"Angela Robin?"
Looking up from her lonely lunch, the senior smiled slightly at the stern-looking teacher.
After 'The Incident', she'd been forced to move with her parents from sunny Florida to the earthquake state of California.
Without gymnastics or any other form of extracurricular activities, she was considered the strange loner.
No friends, but plenty of enemies thanks to her barbed tongue.
'Wonder which one lied about me THIS time…'
"Yeah, that's me."
"No hats on school grounds."
'So this is one of those nitpickers.'
Angela tensed, pupils threatening to narrow.
After her initial transformation, she had never been able to change back, and was forced to wear gloves, hats, and baggy pants everywhere.
On camping trips, which came around at least once every summer, she learned about her abilities, and how to control them to a point.
Sensitive hearing, not-as-sensitive nose, night-vision, animal instincts…
One she'd found recently was enhanced strength, and it ended up being the hardest to hide…
"I need it."
"For what exactly?" The teacher asked suspiciously.
"FOR…medical reasons."
That wasn't a lie, right?
"There's no medical reason to need a hat."
Angela moved away from grasping hands, standing up, sandwich and chicken nuggets forgotten.
"Trust me, there is." She protested, backing away.
"Ms Robin, get back here!"
"Let me think…NO!"
The teacher lunged forward, pulling the hat from her head and exposing the tiger's ears that had been hidden.
The woman was stunned, and Angela snatched back her hat, putting it on as she bolted.
Screams followed at her back, and she headed for the front gate…
'Come on…'
Security guards threatened to block her path, and she swerved, weaving among them to avoid their grasping hands.
Flipping over the final guard, she was off, her bangs attempting to blind her and feet pounding the ground.
Not even looking winded, she hit the sidewalk running, holding her hat in place.
Turning into an alley, Angela skidded to a halt, panting for breath, sliding down the rough bricks to sit on her butt.
'I can't go back.' She realized, not unhappy with the thought.
Her parents would be concerned, though…
'Mom…Dad…'
Even when she'd come home, changed and bloody, they still loved her…
'They shouldn't. I'm just trouble.'
She loved them, she really did, but she also knew they deserved BETTER…
Her eyes almost glowed, determination setting her jaw and unsheathing her claws.
'No more.'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Angela carefully hoisted up an empty duffel bag, opening it and putting in undergarments and shirts.
Searching her messy room, she produced warm socks, pants and shorts, and her favorite black gloves.
After rifling through more of her drawers, she also put two thick blankets and a pillow in the duffel.
Once adding three-hundred dollars and hygiene products, the tiger-girl changed into a white tank top, baggy black jeans, and a black biker cap she was rather fond of.
Pulling on black and white sneakers and her favorite gloves, Angela deemed herself ready after shrugging on a long, warm coat.
Shouldering her bag, she carefully placed a note on her mattress.
'Dear Mom and Dad,
I know I've caused you a lot of trouble, and I'm sorry. It's time for me to go. I'll miss you both a lot, but don't come looking for me. This needs to be done. I'll be fine on my own. I'll call you when I find a place where I know I'll be safe.
Love, Your Daughter,
Angela'
And then she left.