Chapter Four

Chapter Four

                          Anders 

“I’m sorry, but we can’t go through with the challenge.” She said, while avoiding my gaze.

“Is it because of me? Are you avoiding me, Marguerite?” I asked, watching as her hands clenched.

“You think the world of yourself, don’t you?” She retorted with an irritated look. She was still actively avoiding my gaze.

I approached her slowly. “Then why don’t you want the challenge to go on?” I asked her. I stopped at her front, holding her gaze this time. She swallowed visibly, before turning away.

“I don’t want to. Isn’t that enough reason?” She threw back at me. “Let’s go, Vinn.” She added to her friend, and tried to leave. 

I regarded her friend, and my face closed up. He was good looking, but not as good as me of course. A pang of jealousy clenched my gut. The way he looked at her. Couldn’t she see it? I knew that look. It was one of a person who was totally into another. Vinn held my gaze as if it was a contest, before holding Marguerite’s hand and trying to pull her away.

“If you leave now, I’ll assume you’re not as good as you say.” I called out loudly as she walked out of the garage. She halted in her steps, and whirled around. A conflicted look crossed her face momentarily, and I saw her resolve crack. 

“You aren’t as good as I am, Marguerite.” I added to spite her.

She smirked. “We will see about that.” Then she walked over to her bike. I was impressed that a female had a Ninja. Close enough to mine.

‘Stop undressing her with your eyes, Anders.’ I heard Qyler’s voice in my head making me shoot him a hateful look. 

‘Don’t even try to deny it. I’ve been reading your mind if you were wondering.’ He added.

Of course he was. The nosy bastard.

“Common, let’s get to it.” I simply said, and headed towards my bike.

Word of the challenge spread around the academy faster than I expected. As we rode out of the garage, and into the open lane designed specially for races, students were gathered all around every corner. A marshal stood on guard. As I winded up closely to Marguerite, she gave me a cocky look.

“You have enough time to back down now,” she advised, patting her bike softly. “At least, you won’t have to live with shame.” She finished off.

“An arrogant and full-of-herself Queen, I stan.” I chuckled.

“Of course. The only biker who can race more than I do is the Masked VA.” As she spoke, she had a look of admiration on her face. 

“You know the Masked VA?” I asked her curiously. 

She gave me a weird look. “Every biker does. He is the king of biking, I dare say. I hope to meet him someday.” She smiled with a fawning voice. 

“Good for you.” I shrugged.

“You don’t seem impressed.” She observed.

“Well… Maybe I can beat this Masked VA’s record.” I bragged.

She burst out laughing just as Qyler pulled over with his bike. “You? Oh, spare me that.” She managed to say between peals  of laughter. 

“Bikers, take your positions and revv up!” the marshal called out.

I slowly moved to my lane, and put on my helmet while inwardly debating if I should allow her to win, or be my regular self. If I did the latter, I could get her to do my wish. And if I did the former… Nah, I had to win.

“All bikers ready?” The marshal asked. We revved our bikes in response.

He waved down the flag, and stepped out of the way. I relaxed my hands on the handlebars and took off. The lane was far more smoother than the one at my former academy, and I wasn’t used to ‘getting things easy.’ I picked up speed, swerved down a sharp path, then burst out in the much wider lane. Marguerite wasn’t bluffing when she bragged about being a good biker. I could hear the sound of her Ninja’s engine far off from behind me. Qyler was being lazy as always, enjoying himself rather than aiming to win. The bastard was as good as I was otherwise.

I spotted the low-placed hurdle in front, and I prepared myself to jump over. Grabbing the handlebars tightly, I raised the bike higher, letting my weight linger in the air as I jumped. I landed smoothly on my bike, and increased my speed. The finish line came in sight just then. I revved harder, and crossed it moments later. I did a 180° turn and waited for the approaching speeding Ninja to land. Qyler arrived five minutes after Marguerite did.

“And the winner of the challenge is Anders!” The marshal announced. 

Marguerite took off her helmet, and shook her head. She didn’t have a forlorn look like I’d expected, and instead looked at me curiously. 

