Chapter 19 – Pleading my Case

“If your ass isn’t ready to leave in the next two seconds, I’m going without you!” I shouted from where I stood in the doorway.

I had no idea what was taking Jax so long this morning, but he was doing everything in his power to make sure we were late to school. He might hate going—and I admittedly hated sitting through classes, too—but Dad had given us clear instructions to keep an eye on Isach while also making sure Chloe stayed safe. We couldn’t do either of those things if we didn’t get to school.

“You should try un-bunching your panties. Maybe you won’t be so cranky.” Jax shoved past me and walked out the front door.

Rolling my eyes, I turned to follow. Jax was already seated in my truck by the time I got the driver’s side door open. I climbed in, turned the key and… nothing. I grumbled and tried again. The engine was dead. Amidst a string of curses, I got out, slammed the door, and popped the hood.

“We can take my car.” Jax had his keys in his hand.

Letting Jax drive meant we’d get to school, probably on time knowing how fast he drove, but I had two very important goals today. First, I needed to plead my case to Chloe and convince her to spend some time with me so she could get to know the real me. And second, I needed to make her understand how dangerous Isach was so she’d stay away from him. If I was at Jax’s mercy for a ride, I wouldn’t have the freedom to go anywhere with Chloe if she gave me an opening.

“It’s fine. I think the battery cables just came loose again.” I fiddled with the connections, then tried the engine again. Still nothing. “Piece of junk.”

Frustrated, I kicked the front tire a little too hard, and the air value popped. Air hissed from the tire. Jax coughed, and I glared at him as he tried—and failed—to contain his laughter.

“You think this is funny?” I snapped.

He clutched his stomach and doubled over, laughing. “Yes,” he gasped.

“You’re a real dick, you know that?” But I couldn’t contain my smile, and soon, I was laughing right along with him. When I caught my breath, I said, “If you’re done laughing at me, could you help me change this tire?”

Within twenty minutes, we had the tire changed, and Jax found the loose battery connection. The truck rumbled to life, and relief settled on my shoulders like a weighted blanket. If I broke every speed limit and traffic law, I might make it to school before the late bell rang.

“You coming?” I asked Jax.

“I’m taking my own car. Don’t want to get stranded at that god awful place if your hunk of junk decides to break down again.” He climbed into his car and sped off.

I arrived at school with plenty of time to get to class. I detoured to Chloe’s locker first, but she wasn’t here, so I headed straight for my first class. Chloe sat in the back, and Isach was in the seat next to her. I was already annoyed because of Jax and my truck breaking down this morning, and now seeing Chloe and Isach together didn’t help my mood in the slightest.

Eyes narrowed and jaw tense, I strode into the room and made a beeline for her desk. My gaze wavered between her and Isach. What had they been talking about? Why did Chloe look terrified? I swore to God if Isach had been messing with her again… I rested my gaze solely on her.

“We need to talk,” I said.

“Uh, okay.” She kept my gaze trained on me. “Now? Or after class?”

“We need to do this now,” I insisted. No way was I going to give Isach another second to say or do something else that would turn Chloe against me even more.

Chloe tilted her head but rose from her seat without question and followed me into the hall.

“Look, I know you’re disgusted by what I am, but—”

“Excuse me?” she sputtered. “I never said I was disgusted with you.”

“You acted like it.”

Her jaw dropped, and she was silent for several long, painful moments before snapping her mouth closed. She didn’t even try to argue with me. She couldn’t because I was right, and we both knew it.

“Well… I’m not,” she said.

“But there’s too much you don’t know, and you need to let me explain,” I continued, knowing if I didn’t get this out, I probably never would. The time to plead my case was now, and if I failed… well, that wasn’t an outcome I was willing to consider.

Chloe’s hands curled into fists by her sides, and she scowled. “I’m not disgusted by you,” she said again, her words clipped.

“No?” I crossed my arms, challenging her to prove me wrong.

“No.” She crossed her arms over her chest and mimicked my stance. “I’m not sure how I feel. I’m still trying to process it.”

Her words landed like a brick in my brain. She was confused, not disgusted, which meant I still had a chance with her. “Then give me two days, Chloe. Two days to show you exactly who and what I am. And then, if you still can’t deal, I’ll disappear from your life forever. You have my word.”

I wanted to kick myself as soon as those words left my mouth. The very last thing I wanted to do was disappear and never see her again, but that’s exactly what I’d do if she asked me to. If she truly couldn’t cope with the truth of who I was, I’d let her go so she could live a perfectly normal human life. Without me.

Before she could respond, a group of students came racing down the hallway, laughing. I guided her out of the way, my hold gentle as I backed her up until she was against the wall of lockers, safe from the raucous group. I didn’t release her, though, and she didn’t fight me. That was progress.

The silence stretched between us, ticking by until the final bell rang. “Great. Now we’re both going to get detention again for being late,” she said.

I almost cracked a smile, but then I remembered the severity of the situation, and I scowled instead. “Good. That’s one hour less I have to worry about you being with Isach.”

“What does he have to do with this?”

“Everything.” I dragged my hands down her arms until I found her hands and laced our fingers. When she didn’t pull away, my heart soared. “That’s what I’m trying to tell you. He’s much more dangerous than I am.”

Chloe shivered, and I tugged her closer. I wanted nothing more than to wrap her up in my arms and promise her the world, but I couldn’t push her or I would lose her for good. I had to tread lightly.

“There’s something more dangerous than a vampire?” she whispered.

If she only knew. She needed to know. Everything. “Chloe? Please. Will you allow me to explain?” I pleaded.

What would I do if she said no? Regardless of how she felt about me and any potential relationship between us, she still needed to know about Isach and the threat he posed to her safety.

She shifted her weight. “Okay. You’ve got two days.”

