After All, You're not It.*ON HOLD*

An Unexpected Outcome

I ran in wolf form all the way to the border of my pack. When I got there, I shifted back and hid behind a tree, panting. Where do I go from here? I wondered. Nicholas had given me directions to his pack a long time ago, and told me that I had open access into his packs’ grounds. But do I really want to leave? Am I ready to be on my own for the first time? Remember how they’ve treated you throughout the years, Isabelle. All the names that they’ve called you…you’ve always been on your own in this pack. A tear escaped my eyes at that thought, slowly sliding down my cheek before another joined it. I have always been alone in this pack. I just…I thought that it could change, that they could change. Just because I haven’t gotten my mark yet didn’t mean that I wasn’t like any of them. An involuntary sob escaped my lips, “Okay, Is. You can do this.” I encouraged myself. I took a deep breath, and before I could change my mind, dashed across the border into the neutral lands that were beside my pack. I looked back at the forest that led into my old home. I turned around and, taking another deep breath, started to make my way through the small town that separated my old home to another packs territory.

 As I walked through the town, I noticed why a lot of people from my pack always came here on the weekends. I door opened and I smelled coffee, so I went inside to get one to go. Nothing wrong with a little caffeine fix before I continue, right? I deeply inhaled the smell of warm coffee, remembering the first and last time I came in here. I had only been to this town once, before I became the freak of the school and when my brother actually cared about me. As I ordered my coffee, I was bombarded with memories of when my brother and I used to be very close. We were inseparable, even; a lot of people thought we were twins. I laughed humorlessly as I took my cup of coffee, receiving a weird look from the guy handing it to me. Now look at us, we’re nothing but strangers, I thought bitterly, ignoring the guy and just walking away.

My eyesight started to get blurry once more with tears, I stopped moving and closed my eyes; willing myself to stop crying. Suddenly, someone bumped into me, causing me to fall flat on the ground. “Ouch…” I groaned. “I am so sorry! Oh my gosh! That was totally my fault! Are you alright? Did you break anything?! OH. MY. GOSH!! I am truly very so—“ I held up my hand, stopping the person from continuing with their rant. I heard them take a sharp intake of breath, possibly trying to control herself from speaking anymore. I placed my hand on my forehead and rubbed it in circles, slowly opening my eyes and looking up at my attacker; I was met with wide blue eyes filled with concern. She had long, curly blonde hair and very light colored skin; she was beautiful, even more beautiful than any of the girls in my pack. Her beauty was natural, whereas the girls in my pack… in my old pack used make-up and artificial things to look beautiful.

 “Are you okay?” she whispered, as if scared of my reaction. I nodded as I sat up. “I really am sorry… I wasn’t looking where I was going. And oh my gosh! I totally knocked down your things, I’m sorry! Here, I’ll pick them up for you! Oh my gosh. I am such a klutz! You probably hate me, don’t you!? Oh, my—“ “Gosh?” I finished for her, smiling up at her. She looked at me with wide blue eyes again. “Yes, gosh,” she laughed.

“I’m Allison, by the way.” She extended her hand to me. “I-I’m Isabelle, but people call me…or, well, used to call me Is.” I shook her hand. “Why don’t they call you that anymore? Let me guess, you grew out of the name, right? I mean, I would too! Such a little kids name, and with your looks? No, you definitely grew out of it!” She rambled on again. I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped my lips, and lay back down on the sidewalk. “Oh, Lord. My head hurts. Are you always this talkative?” I asked her. She laughed too, “Yeah…my family says that one of these days my tongue is going to get tired of me and jump out of my mouth.” Now, at this, I laughed. I big, body shaking laugh. When was the last time that I laughed like this? I wondered.