Chapter 41

DANA~~~~


I groaned and rolled over on my bed as the persistent ringing of the alarm clock filled the room. I turned it off and it was howling at me ten minutes later. I remember I had programmed multiple times successively to help me wake up just in case the first doesn't wake me and I am beginning to regret it.

"Okay, okay. I'm up, goddammit," I groaned as I violently turned off the alarm clock.

I trudged out of bed to the shower and brushed my teeth quickly and also a quick shower. By the time I was done with the bathroom, it was already 6:30 am.

I got dressed in my denim trousers, a black t-shirt, and a denim jacket to match. It's been a while since I attended school so I was hoping to go unnoticed and not stand out much in school today. I didn't even want to go in the first place of Jade had not convinced me otherwise. Now I have to be ready as early as possible since Jade would be coming to pick me up and I have to be in school early today so I don't stand out in class.

My eyes darted to the car keys on my dressing table as I looked at myself in the mirror. A man I've spent the last five years of my life hating and avoiding talked to me yesterday and gave me a twenty-five hundred dollars cash, a credit card with a two hundred and fifty thousand dollars limit, and an Aston Martin as a gift. Just how crazy is that? I haven't said a word of this to Jade yet but I'm pretty sure she'll freak out if she hears this. Sadly, I still don't have a clue where Natalie is but at least I have hope now.

I heard the horn of Jade's car in my driveway at exactly 7:00 am. She's quite punctual, I must admit. I had already parked the car I was gifted yesterday in the garage so the driveway space was free for Jade's car. I came outside with my stuff immediately and lock the doors, saving her the stress of having to leave the car as I hopped into the passenger seat beside her.

"Morning," I said dryly.

"Yeah, morning," she replied in the same fashion.

"What's wrong?" I asked, concerned. She looked pale and tired.

"Nothing," she forced a smile. "Just had a rough day at home. It's all good though, thanks for the concern."

"I know when you are fine and I'm pretty sure you aren't fine right now, Jade," I insisted. "Tell me what's going on with you?"

She pulled out of the driveway and sped down the street like she normally does. "As I said, it was because of a rough day at home. Give me a few minutes or an hour at most and I'm back to normal."

"Hmmm," I observed her for a while. "If you say so then. Just remember that I'll always be here if you need anything, that's what besties are for, right?"

"Yeah," she replied with a bigger smile. "Besides if you aren't there when I need help then who would be?"

"No one," I laughed and she joined in as well.

We chatted as she drove and I told her of the old man's visit to the house. She listened attentively as I relayed the words of the old man and the conversation we had, asking questions that she finds relevant to ask and reviewing my actions with me. She looked a little downcast when I told her of what he said about Natalie though but her ears perked up when I told her about the car.

"What?! An Aston Martin?!" she asked with wide eyes. True to her words, she was back to her normal self before we even got to school.

"Yeah," I smiled nervously. "I was surprised myself."

"Let me get this straight," she said and turned her full attention to me as she slowed down for traffic lights. "He gave you a collective amount of two hundred and fifty-two thousand five hundred dollars on the whim, and an Aston Martin as a parting gift yet he made no demands or even tried to persuade about the marriage issue even once?"

"Put simply, yes," I replied. "That was what happened."

"Marry him," she said with her impression of big googly eyes.

"Hell no!" I yelled in reply. "And keep your eyes on the road! We already have a green light!"

"What are you hesitating for?!" she yelled. "That guy is filthy rich! Maybe even richer than your stupid mate! No offense, of course."

"None taken," I laughed. "But we both know I can't marry such an old man. He's old enough to be my grandfather, not even my father."

"Yeah," she sighed. "If only he was that rich in a young body, I would have snatched him from you."

"As if you can," I laughed.

"I can at least try," she sighed. "He's so rich that it's already making him sexy at his old age."

"Now that he's quite sexy actually," I said. "He's a werewolf so you should know that we prioritize fitness over anything else and we have a longer life span too so we don't get old that quickly, even though it's not as long as that of vampires. I only know he's only because his hair is starting to turn grey and his wrinkles are a little obvious. Usually, a werewolf's hair begins to turn grey once they're at least eighty to a hundred years old, I think."

"Damn, now I want to snatch him," she drooled. "Imagine all of that money raining down on me."

"You already have enough money on your own though," I laughed. "Your mom is pretty well off."

"Yeah but a sugar daddy makes it all the more fun," she sighed. "He might also be really good in bed too, being a werewolf and all."

"Jaden Yuki!" I yelled.

I saw her visibly wince as I called her full name but she recovered from it almost immediately. "Fine, fine," she said. "Damn you so much like my mother.

"Haha," I laughed. "And you sound so much like Natalie, drooling that much over money."

"The irony of life," she sighed. "I and Natalie would have been such a perfect fit."

"Yeah, right," I said with a disturbed face. "I can imagine the number of sugar daddies who would lose their wealth to you guys."

We both laughed our asses out as we neared the school, throwing taunts at each other. Even though I was still sad about Natalie, I was happy I had Jade with me to keep me sane at least.

"We're here," she said as we approached the school gate. "Are you ready for this? You know what to expect in there."

"Of course," I smiled. "I've faced worse within the oast month I've been away. A few taunts of high school kids have zero effect on me. I'm not even nervous about it."

"Good," she smiled. "My little Dana finally grew up. Let's go."

I could feel the eyes of the students bore holes into me as I strolled through the hallway with Jade to class. They weren't even trying to be discreet as they stared at me every step of the way. It was like a ghost came to town. Some had pitied me, others were surprised while the majority looked amused that I dared to return to school.

"They aren't even trying to hide it," Jade hissed.

"Never mind them," I smiled. "Let's go to class."

We attended our first class of the day together and just like the students, the teachers were amazed that I was present in class. Some did well to hide their surprise while others blatantly called me out for skipping school for almost two months. I was surprised it wasn't longer. I honestly thought it was at least two months.

The class went by uneventfully apart from the occasional surprise and scolding I received from teachers for skipping school. Nothing else worthy of mention happened. Maybe it's because of how unfazed I was by the attention and the whole situation but the taunts, laughter, and amusement I expected from my classmates were weirdly minimal. I didn't look like the shy, timid Ava who would hide away from their attention. They were obviously taken aback by how boldly I owned up to it. So much that they didn't find it worthwhile to fool themselves any further.

Lunchtime soon came and everyone was leaving the minute the bell rang. I took my time packing my bags and before long, I was the only one in the classroom. Or so I thought.

A chill ran down my spine as I felt a strong presence in the class. It was overpowering and calm at the same time. I could feel the temperature in the classroom fall as the presence entered.

"Hello, Dana," he smiled. "My name is Dexter. Nice to meet you."