Hey Guys!

So we know it's been like forever since we last updated. We blame school. Homework has kept my friend and I really busy.

Anyway, so as a treat, this chapter is over 7,000 words, and longer than the last chapter.

So I hope you guys like it!

DISCLAIMER: We don't own anything. Only out characters. SM owns everything else!

Enjoy!

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It's been a really, really messed up week

7 days of torture

7 days of bitter

-Hot Chelle Rae, Tonight, Tonight-

Luna:

When I walked down the stairs, I didn't expect to see Vera sitting on the couch reading a newspaper. You could say it was an unpleasant surprise. She was dressed in a black suit with a white blouse underneath. Her black hair that looked like mine was pulled into a tight bun. She didn't notice me standing at the bottom of the steps, and for that, I was grateful. But how long would that last?

Not long.

Ducking my head, and using my hair as a curtain, I quietly walked behind the couch, past her, and into the kitchen. I knew I wasn't out of the woods yet so I quickly opened the fridge, grabbed an apple, and shut the door. I walked out of the yellow and white kitchen, and back into the living room. Sadly that was where the front door was.

I quietly walked toward the door, and just when I had my hand on the doorknob, and I thought I was home free; my small hope was crushed by a ten million pound anvil, like you see in those cartoons.

"Luna" Vera said and I heard her fold the newspaper she had been reading.

I closed my eyes, and took a deep breath before turning around to see Vera stand up; she straightened her jacket before turning around to look at me with indifferent eyes. Like she was dealing with an annoying client rather than her daughter.

"Yes?" I asked preparing myself for the worst. The worst being that she slaps me, and I have to go to school with a bruise on my face because I used the last of my concealer this morning on the bruise from last night.

"Jeff's coming over for dinner Friday, I'm warning you now so you can clean the house, and possibly make yourself look decent and find a new attitude" Vera said. Oh, hell no.

"What?" I asked disbelief and anger seeping into my voice.

"You heard me, I didn't stutter. What do you have a hearing disorder now?" Vera asked annoyed.

"Why is he coming over?" I asked my fists clenching at my sides.

"Because I want to have dinner with him, oh, by the way, fix dinner too. I won't be home in time to do it" Vera said glancing at her watch.

"I'm not making dinner for that sleaze bag" I said venom dripping from my voice.

Vera's eyes blazed in anger, "You will do what I say! This is my house, and as long as you live under my roof, you will do what I say! Now, you worthless piece of trash, you will clean this house spotless, and you will make dinner, and you will treat Jeff with respect!" Vera screamed pointing an accusing finger at me.

"I have to go to school" I said in a tight voice, biting back the response I really wanted to give her. Without waiting for a reply, I quickly turned around, and yanked the front door open, and walked outside, slamming the door shut behind me.

I hope I can get myself in a better mood before I get to Rowan's.

Rowan:

Most kids on their first day of school are sweating, sick to their stomachs, and a complete nervous wreck. Whether it's at the beginning of the year, or in the middle of the year. However, as I sat on the small porch of the house, waiting for Luna, I didn't feel any of those emotions. I wasn't sweating, I actually had a jacket on, and was a bit chilly, I ate breakfast, and I don't feel like I'm going to hurl it back up, and I'm as calm as I ever get.

Even Talon wasn't nervous about his first day of school. He was smiling, and laughing, and playing with Autumn this morning. He ate breakfast, and didn't mention a nervous stomach, and he too, wasn't sweating nervously.

I guess you can say that the whole new kid experience has worn off us long ago. I hate being the new kid because it's a lot of repetition, I mean, Talon and I are always moving from home to home, so we get to be the new kids every single time. It's the same thing every time. Go to school, try to ignore all the stares, whispers, and hushed conversations, try to find all of your classes without getting lost, try to make a lunch table buddy, and then, just as you start getting attached, you move again.

Repeat.

It's a tiring process, and I used to dread this day with every move, but now, I've grown immune. I don't care about the whispers, and hushed conversations that I can clearly hear, and I don't care about getting lost anymore, and as long as I find a lunch table buddy, I'll survive.

