(Freya Milano)

I can’t believe Alexander took my car from me because I’d been having road trip on my own out of town.  I needed some real fresh human blood and ever since Alexander has taken the security in this town, I cannot feed on Afton.  He’s keeping the blood bag from me and I have to feed on ratio.  Now I have to walk everywhere. 

The best thing about Afton is it has a few lakes I can go to.  Lake is where my mind can be in peace.  The calm and clear water is definitely a sight to see with the trees around the lake.  Most important of all, it is very quiet.  I need some quiet moment sometimes. 

I just sit facing the lake.  I bend my legs and put my arms around to hug them.  This night is getting colder. I could just sleep here and spend the cold night in the open air.  I used to do that a lot in my wild years. 

“Your brother was looking for you in the grill.” I lift up my head just when I’m about to rest it on my knees. 

I just say without looking who that person is. “He’s such a pain in the ass.  I think you’re starting to be one too.”

When I turn my head to the right he’s already positioning himself to sit next to me.  He makes himself comfortable instead.  He’s wearing his signature outfit, shirt, jeans and vest. 

“Are you following me?” I come to different lake than the first time we met. 

He waves a flask in front of me. “I brought this for you.” He takes my hand and pushes the flask on my hand. “You can pay for this later.”

I open the flask and drink it.  I don’t really like the taste.  It’s some kind of bourbon. “What are you doing here? Besides to be Al’s second in command?”

“I went to the lake we met the first time but you weren’t there so I guessed I had to find in another lake.  It’s amazing that Afton have a few of them right.” He drinks it after I give the flask to him.  After that he keeps it in his jeans pocket.  He gets up and extends his hand to me. “I’ll give you a ride home.”

My vampire hearing catches a crack of leaves.  I get up in a second and put my finger on his lips so he stops talking.  I’m trying to warn him with my eyes so he doesn’t make a move.  When he looks like he’s about to take a step back, I pull him closer by grabbing his vest. 

My hand moves slowly down to his tight, while my hearing keeps working on tracking of where that noise comes from exactly.  Jamie is so tense but he’s holding himself not to utter a word or move.  I take out the flask from his jeans pocket and throw it right away at the direction I’ve planned in my mind based on my hearing.

“What you did?” he yells at me but I hurriedly run into the woods to where I assume the noise comes from.  I can hear Jamie is catching up on me but I’m way in front of him.     

I stop when I find a guy at my age lying on the ground right at the center of the woods.  He looks like a mess and definitely drunk that I can smell him like alcohol.  I observe his condition and can tell he won’t make it.  Blood is seeping through the vein on his neck.  There’s also a fresh wound on her head.  He’s barely breathing.    

Jamie comes a few seconds after.  He sounds out of breath. “What! How?” he is so shocked his jaw drops open.  He blinks his eyes a few times.  I stop him when he’s going to bend down, checking on that guy. “What are you doing? He’s dying.”

“He’s as good as dead in a few minutes.  Why bother getting our hands and clothes dirty for this?” I let out a sigh and look around to see if maybe I can hear and smell where that vampire has gone. 

“There’s no harm in trying.” He’s already fixed the wound in that guy’s neck with his shirt.  He’s a stubborn ass.  He carries that guy himself, putting his arm around his shoulders. “At least when we fail, we know we’ve done something.” 

“I’m not part of it.  There’s no ‘we’ in it.  You go by yourself and good luck dealing with his dead body on the way later.” I throw my hands up.  With no more arguments he just leaves with that guy and we part ways. 
-----

Alexander just doesn’t drive me crazy now he drives me to College today.  He promises he will give my car back if I behave normally.  I miss my dark purple Ford car.  He got himself a new jeep just a week ago. 

“You let a man die two days ago.” I roll my eyes at that.  Of course Jamie would tell Alexander. “You could have saved him.”

“What do you expect me to do? Your hunter boy was there with me. I couldn’t just shoved the dying man my blood.” I sound snippy even to myself.

He leans in to the wheel and thinks for a while. “Would you save him if you were alone?”

“Al, I don’t think you need to ask that.  The answer is obvious.” I roll my eyes again and get bored with this conversation.

“You wouldn’t.” He says in whisper. 

I argue. “It’s not my fault to begin with.  I wouldn’t clean up someone else messes.” Though, I honestly just never like to give my blood to anyone.  I’m very selective of that.  

“We’ll have a little meeting tonight with those who will be the team.  I want them to meet you because you will help me more in the future.” He changes the subject. “Go home soon and make yourself ready.”

I just nod then lean in closer to peck his cheek but he flinches. “Isn’t this normal brother and sister thing?” he just looks at me in silence. “I’m just kidding.  No seriously, when did the last time you’re being affectionate with me or even anyone?”

“Just go.” He says in his normal cold voice.  I pat his cheek before getting out of the car.  

I check on my pocket watch and think that I must be so late for class.  The hallway is empty so I speed up a bit.  I’m interested in this class because of the professor.  Professor Zefrine likes discussing a lot of things with me.  He could be my father at that age. 

“Freya!” I see a girl a few meters in front of me walking towards me.  She runs a little. “Professor Zefrine class? It’s canceled.” 

I look confused. “I don’t know you.”

“Jane Garcia.  We have the same class.” She says.  The purple highlight in her hair is so catchy.  I like that color. 

“Okay.  So why are you still standing here on my way?“ I tell her.

She smiles. “Do you want to grab something to eat? It’s a lunch time.  It’s my treat.”

“Why? We’re not even friends.” I don’t really pay attention to anyone in this college.  I only know a few but I don’t really do friends here. 

She laughs a little. “We might be sooner or later.  I’ve heard a lot about you and your brother Alexander.”

“Yeah apparently everyone in this town heard about the Milano.  But I don’t have time to have a ‘meet and greet’ time now.” She leaves after I say that.  Then I remember the list of names of the council members and founder families in Afton that my brother gave me.  Garcia.  Jane Garcia.  Her family is a council member. “Wait, Jane.  Can I take that lunch offer now?”

“Definitely.” She waits for me to catch up on her. 
*****

Isn't Freya so accurate? Lol I always like chapters when Freya and Jamie get to interact, don't you?
And welcome Jane Garcia! A new character that will be important too later

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