Forbidden Love

Chapter Two

Skylar (Edited)

My annoying rooster alarm blares through the silence, and I jolt awake.

Groaning, I slap off the alarm, just wanting to sleep a few minutes longer.

But the last time I told myself I would sleep a few minutes longer, I ended up falling asleep for an hour. My Mom thought I was getting ready, and when she came up here to tell me that class was starting soon, only to find me asleep, I got extra homework.

In each class.

I get up to take a shower. We have water using an irrigation system of pipes connecting to a large body of water about half a mile away, but it turns cold after about fifteen minutes.

I wonder what it would be like to live in a regular house. Will my showers be 30 minutes? Will I be warm at night?

What about neighbors? Were they nice? Or were they mean?

This is a life you'll never have, I tell myself, sighing.

++++++

"I don't know, Mom," I say truthfully. This was so frustrating.

"Skylar, we've been going over this for weeks." Mom had a look of disappointment on her face and I instantly felt guilty.

My parents had a lot of work to do, so the least I could do was pay attention when they teach me something.

My Mom teaches my afternoon classes and my Dad teaches my morning classes.

My Dad worked from 1:30-6:00 p.m, so that's why he taught my morning classes. My Mom leaves the house by six in the morning and comes back around twelve in the afternoon, right as Dad finishes my last class for the day.

"...so do you see how the answer is 21," my mom says, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," I lie, knowing she's tired.

I even copy the problem in my notebook to show her that I am paying attention.

We had a small separate building used just for school. It even had a built-in chalk board and white board.

"Good," she replies, smiling.

"I'm sorry, my Mom is sick and so she told me to come over here," a very familiar voice says.

I turn around to face Cairo, standing by the door looking nervous. She's my age, which means that her family is like mine. She lives about twenty minutes away from us, so she comes over when her parents are sick.

"Oh, no problem Cairo, have a seat," Mom says, smiling sweetly and gesturing towards the only other desk in here.

"Yeah," Cairo replies, quickly taking a seat.

She smiles over at me when she takes a seat. It always struck me how pretty she was. She wore her hair up, naturally curly, and had caramel skin; not a pimple in sight.

She had long, toned legs, which I would die for. Her eyes were a pretty, milky brown and when she did her puppy dog face, I always gave in.

"I hope I'm not interrupting," she whispers softly.

I shake my head, glancing at her again.

"Of course not," I whisper back, before looking at the board.

/()/()/

"I wonder what a real school is like," I admit, glancing at Cairo to see her reaction.

A look of pure bliss crosses her face, and she smiles.

"Yeah, me too. I think it would be awesome to be surrounded by a whole bunch of people our age."

I nod, imagining myself sitting in a big classroom with 20 other students. There would be a kind teacher standing in the front, teaching us about stuff we probably won't need in the future.

I twist the tight bracelet off.

"Remember this?" I ask Cairo, showing her the purple bracelet.

"Yeah, how could I forget," she replies, raising her matching red bracelet.

"Those were the days."

"Yeah, you're right."

We made these bracelets when we were 10, and we still wear it, although it's a little tight. I take it off occasionally, but never for long.

Setting the bracelet down beside me, I glance at Cairo. "You know you're my best friend, right?" I ask, assuring her.

"I'm the only friend you have," she replies, laughing.

"How could you be so heartless," I joke back, smiling and giving her a little shove.

We then sit quietly, staring up at the sky. It was a little past seven by now, and everything was dark. But I wasn't scared, I thought it was peaceful.

Silent.

And it's times like this when I let my mind wander.

I imagine myself dating a guy. He would have blonde hair, bright blue eyes and a kind soul. His name would be Cade, or Blake, something powerful. He'd be nice, and would do anything to protect me. He wouldn't cheat, or be abusive. He would be perfect.

Maybe we'd go out on a date every couple weeks, and he would always surprise me with a gift every time. But most importantly, he wouldn't care about his social status. Or whether or not I was the hottest, richest chick out there.

Or if I was a nerd.

But then I realize, that's never going to happen. The only people I'll ever love is Cairo, her parents, Mom, Dad, and my Aunt, who I rarely ever see.

I'm not going to get my own house, or go to college, or make more friends.

I won't be able to have social media, or get my own car—I won't have a reason to.

This is life. It will always be. Nothing will change.

"Maybe we should go now," Cairo suggests, getting up.

"Yeah," I agree, realizing how chilly it got.

We huddle close together, trying to get warm.

"I have to go now," Cairo says, looking sad.

"Why? Can't you stay the night?" I ask, leaning against my front door.

"No, my mom will probably be feeling better by now," she says, and gives me a quick hug.

"Bye," I say as she walks down the two steps and away into the forest.

******

I search frantically, looking in my jean pockets, hoodie pockets, even my hair.

I needed to find that bracelet. I've never lost it, and it's weird to sleep without it.

"Cairo's gonna kill me," I mutter, taking a deep breath.

Breath, breathe, breathe, I told myself repeatedly. I couldn't cry now. It wouldn't help anyone.

I lost the bracelet, I think hopelessly.

It must be in the forest where I'd taken it off. I'll have to look for it tomorrow, Mom wouldn't let me go out tonight.

I just hope no one enters the forest. If someone finds it, my family will be dead. Every pack knows every human in their territory. I heard they had a great sense of smell, so they wouldn't recognize my scent if they sniffed my bracelet.

Another thing is this.

My name is on it.