"Mother!" I cried out, "You can make me move to a middle-of-nowhere reservation, leave all my friends and family, and make me share a room with my little sister. But there is no way you can make me go to some random Indian school! Home school me! Send me to Forks Jr. High! Anything but the reservation school!"
"Listen to me Melanie Cheyenne Wells. You are going to school and you are going to like it. Understand?" my mother yelled at me. I turned around and ran to my little room that I shared with my sister Tessa. Tessa was already at the reservation elementary school, which was 20 minutes from our new home. She had started school a week before, and had spent the night at a friend's house, who was taking her to school this morning. I grabbed a pair of jeans and a blue blouse from Abercrombie, along with my white Abercrombie parka. My dad was a professor on Native American culture, and was using his sabbatical to study the culture and life of local tribes in the La Push area. We had moved from Cincinnati, Ohio, to La Push, Washington. Our old house was big and homey, with fireplaces and a pool. Since we were only keeping this house for two years, my parents had purchased a small, old house with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, and almost no extra space for the things we were used to having, like a game room and separate bedrooms for Tessa and I. I changed, and ran outside with my new grey Hollister bag, and began the 10 minute walk to school. My Ugg boots kept my feet warm, but I was still cold from the horrible Washington weather.
I walked up to the main office at La Push Reservation Jr./Sr. High. I knew right away I was going to be the only blonde at the school. My pale skin, baby blue eyes, and slight body made me stand out from the Native American kids at the school.I would be an outsider.
I received my schedule from the office lady, and headed to my first class. I had Art, with Mr. Watalk. As I walked into the classroom, I felt 17 pairs of eyes look at my face. I shuffled my feet to the teachers desk, and muttered to him, " I'm Melanie Wells. I'm new here."
"Welcome Melanie. Class, this is Melanie Wells. I expect you to greet her with kindness!" he said, as I turned to face the class. I looked over, and one boy was staring at my face, and didn't look away when I sat down. His friend whispered something to him, but the boy kept staring at me. I focused on the teacher the rest of class. When class ended, I gathered up my things, and walked to the door. Before I could exit, I heard a voice behind me.
"Um, hi. My name is Collin." I turned around and standing behind me was the boy who had been staring at me. He still was, and there was a look in his eyes. Like a mother holding her newborn baby for the first time, or a blind man seeing colors and light. It creeped me out.
"Hi. I'm Melanie." I said softly. I turned around and started walking again.
"Wait, Melanie! What class do you have next?" asked Collin.
I looked down at my schedule. "History with Mr. Mayo." I said in my soft voice again.
"I have him to!" said Collin excitedly. I, being curt in nature and very unhappy to be at this school anyway, decided to tell him to go away.
"That's wonderful Collin. But I would appreciate if I had a few inches of breathing room. I have a boyfriend in Cincinnati. I'm sorry." I said, my soft voice a little icy. I saw the look in Collin's eyes. It was like I had just killed his puppy.
"But if he breaks up with me, you'll be the first one I'll call." I said again, trying to sound happier. Collin sat next to me in History, still sad but trying to make small talk. He luckily wasn't in my Language Arts class. I gathered my books after Language, and headed to the cafeteria with my lunch.
As I walked in, I felt 300 pairs of eyes shift to my face. I was a blonde. An outsider. I didn't belong with them. That's what their faces read. I blushed deeply and looked around for an open table.
"Melanie, over here!" I heard Collin's voice call. I saw him waving, and sitting with the boy from Art, along with a few others. I smiled, and walked over and sat down next to him. The other boys were giving him strange looks, but he was smiling happily.
"Thanks Collin." I said softly, putting my lunch on the table.
"No problem Melanie. This is Brady, Quil, Seth and Jacob. Quil, Seth and Jacob are all older." I glanced up at the boys, all giving Collin what are you doing looks.
"Hi. I'm Melanie. I just moved from Ohio." I told the boys. All of a sudden, you could see the gears click in Jacob's head. He whispered something to Seth and Quil, who whispered it to Brady. They all gave Collin an understanding look. I only heard one word they said. Imprint. "Imp-what?" I asked soflty.
"Oh, nothing Mel." Brady told me.
"It was something. Imprinting. Like what the Quilente legends talk about. The wolf-men imprint on woman." I stated softly. All the boys jaws dropped. I decided to try something, and see what there reactions were. "So you're all werewolves, correct? And let me guess. Collin imprinted." I giggled. I was just joking, but the boys faces were shocked.
"But there not legends. There real. You, Melanie, are a very lucky guesser." Collin whispered.
