Deadly Romance

By Stacy Urbina

About the Book
Seventeen-year-old Jason Martinez has it all, good looks, straight A’s, and well-known as a star basketball player in his high school. But with the arrival of the beautiful and mysterious Terina, Jason’s high school career just became a lot more interesting.
Terina is no ordinary student. A vampire fleeing organizations worldwide attempting to trap her and studying her, just her presence begins to put the citizens of Springville in danger. Now navigating school, grades, parents, and throwing vampires and diabolical agents in the mix, Jason’s life becomes a Deadly Romance.

About the Author
Stacy Urbina, fourteen, has been writing for two years. She also enjoys painting, going to the park, and imagining even more stories and how to turn them into films. She uses her own experiences as inspiration for her tales.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Company
• Release date: May 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798888128305

Book preview

Chapter 1: Introducers

"Eighteen-year-old Mike Morales found dead in his apartment room. Cause of death is unknown, but it appears that he may have been attacked by something or someone unknown. Bite wounds found near his neck and arms. This has investigators questioning as to who wanted Mike dead and what did he do the last two hours of his life. Witnesses did see a young girl walk out of his apartment a few hours before his murder.

Ms. Moira Morales, what did you see last night?

I saw a girl with brown hair, purple or a type of dark eye color it seems, and she was wearing a light pink crop top with jean shorts, and she was wearing rose-gold glasses, with Air Jordans I think.

Mr. Torres Tumares, what would you say about ‘her’?

She had pretty straight brown hair. I think a rare type of eye color it sees, and uh, she was wearing a red pretty bow, and she had a crop top. I couldn’t see what color because I was afar,

Ms. Loriella Lopez, what did you see?

I think she had a little spot of blood near her glasses, or I think it was her arm, I forgot, but I did hear a scream next door, and it made me wonder what was going on,

Anyone with any other information, contact your local police department or call 911 for further instructions. This is Maria Gennys with the local 10 news, the news lady said.

Straight brown hair, purple eyes, crop top, short, sheesh, she might be pretty, but a murderer. I didn’t know who she was at the time, nor did I ever think we’d both fall in love with each other. I didn’t realize who she was until it was too late. I found out the most horrible way you could think of. I’m Jason Martinez, an ordinary guy who fell in love with an ordinary girl, or so I thought.

November 13th, 2017, 7:21 a.m.

I was just sitting home, watching TV when my mom stupidly turned off the TV as she told me to get ready for school.

"Jason! Ve a buscar tu mochila, tienes que salir de aqui a las 7:30!" my mom yelled.

Okay, okay, where is Dad? I asked.

"He’s outside washing su caro," my mom said.

She had a British accent since her mother is British and her dad is Cuban, which is why she knows Spanish.

I need to talk to him, I said.

Here, give Mommy a kiss, my mom said.

I walked up to her in embarrassment and gave her a kiss in the cheek.

Today, I’m going to make your favorite, spaghetti with garlic bread, my mom said.

Can’t I get a McDonald’s or Burger King? I asked.

"No, Jason, those types of food make you fat, okay. Call me quando estas en escuela, okay?" my mom said.

"Sure. Adios, Mama," I said as I walked out the door.

This kid is going to be the end of me, my mom said.

As I turned the knob locking the door, I had forgotten my dad was outside washing the car. I had a beautiful Honda Civic, almost brand new. As I bleeped the car unlocked, I opened the door, and just as I was about to get it, I was stopped when I heard someone yell my name.

Huh? I questioned as I looked around.

Then from the corner of my eye, I saw my dad running towards me. I sighed.

"Hey, mijo, why so early?" my dad asked.

I have to pass by getting breakfast. Mama was too lazy to make me some, I said.

Oh, okay. Hey, listen, today, after school, I was going to ask if you wanted to come with me to work on my latest car model, my dad said.

Oh, sorry, Dad, I was going to hang out with the boys, Oliver, Max, Tyler, and Benji after school, but maybe tomorrow? I asked.

Oh yeah, sure, son, no problem, just don’t forget that today Mother is going to cook you lunch and dinner, okay? my dad said.

Sure, she already told me, so see you after school, I said.

Okay, bye, son, my dad said.

As I closed the car door shut, turned the key to start the car, my phone starts ringing but I couldn’t answer since I had already started to park out of the driveway. As I drove off to buy breakfast, I realized I forgot to bring cash.

Fuck, I forgot, I said to myself.

I had no choice but to get school breakfast. As I parked my door on the parking lot, this random girl walked up to me. I awkwardly stared at her until she spoke.

Hey there, the girl said in a low British voice.

Oh, hi, I questioned.

What’s your name? the girl asked.

Uh, Jason Martinez…? And you? I asked.

Terina Turner. I’m new to this school and I-I need help finding my classes, Terina said.

