Chapter Ten
It was decided that I would go back to school on Monday and go to the Danvers' every night after school to work on my 'training'. Afterwards I would be free to go home.
It was an okay compromise, and the only one everyone agreed on.
Finally, everyone left and my family dispersed. My mom disappeared to somewhere. If I wanted to, I could have found her, but I figured she needed some time to comprehend the fact that her only daughter was a werewolf.
Dad didn't quite know what to do. He kind of just shuffled around the house, not really knowing where to go or what to say. Eventually, he settled in the recliner with a random book off the little bookcase in the corner. He flipped to a page and stared at it. I didn't even think he read the thing. Why? Because the copy of Casseroles and Stews: a Dietary Cookbook was upside down.
Good old Dad.
William was acting completely normal, like none of this had happened whatsoever. This was his way of coping. He sat sprawled on the couch doing his last minute science homework. He always got more homework than any other kid, just like I did. Mom and Dad say we're just too smart for our own good. Apparently, the teachers think so too. Willy and I always correct them for the slightest informational, grammatical, or spelling mistake they make. We don't do it to be a smart ass or to flaunt our knowledge, but I know that I at least hate it when people are misinformed. Either way, this makes them either hate us or love us, depending on their level of uptightedness. But usually it's the former.
And me? I mumbled a quick goodnight and headed for bed. It was only 9:00 but I was still trying to catch-up on my sleep.
I opened the door to my familiar room. When we moved in about a month ago, unpacking my room was the first thing I did.
My room wasn't that big- about 15 by 12 feet- but I made the most of what space there was. My twin sized bed was fitted snugly into the left back corner, and my night stand sat next to it. On that sat my iHome, stack of books, and a pineapple lamp with a stripped lampshade. A bookcase covered half of the right wall, and a little dresser stood next to the door. My medium sized closet protruded into the room on the other side of the door.
My walls were painted off-white by whoever had lived here before us. Hanging about a foot from the ceiling were 6 strings of differently styled lanterns that crisscrossed around the room. A stereo, bulletin board, CD rack, two shelves, and four posters adorned the walls. There was also an antique looking world map and a collection of varying quotes plastered on the walls.
Overall, my room felt more like home than anywhere else, it represented me absolutely.
I wasted no time changing for bed- I was sad to discover that I had left my good pajamas at the Danvers'. I crawled under the blue comforter on my bed and fell instantly to sleep.
XxXxXxXxX
William threw open the door and started yelling at me about sleeping in and not setting my alarm clock or something. All I know for sure is that I chucked a pillow at him so hard he fell down on his ass. Willy grunted and scrambled back up and then threw the pillow back at me. And just to be the evil little imp I know him to be, on his way out he flipped on the overhead light.
Unfortunately, the light switch was on the other side of the room, so I decided to get up. Swearing I would get a Clapper so I could turn the light off from the bed on mornings like these, I ran through my morning routine, knowing I'd be late if I didn't.
As I ran out to the driveway, I prayed I had enough gas in the tank to get me to school and to Kat and Logan's place later. I checked the gage and knew I had enough to get me at least to school, so I went with it.
My radio was just barely audible over the sleet and hail that appeared out of nowhere as I pulled out onto the main road. I didn't slow down or anything though. I mean, it wasn't my first time driving in the elements; I've lived in Northern Ohio for the last seventeen years of my life for god's sake.
Still, something felt wrong, and by the time I pulled into the school parking lot, I was as tense as a board. A huge rush of breath left my body as I turned the Colorado off.
I got out of the truck and slung my messenger bag over my head, all the while trying to ignore the sleet and the prickly feeling between my shoulder blades.
It was the unmistakable feeling of being watched.
As I turned around to walk briskly into the school, a firm hand clasped my shoulder. Reacting blindly (I was sure this was my watcher), I lashed out with the heel of my palm and slammed it into my attacker's solar plexus. I made sure I hit them just short of breaking their pelvis.
It was only then that I noticed who I was attacking. Miss Pinkerton.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry! I thought you were someone else! Oh my god," Jesus Christ, why the hell did I just do that?
Miss Pinkerton moaned from her position on the ground, I squatted down to her general level.
"Did I break anything? What can I do? I'm SOOO Sorry!"