"Hey"

I looked up, snapping out of my thoughts, and saw Luna standing at the edge of the grass, and the road. She had on gray wash skinny jeans, a blue top, a black jacket zipped up halfway, and electric blue converse.

"Hey, sorry I didn't notice you" I said getting to my feet, and collecting the lone lime green binder that had a package of loose leaf paper in it, and I had one mechanical pencil that I stole from Miranda's pencil pouch.

Luna shrugged, "its fine" she said as I stepped off the porch, and walked over to where she stood. "Alright, lead the way" I said gesturing in the direction that I assumed was where the school would be. Luna nodded, and took one last glance at the house. "I didn't know you were related to Clara and Jack, I didn't realize this was their house" Luna said quietly, almost to herself.

I shifted uncomfortably on my feet, "I'm not….it's just complicated" I said praying that she won't ask any further questions. I'd like to try to avoid the prying questions, and having to explain that my brother and I are foster kids, and then I'd have to go into detail about how, and I can't do that.

Luna just shrugged, "Let's go, we're going to be late if we keep standing around" she said and with that, we began walking in the direction of school.

I let out the breath I didn't know I had been holding, and my shoulders relaxed. For once, someone didn't ask me 20 questions about my life story.

Luna:

Well, I was right.

I could feel the stares boring into my back as Rowan and I reached school grounds. Teens littered the parking lot, trying to get in some socializing before the bell rang signaling the start of school. They were all gathered around cars, and huddled in groups, and when Rowan and I made our appearance, it was almost like all current conversation stopped, and the gossip began.

I could feel myself stiffen, and my shoulders tense from all the stares, and the obvious whispers. Rowan didn't fidget like I thought she would, in fact, she actually seemed calm, and relaxed about it, which surprised me. Most new kids would be having panic attacks by now. I know I was close to having one, and I wasn't even the new kid!

I could feel my hands shaking slightly as they gripped the straps of my backpack. I didn't like all the stares, and I could only imagine what was being said about me.

"You know, the more you react to the stares, the more they stare and gossip. It's like a game. If you just don't think about it, and don't pay them any attention, then it's not fun for them anymore" Rowan said from beside me as we passed by a truck that had a large group of teens gathered around.

I glanced at her, "You sound like you've done this a few times before" I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I have, you get used to it after awhile" Rowan said.

"I don't think I could handle this more than once" I said as we reached the sidewalk leading to the school doors.

"It's scary the first few times, but I'm not scared of it anymore" Rowan said shrugging her shoulders.

I just nodded my head; I couldn't really find anything to say to that. I've never been the new kid so I wouldn't know how it feels, although, I'm getting a pretty good idea of what it feels like. I bet you half of these kids at school didn't even know I existed. Not that I minded it like that, I actually preferred it.

Rowan didn't say anything after that; she just walked beside me in a comfortable silence. I expected her to be talking a lot, and asking me millions of questions about what the school was like, but so far, she hasn't been anything like my assumptions.

As we neared the school doors, we passed more groups, and there were a bunch of girls staring at Rowan, glaring at her; sizing her up. I glanced at Rowan, and she didn't even acknowledge them, I don't know if she did notice, and just didn't care, or if she just didn't notice. Either would be a good guess to me.

It was like torture, I felt so vulnerable, and open. I could feel every stare, and I was conscious of every hushed conversation that was going on around me. I didn't like it. In fact, I hated it. I could feel my cheeks redden in a blush as I noticed a few girls' look at me, and point, and whisper something before smirking, and snickering.

I ducked my head, and let my hair fall like a curtain around my face. I hated this. If this is what an animal at the zoo feels like, then I have a new respect for them.

"I'm sorry" Rowan said suddenly.

I glanced up at her, making sure to keep my curtain of hair hiding most of my face, "For what?" I asked quietly, clutching my backpack straps tighter.

"I can tell you're miserable. I'm sorry about that. You don't have to walk with me the rest of the way if you don't want to. I'll be fine" Rowan said looking at me, and giving me an apologetic smile.

