Sirens (Theo Raeken) [1]

Alpha

I cannot imagine anything worse than this.

No matter how much I jump around and wiggle my hips, I just can't get my jeans over my thighs. This is the first day of the year, the tone-setter of my school year. This outfit was absolutely perfect. The correct balance of demure and sexy.

I rummage through my wardrobe and am horrified when I realise I haven't shaved my legs. I run to the bathroom and whip out a shaver, raking it up and down my gorilla-esque legs. Some god must be looking out for me today, because I make it out of there hairless and unscathed in ten minutes flat.

I rip down my skirt and sheer button up shirt and throw them on. I look at the clock. I have to leave in ten minutes or I won't be on time.

I slip on my heeled boots. Seven minutes left. I down my bowl of cereal in five minutes. Two minutes left. I kiss my mom goodbye and grab my bag. I make it out with one minute to go and am impressed at my amazing time management skills.

I go five miles over the speed limit-never slower nor faster. I pull up into the parking lot with enough time for some short socialising.

The school looms in the distance looking as depressing and horrible as ever. I can't see anyone I know as I trudge up to the door. Everybody is clumped together in little groups and I feel as if I am the only one making this walk alone.

My locker is empty and I offload all my new books into it in alphabetical order starting with "art". I take a look at my timetable and feel my heart sinking. Science is first and then precalc. My two worst subjects. I sigh and collect up my belongings.

A shadow shrouds me in darkness and Lex leans against the locker next to me. She looks angry. This is a bad sign.

"You know, I always thought you were a good friend, Arden," she snaps. Her face is twisted into a snarl. This is probably the scariest thing I've seen all week. That creature was nothing compared to an angry Lex. "I can't believe you ditched us on Senior Scribe for Lydia and her friends. When I asked her why, she said you were in the hospital. I asked to see you and she said no, the little slut.

"I think it's time we called it quits," she drawls.

I sigh and slam my locker door shut. "I. Was. In. The. Hospital. I can't just get up from anaesthetic to come write my name on a library shelf."

"Well, fair enough. But you could've at least called." She rolls her eyes. "I feel like you're drifting away from me, Arden. I think maybe we should just go our separate ways."

She says this in a really melodramatic way and looks like she's in a soap opera. I sigh. "I can't do this anymore, Lex. You're always wanting it to be all about you. I have a life too, sweetheart. Everyone's lives can't revolve around yours."

I saunter away, trying not to shake from the adrenaline pumping through my veins.

I make my way up to Room 34. I thread my way through the sea of students, getting bumped a few times but making it out alive-which is truly an amazing feat in high school.

My luck doesn't continue, though, because as I walk through the door, I realise the class has already started.

"Sorry," I say as I close the door behind me. The teacher looks like she hasn't even heard me as she launches into a tirade about my lateness.

"This is senior year, not elementary school," she growls. "Be on time next time."

There are only two people in the class with no lab partners. Theo sits in the back corner, his eyes down on his book. The only other vacant spot is next to Lex. She looks at me, narrowing her eyes. A challenge to see if I really am done with her.