◇Moonstone

-CHAPTER ONE-

The school's hallways smelt of cheap men's cologne and the janitor's cleaning materials that were slowly leaking on the dirt-covered floors. As I walked along the grey-blue lockers that lined the corridors, my footsteps echoed heavily - which was kind of embarrassing considering there were still some people in the bathroom stalls, even though it was after school. Since it was almost the end of the school year, our exams were going to start eventually and a few of my teachers encourage me to at least try and study more when I honestly couldn't care less, it wouldn't be like I could get a job afterwards anyways. My science teacher arranged a short meeting for me to make an attempt at getting my grades up for at least a little while. My dad couldn't make it, so as a result I have to come here alone - what a drag.

I turn the corner and looked up at the mould that lined the roofs, this area needed some patch work.. not to mention all of the trees surrounding the now darkened bricks of the several buildings that somehow were related to the school and the vines that tied them all together were only there to cover all of it up. I approached an ancient-looking door that said 'Meeting Office' that was carved in cursive - I had to squint to make sure it actually said what I had thought it had. The rusted metal plate looked like it had been painted over several times with an icky looking greenish-gold colour.. as if the architecture in this part of the school wasn't awful enough.

I gently knocked on the door. There were definitely professors in there, they were laughing at something and it echoed throughout the room. I knocked a little harder this time, peering through the rusted window at the side into the darkened, dim room. I doubt whatever they said was even funny, even a typical class-clown's jokes would've been more appealing. I knocked a few times on the window until one of the professors glanced at me through the window and then shook hands with the other lanky man in the room. I lazily walked back over to the door as it started to open, the freakishly tall guy smiled at me as he stepped out. I couldn't bothered to do it myself right now. I fixed my black headband that were slicking back my dark grey and silky black hair, along with the slim wolf ears that I'd rather hide, before heading inside. My tail shamelessly dangling behind me as if I wanted it to be there.

The room was dim with a few candlelights scattered around near shelves and dangerously near some piled books and the lampshade above's light bulbs were all broken apart from at least two of the five that circled it. Sheesh, they can afford a new block of the school but not even a few lightbulbs? But then again, that can't be cheap to fix. I peered around the room at some of the strange books and paintings that some of the younger years painted as the lanky man finally cleared his throat, sat down onto one of the chairs behind one of the wooden tables that weren't stacked on top of each other. "Daimon! It's lovely to see that you showed up." I sat down and glared at him as he smiled weakly at me. His glasses perked down slightly as he marked something on a clipboard, I was guessing that it was a sort of register to see if I actually showed to my appointment tonight. I gripped onto the blue strap of my lightweight backpack and I slumped over the table. "Sit up, Daimon." He said with a displeased look as he waited for me to do so. I reluctantly sat up as he turned a fan on, the noise made my ears ring. The professor then leaned downwards slowly, a new-looking biology book was then passed to me.
"I think that you're aware of your grades and the fact that Mr. Eve wants to help you? To make this short, he has suggested for you to read this; one of the key topics that you are mostly failing on and then work your way up to something that you're more capable of for studying.. Of course, we cannot force you to but we highly suggest it.. er.."
The man shuffled through papers as I yawned and swatted away a stray strand of hair from my face.
"Here."
He passed me a form. "Or, we could get you signed up for tutoring in the Library at lunches.. I would suggest after school, but you're usually busy with your father, correct?"
I folded my arms and just played with the cuffed sleeves of my uniform that reached down to my elbows. I wasn't going to bother answering properly, but forced myself to nod as he just kept staring at me otherwise.
"Ah, what are you doing tonight then? Fishing again? Catching prey?"
The professor laughed. I rolled my eyes to signal that I wasn't amused at the stereotype. As he kept laughing hysterically, I pinched my nose and sluggishly took the paper and the book then threw them into my blue backpack. I stomped away to grab the handle of the door, turning back to look at him again as he cleared his throat to speak once more. "Oh, I am sorry Daimon.. but seriously, get your father to sign the form or you may find me in the library at lunch or in the science-tech room if you need any more help, alright?"
I only was half listening, but still nodded. As I closed the door he faintly said: "Have a good evening-", but I cut him off with the door slamming shut.