I suddenly felt bad, I mean, yes I was miserable, but it wasn't Rowan's fault that she's the new kid, and can't help that people have nothing better to do than gossip. I offered to walk with Rowan in the first place.

I shook my head, "No, I offered to walk with you. I'm just not used to all this attention" I said offering Rowan half a smile.

"I don't know of anyone that likes all this attention" Rowan said as we finally made it to the doors leading into my second personal hell—the first being my house.

As Rowan opened the door, she didn't notice the person on the other side—I didn't either, until Rowan collided with the person, and her binder fell out of her arms, and she would have fallen on the ground if it hadn't been for the person reaching out and grabbing her by the waist.

Rowan:

Oh, God. This sucks. It really sucks.

I could feel my hands tightly gripping the person's shirt, from where I was trying to save myself from falling, and embarrassment, and I could feel large and incredibly warm hands on my waist, preventing me from my fall. I opened my eyes from where I had them squeezed shut, and was face to face with a very muscled chest covered by a white t-shirt.

"Sorry, I wasn't watching where I was…"

I looked up, almost afraid to see who I had the unfortunate opportunity to run into. My eyes met dark brown ones, and I felt myself stop in mid sentence. It was like I lost the ability to talk, like someone had pressed the delete button, and my mind was left completely blank. I could feel my cheeks heat up in a blush, whoever he was, he was….I can't even find the right word to describe him right now.

I saw several emotions fly across his face, the only way I could come close to explaining it, is like he had been blind, and he was finally seeing the sun for the first time in his life. It was hard to explain. His grip on my waist tightened, like he didn't plan on letting me go anytime soon. I would have—should have said something, but all I could do was open and close my mouth, like a fish, with no words coming out.

"Rowan, we need to get going" Luna interrupted.

I tore my gaze away from the brown eyes that single handedly caused my mind to completely erase any thought. I was grateful for her distraction. I looked over to Luna who was holding my binder, "Uh, yeah…okay" I managed to say. I let my grip on the guy's shirt go and pulled myself away from his tight grip on my waist. I stepped back, and tried to put as much space between us as I could. I kept my gaze down, and didn't dare look back up to meet his eyes.

"Uh…thanks for not letting me fall…I, uh, gotta go" I said finding it hard to form a complete sentence. I quickly turned to face Luna, snatched my binder out of her grip, and quickly walked toward the door, and jerked it open. I didn't even check to see if Luna was following me.

I felt myself let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding, and felt my tense shoulders relax.

"You okay?" Luna asked from beside me, my head snapped to the side, I didn't realize she had been beside me.

"Yeah, I'm fine" I said.

"Well, the office is this way, so we should probably go get your schedule" Luna said pointing towards the left.

I nodded, "Okay, lead the way" I said and Luna began walking, and I walked beside her.

We walked in silence in for a little while, but eventually, I broke it.

"Who was that guy?" I asked curiosity evident in my voice.

Luna shrugged, "His name is Embry Call, I don't know much about him other than the rumors. He's supposedly in some cult, and takes steroids" Luna said plainly.

"I wouldn't think La Push would be the kind of place to have a cult" I said thinking of the small town where everybody knows everybody.

Luna shrugged her shoulders again, "It's just a rumor. I've never really cared that much to really put much thought into it" Luna said.

I didn't say anything; I really didn't have anything to say. Luna and I walked in a comfortable silence, and I was grateful that there weren't that many students in the hallways, and most of them were outside.

I hugged my binder to my chest, feeling the need to smack it against my head repeatedly several times. I couldn't stop the onslaught of thoughts all attacking my poor defenseless brain at once. I mean, I was already thinking of a million things already, like how Talon was doing, if I was going to hate my classes, what would possibly be waiting for me once I got back 'home', etc. I really didn't need thoughts about Embry Call, someone who supposedly used steroids, and was part of a cult, on my long list of things on my mind.

I willed for Luna to start talking, but I didn't plan on it. I was ready for a distraction, but I knew if I wanted a distraction, I'd have to start the conversation myself. I thought of topics to talk about, but I couldn't bring any important enough to disrupt the comfortable silence. It was irritating.