She gasped, "It's not broke," Gasp, "What was that for anyway?" She was starting to calm down and move without crying out.
"I'm sorry, I thought I was being watched, then you came up behind me and I thought you were the one watching me, and I just reacted because I didn't know it was you since you were downwind, and I'm just so sorry!" I assaulted a teacher, that's bad. Very.
"Kaine, help me up and quite your rambling!"
I did as I was told and helped Miss Pinkerton up. Once on her feet, she stayed doubled over and coughed a bit. When she finally straightened up, she said, "You do martial arts don't you? And you're a werewolf. God help us all if you start attacking any more people!" She tried to smile, but all that showed was a grimace.
I felt the eyes again, staring at the back of my head the logical guess was that they were coming from the forest, which was too far away for anyone to get to me without me noticing. But I wasn't taking chances, "Miss Pinkerton? Can we go inside now? It's still sleeting and I feel watched again."
"Of course, always trust a werewolf's instincts," She muttered.
We were completely soaked, but I paid no mind to it and instead focused on getting her into the dry office where she could rest.
By the time we hobbled (she did, not me) across the parking lot and into the hallway outside the main office the bell had rung and everyone was in first period.
Miss Pinkerton directed me into the office. When we entered, the two secretaries and the vice principal- the one who had given Logan, Kat, and I our detentions- crowded around us and bustled my culture and languages teacher into the nurse's office. Then the vice principal came back out to see me standing there.
"Miss Arden, why weren't you in school for two weeks? Or detention?" She still had that no nonsense or I'll strangle you and have fun doing it voice.
I had already gone over the answer to this question with everyone last night. "I had that really bad stomach bug that's been going around town for awhile. I have a doctor's note," I dug around in my bag until I found the note that Jeremy had forged for me. I handed it to her, and she inspected it like it might hold the key to eternal life.
"Very well," She said snidely, and started to walk off.
"Excuse me," I was seriously getting fed up with this woman.
"Yes?" She sweetly snarled. Yes, it's possible.
"I need a late pass."
"Humph," She whipped out a notepad and scribbled on it, then handed me the top piece of paper.
"Thank you, ma'am."
She just walked away, leaving me to stare at the invisible stick wedged up her ass.
Before I got in any more trouble, I strided out of the office and to my first period history class. On my way I stopped at my locker and grabbed my stuff. I smelled Logan and Kat around it, they had probably been wondering where I was.
First period passed in relative peace and quiet, as did Literature and my only study hall. Although I did learn that Logan's locker was next to mine. I can't say I was too happy about that.
When gym came around, I was just starting to forget about the watchful eyes from this morning. I was also starting to forget about the supernatural aspect of my life. Then Kat trotted out of the locker room and jogged over to me.
"Hey," She greeted me.
"Hi, I didn't know you were in this class. You weren't here that Monday."
"I wasn't in this class until this morning. I asked the office to switch my gym period; I figured you'd need some help in controlling your strength and such."
"Oh, okay, thanks. I don't even know why I have to take this class," I hated school physical education, it was so boring and basic, and not fun.
Kat shrugged, "It's required."
The coach blew his whistle and our class of only girls crowded around him on the three point line. We were going to go to the weight room today. Goodie. I get to pretend that I'm a wimpy girl. I sighed.
Kat looked over at me and smiled, "It's not that bad pretending. You can still be the strongest in the class, just not outrageously so. Although I doubt you'll beat me," Kat finished smugly.
I snorted and told her I'd take that bet, and then we followed coach out through the gymnasium doors and across the hall to the weight room.
"Get in groups of two for spotting," Coach Dolton bellowed unnecessarily at us.
Of course Kat was my partner. Just as I was lying down to do bench presses, I felt the creepy eyes again. And this time, I caught a whiff of some scent that stuck out like a sore thumb. I sat up right and nearly knocked my head of the weight holder thing above me. I exhaled and on my inhale the door that led outside burst open. Right before I could get a scent too.
I turned away from the door, not even looking to see who it was. "Kat!" Her head whipped around from the locker she was getting towels from, "Did you smell that?"
"Smell what?" Logan said behind me.
I jumped off the bench and this time I did hit my head on the bar, "Damnit!" I rubbed the back of my head, "Would you please stop sneaking up on me like that?"
