[ WP ] An excerpt from the most cliché young adult novel

Chapter 17 - One Human 
 
 Maebeleine Windstorm threw back her vibrant, red flowing hair. All of the other cadets in the Academy made fun of her for her hair, the way her bangs lightly fell into her catlike, bright green eyes, the way her light curls bounced up and down when she ran. She wished she had straight brown hair like the other cadets. She wanted so dearly to have hair like Creisandra, who was pregnant and already showing after having sex just once, as always happened here in the United Confederation. 
 
 The sirens sounded in the dim evening air. `` Shit,'' thought Maebeleine, using up her swearword for the chapter, the Reapers will be out before long. She clutched her books close to her chest, careful not to drop her copy of *Pride and Prejudice* ( which was her favourite novel ever, but which she has n't opened once so far in the book ) or her biology text. Despite her iron grip, she dropped her books, startled by a dark, husky, muscular silhouette that suddenly appeared as she rounded the corner. The phantom stepped out of the darkness. Maebeleine gasped in relief. Thank goodness it was only Jaeson. 
 
 Jaeson, his raw, rippling muscles exposed from a tear in his shirt gleamed against the bluish glow of the street-lamps, ran toward her. `` Run!'' he whispered, `` the Reapers are coming.'' 
 
 `` There's nowhere to run, Jaeson,'' Maebeleine asserted. `` We'll have to hide.'' 
 
 `` Where are we going to hide?'' Jaeson looked worried, `` there's nothing around but bakeries.'' 
 
 Maebeleine knew just what to do. Utilizing the skills she attained as a humble baker's daughter before she was drafted into the Academy, she made Jaeson and herself a clever disguise from icing. They were nearly invisible when the Reapers passed, fresh blood dripping from their metallic fangs. The blood sucking creatures sniffed at the makeshift frosting hovel, but smelled only sugar. Maebeleine and Jaeson huddled close together, shaking while the Reapers made their rounds. Screams were heard in the distance, and the gurgling, guttural noises of the Reapers ceased, Maebeleine became acutely aware of Jaeson pressing close against her. She felt his soft skin, his warm breath, and felt the rapid beating of his heart. 
 
 The two of them emerged from their sugar cave and out into the street. The sun had long ago set, but there was still enough light for her to see a deep, red gash through the tear in his shirt. `` Jaeson, you're bleeding! Did the Reapers hurt you?'' 
 
 He brushed away her concern with faux coolness, `` Yes, Maebeleine. It's only a scratch. I'll be fine.'' He winced. 
 
 `` Jaeson, we need to get you to a healer right now.'' 
 
 `` Do n't worry about it,'' he insisted, `` it wo n't be a problem.'' 
 
 `` Jaeson, their venom will kill you. Please be reasonable.'' 
 
 `` I am being reasonable!'' he said softly and calmly. 
 
 Maebeleine was n't so sure, but if there was one thing her mother taught her, it was how to spot a liar. `` What are you hiding from me, Jaeson?'' she asked. 
 
 `` Nothing,'' he asserted. 
 
 She flipped her bright, red hair out of her vibrant, green eyes. `` I do n't believe you,'' she said, `` You're keeping a secret.'' 
 
 `` No I'm not.'' He was clearly lying. 
 
 `` Yes you are, now spill it out or I'll report you to the Bureau.'' 
 
 `` Please do n't do this, Mae,'' he pleaded. 
 
 `` Do n't tempt me,'' she warned. 
 
 `` Fine,'' he relented, `` but you have to promise not to tell anyone.'' 
 
 `` Deal,'' she said. She brushed back a lock of her red hair. 
 
 `` I'm half Reaper.'' 
 
 His words hung in the air like a death-knell. Maebeleine checked over her shoulders to see that no-one was listening in, then leaned in and said, `` so am I.'' 
 
 Jaeson pulled her in close and whispered, `` You can not tell anyone under any circumstances. If the Bureau found out that either of us had Reaper blood, they'll send us to the Hunger Maze; the entire Academy would be liquidated.'' The concern in his voice washed over into tenderness. `` I am half-reaper, as are you, together, we are one Reaper, and one human.'' 
 
 She pulled away, `` Jaeson, do n't.'' 
 
 He pulled her back in, `` Maebeleine, I love you. We were meant to be together. Ca n't you see?'' 
 
 She pulled herself away from him and gave him a hard slap, `` Do n't. Do n't do this, Jaeson. I'm in love with Jayke. You ca n't change that.'' She walked away. 
 
 `` You ca n't change *this*!'' he shouted as he pointed to the blood seeping from his wound. She did n't turn to look at him. She simply kept walking. 
 
 ( edit: *I do n't write very good because my grammar is not well. * )
