TWO | BLACKBERRIES
I stare at the schedule spread over the black backpack on my lap. My car's off and I'm just sitting here, staring at the white sheet. I've done this a billion times, starting a new school, but my nerves are still frayed, my Wolf restless deep inside. And despite the restful night of sleep, I'm feeling exhausted.
Just keep your head down, and nose clean, Wisty. Mom's words float into my mind, words she's repeated for years. I take a deep breath and look up at the students milling around the parking lot and filtering steadily towards the entrance of Kiwina High. It's a large, three-story building made of simple grey stone, giving it an ancient and slightly imposing appearance. I fold up the schedule and open the car door, tucking my keys into my left pocket and the schedule in my right with my phone.
So, I swallow my anxiety and keep my eyes low as I cross the parking lot and march up the steps of the high school. As I go I don't make eye contact with the humans that are going in with me, but I definitely feel multiple eyes watch me curiously as I walk down the halls. The bell hasn't rung yet so people are still loitering around the main entrance, sitting on the steps leading to the second floor or leaning against the walls. Some are walking in the same direction I am, towards the lockers that line the long hall beyond the entrance.
The long rows of lockers, all painted a very disgusting shade of yellow-brown, have flyers pasted haphazardly across their fronts. Something about an upcoming dance. I'm briefly reminded that it's October, not that I was trying to lose track of the date, but the thought of this month sends a little shudder through me. One month closer to my birthday in December. We're not quite there yet, but the day I turn seventeen is looming ever-closer.
I stop in front of my locker, at the very end of the long row of lockers, and silently unlock it. All my textbooks are in this little metal box and I mentally sift through my schedule to remember what books I'll need for the first half of my day. By the time I finish the bell has rung, sending the mass of loitering students up the stairs and out of the halls. I follow the steady stream of teens up the staircase a few feet from my locker once I've stowed my books. My very first class of the day is short, but it's also on the fifth floor of the building.
If I weren't surrounded by others, I'd be running up the steps using my Wolven strength to easily make my way up without breaking a sweat. But I am surrounded practically all the way up to the fifth floor, so I keep up appearances I force my breath out harshly, huffing a little up the last flight of steps and slowing my pace to match the others. I'm almost relieved when I enter the classroom pretend to catch my breath.
The teacher has keen, gentle brown eyes, straight black hair that falls to her shoulders and mocha skin. She reminds me of my principal back in Michigan, and after the brief introduction I'd made earlier yesterday I'm almost sure they're related in some way. Or maybe I've just been circling the country for too long. I shake my head, knowing I need to focus, especially here. Somewhere in the class, I sense Wolven. But the blasted human noise and smells are throwing me off, and I can't pinpoint their position. My frustrations are brushed away as the teacher speaks.
"Good morning." The woman gives me a warm smile, which I do my best to return and walk into the room. I pause by her desk and hand her my schedule. The councilor here instructed me to get the paper signed and turned in at the end of the school day to 'make sure I get to my classes' on my first day. It's something a lot of schools do, I realize.
"Good morning, Ms. Lewis." I say to her when I've noted all the possible exits and planned for any eventuality that may include issues with the Wolven in here.
"There are a few empty seats at the back, Ms. Holland. Class will start in a few minutes." Lewis tells me, passing the paper back to me. I nod and fold it back up, slipping into my pocket. I turn to face my classmates, they're murmuring amongst themselves like gossips. I feel my hair cascade along the sides of my face, the only indication of my more primal instincts taking over as my chin dips down. My eyes flicker around the room as I take a deep breath and remind myself how many times I've done this.
The claustrophobic atmosphere twists slightly as I catch the stormy grey eyes of a guy - scratch that - Wolven, watching me from the right. The sunlight from outside plays with the flecks of light in the darkness of his eyes, and for a second - the briefest moment - I note a flicker of recognition. It gives me just enough curiosity to force my instincts back under control. I tilt my chin back up and stride to the back of the room, ignoring the eyes and whispers until I take my seat near the window in the last row.
The window wouldn't be an obvious means of escape for a human, especially since we're on the fifth floor, but for any Wolven, it's a tactical route of escape. I set my backpack on the floor and open the largest zipper and pull out a black and white composition book and a pen. As I set them on my desk, I get a little sense déja vú.
"Wisty," Identical crimson hair flashes in front of my face as my look-alike sits across from me.
"Mm?" I blink, a little smile twitching at my face as I set my pen down. Though she's my cousin, I could almost swear we were twins. Paris.
"Mr. Vey is done talking, you know." She smirks at me, nodding at my notebook on the desk in front of me. I'd been mindlessly taking notes, letting my thoughts drift as words from our teacher were converted into scribbling.