He smirked and leaned closer, "I'm not supposed to be able to do that, you're a werewolf." By the time he finished, his mouth was an inch away from my ear and he was whispering. I shivered.
I opened my mouth to tell him off, but Kat broke in, "What did you smell?"
"I don't know. He," I jerked my head angrily toward Logan, "Opened the door and scattered the scent. But I've been feeling like someone has been watching me since I left home this morning. I even beat up Miss Pinkerton," Shock flashed on their faces, so I hurriedly added, "On accident. I was getting paranoid."
"Did you see anybody?" All of Logan's flirty manner was gone.
"No."
"I'll see if I can get a scent around here," Logan strutted (yes, I do mean strutted) toward Coach Dolton, he said something, and then flashed us a reassuring smile before going back out the door that led to outside.
"Why is he even here?" I asked Kat.
She shook her head, "No idea. Ask him later."
We got back to our lifting, and besides the fact that our coach wouldn't stop giving us looks of awe at how much we could lift (we didn't go over the appropriate amount, although we came close when we lost track and competed against each other), the rest of gym went smoothly. I didn't smell or feel anything.
During lunch I was bombarded by questions from Tara, who was as chipper as always.
"Where were you? What happened? Someone said you were dead? How come you cut detention? Can I have your number? I was totally lost! Kat and Logan said you were just sick, but I wasn't sure, so I want your number so it never happens again! I hate not know-! Mumph!" Kat clamped her hand over Tara's mouth.
"Oh thank you god! And Kat. Now Tara, you promise not to talk?"
Tara nodded, and Kat released her hand, and wiped it on her jeans after giving Tara a nasty look for slobbering on her hand.
"Good. I just got really sick, that stomach bug that's been going around for a while. And yes, I'll give you my number. And please, don't ever talk like that again."
Tara looked at me weird, "I had that, but it only lasted for five days, not two weeks."
Kat and Logan traded glances across the table (twin telepathy at work). I hadn't thought anyone would be smart enough to notice the flaws in our logic.
"Then that must not be what I got," I finally said.
Tara still looked suspiciously at me, then she turned her gaze next to her to Kat and across the table next to me to Logan. She was looking to see if we gave away anything. We didn't.
"Fine," Hurt flashed through her eyes, "If you don't want to tell me anything it's okay. I won't tell anyone you're lying."
I felt guilty, but I knew I couldn't say anything. After a brief lapse of awkward silence, the bell mercifully rang.
I went to calculus; I had already done this lesson at my old school, so I just daydreamed through class. Eventually the bell rang and I walked to my locker.
Logan was already there. I asked him my question from earlier, "I forgot to ask, how come you were in gym with us today?"
He turned to me, and his eyes lit up, which is what I've come to associate his wicked streak with. "I work as a gym aid during fourth period."
Of course he was, fate wouldn't have it any other way.
I must not have looked very happy, because Logan's face darkened ever so slightly, "I thought you might need help controlling your abilities 'cause your new, and honestly if it was up to me you wouldn't be at school yet anyway. But it seems Kat already beat me to it, but I can't change now that I've signed the aid forms."
I involuntarily grimaced, "So I'm stuck with you." It wasn't a question.
Logan perked up, "Come on Arden, you know deep inside you're loving it."
"Yes, maybe deep, deep, deep down," I mutter.
Logan chuckled, his broad shoulders shook with it, "We're gonna be late if you keep standing here flirting with me." He walked past me to our culture class, leaving me standing there openmouthed and stunned.
Me flirting with him? Never.
However, he was right that I'd be late if I didn't get moving. But still, it took all that I had to calm down enough to not punch him.
The bell rang as I stepped into the classroom and took my assigned seat next to Logan. He grinned at me as I settled in, I glared back. His face contorted into fake hurt, and my face transformed into a victorious smile. It would have gone on like this for who knows how long if Miss Pinkerton hadn't come in then.
I felt suddenly guilty that I had forgotten about what I had done to her earlier. She seemed fine though. She just walked a little weird.
