New Moon 1 (6 page)

*****

I am avoiding
my friends and in order to do that, at breakfast table, I am busy
reading “Pride and Prejudice,” while sipping my orange juice. The
unusual silence of the table can be felt by everyone but, Ian and
Ray, knowing the fact that I have seen them previous night, are red
faced. I am not sure about my feelings. Well, I don’t know, how
should I act in front of them? Feeling weird, I close my novel,
finish my meal and leave the table. “Shit,” I hear Ian from the
back and I hear the two chairs being pushed backwards. I have
reached the stairs leading to the main class, when I hear my name
being called from back, “Tris wait,” I keep up with my pace and
never stop, “Tris,” calls Ray, “Wait for a second, please. We can
make you understand,” “leave it,” I hear someone else, too. Ian is
pulling Ray to a halt, “Let her go today. She is in no mood to
understand,” wiping the core of my eyes; I turn to the corner of my
class and make myself comfortable inside the room. Soon, the
teacher enters the room and the class starts.

***

The entire
day, as I sit at some distance from Ian and Ray, I am already
realizing the fact that I am missing them, too. I have, till now,
just read about the homosexuals in books, magazines and movies but
seeing someone in real life is a totally different thing. Aren’t
vampire and werewolf supposed to be enemies? “You watch Hollywood
movies too much, pet,” says the cold whisper next to me. Startled
and awake from my sad, remorseful thoughts, I turn to that side,
“Thanatos!” “How is my pet doing?” there is a satisfaction in that
voice of his. Teacher is still teaching and every student is
concentrated towards her. “What are you doing here?” I whisper,
from the corner of the mouth, so that, she may not see it. “I am
here for you, simple,” he says. “It is so strange,” I whisper, “Are
you sure, no one can see you?’ “Positive,” he replies and tucks a
strand of my hair lock behind my ear. “Just saw you alone,” he
says, “I thought, why does my pet looks so sad?” “None of your
business,” I blurt out and instantly regret over my choice of
words, “I told you,” he says calmly, “Never lose the support of
your two friends. Seems like, you didn’t paid much attention to
me,” “they should have told me, from the very beginning,” I say and
turn to the side, where I see both of them sitting and passing me
those sad, guilt ridden looks. “You are offended, just because they
did not tell you about their relationship with each other, aren’t
you?” “Yes,” I whisper and see a girl in the front to my side,
shushing me to silence. She is passing me a queer look, taking me
as some sort of insane person. “You should have more trust on your
friendship, pet,” he says and I see him caressing the back of my
hand. A chill passes down my entire being. His touch is so cold.
“When will I see your face?” I ask, “Why do you want to see my
face?” he asks in retaliation, “I should know more about my
bodyguard, isn’t it?” “You are again trying to deviate from the
subject,” he says in offendence. “I don’t want to talk about those
two…,” I say, “Who is she talking to?” I hear the girl in front
saying to her partner. I chuckle a bit and think about telling her
the name of the person sitting next to me. A cold, soft pair of
lips touches against my right side of cheeks and I close my eyes,
just to savor the feeling, which this phantom of a god ignites
inside me, every time he is with me. “Tris,” I hear Ms. Barth
calling my name and there is silence in the class. Every gaze is
turned to my side and I open my eyes, shaking the feeling of
fuzziness from my head and entire being. “Yes ma’am,” I stand up,
“Are you ok? You close your eyes. Are you not feeling well?” “I
am…,” I gaze across everyone and then catch Ian and Ray’s gaze,
“Um, yes ma’am, I am not feeling well. Head ache is building in my
temples…,” I act like some stupid melodramatic queen, “Do you wish
to visit infirmary?” “Sure, thank you ma’am,” smiling and a little
concerned, she turns to the class, “Who is going to take her to the
infirmary?” “Shall we, ma’am?” says Ian and then says, “Ray and I
can take her. She looks rather weak and pale. I believe, support of
two people will help her…,” “Thank you Ian, honey,” she smiles,
“Please, take Tris to the infirmary,” catching the cue, two of them
take their bags, come to my side and help me pack mine, too.
Supporting me from both sides, as soon as we come out of the
corridor, I say, “Ok, drop the act now and follow me to the
canteen,” they follow me like some criminal following the cops, all
hand cuffed and their heads bowed in guilt of their committed
crimes. “Sit,” I say and both of them pull chairs. “Fine,” I say,
“I thought, better to come out in clear rather than avoid each
other and jeopardize our relationship,” Ian looks at me, biting his
lip in the process. I am being merciless and keeps on glaring at
both of them with that, tell-me-everything stance. “Tris,” he
starts but halts, Ray grasp his hand tightly, giving him enough
courage and nodding his head. “We wanted to tell you, everything.
When, that first day of the school, I met you, I thought that you
will understand us. Particularly, you! Previously…,” “I am not
asking you about that…,” I say, “She wants to know everything from
