Chapter 8

After the strange call from Nathaniel I had not heard from him again. I tried several times to call him but would be sent straight to voicemail each time. After three days I received a text from him saying:

"I am fine Maya. Please don't worry."

That was it, and even though I knew something was wrong, what could I do? I couldn't go there because it could be too dangerous. I had no choice I had to trust that if he was in danger he would let me know. So when Monday arrived I had tried to focus just on my classes. I was required to take a few filler classes because it is my first year, so the first class for me was classic literature. I was kind of excited that this class was available since I was a big fan of classic stories.

I packed my backpack with the books I needed and my new iPad that had arrived the day before. The girl at the student shop had been right, it took some weight off of all I needed to carry today. I decided to dress pretty basic today, since dressing to impress on the first day wasn't something I figured people did in college. I opted for some washed jeans and my Stranger Things t-shirt, and my converse. I pulled my hair in a messy ponytail and did some basic makeup. I still felt like I looked cute but not like I was trying too hard. I had to blend in anyway and not draw too many eyes!

I rushed out of my apartment and walked toward the entrance of the University to join the crowd of students heading inside. Campus was pretty busy with club sign up tents all along the pathway leading to my first class. There were a few clubs that caught my eye, but I didn't know if it was a good idea to join any clubs. I would get too close to people and they will want to know more about me, so maybe a pass was for the best. After getting lost at least twice I finally found my first class, and found an empty seat near the back. I took out my iPad and looked through some note taking apps before deciding on one called goodnotes.

I was one of a handful of students who were early but I don't think anyone had noticed me or they were all too focused when I arrived.

"Hey is that seat taken?" A voice said next to me.

I looked up from my doodling and saw a slim petite girl standing beside me. She had a friendly smile, big eyes, and glasses.

"Sure." I reply moving enough for her to get by me.

"Thanks!" She says happily before siting in the seat next to me and not in any other seat available in the row. Great.

"My name's Annie! What's yours?" She asks reaching a hand out to shake.

"Maya." I say simply and shaking her hand briefly.

"Maya? That's a pretty name! It actually suits you!" She says.

"Thanks!" I reply not making an effort to continue this conversation.

"Are you a literature major?" She asks pulling out her supplies.

"No I am an art major, this is just one of my filler classes." I replied simply.

"Oh really? That's cool, so you want to be an artist?" She looks at me with a friendly look.

I really did not want to make friends but this girl was so nice I felt bad being cold to her. I used to be such a nice person but I felt like being cold made it easier to chase people away. Even though I had been shy and quiet I was never mean, and I didn't want to start now.

"I would like to, I always liked art but never took classes. So I wanted to learn all I can while in college and hopefully get better!" I tell her finally smiling back.

"That's great! Well I am a literature and writing major, I want to be a writer! So this class kind of fit my major that's why I picked it, thought some of the classics can teach me a thing or two about how writing is done!" She says with a small laugh.

"That's so cool, can't wait to read some of your stuff!" I tease.

"Oh God, I am too embarrassed to let anyone read what I have written! I am nowhere near good enough yet!" She says covering her face.

"I am sure you are better than you think! We are always our toughest critics!" I reassure her.

"That is true huh? Well, if you promise not to judge me too harshly then maybe I'll share something!" She says blushing.

"I hope so!" I smile at her and laugh.

"So have you made many friends yet?" She asks after a few moments of silence.

"A couple of people! Someone named Tommy showed me the local burger place a couple of days ago! I am glad because knowing where to find a good burger is like my top 5 musts!" I say.

"Tommy huh? We actually went to the same high school together, although he was a couple years ahead of me. He was always nice but very popular so I never really hung out with him." She told me.

"Oh really? Yeah he gave me directions when I came last week. I ran into him again on a run and mentioned I was craving a burger!" I felt a little embarrassed about how much of a pig I must sound like going on about burgers all the time, but they are my weakness!

"That's sweet though! At least he has shown you around a little. Now when you are ready for the best Carmel Macchiato, let me know and I will show you this amazing cafe I go to!" She says proudly.

"I will definitely take you up on that!" I say with a small laugh.

We talked for a few minutes before the professor came in and cleared his throat to get the class's attention. He was a middle-aged man with black rimmed glasses, and salt and pepper hair. He actually reminded me a lot of my dad, which caused a wave of sadness to flow over me. Then something strange happened, I lifted my eyes to pay attention and the professor was looking directly at me. I glanced to each side of me trying to see if maybe it was someone else he might be looking at. Our eyes met for a second and a sad look came over his face for a second causing him to stop speaking for a moment and then he glanced away and was normal again.

"What was that?" Annie leaned over whispering to me. "It looked like he was looking directly at you. Do you know him?"

"No." I replied shaking my head.

I was just as confused, because the look he gave me wasn't one of familiarity but of sadness. But why? It was really strange, but the class went on like nothing strange had happened. He spoke briefly on what he hoped we would get out of his class, and passed out the semester syllabus. I glanced it over and saw a section named 'Classic Fairytales, based on truth?' Now that sounds kind of interesting! I looked over some of the classic fairytales and my eyes stopped on The Little Red Riding Hood. For some reason I felt weird studying about a story involving a talking wolf that wants to kill humans.

My parents had told me stories of the war caught between humans and werewolves and how stories had been written about them. However, I don't think this particular story was what they meant. I am sure our ancestors do not find such stories amusing after the past they endured. My parents had said when humans discovered our kind they did not hesitate to kill us. We were monsters, cursed, demons to them. In those days fear drove all human actions and many of our kind who were innocent were not spared. I found these stories to be scary as a child but my father told me that they were lessons for us, that we need to conceal who we are around humans.

Many times I thought that we would have nothing to fear if we had not moved into a human territory and left our pack. Now I wished my parents had been more honest with me and told me their reason for leaving. I had been lost in thought as I walked to my next class that I bumped right into someone and fell to the ground. Books fell down beside me, and I rushed to pick them up and hand them to the person I ran into. When I looked up I saw a face I had not seen before, a handsome face at that!

"I am so sorry! I was not paying attention!" I said quickly.

"It's ok cutie, bump into me any time!" The guy said with a smirk.

Ok...

"Oh, well I am really sorry again. Bye!" I say stepping to walk away but he grabbed my arm preventing me.

"Wait! What's your name?" He asks amused.

Should I give him my real name? Decisions decisions....

"Maya." I cave and tell him truthfully.

"Cute. Names James! You new here?" He asks.

I turn more toward him and nod softly.

"I guessed you were! I am sure I would have remembered such a pretty face if I had seen you before." He says smirking again.

Were all the guys here flirts?

"Thanks." I say blushing and looking down at my shoes.

He laughs a little.

"Hey James! Let her go!" A voice comes booming behind me.

I turn to see Tommy walking quickly toward us.

"I said let her go." He says again in a deeper more threatening tone.