Chapter 9
Cyn’s POV
I’m sitting awkwardly in class with Josh staring at me, I can feel his gaze burning a hole in the side of my head.
“Will you stop that?” I turned and hissed at him.
He tried to act clueless, “stop what?”
I glared at him before turning my attention back to the front of the classroom where the teacher was talking about an assignment that’s due in a few days. The bell finally rang and I grabbed my stuff, trying to rush out.
“Cyn wait!” I hear Josh urging from behind me.
“Oh no you don’t!” I hear my bestie tell him. Thank the goddess for Helena.
I scurry away and run into a solid wall.
“Cyn.”
“Alex.”
“So um, do you want to walk together to class?” He asked awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.
“Umm, I’m okay, thanks for the offer though.” I told him as I walked away. That was so awkward, I wanted to die.
“Hey, Cyn!” I turn around to see Tucker smiling widely at me. I returned his smile and made my way to him.
“Hey, Tucker!” I hear Mary’s annoying voice. Dejected I started to walk away.
“Fuck off, Mary. Hey, Cyn come back!”
Glad that he declined her, I went to him, a little happier.
“Hi, sweet girl.” He greeted me before he grabbed me and kissed me in front of everyone.
I looked up at him in a daze. “What was that for?” I asked.
“I just wanted everyone to know that I’m interested in you. I only want you, Cyn. Don’t forget that.” He grabbed my hand and escorted me to my next class, giving me a peck on the cheek before heading out.
“Ooooh girl! Tell me all about that later!” Helena gushed as I sat down in my seat. I saw Alex’s face looking pissed off from the back corner of the room.
Well he has no right to get all pissy, he’s never shown interest in me to start with, and also he’s been screwing around with the school sluts. I huffed and turned my attention to the front of class.
By the time lunch rolled around, talks of Tucker and I had already circulated the school. Girls glared while guys high fived.
“Why are people acting like this?” I asked Helena.
“Girl, I have no idea. Do you think he’s telling them something?” She then seemed to have an idea, she grabbed some random guy by the front of his shirt and pushed him against a locker.
“What are they saying about her and Tucker?” She asked while pointing at me. The guy glanced at me and shook his head, “nothing! He’s just telling guys to stay away from her, that she’s going to be his girlfriend.”
Girlfriend?
Helena squealed and let go of the kid, patting his back. “Girlfriend? Has Tucker ever had a girlfriend?” She squealed. I shrugged, I have no idea. I’ve only ever known him a fuck boy. But if that’s what he wanted from me, he wouldn’t have turned me down the other day. Tucker, what’s going on in your head?
Instead of going in the lunchroom, I decided I was going to spend time in the library.
I pushed against the lunch crowd and finally arrived at the library.
When I entered I let out a sigh of relief, it seems I’m the only one here right now. I happily set my bag down on a chair and browsed. I heard the door open and close while I continued my search for something to read. A book ended up falling on the ground next to me. I looked around but saw no one. When I picked it up I noticed it was a book on vampires. Curious, I decided to sit down and read it.
I noticed that there was already a bookmark in place. Intrigued, I opened it up to that page and saw it talking about soul bonding. What is a soul bond?
Continuing, it’s similar to when werewolves find their mate. The first time a vampire stares in the other’s eyes, they immediately become bonded, their souls intertwined. Apparently a soul bond is super rare, it’s thought to be a legend. Soul bonds only occur between two who are destined to be together and regardless of whether they stay together romantically, they will be in each other’s lives for it’s entirety.
“What ya reading?” I jumped when I heard Tucker’s voice.
“Tucker! What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I was looking for you, you weren’t in the lunchroom. Are you okay, Cyn?” He asked.
“I’m not sure, I guess I was feeling a little overwhelmed with all the attention everyone is showing me today. You know that’s your fault, right?” I teased him.
His face turned a bit red, “I’m sorry, I was just so excited to finally have your attention, I didn’t want anyone else to interfere. Can you forgive me? Besides, think of my grandma. It wouldn’t be lying if we really were together.” He looked at me with a genuine grin.
I sighed, “let’s wait until after my birthday. I don’t want us to start dating and then I end up with someone else as a mate. Okay?”
“I guess so.” He looked really dejected.