I settled for singing a random song over and over in my head. I could only remember the chorus to the song, so I sang it over and over again. After the first few times of repeating it, and successfully blocking out my thoughts, I tried venturing out, and remembering the rest of the lyrics, just to try and keep my mind busy so that it wouldn't wander. It was going to be a long day if I had to keep trying to figure out the lyrics to this song all day.

Luna:

"What are your classes?" I asked Rowan as she walked out of the overly beige office. I was halfway hoping that we would have no classes together, that way I would no longer get stared at, and I could just go back to sitting in the back of the room, ignored by everyone. But at the same time, I almost wanted us to have at least one class together, I mean, Rowan wasn't bad company. In actuality, I didn't mind her, she didn't talk constantly, she didn't ask constant questions, and she could actually sit in silence. It's just her new kid status that ruins everything.

"Physics, AP U.S History, Spanish III, English III, Pre-Calculus, and then P.E/Health the last two periods" Rowan said looking up from her schedule. I almost groaned, and I could feel my face fall, "We have all of our classes together" I said my tone neutral and bland. At least, I hoped it was.

"Yeah…" Rowan trailed off.

"Well, we should get to class then" I said.

"Okay, lead the way" Rowan said and I turned on my heel, and began walking off down the hallway, Rowan falling into step beside me. Our walk to class was in silence, Rowan didn't say anything, and I was grateful for it. I'm sure if she had tried to say something, I might have changed my mind, and I would run for the nearest bathroom, and just lock myself in a stall until 3:00 rolls around. I have a feeling it's going to be a long day.

Rowan:

"Does Mr. Greene do this often?" I asked looking at our teacher sitting in his chair behind his desk, his head leant back, his mouth hanging open, a small drizzle of drool falling out of his mouth, his clothes all disheveled, and his hair an uncontrollable mess.

"Every now and then, no one really knows why, but every now and then he comes in half drunk, and passes out at his desk" Luna said as she absent mindedly doodled on a piece of paper.

"How does he still have a job?" I asked. It's not like I wanted to have class, but I just found it odd that a teacher that comes in half drunk still has a job. Luna shrugged, "I think he has tenure or something like that. I'm not really sure" she said as she continued to doodle.

So that's what we did, my first period was spent watching Luna doodle, listening to the loud and obnoxious teenagers who were throwing things, playing with their phones, basically screaming to one another, and some sleeping.

After getting bored with watching Luna doodle, I got out my own piece of paper, and began drawing little designs on the paper between the lines. Luna and I would every now and then say something to each other, but most of the period, we sat in a comfortable silence. As I doodled, my mind wandered to how Talon was doing, and if he had made any friends, and if he liked his teacher.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't hear the bell ring, and when I felt a tapping on my shoulder, I stopped and looked up to see Luna looking down at me. "The bell rang, we've got to go" she said and I quickly collected my things, and we left the classroom.

The halls were crowded with students, and I followed Luna through the throng of bodies. I was amazed at how easily Luna slipped in between the mass of students, and I found it difficult to keep up with her.

"Luna" I said as I pushed my way past a couple who were making out with each other, and completely oblivious to the people trying to get past.

"Luna" I said louder this time, pushing my way past the couple, and weaving around a group of girls talking.

Ugh, this was getting annoying, "Luna!" I called louder once I was finally able to see her again amongst the other bodies.

Luna:

"Luna!"

"Rowan?" I asked glancing around me, and seeing that she wasn't beside me. I stopped abruptly, and turned around to look for her. I saw her trying to weave past a group of girls all cluttered in the middle of the hallway.

"Rowan!" I called and went to walk forward, and I felt my foot trip over someone else's and I felt myself stumble and collide with the back of someone who had been standing off to the side, talking to someone. It felt like running into a brick wall, and as fast as possible, I jumped back away from the person, as if they were on fire.

"Who was that?" A deep voice growled out, and the person whose back I collided with turned around, and I came face to face with Paul Lahote, a senior, who has a very bad temper, and is also rumored to be part of the so called cult.

