Blood awakens

“Laura!”

“Laura?”

“LAURA?!”

I snapped out of my own thoughts and looked to my left, where Sarah was standing. I don’t even know how long I’ve been standing by the school lockers, probably not even five minutes. What did I come here for? Oh right, we have history class. I grab my textbook, tuck it under my arm, close the locker, and turn to Sarah with my mouth already slightly open, ready to speak.

“Listen, we’re having a picnic today. Look how beautiful it is outside. We have to make the most of it.” Sarah is practically about to jump to the ceiling of the school, but she does have a point. Since we became a group, we don’t really hang out together much anymore.

“Did you manage to organize it?”

“Do you doubt me? Of course I managed to organize it,” she said with her arms crossed over her chest and her right eyebrow raised. “Typical Sarah.” Sarah is one of those pretty girls at school, but she doesn’t really fit in with the type who admire handbags at every corner of a store or those who sip their lattes while gossiping. She’s the kind of girl who doesn’t hold back and wouldn’t have a problem kicking a two-meter-tall guy’s butt.

“I think I might not be able to say that about you,” I laugh while walking to our classroom, where we have history. She just nudges me with her shoulder against mine.

“You’ll see, it’s going to be fun.”

I could find my way into the classroom even blindfolded, because of the loud shouting and laughter and the air in there? Ugh. Sometimes I really felt like I wasn’t in high school at all, but somewhere in a special-needs school. The first thing I saw when I walked in was Liam, standing on a desk and imitating our history teacher. The laughter I mentioned came from Nina, who… well… has her quirks.

“Ah, the queens have arrived!” Tomas shouted and gave a dramatic bow.

Sarah showed him her middle finger.

I sat down in my usual seat by the window and placed my book on the desk. Right then, Professor Dickson walked in with his classic line, “Open the windows immediately, this place smells like a zoo.” But that wasn’t all. His gaze landed on me, and I instantly knew what was coming.

“Great. Exactly what I needed today.”

“Miss Petrová, I must be seeing things,” Professor Dickson adjusted his glasses and put them back on, his eyes scanning my face. “Surely I’m mistaken, you’re actually in school?”

“Professor, I can explain.” The words came out with difficulty, because Professor Dickson is definitely not the type of teacher who understands anyone but himself.

“Well, Miss Petrová, I’m not so sure. Looking at your attendance, I don’t think we have much to talk about. Final exams are coming, and you’ve missed more classes than you should have.” He looked at me through those half-moon glasses, and I felt like he was actually enjoying this. The whole class was staring between me and him. Only Sarah had already started to stand up, but I quickly placed my hand on her thigh to stop her. She looked at me confused, and I signaled with my eyes, “I’ve got this.”

“Well then, open your books to page 150, and as I said, prepare for next class. Liam, you can start speaking.”

Time passed so quickly that I was honestly surprised it was even possible with Dickson around. When the bell rang, my classmates jumped up, grabbed their bags, and rushed out of the classroom. I couldn’t blame them, school was finally over.

Sarah was already pulling my hand to hurry me along. “Come on, before Dickson changes his mind,” she rolled her eyes.

We walked through the crowd of students in the hallway, and I just shook my head. “I’m telling you, if I survive Dickson, I can survive anything.”

We passed classrooms and groups of students already making plans for after school. A fresh breeze touched my skin.

“Finally, out of this prison.” I hadn’t even registered who was outside in the courtyard when someone suddenly jumped into me for a full hug. Peter. He immediately handed us coffee cups.

“We had a free period, and you know me, I know how to flash a pretty smile to get what I want,” he chuckled.

Sarah nearly spat out her coffee. “Sure, but you don’t have a man.”

Peter shot her a smirk. “Unlike you, I actually try to show interest.” A guy from another class walked by, and Peter waved at him but the guy just ignored him. Sarah nudged Peter’s shoulder. “Yeah, yeah, princess… I’m not sure that’s how you show interest,” she laughed, taking a sip of her coffee.

“But you know we love you!”

“Wait, weren’t we about to….” I didn’t even finish my sentence when I noticed Adam walking toward the school. That athletic build, tanned skin, his features… and those eyes. Those blue eyes. For a second, I completely forgot what I was saying.

Adam waved at me, and I waved back, feeling my cheeks burn.

“I hope he didn’t notice I’m red as a tomato…”

I turned back to Sarah and Peter, ready to continue, but their expressions said everything.