I grabbed his face, “I’m not rejecting you, I just don’t want us to get so involved and then be mated to someone else. My birthday is less than a week away. I’m sure you can wait that long. For now, I’ll still be your girlfriend for your grandma’s dinner Friday night.” I smiled, trying to placate him.
He looked in my eyes and pressed his lips against mine. I groaned at the warmth and passion he exuded.
“No pda in the library!” I look over to see the librarian glaring at us. Whoops.
I smiled sheepishly and hid my face while Tucker tried to stifle a chuckle.
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Tucker grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the library, the vampire book left on the table, forgotten.
The rest of the week passed by pretty uneventful. Students still whispered about Tucker and I, Alex still glared while Josh stared and tried to get me to talk to him.
Friday arrived and I was getting ready to go see Tucker’s granny. From what he told me, she’s a real hard-ass but a real big softie for those she cares about.
“Do I look, okay?” I asked Helena. I was dressed in a white flowery dress with white flats and my hair in a long ponytail.
“You look like an angel. But geez, you act like you’re really dating and meeting his grandmother.” Said said.
“But what if we do end up dating? I don’t want her to hate me right off the bat.” I told her.
“Save those worries for tomorrow, your birthday will be here soon enough and you’ll either meet your mate or you won’t.”
“I’ll try, you know me, I’m a worrier.” I told her.
Helena grabbed my ponytail and pulled, “tonight you’re Lil Wayne, you ain’t got no worries. Now calm down and smile.” She let go of my hair and patted my butt, pushing me towards the door.
When I opened up Alex was standing there, about to knock.
“Oh hey Cyn, you look beautiful. Where are you going?” He asked.
“I’m actually headed to meet Tucker’s grandma with him, sorry I can’t talk right now or I’ll be late.” I apologized.
He simply nodded his head, “good luck with that.”
I skipped down the hall and to Tucker’s room. I knocked and waited. “Come in!” He called out. I opened up and saw him standing there in just shorts, looking like he just got out of the shower.
“Sit down sweetheart, I’m getting dressed right now.”
“I can see that,” was all I knew how to say. I couldn’t help but stare at his muscles. His abs flexed with each movement, I was practically drooling. I looked away, embarrassed and just took a glance around his room. It was a pretty typical male room except he seemed to keep his exceptionally clean and fresh smelling.
“Sorry I’m running behind, I wasn’t paying attention when I was working out.” He said as he buttoned his shirt. I just nodded, like an idiot.
Finally he was ready.
He grabbed my hand and led me down the stairs and to his car. Apparently his grandma lives off the compound so it was a short drive away.
I must’ve been fidgeting because he grabbed my hand and said, “don’t be nervous, just be yourself. You’re perfect the way you are.” He smiled. I squeezed his hand and closed my eyes, reassured by his words of praise.
“Okay we’re here.” He said in my ear. I must’ve dozed off. I looked around and we seemed to be on a small plantation. It was like the houses you expect to see in Georgia.
“It’s beautiful here.” I told him.
“Many years ago, the family that owned this plantation used to own slaves. My great great grandfather offered them a large lump of money to sell the place along with the slaves. He ended up letting them live here free until they could find new homes out of slavery. I’m really proud that my family was proactive against slavery, it’s not always easy doing the right thing.” He said.
I listened, enthralled by the story and then the history he recounted of the plantation. He knew everything including the year it was supposedly built.
We reached the front door and he opened it up without knocking.
“Why didn’t you knock?” I asked.
“My grandmother would kill me if I knocked. Family doesn’t knock in her book. Eventually when I have my own place, she expects the same courtesy.” He told me.
I giggled, I thought it was so cool that his family was that close.
“Is that my Tucker? And oh my goddess, the girlfriend Cynthia! I thought you were a myth!” She exclaimed. She rushed over and enveloped me in a large hug. I was touched that she was so affectionate. She pulled away and looked me up and down.
“You look like a good girl, now tell my why you’re with my sweet grandson. He’s a heartbreaker, you know? I’m sure you can see that face and understand.” I giggled at her words, granny, it seems you love drama.
“I’d love to talk about Tucker.” I looked back at him and winked.
“Oooh! A fellow gossip! Come Cynthia, we have much to discuss.” She grabbed my arm and hauled me towards the living room.
“Now let’s start from the time he was born.” She started. Tucker groaned and I laughed. This is going to be fun.