Chapter Fifteen: Turmoil

Suzan knitted her brows together and looked extremely confused, “No, I don’t remember coming across the name before.” She paused for a second, “It’s such a strange name, but why are you asking?”

Lorraine shrugged, feigning nonchalance, “I came across the name in a book and it intrigued me is all.”

Suzan took a seat on one of the highchairs by the kitchen island and told Lorraine about her day, “Judy seemed to be doing well. I don’t know if she’ll be going to school tomorrow or not though.” Lorraine nodded her head, then Suzan told her about the news she heard about the Jonas family. “I hope they find the son soon; I can’t believe that they just died like that.” After talking for half an hour both women went to their rooms. Lorraine was grateful that she didn’t need to toss and turn a lot, as sleep came over her.

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Bates was sitting in his classroom, preparing for his first class of the day. Although teaching was just a cover, he had decided that he sort of enjoyed it. He stiffened in his seat, sensing the approaching man, and before the door opened, he mumbled the name under his breath. “Cedric.”

The door opened and the man strolled inside, “A vampire posing as a history teacher.” He gave an amused look at Bates, “It’s quite ironic if you ask me.”

“I don’t think you’re here to question my life choices.”

“No, I’m here to ask about the vampire I killed. Do you know who he was?” Cedric asked, in a serious tone.

“You’re the one who killed Jason?” Bates asked with shock evident in his tone, jolting out of his chair.

Cedric only raised an eyebrow and calmly retorted, “Yes. He was causing a scene, which isn’t something I want right now.”

“But Cedric, if you didn’t send Jason, then who did?”

“You don’t know anything about it.” Cedric concluded with squinted eyes. Bates only shook his head, which made Cedric grit his teeth before turning sharply and exiting the class. He didn’t want the town to know about the vampires before he managed to accomplish his mission. He smelled her scent lingering in the hallway and without seeing her he knew she was close.

Bates was left in the class with so many questions. He wasn’t sure how to go from this point on. At first, he was only worried about Cedric killing Lorraine. Especially after noticing how Aiden had come to care so deeply for her in such a short time. But other vampires being around town wasn’t something he was prepared for. *“Could it be just a random attack?”*

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Lorraine got up on Monday morning with loud noise coming from downstairs. She showered and got ready for the day, and when she went downstairs she found her mom dressed and ready to leave. “No breakfast today?”

Suzan only shook her head, searching for her car keys, “They are short-handed at the hospital. So, Lucy called and asked if I could come a little earlier.” Lorraine only nodded her head. Suzan heaved a sigh of relief when she found her keys, throwing them in her purse, she turned to Lorraine. “I’m heading out, have a good day at school.”

“You too.” Lorraine shouted after her mother.

She let out a breath, and left her home for school. Once she got there, she found Judy standing in front of her locker with her arms crossed over her chest and a raised eyebrow. “I can’t believe you didn’t visit me in the hospital.”

Lorraine only gave a small smile, “Mom told me you’re okay, and I was kind of traumatized.” She decided to play that card. It made perfect sense. *“Better than saying I was attacked by a crazy vampire and told I was a witch by our vampire history teacher and my vampire friend.”* She thought to herself.

Judy nodded her head, her blaming look changed into one of sympathy, “I’m kind of grateful that I can’t really remember what happened.” Lorraine nodded, putting some books in the locker. Then they started walking to history. “So, what happened with Aiden?” Judy asked but the question fell on deaf ears, as Lorraine’s eyes caught the back of someone leaving room 404A. The back of a man wearing a leather jacket, tall, and with jet-black hair. The man held the same build as the man from her dreams, Cedric. Her steps came to a stop in shock, and blood drained from her face. Judy turned to her with a worried look, “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

The words seemed to pull her out of her reverie, she blinked a couple of times, but the man had disappeared into the sea of teenagers in the hallway. She shook her head, “It’s nothing. Uhm… let’s just get to class.” She grabbed Judy’s arm and they entered the class together. Her eyes found Bates straight away, and she hoped to convey her question with her eyes. But the look on his face told her that something was definitely wrong. *“But why would he come to school? How’s he related to Bates?” *

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When lunch break came around, Lorraine joined Judy, Jake, and Maria on their table in the cafeteria. “Our very own strumpet.” Jake said jokingly, only to receive a punch on the arm by Maria. “What? I was kidding.” He said with an easy shrug. Judy laughed it off, but the words hurt her more than she hoped for. “But we can agree that your choice in men is terrible.”

“I don’t think it was really her fault.” Lorraine started, “I mean, guys like Jason are usually very charming. She couldn’t have known his intentions.” Although it was very subtle, she noticed the hurt look that came over Judy. She neither approved nor disapproved of Judy’s lifestyle. The way Lorraine saw it, Judy had the right to choose whatever she wanted to be. And, in her opinion, there was no problem in someone liking sex. She was pretty much the victim in all of that.

“They still don’t know who killed him?” Maria asked, opting to change the subject.

Jake shook his head, “Nothing yet. It's the Jonas family that’s all over the news. It’s pretty bad what happened to them.”

The others nodded in agreement, and in a moment of silence, Judy scanned the cafeteria then her eyes driften between Maria and Jake. “Any of you heard from Mike?”

The two shook their heads, but Maria said, “I called his mom, apparently he told them he was going out of town on Saturday morning, but they couldn’t reach him since then.” Maria let out a sigh, “But you know how the Normans are like.”

“What are they like? I mean it has been a couple of days, they must be worried about him.” Lorraine asked, noticing the disapproving tone of Maria. The other three looked at each other, but shrugged without saying anything. Before she could get an answer out of them, Aiden approached her, and asked to talk to her for a second. She got up and walked out with him. *“I wasn’t that hungry anyway.”* she thought, leaving her food behind.

“How are you today?” He asked her once they were outside standing under the shade of a tree.

“I’m dealing. A little bit worried to be honest.” She paused, “I think Cedric was here. I think I saw him leaving Bates’ class earlier.”

Aiden nodded his head, “Bates told me about it. Cedric said he was the one who killed Jason, and claims he has nothing to do with what happened.” Lorraine furrowed her eyebrows, “It doesn’t add up. Isn’t Cedric supposed to be the bad guy?” Before she could voice her question, Aiden reached out and held her hand, “Look, I can promise you that I won’t let anything happen to you.”

She gave him a soft smile and nodded her head, “Thank you. But I don’t want to put anyone’s life in danger.” Although she was aware of the fact that Aiden was a vampire now, she appreciated his help. She never approached the question he fed, but something told her that Aiden wasn’t the type to just kill people.

He attempted a small smile. But really wanted, not needed, her to see how deep his feelings ran for her. “I care about you, Lorraine.” He couldn’t say more than that; he didn’t want to risk losing her, so he decided to hold back those words he desperately wanted to say. *“Bates is right, nothing could ever come out from being with her.”* Unaware of his inner turmoil, she nodded her head with a small smile, and told him that they should join the others.