the beginning,” Ray intervenes and Ian blushes. “Thank you,” I say
and look at Ian, again. “The day, when we entered the premises of
Shakti academy, I was struggling to get my bags to my set of rooms
and then, this one,” he points at Ray, “Introduced himself to me
and,” he halts, “We were attracted in the first instance,” Ray
says, “My family had no problem with my being a vampire, Tris,” Ian
says, “In fact, all of them are like that. They all have done
schooling from Shakti, only. They always took me as a queer sort of
person. I was never really interested in girls, although I tried
hard and took the thing as the age and hormonal effect,” he halts
and take the gulp of the water, “Then, one day, as I saw some guys
playing in the football field, I thought, I have never seen such a
marvelous sight before. All that sweat and testosterone and sweet
smell coming from those human’s side aroused me like nothing.
Hiding my inner turmoil, as I discovered my sexual nature, I felt
guilty and told my mother everything. She was…astounded, almost
dumbstruck,” he halts and shrugs, “I never really give up my
nature, could I? Walking inside Shakti, when I thought, that maybe
it was just a moment in my life of getting attracted to men, this
hottie introduced himself…,” “My being werewolf does complicates
the matter, I am aware of it,” says Ray, as I sip the coffee, which
we have ordered at our entrance in the canteen. “I mean, naturally,
vampires and werewolves don’t really go together, do they?” “Then
how?” I start but he raises his hands, halting me in my question,
“We will have to fight our families,” says Ray, “We don’t have any
other options. They say, vampires can’t stand were wolves smell
but…,” he blushes slightly, “But you both can’t resist each other
smell, can you?” “I can’t,” Ray says, and Ian goes all beetroot
red! God, boys are thawed by each other’s mere presence. “Well,” I
say, as I sigh, “I don’t really have problem with you two going
together but…,” I struggle to say the words, “But, it is not
natural? People make fun of our nature behind our back, is that
what you want to say?” Ian asks and I see Ray’s eyes going red with
fury. “You know it, already,” I point it out, “We don’t really
care,” Ray says, “I don’t care what they say. Just because they are
straight doesn’t give them the right to make fun of others, don’t
you think?” “Let’s walk, shall we?” I ask and three of us make to
the ground, where boys are playing basketball. One of them is
Elmer, fighter’s member. “Guys,” I say softly, as I sit with both
of them at my sides, “I don’t really mind this relation of yours. I
am happy, on the contrary,” I look at them and see them smiling in
my direction, “At least, somebody did accept us,” Ian says and I
see Ray grasping his hands tighter, “Then where is the problem?” “I
just was shocked, at first. I mean, seeing you both like that, when
I am unaware of it. It felt, as if, you were cheating on me,” “I am
sorry,” Ray hugs me, “Now you know , why the wolves don’t want to
include me in their group,” “They are being mean, as usual,” Ian
says and kisses Ray lightly on cheeks. I turn my head to the other
side and shake my head, trying to make some sense of my life. No
one is interested in me, apart from a phantom, who calls himself
death! The basket ball comes near to our foot and I hear the boys
calling out, “Hey babes, pass the ball,” I pick the thing and is
about to give it back, when my locket heats up again. Startled and
alarmed, the thing leaves my hand at once. “What happened?” asks
Ray, as he sees my hand shaking, “Hey girly,” Elmer calls with his
stare to Ray, “Baby, I saw you yesterday kissing the vampire boy.
Is it true, then? You both are gay’s aren’t you?” Three of us rise
from the benches, as the gang of boys comes to our side, each of
them wearing a mean smile on their faces. Of course, now I get the
meaning behind Ray’s words. “Mind your words, dog.” Says Ray, and
Ian let’s his fangs out in rage. Picking up the ball, I pass it to
Elmer. “You should be with us, sweet,” Elmer says and I can sense
lecherousness in his voice, “Be with guys not homos,” says Ted,
coming out of the group of the boys. I am staring at Ted with wide
eyes expression, not believing that he actually said that sentence.
He hates Ray so much! I had no idea. Before I can say anything, I
hear a feminine calling in outrage, “Ted, that’s it,” in a flash,
before I can actually make sense what actually happened, stepping
forward, Kay’s palm connects with Ted’s cheeks and there is a crash
sound. All are shocked, like me. Every mouth is hanging open like
mine. Did Kay actually slapped Ted? Even Ian and Ray, next to me,
are staring at each other with bewildered expression and then,
looking back at her. “Kay,” I start to say but she raises her hand
in resistance way, “Wait a minute, Tris. Just because you are
straight and can charm any girl you want, that doesn’t give you the
right to actually insult Ian and Ray like that. So what, if they
are gay? They are not asking anything from you, are they? Next
time, better remember the slap before insulting anyone like this.”
Boys from Ted side pull him to the side, “Kay,” I say, “Let’s go,”
three of us are pulling her. In all this, I have not realized the
fact that yin-yan locket has actually started burning in my
throat.

