Chapter 1

I was in the library, not studying, when the fire alarm went off. We didn’t have a fire drill scheduled so, naturally, every one panicked. I went out the library doors, and turned to follow everyone else out the nearest exit, when I stopped. Instead, looking down the opposite hallway. I had this gut feeling that I should go up to the second floor. I‘m not sure why I wanted to go upstairs, so I went with it. I started out walking, and in the next moment I was running. Not jogging, running as fast as I could.

I took the stairs as quickly as my balance would allow, hoping I had a good reason for bolting up two flights of stairs. My sides were already screaming. At the top, I took off down the hall, only to skid to a stop in front of the chemistry room. I took one look and my jaw dropped.

There stood a girl in the middle of the room, facing the windows. Her blonde hair was pulled into a pony tail, her hot pink shirt and jeans hugged her frame. I recognized her from around campus, though I couldn’t think of her name.

She had a ball of fire in one hand, held out in front of her. Her other hand was held back, her palm towards the floor. It looked like she had a visible ball of air levitating under her palm. Her stance said she was ready for a fight, and that was when I looked at the windows.

There were people climbing through the four windows. I gave my head a good shake. That shouldn’t be possible, we were on the second floor. Not that that was particularly difficult, but that side of the building didn’t even have any drainage pipes. There was nothing to use to climb. Then I noticed that something was off about them. Other than the whole scaling a two story building thing.

They were rotting. I’d never seen leprosy first hand, but if I had to describe it, I’d say it looked like they had leprosy on steroids. I could even see bone in a few places. I had stared for all of a minute, when the blonde started throwing fire. Now, I have a few skills, but that was just cool.

The fire was catching them but it wasn‘t doing anything. Well, it was burning them, but not slowing them down. Like they couldn’t feel the pain. Maybe their nerves had all decayed by now. When the fire obviously wasn’t having the effect she wanted, she started pushing them back with wave after wave of air. But they would just get up and start making their way back. How do you hurt someone who can’t feel pain?

It took another second to take in their tattered appearance. Of course, I had to give some credit for the whole rotting thing. I mean, once your skin starts coming off, it was logical that you’d stop paying attention to your clothes. But this was different. They weren’t dressed like civilians, each one had a different military uniform. At least those that I could tell still had clothes.

There was something to be said about particular body parts having already fallen off. The very thought made a shiver run down my spine. But then the smell hit me. I gagged on reflex, and covered my nose and mouth with my sleeve. It was a hundred times worse than a dead skunk. That thought led to a much more horrid thought. The only thing I had ever smelled that was anything like it was day old road kill.

Though I didn’t know much about leprosy, I could see how that particular smell could come from them. Especially with so many of them together. I wracked my brain, trying to remember if there had been a leprosy outbreak. Escaped hospital patients with decaying brain tissue would make sense. Except more of them were still climbing through the window. Some of them had run out of flesh.

The sound of bone grinding on bone made my teeth clench. Like nails on a chalk board but worse. There went my leprosy theory. Once the brain deteriorates so far, that’s it, you’re dead. Which meant that these people…were dead. Great, a zombie apocalypse, just what I needed to end the day.

I took in their clothes again. There was a small military graveyard about twenty miles south of the school. The town and schools were actually named after it. There was a representative of every branch of the military in the room, making their way around the work stations.

The ones that she hit with fire were starting to share. Flames were igniting everywhere. The curtains, papers still littering the desks, abandoned back packs, all of them were gradually starting to burn.

Deciding that I had stood there long enough, I stepped into the room, closing the door behind me. We really didn’t need any one else seeing this. If it were a real zombie apocalypse, sure, but it wasn‘t likely. I didn’t see the newly risen dead taking the time to prioritize by going to a local high school first. Besides, there were plenty more yummy people to eat on the way here. And I was almost positive they would have cancelled school for that.

I jumped up onto the desk next to the girl, side sweeping a zombie in the head. Hey, if they were zombies, then I figured it was safer to aim for the head. It went down and looked like it was about to get back up. But it turned out that the dead weren‘t all that courteous, and more of them started to trample it.

“Thanks,” she gasped, breathing heavily.

“Anytime, it looked like you could use some help.”

“You could say that. I don’t suppose you have anything up your sleeve? These things keep coming, and you’ll run out of steam eventually,” she sounded like she barely had enough energy to speak.