Sarah raised an eyebrow, looking at me in disbelief. Peter stood there with his mouth wide open, unsure whether to look at me or Adam.

“I have two questions,” Peter immediately said, raising a finger. “First… how is he here? Didn’t he say he wouldn’t even come back after graduating? Second… what was that? Since when?”

I shuffled my feet, looking at the ground. “He asked me on a date,” I mumbled.

Peter nearly jumped out of his skin. “WHAT?!”

I threw my hands up. “I forgot to tell you! Sorry, but I was surviving Dickson, so I had a valid excuse.”

Peter looked like I’d just told him I was engaged to a billionaire. Sarah just stood there, shaking her head.

“Alright, we’ll come back to that,” she pointed at me, “but right now, we’re focusing on the picnic, not your secret date of the century.”

“Secret?” Peter gasped dramatically. “Laura, I’m your best friend, I deserve VIP information!”

“Yeah, and it would’ve spread across the whole school,” I rolled my eyes.

“That’s true,” he said, pretending to think deeply.

I grabbed my backpack, tossing my hair over my shoulder. “I’m going home. Grandma will kill me if I don’t show up for her lunch.”

“Alright, we’ll meet in two hours? Let’s enjoy some sun,” Sarah suggested.

We agreed, hugged goodbye, and went our separate ways. I put on my headphones and headed to the bus.

When I saw the doors about to close, I picked up my pace and barely made it inside in time. The doors closed behind me with a soft hiss.

The bus was half empty, and the back seats were free. “Thank God, I’m not in the mood for people.”

I sat down, leaned my head against the seat, and slowly drifted away from reality, carried by music.

When I opened my eyes, I looked out the window—and for a split second, I didn’t see my reflection, but something else.

A tall tower.

Shiny.

White.

And on its balcony, I saw a shadow… as if someone had just moved.

I blinked, and reality returned. I was back on the bus with everyone else, and thankfully, I hadn’t missed my stop. I stood up, holding onto the seats as I walked toward the door.

When we reached my stop, the doors opened, and I stepped out. I glanced back at the bus as it drove away, my thoughts drifting back to that vision.

It was just a dream… just exhaustion. But still… there was a strange feeling in my chest.

I brushed it off and walked home.

I passed houses, some old, some new. A peaceful little village near the forest. We used to play hide and seek there as kids, building forts and telling scary stories… and then being too scared to move.

I smiled at the memory.

“I’d give anything to relive those days…”

As I walked, I greeted neighbors and friends, and soon my house came into view. A two-story home with white walls and wooden details, sitting at the edge of the village, with a garden full of plants my grandma grew. Everyone admired it and rightfully so.

I opened the door and was immediately greeted by the smell of food.

Oh my God.

“I’m home!” I called out, kicking off my shoes and dropping my bag by the door.

I walked into the kitchen, where my grandma was finishing lunch.

“Made it just in time,” I greeted her, heading to wash my hands in the bathroom.

As I passed through the living room, I took in the cozy, warm atmosphere filled with the scent of herbs. A bookshelf full of recipes and books, photos of us, and little angel figurines everywhere. The TV played quietly in the background, grandma said it kept her company.

I washed my hands, then went to the table.

Spaghetti bolognese.

The best part of my day.

“How was school?” grandma asked, still reading her newspaper.

“Same as always, classes, friends,” I said. I didn’t want to worry her about Dickson.

“Uh, grandma, I’m going to a picnic with Sarah and Peter. After lunch, I’ll get changed and head out.”

She smiled and nodded.

“Thank you, the food was amazing,” I said, taking my plate to the sink.

“I’ll wash it later.”

I went upstairs, the stairs creaking beneath my feet. My room… definitely needed a cleaning ceremony.

Clothes everywhere. Open closet. Chaos. But at least my makeup table was clean.

“Priorities,” I muttered.

I quickly picked out an outfit: white jeans, white sneakers, a light top, and a pale green sweater over my shoulders.

A quick look in the mirror.

Hair down or tied?

After a moment, I tied it into a ponytail.

“Ponytail it is.”

I grabbed my phone, tucked it into my back pocket, and packed snacks and homemade lemonade into my backpack.

“Grandma, I’m leaving, bye!” I called.

“Be careful!” she replied from the living room.

I ran out of the house, jogging lightly toward my friends for the picnic.