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It’s fast. The pace they set makes it impossible to keep up with them, but as they round the third corner, disappearing from sight, everyone in the crowd goes running off to a higher dune. I follow them, curiosity eating at me.
The buggies are only just able to be seen from the higher vantage point but what I see has the adrenaline pumping through my veins. The little black topless buggy is out in front, a good foot ahead of number six and number eighteen. I’ve no idea if any of these guys are good until I see number six swerve into the buggy on his left, leaving a trail of dust in his wake as he shoots forward.
I’ve raced cars, motorbikes, even quad bikes, but these things look way more fun. I’ve only got eyes for the front three runners but as a gasp goes through the crowd, I find myself gawking along with the rest of them as two buggies flip end over end landing with a resounding crash in the sparse bushes beside the track. After far too long a pause people begin rushing down the dunes in an effort to help. I just stand there watching, knowing that too many people and it’ll hinder more than help. As a result, I’m the only one left watching the three racers in front who are oblivious to the crash.
Number six pulls out in front, almost an entire buggy length ahead of the others. He speeds across the finish line, well ahead of the other racers but there’s no one left to celebrate his victory. Except for me, but I’m not the celebrating type. I snap a picture just as the other two racers get within frame, providing proof of the winner so I can claim my winnings.
The crash seems to have been minor, people walking back towards the dune talking excitedly about there being no injuries aside from a cut on one driver’s arm. They continue to talk about the crash well after I’ve collected my winnings, stolen a bottle of alcohol and found myself a little spot out of the way.
I’ve been sitting here for a good twenty minutes, watching the stars and waves crash against the shore in the distance when a stick snapping makes me jerk upright. I’d recognise that shadowy form anywhere, after all how many almost seven-foot-tall people can there be on one little island?
“Hey babe, I thought that was you.” He basically falls down beside me, snatching up the almost empty bottle I’d placed in the sand. “Name’s Kal. I believe we’ll have a class together.”
I blink a few times before shaking off the stalker vibes running down my spine. I'm not afraid of the guy, but there’s something familiar about him at the same time. Curious, I decide to just confront him. “Considering we’ve only met once, not really sure how you could possibly know we will have any classes together.”
“Well that would be because my brother is the teacher for that class and the man who showed you where your room is.” He laughs at the look of shock on my face. The two guys couldn’t be more different. Sexy Geek Teacher guy was all clean cut and wholesome but this guy with his spiked hair and rumpled clothes looks more like the biker guy from that Zombie TV show that was so popular a few years back. You know the one with the penchant for the cross bows and was always chewing on his lip, yeah that sexy as fuck guy.
Kal leans closer as though he’s going to whisper a secret, “My brother was intimidated by you, you know.” He rumbles.
Words escape me. I mean, what the fuck, right? How am I supposed to respond to that? Pulling my big girl panties on, metaphorically of course, I smirk up at him and ask, “Do I intimidate you too gorgeous?”
His head rears back before a burst of the deepest, huskiest laughter emerges from his throat. A shudder runs down my spine as I listen in complete rapture.
“No, you don’t intimidate me, but that’s probably because unlike my brother, I don’t have a problem with strong women.”
As the night passes, I find myself relaxing more and more in his company, the thought of him being a stalker leaves my mind as we talk and laugh over the most mundane things.
Every instinct in me told me to follow this girl. Her long red hair shone like a beacon despite the moon being absent from the sky. I could hear every breath she took as she sits alone watching the waves crash over the shore. After she’d downed almost half the bottle she stole from the race’s afterparty, I decided to finally make my presence known. I’m so nervous about approaching her alone that my hands begin to shake. It’s times like this I wish I was more like my brother. Usually I’m surrounded by people so it’s easy to put on a front but being alone with someone I want to make a good impression on is nerve wracking.
“Hey babe, I thought that was you.” Fucking kill me now, that has got to be the creepiest greeting ever, not that I can take it back now that it’s out there but come on; I’ve got way more game than that. Trying to recover a modicum of dignity, I snatch up the bottle and take a swig before adding, “Name’s Kal. I believe we’ll have a class together.” I almost groan as her beautiful eyes go wider than saucers; I’m really blowing this. What the fuck is wrong with me? She probably thinks I’m a stalker or something now.
She tilts her head slightly to the side, her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed. She’s silent so long I start to get up, to my shock she turns to face me and says, “Considering we’ve only met once, I’m not really sure how you could possibly know we will have any classes together.”
“Well that would be because my brother is the teacher for that class and the man who showed you where your room is.” I laugh as her beautiful face goes slack in shock. Her eyes practically sparkle as she suddenly smiles, everything in me goes still. I don’t ever want to see anything but a smile on her face.
I lean in as close as I dare, almost touching her ear with my lips as I whisper, “My brother was intimidated by you, you know.” I have no fucking clue whether that’s true or not, but when she asks, “Do I intimidate you too gorgeous?” I roar with laughter.
It takes me far too long to gather my composure enough to say, “No, you don’t intimidate me, but that’s probably because unlike my brother, I don’t have a problem with strong women.” Okay, so I’m technically lying, I don’t actually have any problems with women, but that’s only because I don’t usually talk to them. My reputation is more the “fuck ‘em and leave ‘em” type.
Her entire body seems to melt at my words, as though knowing that I’m comfortable with her the way she is is enough to make her relax around me. Knowing she’s not uncomfortable in my presence makes me feel more confident, but I’m curious how long this new feeling will last.
“Ok so you’re taking the prerequisite Vampire classes, but what other classes are you taking?” I ask just to keep her talking.
“I’m still unsure about my classes, I know I’m taking music, art, business and photography, but I’m not sure which I want to do as my major.”
“Why not do more than one major?” I query, watching as she lights up again. Her lips are so full, even when she smiles that I can’t help staring at them. I want to close the distance and see if she tastes as good as she smells, but I hold myself back. I can’t get involved with her, even though I want to so badly. Wez already warned me that she’s a hybrid, as such she’s off limits to us because of our royal connections, but for the first time in my life, I don’t want to break the rules for fun, I want to smash them to shreds and force them to change them. I want to bring in a new era where someone like me could be with a wonderful woman like Alissa, regardless of bloodlines.
We end up talking all night, the sun’s just starting to show it’s light as she finally says she has to go. I offer to walk her home, but she refuses and for a moment, I’m tempted to force the issue. Someone as special as her needs to be protected.
I wait until she’s out of sight before slipping into the shadows and following at a distance. She might not have wanted me to walk her home, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to make sure she gets there in one piece.
It’s taken me almost an entire week, but I managed to find someone willing to part with one of their precious buggies. After hours and hours of altering the engine and making it faster than your average buggy, I took it to the only automobile painter on the island to add the finishing touches.
Now here I am, race night. With the buy-in money in hand, I hop out of the buggy, leaving my helmet on to hide my identity. With the light of the fire, I approach the bookie. My steps falter as I finally get a good look at him. It’s Kal, brother to the teacher who showed me my room and the very same guy I spent last race night flirting with. How did I not recognise him?
“Was wondering if you’d show-.” He stops talking and frowns, nodding to my helmet, “What do you think you’re doing with that thing?”
“Racing. Duh. Can we bet on ourselves?”