Oh, sure, let me see your schedule, but why me? I asked.

Because I just got off the bus and you w-were the only one h-here, Terina said.

Oh, okay. Let me see your schedule, then, I said.

Her phone, it was all cracked, and the screen was barely visible. It was an iPhone 8, poor girl. As I watched her log into her schedule, she kept shivering as if she was cold, but she reminded me of someone. She had a pink headband, straight brown long hair, light pink crop top, jean shorts, pink eyes, and rose-gold glasses. I swear I’ve seen a girl familiar as her, maybe the girl from the news, but I doubt it; looks innocent. Once she logged into her schedule, she walked a bit forward and showed me.

Okay, so... I said.

My homeroom is Ms. Anderson. My period one is calculus, period  is marine biology, period three is physical education, period four is dancing, period five is US history, period 6 is Chinese II, period seven is English eleven, and period eight is music technology, Terina said in a low voice.

Oh, hey, we got periods one, two, three, five, and six. Don’t worry, today’s periods you got with me, so I know where most of these classes are, I said.

Oh, well, what about periods four, seven, and eight? Terina questioned.

I have basically all your classes, but periods four, seven, and eight are mixed up for me, and my homeroom is Mr. Smith, so, basically, I know where all of these classrooms are, I said.

Oh, thank god. What are the periods today? Terina asked.

Oh, I don’t know. They usually say it in the announcements, I said.

Oh, okay. I’m going to uh, breakfast because I haven’t um, eaten, so I’ll be on my way, Terina said.

Oh, I also have to go to breakfast, so I’ll walk you? I asked.

Sure, Terina said as she smiled.

As me and Terina walked towards breakfast, she kept looking down at the floor. At this point, I found her attractive. She was pretty and that’s all I can say, but having calculus in eleventh grade? And also the fact that she also has marine biology. Sheesh, she might be as smart as me, then, or smarter. As we arrived in breakfast, I opened the door, only to find that it’s empty.

It’s...empty? Terina questioned.

I don’t get it, it’s supposed to be full, I said.

Check the time, Terina said.

When I grabbed my phone from my pocket, I turned it on, only to realize that it’s 8:10; homeroom already started.

Ahhhh shit! I said as I flinched.

What happened? Terina asked.

It’s fucking 8:10! Homeroom has already started! I yelled.

Oh, Terina said.

We gotta go! I’ll drop you off first! I said as I got a hold of Terina’s wrist.

Wait, wai,t wait! I don’t want you to be late. You have done enough for me. I can find my way, Terina said as she tried to remove my hand from her wrist.

No, you’re new and I don’t want you to be lost. Teachers here are rude and strict, and if you’re late, they are going to blame it on you, so let me take the blame, I said.

Jason, I— Terina said as the bell rang.

 The bell rung. It’s my fault this poor, innocent girl is late.

Fuck, we missed homeroom, I said.

It’s fine, Jason. Let’s just go later and excuse our tardiness, Terina said.

Fine, let’s walk to period three, then, I said.

In my mind, I couldn’t stop thinking about how it’s my fault she was late and now they are going to think she skipped school, even though she’s new. As we arrived to the gym, we sat down in the seats next to each other and just waited for the bell to ring so we could each go the separate locker room.

The bell rung and the PE coaches came, Coach Burellos and Coach Garcia, both boys. I just stood still as I saw from the corner of my eye Terina shivering and shaking like crazy.

All right, all right, settle! Coach Garcia yelled as he blew the whistle.

Now listen up! We have a new student with us today. If they would kindly present themselves before we do, I don’t think we would have a problem, Coach Burellos threatened.

Um, should I? Terina asked me.

Yes, trust me, you don’t want them to present your grades, where you’re from, how old are you, when’s your birthday, et cetera. They know everything about anyone in this school, I said.

But I’m a shy person, Terina said as she looked down and sighed.

Just do it, I believe in you, I said.

Terina exhaled as she raised her arm and said her name.

My name is Terina Turner. I just transferred from Scotland and came here to Alabama because of a personal issue. So far it’s been okay I guess, Terina said.

And...? Coach Burellos asked.

That’s all I can say, Terina said in a low voice.

Thank you, Ms. Turner. Now I hope you are a fit, girl, because we go hard on the girls, not so easy like they do in middle and elementary, so today we will be doing a lap test to see how fast you are and to see if you need any improvement, Coach Garcia yelled.

Girls go first, so go change in the locker rooms, and then, boys, go right now after them, Coach Burellos yelled.

Terina got up and went to change, but she whispered me something.

I’m better than the girls here.

What did that mean? I didn’t really care, and as she walked to the locker rooms, it made me question, Is she actually? A few minutes passed by and Terina came out with a grey leggings and a grey PE shirt.

