Chapter 15

Monday 1stSeptember 2014

My first full day at my new school and I've already made a fool of myself. I want to crawl into a nice, damp hole and die.

It started off okay, eating breakfast with Mai in the great dining hall, munching on a delicious toasted ham and cheese croissant and sipping a glass of chilled orange juice. They have the best food here, and a huge variety to choose from. It's my understanding that those who can sprout fur at will need a lot of energy to keep up their strength.

Each day since finding out, I've woken up with a pit in my stomach that steadily grows as I think about the dreaded day when I turn seventeen.

It's after leaving the safety of the hall that my day started to plummet. Cloud joins us, smiling warmly at me and my heart just about combusts with happiness. I haven't seen him since last night under the tree, and when Mai declares that she has some prefect duties to attend to before tomorrow, I'm left with Cloud.

I can't believe the feelings that I have for him after only knowing him for a short time, and it makes me nervous. I've never been in a relationship before, so I have nothing to compare this to. Is this just infatuation? Am I merely enticed by his good looks and kissing skills?

As he begins chattering on about the history of the buildings, I examine him. No, it isn't just his looks; he's funny, sweet, charming… what isn't to love?

He looks down at me suddenly and I smile shyly, caught staring at him.

"Enjoying the view?" he asks cheekily, smiling crookedly.

"Most definitely," I reply unabashedly. This draws a laugh out of him and we continue on the tour.

First stop is the stables, just south of the girls' dorm. The huge oak barn isn't painted, the natural wood looking very rustic next to the pruned gardens and spectacular view. Apparently horsemanship is greatly encouraged and students who choose to partake in lessons and classes are given extra credit towards their end-of-year grades.

It isn't a huge amount of credit, but as we enter I think to myself that most of the kids I see grooming their horses don't look as though they care either way.

"It's very therapeutic," Cloud informs me as we walk the length of the barn, horses on either side of us, safely inside their stalls.

"I've never ridden before," I say, laughing at myself softly. I eye the horses nervously. They eye me back, their dark gazes chilling.

"Seriously?" he asks, surprised.

"Yeah, it's not really a big thing where I was from." I feel momentarily sad, but it fades quickly when a devious smile spreads across Cloud's face. Uh oh.

"What?" I ask suspiciously, wondering what I'm in for now.

"I'm so looking forward to teaching you," he says, eyes twinkling in mirth.

I balk. "Aren't there teachers or something for that?" I demand, horrified at the idea.

Before he can answer I feel a strange snuffling on my shoulder and whirl around to find myself face to face with a huge muzzle. I shriek and throw myself backwards, managing to trip over my own feet in the process and coming to land unceremoniously on my ass. I am so going to have a bruise tomorrow.

I stare up at the enormous horse, who is staring down at me, rather unimpressed. I become aware of a choking sound and look around. It's immediately obvious that the sound is coming from Cloud, who is bent double, laughing.

I scowl. "I'm glad you find this funny," I grumble, scrambling to my feet.

He makes an effort to stifle his laughter. Failing miserably, he just shakes his head amiably and leads us back out of the barn.

"Has Mai told you about the party tonight?" he asks. Clever boy, changing the subject.

I pause, racking my brain. "No, I don't think so. There's gonna be a party?"

"Yeah, for the start of the school year. It'll be different from the one we had back home, so relax." He smiles comfortingly at me and I blush. I don't want him thinking badly of me because of my reaction when Luca and the others changed that night in the woods, but there isn't much I can do about that now.

"Oh," is all I say.

"It'll be held in the storage shed near your dorm; the girls will show you how to get there."

"Storage shed?" I'd been thinking it would be in the dining hall or something.

He chuckles and I feel stupid yet again. "It's not exactly a sanctioned party, so we have to keep it away from the watchful eyes of the teachers," he explains and I'm thankful that he doesn't sound condescending. I can't help but get a bad feeling about this party. Maybe I'm just good at following the rules, but I feel like it isn't a great idea.

