The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven (102 page)

             
“Yes. One of the ways to kill a full vampire is a stake through the heart,” he said.

             
“And the other?” I asked hesitantly.

             
“Decapitation or incineration,” he said, like it was no big deal. Like this was something people did every day. 

             
“What about us, half-vampires?”

             
“You can be killed just as any human can.”

             
“Oh,” was all I could say.

             
“Ella, I don’t want you to feel overwhelmed. You can do this. I know you can. Now let’s start with the small stuff and work our way up.”

             
Billy helped Gabe assemble some dummies and Roman and I stood back and watched as they both demonstrated some moves. After we worked on them for a while we moved onto staking and then decapitation. It was not as easy as it looked and I had a hard time getting the stake to stick or chop the dummies heads off. “It’s alright Ella. I don’t expect you to get it the first time around. Let’s stop here for today and pick up tomorrow. Meet me outside the teachers’ lounge at four.” I nodded as I headed back to my room to shower. Roman followed me back, but I suggested he shower in his own room. After he whined for about ten minutes he finally gave up and left.

             
Now alone, all I wanted to do was crash on my bed and sleep for the next few days. Unfortunately that wasn’t an option I had. I knew the moment I sat down I wouldn’t get back up. I dragged my feet into the bathroom, got undressed, and got in the shower. I let the steam soothe my aching muscles and then thought maybe I should have let Roman shower with me. With him here I could have had him soothe me with his heat. I guess I’ll just have to hit him up later for a massage.

             
As I rinsed the sweat from my face I thought about everything that happened in the last twenty-four hours. It was crazy to think I lost my virginity and woke up to find out I have to face my enemy in a few days and possibly lose some of my friends and I can’t even warn them. This all just seemed unfair. Once again I found myself dealt a bad hand. I wish there was a way I could talk to Josie again. Find out some more information and well, just talk to her.

             
“You know, I’m still waiting to know who that gorgeous guy in your bed was.”

             
I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sound of her voice. “Christ Josie!”

             
“The one and only,” she cooed.

             
“Please don’t tell me you’re here to warn me about something else because my plate’s full. I can’t handle anymore right now.”

             
“No. This problem is all mine,” she said sourly. “Finish up and I’ll wait for you in your room and explain everything.”

             
I quickly finished my shower and got dressed thinking she might be on another time limit like last time. “You know Josie, you really have impeccable timing. If I didn’t know any better I might actually start to believe you are a lesbian, considering you keep popping up when I’m in the shower,” I teased.

             
She rolled her eyes. “Please, if I was a lesbian you would not be my first choice.”

             
“Thanks, I think? So to what do I owe the honor?”

             
“They found out I was here,” she said.

             
“Who?” I asked. She pointed to the ceiling and looked up. “What are you exactly?”

             
“Duh, isn’t it obvious?” She turned and pointed to the wings of her angel costume.

             
“Josie, you really expect me to believe you’re an angel?”

             
“You’re half-vampire. Why would I being an angel be so unbelievable?”

             
“Seriously Josie, you really want me to answer that?” She threw a pillow at me. “And what’s with the costume?”

             
“It’s kick ass and I thought it was fitting,” she smiled.

             
“Are those real wings?” I asked, reaching for them.

             
“No. I got temporarily stripped of my wings until they figure out what to do with me.”

             
“Wait…what happened?”

             
“Like I said, they found out that I came to warn you and I’m not allowed to intervene. But I couldn’t let you not know. I couldn’t see you hurt.”

             
“So what does this mean?”

             
“It means I’m stuck here until they decide if they trust me enough to come back.”

             
“So…you’re like here to stay?”

             
“For now,” she nodded.

             
I couldn’t help but scream for joy. I leapt up, tackling her and wrapped my arms around her tight. I felt horrible that Josie was being punished, but I was happy to have my friend back even if it might only be temporarily. “Sorry,” I said. “I just missed you so much.”

             
“I know. I missed you too. I was able to check in on you from time to time, but that wasn’t enough.”

             
“So that was you in the library?”

             
“Guilty,” she smiled.

             
“You know, because of that stunt you pulled I’m now deemed as the crazy girl.”

             
“It was bound to happen with or without my help,” she shrugged.

             
Too excited to care, I ignored her jab. “I have so much to tell you, but first we have to figure out what to do with you.”

             
“What do you mean?”

             
“Well, you’re not like invisible are you? This isn’t like I’m the only one who can see you?”

             
“Geez Ella, what the hell are they teaching you here? No I’m not invisible. I’m living flesh so to speak.”

             
“So, you’re like, human?”

             
“Yes and no. I still have some of my powers. See, I can do this.” She closed her eyes and in a blink she was gone.

             
“Josie?”

             
“Boo!” she said from behind me.

             
I jumped. “Okay. How about you not do that again,” I said, clenching my chest. “Now, how am I going to explain you to everyone?”