"Today wraps up our Latin lesson, and you'll be tested on it tomorrow. For the rest of the period you can partner up and study for the test. Conversations must be in Latin or you will loose points on the test tomorrow." Miss Pinkerton shuffled over to me, "Since you missed the entire lesson, you need to work extra hard." She looked at me, assessing. Then she gestured for me to follow her up to the front of the classroom. She started flipping through the grade book, "Logan has the best grades, study with him." She lowered her voice, "A little payback for this morning?" Miss Pinkerton laughed at my expression and faced the class, "What are you waiting for? Get studying."
I went back to my desk and looked at Logan, daring him to say a word. All he did was smile, and then he started talking Latin at me. I only understood a few words.
I think he was talking insults at me, "You are too."
His eyes widened slightly and then he smile was back only wider. Damn, what did I just say to him?
"I'm not even going to tell you what you just said to me. Come on, let's get started. You have a lot to learn."
We dived into our books and I actually had a good grasp on the language by the time the bell rang.
"Do you have another class after this?" Logan asked as we gathered our books.
"Nope, you?"
"No, but Kat does. We could go to the library and continue this until Kat's done, or we could just go to my house."
"Let's go to the library. I haven't had a chance to see it yet." Secretly, I'm a big nerd when it comes to books. Or not so secretly really.
"Okay. They have quiet a few good books."
I blinked up at him in surprise, "You read?"
"Yeah," He looked at my surprised expression, "What, do I not look like the reading type?"
"No, you don't. More like the type to kick ass on the soccer field and then run across the beach shirtless in slow-mo."
He laughed, "I can do that too if you want. But it's November out, and a little chilly to be shirtless."
I didn't dignify that with a response. We stepped into the library and I stopped in my tracks.
The library was freaking huge! It had floor to ceiling book cases surrounding the outer walls of the circular shaped room. Then more cases where arranged in rows in a pinwheel fashion; in the middle of it all was a spectacular oval desk. In was made of solid oak and topped with a green colored granite counter. Engraved on a gold plate on the front of the desk was Thank you to all of the class of 2000 for making this possible.
"Wow," I breathed, once again transfixed on the library's beauty.
"There's some study desks in the back," He tugged my hand and I felt giddy inside. Not that I would ever tell that to anyone.
We started making our way to the back, but I insisted on weaving between cases to get a good look at everything. Many of the book cases were dedicated to fiction, only a couple fewer were nonfiction, and then there were some resource books and a movie case. There were even ladders on wheels like in the movies to help people reach the higher shelves.
Logan noticed the attention I was giving to the library, "It's pretty amazing right? It serves as our public library too."
"Why'd the plaque acknowledge the class of 2000?"
Logan answered, "Because they did so good on their ACT's that the state government awarded the school a grant. Everyone says that the library was virtually nonexistent then, so the school board appointed the grant to the media department."
"Oh."
Logan brought us to a halt and let go of my hand (he had still been holding it?) a blush crept up my neck. He shoved open a big door ahead of us and held it open until I passed through.
Inside the room we had entered were three banks of only slightly outdated computers aimed at a big projector screen. Each bank held about thirteen computers. Compared to my old media department, this room was a gift from the gods.
Logan led me past the computers and through a smaller door than the first. Inside this smaller room were twelve desks with a seating capacity of four people at each one.
Two of them were already occupied. The table closest to the door held a girl and a boy who, no offense intended, fit the stereotypical nerd profile. The guy even had white tape around his glasses. They both sat there looking at flash-cards written on white lined index cards.
The table in the back corner directly across the room from the door was the other occupied one. A plain looking girl- medium brown hair, brownish eyes, medium height and weight and slightly tanned skin- was sitting there by herself with her head buried in a book. No one looked up as we walked in.
Logan weaved between the tables to the one in the back corner opposite the plain girl. As we dug in our bags for our books, I looked around the room. The walls were a soft, light blue and there were posters promoting reading, good grades, and saying no to drugs and peer pressure on the walls at regular intervals. This room was very bare compared to the extravagance of the previous two rooms.
"Ready?" Logan asked.
I flipped open my book and nodded my head.
We dove into our studying. But as the hour came to an end, we started getting off topic and debating on certain points of history. Eventually, we got so many annoyed looks we decided to go outside and wait on the bench out there for Kat.
