Starting Over

Ch. 1

Felix woke up, just like everyday, to the sound of his alarm. The time was 6:30 in the morning; just enough time to take a shower, eat breakfast, and leave for school. He stared in the mirror for a moment, thinking. Felix was about 5'4" and had black fluffy hair. His eyes were a golden brown, and he was often compared to a stick with how thin he was. Felix showered and changed before heading downstairs grabbing a piece of toast, and heading out to the car, where his brother, Taylor, was sitting with a bored expression, staring blankly at the door.

When Felix got in the car Taylor didn't spare him a glance before backing out of the driveway and heading to school. Felix dreaded every second spent in the car with Taylor, and bolted as soon as they parked, there was a reason for this though.

***

When Felix was four he was found on the doorstep of an orphanage. He remembered his parents, but his memories weren't fond ones. His parents were Lupus Felidae shifters, and he was an omega; they despised him for it, and made sure he knew that.
He'd eat only when they felt like it, which wasn't often enough, and he'd stay locked in his room most days.

Being dropped off at the orphanage could have been seen as a blessing, but nothing good ever lasts.

The orphanage treated him well, he had regular meals, and a warm place to sleep, it was more than his parents had given him for years. About a month into being at the orphanage a human couple came by and asked to talk to him (he hadn't told anyone he was a shifter, as his parents had told him, that if humans found out what he was they'd kill him). He was brought to another room, with a couch and two chairs in the center. He sat in one of the chairs, while the couple took the couch.

They looked like nice people, and smiled warmly at him. They asked his name and told him theirs, Jane and Daryl. They asked him his favorite things to do and how old he was, to which he didn't have much of a response and mumbled about food. They only looked at him with affection in their eyes. Felix asked why they wanted to talk to him, and they told him they were looking to adopt a little boy, and he seemed like the perfect fit. His eyes lit up and he ran to them grabbing Jane's hand and yelling, "Really?!" He was so excited, having a family who truly loved home was always a dream of his.

Jane and Daryl left, telling him they'd be back as soon as they could. Felix practically bounced off the walls of the orphanage with excitement. And after a week of waiting they came back.

When they returned, they had a young boy with them, their son Taylor. He was a year older than Felix, and was going to be his new brother.

Felix and his new family got along great for the first few years, but when Felix turned seven things started to change. Jane and Daryl grew distant from Felix and stopped doting on him. He didn't notice this change at first, but when they stopped taking him with them when they had family outings he knew something was wrong.

With the absence of their parents watching them, Taylor liked mess with Felix. It started with small things, like hiding one of Felix's stuffed animals, or scribbling on one of Felix's  drawings on the fridge, but that didn't last long. After many petty pranks, Taylor moved to tripping Felix as he walked past or throwing things at him when he wasn't looking.

As they grew the bullying, because that's what it was,  only got worse. Taylor would corner Felix and leave him with bruises on his sides, but Felix wouldn't dare tell their parents, because Taylor had sworn he'd do much worse if he did. Taylor and his friends would hunt Felix down at school, and steal his backpack, take his lunch, or just simply drag him behind the school and leave him with more bruises, that their parents wouldn't even question.

~The night before present day

The whole family was sitting at the dinner table eating the god-awful crock pot meal Jane had made. There wasn't much conversation, until Daryl suddenly asked a question.

"When I got home today the trash wasn't taken out, and the dishwasher was full. Taylor those are your chores, so why weren't that done?"

Taylor looked up, confusion briefly crossing his face, and said, "It must have slipped my mind, I won't forget again."

Daryl nodded, and went back to eating his food. Felix was supposed to have done those chores, he'd been threatened into taking Taylor's, and completely forgot, being distracted by a particularly large bruise on his rib cage. The rest of dinner was silent, and Felix ate as fast as possible, almost choking on the nasty mush that had emerged from the crock pot. As soon as he was finished he ran up the stairs, and locked his door. Felix spent the rest of the night wondering where it had gone wrong.

~Present day

Felix had been distracted all day, he couldn't pay attention to any of his classes. He was terrified, Taylor and his friends would come for Felix, and he knew it. All he could do was wait.

Surely enough at lunch, Taylor and his friends had called for Felix to follow him and led him behind the school. Taylor was the first one to speak.

"I told you what would happen if you didn't do what I asked." Felix could see his jaw tighten.

"I know, I forgot. I'm sorry! I'll make it up to you, I promise!"

Felix had started trembling, and was fight to hold back his tears.

"I know you're sorry, I just need to make sure you won't forget what happens when you don't listen."

And with that Taylor punched him in the gut. Felix fell to the ground and tried to cover his head with his hands. The other boys started moving in around him, and kicked him over and over again. Felix tried to  protect his head with his hands, but soon he started seeing spots in his vision, before everything went black.

Felix didn't know how long he had been out, but he trudged his way over to Taylor's car. If he had another way home he'd take it, but he didn't have a license, and they lived a good distance away from school. Their house was built along the woods, and wasn't near any bus stops.

Felix stepped through the door, receiving a glance from Jane, who didn't appear concerned by his black eye or busted lip, and slipped quietly up the stairs. He dumped his bag on the floor, and crawled into the closet. His thoughts were racing a mile a minute, and his chest was starting to tighten with panic. He had tried. He had tried so hard to do everything thing expected of him, to please everyone, but he couldn't take it anymore.  He was tired, and he wanted it all to go away.

Without thinking much Felix snuck downstairs, and slipped out the back door. He walked to the edge of the trees, before taking his clothes of, and shifted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's note

Hi! This is my first time writing, and I know it's a little rough, but I'm planning to finish the story then go back and edit the whole thing. If you stay and read through this hot mess any criticism or suggestions are welcome!!!