"Oh." My eyes refocus on the class around us. Our classmates made up of mostly humans and a few Wolven from another pack are grouped and talking freely now that the lecture for the day has ended.
"Anyway," Paris absently sweeps her hair over her shoulder and scoots closer to me, her cerulean eyes laser-focused on my sapphire ones. That's the only difference in our appearance - our eyes. Sometimes I wish they were the same so we could claim to be the same person. "Grams was telling me you should come over for breakfast tomorrow. Neither of us likes you being in that house all alone. Especially not on such an important day." I feel a little pang of loss in my chest. Mom left last month, left the pack, left me. And now I'm going to have to face my birthday alone.
"Yeah. Why not?"
"Mornin'." A gruff male voice interrupts my thoughts and I look up at the guy who just addressed me. I feel a twinge of surprise as I see two guys standing in front of my desk, one takes the seat in front of me, the other beside me, boxing me in. One is the one who's eyes I met earlier, the other I don't recognize. They share the same coloring, dark hair, grey eyes, and light skin - they also look close enough in facial features to be related. That's when I note something else, the scent of something feral, wild and a little sweet coming from both of them. They're definitely Wolven. My own Wolven side begins to stir unease in my stomach and I wish I'd eaten something before I'd left the house this morning.
"Hi." I mutter to the one who'd spoken, the one in front of me. He's bulkier than his counterpart, dark hair in a buzz cut style, grey eyes so dark they're almost black, everything about him screams Alpha. But when he glances at the other guy beside me, I realize he's more than likely a Beta. I'm getting rusty.
"You're new." It's not a question, so I don't say anything back to the guy. He's still watching me carefully, waiting for me to make a move, maybe, but I don't. "I'm Yuri Azure." The name Azure throws me off, yesterday mom had mentioned the Azure Pack and I become curious.
"Scarlett Holland." I say, using my father's last name, though on my birth certificate my names' hyphenated with both names, Holland-Reinier. Not to mention only humans call me Scarlett, my given Wolven name being Wisteria, but I won't give my true identity away by telling them that.
"Scarlett, fitting." Yuri grins, glancing at my hair. I feel heat rise to my face, making his smile even wider. "Sorry, I'm sure you get that all the time." He looks at the guy beside me like he's waiting for a cue from him to continue. "This is my cousin, Zane Azure." Cousins, that explains it then.
"Hi." I repeat to Zane, looking at him after a second of silence. His eyes border on silvery grey, threaded with darker flecks that make the coloring fluctuate in an oddly hypnotic way. His black hair falls into his eyes, casting slight shadows in his eyes that make me want to see if the silver is more prevalent or the grey. I want to touch his hair, sweep it away from his eyes and find the answer to my question. But I don't. Won't.
"Hello." His voice is gentler than Yuri's, calmer and quieter, but there's an almost clipped and cold note to it too. His expression is blank and, like Yuri, he's not giving much away. But I can definitely sense the Alpha in him. Its presence radiates, like heat from a furnace, seeping into my skin, though, oddly enough, it calms my inner Wolf. He's not here to hurt me.
"Alright, everyone. Take your seats." Lewis calls out to the class, the shuffling humans finally stop talking and meander into empty desks. Yuri gives me one last little smirk before turning around and taking the seat in front of mine. I get the sense that this isn't ordinary for the two Wolven to be sitting in these seats, there's a bit more whispering and glances in our direction as people take their seats. Even Ms. Lewis casts a quizzical glance our way, but she looks back at her computer monitor after a quick second. Oddly enough, when a human comes over and sees the hulk of a Wolven in his seat he just goes pale and walks away. What is it with these guys? Do these humans know about the Wolven in this town? I've never heard of such an occurrence, and I'm pretty sure it's not natural, but then I realize that these guys must receive special treatment if they're part of a large pack.
Azure. The name is odd for these fair-skinned Wolven, the word could be French or Spanish, maybe rooted deep in Latin roots too, but my mind goes immediately to the Spanish translation. Blue.
Ms. Lewis begins class as if nothing has changed, not bothering to introduce me like to the class like I'd expect. So I just sit back in my chair and begin taking notes. It's earlier October, so I'm sure the class is already used to a set schedule revolving around the class, but she insists on mentioning certain parts of history about the town as she talks. She makes several announcements relating to town life and some events in the school. I'm only half-listening, though I'm still taking brief notes as she talks.
My mind begins wandering again. At this point it's almost second nature, thinking about the past and other assorted things while teachers are lecturing. It's a bad habit, I'll admit, but it comes in handy more often than not. Now, my mind drifts to the present rather than sinking into past memories.