“First, are you as good with water as you are with flame? It’s starting to get a little toasty in here.” I delivered several more kicks, and forceful hits to keep them back as she reached over, turning on the two faucets closest to her. In retrospect, we were really lucky they chose the chemistry lab to climb into.

She abandoned the fire in favor of the freely flowing water. The water seemed to soak everything as it splashed against the dead and ourselves. She was running out of energy and her control was starting to slip. Otherwise, I had no doubt that she could do some amazing things with that stream of water.

“Push them back for as long as you can, I have another solution that might work,” I gasped. Delivering another kick to the chest of a rather large, ugly zombie that had gotten past her defenses. I felt his flesh give way under the pressure, and for a split second feared that I’d get my foot stuck in his body. Something to vomit over later.

“Hurry up,” she answered through clenched teeth.

I pulled a slim box, about two inches long, an inch wide, and a half inch thick out of my pocket. I slid it open and took out the two dice that were sitting against the snug velvet.

“Dice!? Seriously!? We don’t have time to play a game!” she yelled, throwing another wave of air at an unlucky target. Of course, they were dead, so their luck ran out a long time ago.

I ignored her, dropping the dice on the table I was still standing on. I watched them bounce and roll, the well known clatter sounding like music to my ears. When they stopped I watched the word Cease appear in a scrawl along the top of both. I raised both arms up above my head, and swung them down as hard as I could. I felt a wave of power rush down my arms and out my hands. The zombies that were in the room went flying back, and out the windows they had climbed through. I winced every time I heard one of them crack into the window sill.

We looked at each other for a second, then rushed over to the window to look down. About twenty bodies littered the ground. There were more of them than I thought there had been. That power burst must have taken all of them out. The girl looked at me, then back down to the ground and let out a whistle.

“Thanks,” she was still breathing heavily, but she managed to spare a smile.

“Again, anytime, sorry I didn’t get here sooner.”

“At least you got here. I don’t know if they were the brain eating zombies, but if one of them had gotten me,” she shuddered.

“So…were you the one that pulled the fire alarm?”

“Yeah, I sit next to the window and I wasn’t paying attention, just looking outside. I was looking down, and I saw all those people actually climbing the wall. They weren’t even using hand holds, just climbing like a spider or something. So I said I was going to the bathroom, and ran down the hall to pull the fire alarm. I figured what ever those things were, they probably weren’t friendly. It was the only way I knew of to get everyone out,” she said with a shrug, before continuing. “By the time I got back, the room was empty, and those things were starting to climb in the windows. A minute or two later you showed up.” I nodded and walked back to pick up my dice, and put them back in their box.

“Hey, that’s a really pretty box,” she said, looking at it.

It was made of a dark wood of some kind and had a gloss to it. The intricate designs that covered it looked like they had been burned in. If you looked at it long enough you can find several different patterns, but it never really had a main design. Like its forever changing. I learned when I was about three that it was virtually indestructible. Of course, I learned it by taking my dad’s hammer to it. My GI Joe was trying to open the treasure box. Anyway, it hadn’t even left a mark. Joe was very frustrated, and went home penniless that day.

“Yeah, I guess,” I replied with a shrug.

“So why did you roll those dice before you got rid of them?”

“It’s a long story,” I muttered, it really wasn’t, I just didn’t want to tell it. “Hey look, schools over,” I said, nodding at the clock on the wall. It was five minutes after three.

“Huh, sweet. Alright, I guess I’ll catch you later or whatever,” she said, walking over to her stuff.

“Yeah, see ya,” I turned around to leave the room, but barely made it to the door.

“Oh wait, here.” I turned as she came to stand in front of me.

She put her hands out facing me, like someone would do to show that they meant no harm. But she just let them hover there. I was about to ask her if she was okay. Then all of the water that had drenched me came away in one big floating ball. She directed it to the nearest sink and let it drop. My clothes, even my hair, were completely dry.

“Thanks.”

“It was the least I could do.” She answered with a small smile that I awkwardly returned. Then left and went back to the library to get my stuff, so I could go home.

I walked outside and took a deep breath of fresh air. Those things really stunk. I walked the ten minutes it took to get to my house, and let myself in. After dropping my stuff in my room, I went to the kitchen. In a sick way, fighting zombies can really make you hungry.

The refrigerator door closed and I came face to, well, face to paper. My mom had left a note.

