Disclaimer: The character of Jessica Moore is a product of Eric Kripke and not myself, however Tyler, Dawson and all OCs are.
Please feel review and tell me what you think of the story so far and where it's heading. I would love any critiques to better improve my writing.
First Day Freshman Year
Tyler had no trouble at all settling into her old life of hunting and living with her brother, she was surprised however to find that her father had owned a small 2 bedroom place nearby that he, her mother and her brother had lived in before moving to Lawrence when her mother fell pregnant with her, but she easily made it her home. The house was a mess of books, maps, ingredients; for who knows what, symbols, sigils and journal upon journal of past hunts. In amongst all the mess, Tyler's room was clean; walls perfect white, alphabetized books on both medicine and the supernatural, and all clothes neatly folded in drawers or hung in the wardrobe. The one, if not only, thing Tyler had picked up, as habit, while living with her Aunt and studying medicine was cleanliness. Her room was basic, occupied mainly by a desk, bed, drawers and bookcase, apart from that her room look bare.
The alarm went off with its regular monotonous pulse that Tyler had already come to know quite well, she had beaten the alarm for the third time in as many days; she had woken up hours earlier, sweating and screaming herself out of another nightmare, it seemed strange that it was the same nightmare that engulfed her every time. She could never completely remember it, but she could never forget the flames of the raging fire that woke her each time. She found it rather odd that the dream felt more like a memory than a regular dream because each time she awoke the overriding feeling of loss engulfed her.
By the time the alarm had rung Tyler was completely ready to be out of the house and on another local hunt to get her mind off of that damn dream that was before she realized school started up again that very day. So instead she changed into something more appropriate, a white tank top and dark denim jeans with black ballet flats, packed her things into her satchel and decided to walk to the school she had been enrolled in the day before. Her soft, shiny, chestnut hair was straightened and tied up in a neat pony tail that bounced and swayed slightly as she walked, her fringe swept across her face and half covered her right eye, despite feeling horrible and overall depressed after her daily dream Tyler looked good, which gave her confidence that she hadn't felt since before she had moved to Ohio.
The walk was short and Tyler was in front of the school yard gate within half an hour, watching people play football on the grass, girls talking and texting then giggling and showing their friends their phone, this was it, this was going to be Tyler's life for the next 4 years, it was better that she accepted that now try to fit in and make the best of it. She began to enter the gates and, just as she did everywhere else, she turned heads, people gawked at her and she couldn't help but give a small smile to herself. Things had never been like this in Ohio, she had turned heads but for an entirely different reason, from the moment Tyler got there her cousin had already started rumors about her and everyone, even the teachers, looked at her weirdly whenever they would pass her.Tyler continued to smile, her confidence growing each moment, as she walked further into the school and more people stared at her in awe, first one guy would be looking at her, then all of his friends; it was like a ripple effect going through the school and she was the centre of it.
Tyler was headed towards homeroom, knowing that the bell would toll any second, letting off its first dull ring of many for Tyler. And just at the same time as she reached the classroom, like she had previously predicted, the bell sounded. Though the sound was tedious and unexciting, Tyler couldn't help but feel a slight rush, she was finally getting to start over, how she wanted and where she wanted; on her own terms not anyone else's.
A muddle of many students began to pour through the doorway and Tyler found herself being carried along with the small crowd. As the people began to settle and slide into their chosen seats, that would remain theirs until the next year. Tyler looked around the smile slowly fading from her face, to most the act of choosing a seat was insignificant but to Tyler it would be the difference between spending the year alone or not. By the time Tyler had contemplated the importance of this quite simple choice there was only 1 desk left with both seats unoccupied, the desk was situated second row on the far side of the classroom. Tyler sighed realizing that she had blown this chance to make her high school experience just a little easier and possibly more fun, she sat down quietly in the seat furthest from the door, next to the window and stared vacantly out of it, wondering if anyone at all was going to sit next to her.
The teacher, a beautiful slim brunette woman who already caused stirs amongst the class, entered the room placing a large stack of papers on her desk, she sat behind the desk and quickly greeted the class with a smile and began roll call. Tyler stared out the window, partially listening for her name and answering the moment she heard it…
"…Tyler McInnis?" the teachers voice was sweet, elegant and oh so innocent, to innocent for Tyler's liking, as she called each name, though Tyler had only noticed as her own name was called.