I'm noticing certain things about the guy beside me, Zane, who's watching me out of the corner of his eye. I can feel the weight of his gaze, studying me carefully. Just like a wolf sizing up another animal, trying to decide if it's a predator or prey. I've been scrutinized like this before, many times over the years by other Wolven in a couple of other cities. I'm used to it, trying to relax my tensed muscles and look meek and unaware of the watching Alpha.
It's best that he sees me as prey, a lone Wolven, not encroaching on his Pack's territory, but trying to be normal. I try not to look like a runaway, try my very best, but by the way he keeps looking at me, it's like he can sense I'm hiding something. I'd better try to stay away from this guy.
The bell rings after a few more minutes, homeroom being just a short, thirty-minute beginning to the day, I quietly gather my things. My attention is fully focused on the task at hand - or at least that's what I want the two Wolven to think. They stand after a minute, both clearly watching me slowly put my things away and attempt to avoid them, but it's clear after a few more seconds they're not just going to disappear.
"Well, it was nice to meet you, Scarlet. Maybe we'll have some other classes together." Yuri says, smirking a little at his cousin. I glance at Zane - his face gives away nothing, but his eyes get a little more silvery when he looks at me.
"Hm." Is all I respond with as I shoulder my backpack and brush past them. I silently pray I won't have to deal with these two anymore throughout the day. It's not like I have something against other Wolven, but I really can't have them inquiring about what Pack I may or may not belong to. They're obviously more perceptive than they seem.
My next class is Physics with Mr. Shannery, an odd man who wears way too much plaid and hasn't seemed to have shaved in the last few years. His brown hair is tinged with the white of age, but he's not altogether unpleasant. I have him sign my schedule before he directs me to an empty seat at the back of the class. This is one of the many reasons I love coming to a school after the first weeks of class. Almost every teacher I know likes to compress their class after the first day, leaving the last row or the sides empty. It's perfect for escape routes.
The only problem is: this room doesn't have any windows. It's an interior room with two doors, one of which seems to have been nailed shut. So really, there's only one way out. But I guess if there's a silver lining too that fact, it's that all my classmates are human. There's not a whiff of Wolven in the room as I settle down, pulling my Physics textbook from my bag.
Mr. Shannery begins writing today's assignment on the board, straight from the pages of the textbook. He doesn't make a move to explain the topics, just writes the page numbers down and explains to the class that the assignment will be due by the end of the period. I think I'm going to love this class. I do my best work alone. I'm practically self-taught after all these years on the run. The work is a piece of cake, my pen flies across the page as I answer the questions and thumb through the textbook.
Finally, I'm set free again, relieved that the monotony of the class as the bell rings. But I'm not in a rush because my next class is one I'm sure I'll detest. Math.
I don't know what it is about math that always seems to annoy me. Maybe it's the countless algorithms or the fact that numbers can't be explained in multiple ways the way other subjects can. But I know I'm going to hate this class the second I enter. Though maybe it's the chatty atmosphere that suddenly becomes silent the second I set foot in the room. Or maybe it's the familiar feeling of silvery-grey eyes on my face as I make my way to the teacher's desk. Mr. Harris waits for me patiently, signing the schedule without a fuss and nodding at the last open seat.
You guessed it, it's a seat next to one of the only Wolven I've met so far in this town. Zane watches me calmly as I take my seat beside him. Unfortunately, he has the window seat, and I'm left on the interior - an entire row of humans between me and the easiest way out. My stomach churns nervously, little bursts of nausea taking over as I try to remain calm.
"Looks like we do have some classes together." Zane says to me quietly after I get settled. I allow my eyes to flick a little annoyed look at him - only to be surprised by a genuine smile. I do a double-take, feeling like the floors been pulled from beneath me and the air around me seems to warm up.
He has the most gorgeous smile I've ever seen. He had an almost brooding-silent handsomeness before, but now that I've seen his smile... wow. His entire face lights up with a more warm and gentle appearance, and I swear somewhere there's a chorus of angels singing. I'm winded.
"You okay?" He asks me, his smile turning into a smirk. I purse my lips, feeling heat rise to my cheeks. I'm staring. Stop starring!
"I'm fine." I say back stiffly and turn back to face the front of the class where Mr. Harris has begun to take roll. For the rest of the class, Zane doesn't say another word to me, he seems too engrossed in the lecture to slack off here. Go figure. But it does give me the opportunity to spring out of my seat when the bell rings and hurry to my next class before he's finished gathering his stuff.
He may be cute and all, but I still don't know if I can relax around him yet. There's too much that could go wrong if he stays around me too long, and there's always a chance he'll be able to smell the Reiniers' scent on me. I can't risk it, no matter how intriguing he may be, I have to remember mom's number one rule: no friends.
