CHAPTER 5. IT'S COMPLICATED

Fleur was awakened by the sunlight coming through the glass windows and walls of her room. She has forgotten to close the blinds before she fell asleep. She slowly opened her eyes and a smile form in her lips as she remembers the dream she had.

As an Immortal, they can go on for days without sleeping but they do sleep when they want to. Knowing how last night went, she just wanted to escape and let herself linger in the dream world and she has had many vivid dreams in her lifetime but this is peculiar in every way for her. She has never dreamt as evocative as she did and never with a mortal. It was so pure and true. She is a stranger to this feeling tugging at her heart. She never really believed in love, as her clan thrives on fixed marriages and alliances, love is a very rare occurrence if present at all. She knows that her mother loves her dad in this twisted way, despite his torture and unforgiving nature. Her father may be fond of her mom but she has always doubted if true love does exist for them, after all, love has always been associated with kindness, gentleness, peace and light which are the exact opposite of their kind.

She sigh. She never believed in it, but it doesn’t mean she does not want it for herself. The feeling of happiness and feelings that are pure and beautiful is as elusive as death for her kind and it makes her wonder, if this tugging in her heart is indeed love.

She stood up and get ready to face the world. She needs to keep appearances if she doesn’t want her father raving about her inability to follow the rules. It’s an endless cycle of putting on many faces for every lifetime she gets stuck in. A few lifetimes ago she was a daughter of a wealthy duke, another a young ballerina, and today in this modern time, she gets to be the thing she hated the most - a teenager in high school.

However, despite the deep animosity she feels with her current role to play, she has a feeling that this might be different after all.

“What are you thinking?” she muttered to herself quietly as she found herself lost in these thoughts as she takes her shower. She suddenly felt annoyed of herself and the way she has been feeling for a mere mortal. She gets out of the shower and turned on the speakers as she blasted the familiar rock songs she has on her playlist to try to drown her thoughts.

She looked at the mirror as she puts on her white shirt over her jeans. “Get a hold of yourself Fleur. You are acting like the thing you hate most, an angsty wretched teenager.”

She put on her lip gloss and looked at herself with a pout. She really does look like another ordinary teen after all.

She hurries down to get her car when she sees the most despicable sight she has to see in the morning. Ezra was at the bottom of the stairs smiling slyly at her.

“Good morning princess, I trust that you slept well.” He smirked.

“It was a good sleep only to be ruined by the sight of you,” she blurted back at him, her words sharp as she made sure she spits out venom at him with her every word.

“Fiery as always, I do remember that you thoroughly enjoyed last night, what do you say we ditch school and continue what we have started.” He said mockingly as his eyes explore the curves of her body.

“Excuse me?!” She shouted at him, a bit louder than she wanted.

“What? Do you want to do it at school instead? You naughty, naughty little girl.” Ezra continued to mock her.

“No, what do you mean we?” She said confusion all over her face.

“Oh you mean us going to school together?” He said as he points from her to him.

“Yes princess, I’m Ezra your dashing athlete boyfriend at Willow Creek High.” He said with a big smile as he looked at her stunned face, sensing he won this battle again with Fleur.

“Oh my God. I can’t believe this! Don’t you have anything better to do like plan how you mightily want to conquer this town and find where those filthy Lycans hide their lair?” She said with exasperation, the last thing she needs is to have Ezra constantly following her around.

“We need to keep appearances and we have information that those dirty dogs may be walking amongst those sweaty teenagers.” Ezra said seriously this time.

Fleur’s brow furrowed as she heard those words. “At the high school? Seriously?” She thought to herself.

Ezra pulled her hand and said, “Come, I don’t want to be late, I need to meet the principal and the couch of the football team.” He said to her with a wink. Still confused she let Ezra drag her out of the house and into his convertible.

He opened the door for her and pushed her into the passenger side. She was like a puppet. The thought of Lycans being high school boys in this town deeply unsettled her. She has battled many Lycan tribes before they were always mighty foes who were older, but in this day and age there are still young Lycans in this town, she gulped at the thought that there might even be children. She’s so tired of fighting and now the idea of killing young Lycans makes her feel dizzy and deeply disturbed.

The ride going to school was quiet. Fleur tried her best to avoid Ezra’s constant probing eyes at her. Not only was she bothered about having Lycans at their school, she’s also worried about how it might look like for Zeeb if he sees them together. In her head she sounds just like a normal teen worrying about mundane things, but last night, Zeeb really awakened feelings she has buried, any thoughts of finding love and happiness for herself was something she has relinquished a long time ago and right now she feels like she might have a shot at it even for a few moments with him. Now that Ezra is coming to school with her that hope seemed further away than it ever was.

As they pulled over the school’s parking lot, all eyes were on them. What a lovely couple they might seem. Ezra could easily be the hottest guy on campus, all the ladies looking at him swooning and while they look at her with obvious envy and disdain.

“Pathetic humans.” She muttered to herself.

“I don’t know about you, but can you blame them?” Ezra said cockily as he wrapped his arms around her. She nudged him, careful not to give her force as it will make a scene if he comes flying towards the gate and into the highway.

She hurriedly walked away from him towards the school, thankfully, the school football team have flocked over to Ezra stopping him from his tracks as he angrily stride after her. They cornered him as they exchange introductions and giving him a welcome to being part of the team. Word surely gets around fast in this town, they knew he was coming even before her. But right now she was only relieved to be away from Ezra.

“Thank God for jocks,” she said sarcastically at herself.

“Hey…” a hesitant voice caught up with her stopping her from her tracks. She knows that voice by heart now and she felt all warm and giddy inside, damn this forever hormonal teenager body she has been stuck with, she thought to herself.

She looked back and her breath caught up in her throat as she sees Zeeb towering over her, he’s so tall given that she is statuesque herself.

“Hey you…” she said trying hard to sound casual.

“Bad day?” he said with a small smile, his lips looks so luscious on top of his strong jaw. She swore she wants to kiss those lips right then and there.

“Is it that obvious?” She consciously tucked a loose strand of her hair from her ponytail as she continued to walk with Zeeb.

“Yeah. What’s up with that guy? Is he…” Zeeb hesitated, being careful with his words with her, after all they have just met.

“Uhm, no, err…yes. It’s complicated.” She stammered.

She secretly peaked at him by her side. She swore she saw his face fell and what was that? Anger? Jealousy? Whatever it was it left a dark cloud over his features and yet she still found it attractive.

“Is it so complicated that we can no longer walk together to class?” He said, stopping and gently holding her elbow. She stopped to and studied his face. It was full of hope and need?

She was speechless for a while and then finally said. “No, it’s fine, we’re friends right?” She said as she anticipated his response.

“Of course!” He said hurriedly, her heart sank a bit, but she regained her composure fast and pretended to talk about the literary reading they have as a homework, Pride and Prejudice.

They continued their small talk until they got to class and sat beside each other. They exchanged glances the whole class, for Zeeb it was as if she is the only one who exists, he doesn’t care if that insanely good looking guy is her boyfriend or not, the world be damned he will do everything in his power for her to love him.

He was so lost in Fleur’s scent and presence that he was left unaware of the predator lurking from behind. Ezra, seated at the back was throwing dagger looks at them both and no one can ever take what’s his. Both Fleur and Zeeb completely unaware and enamored at each other could not see that trouble lurks in the horizon for both of them.