My ears rang with her words. She was giving me two days to show her the real me. I wanted to whoop with joy. I smiled, but my grin quickly disappeared when Principal Donovan approached. This guy was a certified moron.

“Is there a reason you two aren’t in class?” he asked.

“No, sir,” I said. I released one of Chloe’s hands and gave the other a squeeze. But I never once attempted to leave her side. Instead, I moved closer, so she’d know I’d protect her from anyone and anything.

“Sorry, sir. We were discussing an urgent family matter.” She gave him a pathetic frown.

He studied us for a moment, then said, “Best be getting to class.”

“Yes, sir.” Chloe turned and walked into class, earning a glare from the teacher and a look from Isach that had the hairs on the back of my neck standing on edge. Chloe ignored everyone and went to her desk.

I followed and took the empty seat behind her, giving me the perfect vantage point to see everyone in the room—most importantly, Isach. Throughout class, he kept his attention focused on the teacher, but Abby continually tried to get Chloe’s attention. Chloe, however, had mastered the art of ignoring her cousin. I was impressed.

Abby tossed a wadded-up sheet of paper at Chloe, and I leaned forward slightly as she smoothed out the paper. I could easily read the writing over her shoulder. Things ok with Trent?

I bit back a grin. So, Chloe had been talking to her cousin about me, huh? I’d give anything to know what she said. I was confident Chloe hadn’t said anything about me being a vampire, because if she had, Abby would’ve told anyone who’d listen. That girl did like to gossip.

For the rest of the morning, I stuck close to Chloe, walking her to her locker, and then escorting her to class. Isach hadn’t tried to talk to her again while I was around, which meant my plan was working. I hadn’t seen Jax all morning, though, and I wondered if he’d decided to ditch classes again. If he had, hopefully he was doing something useful, like digging up information on why the Zoya had returned to Keene Valley.

“Is the bodyguard act really necessary?” Chloe asked as we made our way toward the cafeteria.

“As long as Isach is around, yes.”

She rolled her eyes, but she hadn’t once complained about having me around. In fact, we’d fallen into a comfortable rhythm, talking, joking, and laughing like we were two well-adjusted human teenagers.

“Well, I’m sitting with my friends. You can join me if you’d like.” She walked ahead of me.

I almost followed but figured she needed a break to be with her friends. None of them had tried to talk to her this morning, either, and I hoped that wasn’t because of me. The only person I wanted to keep away from her was Isach. Ellie and her other friends were good people.

Claiming the table in the corner, I sat, pulled out my cell phone, and sent Jax a text.

Me: where the hell are you?

Jax: hunting Zoya.

I sighed with frustration, my fingers flying across my phone screen as I typed back a response.

Me: you heard dad. No killing Zoya!

Jax: you’re such a drag. And dad said no killing Isach. He never said anything about other Zoya. Several devil emojis along with a knife emoji followed his message.

Dad was going to be pissed when he found out Jax was taking liberties like this. I had half a mind to call Sean and tattle, but then I’d just end up in yet another fight with my brother, and I had more important things to focus on. Like spending the next couple of days with Chloe.

I kept one ear tuned to the conversation at her table while responding to Jax. Chloe and Ellie were talking about the party at Bushnell Falls and the sleepover at Ellie’s house. Chloe was going to the party with her friends, so I couldn’t ask her to go with me, but she hadn’t said a word about the party to me. Would she mention it and ask me to go?

Me: how many have you killed so far?

Jax: none. So far, Isach is the only Zoya in town.

I set my phone on the table and rubbed my hands over my face. Why would only Isach return? Covens almost always traveled together. What were the Zoya up to? My gaze wandered toward Chloe. Her face was flushed, and she looked genuinely happy sitting there with her friends. I wanted that for her—to be happy and carefree. I hated that she was being dragged into the middle of my messed-up world. She deserved so much better.

Chloe looked around the cafeteria, and her gaze collided with mine. Then, just as quickly, she tore her attention away from me when Luke asked about Isach. I leaned forward, head tilted, and listened.

“Hey, have any of you talked to the new kid?” Luke asked.

“I have,” Chloe said.

“What’s he like?” Gina asked. “He’s really cute.”

“He seems nice enough. I only spoke to him a couple of times in between classes,” Chloe said.

I scowled. Did Chloe really think he was nice, or was she just saying that to appease her friends?

“Kinda weird he shows up days after all those deaths,” Tonya said quietly.

I stiffened. That Tonya was observant. What else had she realized about the goings on in this town? Had she noticed anything strange about me or Jax? We’d have to be careful around her.

My phone vibrated against the table, and I snatched it to find another message.

Jax: that’s weird, right? Why only one Zoya?

Me: very weird and idk. We’ll have to talk to dad tonight.

The bell rang. I stood and tucked my phone into my back pocket. Chloe was already walking out of the cafeteria with Ellie. I followed several steps behind. Far enough to afford her some privacy but close enough to keep her in sight. When she and Ellie veered off to the side of the hallway for a private conversation, I continued down the hall.

Moments later, Chloe arrived at her locker. Oblivious to me, she rummaged around inside. I was struck with the sudden, intense urge to leave, to take her with me so we could be alone to talk.

“I have an idea,” I said.

She gasped and spun around. “Will you please stop sneaking up on me like that?”

“Sorry.” I placed my palm flat on the locker and leaned down so my mouth was near her ear. Heat radiated from her skin. “How about we skip our last two classes? Get a jump start on those two days? We can go to my house; then I’ll take you home.”

Grinning, she said, “You really are a bad influence.”

My heart raced with the knowledge that she hadn’t flat out told me no. I put both hands above her head, palms flat on the locker, and leaned over even farther, my face inches from hers.

“Is that a yes?”