Chapter 6: Misunderstanding blow up!
If looks could kill, Ruelle would be six feet under in the dining room by now. The vampire's glare pierced through her with an intensity that would have silenced anyone else.
The young man who had caught her from falling wore a disarmingly gentle smile. Chuckling softly, he shook his head. "That must have been quite the ordeal. What business could a vampire have possibly wanted with someone as lovely as you?"
Adrenaline surged through her veins, pulsing like a drum in her ears and sending her heart racing. She couldn't help but babble her way out.
"Oh, it was all just a big misunderstanding!" Ruelle exclaimed, waving her hands animatedly. "I meant in the forest, not the market—the forest! Actually, he wasn't that bad. It was entirely my mistake." Her words tumbled out in a rush, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she bowed slightly and hurried to the table where other humans like herself were seated.
Spotting Hailey waving at her from the Groundlings' table, Ruelle felt immediate relief. She quickly plopped down beside her.
"I can't believe you ended up with that Clifford girl," Hailey said after swallowing a mouthful, her tone a mix of disbelief and sympathy.
"Neither can I," Ruelle replied with a nervous chuckle, feeling the weight of her situation pressing down on her. "How about you? Will you be okay?"
Hailey met her gaze with a reassuring nod. "I hope so. It would have been nicer if we shared the same room."
Ruelle felt the same and managed a weak smile. Although a gnawing anxiety clung to her, at least she wouldn't be sharing a room with a vampire. How bad could sharing a room with June Clifford be, right?
After a moment, Hailey nudged Ruelle with her elbow and whispered, "I think they're looking at you..." just as Ruelle was taking a bite of her food. Glancing up, Ruelle noticed a few senior human girls and a few others from the Halfblood table watching her intently.
Her heart began to race anew, a surge of panic washing over her. She swallowed quickly and asked, "Did I miss something?"