and tucked my hair back, then saw Victor striding towards the doors of the school. "Uh, I'll catch up," I told the girls, then went towards him. "Victor!"

He turned, breaking into an easy smile that was contagious. "Hi."

"We're going to watch basketball," I said. "You in?"

He winced and looked away from me. "I...can't."

"Why, what's wrong?"

"I'm not feeling too good," he said softly, then looked up with a smirk. "Besides, I'm not really a fan."

"What's the matter?" I persisted, now genuinely concerned. His eyes were different, darker somehow.

"I just...need to eat."

"No, there's something else. Is this part of your condition?"

"Just one of the perks."

"Okay, let me drive you home." I bit my lip, wondering how to explain this to Dane.

"I'll be fine, Belle," he insisted.

I reached up to check his temperature. He rolled his eyes and caught my hand in his cool one. "That doesn't work with me." He linked our fingers, distracting me with the feelings that simple touch evoked. "Just go have fun, and I'll see you Monday. Okay?"

"Fine." I tugged my hand out of his hold, avoiding his soft gaze. "Just... Be okay."

He nodded, waved and left. I stood watching him for a minute, then resolved to call him as soon as the game ended. The game had already started when I walked in. Warren was calling out instructions while Coach K talked to a blond senior on the sidelines as I spotted my friends and joined them. I sat down and looked around the gym. My gaze was drawn to a girl sitting on one of the benches set for the team, talking to one of the benched players. Even though she had her back to me, I could tell she was beautiful.

She was slim, and I was just admiring her and thinking that she was too young to be in high school when I recognised that honey brown hair. It was the same glossy hair I had seen in the back of Warren's car. The game picked up as I was hit by this revelation. I looked up to the action, and forgot all about her. My mind was too occupied with adoring Warren.

He ruled that game. His movements were perfectly calculated and smoothly executed. His grace made it seem almost as though he was dancing. It was mesmerising. I simply couldn't take my eyes off him, noting that he barely broke into a sweat all through. Soon, Derek lured Anya away from the gym, and Chuck went off in search of soda.