Giving each other the angered look, we break up the fight
between them and take
Kay with
us.

****

Later that
night, with her head on my shoulder, I hear Kay sobbing out her
heart-break. “I shouldn’t have had done that,” she sobs, “I…I ended
the things badly, Tris. I am a fool. He will never realize his
mistake, Tris. All boys are like this. They consider themselves the
great in the entire gender. I am…a fool. I have told him so many
times to make better friends and leave those sorry excuses. Ted is
not bad, Tris. He is very good from heart. But, under the influence
of those dogs, he gets all mean and insensitive. I am telling you,
Tris. He is not bad…,” “I understand,” I shush her, “And that is
why I am advising you, if he asks for forgiveness, don’t say no,
alright? You love him, right?” “From the core of my heart,” she
replies and I see a watery smile playing near the corner of her
mouth, “Then, like a good girl; you will forgive him and tell him
to change his group. Those guys with him, I never said it but, I
find them, scary,” I hesitate before continuing, “It is, as if,
they have ‘danger’ written on their face, Kay. Ted will be better
off without them,” I say, and pat her again. “You are angry with
Ted, aren’t you?” “For the moment, yes,” I say honestly, “But, if
what you say is true, then, I am sure, he is a good person and he
will listen to you. Don’t lose heart, honey,” I smile as she looks
up at me and wipe her tears from her cheeks. “He will not leave me,
will he?” she says with hope glittering in her eyes, “I hope not,”
I reply. “I am so scared,” she says, “Yesterday, he had asked me
for the yearly dance, after the results will be out. And today…,”
she sniffs. “Have faith,” I smile and take her by wrist, “Come,
those two baboons are planning some sort of night party
today…,”

****

When I was
being assigned to come here, I had never thought that life will
turn out to be so gloriously good. My friends namely Ian, Ray, Lyn
and Kay, all have made me realize the worth of this beautiful
relation called friendship. Ian makes it sure, to take me out for
the shopping expeditions. He is one shy vampire and likes to wear
lots of colors. Today, as I am going through all the dresses which
he is planning to wear in the yearly dance, I come across a really
beautiful dress, which is of black colour and some expensive
material. I lay a hand on it and immediately the silky thing makes
my desires melt. “Ow,” Ian comes to my side, “This is so beautiful,
Tris. Wear it for the dance, please,” “Ian,” I turn to him, “We are
here for your shopping, alright. You want to surprise Ray and that
is all I am searching for.” “But,” “Moreover,” I cut him, “No one
has asked me. I am not going to waste Alan’s money, which he gives
me, every month…,” this is one of the major concerns, which has
always made me wonder about the intentions of our dean, Alan! Every
month, by its own, my bank account shows the adequate balance of
some money in it. Alan, after calling me to his office once, had
told me that he was sponsoring my entire education in such
expensive institution. After asking him the reason for it, he had
replied the same, “You are the voice of my intuition,” I don’t
understand Alan’s fascination with me. It is, as if, he takes me
like some fragile princess. “He s giving you the money to spend,”
says Ian, after picking up the sixth dress from the shelf and
seeing himself in the mirror. “You look absolutely beautiful, in
this,” I say, pointing out the choice of selection. “But, why
hasn’t anyone asked you? I mean,” “because I am a normal human,” I
answer him and peck him on the cheek, “Now, before I kick your ass
out of this store, let’s pick up some dress for you, alright? Stop
worrying about me,” “But Tris,” he starts, “nothing. Now, go inside
and try the thing, fast!”