Subject 3

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐: 𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐑

Hey I'm gonna leave my house in 5 min! :You

delivered 5 minutes ago

You: Hello?

delivered 1 minute ago

You hesitantly step out of your house, breathing in the fresh and dewy morning air on what would have otherwise been a perfectly peaceful morning, if it weren't for the obnoxious laughter sounding from the sidewalk up ahead.

Your eyebrows furrow as you squint towards the front of Aphmau's house and spot the whiny girl from the fountain with two other accomplices walking away from your friend, who was obviously too preoccupied to check her texts from you. It seems they didn't spot you before they turned around, which you're guiltily thankful for, judging by how Aphmau trembled in place like a leaf.

You widen your stride, quickly catching up to the petite girl.

"Aphmau?" You ask tentatively, placing a hand on her shoulder. "What was that? Are you okay?"

She jolts in place, her round eyes darting up to you in surprise and her ponytail whipping around in the air.

"Oh!! I didn't hear you walk up!" She nervously laughs, attempting to relax her posture as her eyes dart to the trio that was now far off in the distance.

You frown at the slight shakiness of her voice.

"Did something happen? I heard laughing," You question again. Though you had only known her for a couple of days, you felt protective of Aphmau's seemingly kind nature.

"Oh, uh... I think they were just joking around with me! It's nothing, really." She waves her hand dismissively, beginning to walk forward with an unnatural smile stretched on her tan face.

"Okay... If you say so." You cautiously mutter, eyeing her nervous figure from the corner of your eye. You wouldn't push her if she didn't want to talk. "If they were being rude, just know you can tell me."

Wavy black hair bounces as she nods and grips onto the straps of her backpack.

"Right, thank you."

You nod, deciding to change the subject.

"So... werewolf class huh?"

"Ugh, don't even get me started!"

☆

The whiny-voiced girl is in your homeroom, and one of the two minions who helped her " allegedly" —based on your pretty solid assumption—bully Aphmau this morning is sitting next to her. She's the same one with the tanned skin and long, curly black hair from the fountain confrontation you had, and it seems she's just as talented at sending menacing glares your way.

Great.

Your eyes immediately avoid their pointed stares as you glance around the rest of the classroom for a seat far from the duo. Your eyes land on Laurance and Garroth, as well as Katelyn and a pretty ginger-haired girl sitting next to her.

They seem to be arguing over something, so despite the dread you feel you move to a spot in front of the two boys you had become acquainted with yesterday.

If you didn't sit next to them, it would be weird, right?

You immediately regret your decision as you see the girls whip their heads back around and start to whisper to each other in your peripheral vision.

Yeah, they definitely were not just "joking around" with Aphmau this morning.

"Hey guys." You greet, sitting with a sigh.