The Legend of the Blue Eyes (14 page)

Turner glumly nodded. “I guess if that’s
what I need to do to work with such a beautiful young lady.”

Arianna blushed to hear a stranger say
something like that. The boys in the class all snickered in
agreement as the girls continued to hide their hate and envy behind
smiles beamed at Turner. Arianna began to watch out the window
again as the teacher began her lecture. By the time she finished
her second hour’s lecture, Arianna was almost asleep. The students
standing brought her attention back to the room.

“What’s going on now?” Arianna asked
Turner.

“Break time,” he replied. “We have twenty
minutes before the second half begins.”

“There’s more?” Arianna complained, staring
out into the night sky.

Turner laughed. “Now you understand why I
come late all the time,” he replied. “Do you want to go for a walk
outside? It seems more interesting to you than our class.”

Arianna smiled. “Nothing she’s said so far
makes any sense to me, and even if I read more and tried to study
it, it probably still wouldn’t make sense.” Arianna stood and
followed Turner. “I’ve never been good at school, and all this is
too new and confusing.”

“Are they your PPU?” Turner asked about
their followers, Devin and Molina.

“Yep, the two I live with, at least,”
Arianna replied happy to be outside in the cool night air. With a
deep breath she took in all the new scents around her. “You’re
neither human nor dearg-dul,” she commented.

“Nope,” he replied, directing her to the
nearby empty table. Arianna turned and stared at a group of girls
at a table across the yard as they began to snicker.

“She hasn’t even been here one day, and
she’s already getting friendly with Turner,” one complained.

“It’s because she is a purebred,” the next
on added.

“Purebreds are always like that. Thinking
they’re so much better than the rest of us,” the first one
complained more.

“Why would one even come to our school?”
another replied.

“Show off,” the first responded.

“To steal our prized Turner. Everyone knows
purebreds can’t stand to let us lower life have any good guys,”
someone added before Arianna turned away.

Arianna tried not to listen to them, but it
was hard not to as all the girls sitting around had the same
complaints. Arianna searched around the open courtyard and easily
found Devin.

“Don’t worry about it. Just ignore them,” he
spoke softly so that only she would hear him. Arianna nodded and
turned her attention back to Turner.

“So, if you aren’t a dearg-dul, then you
must be a lycan,” Arianna guessed.

“Correct,” he replied as he glanced over at
Devin. “Does he follow you everywhere?”

“Yep,” Arianna smiled and waved to
Devin.

“Don’t you get sick of someone always
watching over you?” Turner asked, smiling at Devin also. “He’s so
serious looking. Can’t be much fun.”

“Well, he is always serious, but I can’t
complain about him watching over me. If it weren’t for him, I could
be dead several times over,” Arianna added.

“So, it’s true you were kidnapped then?”
Turner asked, and Arianna nodded. Turner stared at Arianna as she
began to listen to other conversations again. He knew immediately
that her sense of hearing was better than his. Amazed, he continued
to watch.

Before Arianna realized it, the twenty
minutes had passed, and they were headed back to the classroom.
Disappointedly, Arianna returned to the drab room to listen, or
rather, not listen, to the teacher drone on. As they neared the
door to the classroom, Turner stopped.

“Do you really want to go back in there?” he
asked. “I sure don’t.”

“But,” Arianna started to complain, but he
placed his hand over her mouth.

“Just go along with me,” he instructed as he
led the way back in but instead of going to their seat, he went to
the teacher’s desk.

“Miss Johnson,” Turner began, and the older
lady stared at him from beneath her glasses. “This is all a little
too advanced for Arianna. I think it would be best if we could
study in the library.”

The teacher looked from Arianna to Turner.
Apparently convinced, she nodded. “See if you can get her caught up
by the end of the week. There’s a practice test for our class on
the library computers. If she can pass it, she should be fine.”
Turner turned Arianna around, and they both headed back outside the
classroom.

“Where’s the library?” Arianna asked.

“What?” Turner replied.

“The library?” Arianna repeated.

“Oh yeah, the library, back that way,” he
replied, pointing behind them.

“But I thought you just told the teacher we
were going to the library.” Arianna was confused.

“That was just to get her to let us leave.
Now we have the rest of the night. We can do whatever we want,”
Turner replied.

“But if I head back to grandfather’s they’ll
know I am skipping school,” Arianna replied. “And I guess I do need
to learn about this stuff by the end of the week. At least enough
to show I’m putting in an effort.”

“Come on, can you really learn about being a
dearg-dul from a book?” Turner asked. “It’s best to learn
first-hand. I can teach you that. I have a much easier method for
learning all this stuff.”

Arianna followed Turned as he left the
school by the back door. He led her along the dimly-lit pathways to
the nearest building. Arianna stared at the four-story, brick
building in front of them.

“What is this?” she asked.

“The dorms,” he replied, walking to the door
and opening it for her. Arianna stared at the poster on the door.
‘No girls allowed.’

“Male dorms?” Arianna questioned.

“Yep,” Turner agreed.

“But it says no girls allowed,” she replied,
hesitant to follow him.

“Do you do everything you’re told?” Turner
asked, and Arianna nodded. “No one is here. Everyone is at class,
so it doesn’t matter. Besides, I need to change, and my room is up
there. You can wait here if you want, but someone might come along
and see you skipping class.”

Arianna followed behind Turner closely. She
didn’t want to be caught alone skipping class. Turner led her to
the stairwell and up three flights of stairs. Cautiously, Arianna
followed him as he opened his room door. The room wasn’t as she had
expected, with everything neatly placed on the shelves. The desk on
the wall was completely cleaned, with papers organized into stacks.
The only thing out of place was the messy bed, which she knew he
probably rushed out of to make it to class late after sleeping
in.