I could feel my cheeks reddening, and I could feel myself shrinking back from his huge and towering frame. "Did you run into me?" He growled looking down at me. I reluctantly looked up, and met his angered gaze, and as soon as his anger had come, it was gone. His face was wiped clean of anger, and replaced by a flurry of emotions; it was like he was seeing for the first time.

"Paul?" One of his friends asked, I think his name was Jacob.

I felt like a deer caught in headlights, my eyes were wide, and my mouth was parted, like I was going to say something, but I knew nothing would come out.

"Luna, finally" I heard Rowan say, as she walked over to my side. "Hey, you okay?" Rowan asked concerned as she glanced to Paul.

I moved my mouth, but no words were coming out, like a fish gasping for water. I could feel my cheeks blazing bright red, and I willed for the floor to swallow me up. I was grateful when the one minute, warning bell rang, and I was able to tear my gaze away.

"C'mon Rowan, we're going to be late" I said quickly grabbing her arm, and tugging her along, very aware of Paul's gaze boring into my back. I felt like I wanted to hurl, my hands were shaking, and I wanted to crawl in a hole.

I was so glad when we entered the AP U.S History classroom and I rushed to my seat in the back of the classroom, tugging Rowan behind me. I quickly threw myself in my seat and used my backpack to shield my face, and lay my head on it. Rowan much slower than me, placed herself in the seat next to me, and gave me a concerned look.

"Luna, are you okay?" Rowan asked quietly, not to draw attention to her since Mrs. Craft stood and began class.

"I'll be fine…that was just…embarrassing. Just give me a minute" I said my voice sounding slightly shaky.

"What's wrong? You look really pale" Rowan said concern in her voice, and on her face.

I shook my head, and swallowed. "I told you, I'm the social outcast, and I'm not used to all this attention, and I…I just embarrassed myself in front of so many people, and drew so much attention" I said quietly, my voice a whisper.

Rowan placed a hand on my forearm, "It'll be okay, I promise" Rowan tried to assure me.

I just shook my head, "The guy I ran into is supposedly in the cult too, like Embry, and he's a complete jerk, and has the worst temper ever. I remember him throwing French fries at me back in middle school, and calling me a freak. I wouldn't put it past him to be telling everyone about how the loser outcast ran into him, and, and…"

"Luna, calm down. You're working yourself up. So what if he's a jerk? The worst thing you can do is let any rumor or gossip he spreads about you affect you. Calm down" Rowan said soothingly.

I took a deep breath, "Sorry, I just…I don't take attention and stuff well" I said.

"It's okay, we all have our quirks. It'll be okay" Rowan said.

I felt my tense posture relax slightly, and I was able to calm my shaking hands, and eventually the queasiness went away. You know, I was glad Rowan was there, and I was actually grateful for her experience at being the new kid, and dealing with all the stares, and gossip about you. I'm sure that without her managing to calm me down, I would have worked myself into a frenzy, and would have had to go to the bathroom, and try to calm myself down.

Rowan:

By the end of fourth period, and the beginning of fifth, Luna had finally calmed all the way back down. Although, I could tell she wasn't as relaxed and calm when the bell rang in the middle of fifth period, signaling our lunch time.

I followed Luna to the loud cafeteria, it was a very large and spacious room filled with tables lining the walls, and placed throughout the middle of the lunch room. No one paid any attention to us as we entered, and stood in line. Everyone was too busy with their own business to care about our appearance. I was grateful for that.

I don't think Luna could take much more staring. She had nearly had a panic attack in second period. I was glad when she had finally calmed down. Luna and I filled our trays with the inedible school food, and paid, and Luna led me to a table towards a back corner in the lunch room. The table didn't have anyone sitting at it.

"So, I know I should stop hoping that school food will ever be edible, but I keep hoping that it will. I'm sadly disappointed every time" I said breaking the silence.

Luna snorted and it almost sounded like a laugh, "I think it's just an unwritten rule of the universe that school food must be gross, and repulsive" she said poking at the food in front of her.

