Onbekend(72)

“Great job,” Mary Ellen added, smiling sweetly at the large guy towering over the three girls.

“Hey, we couldn’t disappoint when we had such cute fans,” Chris responded.

“Who are you calling cute?” Turner asked, hitting Chris up for a high-five.

“The youngest Winter son,” Chris added, smiling at Turner. “Are you hanging around? We could always use another guard.”

“I think we head back in a couple days. Sorry man,” Turner added. “Not technically enrolled here.”

“Too bad. I heard you’re pretty good,” Chris replied and Turner shrugged. “So, is it true?” Turner smiled in response to the vague question. “Man, you royalty always get the good ones.” Arianna turned a brighter shade of red, knowing they were talking about her. “This is sort of embarrassing, but would you mind coming to meet my parents?” Chris asked, turning to Arianna. “They’re seated up towards the top in the parent’s section.” Arianna looked around the room. Devin was in the corner near the door.

“It’s part of who you are now,” he said quietly, urging her forward.

Turner smiled and grabbed her arm. “Of course,” Turner replied, also hearing Devin.

Arianna climbed the stairs slower than her four longer-legged friends. While Mary Ellen and Tish chose to trail behind with Arianna, the two boys climbed ahead, continuing their conversation about the game. At the top of the stairs sat a couple that looked like they were ready for a fancy dinner, not a basketball game. Arianna couldn’t fail to see the resemblance between Chris and his father.

“Hey dad,” Chris hugged the man who was smiling proudly at his son.

“Great game,” he added. “And the winning shot, even. You played so well tonight.”

“How could we not play well when we have the Randolph heir watching?” Chris added. Arianna was unsure if she liked the sound of that, the Randolph heir. “Mom, Dad, this is Arianna.” The two parents stared in both shock and awe at Arianna.

“And I’m Turner Winter,” Turner added. “Sherwood? From the east coast?”

Mr. Sherwood was pulled away from staring at Arianna to finally respond and shake Turner’s hand. “Yes, yes,” the gray-haired man replied.

“I think I have a cousin living over that direction that talked about Sherwoods,” Turner explained. “A winery, if I remember right.” Turner turned on the charm, and fit right into the world she was now part of, where everyone knew everyone but she knew no one. Mary Ellen and Tish talked to Chris as Arianna drifted over, watching the people still milling around the school basketball court. The people were mainly human or lycan. Every now and then was a dearg-dul, and in the corner Andrew still sat with his constant baku companions. His blue eyes twinkled under his dark curls. An older man arrived through the exit door, and multiple heads turned to the slick-haired baku that entered with his personal guards. Andrew stood immediately, and followed the man as he left. At the door, Andrew paused and didn’t turn around as he said one word.

“Tonight.”

Arianna shivered at the message meant for her.

“Sorry we can’t join you,” Turner said, grabbing Arianna’s hand and pulling her close. “We have a previous engagement to attend.”

“Would you mind…?” Mrs. Sherwood barely whispered her request.

Arianna looked to Turner to try to understand what they were talking about, as she had been distracted by Andrew. Turner smiled before checking with Devin, who nodded his assent.

“She’d like to see your eyes,” Turner explained. Arianna blushed more. The center of attention was getting more and more embarrassing. Her friends had stopped talking with Chris, and were now also staring at her.

“It’s so embarrassing,” Arianna complained, though in reality, she just didn’t want to scare her friends. Everything would really change if they saw her as a blue-eyed monster. The more perceptive Mary Ellen understood and grabbed Tish’s arm.

“Let’s go get our coats,” Mary Ellen suggested. Tish suddenly understood and agreed. Once they were back down the bleachers, Arianna turned to the Sherwoods. Her blue eyes gleamed in the well-lit gym. Mrs. Sherwood grabbed her husband’s arm in shock. Around her, Arianna heard the talking stop as every night human in the room turned to her.

“We need to leave,” Devin said quietly from his position on the floor, as Molina’s boots clicked from her pacing behind the door.

Arianna released her dearg-dul form and turned around to find everyone in the room staring at her. Awe and wonder filled the night humans as they bowed their heads towards her when she passed through them. Turner kept a tight grip around her as they made their way through the people milling around that were now frozen, watching her. Devin met her halfway, and created a protective bubble around her with Turner. Turner and Devin ushered Arianna outside to a waiting car. Tish and Mary Ellen said their goodbyes as they left also. Arianna climbed into the car and sat next to her uncle.