“No roommate?” she asked, as she noticed
only one bed in the room.

“Are you offering?” She blushed. Turner
smiled at her reaction. “No. If I had a roommate I’d get in a lot
more trouble, so my father insisted I have a room alone.” Turner
gave her a sly smile as he moved to his dresser and began to dig
through his clothes. Finding a shirt, he swiftly removed his school
uniform top. Arianna blushed again, trying not to stare at him.
Turner smiled as he noticed her peaking at him shirtless.

“Here,” he said, throwing a sweatshirt at
her. “If you walk around in your uniform, someone will know we’re
skipping class.” Arianna nodded as she pulled the large sweatshirt
over her top.

“It’s a little big,” she commented, giggling
as she stood and the sweatshirt covered more than half her skirt.
Turner laughed as well.

“That’s because you’re so tiny,” he replied,
comparing his height to hers.

“Am not,” Arianna pouted, as she hated to be
called small.

“Okay, fine,” he replied patting her head.
“It’s because I’m so large.” Arianna smiled and nodded in
agreement, though she knew the latter was not the case.

“So, how will skipping school teach me
enough to pass the test?” she asked.

Turner opened his desk drawer and pulled out
a set of keys. Arianna followed Turner as he led her back out the
door they came in. Stopping in the nearby parking lot, Turner
handed Arianna a helmet. Hopping on the only motorcycle in the lot,
Turner put his keys in the ignition and started it.

“But,” Arianna complained.

“
We aren’t breaking any
laws. Just skipping a class. I do this all the time. Hop on,” he
directed. Arianna stared at Turner. “I’m seventeen. This is my
bike, really.” Turner extended his hand to Arianna, and she
hesitantly climbed on the back of his seat. “Hold on tight,” he
instructed. Arianna placed her arms around his waist. “You might
want to hold a little tighter. I want to see if your PPU can keep
up with us.”

Arianna adjusted her grip
as he peeled out of the parking lot. Arianna left the school, and
the Randolph estate, behind. She hadn’t been allowed to leave her
grandfather’s home since she arrived. She didn’t even know where
she was living except that it was beside some mountains. Arianna
closed her eyes as she clung to her new friend. The wind whipped by
as he sped up.
Free
, Arianna thought. Turner checked behind him as he maneuvered
between two cars. Arianna turned and noticed Jackson and Nixon in a
car not too far behind, also making the same turns as they had.
Arianna could feel Turner’s happiness increase as he sped up. Her
security guards kept pace with them. Surprised, they entered back
into the city. Driving down the streets, it looked just like a
normal city. Her sense of smell confirmed it was mainly made up of
day humans. Reaching their destination, Turner hopped off his bike
first, and then helped Arianna.

“Your grandfather sure knows how to pick
good ones,” Turner said, as Nixon exited the car next to them.

“Where are we?” she asked, as Turner began
walking down the sidewalk.

“In town,” he replied. “I come into town to
get away from all that school and Randolph estate crap.”

“How will this help me learn?” she wondered,
watching the humans around her walk by without even noticing them.
It felt different to be around normal people again. No one was
afraid of her, and no one stared. This was the life she was
beginning to miss.

Turner opened the bright blue door of one of
the shops. Arianna followed him with Nixon and Jackson close
behind. Neither man said a word to her as they followed. Arianna
peeked around the corner of the room they just entered. Actual
videos lined the shelves. It was an old-fashioned video store like
she had seen in movies. She didn’t recognize any titles by looking
at the pictures on each nor even knew how or what you played them
in. Turner waved to the lady behind the counter as he walked
around. Stopping periodically, he checked movies that they passed.
When he finally was satisfied, he walked to the counter with
Arianna behind.

“Skipping again?” the lady
asked. Turner nodded. “You spend more time out of school than in,”
she complained. Arianna stared at her bright red lips as she spoke.
“Oh my, you’re not alone. Hi dear. Don’t let this delinquent rub
off on you.”
Too late
, Arianna thought, as she nodded in agreement.

“Movies?” she asked as they left the
store.

“In six hours I can teach you everything you
need to know to pass that test,” Turner replied, tapping the four
videos in his hand.

“This can teach me?” she asked, dubiously
staring at the old, tattered videos. “Molina said the movies are
not true.”

“Oh yes, the Hollywood movies are pretty
bad,” Turner agreed. “That’s why we came here. Trust me; this is
all you need to know to pass any of the tests.” Turner led her back
to his bike to drive her home.

Arianna was disappointed that her only trip
away from her grandfather’s house ended so quickly. Sadly, she
climbed off Turner’s bike in the school parking lot to find that
students were returning from their classes. Students didn’t seem to
notice them as they walked by. Listening to the female students
chatter about her being alone with Turner easily ended her day on a
bad note.

“I had better head back so that my
grandfather doesn’t worry.” Arianna spun an excuse. Turner looked
over at the girls approaching.

“I’ll walk you back,” he offered. Arianna
quickly shook her head no.

“Devin and Molina are right over there,”
Arianna pointed to a group of trees. She turned, and began to walk
away.

“Don’t listen to what they’re saying,”
Turner replied, catching up and walking beside her. “Those petty
girls are only jealous.” Arianna kept walking, not responding.
“Besides, we still need to watch these movies,” he replied.

“Hanging out with me is just going to make
it worse,” Arianna replied. She knew how these games were
played.

“Can we watch the movies at your place?”
Turner suggested. “Then no one will know we’re hanging out
together.” Arianna turned and stared at him. She could almost feel
a hint of desperation in his voice.

“I suppose I do need to pass that test at
the end of the week,” she replied, and felt the tension in Turner
ease. “Okay.” Happily, Turner followed Arianna back to her
grandfather’s house.