Page 38 of Zodiac Hybrids

Fifteen years… so she was nineteen. I was pretty sure that made her one of the youngest in the class. Actually, at twenty-two, Marcus was the only person older than me in Astrology Club. Which was probably why I felt even more embarrassed by my lack of experience or social prowess. I’d spent a little time in the real world working at the observatory in between my community college classes, but it was only just enough to make it harder to relate to those younger than me, yet still too inexperienced to feel wise or knowledgeable. I’d call it an unhappy medium.

I fixed my gaze on the water, feeling impossibly awkward as these girls talked about a literal sex demon who was also our teacher, and who also railed me on a table in the cafeteria where we all ate our lunches.

“And unlike guys our age, I bet he can actually find the clitoris.” Evelyn added next, breaking into a laugh at the end of her sentence. Linda giggled as she punched her friend playfully in the shoulder.

“At least you’re compatible with him. You’re a Pisces, aren’t you?” Linda was still giggling as she and her roommate splashed each other.

“I don’t think he’s even looked to my side of the classroom.” Evelyn sighed. “You get all his attention, little miss Aquarius.”

Linda blushed at the remark, and I was surprised she was capable of being embarrassed. “I mean, we just have good chemistry. Astrology isn’t everything.”

“What do you think, Lila?” Evelyn called to me next, and my whole body jolted at the unexpected attention. “Marcus seems to like you, if all the attention he gives you in class is any indication. Would you mind luring him away, so we can sneak into Dr. Karras’ room tonight?” Evelyn elbowed her friend, and I swallowed in silence.

They both continued to laugh. Because it was just a joke. And I was taking it all way too seriously. There was no logical reason I should be jealous of these girls. And yet, my irrational brain was comparing myself to them in every possible way, from looks to personality to confidence to desirability. If Adrian hadn’t taken my virginity in some bought of mania, would he even be acknowledging me?

“Do you really think Marcus likes me?” I asked, admittedly wanting to hear that validation from a source outside my own confused and hopeful point of view. Though he spent a decent amount of time with me, he hadn’t kissed me since that first night, and I was admittedly a little terrified I was so bad at kissing that I’d been friend zoned. He felt like the much less complicated person to focus on in this conversation, anyway.

“Obviously,” Linda’s snort at the question was more amused than mocking. “Setting aside that he’s all over you, like, every single class, how could he possibly not? You’re cute as fuck.”

“O-oh, you think so?” I was completely taken aback by the compliment.

“I know so. If you guys are in the friend zone right now, that’s only because you haven’t picked him yet. He picked you on day one.” She waved a hand dismissively. “I was considering going for him myself at first, but that ship had obviously sailed.”

I kept expecting Linda to be a mean girl because she was so pretty, but somehow I felt like the dick when I realized she had nothing bad to say about anyone.

“I’m sure if you made any effort to win him over though—”

“Nope.” Linda shook her head before I could finish my sentence. “If I have to convince a guy to pick me, I don’t want him. If I’m not his first choice, then he’s not even my last choice.”

Evelyn nodded beside her. “You’re obviously that guy’s first and only choice. So if you want him, get him.”

I looked between the two girls I’d unfairly judged after a long school career of pretty bullies, and instead of hating them for their perfection, I envied whatever it was that made them so comfortable in their own skin and self-worth. Their easy confidence applied to everything in their lives, and I wished I knew what it felt like to never have any reason to feel threatened or insecure.

Maybe I could be like that, too. Maybe they were right.

Daniel scoffed from the other side of the pool in some sad bid for attention. “Is this the kind of stuff girls really talk about?”

“Oh please.” Linda rolled her eyes back at him. “As if men talk about anything other than all the places they want to put their dicks.”

“This is why guys like the professor are so much more appealing than twenty year old man-children.” Evelyn added for a finishing blow. Daniel shrunk back into his shut-up-and-listen mode, and even I found myself giggling at that.

This wasn’t so bad. It was actually fun talking to Linda and Evelyn. I hoped this could be the start of actually having friends.

Chapter 23

“Well this is going to be fun.” I noted with thick sarcasm as I threw my bag onto the queen bed in my double room with fucking Marcus.

“Hey, I was going to bunk with Lila. This little dysfunctional sleepover was your idea.” He threw up his hands in defeat, though the smirk on his face said more than his gestures. “Smooth move giving her her own room though. Do you really think that, with my vampire speed, I won’t be able to sneak in quietly?”

I glared at my petulant little brother. “Don’t you have to be invited in? Your vampire speed doesn’t mean anything when your entire species is ruled by ancient custom, now does it?”

“Not. When. She. Bears. My. Mark.” Marcus enunciated each word very slowly, while he tapped the side of his neck. I couldn’t argue. I knew she did still bear his mark, despite my equal claim.

“Does she even know you’re a vampire? Does she know you marked her and you have a trigger tonight too? Or have you conveniently left out the fact that you’re just as risky a companion as I am?” I asked with a raised brow. He was infinitely aggravating, and the chances that he was up front with her about his own species seemed exceedingly unlikely. “I’m sure she’s figured out the mark on her neck is a Leo symbol by now.”

He pursed his lips, but glanced away. An obvious tell for his lying. “I’ve been feeding her hints.”

“Hints? So that’s a no.” For the devil’s sake, Marcus. “She hasn’t even asked you about the mark?”