I looked around the hallways before turning the corner again and took out my headband, my ears immediately perking up. As I headed towards the entrance to the building, I got ready to run. Starting with a slow jog, I picked up the pace. Although the forest wasn't that far away from here, it felt good to just sprint all of the frustration out after a long day of teasing.. and mocking. People bullying werewolves like me isn't uncommon at all. The wolves have a reputation, a bad one at that. That's why I hate it being on display; my ears and my tail are a dead giveaway and in this school, you cannot hide your tails unless you're out in the fairy's garden area. I feel dreadful in my own skin sometimes.

My tail ran with the wind as I trailed and hopped over puddles and under loose branches.
I stopped towards a familiar set of trees circling a small, makeshift wooden house with lakes surrounding the area: two birch trees in between every three oaks and one pine. I've always had an interest in nature, so me and my father planted trees around our home when I was younger. Now they're as tall as the sky, almost.
I blindly searched around in the endless branches before accidentally stepping through the side of one of the lakes here, I quickly looked around and jumped from rock to rock, as they were placed there as stepping stones, and knelt my way to our cabin.

Patches of dark clouds covered the leaf-filled skies when I looked up - small droplets of water stung the ground and made small puddles for me to step in. The bushes I had to climb over had almost minuscule, translucent beads and my hair got damp and soggy as I admired the nature a few moments more. I stepped my way through, interrupting the scenery, to make it to my doorstep.
I ruffled up my hair and ran inside my home and to the left of the hallway, going to my bedroom and throwing my bag at my hand-made chair that was just by my bed. I knelt down to my bag and took out the biology book that I was handed earlier and pulled a face at it confusingly - 'Tailes of Mermaids and Mermen' were written in printed gold lettering and the chipped edges of the book seeped in beige that clashed against the ebony and light blue cover with hyper-realistic mermaids on them. It was disturbing. I threw the book and myself against my bed. My ears pulled back, but not at the terrible pun on the front.
"This is ridiculous."
I scowled at my ceiling for a moment, pondering. I stared deeply at the paint. Would I pass the test anyway? How much of a big deal even is it? Where would a werewolf even end up in this world? Is the only stereotype I live up to living in the forest in a cabin?

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of my door opening - it was father!
My tail wagged in surprise before I sat up.
"Daimon! My precious pup, how was the meeting? Did it go well?" My father's voice boomed against the walls of my messily painted room - I painted the walls myself when I was six. I was obsessed with the colour red - rouge specifically - and checkered patterns. I glared at my bag and reluctantly handed him the tutor form. I stared at his cheerful face that hadn't changed ever since I was a kid. He was always so bright, no matter how muddy he was.
"Well.. let's see.. what do you wanna do, son? Don't wanna force things you don't wanna."
The stained-clothed dad put on his glasses that rested at the top of his head and read the form, slicking back his brown and greying hair out of the way, a strand falling downwards. His ears pricked upwards as I started to speak.
"I don't want to do any of this, you know that.. but the book's fine, I don't need a god damn tutor."
"Alright, son.." He lifted himself off of my bed and smiled awkwardly at me, patting my head and ruffling my hair gently.
"Fishing tomorrow night after school, kiddo?"
"Hell yeah, I need a break." I responded excitedly as I stretched down to close my bag and put the book on one of my many empty shelves. "Goodnight son, love ya to bits." My father said as he tiredly walked to the door with the form still in his hand, looking at me before shutting the door completely. My tail drooped downwards as it curled against the plaid sheets of the bed and dripped like the crystallised leaves outside, the rain trying to make its way in through the crack of the window. The sunlight's better at breaking in here in the morning. I stared at my ceiling again - cold - I couldn't be bothered to wrap myself in my blanket. That was a nice surprise - my dad coming home from work early.. not a load of sales, I suppose.

The sunlight flickered as my gaze did too. I slowly positioned myself lazily on my pillow and almost immediately got taken away by the calls of the rain outside. I couldn't care less that I was still in my soaked uniform, that my shoes were still on, or the fact that I have a test to stress about at all, not one bit..
Escapism is my guilty pleasure, after all.

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{{Word Count: 1908.}}