We continued our discussion, currently it was about religion and the merits of each. "I just don't understand how someone could completely rule out the possibility of any other religion other than their own. What makes theirs any more plausible?" That was what ticked me off about religious wars.
Logan thought for a minute then came up with a retort, "I think it's because every people or culture have different needs, like Africa needs water more than Europe, so they invent, or whatever the case may be, the deities that relate to their needs. That's why places like Europe became monotheistic first; they had less needs, so they had less and less to pray for, which in return allowed them to pray to fewer people. Hence the one god religions."
It did make more sense than most explanations I've gotten, "Then what about the Native Americans? And the Pagans that lived in Europe?"
"I don't know. Quiet honestly, I think you're right about the fact that religions persecute one another with no real-" Logan was cut off by the ringing of his cell phone.
He flipped it open without looking at the caller ID, "Hello?"
I heard a voice declare herself, "It's Kat. Where are you?"
"We're outside on the bench behind the school."
"You mean the one where everyone goes to make out?"
I blushed, and Logan looked over at me with an equally mortified expression. "Yes Kat, that bench."
"So are you making out?" She sounded way too interested in the answer.
"No, we are not. Would you just hurry up and meet us in the parking lot? Mom and Dad are going to get worried if we don't get home soon." He hung up.
"She's on her way," He muttered.
It took Kat four minutes and thirty-five seconds (I counted) to walk up to us. We quickly greeted each other and got into our respective vehicles. Kat had a used mini cooper, Logan still drove his Monte Carlo, and I my Colorado. Logan led the way to his house. I'd never gone there from school, and it was very different. It was shorter too, though still about half an hour.
Elena pulled in right after we did. She looked worried and herded us all into the house.
Kat asked her what was wrong and she just told us to go get a snack and that she had some stuff she had to talk about with Clayton and Jeremy.
We sorta did as we were told. All three of us did go and get a snack- a sandwich and chocolate chip cookie- but Logan crept a little ways down the hallway to hear what was going on. Kat and I stayed in the kitchen keeping up a conversation so that the adults wouldn't get suspicious of the silence.
Logan came back a few minutes later with his head hanging. I was about to ask why, but then Clayton came in with a disapproving look on his face. Logan had been caught eavesdropping.
"Kaine," Clayton turned his head to me, "Go up to the spare bedroom and clean your stuff up." He turned now to Kat and Logan, "Pack talk in the den, go."
It hurt a little bit that I wasn't trusted enough to be included. Not that I expected to be, I knew I wasn't Pack and probably never would be. I took a step towards the hall that would lead to the stairs.
Kat stepped in my way though and both twins turned to their father.
Logan said, "What's wrong with Kaine coming. It probably is related to her anyway."
Kat spoke up on my behalf too, "She hasn't done anything to be treated as an outsider. She needs to know whatever you're going to tell us too."
Surprisingly, I felt really grateful that they would speak up for me like that. I didn't know they liked me that much.
Clayton looked unsure for a moment, then he opened his mouth, but before he could get anything out Elena said from the den, "Let her come Clay, they're right, it does involve her now."
Logan looked triumphant, while Kat just looked like that was always the way things would have turned out. We all filed into the den with Clay bringing up the rear.
We all got seated. Elena began, "I was in town today. I felt someone watching me from the woods." My head shot up, Elena saw me but kept going, "I went in the woods and Changed, they were long gone by the time I got done. I didn't find any tracks or scents. Only a little bit in the air. I couldn't get a handle on it though, it blew away too fast. I don't know what it was."
She looked at me to tell my story, "I felt it too. I was driving to school and something felt all wrong, then I felt watched in the parking lot, and again in P.E. I didn't look for a track."
Even stoic Jeremy looked upset. Clay looked furious that anyone would stalk Elena.
Logan, who I had forgotten was supposed to go check it out during gym, spoke up about his finds, "I went to look for something during P.E. after Kaine told me and I only found a short trail. It went for perhaps three footsteps before disappearing. It only smelled like lilacs; not human or werewolf or anything. Just lilacs."
Kat turned toward her mother and Jeremy, "What does that mean?"
Elena shook her head and shrugged in an I don't know way.
Jeremy however, looked up from the spot on the carpet he had been staring at and looked directly at me, "It means that someone knows Kaine is here, they know what we are, and they want to hide who they are."