Jayden attempted to step forward, but Zoe pushed him backwards, "You're not protecting me again!"
She took a stance, with a firm grip on her spare and sweat dripping from her chin.
Chrip-Chrip-Chrip
The bats made high-pitched clicks that told them every detail of their surroundings within 30 metres which range would have been lower for regular bats.
Zoe held a single spare and with her speed, there was not much she could do against six vampire bats.
If she managed to hit one, she would still end up obliterated, well, that she knew, but she was damn frustrated that the weakest student had been protecting her ever since the start.
Jayden smiled at her resolve.
Just when the bats entered a considerable distance, Jayden turned on the Torchlight, pointing directly at the eyes of the bat.
Bats weren't good at accommodating such an amount of light in an instant.
Their movement became distorted, and most of them flew past Zoe from the side, some even crashed into trees and the wire mesh fence behind Jayden.
But one of the bats kept on charging straight ahead for Zoe.
"Ahhhhh" Zoe screamed, striking the bat with the tip of her spare.
'Did I? I fucken missed' she rasped in thought.
It cut through the vampire bat's wing but didn't stop it from flying over Zoe's head and who was the next target?
Jayden clenched his teeth.
What a damn checkmate and the final blow was aimed right at his face.
Jayden saw the sharp claws reflect the dim moonlight.
He formed a defensive wall of wind in front of his face as it was a simple nature manipulation technique that required just thought.
That was the benefit of absorbing fifty crystals for a week, he could even evaporate the air with his flame element. Well, still low, but that was progress, wasn't it?
Yet the bat managed to break through, but not after Jayden had had enough time to move his head aside.
The bat passed by him and slammed directly into the wire mesh fence.
Zoe watched a thin line of blood appear on Jayden's face. A vein bulged out on her temple, and she pushed past him, throwing a strike at the already broken bat.
Jayden's warm grip held her back before the blow landed, "That's enough, you might end up distorting its look and who knows, we might lose our point."
Zoe gave consecutive deep breaths before she let go of the spare, sobbing in Jayden's arms.
"Sorry, I couldn't protect you!" She wiped off tears with her index finger.
"You don't need to apologise, just give me more credit than calling me a weakling."
Zoe hissed, "In that case, I take back my apology, nut head weakling.
Jayden laughed, "You'll never change, will you?"
☆☆☆
"Look who's back" Tyler purred, pointing at Jayden and Zoe while they walked out of the farm.
"What took you both so long?" Ella said slyly with a suspicious grin on her face.
Jayden smiled, waving two bats in the air, as Zoe followed, also holding a bat.
"They were probably having a good time on their honeymoon", Tyler spat.
"I totally agree with that", Natasha whispered behind her palm.
"Shut up!" Zoe sparked, throwing her spare at Tyler.
Tyler barely ducked below the spare. "What? Are you trying to kill me?"
Mr Williams took the bats from the students and recorded their progress.
Jayden and Zoe's team had more than enough bats, but too bad the professor didn't reward them with more points.
The practicals were dismissed, but this wasn't the end. Every student in GTA had a curriculum of three subjects, and this was practical week, so Jayden still had combat practicals and beast civilisation practicals to take.
The practical sections were dismissed, and Jayden set off for the campus with his friend.
"I was hoping to see a stream where I could pick up wind crystal in the farm", Tyler muttered.
"I guess it's not in zone one" Jayden slouched, exhaling a deep breath. 'Who knows what kinda beast would be in the other zones?, I guess crystal farming isn't for first years'
Just then, Jayden felt an agitated grip on his arm, yanking him backwards.
Was it Troy?
"Zoe! What's the problem? Where are you taking me to?" Jayden rasped.
"Quit complaining and follow me!" Zoe spat.
"I guess your honeymoon isn't over, Jayden", Ryan's voice echoed from behind.
Zoe halted and shot Ryan a dangerous glare. He immediately shifted his gaze from her and quickened his pace away from her.
Zoe took Jayden outside the school and eventually that ended in a pharmacy.
There, his wounds were treated, and some drugs were prescribed for him. Jayden was frowning a bit since he didn't like drugs, but you know what really terrorised him?
It wasn't an injection.
It was care.
When it was time to clear the bills Zoe pulled out her card to make the payments.
Jayden was shocked to the extent of care she already showed in the farm but now this was going beyond extreme.
He held back her arm and said with a soft appreciative smile.
"Don't worry about that, I'll take care of it."
Zoe's face turned pale for a moment then she looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"See Jayden, I caused you all these injuries, so please, allow me to take the responsibility, or else I wouldn't be able to forgive myself for the guilt."
Jayden couldn't protest against that, he could see the remorse in her gaze.
His heart was beating fast because her name was being inscribed in it, she was renting space in it and she didn't even pay.
This would have been a good moment for him to kiss her, to tell her how he felt about her but Jayden didn't want to be too forward.
He stepped aside and she made the full payment.
Silence lingered between them until they got back to the campus.
They both stood facing each other finding the "goodbye" words hard to say after all they've been through together that night.
Zoe's hands were crossed beneath her thighs, "You know we have unsettled scores, right?"
Jayden paused a bit to think, "ohh"
"Yes, why was my dad's name on that drawing?" Zoe added.
Jayden scratched his nape, "Yeah I remember"
Zoe stretched out her pink finger, "Promise me you'll come."
Jayden's gaze flanked between her hand and her face, and his heart began beating hard.
He had gotten to the point where he could no longer lie to her, but his secrets?
What's he gonna choose?
He crossed his fingers at her and winked his eyes, "Sure,"
Zoe smiled and sprinted away, "My room remember!"
"Ohh shit. I forgot that" Jayden grinned between clenched teeth.