Four

DAISY

Figuring out my locker, comprehending my schedule and finding my class was probably the most strenuous thing I've ever had to do.

It was a Math class. When I walked in, the tension in the air grew. All eyes darted my way and I froze. With my head bowed, I walked a few more steps and stopped, unsure of what to do next.

“You're late,“ A hoarse voice sent chills rippling down my spine. “What are you? New or too disoriented to find your class?“

My lips quivered. I couldn't look up but I wondered if I had ignited all the irritation in the voice or if it was just getting vented on me.

“I'm new, Sir,“ I managed a reply, with a voice so shaky.

“The only reason I'm gonna let it slide. Try to get to class earlier next time. Go have a seat,“

I barely took a step when the next voice hitched my breathing.

“Not so quick, Mr Peterson,“

Sweats broke through my face, running down like a waterfall. My wobbly knees had me grasping a desk to steady myself.

I looked up and there he stood, slightly bowed with his hands resting on a desk. His lips thinned into a smirk as he returned my stare.

“Got a problem, Logan?“ Mr. Peterson asked. His reluctant rub at his temple with a finger and a strained puff portrayed just how uninterested he was.

“Nah. Nothing serious. Just...the usual,“

The usual? The words resonated in my head, cutting off whatever composure I might have been employing.

What was the usual? I dreaded finding out.

“Can it wait for later? The class ends in thirty minutes and I'm yet to wrap it up,“

“I'm afraid it can't. Rules are rules. Meant to be followed.“ Logan shrugged, taking a seat.

“Fine. Five minutes. That's all I'm willing to compromise,“

“Fair enough.“ His blazing eyes burnt mine and I gasped lowly at the new shade of red they'd taken. Of course, he was the only werewolf whose eyes took any shades they wanted. Could be one of the perks of his special abilities, hereditary or whatnots.

“The floor's yours, Miss.“

I wasn't so dumb as not to recognize the amusement in his tone. This was one of his shenanigans. At the pack, it was different. Here in the midst of humans, it was terrifying. The duty of not exposing my kind rested on my weak shoulders, weighing me down.

Mr. Peterson gestured at me to take his earlier position and I did, slowly and trembling. Standing in front of the class, I struggled to keep my tears in check. It was a hard task, more like impossible. Every few seconds, a tear dropped.

The fact that I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do agitated me most.

“So...Miss Daisy, right?“ Logan chuckled, leaning back on his seat. “Here's the thing. We've got an engrafted rule in Lawrence high. Every new student gets to greet the class.“

“Greet...the...class?“ It didn't sound so bad after all.

“Not literally. You just stand there and we ask you questions. Get to know you,“

“Okay?“ The word slipped out of my mouth in a low, shaky move. I almost repeated it as I doubted I was heard at all.

“Cool. So, I'm gonna start and everyone else can chirp in!“ He announced and the massive cheers and clapping from the students had me whimpering. Trust Logan to take the reins wherever he goes.

“Where you from?“

I stiffened. A lump roamed in my throat and I swallowed hard. Then it dawned on me. This was it. Suzy had said she'd been briefed. Warned. This was it.

They'd staged her this way. It had to be it. But God, how had she survived? I need lots of help right now.

“Far,“ was all I could reply. I rubbed my sweaty palms frantically on my jumper, hating the very fact that I exist.

“Where exactly?“ He persisted. His brows arched in a taunting manner.

“Three minutes. You don't wanna waste it all in just a question. “ Mr. Peterson said, checking his wristwatch with a sigh.

“How old are you?“ A random student asked.

“I'm…“

“What you doing here in New Orleans?“ Logan interrupted. Something about his stare ticked off the alarm button in me. Dark. Blazing. Fire.

“Uh...I'm...visiting a friend…“ My lies were a disgrace to lies. Not confidently spoken and coming out in an incoherent manner.

“What friend?“

“What about your parents?“ Jake Flakes chirped in. That, and the low chuckles that followed had me noticing all of them - the four horsemen. I'd had my gaze just on Logan that I didn't notice the rest.

“How long do you plan on staying here in New Orleans?“ Drake asked. There was a hidden threat in his question and it tripled my heartbeat.

“Yellow, your eyes. You got contacts on or it's in your gene?“ Charles calmly added. “You got so many unanswered questions, Miss Daisy. Get to them,“

Just like in my nightmares, I was standing at the edge of a cliff. A dilemma. But I had to make a choice soon. I couldn't answer their questions without coming clean about who I really was. Ignoring wasn't an option. They'd kill me. I was stuck.

“One minute. Miss Daisy. I've got a class to finish,“ Mr. Peterson stalked towards me.

I swallowed, shutting my eyes and parting my mouth for whatever words lingered at the tip of my tongue.

But then the voice came.

“She's 17, would be 18 in a couple of months. She's from Forks. I'm the friend she's visiting. Her parents are dead, sadly. And lastly, she's got contacts on.“

My eyes roamed the class and a soft gasp escaped me as my gaze graced her. Suzy.

I smiled her way with a small nod. She nodded in return, taking her seat.

“Time's up! Questions answered! Go have a seat, Daisy.“

My legs hurried towards Suzy and I couldn't help but hug her so tightly she was choking.

“Thank you, Suzy. Once again, I'm indebted to you.“

“Yeah, Yeah. Cut the drama. We're in the middle of a class,“ She chuckled.

I let go of her and tried steadying my breath. Glancing her way, she was looking down at a piece of paper.

“Who's that from?“ I asked. Reading the words heavily scribbled on the paper, my heart stilled. YOU'RE DEAD

I gulped. Our eyes met and the terror in them clicked. Simultaneously, we turned our heads and was met with a glaring Logan, flipping us the bird.

Oh God!