Darkest Blood

Chapter Eight

When summer vacation finally comes, everyone is usually happy. Sunshine, ice cream, laughter and best of all: Summer vacation. But just like every summer vacation, this vacation ended, and I was back in Maia's car on my way to school.

Three months. Sam was still missing. Liam was out murdering people. And we were nowhere closer to finding either of them. In some way, it was as if we had waisted the entire summer going in circles about the mystery. We had focused so much on my powers, then Edwald had come, and Hannah had been unable to find anything on the bracelet Sam had given me. The bracelet was now safely back around my wrist, but I'd rather have it used to track my friend. Now school was back, we'd never get the time to find either Sam or Liam.

I looked at Maia, who was wearing a shirt that almost definitely broke the dress-code as well as a cute skirt. Her brown curly hair hung loosely around her shoulders. We had spent ages looking for a parking spot. Just as we'd finally found one, and Maia was showing she'd go there, a big very fancy Audi snapped the spot right in front of us in extreme 'A Cinderella Story'-style.

"Wow. First day of school and people steal your spot. Feels good to be back," Maia rolled her eyes at me and I chuckled slightly. The driver of the Audi looked very familiar. She stepped out of the car and my heart dropped slightly.

"Maia," I said, "That's her. That's Viola."

Maia looked at the girl, who had just exited the car. Viola's perfect blond hair was in a beautifully braided half-updo. She looked curiously around, however, if she was nervous about her first day, she didn't show it.

"That's Edwald Smythe's daughter? She's hot!" Maia said. I raised my eyebrow at her, as Viola got out of the way.

"Though I must say, stealing my parking spot does take points away," Maia continued as she started the car again, to find a parking spot.

*****

I made it all the way to chemistry, my first class of the day before I stumbled into Viola. When she entered the chemistry classroom with Ms. Dreen I looked down, not really keen on sitting next to her and listen to her ramble of how my aunt and I had failed my family. But, the chair next to me was empty. It was Sam's seat. Ms. Dreen signaled for Viola to take place next to me after introducing her, and I felt my heart sink.

"Hey cuz'," Viola gave a perfect barbie smile as she sat down. I tried to smile but probably ended up doing a horrendous face. At least, Maia caught my eyes quickly as if signaling me to be nice. She was right of course. I didn't know Viola at all, she might just like to please her father. At school, she could be completely different, though, after that parking-stunt, I doubted it.

The class started and I have to admit, I'd never seen someone so confidently explain thermodynamics so wrong. After class, as I was putting my books in my bag, Noah came over to me, leaning against the table behind mine, where he usually sat. When I finished and looked up, he gave me a smile before taking my hand, starting to drag me along with him out of the classroom.

Viola, who had also just finished putting her books into her back, smiled that perfect Hollywood smile to me, as she followed Noah and me out of class.

"So, Penny, care to introduce me to your friends?" Viola asked.

I sighed, but before I could answer, Noah spoke.

"Who says you can call her Penny?" he said with a smile, and I remembered that day so long ago, where he'd sat next to me in chemistry and asked me about my aunt.

"Everyone calls her Penny?" Viola said raising an eyebrow, Maia, who had caught up to us after we'd left the classroom chuckled.

"Now that's just cheating," Noah squeezed my hand slightly, "At least two months of friendship had to pass before I could call her Penny, two more for Pen,"