　

Went to a friend’s house be back at six. Make dinner.

 

Mom

　

I let out a long sigh. A friend’s house was always code for, I’m getting laid don’t bother me. I knew she wouldn’t be home by six. I also knew that she wouldn’t eat dinner with me. She was going to be too drunk to eat anything. I’d be lucky if she could even walk. Yet somehow, she always managed to get home. I was still waiting for the day when she didn’t come back at all.

She was always drunk. Had been since my father disappeared when I was five. If she wasn’t working, she was drinking. If she wasn’t drinking, she was hung over. If she wasn’t working, drinking, or hung over, she was sleeping. On her days off she always went over to a ‘friend’s house’, and didn’t come home until late.

“Love you too, Mom,” I muttered, shaking my head.

I grabbed a soda, and went back to my room to do my homework. At about five thirty I started the spaghetti and garlic bread. When I was done, I looked at the clock. It was six fifteen. I let out a sigh, and fixed my plate. After doing the dishes, I decided to have a little down time.

Since she still wasn’t home I did what I always did, I went into the living room, and turned on the TV. I was in the middle of one of my favorite shows, when I heard the front door open and slam shut. I looked at the clock. It was after ten. A thud sounded from the hallway.

Letting out another sigh, I went to check it out. Sure enough, my mom had fallen to the floor. I shook my head, pinching the bridge of my nose between my eyes. Then went to do the daughterly thing and help her up.

“Come on, Mom, lets get you to bed.” She looked up at me with blood shot eyes.

After a second she seemed to recognize me and smiled. Her breath made me wince. Vodka is not the most flattering scent. I slipped an arm around her waist, wrapping one of hers around my neck to take some of her weight. She was a couple inches shorter than me, and had to look up to see my face. Her head rested on my shoulder and I rolled my eyes.

“Such a good daughter,” she slurred. I rolled my eyes again, at least it was a good night.

It would be nice if she said it when she was sober. Then again, it would be nice if she was ever sober. I got her to her room, and let her collapse on her bed. After slipping her shoes off, I left. She could get the rest when she woke up. The door shut quietly behind me as I made my way to the kitchen for a drink.

Deciding I had earned another hour of TV, I settled back into the couch. I only lasted about twenty minutes before my eyes started to drift closed. Then I felt it was time for me to collapse into my own bed.

 

Chapter 2

At six thirty my alarm went off. I reached blindly, trying to shut it up, and accidentally knocked it to the floor. ’Well shit!’ I sighed. There goes any chance of sleeping for an extra few minutes.

After turning it off and getting it back where it belonged, I stood, stretched, then went to my bathroom. Well it wasn’t exactly my bathroom, it was the upstairs bathroom. But I was pretty much the only one that used it. After my shower I dressed quickly, anxious to get the day over with. But my reflection caught my eye. It was rare that I ever bothered to look anymore. There just wasn’t any point to it.

My midnight black hair hung straight down to the middle of my back, and my pale skin tone was unblemished. I was one of the lucky ones that didn’t have to worry about acne. For that I was thankful. My bright blue eyes completed the package, completely contrasting with my dark hair. Seeping out whatever color might be in my skin.

My mouth was turned down into a frown, and I wondered how long it had been since there was a smile on the face in the mirror. I let out a long sigh, my jeans were worn due to years of, well, wearing them. My long sleeved black shirt covered a few inches of my jeans, showing absolutely no skin. Though it did okay at showing I at least had a figure.

After letting out a deep breath and brushing my hair up into a ponytail, I grabbed my bag and stepped out of my room. I could hear my mother’s snores across the hall, and closed my door as softly as possible. The last thing I needed was to wake her up.

I took the stairs silently, and grabbed a bagel on my way out the door. The school grounds were empty when I got there. Not anything that was out of the ordinary. I found it easier to escape glares and sneers if I didn’t have to walk by anyone. There were three buildings that made up the school. The gym building, the English building, and the main building that held everything else.

They were placed in a weird triangle shape, with tables littered sporadically between them. Every morning I always sat at the same place. The picnic table sat under a small copse of trees right next to the English building. It was the most out of the way I could get. That way, if they wanted to torment me, they had to work for it.

