Violets and Ash

Chapter 5

'We're actually doing this, Lacey. We're going to college. Did you see how proud Elijah looked?' I laughed, spinning in place while some obscure pop song trickled from my phone.

'This is all he's ever wanted for us...but you know we can't back out now, right?' She replied, and her uncertainty caused the first crack in my giddy exterior.

I sucked in a breath, held it for seven seconds and exhaled just like my old therapist taught me. Even now I could see his face, speckled with deep lines and pock marks, that flap of greasy white hair over his head. Those long, drawn-out meetings where I talked about my feelings and lack of memories were my primary motivation to act normal.

So long as I took my daily cocktail of medication and went to my bi-weekly appointments there was no need for a grueling three sessions a week.

'We're not going to back out.' I insisted, determined to ride out this euphoric high for as long as possible.

My romance novel infected brain conjured one scenario after another. The shy, awkward main character starting her first day at an elite boarding school after a whirlwind make-over, always running from some elusive past I couldn't wait to discover.

She'd turn heads the moment she walked through the doors, beautiful while never realizing it. There was usually a fifty percent chance she'd catch the eye of the golden-haired jock or the asshole in ripped jeans.

Personally, I always preferred the blue-eyed jock. There was something about arrogance topped with thick hair, dark eyes, and wrapped in leather jackets that made my blood boil.

I wanted romance, not high blood pressure and a maximum life span of forty-three.

'Are you sure about this, Vi?' Lacey asked, ears flattening. 'It's been a while since we've been in a public school...it's not going to be like your novels.'

'I'm just trying to stay positive, Lacey. I know it's not going to be like a romance novel, and don't pretend you aren't listening in every time I read them. I could feel your presence plain as day when I read End Zone.' I grinned and fell backwards onto my new bed, giggling as I slowly sunk into the blankets.

'Human sports are interesting.' She grumbled, narrowing her pale eyes.

I contorted my face into a stern expression that made Lacey snort and nodded solemnly, '...of course, it was the sports you stuck around for.'

'Really, Ms. high and mighty? What drew you in?' She asked with a twitch of her bushy tail.

'You know exactly what drew me in. I've never hid that.' I teased, seconds away from making her bristle when my stomach rumbled pitifully.

It had been hours since dinner and instead of sunlight streaming past the billowing folds of silken curtains in my bedroom, it was now moonlight.

I'd talked to Sylvia a bit longer, going over potential classes and a major while devouring my side salad that consisted of mostly lettuce and a few cherry tomatoes.

All werewolf schools, public and private, had warrior training. My heart quite literally skipped a beat when Sylvia assured me she'd look into certain accommodations that would allow me to skip training. It's been years since my last blackout, and the last thing I needed was to ruin my lucky streak in this new town.

We agreed I'd take the weekend to think things over, to make sure this was what I really wanted. Truthfully, my mind had been made up the moment I saw Elijah's encouraging smile.

'As tasty as that soup was, we need something more filling.' I groaned, a hand on my hungry stomach. It was soft and my belly poked out a little bit, but I was long past trying to starve myself to achieve the toned physique just about every she-wolf possessed. I had learned very young that if it wasn't my scars people whispered about, it was my weight.