Affinity

Chapter 1: Child's Play

To many vampires, the early years are as inconsequential as the humans they resemble during that time. But some parents see value in the experience a young vampire gathers before their fangs descend.
It was for this reason the Lord and Lady Turgenev allowed ten-year-old Anastasia to choose where their family would live for the decade before her awakening.
They gave her a map of North America, explaining that crossing oceans was not permitted for now due to strict regulations within their society.
Anastasia first set her sights on the happiest place on earth, in one of the sunniest states. Her days in the sun were numbered, after all.
That idea was immediately rejected.
They were willing to leave their isolated paradise in Alaska for her—but there were some things vampires simply would not do.
After some thought, she chose Portland, Maine, because of the phoenix on the city seal. A symbol of rebirth. A phoenix rising from the ashes.
The emblem referenced the city's recovery from four devastating fires.
But to Anastasia, it would symbolize something else entirely.
Her transformation.
Her rebirth.
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
Anastasia's first day of school.
She stood at the front of Mrs. O'Bryan's fifth-grade class, nervously picking at her apricot dress while the teacher asked her to tell the class three things about herself.
Twenty human children stared back.
She closed her eyes and took a breath.
They are only humans. There is no reason to be nervous. You're above this.
Her fingers twisted the fabric of her skirt.
"My name is Ana-stats-see-uh," she said, correcting the teacher's mispronunciation. "I enjoy reading dystopian books, and I keep a diary—but I only write when there is something worth noting. My favorite season is—"
Laughter erupted.
Her eyes snapped open.
A boy in the back corner was staring at her with deep emerald eyes, his hand covering his mouth as he tried to suppress his amusement. His medium tan skin contrasted sharply with the pale, lanky boy beside him, who had buried his face in his folded arms, shoulders shaking with laughter.
Heat crept up Anastasia's neck.
For a moment she nearly looked away.
But she caught herself.
Her fingers stilled.
"Winter," she finished, lifting her chin and holding the boy's gaze.
He returned the challenge, his narrowing eyes sending a strange flutter through her stomach.
The staring contest ended when Mrs. O'Bryan directed Anastasia to take her seat.
She began laying out her notebook and pencils when someone tapped her arm.
A pudgy girl with flaming red hair and a face full of freckles leaned over.
"I really like your name," she whispered. "It's pretty."
"Thank you..."
"Pam."
"Pam..."
"It's short for Pamela. Can I call you Ana?"
If she likes my name, why change it?
Anastasia preferred either her full name or the nickname her father and brother used—Nastia. Allowing strangers that level of familiarity felt improper.
Still, she permitted it. The human girl likely wouldn't be in her life long enough for it to matter.
But for the rest of the day, Pam stuck to her side.
Anastasia kept her responses brief and polite. She had no interest in friendships she would eventually forget once she took her rightful place in vampire society.
Pam, however, talked endlessly.
She had two younger brothers but wished for a sister. Her parents were divorced, which she didn't mind because now she got two Christmases. She insisted Santa was real because she had once seen him. She asked where Anastasia was from and whether everyone in Alaska rode dog sleds.
She seemed genuinely disappointed when Anastasia said they did not.
Pam kept a diary too and thought it was so cool that Ana admitted it in front of the class.
If Pam had other friends, they did not appear to miss her.
Two weeks later, Pam was still attached to her like a shadow.
Almost as soon as Anastasia stepped off the morning bus, the freckled girl appeared.
Today Pam wore a hot pink and black plaid shirt beneath a short-sleeved neon top decorated with a cheetah-print flower and the words Gurl Power. Her jeans were embroidered with pastel flowers.
It was an atrocious ensemble.
Anastasia smoothed her strawberry-blonde hair beneath a navy headband. She wore a navy blouse with a floral pattern, a ruffled skirt, white leggings, and matching boots.
"I love your outfit!" Pam squealed.
"Thanks," Anastasia said.
