Formerly Yours

Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

In life it seems that the good things always end the soonest, just as lunch, the highlight of my day, always seems to come to a close far before I’m ready to leave the company of my friends and return to the silence that I maintain throughout my days. Regardless, everyday, that shrill bell rings and I head off to Environmental Science, in the east wing, the Mold Hall as many students refer to it (it had to be inspected last spring for the molds growing there), of the school.

The walk to Environmental Science is probably my least favorite time of the day for two primary reasons:

A.     The Mold Hall is on the opposite side of the school from the cafeteria, and I hate having to elbow my way through disoriented freshmen on my way to class.

B.     I almost always, without fail, run into a certain asshole on my way there.

My life is just so exciting that I spend my entire day dreading that one part of a day, my 10 second encounter with the man who has made my life hell: Braiden West in the flesh. It’s pretty sad, I know. But like I’ve said, it’s the way my life is; perceive it how you will.

I was just rounding the corner into the east hall when I felt it; I felt him there. I inadvertently inhaled, savoring his sweet scent over the moldy and musky sent of the school. My wolf was elated.

He’s here.

Don’t even go there. I shot back.

She grumbled in response. She was too weak to fight; I never gave her what she needed. I knew he knew I was there. That twisted part of me that part of my wolf was ecstatic, so happy that he was near me. I wish I could tear it out of my chest, because I knew what would happen next. I knew I would have to keep walking past him without acknowledging him (acknowledgement only earned me snide remarks), but by walking past him I sent myself into spiraling depression… again. They say not trying is not knowing, but remaining unscathed is far less painful than having crushed hope again and again and again.

I would know. I used to try.

I tried to dress “cute,” but I was informed I looked like a “fat bitch.” I tried to flirt, but I was informed I acted like a “slut.” I tried to talk to him, but I was informed that I had "no place trying to tell the Alpha what to do." I tried, but it was worthless. So now I’m stuck in this cycle.

I could hear Braiden’s conversation with Cody, Xavier, and Richard, his betas and advisors, from where they were gathered over by the Vitamin Water machine (our school board was too cheap to buy sodas).

“Look, I’m not going to put my ass on the line so that you can pull another stupid prank, okay? It’s childish and stupid and I don’t give a shit if you get caught.”  Braiden snapped at Cody.

“Dude, it’s the same prank that you pulled on Werner last week! If anything, it’d be funnier to pull it on Vega. Why can't I?”

“Because I said so.” It was then that a freshman inadvertently cut though their semi-circle.

“Can I help you?” Braiden sneered as he caught the kid’s backpack in his hand. The petrified freshmen dropped his phone and looked up at Braiden in terror. My gaze shot over to him. The Asshole's eyes were black, and even his auburn hair looked darker than usual. Someone was clearly pissed, but that didn’t mean he had to treat anyone badly.

“Uh- no. Sorry!” The kid squeaked. I eyed his cellphone that had been kicked underneath the waterfountain in front of me and leaned down to pick it up.

“Then fuck off.” Braiden hissed, shoving him further down the hallway as Cody and Richard moved to stop him from attempting to further beat up the poor kid. “Get your dumb asses out of here too. I don’t want to put up with this shit.”