The Survivors (The Alpha Daughter)

T h r e e

Louise was waiting by my locker as I walked up to get my books.

There had been an announcement I was daily monitor, which meant whenever I get called up to the office it's to take some forms or books to classrooms or teachers and put up any posters or assignments on the boards around the school.

It's basically a day of no work, just running errands.

"Lucky you," Louise groaned, "I have a science test."

"Science isn't the worst," I told her, putting homework in my bag to do when I had free time.

"You're right, it beats gymnastics," Louise smiled.

"Remember when we couldn't do the splits, so we had to get forced to do them?" I said, shuddering at the memory. It sounds worse than it was, but it still hurt.

"Ms Wilson is the Mad Hatter," she whispered, making me giggle as I closed my locker.

We walked to the ladies' bathroom, as we do everyday and Louise walked into a stall as I waited for her.

There was a group of four year 8 girls who were whispering about something.

"Why does he always have an umbrella?... He's probably a vampire... A sexy vampire... Emily! They don't exist!"

I rolled my eyes at their words. Poor Mark.

Louise walked out and washed her hands, and the girls continued talking and I heard something unforgettable.

"Mark's a player."

"Excuse me?" I said loudly, making some of them jump.

"Yes?" one of the girls said back loudly.

"You do know that gossips aren't put up with here," I questioned them, raising an eyebrow.

"Fuck off," another girl said.

"Excuse me?" Louise said, gritting her teeth as she dug her fingers into her closed hands.

"Louise, calm down. They're not worth the oxygen," I told her. "Don't be an asshole."

I started shaking as my anxiety got to me. I had no problem with standing up to people, but I still hated confrontation. At least they couldn't do anything.

Louise and I left the bathroom quickly before the girls could say anything else, but as I walked out the door, someone knocked into me with such force I fell to the ground.

To add pain to my elbows and backside, the person had spilt their coffee, that was soaking into my shirt and also burning my stomach.

"How hot does coffee need to be?" I winced, rubbing my elbows before sitting up and looking angrily up at the tall figure.

I was met a familiar pair of bright blue eyes. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sor— Luna?" Phil apologised.

"Hey Phil!" I smiled, then an awkward moment of silence descended the hall. Everyone was staring at us, and I quickly stood up with the help of Phil and everyone resumed their activities, probably still listening to the conversation as they whispered.

He tried cleaning me up with the serviettes he had in hands, "I'm so so sorry Luna, I should've watched where I was going."

"Phil," I said, trying to get his attention but he kept mopping me with the napkins.

"PHIL," I said louder, grabbing his wrists gently, which made him pull away quickly, "It's okay, I have a spare change of clothes in my gym locker."

"I'm sorry for knocking you over," he apologised again.

"I told you, it's fine! If anything, I'm sorry for making you spill your coffee, and sorry if I grabbed your wrists a bit hard," I nervously smiled, digging around in my pocket, handing him some money.

After he stared at my hand for a million years, he took it after I said it was for his coffee, and after we bickered over who should keep it.

"Luna, the bell's about to go," Louise whispered from behind me.

"Oh, Louise, meet Phil! Phil, Louise," I smiled and I noticed that they clicked right away. We all talked for a small while before the bell rang and the students started saying bye to their friends and rushing to their classes.

"I'd better go get changed," I said.

"Phil, you should sit with us at Lunch!" Louise said excitedly.

"Of course," he said, and we all said goodbye before heading off in different directions.

I walked quickly to the Gymnasium, and then bumped into someone — yet again.

They appeared to be quite tall, and wore dark clothing.

I looked up and frowned before saying, "Sorry."

He mumbled something and walked away, leaving me to stare at his back as he hurried away.

Lunch

"LUNAAA!" I heard someone call from the other side of the cafeteria.

I smiled as I looked over at Louise who was waving her arms like a mad-woman.

"Hey," Phil smiled as I sat down.

"Heyo," I said.

"I was just telling Phil about what Felix's Halloween Party is!" Louise fizzed.

"Yeah?"

It's a big party Felix Kjellberg throws every year, and nearly everyone above sixteen years old is invited. He's the most popular guy at school, so of course most people go.

"What're we going as? I mean, we can't exactly take our true forms," Phil whispered the last part.

"We can still come as wolves, but have fake tails and fake ears," Louise said munching on a biscuit.

"I learnt a little trick the other day," I smiled, taking a bite of my sandwich, but as Phil opened his mouth to say something, I was called over the loudspeaker.

I groaned, "I'm hungry though."

"Well, at least you can go to the vending machines during your breaks," Louise said.

I stood and said goodbye to them, before tossing my tray in the bin and walking to the office to deliver more papers around.

Last period

I walked down the hallway to Ms Murdy's office, cutting through the cafeteria as it was the fastest way.

I walked in but stopped as I saw someone hunched over at a table scribbling in their book wildly.

I walked up behind them, and sat next to them then realised it was Daniel Howell.

"Dan?" I said, and he looked at me and slapped his book shut.

There were rumours he was gay a while ago, but I think people got bored of the topic and moved onto other things... like Mark.

He hadn't spoken yet, so I asked a question.

"Are you okay?"

"I-I... I like to think," he said quietly, pausing before continuing.

"Okay," I replied and we were quiet for a little bit until I remembered I needed to deliver the papers.