The Birth of Vengeance (Vampire Formula #1) Read Online Free

Students shouted across the room to each other, while others sat quietly in the corners huddled together keeping out of the way and holding private conversations. Many of the students were discussing what had happened with Giles and the O’Keefes. All the time glancing over to the corner of the room at Giles sat by himself. Patrick and his friend Dave sat behind him. I guessed everyone knew. The teacher, Mr May, seemed none the wiser to the situation, even though the headmaster said they would keep an eye out. He did as he normally did, and read his newspaper waiting for the bell signalling his first lesson. Patrick and Dave whispered to Giles but I couldn’t hear what they said above the noise. I guessed from the contorted features as they spoke, it wasn’t nice. Giles’ face slumped and his shoulders hunched in to try to protect himself from their vicious words. Giles turned around and spotted me at the teacher’s desk signing in and he looked relieved but his face scrunched up in anger as yet again I walked away. Patrick began laughing and pointing at me. I withdraw to the door, red-faced from the attention and ashamed I had deserted him again.
    The bell rang. I bolted straight out of the door walking quickly to my first lesson and away from Giles and the extra attention. I sat in the classroom hoping someone else would sit next to me before Giles arrived, but the class filled up quickly and everyone sat at desks around me but no one next to me. I knew Giles would arrive soon and I would have no choice. Maybe it was for the best. I decided I would explain everything to him when he arrived. However, the lesson started and he never arrived, nor did Patrick and Dave. I sat there wondering what had happened through the rest of the lesson, wishing I had gone and sat next to him at registration regardless of what Dad said and the evil looks Patrick and Dave gave me. We were supposed to be best friends, and I knew Giles would have tried to look after me, he always had done. I darted out as soon as the lesson finished hoping to find him and redeem myself. I tried the chess room first, as we sometimes dropped in to arrange games for lunchtime and to hide away during breaks. I opened the door but couldn’t see Giles. The rest of the club, from the years below us, had already arrived. They were the closet people I could call friends after Giles.
    “Giles been in?” I asked hopefully.
    I received a stream of shaking heads. I walked past the cloakroom area and dived inside the curtain of coats hanging up. The cloakroom carved an alcove in the wall and we would sometimes hide behind the coats out of the way. No luck here either. I didn’t have much time left before the next bell and walked quickly on to the art room. Again, I got a shake of the head. I slouched off to my first lesson hoping I would find him on the way. I wanted to apologise for ignoring him earlier in registration and explain to him why I hadn’t been in touch, and tell him that I would do the right thing in court. I slouched into the room and saw Giles sitting at the front already. A moment of relief stood me up straight until I realised Patrick and Dave sat behind him. Giles’ clothes appeared dishevelled, and his cheeks bruised and face stained with tears. Patrick and Dave stared violently at me as I walked in. I looked away and went quickly to the back of the class, doing as my Dad instructed. Giles’ face turned to disbelief, as I again ignored him, and walked off leaving him to the bullies. My resolve had melted away and I had to face the truth. I was a coward. When it came to the crunch, I hide away and ran off hoping I would be left in peace. This is what I had always done to cope with the bullying, and even although my best friend needed me I still couldn’t find the guts to stand by his side.
    Ashamed and feeling guilty, I sat at the back of the classroom hiding from everyone’s gaze, unable to look anyone in the eye. The other students whispered