Nobody usually paid any attention to me, unless it was to ridicule or humiliate me. I was a true outcast. Everyone thought I was nothing but a freak to be hassled and tormented. If I had cared even a little, it might have bothered me, but it‘s been going on for about twelve years. So the sting has more than subsided by now. At least those were my thoughts as I dropped my bag on the bench, and hopped up to sit on the table itself.

All of these years and it never occurred to me that I might not be the only one who was…different. I had done a lot of research on the subject and though I found nothing on my own uniqueness, I had found several involving other abilities. To be honest some of them were a bit far fetched. But after finding out some of the things I could do, I really didn’t have a choice but to keep an open mind.

It was with a heavy sigh that I leaned back and let my eyes wonder across the developing crowd. Nothing really stood out, that is until I landed on the wannabe outcasts. The ones that were only on their own because they chose to stick with their own group. The people less likely to participate simply because they didn’t want to.

Even then they only caught my eye because there was a new guy. Someone I didn’t recognize, and I knew all of them by face or voice if not by name. Courtesy of all of the whispered insults they knew I could hear. Even those were becoming boring. It was like they had lost all creative thought.

　

　

Trent

　

　

High school, nothing but hormones, rumors, and the occasional academic accomplishment. And my parents insisted that I graduate. I planned on it anyway. I just didn’t want to move again. But they insisted, claiming that this town would be better for me than the city we had previously lived in. Bad influences and all that.

They decided that it would be better for me if I got to know the rest of my pack. Though ‘Pack’ was a loose term. Shape shifting was great, but when you could choose any animal within your own guidelines, you sort of lose the feeling of camaraderie. We weren’t a pack, we weren’t a pride, or flock, there really was no word to describe what we were. But generally speaking it worked for us. With a slight rift between the predators and prey.

I sat at the table with the only other shape shifters I knew. Well, I didn’t exactly know them, I had just met them a few times at the gatherings. But they were better than sitting alone. Even predatory animals needed socialization on occasion. I was talking with Zeke when I felt eyes on me. It was one of those times when the hair stands up on the back of your neck. One of the simplest of instincts that even humans had.

It didn’t take long to find the source of my discomfort. Sitting at the back of the school grounds, by herself, was the palest human female I had ever seen. At least I assumed she was human, I wasn’t close enough to catch her scent. But she met my gaze without so much as a flinch.

I got the impression that she was trying to memorize my face. It piqued my curiosity and I stood, intent on introducing myself. If only to get close enough for her scent to register. When I had my feet under me, she raised a brow, as though asking if I was actually going to advance on her.

Again, not an expected response. People generally steered clear of my kind. As though sensing how easy it would be for them to become prey. Did this chick have no sense of self preservation? Or was she so confident in herself that she didn’t see herself as prey? I took my first step when a hand landed firmly on my shoulder.

“I wouldn’t,” Zeke muttered, already seeing what direction I was headed for.

“Why not?” He shook his head.

“Social suicide,” he looked up at her, sneering like the best of them. She just rolled her eyes, and let them wander elsewhere.

“What do you mean?” I asked, turning back to him. But he just nodded in her direction again.

“Watch.” So I did. A group of the more athletic students were already making their way over to her.

As they surrounded her table, she didn’t even seem to notice them. Until they stepped directly into her line of sight. I watched as her shoulders rose, then fell, and she pulled her ear buds out, wrapping them around the slender piece of plastic they were attached to. After slipping it into her pocket, she leaned back slightly, expectant though resigned.

I enhanced my hearing, trying to figure out the situation, before it escalated. It didn’t take long for me to get caught up. The smallest of the group stepped up to stand directly in front of her. The two guys, larger than normal humans, stood at either side of him.

“What’s wrong? Did we interrupt your plans for suicide?,” the largest asked. Again, she just rolled her eyes, this time focusing on the smallest. Not even paying attention to the second male as he spoke.

“Why haven’t you done it yet? I’m sure everyone would be more comfortable without some freak staring at them all the time.” She didn’t even glance at him.

“How much does it cost you to keep your hair dyed like that? It can‘t be natural,” the smallest added, this time she reacted. By slowly shaking her head, eyeing him with…sympathy, of all things.

She reached down, slinging her bag over her shoulder, and stepped down off the bench. As she moved passed she placed a hand on the kid’s shoulder, as if to say ‘Better luck next time’. She was almost out of the ring when the second biggest grabbed her arm.

“We aren’t done yet,” he hissed in her ear. She simply looked at him, her expression unreadable. She tried, once, to get her arm out of his grip, when it didn’t work she let her bag slide to the ground.

