I suddenly felt parched. The idea of consuming blood caused my muscles to tense with need.
"Snow?"
"I promise," I agreed, though at that moment, I would've agreed to anything. He hadn't given me the green light to bite, but he said it was bound to happen. I wanted it to happen sooner rather than later.
"And, Snow?" I focused and was met with his piercing eyes.
"Yes?"
"Gabe-"
"I'm what?" Gabe stood in the doorway, looking smug.
I ground my teeth. Why were the guys constantly interrupting Professor Pops when he mentioned Gabe? Almost as though they had a sixth sense or something.
"Hi, Gabe," I said shyly. It was weird seeing him in this room full of supernatural creatures.
Professor Pops cleared his throat, and I turned. "Why don't you go home tonight, get caught up on your school work, and get some rest. Come tomorrow, after I've talked to the boys, your training will begin."
Gabe gave Professor Pops an unreadable look. "Will she be safe?" Gabe asked, his face tight with unspoken worry.
"I'm fairly certain no one will come after her until she turns sixteen." He raised a hand, and rubbed it over his face. "Which reminds me, what's your favorite birthday cake flavor?"
I blanked. I hadn't had cake since my mother died. Right after her funeral I'd decided I wouldn't eat anything that had been killed.
"Um," I glanced at Gabe, though I have no idea why. He was a total meat eater. "Can you make cakes without eggs?"
"Someone can. I intend to hire the best. What'll it be? Chocolate? Vanilla?
A twisted smile spread over my face. "Red velvet."
Gabe and Professor Pops laughed.
"Perfect. I'll get on it. And your favored color?"
I didn't have a favorite color. I'd always liked purple because of my mom.
Gabe answered for me. "Her favorite color is purple."
"Purple, or red." I gazed at my shirt, and then at Professor Pops. "I've always really liked glittering red."
"Excellent. See you tomorrow, Snow." Professor Pops waved us away as he went back toward the Downy fairy.
"I'll walk you home," Gabe said, his smile tight.
Chapter 9
"Since when did you start liking red?" Gabe and I walked side by side at a slow pace toward my house.
I offered him a sideways smile. It gave me butterflies to know that Gabe paid attention. A glowy, tingly, happiness bloomed in my chest. "Since the first time I saw Dorothy's shoes on The Wizard of Oz. Probably at age three or four." I stuffed my hands into the front pockets of my jeans. "Then my mom died, and most of the stuff I kept of hers was purple, so I sort of adopted it as my favorite as well."
"Huh," Gabe grunted.
"I'd guess you're favorite color is..." I considered. His car was silver. His room looked like a shrine to the Celtics, but he wore a lot of white, and blue. "Either green or blue," I said.
He smirked. "You were thinking about my room weren't you?"
I nodded.
"I guess it's green." He grabbed my hand, and stopped, so that I turned toward him. His heartbeat pounded rapidly. With gentle fingers, he caressed my cheek, stroked my hair. "I've always loved the color of your hair."
I blushed, and lowered my head. "You have?"
He played with the ends, twirling a strand in his finger. "It changes color in the light. Sometimes it's black, other times there seems to be blond highlights. It's magical." He released my hair, and lifted my chin. "Like you, Snowflake."
"I'm not." My cheeks burned hotter. The bloodlust grew a couple of degrees. Would Gabe offer his blood to me the way Dorian had? At the thought, my heart began to match Gabe's beat for beat.
"Snow..." he hesitated. Curious, I searched his face. "I've liked you for a long time."
"I've liked you, too." I returned. The sun gleamed through the thick trees, causing rays of sunlight to streak through Gabe's face. Half of his face was shadowed, and the other half shone in the light.
"No, I mean liked, liked you."
I finally got what he meant, and nearly smacked myself in the forehead with the palm of my hand.
"I didn't know. I thought you thought of me as just a sister." A mixture of gladness and nervousness swirled in my stomach. I'd only just discovered he liked me. Before we had a chance to find out what that meant, the Hunter bit me. It didn't seem fair.
He grabbed my hands. "I think of you in ways much different than I would a sister." A mischievous gleam sparkled in his eyes.
I giggled, glancing at my shoes.
He leaned in, and I realized he was about to kiss me, which reminded me I'd kissed Christopher today, which reminded me I'd almost drank from Dorian today, which made me feel like a total sleaze.
"I've got to go."
I turned, and ran. Fast. And I didn't trip once.
Chapter 10
As soon as I unlocked the door, Gatsby was there, weaving between my feet, and meowing like he was mortally wounded. "Hi, kitty. I know you're hungry. Sorry, boy." I scooped him up, and scratched behind his ears, the way he liked. Today, he squirmed in my arms, unhappy. I put him down. "Okay. Okay."
Grabbing his bowl, I filled it with kitty kibble, and set it on the floor. He rushed over, and started eating. I poured him some water, washed my hands, and snatched some almonds from the refrigerator to snack on while I did my homework.
In quick succession I got my math assignments done, conjugated my Spanish verbs, and studied for Chemistry, and Social Studies quizzes. Then I made myself some whole-wheat pasta, and watched the latest episode of Survivor. Gatsby jumped on the couch and into my lap. I was glad he'd forgiven me for ignoring him the last few days.
Around ten o'clock I went to my room, washed my face, and changed into my flowered, flannel pajamas. Once I was in bed, and Gatsby had situated himself, I turned off the light, and closed my eyes.
Immediately I was whisked away into the other realm. Her realm. I stood on a balcony in a large, white castle. From my position I could see the beautiful countryside. It was dusk. The descending sun bathed the landscape in twinkling light. I wore a long dress, the skirts abundant, and they swished when I moved. The sleeves were short, and the bodice tight. It was a deep burgundy with a dark grey ribbing. The shoes I wore pinched as I made my way into the room.