3

Paige was on top of me—so that’s her name, I realized, given how they were shouting it in support. The commotion caused everyone in the cafeteria to come and see the fight. I yanked her hair hard, making her let out a choked scream. I made a quick move and now I was on top of her, holding her by the neck. I don't know, but when I get really angry, I can't control myself.

"Let me go!" she screeched, pulling my hair with her hands. We were even; if she didn’t let go, neither would I.

"I’ll teach you respect," I hissed through gritted teeth.

Arms wrapped around my waist, forcing me to release Paige.

"Let me go!" I kicked and struggled.

But he didn’t let go, keeping a firm grip on me.

I saw the guy from the car helping Paige while she cried, rubbing her neck.

Suddenly, a very loud whistle blew, nearly deafening us. Silence fell instantly. The principal was approaching, furious. Oh no, I think I'm in trouble.

"What’s going on here?" she asked in an authoritative voice. Then she looked at both of us. "This isn't a boxing ring for you to be fighting in the middle of the hallway."

I looked at Paige; she was staring at me. There was fury in her eyes—too much; I could swear they looked black, far darker than normal. She saw my confusion and gave a sinister smile that sent chills down my spine.

"You two," she pointed to the guy holding me and the one with Paige, who, by the way, seemed furious but wasn’t looking at me; he was staring at where the guy was holding me. "Bring them to my office," she ordered and turned around.

The other students went back to the cafeteria until it was just the four of us in the hallway. I struggled until the guy let me go. I turned to see him and fixed my hair.

He was handsome, tall, had a very good build, and as I could feel, he was strong. He wore a green T-shirt and black jeans. His hair was somewhere between messy and tousled, as if he had been disheveling it himself. I looked into his eyes; they were also very deep. What’s going on in this town?

"Come on, we have to go to the principal's office," he said, taking my arm gently. I immediately pulled away.

I could hear Paige whimpering. The guy didn’t pay her much attention. I walked ahead toward the office. Soon, I heard footsteps behind me, and the guy who separated us walked beside me.

"I hadn’t seen you around; are you new?" he asked, smiling.

"Another one..." I murmured more to myself. God, it’s obvious I’m new.

"Sorry, I didn’t catch that," he objected, leaning in a bit, putting his hand to his ear.

I took a deep breath.

"Yes, I’m new," I replied. "My name is Carolina, by the way."

He smiled.

"I’m Connor," he said, extending his hand. I took it.

We reached the office, and I sat in a chair. Paige sat in another next to mine. Connor and the other guy, whose name I still didn’t know, stood.

"Alright, ladies, what was the fight about?" she asked, trying not to sound upset.

"She started it..." we both said simultaneously.

I got angrier.

"She pushed me when we were walking down the hall and then slapped me for no reason," Paige said.

I opened my mouth in astonishment. What a liar.

"That’s not true," I told the principal. "You’re such a liar," I glared at Paige.

The principal sighed.

"You know what? Since neither of you will tell the truth, I’ll find out myself," she turned and typed something on her computer. From it emerged squares like security camera footage. "With these new cameras, I’ll bring order to this school."

The footage showed the hallway we were in. She rewound to when the bell rang and paused. It showed the kids leaving, then me with Anne, and it showed Paige pushing her, me defending her, Paige slapping me, me retaliating, and well...the fight.

The principal turned off the computer and looked at us.

"Your first day, Miss Lane," she said, looking at me. "You’ll both be suspended for today."

What?!

My mom is going to kill me.

"But, Principal!" Paige whined.

She shushed her.

I didn’t say anything...What did I expect? A prize?

I snorted.

"Kayler," she addressed the guy behind Paige. So his name is Kayler. "Take Carolina home. I understand you’re neighbors. Look after her, okay?"

What?

Oh, no. It can’t be.

"Connor, take Paige," she concluded and pointed us to the exit.

I quickly stood up and almost ran out. If I was lucky, I could escape Kayler and walk home alone. I didn’t want to be alone with him in a car; he intimidated me. His intense gaze made me forget everything and caused many feelings in me that, frankly, I didn’t want to deal with right now.

I know guys like Kayler—arrogant, manipulative, jealous, womanizers. I imagine Paige is his girlfriend. She even dared to say she and he are the ones who rule this school. Ridiculous.

I was leaving the school when arms stopped me. The grip was strong but not to hurt me.

"What’s wrong with you, idiot?" I snapped without looking at who it was.

I turned. It was him. Kayler. He had a mocking smile on his face.

"Running away?" he asked amused, raising an eyebrow.

I rolled my eyes.

"Of course not... And don’t bother; I can walk home, I don’t need anyone to take me. Goodbye." I turned to continue my way, but he was faster and grabbed my arm again.

His touch was warm.

"I don’t think you want to go alone... The forest isn’t very safe," he said, wrinkling his nose, as if he knew very well what was in it.

I crossed my arms.

"I don’t care," I snapped.

His expression turned serious. He clenched his jaw slightly, and I also noticed him clenching his fists. His gaze darkened, just as I had seen Paige's a moment ago. I got scared, yes.

"I see you’re untamable, you don’t like to give in, do you?" he inquired. "But you, my dear Carolina, will come with me willingly or not."

In the blink of an eye, I was floating in the air. Kayler was carrying me over his shoulder.

Damn it.

"Put me down!" I kicked. I heard a car door open, then Kayler sat me in the passenger seat and fastened my seatbelt. He shut my door and got into the driver's seat. This was the jeep I had seen yesterday. Its seats were fine and almost new.

"I know your type..." I murmured while he started the car.

"Oh, really?" he asked mockingly, as if he found what I said amusing. He started the car and drove away from the high school.

I nodded without looking at him.

"You like people to do as you please. But I’m not like that; I don’t like obeying anyone," I snapped. "Your little girlfriend is proof of that."

He laughed.

"Alright, little Carolina, whatever you say," he said, not very convincingly.

I looked at him with a frown, as if he wasn’t taking what I said seriously. I stayed silent, watching the forest. We were already entering it. I don’t know why my mom had to choose a house in the middle of the forest. It gives me a certain fear. The howl I heard yesterday comes to mind. A shiver runs down my spine. Honestly, I’m scared of being alone at home.

"What are you thinking about that made you so pale?" the idiot next to me asked.

I closed my eyes for a second. I don’t know if I should tell him about the wolf, but maybe he knows if there are any; after all, he’s lived here longer than I have.

"Do you... Do you know if there are wild animals in this forest?" I asked. "Like wolves and such?"

I saw him tense up and grip the steering wheel a bit tighter.

"I don’t know... I’ve never seen one," he responded curtly. "Would you be scared if there were?" he looked at me.

The answer was obvious.

"Yes, of course. I live alone in the middle of the forest, and knowing I’m surrounded by wild wolves terrifies me," I confessed.

He stayed silent for a moment, perhaps pondering what I had said.

"That’s logical," he murmured. "But don’t be scared; with me, nothing can happen to you."