We finish the tour of the grounds without any more mishaps, and I'm equally amazed and puzzled by the end of it.

After the stables, Cloud leads me back past the girls' dorm and around the edge of what he refers to as 'the Hub' but which I only see as the place we eat our meals. I suppose his nickname for it is fitting considering most of our classes will be held there, as well as all three meals and whatever else Cloud said yesterday.

We walk back across the huge courtyard, past the library/study hall and towards what I'd assumed was the boys' dorm. Cloud confirms this, but we when the path forks, we turn away from the dorms. Rounding the opposite end of the Hub, I see a huge glass and metal construction that is obviously a new addition.

"That," Cloud says, "is the new inside pools and attached gym, with the old outdoor pool on the other side."

We walk through the automatic doors into the air-conditioned lobby. There are shelves full of awards and medals, and class photos line the walls in between. There isn't a person in sight, and I assume they're off enjoying the last day of freedom.

There's a glass window looking through to the pool area, probably where people can watch without disturbing the swimmers. Cloud leads me through the glass door beside it, and my jaw almost hits the floor.

It's huge. I'd seen aquatic centers before, but this is almost the size of a football stadium. Or so it seems, with the metal ceiling and exposed beams. Sky lights allow light to stream in unhindered, sparkling when it hits the water's surface. There are three pools in all, one of them seemingly Olympic-sized.

Doors off to the side are where we head next, and I find us standing in the gym. Equipment is absolutely everywhere in the big room, and there's something for any skill or strength level. I wouldn't even know where to begin with half of it, but I have a feeling it won't stay like that for long.

"The gym is open at any time of the day or night for us to use, so is the outdoor pool," Cloud says as I look around in amazement. "It's so that if we get an unexpected urge to turn, we can come here to blow off some steam."

"Instead of blowing up at someone," I finish the part he isn't going to say. He smiles at me, but there's no humor in his eyes. "Does it happen a lot?"

"Unfortunately, it's an occupational hazard."

We leave the gym through the outside doors, and the view is different again. This time we're facing what I quickly realize is the school oval. It seems a lot larger than normal, but I figure that with unnatural speed and stamina, you'd need a larger field.

"There's a bunch of different sports that are offered, and it's not unusual to do more than one. As long as your schedule allows for it, of course. I played soccer last year, but I'm not sure about this year." He leads us over to some benches and we sit.

Sports? I wrinkle my nose. "What choices do I have?"

Cloud grins when he sees my expression. "Soccer, lacrosse, basketball, volleyball, archery, swimming and gymnastics. It's quite varied."

I feel better when he says volleyball: I'd played it at my old school. "Wait, did you say archery?"

"Yeah, the archery range is on the other side of the pool, near the boy's dorm. We can go there now if you'd like, try it out?"

I feel bad for turning him down when he's offering time out of his day to teach me, but I'm done with making a fool of myself for the day. "Uh, maybe another time?"

He hides his disappointment well, for which I'm grateful. "Definitely. Well, let's go check out the greenhouse and I'll show you where the classrooms are. Then we have to go to Mrs. Dowle and get our schedules sorted out."

The greenhouse is a branch of the Hub, its roof made completely of panes of glass and just as big as the dining hall. There are hundreds of different plants in there, all in varying stages of growth. There are even trees growing in the center, from raised garden beds in the wooden floor.

My senses are overwhelmed by a million different scents; lemongrass, spring onion, cedar, lavender… it's an assault on my nasal passages, but it's well worth it. "What is this used for?" I ask Cloud, gazing around dreamily.

"For biology, mostly. But some students make perfumes, jams and ointments to take back to their home towns to sell if they're in need of money. Luca's had to do it a few times, and his strawberry jam is slowly improving." He laughs, and after a beat I join in. I can barely imagine Luca doing cooking of any kind, let alone making jam.

"Come on, the classrooms are this way."

