Blood Bank

Chapter 2

I had to calm my mother that night before going to bed. She cried herself dry, all from overthinking how I could get taken from her and everything and anything that could potentially happen to me.

After she tired herself out, I took a long shower, and my mind started to drift off to the land of overthinking itself.

I can understand why my mother would be so concerned about the whole ordeal. Nobody and I means nobody in my family has ever been sent a letter for the selection. My parents never had to deal with this for themselves or their other children, but here I was with a letter from Simul.

While I am fascinated with these species, I never really thought of working with them, and despite what I think about my family, I love them to the death of me.

Yes, getting selected would benefit my family well, but that means I would have to be around some unknown species and do who knows what for them. Whoever I work with could be a cruel boss and might despise humans even though they need them.

Waves of anxiety splashed around in my head as I left that shower and changed into some pajamas. Not even the comforts of my blankets in pillows could stop it at first. But soon enough, those waves stilled, and I was able to catch some sleep.

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" So the letter came in while we were out?" Avery's fingers flexed against the cup of coffee she bought from Starbucks.

" Yeah. My mom was crying just at the thought of me getting picked. I had to calm her down to get her to go to sleep." I explained and taking a big gulp of my tea that I ordered.

I asked Avery to meet with me because I had to talk to someone as soon as I woke up. Since the other two didn't respond, Avery is the first one to know.

" But how do you feel about it? You did say that your the first in your family to ever receive a letter." Her hazel eyes are piercing me with concern.

" I did think of the worst at first, but it isn't always a possibility of me getting a job. There's still the interview process of it all, and I would have to appeal to whatever species is there too. It's a small chance of one of them liking me." I reasoned, and she managed to cool the anxiousness in my mind.

" But you've always been able to attract the other species. That's a known fact about you since we've been friends."

" They have been attracted to most humans, Avery. I'm not special." I blatantly tone as I bit down on my bagel in an unladylike way, watching Avery's eye twitch cause she can't stand when I do that.

" So, you never realized how all non-human species tried to talk to you and only you when Brandy is only six inches away?" She pointed with her finger. "Anytime I use a spell to read their minds; they always talk about how different your scent is and how they would love to ravage you and only you. Why do you think I was always so concerned about you just a bit more than Brandy?"

Did I attract them that much? Was it ever that obvious to notice, and I was just blind and naive to it all? Would this so-called unique 'scent' of mine make it more likely for me to get hired? I could feel myself slowly start to dive off to the deep end of worries and anxiety again.

It must have been pretty evident on my face because Avery reached a handover and grabbed mines.

" Amani, please calm down." She rubbed her thumb against my knuckles, and my body relaxed from a tension that I didn't even know was there. " I should have told you a while ago about that and saying it after getting some shocking news was bad on me to do. We'll do the usual Amani way and think positive about the situation." She gave me a warm smile like a mother would, and it made me get you from my seat and hug her.

" You are a mom. You always know the right things to say." I mumbled into her curly hair before backing away and sitting back down in my seat.

" Every friend group has one of them." She shrugged, and it made me laugh. A good laugh too.

" Damn Avery, I love your old ass." She kicked me in my shin, and I hissed.

" Stop calling me old!" She nagged as I rubbed my throbbing shin.

" But you are..." I mumbled, and she shot me a glare.

" Keep talking, and I'll cast a spell to keep your smartass mouth shut." She threatened me, but it only made me laugh.

" You know you can't cast a spell in here." I teased as she rolled her eyes and sipped her coffee before speaking, " So what are you gonna wear to the selection?"

I shrugged, " A blouse and a pencil skirt, I guess. Top it off with some flats or heels, and I'll look fine."

" And what about that thick growth of 4b hair on your head? Are you keeping it out, or are you getting your hair done for this special occasion?" She asked as I finished off my tea.

" I don't have the money or time to get a sew-in right now, so I plan on slicking it back to a low puff. Unless...." I looked up at her with big doe eyes, and she stared back with disgust.

" Are you trying to ask me to use my magic and 'poof' a sew-in on your head again?"

" We can call it a belated birthday present." I smiled, and she facepalmed herself and mumbled into her hand.

" You're annoying. You know that, right?"

" Only for you, Big sis." I giggled, and she could only shake her head with a smile creeping on her features. " Now that this is settled, let's leave and meet up with the rest of the girls. We have to catch them up on this as well."