It has been two days now and Ariana isn’t awake, Charlotte cried each passing day and Austin had stopped talking.
He went to the kitchen and saw images of Ariana when she was cooking.
He left for his room his eyes drifted to the large basket of clothes and he remembered the way she held unto his shirt.
He sighed angrily and went to the gymnasium. He tried lifting weights but his thoughts kept drifting to Ariana. What was wrong with him?.
Why couldn’t he do anything without seeing Ariana’s face?.
Angrily, he left the house for school. He went to Bradley’s office and met him kissing Mrs Williams.
“Uhh hmm” He coughed and they disengaged immediately, Mrs Williams left the office while Bradley looked embarrassed.
“O… It’s not what you think” Bradley stutters, buttoning his shirt.
“Save your explanation. Why would you admit Dray Anderson without my permission?” Austin asked sitting on the chair.
“He’s my cousin and you were caught up in lots of things so I don’t want to bother you” Bradley apologized and Austin nodded.
“Which grade?” Austin asked suddenly.
“Hmm… Grade seven” Bradley answered.
“Wasn’t that Ariana’s class?. Why would any student transfer a month before the vacation date?” Austin thought, it didn’t add up, he had a bad feeling about this Dray.
He left for his class and as usual, it was noisy and Brooklyn was the subject of discussion.
They stopped their murmurs as they noticed his presence.
He sat down and a few minutes later, Candy walked inside excitedly.
“Hey” She said with a smile. Austin stared at her without saying anything.
“I haven’t seen Donald for days now, is he at your house?” Candy continued.
“Yes” Austin replied and he went to the garden.
It’s been a long time since he came here. The garden still had the scent of Ariana.
He sighed as he remembered the first day he met her. Those damned memories kept haunting him.
He was forgetting Nicole and replacing her with Ariana. He left the garden, headed to the park and saw Brooklyn’s car drive-in.
Brooklyn and Dray were stunned to see Austin in the parking lot.
Why would he come to school today of all days?.
They stepped out of the car and walked toward Austin
“Who’s this new minion of yours?. I see you’ve ditched Jack” Austin mocked as he scrutinized the new boy, something about this boy sent the chills down his spine.
“This is Dray, the principal’s cousin” Brooklyn replied defensively.
“Shouldn’t you be in class?. I still don’t get why a student would transfer a month before the vacation date” Austin said looking at Dray who wasn’t bothered.
“We had to get something, excuse me we have classes to attend” Brooklyn replied as he and Dray walked away.
Austin has an awful sensation about this Dray “Why would Brooklyn get close to him suddenly?. And why was he skipping classes?”
Austin drove to the shaman’s house and met him conducting some spells.
He waited till the shaman was done. “Good day, Austin” The shaman said.
“Good day” Austin answered.
“The human demon is closer to Dracula than you” The shaman said making Austin tense.
“Dracula is out to destroy you, no matter what it takes” The Shaman continued.
“Do you know the human demon?. Is it a male or female?” Austin asked with hope.
“Mo, it has wiped all its traces of being tracked. There must be something protecting it” The shaman said dashing Austin’s hope.
He left the shaman’s house.
At the house, Charlotte refused to do anything, other than watch Ariana.
Donald tried his best in making her leave but she refused.
He sighed and went to the kitchen.
“What was keeping Austin from coming home?” He thought.
“It’s 5:57 already and Austin isn’t home” Donald muttered.
Donald was hungry and wanted to order food but he was tired of eating the same food.
He wanted homemade food, hs thoughts drifted to Ariana.
“Why did she have to be in a coma?” He thought.
He walked to Ariana’s room and found Charlotte sleeping, still holding Ariana’s hand.
He didn’t have the nerve to wake her up so he went to the kitchen.
He brought out a pot from the cupboard, and add water, vegetables oil and salt.
He brought out a sachet of spaghetti and broke it inside the pot.
“This would be nice” He thought as he added pepper, ginger and yeast.
He brought out a turkey from the fridge, washed it and cut it into large cubes which he threw into the mixture before switching on the gas.
He saw images of stir-fries on his phone, then brought out carrots, and corn and threw them inside the pot and walked out humming to himself.
He went back after five minutes, opened the pot and the water had dried. He used the spoon to stir the mixture, smiling to himself.
“My first time cooking, yet I’m good. Austin would be so amazed” He thought as he dishes out the food.
He set the table for three and went upstairs to call Austin who had returned home a few minutes ago.
“Come downstairs, I made dinner” Donald said with pride and Austin stared at him, confused.
“You did what?!” Austin asked with shock
“I made dinner, don’t be surprised, I have lots of talents” Donald boasted and went to Ariana’s room.
He saw Charlotte awake, talking to Ariana. He sighed. Charlotte was becoming more distant.
“Come downstairs, I made dinner” Donald said waiting for a reply but got none.
