Conclusion: William might finally be done with being perpetually single.
It started two days ago.
Kevin---William's ride-or-die---stole his phone and sent Vivian a 300-word "love confession" as a prank.
By the time William noticed, it was too late to unsend. He immediately texted an explanation, but Vivian never replied. Worse, for two days straight, she avoided him at school.
Vivian and William were childhood sweethearts. Their families lived close, met in preschool, later moved to Star City together, and attended the same high school---fate, basically.
From his pre-age-6 memories, William had crushed on Vivian. When he first saw her---already a little beauty---he'd vowed to marry her someday. Too bad he'd crossed over before making it happen.
Thanks to Vivian, William endured years of envy from classmates.
Did he care for her? Deeply. Like her? Sure---who wouldn't? But romance? Never clicked. Melodramatically put: no spark.
With graduation two months away, everyone would scatter.
Kevin, bored and meddlesome, decided to "set them up," hence the prank.
Now, Vivian finally replied:
"I accept."
William's stomach churned. Didn't I explain it was Kevin's prank? Why ignore that?
I got a clarify again…
Another ping:
"Today. Let's meet."
He hesitated, then typed:
"Sure."
2:00 PM. Mountain Green District. Walmart.
Vivian waited, the breeze lifting her hair. Loose waves, mint sweater, swirling skirt.
"Over here!"
Sunlight caught her smile---ten miles of spring. For a split second, William understood the simps. How'd I take this for granted?
"Sorry I'm late."
"It's fine! Lynn and I browsed the bookstore. Got your study guides."
He noticed Lynn against the wall. Ponytail. 5'7". Track star. Campus goddess.
Unfair, he thought. Porcelain skin despite the sun, curves under athletic wear, leg-slayer of straight men. Yet unlike Vivian's gentle rejections, Lynn had zero suitors. Her glare screamed ew, cockroach.
Wrong, he mused. Gorgeous... lesbian.
She glanced up. Her aura hit---cockroach feasting on garbage.
"Lynn, joining us?"
"Nah. Have fun."
Double standards!
Later:
Milk tea, movies, BBQ---picture-perfect.
Midnight. Empty street.
She spun, shadows stretching:
"Regretting your confession?"
"Huh? Regret what?"
"Confessing. Thought you'd be happier... Unless guys lose interest after 'winning'?"
"No---that text was---"
"You're hiding something. Distant all day."
True. The date should've distracted him from yesterday's... incident. Instead, anxiety gnawed.
"Viv... Remember your grandma's brain hemorrhage freshman year?"
"Yeah...?"
"Did you see her... body?"
"I was at school. Home... cremated."
"Oh." Exactly as I thought.
"Why ask?"
"Nothing..."
Bodies vanished too fast---no viewings. Grandpa. Her grandma. Erasing evidence...
"You're pale. What's wrong?"
"Ever think our world's... dangerous?"
"Stop scaring me!"
"That 'mental patient' last night? He was warning me."
He detailed it all. She clung to his arm.
"Maybe... a nightmare?"
"NOT a dream! I peeked---"
"Stop. Let's go."
"Don't you believe me?"
"I do."
"What I saw... an arm. Thigh-thick. Gray scales squirming like maggots..."
Moonlight sharpened. Her grip tightened.
"Like this, William?"
SNAP.
Pain tore through his wrist. Her arms split---scales burrowed in, drinking.
"You..."
Her other hand choked him, lifting him. Tendrils---greasy, cold---forced into mouth, nose, eyes.
CRACK.
Skull seconds from exploding.
"Thank you."
"You're my first Awakened."
"I'll never forget you."