Blood Lust

Blood.

That was my primary need at the moment. I needed it. I could smell it all around me. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. It was almost unbearable.

I squeezed my knuckle. The skin on my hand whitened in contrast to the dark color and the blueness of my veins popped out in my wrist. My shoulders hunched and my body contracted. I gasped. The moon shown brilliantly through my curtains. It was starting.

I collapsed, falling on my back. I was quivering all over. The pain was starting. The moon illuminated my face as I saw in the mirror. I saw a red tint in my eyes. My mouth opened and let out a silent scream of pain. I jerked forward, curling into a ball. I felt my hands curling and the claws were beginning to grow. My body jerked back as my feet began to change into paws. I saw brownness sprouting all over my body. I let out a sob and squeezed my eyes shut for the final moments of pain to come.

When next opened my eyes, I was facing the mirror again. I did not see my face. I saw a monster. A horrible monster.

I sat up. My need for blood was growing with every beat of my newly transformed heart. With a final shudder, I shook my head like a dog, formed my lips into an "O" shape and let out a loud howl.

Anyone with a brain can pick a freshman in a high school out of a crowd. Just look for the short kid who is keeping to themselves if alone, or chattering a little too loudly with other freshmen.

Any idiot could see a new student as well. It is especially easy in the middle of the year, when you see someone looking around in confusion.

That was me.

"Margarta-Rozsa Horvath?"

I was tempted leap up and run out of the office. The small number of students who were in there with me, either working with the secretary or waiting for a disciplinary meeting snickered at the strange name. As if it's my fault that the people I had to call my parents were old-fashioned Hungarians.

Instead of running away like a coward, I got up and sauntered into the school records room after the secretary called me. So I got lectured about the dress code and rules and anything else that applied to Forks High. Afterwards I went into the scheduling room. The high school in my old town was much different. We had 12 periods, though technically it was only 9, because there were a bunch of block periods for all 4 lunch periods. This school had hours. I saw that I had gym as the last hour of the day, and I had Algebra 1 first. Joy.

"Excuse me." I said to the lady behind the desk. "I am supposed to be in geometry. I was taking the course in my old school."

"I'm sorry, but I received a note about your schedule. There is only one geometry class in the school, and it's completely full."

An unavailable, required geometry class? Bullcrap!

I decided not to argue, and I left for class.

I quickly found my first room. The algebra class was next to the bathroom. I jumped several times when I heard a dryer go off in the bathroom. It sounded like an angry animal growling. As for the class…I could have taken it sleeping. I had taken the course in eighth grade, for God's sake!

My next class, in second hour, was American History. I guess it wasn't that bad. The teacher looked like a wack job, but I guess it was fine.

Third hour I had freshman science. It wasn't until this hour that I realized I was getting dirty looks from some of the kids. I don't look really scary…unapproachable, maybe. I don't know. I think it was the fact that I didn't really look friendly, by the combination of the fact that I don't smile often, and my dress. I was wearing a band T-shirt and skinny jeans. Ohh, right. I remember JT Anderson at my old school. She used to dress like that. I was copying my former lab partner without realizing it. Well, people liked her because despite the "Look at me and die" vibe she gave off from her dress, she had a good attitude and was nice to generally everyone.

I just shrugged and slid down in my seat with my arms folded. I tapped the toes of my Converse together and gave a halfhearted attempt at a smile. I dropped it when the boy next to me, who was staring in what I thought was awe, looked away. Of course. I was smiling, but I was smiling at nothing, to nowhere. I noticed how stupid I must look, staring into space and smiling. I blew a strand of hair out of my eyes.

The class started. It didn't take me long to realize that they were on Basic Chemistry. I was ready to kill myself. I hated chemistry. We had an introduction to it in eighth grade science and I had almost failed. I felt my head tilting to the side. I remember Kramer teasing me about how I never paid attention, because my head was practically hanging off of my shoulders and my eyelids were drooping…

DON'T! The voice screamed in my head. I jumped and Kramer's face left my mind. I was shaking all over, which once again attracted the stares. Only the teacher remained oblivious. I just slumped over and did my best to pay attention.

Don't think about him, the voice commanded. I closed my eyes, took several deep breaths and pinched my wrist. I shook off all thoughts about Kramer and continued to pretend to listen to the teacher.

Fourth hour English was the same- nobody talked to me. Before the eigth grade had ended, my English teacher had taken me aside and told me that he was putting in a special note to the high school saying that I would do well in Honors English. I had received a shock from the teacher when I can up to question her about the course- there was no Honors English course. Another nap for me. And right before lunch too.

During lunch, I managed to find a small table in the corner to sit at. I didn't bring a lunch, seeing as I had no time this morning, so I just began my homework, seeing as I dropped my study hall to take art. I didn't want any books to weigh me down on my walk home.

As I predicted, nobody came to sit with me. After finishing my algebra and history, I pulled out Great Expectations, which I was required to read this semester, and glanced around. Nobody really cared about the girl sitting in the corner.

I sniffed and began reading. It wasn't long after I began reading that the bell rang. I packed up my things and made a quick stop at my locker to dump my things in.

The class began with the teacher welcoming back the students from summer break. He began asking how everyone's vacation was. Everyone responded cheerfully. It was clear that everyone liked this teacher.

Mr. Dundee was also the only teacher who acknowledged that I was a new student. I was surprised- I later found out that he had taught at the middle school last year and knew most everyone who was taking the course. I guess he knew I was a transfer. And I certainly had not expected him to ask about my back ground.

"I'm from Texas." I said quietly. "I moved here because of a death in the family." Well, it was partially true. Best lie I could think of.

Idiot. You could have just said that your parents got a job transfer.

This was really the only class I actually had to do something. It was actually fun. It was really the next class that was awful. Gym. I asked the teacher how often we had to take it, and it turns out- all four years. Great. I was probably the only freshman in the class. I had to be put in a threesome with these two seniors. They were friendly enough, but I didn't really pay attention to them. I heard the Hallelujah chorus when the final bell rang, when I sped to the locker room, changed and took off. I nearly tripped as I ran out of the building and down the street. I think I was halfway down the block when I saw the cars leaving the school parking lot. I didn't look to it, but I was fast. When I wanted to be.

All I wanted to do was go home. I wanted to be surrounded by my music and my utensils. My own blood didn't taste good, seeing as I wasn't human. It was all I could do to get away from the world.