She stared into his eyes as she slowly reached over with her free hand, grabbing the outside of his. She was still staring as she twisted it the wrong way. Pain filled his expression, but she just kept twisting until he was on his knees. She held him there until fear started to fill his gaze. As she let go, the biggest in the group grabbed her around the waist with both arms, spinning her to face the table, and away from the crowd.

I’d taken three steps when she came sailing over his shoulder, landing gracefully as though she’d been standing there throughout the entire confrontation. Before he could spin to face her, she kicked him in the middle of the back, sending him crashing into the table. Then she simply picked up her bag and walked away.

It didn’t take a whole lot of effort to categorize her, as I watched her walk into the building. She was the type of prey that all smart predators knew to steer clear of. The type that you may be able to bring down, but in some way or another, it would take you down with it.

“See what I mean?” Zeke asked, still at my side. “The chick’s freaky. It’s best to stay clear of her.” I looked at him, confused.

Is that what he saw when he looked at her? A freaky chick who stuck to herself. That’s not what I saw. I saw a female who felt sorry for her tormentors, and chose her battles carefully. Fully prepared to fight her way out of a corner if necessary. But otherwise, just wanted to be left alone.

It turned out that I had three classes with her. English, gym, and study hall. And all three she simply sat by herself, listening to music, and ignoring everything around her. Even in gym. Having not been picked for either soft ball team, she simply lounged on the bleachers. At one time I caught movement out of the corner of my eye, while I was waiting to bat. She was tapping her foot to the beat of whatever she was listening to.

After the first ten minutes it had become apparent that when the guys were up to bat, they aimed at her. More than once I watched as she caught a ball just before it collided with her head. As a way to even it out, the coach called all of the ones she caught as an automatic out. She never even looked up as she threw it back.

The only one that didn’t intentionally try to nail her with the ball, ironically, was the quarterback of the football team. It took all of one hour for someone to point him out to me. I remembered rolling my eyes. It was just so cliché that he would be the ultimate golden boy, even though he was amongst the group that had cornered her that morning. He never made a move towards her, to help or to hinder her escape. He had simply watched. Much like I had.

The study hall was held in the library, which was a nice change of pace from the clinical feel of the class rooms. When I had walked in, she was already seated at the back. Her legs were crossed on the corner of the table, and she leaned back so that she was practically laying down, a book nestled comfortably in her lap. No one joined her table, and for the first time I actually started to believe that she had no friends. It just didn’t seem likely, even the most unpopular kids had at least one friend.

About halfway through the librarian walked past her, gently nudging her legs off the table. She didn’t even look up as she placed her feet on the floor. But after a few moments, when the librarian was gone, she put them back up, seemingly without thought. Despite my better judgment, as I watched her leave for the day, I realized that I was…intrigued by her.

So intrigued, I nearly followed her home without thinking about it. I had had to double back to get my car from the school parking lot. I had the feeling that it was by pure luck that she hadn’t noticed me. And it was with regret that I drove home.

I was so distracted that I hadn’t noticed the twins barreling towards me until I was flat on my back, just inside the front door. They were both in the eighth grade, Daphne’s light brown almost blonde hair, glistened as I waved it off my face. Derrick chuckled as he untangled himself from my legs. The two were practically identical, with the exception of their gender.

“Guys, get off me,” I groaned. Daphne used my chest to push herself up so she could beam down at me.

“We got you.” I sighed, letting my arms drop back down to the floor.

“Yeah, you got me. Now get up.” They both popped up and ran for the back door. I shook my head, not bothering to stand up right away.

“What’s got you so preoccupied?” Dad asked from the living room doorway.

“What do you mean?” I asked, finally deciding to be vertical.

“Normally you catch them before they can get that close.” I shook my head, grabbing my bag.

“It’s been a long day,” I muttered.

“Well, did you make any friends?” Mom asked, by the towel in her hands I figured she’d heard us from the kitchen. I shook my head.

“I talked to a couple of people, but that’s it.” She looked disappointed already, what was I going to tell her? No, Mom I didn’t, because I was to busy watching a girl. A girl I didn’t even know the name of? Yeah, that would go over well.

“Well, tomorrows another day,” she was trying really hard to be optimistic. I wished she wouldn’t. But she meant well, so I just nodded and went to my room.

