The Blind Werewolf Princess (1st book of Werewolf Series)

Chapter 18

The first few classes had been ok. I was being treated a little differently because of me being blind, but I didn't care because I was used to it. I was used to the weird looks that I received because I wasn't in some "special" classes just because I was blind.

I was getting tired of the weird looks that I have received, but I knew that I wouldn't be able to get rid of them anytime soon. I was the new kid at school and was generally followed by or lead by Max.

And one place he led me was to the cafeteria, where I was bombarded by different scents and sounds of the whole student body. Everyone was constantly moving around and talking to other people. Some people laughed rather loudly, and it sounded really close, even though I knew that it wasn't.

I couldn't focus on where anything was at and had to have a hand on Max because that was how bad it was. My head started to pound as I was placed in this area, and it was a place that I wanted to escape as soon as I could.

"So, where do you want to eat for lunch?" Max asked, taking his tray and mine from somewhere. He looked at my face, and I knew that he saw how nervous I was. "Carley? Are you ok?"

"Overwhelmed," was my response. I couldn't say anything else. I could barely think, could barely breathe, and all I wanted to do was leave. I had no idea which way was up or which way was down, and I hated this. I hated this feeling of complete hopelessness and where I was dependent on someone else.

"Keep your hand on me. I know a quiet place," he said. He started to walk away, and I followed him. He ignored someone that called him over; his first duty was to get me away from somewhere I didn't feel safe.

I didn't know where we were headed, but I could sense that we were moving away from other people. I could finally breathe slightly better, and I wasn't as overwhelmed as I had been.

Max opened a door somewhere and walked in, making sure that I wouldn't get hit as I walked in as well. He walked over to a table, and I could tell that Peter was there, scratching away at something. "Mind if we join you?" he asked, softly, causing Peter to jump and toss whatever he was working on onto the floor with a soft thud.

"Shhhhhh," Fate said, walking over to us. "There isn't any need for dropping a book on the floor, Mr. Roland."

"Sorry, Ms. Harvey," Peter mumbled. He picked up his book and placed it on the table. "Ummm, ya, ya, you can sit here. Why?"

"It's crowded in the cafeteria," he replied. "Carley was uncomfortable."

"Then why are you sitting here?" Peter blurted out. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Um... sorry, sorry," he stuttered, "I-I didn't mean it to sound like that..."

"It's ok," Max said. He pulled out a seat for me before sitting down next to me. "And to be honest, I would rather sit where it is quiet and not so loud either," he said, sheepishly. "Having a new "sister" that doesn't want to sit in the cafeteria is the perfect excuse."

"Are you kidding?" Peter asked, sounding shocked. "I-I mean..." He looked at me for help.

"He's telling the truth," I said. I tapped the table before picking up my fork. "I just don't understand why you never came over here before me."

"Because I am "popular,"" Max said, bitterly. Disgust filled his voice, and I could tell that he was not a fan. "I am supposed to be going to these things, dress a certain way, and act in a certain way. It is expected of me."

"By who?" I asked, looking at him.

"The society that we live in."

"Then, change it."

"How? Do you know how hard it is to change people's minds?"

"Uh, yes, I do, actually," I replied coldly. "I tried to convince people that Georgie should have all her "kids" taken away and for the orphanage to close down."

"And?" Max asked.

I gave him a blank look. "She still has kids, doesn't she?" I asked. "She still has kids under her care, even though I tried to tell people that she was abusing us. It didn't change anything, and to be frank, I don't trust Caden enough to know that would do anything either."

"Why not?" Max asked, sounding rather shocked. "He'll do something. He'll get them out."

"Un huh," I said, taking a bite of my food. I nodded my head, loving its taste because it was not like the meals that I used to get at the school I came from. "Do you know how many times I had tried to tell the mayor of my city? A lot, and nothing happened." I took another bite of my food.

"Why not?" Max asked.

"Because I am disabled," I spat out bitterly. "And, Georgie was able to convince people that I was psychotic and prone to lying." I stabbed at my food before taking a bite of it. A wave of anger and bitter resentment washed over me as I thought about how I was brushed aside by people that I should have been able to trust to take care of me and the group that I came to care for.

"Then what makes me trying to change something different work if it didn't work for you?" Max asked, and I looked t him with my unseeing gaze. He tensed and shifted in his seat.

"Because you are "popular" and have power over this school, right?" I asked, and he hesitantly nodded. "Then, use that power for good. You have to change one person, so let that person be yourself."

"And what if no one follows my lead?" Max asked.

"Then you failed at being a leader," I replied bluntly, and Max growled softly, and Peter covered it up with a loud cough. "Are you ok?" I asked, looking at Peter.

"Uh... ya, ya, I'm fine," he said, clearing his throat. He patted his chest. "Something just went down the wrong pipe." He was lying, but I wasn't going to point it out because I hadn't told him that I knew about Werewolves yet.

"Be careful. You don't need to skip any classes today, please." My voice shook from hesitance. "I think that we are in the same class after lunch, and I don't think Max is in that class." I looked at my "brother."

"I'm not," he replied. He sighed and moved a hand across his face. "What do I need to do to change people's minds?"

"You first need to be confident that you can change something," I replied. "Like when the community starts to bully Peter, stop being to the side and say something. Get them to stop bullying him or pull him away from the situation."

"Uh... no, no, it's fine," Peter stuttered. "He doesn't have to do that."

"He has to, though," I said, looking at him. "I mean, you aren't strong enough to protect yourself, yet. And, if he wants to prove to himself as well as others that he can change people's minds, then he has to fight the fear of them not respecting him anymore."

Max stiffened. "How did you know that?" he asked, his voice filled with hesitance. "That I am scared they won't respect me if they find out that I am helping others?"

"Because, if I were in your shoes, then I would probably be the same way. If I weren't blind, then I am sure I wouldn't have had the problems to be adopted out to a family, leaving them behind."

"But?"

I smiled sadly as I took a sip of my drink. "I am glad that I was on the other side and considered to be unadoptable."