I try not to think about it too much, the way that disobeying that rule had screwed me over in the last town, and hurry to my next class. I'm actually looking forward to this one, English. I'm not a perfect student, even when it comes to the literary subjects, but at least this class should be interesting. I haven't met the instructor yet but after the conversation and Mom's tone last night, I'm a little curious.
When I reach the opened door to the class, I nearly collide with someone else as they round the corner.
"After you." Zane's voice is suddenly in front of me. I feel my head turn so fast my neck aches as I look up. He gives me a little smirk, sending a flutter through my stomach. I thought I was home-free after losing him in the hall from Math. Is there some sort of curse on me or something? Can't I catch a break? He doesn't look out of breath or anything, not like he was racing to get here like I was. This is just another coincidence.
"Thanks." I mumble, ducking into the room quickly and trying not to look at him again. I march right up to the desk at the front where a tall man waits, almost expectantly. He has wise, jade green eyes, skin as pale as porcelain, and silvery blonde hair. He's not really what I was expecting from a Wolven. He doesn't smell like us, wild or feral, but like something bitter and sweetness of some sort. With Zane so close behind me, though, I can't really smell much else.
"Welcome to Kiwina, Ms. Holland." Mr. Hale tells me, signing my schedule. "Be sure to let me know if you require any assistance while you settle into this school."
"Sure." I tell him, not really sure why, but something about Mr. Hale seems so familiar. His jade eyes flick up from my schedule and meet mine. There's definitely something familiar about them, I just can't place it... "I'm sorry, sir, have we met before?" I hear myself ask suddenly.
"I don't think so, Ms. Holland." Mr. Hale says coolly, not even the slightest change in his eyes or expression to show he's not being honest in his answer. "In another life, perhaps." He suddenly adds after another second of silence. A little pain pokes at the right side of my head and I can't help but wince at the random ache. I shake my head, trying to clear the twinge, blinking rapidly after a second.
"Hale." Zane mutters in what sounds like a warning but Mr. Hale just shoots him a little smile over my shoulder.
"Good morning to you, too, Mr. Azure. Well, please do find a seat, Ms. Holland." Mr. Hale tells me, passing the schedule back to me. I nod, a little confused by the exchange.
"Yes, sir." I nod, taking the paper and folding it up to put it away. But I must be getting slow, because before I can tuck the paper in my pocket, Zane grabs it from my hands. "Hey-" I look up to see he's gotten in front of me, moving quickly to the back of the class.
"Relax, I'm just looking to see if we have any other classes together." Zane smirks at me over his shoulder as he looks over the paper.
"You could just ask, like a normal person." I grumble, not really trying to start a conversation, just a little too flustered to say anything else. One smile. One smile from this guy and I'm thrown off my game. WTF? Am I going soft?
"I think you'll come to realize I'm not a 'normal person'." Zane smirks at the paper, settling down in the back of the room and kicking out a chair. "Here." He passes the paper back to me, pulling his own backpack from his shoulder and pulling out a little paperback and spiral.
"Well?" I ask, hesitating as I take the seat he offered.
"'Well' what?" He asks back, glancing at me with an almost mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Do we have any more classes together?" The words tumble out of my mouth before I can realize how needy they sound. So what if we have any other classes together? Who cares? - oh, right, I do.
"Missing me already?" He's grinning again, full-blown grinning like the Cheshire Cat. My mind falls silent for a moment and I have to remind myself the conversation is still going on.
"No! I just think it'll be easier if I know someone in some of my other classes." I say in a rush. Something about this guy is seriously messing with my defenses. I'm sure my face is the color of my hair now.
"Oh." He says, but it sounds sarcastic somehow.
"So? Do we?" I ask again, still waiting for the answer.
"One class." Zane nods, opening his spiral and pulling a pencil out from the spine.
"Which is?" I ask, but it's like pulling teeth with him. He shoots me a little smirk.
"Now why would I ruin the surprise?" He's toying with me, like a cat with a mouse.
"Tease." I growl under my breath, knowing full well he can hear me, but at this point, I really can't seem to control myself. My Wolven is pacing anxiously inside, like a dog behind a gate as the mail carrier approaches, trying to sniff out weakness or danger. I need to calm down.
Again, throughout the whole class, Zane doesn't bother me. He doesn't seem to care much about English though since he doesn't even try to take notes as Mr. Hale goes over The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost. To be honest, I don't either, not because I don't like the poem, but because I've already gone over this particular poem for the class. There have been some overlapping concepts from this school and my last so I technically don't need to pay attention, but I still pretend to take notes for Mr. Hale's benefit. I don't want to be called out on my first day.