A Surge of Green

English teacher yet again, I was almost immediately annoyed by the news. But now…I feel a little smile pull my anxious expression loose and have a moment where I could

degrees and he sighs, leaning back to sit on the edge of his desk. A moment later, Ms. Jin walks into the room and patiently waits by his

photo of Darine’s student ID sits inside. Along with about fifty papers as associated report-looking documents. “Good morning, Scarlett. How are you feeling?” Ms. J

sympathetic smile and pulls a little clear baggie from her pocket. About fifteen sin-a-cubes, a vampiric cinnamon-sugar invention that used

ss of thick liquid. I feel my fangs dart out, piercing my bottom lip for a second before they retract. I curse around the mouthful of blood - both mine and that of the cube as my skin heals almost as rapidly as it’d been punctured. My own blood tastes as it always has, like i

me glancing up as I massage my lowe

ake another round of weirdness so soon after the events of last

trimental to your health.” He informs me and shuts the fol

ars in the blink of an eyes, leaving nothin

x of horror and surprise, my stomach flip-flopping at

sighs, crossing his arms and gi

in annoyance before popping a few more sin-a-cubes into my mouth

we’d have suspected them to be a family of Hunters.” I blink at him, then double over as hysterical laughter bubbles up from my stomach and po

s so serious and grave I almost immediately stop laughing. Dread fills me as I process what he’s saying. Dari

have gone cold, calm, cat-like. I can almost sense the

e has a good heart. I can see it, sense it. Just like I could tell the Azures were good by nature when I first met them. “So I guess te

e tells me directly and I f

exploding across my skin and forcing out goosebumps of awareness. I grit my

to bristle at the bluntness of my father’s words but he only shrugs. My father raises an eyebrow at me, then looks at Blue - who gives him a lit

the very front of the room. “This is a college-credit course.” He reminds me. Blue takes a seat in the center of the row, calmly pulling a spira

ten myself into? Hale lets out a disappointed sigh and points to the blackboard.

ulling out a composition book and turning to a particular page. “Sign the book.” My eyes wid

ck as I shut my gaping mouth and grind my jaw. I take a deep breath as I take the pen Hale’s holding out to me and sign the book of shame. The horror that I’ve roy

xisted. And neither Hale nor Blue mentioned. Hale gives a huge lecture over communication over the first thirty minutes, listing reasons why knowing what to expect in a college class on the first day is impor

ply about getting a head-start on college. I don’t know any of the others in the room aside from Blue, so they don’t need to know my honest answer. I took the class to help

life has a way of shrinking in front of you,

d the bell rings to dismiss us, I