I laughed, "At the last school I went to, I had a cheeseburger once that was pink in the middle. It was really gross" I said and shuddering from the memory of actually biting into that…thing. It had tasted metallic, and gross.

Luna's face scrunched up, "Ew, I'm a vegetarian so that just doubly repulses me. Pink meat, ick" she said.

"You're a vegetarian?" I asked.

Luna nodded her head, "Meat makes my stomach hurt, I haven't eaten it since I was five" she said poking at the mashed potatoes on her tray.

"That stinks, I don't think I could be a vegetarian, I mean, I love my fruit and veggies, but I like my steak" I said trying to remember the last time I had a steak. It's been a while.

Luna scrunched up her nose, but a faint smile was playing on her lips, "I pet the cow, I don't eat it" she said stabbing some green beans, and shoving them in her mouth.

I smiled, "I'm an omnivore, so I guess I'm like Switzerland when it comes to carnivore and herbivore" I said taking a bite of the chicken sandwich.

Luna gave a short laugh that was cut off quickly. I was glad we were finally actually talking more, I don't care what people think of Luna, to me, she wasn't the outcast she claims to be.

I saw Luna's eyes wander across the lunch room, her face blank, and neutral, until her eyes fell on something that caused her eyes to grow the size of saucers, and almost choke on the green beans she had been chewing up. I blinked, and gave her a concerned look as she took a few gulps of her water.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Her cheeks were tinged red, and she had ducked her head, and let her hair fall down like a curtain around her face. I twisted in my seat, and followed her gaze, and saw what she was looking at. At another table, sat a group of huge, muscular guys, and a girl. I'm not sure why, but I, for some reason immediately picked out the guy I ran into earlier, Embry Call. The guy that Luna had run into earlier was looking over in this direction, his eyes on Luna.

Luna shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "It's that guy from earlier, the one you ran into" I stated glancing back at Luna who trying to hide her face.

"His name is Paul Lahote" Luna said quietly.

I looked at the table of extremely muscled and huge guys. Someone had gotten Paul's attention, and was talking to him. However, as if Embry could tell I was staring, Embry looked up, and his eyes met my own. I felt my cheeks heat up a little bit, and I found it hard to look away.

"Is he still looking over here?" Luna asked making it possible for me to look away.

"No, he's talking to one of his friends now" I said turning to look back at Luna who had abandoned eating her food, and was fidgeting with the zipper on her jacket.

"I have to go the bathroom" Luna said slowly getting to her feet, "You okay?" I asked worried that she would have a panic attack again.

"It's okay, I'll be fine by myself" she said and began walking away, exiting the room.

I sat there by myself. I ate a few more bites of my chicken sandwich, but it wasn't that good, and I couldn't bring myself to eat the rest of the gross school food. I sighed, and stood up, grabbing mine and Luna's trays, and walking to where the garbage cans were. I quickly dumped the contents in the garbage can, and placed the trays on the cleaning wracks.

"Hey"

I jumped slightly, and whirled around to see Embry towering above me. I took a step back in surprise. "Uh, hey?" It sounded more like a question than a statement.

"I'm Embry, I didn't get to introduce myself earlier" he said smiling at me.

I fought the fluttering in my stomach when he smiled, "Uh...I'm Rowan, s-sorry about earlier" I stuttered. Embry shook his head, "It's okay, it was my fault; I wasn't watching where I was going" he said.

"Uh, well, thanks?" Once again, it sounded more like a question than a statement.

Embry opened his mouth to say something, but by then, I saw Luna walk back into the lunch room, and walk to the table.

"I got to go, bye" I said and quickly walked around him, and walked back to the table where Luna had already sat back down.

"Sorry, I went to go take care of our trays" I said sitting back down.

Luna looked up, "Oh, hey…thanks" she said. I nodded my head.

Luna:

Gym. Also known as P.E, which is short for Physical Education. In other words, it means hell. Oh how I despise P.E, and Coach Fredrick's always too positive outlook on making us run laps.

