Onbekend(88)

Andrew raised an eyebrow to question Arianna, but chose to not vocalize his opinion. “So, you will be back next week?” Andrew asked, avoiding the subject of Devin.

“Yep, as soon as I can get away from the Randolph estate.”

“That will give you one more day to practice before your test?”

“Yes, if you can help me just a bit more. I really want to get my license before I turn seventeen, but two days after will have to do,” Arianna complained. Everything that had happened in the last year had made it impossible for her to find any time to practice driving. She knew the theory well enough from classes she had taken before she even turned sixteen, but experience was a whole other area left untouched. She only saw her guardians Dean and Lilly a few days a week, and they were always busy with the diner they owned. The rest of the week, she was living at her late grandfather’s estate, and there was no reason to drive anywhere when there were chauffeurs to drive anything that had more than two wheels.

“Yes, but you must promise me, next time you will tell Devin,” Andrew nodded across the empty parking lot.

“Why? He doesn’t tell me where he’s going, why should I tell him?” Arianna was always stuck between Devin and Andrew. Neither really trusted the other.

“Ari,” Andrew sighed. “I need you to behave. Devin will never trust me if you insist on sneaking around like this.” Andrew was a night human, baku to be exact, and Devin was not. Trust was hard to come by, being that a night human killed Devin’s family when he was a kid.

“And what do you need his trust for?” In the baku community, Andrew ranked just below Arianna and her uncle Gabriel. Andrew didn’t reply, so Arianna changed the subject. “The answer to your question is yes.” Andrew still didn’t reply, but she could sense the happiness behind his scowl. “So, I’ll see you next week?” Arianna asked awkwardly.

“Yes, same time, same place,” Andrew added. He reached across the seat before she could open the door and slightly touched her face. She was getting used to the surge of emotion she felt at the touch of skin, but his was always stronger than most. On her previous birthday, Arianna became a night human, a very special night human. While night humans were classified into four distinct races, Arianna was a mixture of two, and she was the only one like that who existed. Arianna wanted to break eye contact, but in doing so, he would just send even more emotions her way. Arianna reached up and touched his hand. He smiled at the emotions he read from her, knowing that his need of her was reciprocated.

Arianna opened the door and stepped out of the vehicle. She closed the door and turned to begin her trek across the parking lot to the person waiting for her. Thomas followed Arianna; he didn’t want to get between them when they began to communicate with their eyes only. Devin remained casually leaning against the car, now staring at Andrew as he drove away.

“Next time, tell me before you change your plans,” Devin said, opening the back door of the car for Arianna.

“You are not my parent,” Arianna argued, not getting into the car. Arianna’s parents were dead for crossing the line between the races of night humans. One had been baku and the other dearg-dul, Arianna was a mixture of both.

“How am I supposed to keep you safe if you don’t listen to me?” Devin gripped the car’s door to keep from moving forward.

“If you haven’t noticed by now, I can keep myself safe,” Arianna complained. Devin stood, holding the door open for her. Thomas waited behind, not moving until Arianna did. Arianna sighed as she got no response from Devin and slid into the seat.

“Can’t you just let me protect you?” Devin asked, exasperated by his attempts to keep her safe. She ignored him. Thomas slid into the seat beside Arianna.

“And what would you have said if I told you I was going to go driving with Andrew?” Arianna asked, already knowing his reply.

“Absolutely not. He isn’t safe, and we both know that.” Devin started the engine. “Baku cannot be trusted, and that family is especially unsafe.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Arianna replied. “His uncle isn’t safe, but Andrew is. He would protect me with his life if he needed to.” Devin sighed. They’d had the same argument the week before, and possibly the week before that as well. Arianna opened the door before Devin could move the car out of park. “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t think I need a ride home after all.” Arianna raced from the car, across the parking lot, to the bus that was pulling up to the bus shelter. Thomas was close behind, sans books.