.
.
.
His scent cascaded around me, like the sun piercing through a magnificent waterfall, a rainbow of light bursting through it. He felt like the birds chirping in the morning sun, like the moonlight gazing gently upon the earth.
"What the hell? Get up now, Frogso," his stern voice came through gritted teeth.
"Can't hear you," I muttered.
"Oh, I know you can hear perfectly well. You responded to every call, and now you're responding to me. Hurry up, and get somewhere else to sit!"
"And if I will not?"
"Frog…"
"Since when did I become Frogso, uh?"
"I choose what I wish to call you, mortal."
"Mortal, Froggie, Frogso… all these names when you could easily call me Ceci," I snapped.
He scoffed, "Do you think you really want to spend tonight with me? You think I'd watch over you? Kid yourself. Get up, now."
"Of course, you'd watch and protect me," I shrugged like it was obvious.
"You just forfeited your short, awful life."
"Yeah, and then next morning, it goes around that Hayden whatever your last name is isn't even all that. He couldn't protect his mortal date last night. Your enemies will have that little bit of triumph over you. Protecting their girls, while something that is affiliated with you gets trashed. Ayy, you're no man."
He stiffened, then snapped "Shut the hell up, or get off of me," I didn't need to tell me that that had done the trick needlessly. Men and their egos. It was so easy to bait them.
"Now, it's time for the formal dance of acceptance!" The host declared, and my senses cleared. My vision was slowly restored, and the golden lights of the hall were back in sight.
Females were on males' laps, those that were contented giggling or whispering to their partners, or simply blushing. While the not-too-satisfied ones had all manner of dejected looks on their faces.
Not too far from me was Athena with a scowl on her face, as a short guy with glasses held her waist timidly. I smiled. The hall was soon filled with the sound of shuffling of feet as everyone rose.
I got up too, and walked out of the tight space, following the lines of couples.
For some reason, I kept smiling.
Maybe it was the way Hayden had his hand on the small of my back protectively, or the way the girls seemed to crumble in jealousy. Or the way the guys seemed to discover that I was actually attractive despite being powerless.
But what I liked most… was watching Hayden with displeasure on his handsome face, having no choice but to keep me close.
We got onto the dance floor, where the ladies stood in a straight line, facing their dates. We separated, and I joined the line of ladies. I caught sight of Natalie, stroking her hair, and smiled at her. She smiled back, glanced at Hayden, then winked at me. However, when I spotted Athie, I remembered Hayden's mirrors. Was it to ask Hayden about it? Or ask Athie?
Hayden had his hands in his pockets, his dark hair styled magnificently atop his head, blue eyes barely seen as his dark eyelashes flicked over them lazily.
He and Damien were literally the same, but their little differences was everything you needed.
It wasn't just Hayden's blue eyes. It was his poise, his demeanor, the aura and charisma he oozed, the nonchalant air that made you crave his attention. But all these couldn't match the mystery around him.
It chipped at you like a sculptor chipping at stone. It made your brain tick, and you instantly wanted to figure out everything about him, but he wouldn't let you.
A little distance away was Damien. Damien was freer. He smiled at his date, who was a short and shy girl, whose face was colored up entirely as she blushed. He mouthed some words, obviously teasing her, then deliberately let his eyes run over her from her head to her toe, making her more nervous. At this, Faux, who was next to him nudged him playfully, before they both laughed.
"Hayden doesn't seem pleased with you. Wanna swap?" A girl with skin as fair as milk suddenly asked, her voice slow and seductive. She was close to me, and we were about the same height. Her short dark hair curled around her cheeks, and her monolid eyes told me she was Asian. She was beautiful, and couldn't have looked more seductive in her black velvet gown that hugged her curves possessively.
"What are you?" I was forced to ask. It was funny how human students would ask for names or grade whenever they met someone knew, but nobody needed to tell me names and grades weren't as important as knowing what creature they were.
"Of his kind," she replied smoothly, tucking her hair primly behind her ear, showcasing large diamond rings.
"A vampire?" I asked, and she gave me a glimpse of a little fang.
"I'm sorry, but he's the best person I can be with tonight," I replied, and bit my lip.
"I've got loads I want to say to him."
"I'm really sorry. Your partner doesn't look…" I let my words trail off, as I watched her partner stand like a mafia boss, tattoos crawling over his neck, his white shirt buttoned halfway exposing his completely tattooed right chest, and broad chest overall.
No.
He would leave me broken like a toy.
I would become Annabelle and haunt this school.
"Now, accept your dates!" The host cried.
The men all held out their hands, and my chest bloomed roses, while my cheeks blazed like the warm morning sun.
Looking into his eyes made my heart flutter… little at a time. One wing, two wings as I took my first step toward him. I'd suddenly been thrown into a world of a K-drama romance series.
Then I placed my little hand in his bigger one, and he twirled me around gently, ending it with my back to his chest. With one hand holding my arm across my chest to my shoulder, and one hand in his pocket, he bent, his lips close to my ear, while my free hand squeezed my dress.
"I accept you, Frogso."