Whispering Shadows

Prologue

This is a shared book. ^.^ We each take turns writing a chapter. I'm Caitlin and she's Sara. Please give us feedback!!! Cover: @carsonfaircloth

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Feet shuffled across the floor and lockers slammed as people pushed their way by me, some hitting into me purposely. I heard the low whispers, the gossip. I kept my head lowered, the hoody pulled up. My blond hair still tumbled past the cloth and over my shoulders anyway, the big locks giving away who I was.

Which was bad. Really bad.

I took a turn into the bathroom, not wanting to get seen. I let out a breath of relief as I get away from the clustered hallway. That's where it all happens. The pranks, the jokes, all of it. I just want it all to go away. I've enough at home. I could barely stand any of it anymore.

I just hoped that today they might forget about it. Just once. Yet I knew that wouldn't happen. Probably never would. But it was my - all of our - first day in 9th grade. I could only hope they left their mean ways back in middle school.

"Hi, Lianne" I looked to the side, where Tina leaned against the wall. With bright pink heart shaped lips, piercing silver eyes, and curly black hair, one would think she was in the 'it crowd'. But no, she was another freak like me, an outcast. Her face wasn't the problem. In the looks department, she could have all the men groveling at her feet. It was what she wore.

Judgment these days was over the stupidest things. Because she wore the whole 'gothic' ensemble, she was an outcast. I found it sad to think that people would be labeled as 'freaks' or 'goths' from the way we talked to the shoes on our feet.

Tina was my only friend. Sort of. I at least trusted her the most out of any one in this school, and that wasn't much. I didn't give out trust easily these days, don't now and wont later. We met back in 7th grade, when I found her crying in the stall next to mine. We weren't close, but we were close enough to talk to each other or share a couple secrets here and there.

"Hi, Tina." I sigh heavily, wincing as my side stung a bit. There was a big bruise there, bordering on purple to black. It was a fresh one.

I saw from the corner of my eye as she studied her fingers, picking at her long nails - something she only did when nervous.

"You okay, Ti?" I ask, using her nickname. Her head jerked up, some emotion crossing her features before disappearing as quick as it came. She cleared her throat.

"Uhhm.. Yeah. Why do you ask?" A flimsy smile was plastered on her face. I could tell something was up.

I should have known.

"Nothing, nothing. You just seemed a bit nervous, is all." I got back to washing my hands. I don't even know why I was washing my hands.

"Oh. First day here. Its just... a bit scary to me, I guess." I wrinkled my brow in confusion. Tina being scared? This wasn't adding up right.

"Scared? Coming from the girl who I've seen kill huge spiders with her hand and actually ate the mystery meat at school? I wouldn't peg you as the type to get scared for something like the first day of school." I told her, trying to lighten the mood while hinting at getting answers. What was up with her?

She laughed but I heard the strain behind it, the false playfulness.

"Yeah well I guess it's that we have bigger bullies here. More people to judge me." I stared at her, nodding on the outside but completely rejecting the reply on the inside. Tina didn't do judgmental people. She didn't have the respect for them because they didn't have it for her. She wasn't scared of them - she fought back.