“You’re good, I have to admit. I have a question though.” She finally said after looking me over for a moment. 

“Shoot.” I replied lazily.

“The hurdle, why did you jump instead of going beneath it?” She was genuinely confused.

“Because it's tougher.” I said dryly.

“Show off.” She muttered beneath her breath. 

“Aren’t you going to keep to your end of our deal?” I asked her.

She sighed. “Okay. You win. What do I have to do?” She asked dryly.

I stared into her green eyes, smirked. “You have to live with me for five months.” I announced.

“What?! That’s impossible. That’s illegal.” She retorted, shaking her head vigorously.

“And what’s illegal about a winner telling the loser what to do?” I countered. 

She snapped her mouth shut and shot me a defiant look. “Choose something else.” She insisted.

“I’ve made my decision.” I stood my ground.

‘What’s she thinking?’ I asked Qyler, wishing I could read her thoughts.

‘She’s thinking how much of a son-of-a-bitch you are, and how much she’d love to strangle you.’ Qyler drawled.

‘You’re making that up.’ I dismissed his words.

‘I wish I was.’ He chuckled.

“What’s it going to be, Marguerite Kasper?” I turned my attention to the hot blonde who was still eyeing me like she really wanted to bite off my head. Her friend joined her at that moment. She leaned in to whisper something to him. I heard her words clearly of course. 

I crossed my arms just as Vinn’s head whirled in my direction. 

“She’s not coming with you.” His jaws clenched, his fists setting for a fight. He was threatened by me. I read that much from his thoughts. 

Good.

He should be.

Marguerite was mine, and mine alone. And not even an unrequited love from her friend was going to stop me from claiming her. 

“It’s blackmail.” Vinn argued still.

“No, it’s not. Marguerite agreed to the terms before the start of the race. Didn’t you, Marguerite honey? I asked, holding her gaze. I caught the quick glance of the crimson which colored her cheeks before it disappeared. 

“She’s not your honey.” Vinn warned through gritted teeth. He leaned closer, so we were within close proximity. “She might have fucked you, but that doesn’t mean she’s into you. Stay the fuck away from her.” His tone was heated as he warned me. Then he moved away. 

I ignored him, pushed off my bike and walked over to where Marguerite was sitting with a conflicted look on her face.

“Marguerite Kasper, we had a deal. Are you going to hide away from fulfilling the end of yours like a coward?” I asked her coldly.

Her eyes flashed with anger. “I’m not a coward.” She snapped.

“Then make your decision.” I prompted.

Her gaze alternated between my face and Vinn’s. Then she let out a tired sigh.

“I’ll…” She started to say.

“Marguerite-” Vinn interrupted. 

I wished controlling humans for no reason wasn’t against our vampire laws, I’d have controlled the fool to stop talking.

“What will happen if I don’t agree to your proposal?” She questioned.

“Do you want to know?” I asked rhetorically and leaned close to her ears. “Then I’ll make your experience at the academy a terrible one while I’m here.” I threatened and stepped away to see her reaction clearly.

Her face closed up. “Are you threatening me, Anders?” She asked, her lips pressed in a prim line.

“Persuading. Threatening is a strong word.” I shrugged.

“You’re insufferable.” She sneered.

“I’m well aware of that. Now, make your decision. My patience is hanging on a thin thread.” I prompted once more.

She exhaled, met my gaze, her eyes flashing with anger. “I will do it.”

“Good.” I replied with a cold smile.

“Five months, you said? Nothing attached?” She asked to be certain.

“And what might be this ‘something’ you’re talking about?” I shot back. 

Her cheeks colored once more, before she returned to her usual look. “You know more than I do,” she replied, getting down from her bike, and crossing over to stand right in front of me. “No physical touch, no kissing, no sex, and nothing intimate. We’d be roommates and nothing more.”

“Marguerite, you can’t agree to his terms-” Vinn began again.

“Agreed.” I nodded in agreement to her terms.

Even though deep down I knew there was no way I would keep my hands off her.