"I wish I had had some warning as to what my classes were going to be, that way, I wouldn't have had to borrow clothes from people" Rowan said as she tied her shoelaces.

"Well, that's less laundry you have to do" I said.

Rowan laughed, and stood up stretching her legs out, "I'm not looking forward to running laps" she said tying her hair up into a high pony tail.

"No one is" I said pushing a stray strand of hair out of my face. I wish I had remembered to bring a head band. Rowan sighed, "Alright, I think I'm ready" she said and with that, we exited the girl's locker room with a few others and into the large gym where the other students were waiting.

I stopped abruptly; I had completely forgotten that Paul was in my gym class. I was so glad that he had his back to me, and was talking to Embry, and his other friend, I think his name is Quil.

Coach Fredrick's blew his whistle, "Alright, ten laps, let's go!" he said in an overly cheery voice.

A few students groaned, and we all took off running the perimeter of the hot, smelly gym.

Immediately I could feel my legs begin 'feeling the burn'. Rowan ran beside me, a look of concentration on her face, her arms pumping at her sides. We didn't talk as we ran, we were too busy huffing and puffing to try to talk.

I felt my eyes wander to the front where Paul, Embry, and Quil were. They were always at the front of the line, and they never seemed to get tired, or break a sweat. It was slightly annoying to see them every day, and see how perfectly fit they were, and see them breeze through Coach Fredrick's exercises.

Ten laps later, when Rowan and I finally completed our laps, I was breathing heavily, and my legs felt limp, and jell-o like. I hate running, did I mention that? Rowan had her hands pulled behind her head, her nostrils flared, and her eyes closed. I could hear her taking deep and unsteady breaths.

"Good job! You guys are getting quicker, that's good. Now another ten laps and then one hundred pushups!" Coach Fredrick's blew his whistle, and with much groaning, we all took off running once again. My legs groaned in protest, and they felt like they were being consumed in fire. God I hate running laps.

Ten laps, and one hundred pushups later, Rowan and I were lying on the gross gym floor, spread out, and panting heavily. As people began finishing their pushups, they too would collapse on the nasty gym floor, and just rest there. I felt so gross, I could feel sweat on my arms, legs, the back of my neck, around my hairline, and face. I wanted a shower.

I sat up, my muscles protesting with ever movement, they would much rather me had just lie on the floor, and not move for forever. Rowan slowly pulled herself into a sitting position as well, her pony tail was limp, and hanging to the side, and she was about as sweaty as me.

"I just remembered why I hate running" Rowan said.

I nodded my head, "Yeah and we get to look forward to this all year…" I said.

"Yay" Rowan panted.

"Alright, everyone, stretch!" Coach Fredrick's blew his whistle and everyone slowly sat up, and began stretching their tired muscles. I slowly pulled myself to my feet, my legs wobbled underneath me, and I felt like if I tried to walk, my legs would collapse under me.

"This sucks" Rowan said as she stood up.

I nodded my head, and we began stretching out our tired and aching limbs.

Many stretches later, Coach Fredrick's finally dismissed us back into the locker rooms, and I was grateful to be going home. I didn't bother changing, and I just shoved my clothes back into my backpack with my school books, and folders. Rowan had to change though, and give the clothes she borrowed back.

"Rowan, I've got to head to my locker, do you need me to walk with you back home?" I asked as Rowan straightened her shirt.

"I can walk home, I'm good…" Rowan trailed off "Um, do you want to walk together again tomorrow, to school?" Rowan asked carefully, almost cautiously.

I blinked, and blinked again, and again. "Uh, sure….?" I said even though it sounded more like a question.

Rowan smiled, "Great, see you tomorrow" she said and with that, she walked out of the locker room.

I shook my head, and picked my backpack up, slinging it onto my back, and walking out of the hot and stinky locker room, and into the equally as hot and stinky gym. I walked to the gym doors, and exited into the quiet hallways, school had already let out.

I walked down the quiet hallways. For once, it was like a normal day. Just me, myself, and silence. I replayed today's events in my head, from where I first walked to school with Rowan, all the stares, and then her running into Embry, and then our first couple of classes, and then when I ran into Paul in the hall.

