Chapter 11: The Best Friend Protocol
Noah watched her walk toward the yellow school buses, her curls bouncing with every step.
When he finally turned toward the student parking lot, he found Katherine already engulfed by a whirlwind of blonde hair and high-pitched energy. Ashley Bailey had intercepted her friend before she could even reach her car.
"So, you actually did it? You gave the new guy your number, and you’re going on an actual, real-life date?" Ashley’s voice carried across the parking lot, making Katherine shush her with a frantic, laughing gesture.
Ashley clapped her hands together, practically vibrating with vicarious excitement. "I knew it! I saw the way he was looking at you in English. It was like... like he wanted to eat you up, Kat!"
Noah, standing fifty yards away, felt a cold shiver go down his spine at the accuracy of Ashley’s choice of words.
"Yep," Katherine answered, her voice sounding breathless and happy. "I did it. I went for it. He’s... Ash, he’s different. I can’t explain it."
"You don't have to explain it! He’s a ten!" Ashley squealed, linking her arm with Katherine’s as they reached Katherine’s old sedan. "I can see it now. I see the wedding in the orchard. You in lace, he in a black suit. He is looking all brooding and handsome. Growing old in a big house with a wrap-around porch."
"Ash, slow down!" Katherine laughed, fumbling with her keys. "We just met today. We’ve had two classes and a five-minute conversation. Let’s hold off on the wedding invitations and the names for our three children."
"I’m just saying," Ashley countered, leaning against the car door. "I’m the maid of honor. Obviously.”
“You have everything planned out, huh?
“I will be the coolest auntie ever. I’ll buy the kids all the loud toys your 'mysterious husband' hates."
"You are ridiculous," Katherine said, but her smile was wider than Noah had ever seen it.
As the girls drove away, Noah stood by his Bronco, the engine idling with a low, mechanical growl. He looked down at his phone—at the new contact name, Katherine Becker.
He thought of Leila. He thought of the blood on his hands from a century ago.
"I'm going to regret this," he whispered to the empty parking lot.
But as he pulled out onto the main road, heading toward the house where his "sister" was waiting with a cooler of stolen blood, he knew he wasn't going to stop. For the first time in a hundred and sixty years, Noah Riley felt like he was waking up.