Blood Born by Jamie Manning

was thankful I didn’t have to elaborate, since I was busily stuffing fries in my mouth.
    “Sorry about that. I was supposed to tell you.”
    He finished up his fries, tossing the container into a trash can a couple of feet away. “Aldric kind of made up this past for you, just in case anyone asked.”
    “Oh he did, did he?” I sounded like a mother, questioning the teacher who accused her child of cheating. “Why didn’t you mention that this morning? And why don’t I know about my ‘past’?”
    “He just didn’t want anyone questioning where you came from.” He stole a fry from my tray and doused it in way-too-much ketchup. “He didn’t want someone finding out about your ‘death.’” I was mad that Aldric took it upon himself to create this whole new life for me.
    “What gave him the right to do that!”. I stood up and threw my fry container toward the trash can, missing it by several feet. Only fueling my rising anger, I stomped over, picked up the cardboard container, crushed it in my hand and tossed it into the can. Chance was at my side in a flash.
    “We gotta get you out of here,” he said calmly but urgently. His hands were groping my arms.
    “What? Why?” I was confused and mad all at the same time, firmly planting my feet as he tugged on my arms. I was shocked to see that even though he towered over me—and seemed to be really pulling hard judging by his flexed muscles—I didn’t move an inch.
    “Ava,” he said, fear drenching his words. “Your fangs are showing.”

9

. SEEN
    What?” I thought I had heard him wrong. No way did he say that my fangs were showing. No way. I turned to face him as I spoke.
    “Oh God, your eyes,” Chance said, startled fear weighing down his face. His head darted from side to side, searching for somewhere to hide me. There was nowhere to go.
    “Okay,” he said, his voice erratic. “I need you to calm down, Ava. Before someone sees you.” His face was inches from mine. I felt a thick heat between us, though I couldn’t be sure if it was radiating off him or me.
    What was he talking about? I felt fine. I was mad, yes, but my body didn’t feel any different. He mentioned my fangs, and my eyes. Both seemed in place, seemed normal. I flicked at my teeth with my tongue and felt the prickly point of one of my fangs, hanging out for all to see. I hadn’t even felt them come out. I quickly clamped my lips shut, hoping no one noticed. My eyes went to Chance’s, panicked.
    I threw my hand in front of my mouth. “What am I going to do?” Crazy panic soaked my words. All I could picture was a group of maniacal teens charging me with schoolhouse weaponry: mop handles, yardsticks, erasers full of chalk dust. I cringed.
    “I can’t risk moving you,” Chance whispered. He then pulled me into him, sort of hugging me against him, obviously hoping that to passers-by it would appear we were simply having a normal couple moment. Feeling his body wrapped around mine made my head swim. We stood like statues in the middle of the grassy knoll, kids walking around us, conversations about upcoming tests and weekend plans flowing in and out of my mind. I could feel Chance’s heart beating deep in his chest, pumping blood through his veins. I just knew that I was going to be overcome with the desire to taste it and bite him, but I didn’t. Somehow, the melody of his heartbeat calmed me down. After nearly a minute of our awkwardly perfect moment, Chance broke away, staring at my face.
    “Better,” he said with a half-smile. He exhaled the pent-up air from his lungs and tried to look relieved, but I knew he was still freaked out. I watched his eyes dance across my face, probably searching for signs of the killer in me. His grip on my arms relaxed and he released me once he felt I had calmed down.
    “Are you sure?” I asked, fearful to even speak. I still had my hand over my mouth, but a quick brush of my tongue revealed fang-less teeth. The fact that I couldn’t