We pass through another automatic glass door, this time into a dim, paneled hallway with doors lining both sides. The hallway curves around slowly as we continue, with Cloud pointing out the numbers on the doors and explaining when I get my timetable it'd say which classroom I had to go to.

At the end of the hallway there are a set of great oak doors that stood open. I'm mildly surprised to see they lead to the foyer, with the dining hall directly across. I'd completely forgotten that we're even in the same building.

Instead of going back outside, Cloud leads us into the foyer and up the grand stairs I admire every time I walk through here. Reaching the landing, he points to the left. "That's the ballroom, always off-limits except for school functions. This is the way we need to go." He turn to the right and through a single door into a hallway matching the one downstairs.

Glancing at the doors we pass, I note that each one bears a name to the side on a plaque, including the one we stop in front of. Mrs. Agatha Dowle. Cloud knocks on the frosted window of the door, and stands back to wait.

He stays quiet, and I follow his lead. I have the feeling these walls are paper thin. It dawns on my then that even if they aren't the teachers can probably still hear us, considering their heightened hearing. I'm really going to have to start remembering these things.

A few minutes later the door opens and instead of facing Mrs. Dowle, it's Reina who steps out. She only gives us a quick smile each before disappearing down the hall. A moment later a grey-haired woman appears.

Colorless eyes regard us coolly behind grey-rimmed glasses, and I get a distinct feeling of unease. "Miss Oaken and Mr. Hale, I presume?" Her voice is clipped and cold. I wonder then if we have somehow gotten here late, although I'm sure Cloud hadn't been rushing.

Actually, he looks perfectly at ease in front of this intimidating woman.

"Yes, ma'am," he says to her, and his eyes smile at me even as his face remains neutral.

"Very well, come in."

We file into the room and perch on the two seats waiting in front of her desk.

"We shall do yours first, Mr. Hale, if that is quite alright," Mrs. Dowle said as she settles herself down behind her desk and brings the screen of her computer to life. Cloud agrees, but I doubt she cares enough to hear.

"I see that your sport of choice last year was soccer, is that still something you would like to continue with?"

Cloud looks slightly uncomfortable for the first time today, and I wonder why. "Well, actually I was hoping to change it to volleyball, and add swimming if possible." He's blushing and it doesn't take a genius to work out why.

Somehow he knew that I have experience with volleyball and had been planning on choosing it as my sport for this year, and decided to do it too! How on earth he knew that when I haven't told anyone, I have no idea.

Mrs. Dowle just nods and types a few adjustments into what I assume is Cloud's timetable. "You already know where to get your gym clothes for the year, and I trust you will show Miss Oaken also." She hands him a yellow piece of paper fresh off the printer, and I try to hide my interest in the colored paper.

I wonder if we'll have any classes together. Do students in different grades have shared classes? I promise myself to compare timetables as soon as we're out of here.

"Now, Miss Oaken." Mrs. Dowle studies me carefully, and I freeze automatically. "Because this is your first year here but are technically are in Grade two, you're going to have to work extremely hard to catch up to everyone else in your year. Your teachers have been notified and until they see fit, you'll be doing mostly Grade one work." She pauses then, as if she expects me to burst out angrily or something. I just nod.

She continues, but keeps regarding me steadily. "Mr. Hale here has volunteered to be your mentor and – for lack of a better term – 'big brother' for your first few weeks. While this means that you will be spending a lot of time together, I should warn you that relationships within school grounds are frowned upon. I will be keeping a careful eye on your progress, and will meet with your teachers periodically. Is this understood?"

I can feel my face burst into flames. This is so humiliating! Here I am, sitting in this woman's office, next to this guy I've kissed multiple times and she's cautioning me against that very thing! And I thought that my day had improved since falling on my ass in the stables.

I realize Mrs. Dowle is still waiting for a response. "Yes, Ma'am."