In the middle of the night I rolled over, wide awake. I hated mornings like this. Four o’clock in the morning, and there was no way I’d get back to sleep. So instead I climbed out of bed, and made my way out to the back yard. This town was so rectangular that it was easy to find a place next to the forests. All you had to do was look at the outskirts.

It took all of two seconds to pick my shape, and less than that to take it. Shifting was easy, once you got the hang of it. At first it was always awkward, almost painful, trying to figure out how the different body worked. Getting used to the different perspective can make you nauseous. But after a few years you barely notice it.

I was easily twice the size of a regular wolf, and running over the forest floor in long lopes did wonders for my peace of mind. It was nice to be the biggest, most feared creature in the area. Every prey steered clear, other predators were confused by my scent and gave me a wide birth. It was peaceful to run in the quiet early morning. But I wasn’t alone for long.

The road was easy to pick out, if not in sight yet. The asphalt had a distinctive smell. But by the time I made it there another scent mixed in with it. It was floral, almost exotic in that it wasn’t a scent that was common in this area of the country. I had planned on turning back once I reached this point, but instead I moved slowly, keeping my body low to the ground until I could see the road.

I barely got there in time to see the girl running along it. It was the same girl from school yesterday. Her shorts barely reached mid thigh, and her sports bra left her tight stomach exposed. She moved gracefully, barely looking at the road, her pace faster than I would have expected, but she never slowed. All of which were signs of a regular runner.

It was without thought that I ran next to her, through the cover of trees and foliage. In this form I kept pace with her easily, drinking in her scent, that was magnified by the fine sheen of sweat that started to coat her body. If I listened closely I could pick up her steady heartbeat, and every inhale and exhale she made. For the brief moments that I couldn’t see her, her body’s rhythm made sure I knew where she was.

After a mile and a half she turned around, making her way back the way she came. I followed, overwhelmed by the calmness she gave off. It was all to soon that she slowed to a walk. I watched from the tree line as she climbed the steps of a run down porch.

I remembered driving past this house, while we were looking for a place that was close enough to the trees to allow room to run and hunt. I also remembered being disappointed when we couldn’t get this one. It was the only house in this town that was completely surrounded by forest. The fact that she lived here wasn‘t as surprising as it should have been.

When her hand was on the doorknob I turned to leave, only to pause and look back. Her eyes were scanning the tree line, a look of perplexity taking over her delicate features. Almost like she had felt me beside her, and knew I was leaving. It was a fanciful thought, one I didn’t entertain for long.

Regardless, it was with a smile that I got ready for school. If nothing else I at least wanted to know her name. I thought it best if I just listened in, instead of asking her point blank. She didn’t look like the type that welcomed strangers. So I decided to learn about her by watching and listening.

It didn’t go well. Throughout the entire day I listened as girls gossiped behind poorly concealing hands. Loud enough that their target had to have heard. It bothered me, that everyone would talk about her, knowing she could hear them, and she never even blinked. Like she was so used to it that she just blocked them out.

But no one, not even the teachers, said her name a single time. I was beginning to wonder if she even had one when I was called into the councilor’s office. This I was expecting. My grades had been less than adequate in my last school, it made sense that someone would talk to me about it. Hoping to help me through my rebellious adolescent faze.

The outer office was typical. Fake plants, pictures of exotic scenery, or what they perceived to be exotic. The same kind smile that plastered most secretaries faces when they really didn’t care one way or another. It took a lot of effort to keep from rolling my eyes when I knocked on the inner office door. Mr. Krober was printed on the plaque that was glued to the front of the door, and a male voice told me to enter.

Even the councilor himself looked generic. Sandy colored hair, glasses that constantly needed cleaning, though he had a strong jaw line, the tan suit he wore ruined it. He waved at me to sit across from him, and I plopped. His scent was that of sand and book pages. But something was off. He wasn’t human, though I couldn’t place his breed.

Everyone who wasn’t human, had a different breed. For example, the red headed guy that spent most of his time buried in a book, he was telekinetic. The trig teacher was a mind reader, I’d met more than one of them. Though I’d yet to meet one I liked. But this man was different.

“Trenton, is it?” he asked, flipping through a file on his desk. At my nod he continued. “Now, it says that you have a tendency to not do your work?” Again I nodded. “Any idea why?” This time I shrugged.

