The final school bell rang, a sharp, piercing sound that felt like a release. I grabbed my bag and was one of the first out the door, rushing down the hallway. I couldn't stand another second in that classroom. All day, it had been the same thing. Every time my eyes accidentally met Elena's or Bonnie's, I was met with a cold stare or a look of pure disappointment. Even other students I didn't know well were looking at me like I was a problem.
I pushed open the heavy school doors and stepped outside, the fresh air hitting my face. I saw the green lawn stretching out and an empty bench under a large tree. I walked straight to it and sat down, the cold metal of the bench seeping through my jeans. I slumped forward, resting my elbows on my knees and my face in my hands. I just stared at the grass in front of my feet.
A few groups of students were sitting on the grass nearby, laughing and talking about some party. Their happiness felt like it was happening in a different world. The sound of their laughter just made me feel more alone.
I sat up straight, leaning my head back against the top of the bench. I looked up at the sky. It was a perfect, clear blue without a single cloud. It was so big and empty. A heavy thought dropped into my mind. I'm going to live forever. But if forever feels like this... lonely and with everyone hating me... what's the point? The idea was so huge and scary that I felt tired just thinking about it. I couldn't even finish the thought.
I sighed and started to stand up, ready to go home to my empty mansion.
Ding!
A sound, cold and mechanical, echoed directly inside my skull. A familiar blue, glowing screen appeared in the air in front of my eyes. My heart jumped. It was the system.
System Task
Task: Become Best Friends With Elena
Reward: Unlock hidden power of your bloodline ahead of time.
Punishment: You will never unlock your power and live as a mortal with no super speed or strength, just an endless lifespan.
I stared, my mouth hanging open. "What the hell are you talking about?" I said out loud to the empty air. The screen didn't respond. I read it again, my eyes stuck on the words "Become Best Friends With Elena."
My mind raced. The reward was amazing—more power, faster. But the punishment... It was a nightmare. They would take my strength and speed away. I'd be stuck as a normal human, weak, but I would never die. What if a vampire attacked me? I'd be helpless. The only option would be to run away, to hide in some place like Asia country where the vampires and supernatural creatures haven't come.It would be a coward's life.
But running away didn't suit me. I wasn't going to be chased out of town. The system screen faded away. I looked back up at the blue sky and let out a long, frustrated sigh. "Okay," I whispered to myself. "I have to do this,It's just a simple task with my past life memory and experience and after dealing with Caroline it's going to be easy.
I sat back down on the bench. I had a new purpose. I turned and watched the school's main exit. I had gotten out early, so I knew Elena would still be inside. I just had to wait.
After about ten minutes, I saw her. She pushed the door open and stepped out, squinting in the sunlight. She looked tired. Her book bag was slung over one shoulder. She saw me almost immediately, and her expression didn't change at all. It stayed neutral and cold. She started walking toward the school gate, planning to ignore me completely.
I stood up and walked to intercept her. Just as she was about to pass me, I stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
She stopped. Her arms folded across her chest defensively. She looked at me with those cool brown eyes. "What is this?" she asked, her voice flat and cold.
I had been so confident a minute ago, but now, looking into her eyes, all my prepared words vanished. All I saw was a simple, pure coldness.
"Elena," I started, my voice a little shaky. "We... we really have some misunderstanding between us. I want to clear it up today. Otherwise, as your friend, I don't feel right about it."
She didn't move. Her expression was like stone. "Misunderstanding?" she repeated, her tone icy. "What misunderstanding. First, you played with my emotions. Then, you played with Caroline and dumped her for no reason. And then you hurt Matt, just because he was trying to protect me from you."
She stood there, waiting for me to answer. Her words hit me like punches. I looked down at the ground, my mind racing to find a way to explain everything. But how could I? It was all a mess.
Seeing that I had no response, she let out a small, disappointed sigh. "Yeah, that's what I thought." She turned to walk away.
Without thinking, my hand shot out and I grabbed her wrist. "Wait."
Her skin was cool under my fingers. She froze. "Leave my hand," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "Right now."
"Elena, just listen to me!" I said, my grip tightening slightly. "I didn't play with your emotions. And you know what Caroline is like! She was playing with me. I just got free from her. And Matt... he came at me. He said things he shouldn't have. I was just defending myself."
She turned back to face me, pulling against my grip. Her eyes searched mine for a long time, like she was looking for the truth. Finally, she spoke, her voice quieter but firm.
"No matter what you say, Alex, you still hurt Caroline's feelings." She looked down at my hand on her wrist, then back at my face. "And she's my friend. As her friend, I just can't accept what you did."
With a sudden, strong tug, she ripped her wrist from my grasp. The force of it surprised me. She didn't say another word. She just turned and walked away, her figure getting smaller as she headed toward the gate.
I stood there, my hand still tingling from where I'd held her. I knew their friendship went way back, from childhood all the way through now. Even if Caroline had become showy and difficult, that friendship is still solid as rock.
I watched her until she disappeared from view. The system's task glowed in my memory. Become Best Friends With Elena.
A dry, humorless laugh escaped my lips. "Now," I said to myself, the weight of her words settling on my mind. "This is really going to be a little bit difficult."