She nods stiffly and returns to the computer screen. "And what sport is it that you will be undertaking this year?" She asks, fingers poised over the keyboard, waiting for my answer.

I know I'm possibly about to make her even more suspicious, but what could I do? "Volleyball, please. And swimming too, if that's okay." Swimming is easy, and a love of mine. Not that I get to do it very often.

Yet another thing that Cloud seems to have picked up on, somehow.

If she disapproved, Mrs. Dowle doesn't show it, merely types in what she needed and prints off my timetable. Mine is on pale red paper.

What a strange woman.

She dismisses us and I can't get out of the door fast enough. Finally able to breathe freely again, I lean against the wall beside the now-closed door.

"It wasn't that bad," Cloud remarks, silently laughing at me.

"Did you change your sports because you knew which ones I was going to choose?" I demand as I follow him back down the hall. For someone with short legs, it's hard for me to keep up with Cloud, who's almost seven feet tall. I really can't wait until I get the benefits of being a wolf. It'd be nice to not work up a sweat so easily.

Cloud refuses to look at me, but I can see a hint of red creeping up the side of his face. I knew it!

"How did you know I wanted to do them?" I demand, my heart beating at a million miles-an-hour.

"When I showed you the pools, the look on your face plainly said you wanted to get in as soon as you possibly could, and when I said that volleyball was a sports option, you looked so relieved."

It's my turn to blush. Am I really so transparent?

Warm fingers lace through mine. "Come on, let's go get some lunch," Cloud says softly, gently pulling me along behind him.

For the rest of the day we sit on the edge of the small lake everyone calls 'the pond'. Eating our lunch on the grass makes it feel like a picnic and I try to remember the last time I did anything like that before.

"Looking forward to tomorrow?" Cloud asks before taking a massive bite from his second sandwich. A third sat on the plastic wrap in front of him, waiting for its turn.

I think about his question seriously for a moment, instead of shrugging him off with the typical answers. I had had a quick glance over my timetable when we were waiting for our turn in the lunch line, and I'd been momentarily dumbfounded when I saw Astrology was supposed to be my first class of the day.

"One question… why the hell do we have to learn astrology?!" I'm confounded by the idea of it, but Cloud merely chuckles softly.

"Tatiana insists on it. Something to do with being better informed about the 'galaxy that cradles us, and the planets that govern every minute detail of our lives'." He rolls his eyes. "Personally I think she gives a bit too much faith in that kind of stuff."

"You mean like horoscopes and stuff?" Is this school just one big joke? It's like a bunch of terribly cliché ideas thrown together to form this one weird place. But I guess when its main purpose is to teach wolf-children… it couldn't exactly be normal.

Cloud snorts a laugh and I blush. "Yeah I guess, but it's a bit more in-depth than that. It's more to do with the other planets and their alignment with the sun and all that jazz."

I raise a skeptical brow, which he grins at. I'm not a believer of that kind of stuff, even if the horoscopes they post in magazines are funny to read.

"You'll see tomorrow. It's a good thing I'm in most of your classes anyway; helps with the whole 'big brother' thing." He smiles softly at me, and my breath catches in my throat. He's so beautiful. He's like an angel sent down from heaven to lead me to a beautiful and happy life.

Or maybe he's an angel from hell, sent here to lead me to a life of sin, because the things going through my mind right now are far from saintly.

I flush deeper, biting my lip softly. I freeze when his hand reaches up and strokes my lower lip softly, releasing it from my teeth. I dare not to breathe, in case he takes his hand away. His fingers are feather-soft as they outline my lips, then trail up to my cheekbone, then down my jaw. I sigh, closing my eyes and leaning into his touch. It's exquisite and I feel more than a little bereft when he removes his hand.

I open my eyes to glare at him, which he replies to with a cocky grin.

I love this side of him. He's always so gentlemanly and sweet, I sometimes forget he has a cheeky side, too. We switch to talking about the rest of the classes and the moment is swiftly forgotten.