He tapped Charlotte’s shoulder and she blinked.
“Yes… When did you come in?” She asked looking downcast and her eyes had dark spots around them.
Damn, she wasn’t sleeping. “I made dinner” Donald said.
“I don’t feel hungry” She replied and he groaned.
“Give yourself a break or you would burn out. I made dinner for the first time in my life and all I’m asking is that you have a taste” Donald pleaded, putting his hand together.
Charlotte thought about it for a moment and decided there was no harm in taking a few spoons.
“Okay give m a minute” She said and Donald smiled happily.
He went to the dining room, double-checking. He didn’t want any sign of forgetfulness. He wanted everything to be perfect.
Austin came down first and Charlotte came a few seconds later. Donald noticed Charlotte was afraid of Austin
“Who wouldn’t be, that guy doesn’t smile” Donald thought.
Donald pulled out the chair for Charlotte and sat down, smiling faintly as they all opened their food.
Austin stared at the thing his best friend called food, he wanted to laugh but restrained himself from hurting Donald’s feelings.
Charlotte opened the food and was surprised. “How would he make stir-fries with large, whole carrots?” She wondered.
Not wanting to hurt his feeling, Charlotte took a spoon, she ran upstairs immediately, clutching her stomach and Donald’s eyes dropped.
“Is the food that awful” He asked within.
Austin reluctantly took a spoon and spit it hurriedly, into his napkin, using his diet coke to wash the taste of pepper, salt and other ingredients he couldn’t taste.
“How does it tastes?” Donald asked looking at Austin with puppy eyes, wishing he would say something nice.
“You should taste it yourself” Austin replied, looking at Donald.
“Okay” Donald said, taking his cutlery.
He took a spoon and spit it out immediately, using water to wash his tongue.
“It tastes awful” Austin said.
“I just wanted to make dinner for us” Donald muttered.
The food tasted horrible. Charlotte went back downstairs and heard him saying he wanted homemade food.
She helped him take the dishes to the kitchen.
“Where’s the pot and other food ingredients?” Charlotte asked Donald who showed her where everything was kept and she was amazed.
She switched on the gas and began making spaghetti and meatballs. Donald watched her closely, trying to know where he went wrong.
She added the ingredients and he nodded his head seeing the little she added. She covered the pot and went to wash the dishes.
“There’s a dishwasher” Donald said and Charlotte opened her mouth in shock.
“There it is, it’s plugged already” Donald said and she stared at him.
“I don’t know how to use it” Charlotte said and he nodded.
He helped her to arrange the plate and then switch it on. Charlotte was stunned she heard of the dishwasher but never used one or seen one.
Donald helped her with the arrangement of the dishes. She opened the pot and Donald moaned as his mouth watered.
She tasted the food and waited for some minutes before she asked Donald to switch off the gas.
Austin had left the sitting room. He stared at her as he sat on the chair at her bedside.
“If only she didn’t go into comma, Donald wouldn’t have made his horrible food” Austin thought.
“Please wake up Ariana, you’ve become a part of my life that I do not want to lose” Austin said touching her cheek.
He rose and left, he saw Donald outside, who was about to enter the room.
“Come down Charlotte made dinner” Donald said and Austin looked at him suspiciously, then nodded his head and left.
He saw Charlotte sitting in the dining nervously. He sat down and opened the food, the aroma that met his face was pleasing.
He took one spoon and nodded his approval and Charlotte smiled. “It tastes better than the previous one” Austin said and Donald fumed with anger.
“Cocky bastard” Donald said. They all ate in silence and Charlotte cleared the dishes with Donald helping.
Next Day
Charlotte woke up and turned to Ariana but was disappointed she didn’t budge.
“Please wake up Ariana” Charlotte said as she took her bath. She come out and checked her bag for clothes.
She had worn all the clothes and they were dirty. Why didn’t she wash? She contemplated going downstairs but stopped.
“Donald!!!” she shouted twice and Donald ran to the room, thinking Ariana was awake. He banged the door and it was locked.
“Charlotte what’s wrong? Open the door” Donald said, trying to force the door open.
“Uhm, I have no clothes left to wear, sorry to disturb you” Charlotte said feeling guilty.
“Oh wait for a few minutes, I get you something then we would go shopping” Donald replied as he went to his room and brought out a jogger and a top. He went to her room and knocked.
“Charlotte, open the door, I brought some clothes” Donald said.
She opened the door halfway and stretched her hand out. He handed the clothes to her and she closed the door immediately.
“Thank you” She replied.
Donald left and saw Austin in the garden lost in his thought. Donald waved at his face but he didn’t blink his eyes.
“Damn look what Ariana has done” Donald thought sadly.
“Dude you need to stop thinking, she’s gonna wake up soon” Donald said to Austin who blinked like someone who just revived.
