Chapter 5

The bell for the first period rang, and we were having biology. I and Denise both walked into the lab.

"Okay, class, we will be talking about osmosis." Mr. Lovato said as he picked up the textbook from the table. Denise and I searched for a seat and ended up sitting next to the window. "Who can define osmosis?" he asked, staring at Chase. Chase ignored him, and one of Chase's football players raised his hand. "Okay, Larry, please define it for the class even if it's in your understanding."

Larry stood up. "Osmosis is a process by which molecules of a solvent tend to pass through a semipermeable membrane from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one."

"Good. You can sit down. Who else can try?" he asked as he looked in my direction. "Hmm, your face is new."

"This is her first time in your class," Denise replied, and Chase looked my way. I got to my feet but had no idea what to say because all I had learned at Shadow Academy was about blood.

Everything was about controlling fangs, not trying to turn into a monster by feeding on a bloodsucker or trying to defend ourselves when we are in trouble. So, yes, I was unaware of what osmosis was.

"Go ahead, Miss."

"Inez." Standing on my feet, I gave him my name.

"So, what do you understand by the word osmosis?" he asked again.

I forced my swallow. "Osmo..." When I started to speak, someone cut me off. I was relieved to be interrupted because otherwise I might have embarrassed myself in front of my classmates.

"Osmosis is the tendency of a fluid, usually water, to pass through a semipermeable membrane into a solution where the solvent concentration is higher, thus equalizing the concentrations of materials on either side of the membrane," Chase says and sits down.

"Thank you, Mr. Parker." He set the textbook down after checking his watch. "So, we will be having a test."

The students all sighed lethargically. To stop the class from talking, Mr. Lovato banged a ruler against the table.

"It will be a group of six, and we'll have the text in the next class. There are five people total in a group, so choose carefully."

Everyone went to meet up with their buddies. Chase didn't bother to get up, and Jada was too proud to search for a group, so she and her best friend stayed to one side. Denise and I were also standing by the window. The only human I got attached to was Denise. She had never been close to my house before, and I had never given her my life's story.

Who would want to speak up and admit that they are Dhampirs who may soon turn into bloodsuckers? Who wants to hear that without calling me a freak?

"What are you kids doing? Mingle already and let me share my questions." Mr. Lovato said, addressing Jada and Maddie along with the rest of us who were not in groups.

Jada looked at herself in the mirror and said, "No more groups available, Mr. Lovato," before pressing her lips together.

"Oh, the situation is already solved," said Mr. Lovato.

"How?" Denise asked.

"One, two, three..." He counted the one of us that was left. He let out a startled gasp. "Now that there are five of you, you are all in the same group," he added.

Jada immediately replied, "I'm the captain." Denise gave her a glance.

"You can't be the captain when all you do is check yourself out in the mirror," Denise said.

"Are you done?" As she picked up her bag, Jada rolled her eyes and questioned.

"I guess so," Denise replied.

"Good."

"It's going to be more of an experiment, so the first group's question will be: experiment to show osmosis using a sheet of cellophane or a goat bladder."

Mr. Lovato distributed the questions to the groups before reaching my group. He said we were to demonstrate the phenomenon of exosmosis and endosmosis.

The bell finally rang and the student walked out of the lab.