Is that all the girls? Coach Garcia whispered to Coach Burellos.

Yes I think it is. All right, girls,!o to the basketball court. We will be right there. Boys, go change in the locker room! Coach Burellos yelled.

Terina kept staring at me as I stared at her. She went outside as I went to the locker room. After I changed, I came outside to watch the girls run. The coaches blow the whistle.

All right, listen up! Six lap test, around the field, pass six it’s an A, and if it’s a five a B; anything lower is either a C or F without curving it. This applies to everyone! Now, girls, get in line, Coach Garcia yelled.

Terina was standing under the shade, and just as she peaked out a bit, I saw smoke come out from her skin. She flinched a bit and walked back into the shade.

Ugh, fuck, Terina said to herself.

I walked up to Terina and asked if she was okay.

Hey, Terina. What happened? Are you okay? I asked.

Yeah, it’s just that um, I’m delicate to the sun, Terina said.

Oh, want me to tell the coaches? I asked.

No, no, it’s fine. I’ll tell them myself, Terina said.

Something seemed off about her. She was acting weird; she was acting as she could do this but also something was holding her back. I ignored it, and she walked up to Coach Garcia, holding her sweater on her head.

Hey, Coach, I uh, need to tell you guys something, Terina said nervously.

Yeah, sure, go ahead, Coach Garcia said.

So, do you see why I have my sweater on my head? Terina asked.

Get to the point here, Ms. Turner. I don’t got all day, Coach Garcia said.

Okay, yeah, sorry. I can run really fast, but problem is that I’m delicate to the sun and— Terina said.

Woah, woah, woah, stop right there. What are you, a vampire? Nothing such exists and no excuses. You have to run, Coach Garcia said in disappointment.

Okay, I’m sorry to bother you, Terina said as she walked towards the field.

Since I overheard the conversation, I was worried, but at the same time, Coach is right. There is no such thing as vampires, right? Anyways as Coach Garcia was about to blow the whistle, Coach Burellos stopped him and called out to Terina.

Ms. Turner! Take that sweater off your head or it’ll fall and get dirty! Coach Burellos yelled.

Right, sorry, Terina said.

She slowly pulled the sweater off her head, and she sighed. All of the sudden, the sun disappeared, and the clouds covered it. She got lucky for whatever she was hiding, and so Coach Garcia blew the whistle, and the girls ran. As a good method, Terina ran slowly and then sped up as the laps proceeded. She ran faster than all the girls without getting tired, and she was the first to complete all six rounds and still have enough energy for three more laps, and

that’s what she did. I was surprised that she could do that many, and she was new to the school.

Coach Garcia, I finished nine laps in total, Terina told Coach Garcia, gasping for air.

Wow, Ms. Turner, I’m surprised you did this many without stopping. Ain’tno girl had ever accomplished this, Coach Garcia said.

Thanks, Coach, Terina said as she walked up to me and she sat down.

You did good out there, I said.

Like I said, I’m better than all the girls here, Terina said.

After I ran my laps full of sweat, I sat down and had to go to the locker room and change. After I did that,, the bell rang, I rushed out of the locker room to walk Terina to her next class, but one of the coaches held Terina back.

Uh, uh, uh, Ms. Turner, I’m gonna have to hold you back a few minutes. Mr. Martinez, you can go, Coach Burellos said.

Wait! But she’s new, and we have all classes today together, and she needs to find her way to the classroom, so that’s why I’m here and I need to stay, I said.

Terina looked at me in the eye and smiled; she knew I was defending her. She turned back to the coach to see what he would say.

I’m pretty sure she can handle this on her own. When you guys were here the first day, you had to do this yourselves and— Coach Burellos said.

No, because we came here on the summer camp before the actual school started, and she came here like what, four months after, without a tour of the full school? She wouldn’t know anything, and she has me to help, I said.

Hm, I don’t get why you are defending her so much but okay. Ms. Turner, the only reason I called you is because they marked you absent during homeroom, and you too, Mr. Martinez, Coach Burellos said.

Oh, right. It is because we both arrived to school late, and by the time we were on our way to homeroom, the bell had rang, and you know if we had stopped by homeroom and excused our tardiness you would be mad that we arrived late to your class, I said.

Fair point. Anyways, come to my office so I can write you guys a pass, Coach Burellos said.

As he walked to the office, Terina stood still and turned around to look at me and smiled.

Thank you, she whispered.

No problem, I whispered.

As Terina peaked through her watch to see what time it was, the bell rang; now we were late to class, again. We heard girls and boys yelling in the separate locker rooms. Coach Burellos came out with half a piece of paper, and we knew it was the pass.

Who’s your next teacher? Coach Burellos asked.

Uhhh, Mr. Potela, calculus, Terina said.

