Katherine was in shock. It had been over twelve hours since Giselle had informed Katherine that her parents had agreed to allow Katherine to date Tyler. When Katherine had agreed to this whole thing, she had been absolutely certain that her parents would laugh at the very idea of it but then again, not twenty-four hours ago, Katherine had known with absolute certainty that there simply was no such thing as vampires.
Now, once again, Katherine was left wondering what she knew anymore. She felt angry, confused, and like her world was falling apart. What was next? Her parents told her she was adopted? Wouldn't that just be peachy...
Apparently, Giselle had spoken with the Coven the night before, informing them that Katherine was, to her great annoyance, not to be left alone, even for a moment Sofia had even kept watch over Katherine the night before while she slept and would continue to do so until Giselle believed Katherine out of danger.
It was driving Katherine insane, having bodyguards wherever she went. Her parents were in danger too, it seemed. Ray, Tracy, Moonbeam, and Jamie had been assigned to take shifts protecting them, staying out of school to keep a twenty-four-hour watch on them.
There was of course one benefit that Katherine didn't mind.
Mr. Smithers had been hostile towards Katherine after the lunchroom incident due to Giselle's 'talk' with him on the subject of bullying. He even gave her low grades because of it, knowing that Katherine was too proud to go to Giselle. Not only that, but he made a point of openly criticizing her work in front of the class, a humiliating experience as the students at Northview High had no problem getting a laugh at the expense of another.
When Katherine walked into the Biology Lab, she expected another hour of misery and humiliation. And, as always, Mr. Smithers seemed only too happy to oblige.
"Ms. Scott, you are late. Am I to continue to expect this blatant disrespect, or do you actually intend on making an effort at some point in the future? Between your pathetic attempt at biology and your-
"Is there a problem, Mr. Smithers?" Tyler said, walking into the room and stopping behind Katherine, his height easily allowing him to see over her head.
"As a matter of fact, Mr. King, there is," Smithers said with relish. "Ms. Scott arrived late to my class."
Mr. Smithers smirked triumphantly, believing that due to Tyler's well-known dislike of Katherine, he would have the support of Giselle's favorite.
“So am I. About.." Tyler looked at the circular clock hanging on the wall above Mr. Smithers' desk. "Three minutes late, if that clock is right."
Mr. Smithers' eyes widened and the other students had all their attention directed at the scene playing out before them. No one had expected that Ansel would drag himself into it. Mr. Smithers certainly wouldn't have mentioned Tyler's tardiness, and Tyler was well known for never standing up for anyone.
Ever.
Everyone watched to see what Smithers would do next. He had to play it carefully as no one ever messed with Lilith's favorites, even the teachers. Katherine simply stood there in front of Tyler, shifting her weight from foot to foot awkwardly, not sure what to say or do.
"Well... Uh, I'm sure you had a good reason for it, Mr. King," Smithers said helplessly.
Tyler thought for a moment and then nodded.
Everyone let out the breaths that they were holding, believing that there would be no confrontation.
"Well, I'm sure that Katherine had a good reason too," Tyler said.
Everyone's attention snapped back to Tyler with lightning speed, especially Mr. Smithers'.
Katherine rubbed the back of her neck, wishing to be anywhere else in the world.
"As a matter of fact, I happen to know without a doubt that Katherine had an excellent reason for being late," Tyler said. "At least, in my opinion, it was an excellent reason."
Katherine could hear the satisfied smirk in his voice and she knew this was going to be bad. However, nothing could've prepared her for his answer to Mr. Smithers' next question.
"Really? And what reason would that be?" Smithers asked in genuine curiosity.
"We were making out in the back of my Porsche."
Katherine's face went from white to beet-red, her eyes wide in shock and then anger.
I am going to murder him...
No one else moved - or even breathed, for that matter- as they tried to process the information. No one believed it, of course, that is, until Tyler wrapped his arms around Katherine's waist and kissed her left shoulder, pointedly looking at Smithers the entire time.
For a while, everyone wondered if Mr. Smithers was even breathing. He hadn't moved, he hadn't spoken- he hadn't even blinked. He just stood there, his dark-rimmed glasses framing his wide, glassy blue eyes.
"Now, I know what a very serious policy Northview High has on tardiness..." Tyler said snidely, rubbing Katherine's tension-filled arms, then moving her hair aside to kiss her neck in between every few words, sending delicious, naughty chills down Katherine's spine. "But perhaps. Kiss. "seeing as all detentions... Kiss. ".have to be approved by..." Kiss. "Principal Kingsley anyway…" Wet kiss. "...and I'm sure that we wouldn't wish to bother her.." Kiss. ." that you, being the generous, kind..." Very wet kiss." ...hearted person that you are, might allow us very, very unworthy students to escape unpunished.." Really wet kiss. "...just this once."
Tyler nipped at Katherine's neck with his teeth, all the students now on the edge of their seats, one even falling off, though no one paid attention to him as he scrambled to get back up.
No, everyone was too busy waiting for Mr. Smithers' response.
Smithers did the only thing that he could do in that position - he nodded his head adamantly without saying a word.
Tyler smiled and, putting his arm around Katherine's waist, he led her to the seat that Brock Johnson was sitting in.
"I'd really like it if my girlfriend.." Everyone gasped. ".could sit next to me. Would you mind?" Tyler asked, his voice polite and relaxed with an underlying threat lacing his words, like arsenic lacing a cup of chamomile tea.
Katherine watched Tyler's eyes glint dangerously as he stared Johnson down. The room once again held its breath, not a single person daring to even blink.
A moment passed. Another... and another. Katherine could see the sweat dripping into Johnson's eyes.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Johnson slowly rose, his eyes never leaving Tyler's.
Tyler's eyebrow rose in a silent dare.
Go ahead, Katherine thought he seemed to be saying. Do it and watch me rip your heart out.
Katherine did not doubt that he'd do it too.
Johnson's gaze fell and a slow, triumphant smirk extended Tyler's lips. Tyler had Won.
Johnson quickly gathered his things and moved to another seat, kicking a nerd out of a nearby chair to gain a little of his tattered self-respect back.
Still smirking, Tyler pulled out a seat for Katherine on the high lab tables.
Katherine grumpily sat in it, spending the whole class glaring at Tyler.
He'll pay for this later...
As time wore on throughout the day, Katherine changed her mind about making him pay for her discomfort. Although she was stared at the entire day by everyone, not a single person dared be unkind to her.
Katherine was beginning to wonder if there weren't some benefits to this whole 'dating' thing.