Howling with Wolves

Chapter Four

Lying to Bri and Nessa about why I was wearing bandages on my hands made me feel dreadful. Their belief in my lie proves to me just how much they trust me. I feel like I’ve broken that trust but they can’t see the shattered shards of the mirror I broke. I’m probably just overreacting too much to one simple little lie. Besides, it’s not like I can tell them that a pack of wolves are hiding out in the woods around Edenwood. They’d never believe me if I told them that.

For the sake of the wolves, one little lie couldn’t hurt, right?

It was weird seeing my parents moving quietly in the kitchen, making coffee, cooking breakfast. There was no nasty words, no heated glares, nothing that has become the norm for my parents over the last few years. Just silence. Plain old silence.

It made me feel even tenser then when they fought. It actually made me wish they were fighting instead of pretending like the other wasn’t there.

They didn’t asks me about where I went when I walked out on them after hearing the news of their divorce. There was a part of me that was expecting that they’d want to know if I’m alright, or what my thoughts are on the whole situation. But the big part of me, the sad part of me, was glad that they didn’t ask. I wasn’t even sure I had an answer for them. An answer that didn’t end up in me crying or shouting at them, anyway.

Bri and Nessa were like me when I told them, a little upset, and little angry, a little understanding. Bri had given me a hug and told me that even though it doesn’t seem like it, everything will be alright. Nessa hugged me and told a joke that had me laughing despite the tears that were welling in my eyes.

Neither of them questioned me about what happened with Nick and Shawn the other day either. We’ve pretty much just gone about a normal school day. But I’ve noticed the both of them have watched me just a little bit closer when we walk to classes together.

Right now though, I have a free period and they don’t.

Honestly, I am kind of relieved to not have them smothering me to make sure I am okay.

My feet carry me through the quite hallways. My black sneakers barely make a sound as I take steps. The silence is peaceful to me.

The library is on the east side of the school. It is a large brick building, two glass doors frame the font of the library. Posters and drawing from the art students line the doors. It’s like it’s an open museum for mediocre art. But the library, despite that, is a beautiful place with shelves upon shelves of books of all different genres. There are books on fiction, non-fiction, science, mathematics, books on languages and animals. Any subject you could think of, the school library probably has.

I remember Bri, Nessa and I spent most of our time there in seventh and eighth grades. Reading for leisure or studying. The three of us were – and still are – big book worms.

Without warning, while I’m turning to corner that turns off into the library, a large hand wraps around my upper arm, roughly, and with more force then was necessary, drags me back around the corner and into an empty classroom.

My back hits the door as soon as it’s closed. I hear the bang of hands slamming on the door, one hand on my left, the other on my right. It causes as small gasp to fall from my lips. It takes a few seconds for my dazed mind to realize what’s going on, and for my eyes to adjust to the blinding light that burns into my eyes from the open windows across from me.
It’s Shawn.

He stares down at me, looming over me with intimidating blue eyes. They’re a dirty blue, a sickening twist of the ocean, like someone dumped something terrible into the water and it contaminated the whole entire body of it. I can see the stupid eyebrow piercing in his eyebrow. His hair is once again overly gelled, like he’s going for that ‘just-rolled-out-of-bed’ look. This close to his face, I can see a light dust of freckles on his nose and cheeks.