The Shift

Raven casually pulled her head to the side in a stretch as she entered the locker room. The scent of sweat and perfume flooded her senses before the dull fluorescent lights brought her back to reality. As she walked past the mirrors to her locker, Raven caught a glance of her emerald eyes, and messy black hair pulled back in a bun. Raven sighed as she fumbled with the locker combination and pulled out her clothes. She got dressed in silence while the other girls laughed and gossiped.

She rarely spoke, some even thought she was mute, it was because of that that the other girls ignored her and the boys hardly knew she existed. She enjoyed the silence because it let her learn and hear things that no one else knew. When people forgot about her they often spoke secretes that she would never forget. She was still lonely sometimes and wondered what it would be like, if someone would stand by her or even if someone loved-but she never dared finish the thought, because she knew the grief that would come if she spiraled into the lovelessness of her life.

Raven stared blankly as she thought of these things, but snapped back when a high sharp voice sounded behind her. Three girls were changing behind her but one voice made her blood simmer. A girl named Belinda with sharp brown eyes and beautiful blond curls spoke loud enough for everyone in the locker to hear

"I just heard Angus talking about how hot he thinks Raven is, and he kept staring at her all class." Belinda's friends giggled and Raven heard whispers that Angus must be blind. Raven wasn't bothered by the stab, she knew the boys at her school wouldn't even glance her way, and in a way she wouldn't care even if they did. What did bother her was the hungry malice in the Belinda's eyes. She sought a challenge, and Raven would rise to meet it. She stared into the girls eyes with the determination of a wolf, refusing to back down.

"I'm not stupid. I know you're mocking me," Raven said in a deep loud voice. The rest of the girls turned pale and turned at the sound. Belinda lifted an eyebrow and said "seems like it," and walked out in a proud strut. Raven had the animalistic urge to growl but kept quiet as they all filtered out in silence. '

The gym teacher bounded in with a straight set mouth before barking out.

"Lets start this class out with a few laps to get you warmed up!" He backed into his chair and sat with a plop already drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. Running didn't feel very tiring to Raven and she loved the wind in her hair, but she kept to the back to avoid the others. It seemed one of the boys had the same idea. He was thin as a stick, with a pale weak face, but determination burned in his eyes. She didn't remember seeing him ever before, but she didn't want to ask him and so they ran in silence.

Even Raven's keen ears didn't hear them coming as some of the taller more lean boys came up behind them.

"Hey, little Sammy having fun with your new girlfriend?" one of them jested. Raven looked over at the boy and saw a sheen of pain on his face, but he kept silent.

"Oh? Not your girlfriend? Well I don't know why anyone would like you anyways" this time the boy snuck out a grab and yanked "Sammy's" shirt. He tumbled into the dirt, looking up in agony as his leg twisted. She saw a palette of bruises on the other side of his face that she had missed before. Raven slid to a stop in her running, as did the others as the girls joined and a small crowd formed. She realized by the bruises that this wasn't the first time this weak boy had been attacked. Another boy stepped forward, but like a bear Raven stood over the fallen boy and said

"Stop." She recognized Angus as the tall brute before her. He smiled cruelly and mockingly said

" Is the pretty little bird gonna' protect little Sammy?"

This time she gave into the urge and let out a deep snarl with her teeth bared. Belinda stepped forward smiling, and the boys eyes followed her like hungry dogs. Her loose curls swayed as she put a hand on her hip and stared down on Raven, as if she nothing but dog shit.