Bitten

Chapter Nine

After a long day Carly and I closed down the diner, and headed up stairs to the apartment. That's when I realized, "Oh shit I forgot to grab my clothes." She smacks her forehead, "Damnit I forgot too. Any chance you could head over now?" I shrug, "Yeah it's not going to be fun, but hopefully they aren't home."
———
          I walk up to the house, push the door open. I didn't see my uncles car in the driveway so he's definitely not home. Suddenly I hear voices, "I don't know, I wish I did but I don't." Kade.
            "I mean I've lived with Layla my whole life, she's never showed any signs of being anything other than human, what could he possibly want with a human?" Atlas.
            "Have any of you talked to her?" Kade.
             "No, I tried to follow her after school but she's a runner. I don't run." Caleb.
            "She's not safe." Sarah.
             "Well if we can't find her let's just hope Damien can't either."
             "She's here."
     I wonder how many group conversations they've had about me when I wasn't here.
        I hurry up the steps and into my room slamming the door shut and locking it for extra precautions.
        "Lay? Are you here to stay?" I almost snorted at Atlas' words. "Nope, just grabbing some clothes."
        "Layla were really sorry."
        "Is that what you all decided in your little group conversation?"
        I quickly stuff clothes into my book bag.
         "Layla open the door we just want to talk."
         "Why so you can all collectively lie to my face again?" There was a deep sigh as they try the door knob.
         After my bag is stuffed full, I zip it up and throw it over my shoulder.
         "Can't you take a hint? I don't want to talk to you."
         "You're acting like a child open the god damn door." That's when suddenly everyone goes silent. I look at the window when I hear someone on the roof. Oh my god!
       I run over to the window locking it just as Luca's face appears. His glare deepens when I smirk back at him. I pull out my phone and text Carly.
        Problem at my house, can you come pick me up? 435 Smith street.
       No problem darlin, on my way.
       Now I just have to wait. Suddenly my door slams open with a great amount of force. Kade stands there his eyes glowing blue.
        "I said leave me the fuck alone!"
         They all pile in and Atlas steps past me unlocking the window for Luca. I walk to the door way and try to leave but Sarah grabs my arms pushing me backwards onto my butt. My anger was rising by the second.
            I stand up quickly and immediately realize I was surrounded.
            "Can you please move. I have somewhere to be." Luca glares, "You're going to sit and listen. Don't make us hurt you." I felt my body start to shake in anger. "Do you think you scare me? Do you think I'm going to obey your every command just because you are a werewolf? I don't give one singular fuck if you're a werewolf or a hamster, you are not going to tell me what I'm going to do." I felt like I was shaking more than usual but I was furious. The audacity of them was throwing me nearly over the edge.
             Cal says, "Layla, he scares the shit out of all of us I'd just listen if I were you." I smile bitterly at Caleb, "That's because you're a bitch Caleb."
            Luca grabs hold of my arm and I felt his claws digging into my skin. But the feeling didn't even bother me like it should have. I step closer to him, "Your little puppy claws are pathetic." His eyes widen as he realizes it wasn't even effecting me. I pull back my hand and swing as hard as I could successfully right hooking him into the ground.
             After that I quickly run to the window jumping out before they could grab me. I hurry to the edge of the roof and jump down. It wasn't that high up but it was definitely going to hurt.
           Pain sears through my legs as I hit the ground. I then see Carlys headlights, and I run over just as they start chasing after me. I swing the car door open and yell, "Drive! Seriously! Gas this mother fucker!"
           She follows my command and we speed off into the night.
    ———
           The next morning was the same as the last, me falling off the couch and Carly making fun of me.
           "Hurry up or you're going to be late!" She starts thudding down the steps, and I sling my book bag over my shoulder before following in suite.
       ———
           Just as I was about to walk into chemistry class someone grabs my arm. I turn quickly ready to deck one of them only to see Nathan smiling at me sweetly.
         "Hey."
         Wow he has me blushing with a hey?
         "Hey...."
         "So like, this thing we have going on, is it real? Or are you just flirting?"
        I smirk at him, "Does this feel real to you?" I press my lips to his and give him a drawn out kiss. When we pull apart he rests his forehead on mine, "Yeah... It feels pretty real."
       "Can I take you on a date tonight?"
      I pull my head back and reply, "I work tonight at Bob and Rita's, but if you'd like to stop by and grab a cup of coffee on my break then I wouldn't stop you."
       He nods happily, "I'll be there just text me when you go on break." I smile, and turn on my heel walking into class.
       Nathan and I go to take our seats but Kade slides in right beside me. Nathan glares at him, "Isn't it obvious she doesn't want to talk to you?" That's what I'm saying.
        "It's none of your fucking business what we do." Kade spits as he grips the desk angrily.
