Jenna

　　Flashback

　　11 years ago.

　　I packed aside my headphone and phones as Mr Franklin, the history teacher walked into the class. He was with a lady, a new student I guess.

　　“Students, we’ll be having a new student today, she and her family came will the way from Colorado and her name is…”

　　“Valerie,” she completed Mr Franklin’s sentence and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ears. Damn! She was beautiful. The boys were ogling her and they were making it fucking obvious. That was all the staring I needed as I directed my attention back at my book and began to organize my class notes.

　　What I didn’t expect was for Mr Franklin to pop up before me with the new girl standing next to him.

　　“Jenna, she’s going to be your new partner. Be kind to her and help her when she rate assistance or guidance.” Mr. Franklin smiled at me and I nodded. It was not like I could argue with him. The rest of the class went smoothly and I didn’t have to talk to the new girl at all. She seemed quite prepared.

　　During break, I sat at my table with my friends and as we talked, I spotted the new girl, Valerie? I spotted her seat and suddenly, she was being sprayed with water from an hose tap.

　　***

　　I placed up and down the training ground with an heavy mind. I was afraid. Afraid that something would happen to Valerie. Trying my best not to think too negative, I flashed a smile at the man who had just won the duel game they were playing. He was beaming with self pride and victory.

　　“How about you fight off against Marcus next.” I paired him with another Werewolf. This one was very tall and his long black hair reached his lower buttock. I took a quick glance to the other corner of the hall and spotted Nathan sitting down on a wooden bench and just staring blankly into space.

　　“The winner fights Jax, I’ll be back, excuse me,” I excused myself and I walked up to Nathan. I took my seat next to him, but he didn’t budge or react in any way.

　　“Are you okay?” I asked and his head turned suddenly to face me. For a moment there, his eyes had a faint yellow color, but they were back to the usual grey color.

　　“Yes, I’m fine,” he replied, “you know what, I should be the one asking you this. It’s your best friend dying in the healer’s dorm.” He said but to me, all it sounded like an excuse to what he was actually feeling.

　　“Well, I’m not,” I replied honestly and swallowed. He looked at me briefly in the eyes, but then looked away.

　　“Valerie and I had been friends since high school. Back then, I discovered what she was on the very first day we met, and though I was scared that I had met an actual vampire, I kept it a secret and felt close to her.” I played with my fingers and gave a quick thumbs up to Jax who had just defeated his opponent.

　　“When she got arrested by Nexus Services, I felt a compounded mix of emotions and I chose the urge to find her no matter what,” I found myself sniffing that instant and eyes began to sting as tears teased the corners.

　　“I’m afraid that after finding her, I’m going to watch her shrivel and die,” I burst into tears and everyone’s attention became directed at me. I saw Nathan signal them to continue training and he stretched out his hands to touch me. He withdrew his hands just before they touched me and curled in his fingers.

　　I didn’t need him to console me or touch me, but why the hesitation?

　　I wiped the tears off my face with the heel of my palms and I stand up to leave, but he suddenly grabs my hand from behind to stop me. I sniff and turn around to face him. Once again he had that unreadable expression.

　　“Valerie will be okay, I promise you.”

　　Nathan.

　　I watched as Jenna burst into tears and I suddenly felt disturbed. I never knew that she was someone who could be so emotionally and I never knew she had been bottling up such emotions since she got here.

　　I attempted to touch her shoulder and tell her not to cry, but I quickly pulled my hand back and refused to. Why did I do that? I didn’t know myself.

　　She wiped off her tears and she stood up to leave, but this time, I couldn’t help myself and I grabbed her hand to stop her. She turned around and I looked into her eyes not knowing what to feel or think.

　　“Valerie will be okay, I promise you.” Those words left my mouth without me knowing what I was saying or doing. I made the promise even though I knew there was nothing I could do about it. I felt so stupid and I let go of her hand, watching as she nodded and returned to her room.

　　I also stood up and decided to join the training so I could get everything off my mind. But then again, I just couldn’t. I had just made a promise and I had to do the little I can.

　　I created a telepathic mindlink with Raphael and walked out of the training ground.

　　“Raphael, how is Valerie?” I asked, but I didn’t get a reply. I asked again, but it was the same again.

　　I noticed the mindlink seemed void and felt like a one way connection and I became worried. Where was Raphael.

　　I took quicker steps to the Healer’s Dorm and as I got in, I saw spots blood spots on the floor. Scared, I walked faster into the Dorm and suddenly stopped walking as I spotted Raphael lying on the floor.

　　“Raphael.” I quickly bent down and I checked if he was okay. I sighed as I heard his heart beating and he only had a claw scratch on his chest. He was just unconscious. I immediately stood up and walked to Valerie’s bed.

　　I gasped as I saw the bed empty and I looked around in worry.

　　Where was she?