She considered returning the compliment, but she prided herself on not lying.
Pam didn't seem to notice.
"Oh! I have something for you. Hold on."
She swung her glittery backpack around and began digging through it. Puppy-themed folders and loose papers spilled onto the floor.
"Oops."
Students stepped around them without helping.
After a moment's hesitation, Anastasia knelt and helped gather the mess. She accidentally tore Pam's history homework while retrieving a sheet from beneath someone's shoe.
Pam forgave her instantly.
Then she handed Anastasia a colorful invitation.
"My birthday party is this Saturday. I hope you can come! It's at Mr. Gator's!"
"Okay," Anastasia replied.
Pam blinked, clearly waiting for more.
"When is your birthday, Ana?"
"October twenty-third."
"Oh—it already passed."
"We moved shortly after," Anastasia said.
"I'm sorry. Did you get a party?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Didn't want one."
Later, during PE, the class played kickball outside.
Anastasia rarely tried during gym.
But today, AJ Reed and his team were being especially obnoxious.
He was good at sports—annoyingly good. His team was winning nine to zero.
Pam stepped up to kick.
She missed the ball completely.
After several failed attempts, the teams began grumbling.
"You do know you're supposed to kick the ball, right?" AJ called.
Laughter followed.
The teacher eventually told Pam to pick someone to kick for her.
Pam looked back at Anastasia.
Reluctantly, she stepped forward.
AJ grinned.
He rolled the ball.
Anastasia kicked it low toward third base, giving Pam a chance to reach first.
AJ sprinted, scooped the ball, and paused just long enough to smirk at Anastasia before throwing it.
Pam was out.
Cheers erupted.
Something inside Anastasia hardened.
When it was her turn again, she stepped up calmly.
AJ rolled the ball.
She kicked.
Hard.
The ball slammed into his stomach.
AJ collapsed.
The field went silent.
He eventually stood again, clutching the ball against his midsection.
His teammates cheered.
But AJ wasn't smiling.
He stared at her with narrowed emerald eyes.
Anastasia met his gaze and smirked.
They both knew he would have a bruise.
The next day, Anastasia found a beaded bracelet waiting on her desk.
It read:
ANA & PAM — BFF
Pam bounced beside her.
"Do you like it?"
"You made this for me?"
"It's your birthday present!"
"My birthday already passed."
"I know, but I missed it."
Pam beamed.
"I picked the rose bead because you're pretty, and the four-leaf clover because I'm lucky to know you."
The bracelet was hideous.
But Anastasia slipped it on anyway.
"Thank you, Pam."
Later that day, Shelby Madison noticed the bracelet.
"That's cute."
"Pam made it."
Shelby rolled her eyes.
"Yeah. She used to do stuff like that for me. I threw mine away. She's kind of weird."
Anastasia said nothing.
But when lunch came, she still sat beside Pam.
Pam understood silence.
Shelby and her friends would not.
At recess, Anastasia left the swings and walked toward the dodgeball game.
Pam followed.
"What are we doing?"
"Those kids are taking too long."
"You don't feel like making a third grader cry today?" Pam laughed.
Anastasia smiled faintly.
She approached AJ and Jason.
"We want to play."
Jason blinked.
"Really?"
AJ smirked.
"Sure."
The teams split.
Pam ended up on AJ's team.
Anastasia on Jason's.
As the game began, Anastasia wondered why she had done this.
Then Jason shouted:
"Let's aim for Pam. AJ can't catch everything."
Pam was slow.
AJ stayed close to her, catching throws meant for her.
Finally Anastasia picked up a ball.
"I suck at throwing," she thought.
But she had another advantage.
Control.
She rolled one ball across the line.
AJ frowned.
"You can't do that."
"Just did."
"You have to throw all of them."
"No."
"It's in the rules."
"No, it's not."
AJ hurled the ball.
She dodged.
Another ball rolled.
Another throw.
Another dodge.
The crowd began to complain.
Finally AJ kicked a rolling ball straight at her.
She tried to catch it.
Pain shot through her hands.
"Out," AJ said.
"And you lost the game for your team, estúpida."
Something snapped.
Anastasia grabbed a ball and hurled it with all her strength.
"I said don't call me stupid!"
The ball struck AJ square in the face.
Blood spilled through his fingers.
He groaned.
"You bitch!"

Authors note: Hi. Thanks for reading. Please dont be afraid to comment and PLEASE vote.
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Credit for both banners go to am_louisexual very talented!