Lone Wolf

Chapter 1: Spilled Lunch

Kaila's POV

Another day, another chance. At least, that's what I used to say. Now, however, I rarely say anything at all.

I used to live in Seattle, Washington. I used to go to Washington North High School. I used to talk and be nice to everyone. I used to be in volleyball and archery. I used to be one of the most liked girls in school. Not anymore, though.
Now I live in a small town in Florida. Now I go to Englewood High School. Now I participate in nothing except what I have to. Now I talk to no one if I have the choice. Now I'm known as the Lone Wolf.

It all happened within three months, July, August and September. On the first day of summer vacation in July, my mom told me the news that I had one month to say my goodbyes and spend time with my friends before we had to move for her job. We moved in August to Englewood, Florida. School started in September.
I was devastated when I got the news that we were moving. I came to the conclusion that, if the pain of severing your ties was all you got when the time came to leave, then I might as well not make any in the first place. I decided that, for my last month in my home town, I'd cut myself off completely.
In August, I refused to go outside, I wouldn't answer the door, I wouldn't get the mail. I refused to do anything that might cause me to meet someone new. I left all the outdoor chores for my little brother and took all the indoor ones for myself.
In September, though, school started and I had to go outside. For the entire month I only talked when I needed to, and kept it short when I did. And now, no one even bothers talking to me, at least they didn't.

I got up out of bed, grabbed my black hoodie, skinny jeans and converse, threw them on, grabbed my smartphone, earbuds already in, and put on my playlist. Listening to my rock music, I walked over to my mirror and brushed my hair. I placed my fringe in front of my left eye. I was pretty proud of it. To most, it was just a flap of hair, but to me it was proof that I wasn't the same person I was in Seattle.
Satisfied, I put on my backpack and headed downstairs and walked into the kitchen to get my lunchbox.

"Good morning, sweetheart." my mom said.
"Hey, Mom." I said, my back turned to her. I could sense her eyes on my back. I turned around to face her. "What?" I asked.

"You're just so beautiful, and yet, you hide it with a hoodie and that damned hair. Why do you do that?" she said.

"It's who I am now, Mom." I said, heading for the door.

"I don't think so," she said. "What ever happened to that beautiful young lady who was always with friends and was nice to everyone?"

I stopped in my tracks, my hand ready to pull the door closed. "We left her back in Washington." I said, slamming the door behind me.

As usual, I started typing on my phone once I got to my bus stop. I've always been fond of literature and music, ever since I was little. I just stood there, my back against the telephone pole, typing stories and poems and songs. No sounds except the golden silence.

The sound of loud laughter broke me out of my bubble. I turned my head and saw the "most popular kids" in school, whom I happened to share a bus stop with. These kids were more like a pack than a group, and their alpha, Blake Anderson, the "most popular guy" in school. I would've had no idea who he was, if we didn't have the exact same schedule. He was tall with dark brown hair, often mistaken for black, and blue-green eyes.

We all stood there, waiting for the bus, me on my phone, them conversing and messing around. At some point, they started to playfully shove each other. Ignoring them, I kept typing.

As soon as I had successfully tuned them out, I felt pressure against my back and fell forward. I looked up and saw my open lunchbox, its contents spilled into a puddle. "What the hell is your problem?" I shouted, fuming.

"Sorry," said a voice behind me. I turned my head to see who it was. Blake. I thought to myself.
"That was my bad." he said, his hand held out to me. I reluctantly took it and was on my feet before I knew it. He was stronger than he looked. "Hey, you're Kaila Wellse, aren't you?" he asked.
"Yeah." I said.

A charming smile on his face, Blake held his hand out to shake mine. "My name is..."

"I know who you are." I said, still irritated about my ruined lunch. "We have every single class together."
"Oh..." he said, eyes widening slightly. "Well...uhhhhhh..."
Rolling my eyes, I turn around, resuming my task of ignoring them, and wait for the bus.

When the bus arrives, we all get on single file as usual, and once I get on, I turn to my normal seat, only to see that there's someone in it. Nice, I think sarcastically to myself. Turning around, I head towards the back, looking for an empty seat. At the back of the bus, I stare all around, not believing I couldn't find a single empty seat.

I can't just stand...can I? I think to my self. Just as I begin going over the thought, I feel a tap on my shoulder. Turning my head, I see Blake sitting down, that annoyingly kind and charming smile on his face again.

"Why don't you sit here?" he says, patting the space next to him.
"No thanks." I say, turning my head away.
"You can't just stand." he says, concern in his voice, "You could get hurt."
Realizing he was right, I look around in one last, attempt at finding an empty seat, only to reluctantly plonk down beside him.