Symphony Of Heart Beats

My body teetered between conflicting emotions: excitement and sadness.

Excitement because I'd see Christopher in a few minutes, though I had to call him Chace in school.

And sadness because I still had feelings for Gabe.

He'd promised he wouldn't leave.

Memories of the night he'd stayed with me surfaced, weighing down my heart. I missed that Gabe. He hadn't exactly left, but he didn't want me anymore either.

Sighing, I pulled open the front door to Salem Academy, home to more than sixteen hundred students, and realized I held my breath so I wouldn't smell blood.

Slowly I exhaled and snuck a timid breath.

A delicious blood-tinged aroma swirled with sweat and perfume.

A symphony of hearts beat all around me, but I didn't have the slightest twinge of a craving.

Something had changed.

Was it the double dose of bloodlust tea, or drinking Christopher's blood?

I'd have to ask him when we had a moment alone.

If I could look him in the eyes without turning red.