“It’s boring, doesn‘t hold my attention.” He gave an affirming nod and folded his hands across the papers.

“Is there some way we could fix that?”

“Make the teachers more interesting,” I mumbled, rolling my eyes. But when I glanced back at him he was smiling.

“I think I can arrange something like that.”

“I beg your pardon?” I asked, not entirely sure I liked where he was headed.

“We have our valedictorian. I’m sure you’d find her much more interesting.”

“What do you mean?” He shrugged as though the answer were simple.

“She’s around your age, maintains a perfect four point oh. And unless she refuses to attend next year, she’s already made the valedictorian position. If nothing else she could probably word something in such a way that you’ll be able to learn from her. I’ve found that someone of the same age has a better chance of explaining something adequately.”

“So…?”

“If you’re willing, Katrina can tutor you in your subjects. I’ll speak with your teachers, inform them of your special circumstances. It will allow you to quietly entertain yourself in class. So long as you raise your grades, of course.”

“Whose Katrina?” I asked, completely unsure of what to say.

“You have a few classes with her. Very quiet girl, black hair, pale skin, mostly keeps to herself. She has roughly the same circumstances as you will, though hers were gained because her teachers realized she did better on her own.”

So not only was he giving me a reason to talk to the girl, Katrina, but he wanted me to. It looked like today wouldn’t be so unsuccessful after all. Now I just had to corner her alone. She would probably be more comfortable without anyone to watch her and whisper.

“Do we have a deal, Mr. Ferule?” he asked, bringing my attention back to him.

“If I can get this girl to tutor me, the teachers will leave me alone?” I asked in return. When he gave me a slow smile, I nodded. “Then I’m in, where can I find her?”

“If she’s not in study hall, you can probably find her in the music room.” I nodded as I stood. It was only five minutes until the last bell for the day rang.

I could check the library really quick, and then make it to the music room before the bell rang. It wasn’t even necessary to enter the library. One portion of the wall was a pane of glass. It took less than ten seconds to see that she wasn’t there.

The music room was in the basement, two flights of stairs down. I could hear music playing and paused for a moment to listen. I could pick up the piano easily, then the voice joined in. I didn’t know the song, that wasn’t really my thing. But the slow melancholy sound drew me in, until I got up enough courage to peek around the corner.

Katrina sat, playing the piano, and singing. Her voice was beautiful, since she was alone I guessed that no one knew about this side of her. Almost immediately after she finished the song, I wasn’t alone anymore.

A peppy blonde girl, an energetic looking brunette, the telekinetic kid, and the football player showed up. All of them looked uncomfortable around each other, and paused momentarily when they saw me. But after a very awkward, silent moment, the blonde moved passed me into the room.

I followed right after her to see Katrina halfway across the room to a laptop that was hooked up to a sound board. I didn’t even know the school would have one. The other three were on my heels, only to pause close to the doorway. Though the blonde made it almost to her counterpart when she spun around.

Her bright blue eyes widened as she took all of us in, then they closed as her expression fell. It looked like she had just been robbed of something special. After a small shake of the head she finished her journey, and started to unplug the laptop, slipping it into her messenger bag.

“Hey, um,” the blonde started, but those piercing blue eyes shot to her, effectively pausing any further comment.

“What do you want?” her tone was sharp, causing a chain reaction filled with winces and grimaces.

“Actually, it’s about the other day in the chemistry lab,” the blonde stuttered. Katrina sighed.

“What about it?”

“I was just hoping you could teach me…how to do all of that fighting stuff.” Katrina met her gaze, the intensity was tangible.

“You’re kidding me right? This is just another angle to torture me with?” The blonde shook her head vigorously.

“No, not for me anyway,” she turned to look at the rest of us. “I don’t know why they’re here.” The red head stepped forward.

“I’m here for the same reason. I just don’t want to be such an easy target. I don’t want to be…,” he paused long enough for her to raise a brow.

“Like me?” she finished for him, and his face started to match his hair.

“Look, I just wanted to gain an advantage on the field. Jared is gunning to replace me as captain, and I need the extra edge,” the football player snapped.

“I just think it’d be fun,” the small brunette stated, her slightly high pitched voice sounded way too happy for the tense circumstances. Katrina blinked at her a couple times before nodding, and looking at me.

“And you?” she asked, I shrugged.

“The counselor told me to ask you to tutor me.” Her expression shifted to one of confusion.

