The Witch of Willow Lake

Twenty-One

I made my way through the crowds of students who stood in the hallway, talking, laughing, throwing things into their lockers. I couldn't help but feel the regret of my wardrobe choice now I saw what everyone else was dressed in.

The sea of people ahead of me clothed themselves in stylish clothing you'd find in a typical high street fashion store, while I wore tight-fitting black pants, a black tank top covered by a black leather jacket, and black military-style boots. Even my makeup matched my wardrobe, all black, except for my red lipstick. I felt as if I stood out like a sore thumb as I seized the book I was holding to my chest and kept my head down as I pushed through. Of all the bodies, those who dressed differently, like me, stood out like sore thumbs, so I felt as if I was just radiating neon lights that read 'emo new kid, ripe for the picking'.

I thought college had been daunting, but high school seemed a whole other level. Before, we'd stuck to countries and towns where being sixteen meant you started college, so I'd never been to high school, which only made things that little more terrifying.

"Heads up!" A boy's voice called from further down the hall.

Before I could blink, a football soared over my head, causing me to duck quickly, and I felt the breeze the hurling equipment caused as it flew an inch above my head. I had to be thankful for my quick reflexes; otherwise, it would have crashed right into my head.

I silently cursed Alicia and Emmett for making me come here, I'd barely started, and I hated it. There were too many people, and it was loud. It was hard for me to shut all the noises out, chatter, laughter, screams, banging of locker doors. My head was pounding as they all swirled into one horrible noise ringing in my ears.

I lifted my head a little as I read the locker numbers. 134, 135, 136, 137 until I found my locker, 140.

I sighed as I noticed a group of jocks in lettermen jackets, tall with muscles standing in the way.

"Excuse me," I murmured, feeling intimidated by the group of four, all laughing and standing like skyscrapers. I was only five foot three, so they towered over me with their six-foot and above selves. You'd think it would be impossible for someone as strong, and potentially dangerous as me couldn't get intimated, yet here I was.

I missed Elise and Daisy more than anything, and I wished Masato had come with me. I didn't know anyone here; there were far more students than I'd expected, and it seemed the rocker/goth look wasn't as common here either. Although I wasn't about to change the way I had dressed most of my life, I had always preferred the darker aesthetics.

"Oh look," The largest of the jocks turned to me with a grin on his face that made me shudder. On the surface, it seemed friendly, but when you added that to the wicked gleam in his light brown eyes, I instantly knew he was trouble, "We got some fresh meat at last. Hey, new kid."

His dark hair had natural blonde highlights to it, and he styled it, so it was short and spiked. His body was broad and muscular under his too tightly fitted white t-shirt and black letterman with white sleeves. He was like a skyscraper towering over me as his eyes continued to pierce my skin like one hundred tiny daggers.

His full lips morphed into a smirk as the eyes narrowed and sent shivers down my spine, unaided by the soft stubble surrounding his lips and jaw. He was your typical, high school jock, handsome and daunting, and he probably knew it.

I took a deep breath, trying to find my voice, "Can I get to my locker, please?"

"I could, but there's one condition, fresh meat." The boy's smirk deepened and left me feeling uncomfortable, "You let me take your cute little self out on a date, I always fancied me a goth girl, I heard they like it freaky in the sheets."