“I’m sorry. I’m tired, and it’s been hard to adjust here.” I flop over on my side and hug my pillow hard. Of all the people that could be on my mind – I can’t stop thinking about Hazen. I want nothing more than to hate him.
Una sits on the edge of my bed, “I heard what happened in class today.”
Can she read my mind? “Um, you did?”
“The whole school is talking about it. Ivor coming to your aide. It would be romantic really if he weren’t a vampire.” Una’s voice trails off on the last word.
“You know I’m part vampire too. I’m glad Ivor was there.” I keep my eyes on the ground, avoiding the glare I knew Una would be giving me right now. As much as I like her, and Clark and the Stanton boys – I didn’t know them like I knew Hazen. I needed to talk to him alone, when he wasn’t acting how he thought people would want him too.
Maybe he had no choice, like me right now, in this school. Perhaps he’s being forced to work on this mission. There had to be something. He couldn’t just turn his back on what we had.
“Maybe you should tell that to, Clark.” Una stands up and bangs her heels each step she took to her side of the room.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I sprang up to a seated position. Whether I like it or not, she was getting some heat meant for Hazen.
“I gave you hints. You should have told me you were interested in him.” Una picks up her neatly folded clothes and drops them on the floor. “You could have warned me.”
“You like Clark?” My anger softens to regret. I’d never had a close girlfriend before, sure she talked about him, but never mentioned her feelings.
“He’s clearly into you.” Una runs her arm along the bed and clears the last of her new things to the floor.
I hang my head and take a deep breath in. I wasn’t good at stuff like this. Not that I didn’t want to be, but I kept to myself because it was easier. Then there was Hazen. He was the first person I let in. Shared my secrets with. I shake my head, still not understanding his betrayal. Not one thing before that night tipped me off to what he was capable of.
“Look, I’m lousy at relationships. I’ve only ever gotten close to a few people.” I stop myself before I sound like a blubbering idiot. I had a soft spot for Una, when I imagine having a sister from now on, I’d picture her.
“Hazen?” Her voice was softer.
“Yes.” I didn’t want to discuss him with her. She wouldn’t understand, and I couldn’t tell her everything that I wanted too.
“He’s not worth your time. It’s easy to tell he hurt you.” Una picks up her purse and rummages through it. “Here it is.” She holds her hand out to me and lowers her fingers to reveal a pink ceramic flower. “It was my Gramma’s, and now it’s yours.”
“No, I couldn’t.” I flinch and push myself back on the bed, to get away from her offering.
“Penelope Jordon. I want you to take this.” Una steps forward and practically shoves it in my face. “It will protect you. Keep the wrong people away.”
I look from her concerned face back to the pin, “But she gave it to you.”
“And I am giving it to you.” Una grabs my hand and places the pin in it.
It’s heavier than you would think from looking at it. Its petals painted in a bright pink enamel with emerald green leaves. I turn it over, and there is a Latin word on the back “malum.” “What does it mean?” I hold the pin up to her.
“Something about keeping the troubled ones away from you.” Una waves her hand in the air and bends down to pick up her clothes off the floor.
“Thank you,” I mutter, amused at the carvings and delicate painting. I’d never owned anything as beautiful as this pin.
“It was meant to be with you.” Una smiles, then dumps all the clothes in her dresser, smashing them down to make them all fit. “I always regret it, when it comes time to put it all away.”
“Let me help.” I jump off the bed and help her refold all her clothes, while she rifles through her drawer and picks out things to donate.
After what seems like at least an hour, being only twenty minutes, her drawer is closable. Una slams it shut as a final test and jumps over to hug me. “I’m so happy you’re my roomie.”
“Me too. Now, Clark.” I hate to bring the topic up, I was attracted to him in a fuck friend kind of way. Nothing serious and I doubted he was even a one-woman man. “He’s off-limits to me.” I hold my right hand over my heart, and my left hand over my head.
“Oh, P!” Una jumps and screams as she comes toward me. She wraps her thin arms around my neck, while her feet jump up and down on the floor.
“I’m not sure he’s ready to be true...to one person,” I said. I couldn’t bear having to hear her cry over him, yet it was inevitable. I’ll keep a good brandy on hand for that day – and ice cream.
“He hasn’t seen the full charm of, Una, yet.” Una twirls around, her dress taking wind with each turn. “I’ll teach you. How to use your charms.”
“I’m good.” I hold up my hand to her and back away. Her sunshine was a little too bright for me.
“I could help you in another way?” Una said, biting her lip.
“What way.” I had no idea what she was offering, yet I was intrigued.
Una opens up her book bag and pulls out a notebook. The name Alexandra Stanton is written in red ink on the front cover. “Una!” I step back from her and the
