Alex's Point Of View~
"Alright, that's all for today."
I let out the long breath I've been holding in relief. My whole body twitches with annoyance and my teeth grind together painfully to distract me. I mean, out of all the college instructors I've had, Mrs. Kelp is the worst. She has to draw everything out until the very last minute of class because, apparently, this is her time-despite the fact that we're the ones paying to be here-and she's all snooty about it. Really, I'd like to tell her just where she can shove it.
Grabbing my key lanyard, I stand and tug my purse strap father up onto my shoulder. I fly from the room like a bat out of hell and almost trip over a box lying in the hallway.
"Oof!" I grimace when my foot hits the box.
A strange yelp comes from within it. I blink, startled, and scoot the box out of the pathway so people don't run over me. I bend over and examine it thoroughly. My name, in bright crimson red letters, is printed across the top. "Huh." I muse softly, running the pad of my finger over one of the many holes jabbed into the top. "This is weird."
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I whip it out and stare at it for a few moments, frowning. It's my little brother's school calling, which means he's gotten in trouble again. Picking up the box with one arm, I answer the call and shift the phone so it's squished between my shoulder and ear and hold the box with both my hands. It's pretty heavy.
"Hello?" I kick open the door with my foot and move through it swiftly, before it can close again.
"Hi, this is Mrs. Marx, Trinity High School's Principal. I have your son here in my office. He got caught smoking weed in the bathroom and has been suspended for the next four days. Do you realize he could've set our school on fire?" The old, batty woman trills irritably.
I ignore that she called Daniel my son, because technically, I am his legal guardian and that happens so much I'm used to it. But repeat the other words over in my mind. Weed? Danny? Oh, my Jashin...
"What?" My voice rises up an octave, brows furrowing in anger, as I completely cut off her little rant about fire safety. "I'll be right there to pick him up. I'm on my way." I snarl, resting the box on my hip so I can open the back door to my navy blue Infinity Fx. (Picture) I set my purse down onto the back seat and then slam the door shut. I put the box in the passenger seat of my car and then climb in.
"Thank you." The Principal huffs and the phone line clicks dead.
I click it off and set it down into the center console. I turn on my car and hit my head against the steering wheel, making the horn blast loudly. Groaning, I shift away from the horn and sneak a glance over to my new box. I frown. Jashin, I'm stupid. It could be a freaking bomb, and yet, here I am, lugging it all the way out to the car with me. Oh well, I decide mentally, if I die, I die. Then I won't have to deal with Danny's rebellious hormones.
Reaching over, I slide my nail under the thin tape and peel it back. It makes a soft tearing sound, the paper face of the cardboard ripping off with it, and then curls like one of those black and yellow caterpillars into a small spiral. I pull the first flap back, hesitantly peering into the depths of the box, fearing the worst.
I gasp at what I see.
Ten little multicolored gazes stare back at me, curiosity swirling around within them.
"What the hell?"