        I stand up, "Come on Nathan we can sit over there." We walk over to another pair of desks hand in hand. But just as Nathan goes to sit down Kade jumps into the seat again. Only this time there were no other seats where Nathan and I could sit together. Nathan moves towards Kade angrily but I grab his arm, "It's okay, walk me to lunch after class?" He nods sourly.
              I give him a quick peck on the lips, and the angry look on his face diminishes. But Kade was now sporting a angry look with glowing blue eyes. Is he stupid he could get caught.
              I slap his arm and he growls at me lowly I smirk, "Bad dog."
              "Don't mock me it won't end well." I laugh and roll my eyes at that.
              Apparently everyone's so tough now.
             "Don't try to interject yourself in my life when you're obviously not wanted or welcome."
             He growls again and says, "You're mine. I will interject myself as I want." That's when wolfie got backhanded.
             The teacher then walks in before he can react. "I am no ones possession."
             "Good morning class, since it's the last few days of school we're going to have free periods!" Everyone cheers, and I simply glare.
             "Trade Nathan spots."
       "No."
             "Yes."
       "No."
              "Yes!"
             "Layla, I'm done playing these games with you. We were trying to keep you safe. You're being dramatic."
             I laugh bitterly, "I'm not playing any game. I want nothing to do with you or any of them. We're not friends anymore you had no obligation to me. The sooner you realize it the less it will become a game for you."
             His anger seemed to vanish as it was then replaced with a face of guilt, "Layla, please don't say stuff like that. You're my best friend. I love-."
            I cut him off, "Correction, we were best friends. Before you lied and made me feel crazy. And don't even finish that sentence I'm not interested."
            I then raise my hand and say, "Mrs. Blair, can I trade seats with Caleb?" She nods in approval, "Go ahead."
           Smirking I stand up and walk over to where Cal and Nathan we're having a heated discussion. "Caleb, move." Caleb glares at me and then stands up moving over to Kade.
           Plopping down next to Nathan I smile shyly at him. "I'm sorry about them, they don't know how to take a hint." Nathan doesn't say anything. I raise my eyebrow, "Hey, earth to Nathan?" He sighs and stares straight forward.
            "Are you ignoring me?" He looks at me angrily and replies, "Do you know how to take a hint Layla?" Ouch... That hurt.
          "Did I do something wrong?"
          He ignores me again, "Did he say something to you?"
           He gives me a look confirming my suspicion. Are you serious?
           "Whatever he said isn't true Nathan. They are just trying to get back at me for not talking to them." Nathan sighs, "So you're telling me you weren't in Western Psych for trying to attack Will when you were dating?" My heart drops in my chest.
           "I don't necessarily want to talk to someone who could think I'm a werewolf at any second and try to attack me."
          Tears swell into my eyes. That's not the whole story.
          "Nathan please let me explain that's not-."
         "You said enough. I don't want to talk anymore Layla."
         I turn my head back to see Kade and Caleb staring at me. I stand up abruptly running out of the room.
         They know I couldn't tell him werewolves do exist. They just blew up the one good thing I had going for me. It was over as soon as it all started.
         I hurry into the bathroom letting the tears fall onto the floor. That wasn't their place.
          "You can't ignore us forever Layla." Sarah's voice sounds through the bathroom.
          "Leave me the hell alone."
          "Don't you see we're just trying to protect you!"
          I angrily smash my hands against the stall. "I don't want your fucking protection! You guys harassing me in school and ruining my relationship is not getting you anywhere close to being my friends again. So just leave me the hell alone!"
           "You're so god damn naive Layla! You think you can protect yourself? Did you forget what Damien did to me? Or how badly we were all hurt that night? You think you can fight him! You can't! You're weak Layla! You need us!"
          I throw the bathroom stall open making it slam against the wall. Now I was pissed.
          I step into her face and say, "I wish you would have died that night. All of you."
          Her face shines with hurt, "We we're trying to save you."
          I laugh in her face, "Trying to save me? You guys couldn't even save yourselves."
          She nods walking backwards, "You don't mean that. You're just angry."
          I snort, "Oh trust me. I've never spoken truer words."
          With that being said she leaves. Would I ever actually want them dead? Absolutely not. I knew if I said it that it would at least give me a little alone time.
          Which is exactly what I needed.
    ———
           After successfully sprinting home, I hurry in to change into my uniform.
            Walking downstairs I find Carly talking to Joe and Avery, wow they really were regulars.
             I walk over and take a seat next to Carly. Carly says, "Listen to this Layla."
             Joe says, "They found the body ripped limb to limb. They are saying there was animal fibers on the body. They are testing it today."
            Carly says, "Joes son Mason is the sheriff, they found a body on top of a car the other day."
             Avery says, "Nasty beast whatever it was, has to have rabies to just kill someone like that."
             Damien did act different than the others, maybe he had a disease or something.
             "People in town are loading up their shot guns. Just in case a coyote or somethin' runs up in their yard." I nod and reply lowly under my breath, "They are gonna need a hell of a lot more than a shot gun...."