It definitely hadn't been a normal day. It had been so out of the normal; I almost wondered what tomorrow would bring, if anything.

I turned a corner onto the hallway that was where my locker was placed, and I felt my stomach do nervous flips, I saw Paul, and his friend Quil talking next to a set of lockers. Sadly close to where my own locker was placed.

I quietly walked toward my locker, extremely careful to make sure that my steps make as less noise as possible. I walked to my locker, and quickly spun the dial using the combination I had memorized, and opened the door. I cringed when the locker door squeaked.

I quickly reached in and grabbed my Pre-Cal book, and shut my locker door.

"Hey!"

I jumped from the loud voice, and froze in my tracks, and spun around to see Paul making his way towards me. It only took about three strides before he was towering over me, and making me feel incredibly small.

"It's Luna, right?" He asked his dark brown eyes searching my face.

"Yeah" I said my voice barely above a whisper.

He opened his mouth to say something, although, wanting to hurry up and get away; I found a small amount of strength in me to speak. "Look, I'm sorry about earlier, I didn't mean to run into you, I just accidentally tripped over someone's foot" I said in a rush. I just wanted to go home.

Paul opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off again, "I've got to go" I said and quickly turned around and fast walked down the hallway, anxious to get away.

"Hey, wait!"

I didn't stop; I could feel his eyes boring into my back.

"Luna!"

I just ducked my head, and hunched my shoulders, and continued walking away. Just before I turned the corner, I glanced back, and saw Quil dragging a shaking Paul away. I very briefly met his eyes before I quickly tore my eyes away, and continued on walking.

I felt a tugging in my chest. With every step I took, the tugging got more noticeable, but I ignored it. I must still be suffering from all the pushups or something. I needed to hurry up, and get home; I needed to get out of this place, and away from everyone. Away from Paul who has suddenly taken an interest in me. I hope he leaves me alone, the last time Paul paid attention to me; he called me a freak, and pushed me so that I landed in the janitor's mop bucket full of dirty soap water in front of all of his friends, and the entire middle school hallway.

Rowan:

"Talon? Hello?" I asked opening the front door, and stepping inside the empty living room. It was surprisingly quiet in the house, I expected Jack to be sitting in front of the TV watching a game, or Autumn watching SpongeBob. Instead, the house was quiet, and void of any life.

"Talon?" I called louder this time, stepping into the house more, "I'm home!" I called.

"Rowan?" I heard a muffled voice ask.

"Talon? Where are you?" I asked listening for him to respond.

"The kitchen!" His muffled voice called.

I walked across the living room, and into the kitchen, and I saw Talon standing on a footstool, leaning over the sink, a bottle of blue dish soap in hand, and a plate in the other.

"Talon, what are you doing?" I asked setting my binder down on the counter, and walking over to where he was standing.

He looked over at me, "Clara, and everyone left to go out to eat. She said it was a family tradition or something, and then she told me I had to do the dishes" he said setting the dish soap down.

I felt my mouth drop open slightly. "They just left you here, by yourself?" I asked feeling anger bubble inside my chest, "Yeah, but Clara said you would be coming home soon, so I didn't need to worry" Talon said looking at me with innocent green eyes.

"Talon, you're not doing this, you're too little to be handling sharp knives. I'll wash the dishes" I said taking the soapy dish from his hands, and setting it down in the sink, and then picking him up, and lifting him off the stool, and sat him on the counter. I knew he would still want to watch, and he'd want to tell me all about his first day of school.

I kicked the footstool to the side, and rolled up the sleeves of my jacket, and began washing the dishes. How could Clara expect a little six year old boy to clean the dishes? For one thing, he can barely reach the faucet's knobs and another thing, he can't handle really sharp knives, he could cut his hand, or worse. Not to mention she left him home alone!

"So how was your first day?" I asked trying to keep the anger out of my voice. Talon's face lit up, and he smiled, "It was fun! I made a new friend!" He exclaimed.

"Really? Well why don't you tell me all about it?" I asked.

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