“Tutor you?” I shrugged again.

“It’s the only way I can get the teachers to leave me alone, but the rest of it sounds interesting. I’d be willing to give it a shot.” To be honest, I had no idea what they were talking about. Sure she had some self defense skills, but how good could she be? But if it got me in close quarters with her, long enough for me to figure her out, I was game.

“Whatever, fine, so long as you all stay away from this room when I’m here,” she muttered, shaking her head. She was so busy rifling around in her bag she didn’t see the numerous smiles that were directed at her.

“We can use my house,” I volunteered without thought. Oh well, if I was going to go for it, I might as well go all the way. “There’s plenty of room, and privacy,” I continued.

“Great, we start tomorrow after school. Be prepared to hate me…even more than you already do,” she muttered as she left the room.

It took a moment for me to get my head on straight, and then I ran after her. The bell had rung five minutes ago, so the school grounds were almost deserted. She walked swiftly in the same direction that she had the day before, and I had to jog to catch up to her.

“Hey, hold up.” She sighed before turning to face me, her eyebrows raised in a question. “About the tutoring?” I asked, unsure what exactly to say.

“Yeah, I’ll do it, just keep it to yourself, I don’t need the added attention.” I nodded and she turned to walk away again. “Wait,” I sighed, exasperated by her rush to get away. “Don’t you need my address?” She turned back around, this time looking expectant. I rattled it off before thinking. Suddenly unsure as to whether I should have written it down ahead of time.

“Got it,” she replied, her tone curt, trying to end the conversation.

“Are you sure you don’t need me to write it down?” I yelled after her. This time when she turned she kept walking backwards.

“This town isn’t that big.” I sighed at her retreating back, before turning around to get my car. The other four were still standing around the parked cars. Obviously they needed the address as well.

 

Chapter 3

Katrina

　

　

So my tormentors wanted something from me, how ironic. Then there was the new guy. Tutoring? Not something I’d ever done before. Though I had no reason to doubt him. So far he hadn’t said anything to me that would lump him in with the rest of the student body. But in the last two days he should already know what being seen with me would do to his reputation.

I didn’t think I had to worry about any of them saying anything. They had their own lives to protect, though I couldn’t fault them for wanting to forgo my usual treatment. From the years that I had sat there watching them, they had their own support groups. And the new guy would undoubtedly find his own, sooner rather than later.

As I suspected none of them even glanced at me the next morning. It was semi peaceful, the lack of attention. To bad it was short lived. By lunch the quiet had disappeared, leaving me with the usual whispered conversations, and barely concealed insults. It was rare that I ever asked what I had done to deserve this life.

But last night had been one of my mother’s bad nights. I got to hear all over again how much of a disappointment I was. How little she thought of me, and how badly she wished she’d simply had an abortion. It left me exhausted, even if it was a twice a week occurrence.

So I sat on my table, zoning out into space, waiting for the day to end, when they came back. The initiation group. They had gained a new football player, and in order to truly become a member of the team the new guy had to come up with a unique insult for me. The scrawny kid that had tried yesterday, had failed miserably. So miserably that I kind of felt sorry for him. It looked like they were giving him another shot.

“Hey,” he stumbled on his words, unsure of how to approach me. His greeting was almost conversational. “So, I was wondering what your going rate was? I only have a twenty on me, think that’s enough to get me behind the English building?” he winced at his own words. Though he had succeeded in achieving his unique insult. This was the first time I’d ever been called a whore. At school at least. But the resounding ‘Oh’s’ and grunts of approval meant that he had achieved his goal.

I felt my eyebrows climb, mostly out of surprise. But instead of answering, something I’d given up on a long time ago, I grabbed my bag and went inside. I was finally able to take a deep breath when the last hour bell rang and I was alone in the music room. On particularly difficult days I hid in here. The librarian knew me well enough by now to just mark me as present. She knew I never left school grounds until the last bell rang.

After hooking my laptop up to the sound board and speakers, I dragged a microphone over to the drum set. I’d spent the last three years teaching myself how to play the different instruments that littered the room. After I had them down, I started fiddling with the sounds on the sound board. Next thing I knew I was delving into producing the music.

I would pick a song

Imprint

Publisher: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

Images: This amazing cover was created by Nina Kari.
Publication Date: 02-07-2012
ISBN: 978-3-7368-9705-2

All Rights Reserved