"Here Miss" Tyler answered matching the sweetness, though unable to match the innocence, in her voice to that of the teachers, hoping not to stand out more than she already seemed to. The teacher paused for a moment and stared at Tyler a small smile still on her face.
"Jessica Moore…?" she continued shortly after. After no answer she asked once more making sure that the young girl was not there "Miss Moore?"
The moment the named was called for a second time a young blond girl came almost sprinting through the door, "Here Miss, sorry I'm late, I missed the bus" she gave a shy smile, which the teacher replied to with a slight nod and wide grin as she pointed the end of her pen towards the seat next to Tyler. Jessica sat silently next to Tyler, both girls faced in opposing directions.
The teacher finished off the role marking and addressed the class. "Today is the first day of your high school experience, welcome to freshman year… My name is Ms. Appleby and I will be your homeroom teacher as well as a Drama teacher for some of you and a Spanish teacher for others… I hope you enjoy the day… It will be one of many…" Ms. Appleby smiled then sat back at her desk, leaving the class to speak for the last 15 minutes of homeroom.
Tyler sat silently and continued to stare out the window until she heard the voice of Jessica, the girl next to her, breaking the silence between them, "Anything of interest out there or are you just wishing to be gone already?" Tyler turned her head sharply to face the direction the question came from, "I'm Jessica by the way… Friends call me Jess" Jess finished extending her hand out to Tyler.
Tyler smiled as she took Jess' hand, "Caught me! Not so good at being stuck in a room too long… I'm Tyler, people usually call me Ty" truthfully the only person who had ever called her 'Ty' was her brother, but Jess didn't need to know that. The girls instantly delved deep into conversation about everything; from their favorite bands to the subjects they were taking, as well as homeroom the girls shared 3 other subjects; English, Spanish and Gym. The two girls clicked automatically and found that they had so much in common, both already felt comfortable around the other so much so that by the end of homeroom they were discussing which guys they thought were cute and which guys they had decided were ass-holes.
It was time for first period which happened to be English for both girls, who laughed their way into class, met up with another friend of Jess', Shelby Nicks, then quietly laughed all through class. For second period Tyler was off to Chemistry, Jess to Algebra and Shelby to Accounting. As Tyler walked slowly in the direction of her next classroom her phone began to ring, her caller idea told her that it was Dawson; with a confused frown Tyler answered her phone, "Hey Br…"
"Tyler! Where in the hell are you?! You better not be on another…" her brother's voice boom furiously into the phone as he questioned her as to her whereabouts.
"Err Dawson, I'm at school, remember our deal? It's Monday…" Tyler interrupted his ranting, she could not believe that her brother had forgotten her first day of high school, he never used be like this, forgetting significant events in her life, he was always there for her. 'Was' being the key word. "Look I gotta go, I've got Chem. I'll see you this afternoon".
Chemistry dragged on, feeling like it would never end, it was all boring theory and for Tyler she was just relearning things she had learned previously whilst she taught herself to study medicine in Ohio. She did however meet the guy who was to become her lab partner for the year, Colby Daniels, another freshman with bright blue eyes, messy golden blond hair and a smile that made Tyler want to melt.
Third period, was no better than the preceding class Tyler was in, although she had not already learnt this type of algebra before, she was failing to care, the call from her brother had thrown her off, Chemistry had distracted her for awhile but the guy who had called wasn't the Dawson that she knew and that saddened her, knowing he had changed so much and in her opinion it seemed to be for the worst.
It was finally lunch and Tyler met up with Jess and Shelby again. Straight away Jess could see that something was troubling Tyler, she attempted to find out what was wrong but Tyler just began denying it and saying everything was fine, though Tyler, Jess and Shelby were friends Tyler didn't really trust Shelby, or really like her. "Ty, what's wrong? You seem sort of flat… Are you okay?" Jess didn't like seeing her new friend feel this way, Tyler was looking so depressed, it was disheartening.
