“Do you know about everyone in school then?” Arianna asked. How much did her friends know since they were just day humans?
“I don’t know who is, specifically,” Mary Ellen explained. “But in general, the jocks are mostly lycan and the musically inclined students are baku.”
“Dearg-duls are mostly the smart students in student council and tengu are the artist students,” Tish added. “You won’t leave us for the student council, will you?” Tish complained. “Now that you can fit in with the other ones?”
“I’m not musically inclined or smart, so I guess I don’t fit in with either,” Arianna assessed.
“What’s it like having a keeper?” Mary Ellen asked, changing the subject after hearing the two boys return.
“Do you get alone time whenever you want?” Tish added. Arianna’s cheeks flushed.
“He’s not my keeper yet,” Arianna explained. “I just agreed last weekend to take him as a keeper someday.” Arianna tried to emphasize the word ‘someday.’
“What about the blond one?” Tish asked. “Blonds are more my type.”
“He’s just part of my PPU,” Arianna replied, remembering the conversation with Devin over the weekend. Outside the bedroom, he would only be her protector.
“You’ve kissed them, haven’t you?” Mary Ellen was too perceptive. Arianna couldn’t reply.
“Which one?” Tish asked, wanting the details now that they were getting somewhere.
Arianna closed her eyes to answer, “Both.”
“Both?” Mary Ellen and Tish asked in unison before they all burst into laughter.
Maybe some things won’t change, Arianna thought, watching her friends.
“Which one do you like?” Mary Ellen asked when she finally caught her breath.
Arianna shook her head no, she wasn’t going to talk. Arianna began to blush as her friends jumped on her to tickle the truth out of her. Arianna squirmed and laughed more as they continued to tickle her and asked questions which she refused to answer. After all three girls were exhausted, they just lay on the floor and continued to giggle.
“Girls,” Aunt Lilly said as she knocked on the door. “The game starts in fifteen minutes, if you’re going.”
TWENTY-THREE
Arianna stood between her two best friends as they cheered the basketball team on. Devin had protested her choice of seat within the crowd of people, but she ignored him and decided to have a good time with her friends. Arianna wanted to be normal. Around her, the crowd was mainly lycan like Tish and Mary Ellen had explained. Down in the far corner was the baku, Andrew, from the morning choir room. He wasn’t watching the game at all, but just her. Arianna felt uncomfortable, but he wasn’t the only one watching her. Turner stood right behind her, cheering for the team and keeping her distracted from all the glances her way.
“It’s ‘cause I’m so good-looking,” he explained, and Mary Ellen agreed.
“Just keep ignoring them,” Tish replied. “Or see it as a sign of worship. You’re a goddess to them,” Tish teased. Arianna tugged on her friend’s ponytail.
“I can ignore most of them, but I find Andrew’s stares hard to ignore.” Arianna looked across the gym and found him smiling more after her comment.
“How about this,” Turner slid his arms around her waist, and Arianna blushed at the public display of affection. Andrew’s smile faded as he glared at Turner.
“Not your boyfriend?” Mary Ellen complained only to Arianna.
Arianna wanted to push his arms away, but with all the stares and curiosity around her, Turner’s arms were like a shield. Until the timer buzzed to end the game, Arianna stood with Turner’s arm around her. Cheers erupted around them as their school won by only three points. Turner raised an arm to cheer with the students around them but made sure to keep one around her. Arianna was actually relieved to not be left alone in the gym full of night humans.
“Let’s go congratulate Chris,” Tish suggested. “Since he invited you to the game and all.”
“She could at least leave one cute one for us,” Mary Ellen complained. Arianna punched her friend playfully on the arm.
Tish grabbed one hand, and Mary Ellen the other, as they dragged Arianna across the court, which was now filled with people congratulating the team. Turner followed close behind. Arianna was so glad to use the excuse that she had hurried across the gym to explain her red cheeks to the captain of the basketball team, who was standing in his group of friends.
“Hey girls,” Chris said, walking over to them.