Affinity

Chapter 11: Blood and Peppermint

Eight days later

Anastasia smiled with complacent strain as Pam, on an assignment from the Yearbook Club, snapped a picture of the recently elected senior student council. She was told to sit at the table right beside AJ, the new Senior Class President. On AJ's other side was Jason, his VP and then to Jason's left was the Treasurer, Emma Barnes. She narrowed her eyes at Pam as she paused to tell one of the reps to correct his stance more inward.

Take the picture, Pam!

"Okay! Almost done! Smiles!" Pam began taking the pictures again. Principal Dixon who stood behind her urged her to take plenty of pictures to minimize editing.

Nastia refrained from rolling her eyes. She has been in this seat for ten minutes. It wasn't Pam's fault this was taking too long though. They had to get a group picture done with the underclassmen council members before cutting it down to just the seniors. Pam wasn't even at fault for the unfortunate seating arrangement. She tried to position Nastia away from AJ at first, but Dixon pointed out the student council picture was traditionally done in the same pose: Secretary, President, Vice President, and Treasurer sitting at the library's center table with the Historian and the three representatives standing behind them.

So though Pam was not at fault in any way, shape or form... she was in the line of fire for the vampire's impatient glare and passive aggressive smile.

Sitting next to AJ was pure torture for a couple of different reasons. Things were super awkward this week between them, though they hadn't spoken a word to each other. Well, unless you counted when they talked as Tom and Judy during play rehearsals, which Nastia didn't.

During the elections on Monday, if she was able to compel AJ to withdraw from the race, she would have. Or maybe not... which was the lesser evil? Taking orders from a President Shelby Madison or fighting the fiery, vein-throbbing bloodlust for President AJ? Hard choice, Nastia thought.

She took in a deep breath through her nose and was bombarded with the swift and powerful aroma of peppermint. The scent invaded her nares, the sensation like crisp mountain air blowing over her brain. She shook off the lightheaded aftereffect having nearly forgotten Pam's ingenious idea to control the bloodlust.

Anastasia had been an insurmountable summit of cynical when Pam suggested a regimen to control the vampire urges. After realizing her best friend would be gone forever if she gave in to her need for AJ's blood, the hardheaded cherry ginger went into research mode on ways to fight the inevitable.

Her first idea came from an internet search on controlling thirst. The home remedy was designed for dialysis patients who needed to drink less. After getting to school a few days ago, Nastia's best friend asked her to close her eyes and stick out her tongue with no questions asked. When Nastia did so, feeling very ridiculous, she was accosted by the spray of lemon water. Pam held a little purple spray bottle, proud of her 3-minute research result. The vampire started spitting it out on the sidewalk being more than a bit surprised by the sour flavor. She had grown accustomed to the loss of her sense of taste for the blander foods.

"What did you just--"

"Don't spit it out, Nastia! It will help you control your thirst!'

"That is not going to---"

"Just try it, you grouch!"

She did and though Nastia felt like it did help that day, by the next day she felt like it wasn't enough.

"It is more than just thirst, Pam. It's hard to explain but it's just... more," Nastia said when Pam evaluated how she was feeling after school in her bedroom. "I appreciate you trying to help but--"