Austin sighed and used his palm to clean his face. “Why isn’t she waking up? everything feels so awful without her” He thought.
The day went by slowly with everyone moody and lost in thought. “What should we have for dinner?” Donald asked trying to brighten everybody’s mood.
“I’m not hungry” Austin said leaving for his room.
“Me neither” Charlotte replied going to Ariana’s room.
The day after
Everybody woke up, feeling super sad. Austin didn’t come out of his even after several knocks from Donald.
Donald went to Ariana’s room and Charlotte opened the door but kept silent holding Ariana’s hand.
“Do you wanna go out or have breakfast with me?” Donald asked breaking the silence.
”No, thank you” Charlotte replied with a hoarse voice.
Brooklyn was alarmed after Ariana didn’t come to school for days. He went to Bradley’s office.
“Why isn’t Ariana at school?” Brooklyn asked.
“I don’t know” Bradley replied.
“Doesn’t she has a line which you can call?” Brooklyn retorted.
“She’s a poor commoner her family can’t afford anything nice” Bradley said and Brooklyn gritted his teeth, trying to control his anger.
Brooklyn left for his brother’s house and meet Donald. “Hey man” Donald said and Brooklyn ignored him, going to Austin’s room, he tried to open the door but it was locked.
He teleported inside the room and found his brother lost in thought. “What makes the alpha this way? Nicole or perhaps Dracula?” Brooklyn taunted and Austin stared at him with pure anger.
“Why are you here?” Austin asked with fury in his eyes.
I want you to track someone for me. Ariana. She hasn’t been in school since” Brooklyn said and Austin’s anger increased.
“Why do you care about that human? Are you in a relationship with her?” Austin asked, clenching his fist.
“Why do you ask questions, I need you to find her, nothing more” Brooklyn retorted.
“No, I can’t” Austin replied.
”What the fuck is your problem?. Jst because your tracking senses are much better than mine you feel too arrogant!” Brooklyn yelled and Donald teleported into the room.
“Leave, I have better things to do rather than waste my time tracking a lady” Austin said.
“You’ll regret this, I promise I would make you regret this even with the last of my blood” Brooklyn replied and teleported.
Austin sighed and Donald put his hand on his shoulder.
Austin left and went to Ariana’s room.
“I need five minutes alone with her” Austin said to Charlotte who was sobbing silently. Charlotte left and went to the sitting room.
”Why would you do this?” Austin asked as he sat down beside Ariana.
“I know I was terrible to you at first but I’m begging you please come back. Don’t die” Austin told as tears ran down his cheeks.
“If you come back, I promise to start treating you nicely. I promise to take you to school every day and you’d never do any chores on this house” Austin let out as he kissed her knuckles lightly.
Her hand moved slightly and he looked up eagerly, seeing no reaction, his mood dropped.
Her hand moved again and this time he was sure he didn’t imagine it.
He held her hand and waited patiently for a reaction and slowly she opened her eyes.
“Wh… where am I?” Ariana inquired, holding her head as Austin stared at her with open eyes.
Excitedly, he hugged her, holding her tightly like she could disappear if he left her.
Donald and Charlotte went to the room and saw Austin hugging Ariana.
“You’re awake!” Charlotte screamed eagerly going to stay beside her.
Austin released and Charlotte ran to hug Ariana. “I missed you so much” Charlotte mumbled.
“I… I missed you too” Ariana replied.
“So nice to have you back” Donald announced with a grin and Ariana nodded.
“Austin, do not forget to call Sawyer’s Research team and tell them to stop the research” Donald said with a sly smile and both girls looked at him with confusion.
“At least I didn’t try to kill two people with my food” Austin countered and Donald’s face dropped, while Charlotte tried to conceal a smile.
“But you spent more than 100 million getting specialists from all over the world to start a research” Donald retorted and Austin shot him an angry look.
Ariana gasped while Charlotte looked at Jayden with shock.
“Enough already, I’ll call the doctor to check up on you” Austin said as he dragged the unwilling Donald out.
“Girl, your boss is crazy” Charlotte said and Ariana smiled.
He had hugged her, she had smelt his cologne and he smelled so masculine.
“Someone is dreamy” Charlotte said tapping Ariana who was smiling.
“Oh, I just remembered something, never mind. I have to take my bath, damn so I’ve been stinking for days now” Ariana said and Charlotte laughed.
“Silly, take a look at the equipment in your room, I wouldn’t bathe you when you have lots of things attached to you, I was the one who removed the oxygen tube this morning” Charlotte said and Ariana looked around.
“Wow, is this a dream, so my boss got all this just because I went unconscious? He is crazy indeed”. Ariana said and Charlotte chuckled.
“Go have your bath and let’s go downstairs, you need to eat lots of food”. Charlotte let out, laughing as Ariana pouted.