             
“Simple. I’m the awesomest person in the world who came back to save your butt.”

             
I stifled an eye roll. “I’ll figure something out. How about we get you a change of clothes and grab some food because I’m starving.”

             
“I see some things haven’t changed,” she giggled. I rummaged through my draws for an outfit she could wear. “Please don’t tell me I have to wear one of those god awful uniforms.” She cringed at the thought.

             
“No. I have some jeans and plain shirts you can borrow.”

             
“Ella, what happened to your wardrobe? Once again I’m gone a few months and everything goes to shit. And what’s with all the tattoos? I admit they’re freakin’ hot, but not something –”

             
“Here,” I said, throwing clothes at her and cutting her off. “I’ll explain everything later. I promise.”

             
“You better because I still want the dish on that hottie,” she winked.

             
As we got ready to leave, I stopped before I opened the door. “You do know Billy’s here and he’s going to freak when he sees you?”

             
“I hope so. I mean, I am his beautiful lost love back from the dead…so to speak,” she said, fluffing her hair.

             
“Don’t you think maybe we should warn him first? Maybe prepare him so he doesn’t have a coronary?”

             
“I prefer to go with shock value,” she said, pulling me out of the room.

             
Oh boy.
I couldn’t wait to see everyone’s faces when they saw Josie. This was gonna be interesting.

             
I held my breath as we approached the doors of the dining hall. “You ready?” I asked Josie.

             
She took a breath, pushed her shoulders back, and held her head high. “I’m ready.”

             
I took her hand and braced myself as I opened the door. All the students turned to look at us as we descended the stairs. “What’s the matter? They never saw an angel before?” Josie joked. “Is it always like this?

             
“Yes, but that’s usually because I’m the topic of conversation.”

             
When we reached our table and Dixon saw who was standing next to me his jaw dropped to the floor. He sat there, rubbing his eyes as if they were playing tricks on him. Josie automatically went up to Dean and ruffled his hair. When he turned around and saw who it was he skidded back in his chair. “What the…”

             
“What’s the matter Dean? You look like you saw a ghost,” she giggled.

             
“H-how?” Dean stuttered.

             
“Look, long story short, she was an angel until she interfered and she’s being…” I tried to find the right word.

             
“Punished,” Josie mumbled.

             
“Riley, I think I need your glasses,” Dixon said, making Josie’s head shoot up.

             
“Dixon? Oh my god!” she shrieked, running over to him.

             
“I can’t believe it? You’re real,” Dixon said, looking her over. “You surprise us and this is what you decide to wear?” Dixon said with distaste.

             
“It’s Ella’s,” Josie said, making a face.

             
“Oh,” he said, understanding.

             
“Hey, I’m right here you know,” I complained.

             
Dixon squeezed Josie tight. Dean just sat there too shocked to speak. “Umm, okay, is anybody else here lost?” Cameron said.

             
“I’ll explain later,” I said just as Billy walked into the room. “This is about to get very interesting.”

             
When Josie saw Billy I noticed her eyes were starting to well up with tears. She stepped out in front of me and when Billy looked up and saw her, he stopped dead in his tracks. Josie took a step toward him, but he didn’t move. Then slowly, one by one, they each took a step until they were face to face. “Is it you? Is it really you?” Billy asked, lifting his hand to touch her face. Josie nodded unable to speak. Billy’s eyes flooded over with tears as he took Josie in his arms.

             
              I felt like we shouldn’t be here. It was like we were invading a private moment that should be between only them. Josie pulled back and planted a big fat kiss on his lips. I had to clear my throat to remind them they were still in a crowd of people. “I hate to break up this reunion, but we don’t have much time before we have to meet Gabe and I’m starving. You all know how cranky I get when I don’t eat.”

             
“Sorry,” Josie giggled as she took Billy’s hand.

             
When we got in line to grab food I asked Billy if he had seen Roman. “He said he’d be here shortly,” he told me.

             
Roman showed up as soon as we sat down. “Everyone, this is Josie, and this is Cameron, Sienna, Riley, Justin, Blake, Reagan, Austin, and Roman.”

             
“Wait, Josie as in the friend who died last year?” Cameron asked.

             
“In the flesh,” Josie said.

             
“But how is that?”

             
“Long story, I promise I’ll explain later,” I said.

             
“So, you’re Roman. I have to admit you look as good with your clothes on as you do off,” Josie cooed. Everyone at the table looked at her and then at Roman, wondering what the hell was going on. I had forgotten to tell Josie that my relationship with Roman wasn’t public knowledge. I squeezed her thigh hoping she would get the hint and shut up. “What?” she said, looking at me.

             
“Spying in the boys’ locker room again?” Dean said laughing.

             
“No, Ella’s room,” she said.

             
“Josie!” Roman’s face paled and I just wanted to crawl under the table and die.

             
“It must have been when Mackenzie was still living there,” Roman said, trying to distract everyone.