SERAPHINA'S POV
"My fingers feel numb." I whine, rubbing the sore red tips against each other.
"That's because you don't know how to use a bow properly; everything about your stance and form was off." Olivia explains, stepping out of archery class with me, one of the few classes we actually have together.
And while I whine about never possibly getting an A in that class, she constantly assures me that it's something even a human could do.
"I wish you were in all of my classes, maybe school won't feel so terrible." I lament, and I mean every single word.
Scared of encountering Kamila and her band of evil witches, I've done everything possible to stay away from Artemis. Luckily enough for me, I haven't even had the chance to see him as well for a few days.
So, my days have been...less eventful. The teasing from other students haven't stopped, I'm still a target and a human, but it's as though the death treats my way have significantly dropped.
"Maybe I'd be able to keep you out of trouble if I can watch you more closely; be that voice of reasoning on your shoulders." She comments dryly, thinking back on my encounter with both Artemis and Kamila.
I chuckle at her jab now.
"Only both of them have no interest in me. I'm fine now."
"Sera, you're still a target. Just because you haven't met anything serious these days doesn't mean he's done with you. At best, he's probably plotting something more serious." She points out.
Of course, I had considered this fact, but dwelling on it would only make me more paranoid than I currently am.
Living every passing day with extreme caution.
While I'm deep in thought, I spot Gabe immediately.
He stands at a distance, waving at me with a huge smile plastered on his face. He reminds me of a German Shepard waving its tail desperately.
I step ahead of her, waving and accepting a slight nod as a good bye, drawing closer to Gabe.
Once I get close enough, he grabs me, pulling me into a hug that takes me off guard too quickly.
"Ready to study, buddy?" He says once he finally let go, thinking up a cheesy line in the heat of the moment.
I chuckle, rolling my eyes at him.
"You really are a nerd. Excited to study together?"
"Actually, I'm more excited to spend time with you, my partner." He says, putting more emphasis on the word partner.
He's definitely a weird kid but I guess it's working out for him.
We make our way to the library and a part of me is a bit excited to really see what it looks like. The tour round school only gave me just a glimpse of what living here would be like.
Stepping into the hall, I'm in awe by the tall and vast open space with what looks like a thousand shelves of books organized to resemble a maze. I immediately wonder if anyone ever gets lost in here when they come in for assignments.
I follow Gabe to a spot he recommends, stopping at a reading table that's completely empty while he grabs the textbooks of his choosing, and I sit back and let out a heavy sigh.
Its already been few days of hanging out with Gabe most of the time when I'm not with Olivia, and I must admit that it feels good not to be so alone and hated.
Moments when the silence around me grows so strong, there he is, cracking awkward jokes to get me out of it. In only a few days, I feel so close to him.
Though, sometimes, a part of me feels as though he's trying too hard.
He finally sits right next to me, dropping two thick books right in front of the both of us.
"I was going to make a chemistry joke, but all the good ones argon." His lips stretched into a wide smile, anticipating my reaction to his corny words.
I couldn't help bursting into a loud laugh that definitely broke library protocols, lifting my thumb to wipe off a stray tear that fell. "Oh, fuck. You're such a nerd, I've never seen anyone this excited to read chemistry."
"Like I said, I'm more excited to hang out with you. Being around you lights up my day." He chuckles sweetly even with his eyes, but there's that weird feeling that runs across my chest again.
"You know, you don't have to try too hard to get me to like you - we're already friends."
"What are you talking about?" His smile stills as he looks at me again, this time raising a brow at me as though he really doesn't get it.
Yet it almost always seems like he's forcing half of his expression sometimes. I brush it off as just nervousness, deciding not to dwell on it so much.
"Never mind."
We fall into a brief silence, filled with the sounds of flipping pages every few minutes from the reading. This peace and silence I experience right now is something I never expected I'd get to feel.
"So... Sera."
"Yeah." I answer him without moving my eyes away.
He slowly turns away from his book to look at me, resting his chin on his palm. He says nothing for seconds, prompting me to finally look at him.
There he is again, smiling at me from nowhere. Sometimes, it feels creepy.
"Yes, Gabe."
"We're friends, right?"
"Uh...yeah."
"I realize we know little about ourselves, how about we play a game of 20 questions?"
I see no harm in it, a brief moment for a fun game. Maybe this would bridge the tiny gaps between us and things would be less awkward.
"Sure."
"Great, I'll go first. What is your biggest fear?"
"Woah, that's a strong start." My head reeled back dramatically.
Gabe laughed, nervously scratching the back of his head. "Too much?"
"Extreme."
"Fine, I'll tell you mine if that would make you more comfortable." He ducked his head shyly. "I'm scared of being alone - loneliness. As an omega, I've been a target of bigger and stronger wolves, so I started making myself a little more resourceful. If I can be useful, they never bully me or hurt me - maybe I'm truly just a coward, but I have to survive. No one picks on me so much that way, and I get the privilege of having a few cool friends too. As preys, our first rule from birth is to survive."
Survive.
His word strikes deep within me, and without words, I have a perfect understanding even though I'm not an omega - I've also been bullied all my life. We share a kindred spirit, and I smile to that - a small empathetic one.
"Wow, it sounds like you've had your fair share of hell too."
"You have no idea. Now, it's your turn."
I thought for a moment, then said, "I think my biggest fear would be disappointing my family back home. There's a lot of hope being placed-"
"Boring. C'mon, Sera, I thought you were going to mention an animal, maybe a wolf." He teases, smiling mischievously.
The interruption pricks on my nerves, but I'm forced to laugh along to his antics.
"My turn, favorite color?"
"Mint green. What's your biggest regret? Something that keeps you up all night." He jumps to the next question immediately.
"Uhm...I guess it's not eating enough cake on my 8th birthday party."
"What?" He looks puzzled and disappointed for some reason.
"It was the only time I ever got my birthday celebrated and the first time I tasted cake, but I had a cold-"
"Yeah, yeah." He interrupts again before my little tale can end. "Fine, tell me something else. Hmm, speaking of food, I have an extreme lacto-intolerance. Any allergies for you?"
I ignore the fact that it's my turn to ask a question and not his, deciding to just answer.
"Uhm, yeah. It's peanuts. I know, pretty ordinary, but you see, my allergy is actually a big deal because the last time I mistakenly took a meal that had peanuts, I nearly died." I sneaked in a light laugh at the dark memory of choking up blood. "Guess we're allergy buddies now too."
The corner of Gabe's lips tips up in what looks like satisfaction, a brief moment that seems to send a weird chill down my spine. I might have imagined it, because in the next moment, he nods sheepishly to my words.
"Cheers to that, partner. Lacto-intolerant Gabe, and peanut allergy Sera; just perfect."
I smile hesitantly. "So, who do you hate the most in Raven Wood?"
Rather than respond, Gabe's texting on his phone, barely registering my words over the loud notification sounds he's getting.
"Mine's Artemis, thanks for responding." I mutter under my breath, feeling annoyed but deciding to let it go. "I guess the game's over."
He stands up from the table, suddenly looking down at me.
"Uh...there's this guy I have to tutor right now - he was the one texting. We'll meet up in the cafeteria later."
"Sure, bye." I hold back from rolling my eyes.
He doesn't say another word before packing up and walking a little distance away. It feels more annoying than it should, and I wonder if my isolation from making friends has made me this clingy.
That is before Gabe takes a pause, turning over his shoulder to look at me.
"Sera..."
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
I frown. "What...? For what?"
There's that smile again on his lips, and without responding, he walks out.