My thoughts: How the fuck does she know his name already?

Here, you two kids watch each other. See you on Wednesday, Coach Burellos said.

Okay. Bye, Coach, Terina said in a soft voice as I opened the door for her.

We both had a bunch of things to say, I already felt it. Terina walked silently and so did I.

So uh, what happened in there? I asked.

I’m just a shy person and I hate talking to people, Terina said.

What about me? I curiously asked.

We are friends, aren’t we? Only because I asked you to show me the classrooms, Terina said.

True, true. So…did you take pre-calculus in your other school? Or are you smart? Because new people usually take pre-calculus, I said.

Oh yeah, I’m actually really smart, and uh, yeah, in my other school I took pre-calculus before I moved here, Terina said.

Cool, and where are your parents from? I asked.

I, um, well, I’d rather not say, Terina said.

Cool, so, uh, the classroom is right upstairs to our left, I said.

Why is this building so big? Terina asked.

Because this is a famous school here in Alabama. By the way, why come here to Alabama? All the way from Scotland? I curiously asked.

Well, I can’t say; it’s top secret, Terina said.

My thoughts: What? Top secret? She’s a spy now? I aint gonna be friends with a spy.

Well, uh, here this is the classroom, I said.

I knocked on the door two times and just stood still next to Terina until they opened the door a few seconds later. My friend Max opened the door.

Hey, Jason! Look who came into class with a girl! Max said to the whole class, laughing.

The class chuckled as Mr. Potela peeked to see who it was. He put his marker down and yelled.

What is the meaning of this! Why are you late, Mr. Martinez? And who are you? Mr. Potela asked.

Oh, I’m a new student. We came late from PE, and w-we have a pass, Terina said.

Hmmmm, fine, come on in, Mr. Potela said, snatching the note out of Terina’s hand.

Max held the door open as me and Terina walked in.

Sheesh, who’s the new gal in our classroom? Oliver asked.

The boys stared at her, as the girls wrote on their papers. Me and Terina stood still, not knowing what to do until Mr. Potela spoke.

Name, please, Mr. Potela asked.

Terina Turner., Terina said.

Mr. Martinez, sit down! Mr. Potela yelled.

Yes, sir, I said as I looked at Terina.

I sat in between Oliver and Max, meaning they make me loose focus and concentration in this class.

Psssst, Jason, who’s the new girl you came in with? Oliver whispered.

Dude, for once he finally did it with a chick, because he came in with her late, dog! Max said, laughing like a witch.

All right, all right, Max! Everyone work on page sixty-seven; we will be checking in fifteen minutes before the bell rings! Mr. Potela yelled.

I fucking hate this, so let’s take a moment to introduce my most annoying friends. We have Oliver. Oliver is a very chill, attractive, smart, and shy guy. He makes corny jokes sometimes, and that’s when Max comes in. Max is the class clown; he is kinda smart, a very talkative kid .Whatever you say, he makes a joke about it. Then there is the wannabe badass Tyler. He is the kid who always gets in trouble and tries to be with girls, but he fails. Last one of us is Benjamin’ we call him Lil’ Benji. He is the one who gives us rides and is usually the one that plans every little shit to meet up. Then there is me, the smart, kind, chill, funny, and attractive type of guy; the others agree that Oliver is more attractive, but I don’t. Anyways, Mr. Potela called Terina to come up to his desk.

Ms. Turner? Mr. Potela asked.

Yes, what is it? Terina asked.

This isn’t your full name, is it? Mr. Potela asked.

I overheard the conversation. That isn’t her full name?

Oh, um, yes, it is why? Terina asked.

Because here in my roster, it pops up Teresa, hm? Mr. Potela questioned.

Oh, um, that’s my middle name. I’d rather not talk about this type of stuff, Terina said.

Okay, so today we will be um, how to differentiate formulas. Sit down and I’ll give you a book. I hope you brought paper because I’m limited on paper, Mr. Potela said, coughing.

Okay, Terina said as she turned around and sat down.

Great, I was one of those kids who sat all the way in the back and know the answers to everything. Now Terina is in the front, three seats and one to the left in front of me, near the window. Anyways, Mr. Potela grabbed a book and gave it to Terina.

Write your name on it and whatever you want, but you can’t take it home, Mr. Potela said.

Terina rolled her eyes as he walked back to his desk. She began working on the page Mr. Potela told the whole class to, even though she wasn’t supposed to since she was new.

It’s okay, Ms. Turner, if you don’t know any of this stuff. It’ll take a few classes to understand this type of concept we are learning, Mr. Potela said.

Oh, okay, Terina said as she smiled.

As I did my work, questions twelve to twenty-three, Max passed me a note. I rolled my eyes at him since he knew I couldn’t lose concentration and yet he made me. I