"Nothing's wrong, I just didn't particularly like my classes and… Guess what… I'm stuck with them…" Tyler gave a little forced giggle. Jess just looked at Ty with an 'are you sure?' look. Jess looked worried and Tyler didn't understand why, no one was ever worried about Tyler, they just left her to fade away in her misery this included Shelby who soon got annoyed and walked away, but Jess seemed to care. Seeing Jess, remain concerned, Tyler sighed "My brother called, he went off at me asking me where the hell I was… He had completely forgotten it was my first day of high school…" Tyler paused holding back tears, and then continued "He never used to be like that, we used to be so close and now… He is just becoming more and more like… Him…" Tyler scowled as she recalled the way her father used to act towards her when he wasn't training her.
"Him…? I don't understand…" Jess was trying to be supportive and help her new friend out, but she didn't understand who 'him' was and why Tyler had such a strong dislike towards this man, she needed Tyler explain in order for her to comprehend what she was saying.
"My Father… My drunken ass, bastard, son of a bitch, Father… He hated me… He blamed me for my mother's death, as does my brother, I am sure, but he used to at least pretend that it was okay, that he was there for me… Now, I'm not so sure… After everything, I thought it would just go back to normal… The way he used to be when we were just hanging around or when he would stand up for me whenever my Father would try to hit me, saying that I was weak and worthless…" Tyler couldn't help but burst into tears at the thought that she was losing everything.
Jess hugged Tyler, with tears rimming her eyes threatening to spill over any moment. It helped Tyler knowing that Jess was there for her, she had finally made that friend she never had. "Come over my place this afternoon; forget about your brother… If he wants to be like that fine but I'm sure he'll just give it up if he thinks that it's not affecting you" Jess was so positive, she tried to put some light onto the glum situation and Tyler knew what she was saying had some truth to it, that was the way her father had been as well. "No one is worth your tears if they are hurting you this much!" Jess said hugging Tyler again.
Jess and Tyler had a comical time playing dodge ball in Gym. They sat up on the stands hanging around Colby Daniels and a group of guys that were supposed to be doing basketball. Others joined them further into the lesson and by the end of it half of the two classes were sitting up there with them. As Tyler and Jess headed towards the change rooms they spoke about Colby Daniels, "You're so lucky to have him as your lab partner! In my science class my lab partner is icky-Jan…" both Jess and Tyler shuddered at the thought of Jan Olberman.
"I know, he is kinda cute in a down-to-earth sorta way…" Tyler blushed, just thinking about how cute and charming Colby really was.
Tyler had Biology next, one of her favorite subjects; Tyler loved learning about the human body in all of its glory, because she knew how different they were from the supernatural things that she had hunted and killed for the most part of her life.
Sixth period came around, Jess and Tyler met up again in Spanish class, which they had Miss Appleby for; they had a great time having secret conversations in Spanish, both girls had learnt Spanish before, they each had basic knowledge of the language and couldn't help but laugh about the pronunciation mistakes themselves and others made as they were learning to introduce themselves.
At the end of class as everyone was leaving Miss Appleby asked Tyler to wait back for a few minutes. "Hello Tyler, I was just wondering if you were okay you seemed disturb this morning, I did try to speak to you then but you were gone before I could. Is anything bothering you? Anything that I could help with?" there it was again Miss Appleby's sweet, innocent voice, Tyler didn't know why but she was suspicious of it, it seemed forced.
"No Miss, I'm fine… It was just the whole new school half-way across the country with no friends… but I'm fine, thanks for asking Miss" Tyler concluded as she headed towards the door smiling, but deep down her instinct was telling her to get the hell out of there.
After leaving school Tyler and Jess walked to Jess' place to just hang out and get away from the situation with her brother. On the way she texted Dawson informing him that she would be at her new friend's house, so he wouldn't call and freak again.
This became a ritual over the next few weeks, school then over to Jess'. Hanging out with Jess had even cause Tyler to forget about hunting again, she was beginning a new 'normal' life and she was really starting to like it, all thanks to Jess just being there for her.
After only a week the girls had begun to tell each other all the little secrets each of them kept from others, Jess spoke about a secret boyfriend she had back in middle school and Tyler spoke about, the fact she thought she might like, Colby and her family, her mother's death, everything, except for her family being hunters of course. Tyler felt kind of bad about not being able to tell Jess everything, but she could not tell her that things like monsters and demons were real, Jess was extremely supportive but that would even make her question Tyler's sanity.
Even with just one friend Tyler knew that she was going to enjoy the rest of this year and the three years following after it. Life was looking up for her and she was finally learning to make the best of what she had.