Fangs & First Kisses

Chapter 1

LEXI

I walk into school with my head down, hoping no one dares to make eye contact with me today.

They do not have to know what happened. 

As I step into the hallway, I see fifteen heads turning around to look at me. "Oh, she's here..." and "I'm so sorry for her..." starts to fill the hallway in mumbles as I cover my head with my hood and walk even faster to class. This day has not been going smoothly at all. I walk into class and I sit and stare out the window, silently praying that the day will not cause me any more drama.

"Hey, Lexi. How you doin'?" I turn around to see my best friend since kindergarten, Willmore, standing in front of my desk. "Fine...Just wish that this day would end soon." I say, my voice barely a whisper. When she opens her mouth to reply, an announcement is made on the PA system. "Would Lexi Daphne please report to Mr. Parkson's office immediately? I repeat, would Lexi Daphne please report to Mr. Parkson's office immediately." Great. Just fantastic.

I groan as I look to Willmore for help but she is as confused as the next guy as to why I'm being called there. I quickly get up from my seat, mutter a greeting to my homeroom teacher, Ms. Jackie, and walk out the door. I check my phone for any new messages on the way there. Maybe Willmore managed to convince the principal that I was fine and gave me the signal via text. Nothing. When I arrive, I'm immediately called in by the secretary whose voice sounds as if her cat died in a car accident just now. "Lexi, dear, you may come in..." I stroll past her, giving her a nod to show that I am alive physically and mentally. I see my principal, Mr. Parkson, situated in his usual seat.

He looks up at me and gestures for me to take a seat. "So, Lexi... I've heard that you have been handing in your assignments late, skipping classes, and even drinking in class-" "I admit I have been doing all that, so please cut me some slack and just tell me what my punishment is." I say without hesitation. Mr. Parkson raises his eyebrows, confused as to why I would take punishment, and replies with a voice I have never heard before. "No, Lexi. I'm not punishing you. Frankly, I'm more worried than mad at you. I know you are in pain, even I couldn't handle it if I were you. So, plea-" "I'm fine! Why is everybody thinking that I'm some kid who needs comfort? I'm perfectly fine!" I bark this as I storm out of the room and slam the door behind me. Why does everybody fake their sympathy for me? I know I just lost Mom and Dad just last week, but I can handle it. One thing happens and everyone just wants to know more about it for gossip.

I run into the girl's bathroom and I lock myself into the cubicle as I start to cry. I try to control myself and cover my mouth when I hear someone enter. "Lexi, are you there?" I recognize that voice, it's Willmore. I unlock the cubicle and I quickly wipe my tears. "Hi, Willmore. I'm just tired." I say this, trying to hold down the lump in my throat. "Have you been crying? Look, Lexi, I'm not trying to tell you I know how you feel because I don't. But I can't let you hide out here forever," she says as she stretches out her hand and offers it to me. "Come on." I take her hand as I leave the bathroom and walk back to class. What a great start to the day...

* * *

I walk home after the school day with Willmore as I groan at my recent message. "What's wrong?" she asks. I show her my phone as a tune of 'Never Gonna Give You Up' plays out. It's my sister, Penelope's, doing.

I look at the message and I groan even more. "Shit! I forgot to pick up the twins from kindergarten." I turn around and walk back to the kindergarten beside my high school. I see Willmore following me with a smile on her face. She's one of the kindest people I know and I absolutely love her to bits. "I love seeing the twins! They're so cute." Willmore squeals this out as I roll my eyes. I can't disagree with her though, my younger twin siblings, Rocky and Rachael, are the most adorable humans I've ever seen.

We talk about our week and how the queen bees, Jessie, Martha and Harriet, in our school are the most annoying people in existence. They only start to care about me as soon as they found out what happened just so they can show their so-called  "good deeds" to the teachers. We arrive at the kindergarten door and we get there just in time to see the kids coming out and running up to their parents.

I have a strange tingling feeling in my eyes as I see the kids hugging their parents and looking so overjoyed. "Hi, Lex! We're here!" I look down to see Rocky and Rachael with their adorable expressions on their faces looking up at me and Willmore. "Hey guys, let's go," I say this with my usual monotone voice as I start to walk. The twins start to talk to Willmore and the three begin to giggle. Willmore lives only a block before my house and the twins and I bid her farewell as we walk back to our apartment.

We jog up the steps to the apartment, I slide my key into the lock, and the "Oh shit!" on the other side comes only once I swing the door open to see Penelope, and her boyfriend, Jack in a deeply compromising position on the couch. He's without a shirt, incredibly sweaty, and his ankles are tied to his hands, so he couldn't even make a quick getaway if he wanted to. I immediately cover the twins' eyes as I walk them to my room and I shoot Pen, who's rolling her eyes at me, a dirty look. This is the fourth time this month.

The twins sit on my bed as I take my hands off their faces. "What was Pen doing Lex?" Rocky asks with his usual innocent voice. "Forget it, here's some chocolate," I reply as I give them chocolate from my secret stash beside my bed. I whip out my phone to check the time when I get a message from the principal...