The Beta's Daughter

Two

After a quick stop at the nurse's office and a boring math lecture on logarithmic equations with a really weird chemistry lab, I finally made it to lunch without any weird voices in my head. The only thing that didn't go away was the worry of it happening again before or during my presentation and the lack of sleep floating around me.

I found my group of friends sitting at a round lunch table by the big windows of our cafeteria. I sat down at my usual place next to Aurelia at the end. She smiled at me as I came near her.

"Brynlee!" She exclaimed. "Lucy was just telling us about the surprise party she's throwing for Kile!"

I gave her and Lucy a fake smile. Lucy has been dating this guy from the soccer team named Kile since freshmen year. They are a very cute couple, there's no doubt about it. However, it's really annoying to hear her talk about him every single day.

I pretended to listen as I ate my ham and cheese sandwich, my mind more focused on what happened this morning. I nodded at first to give off the illusion that I was listening, but my mind soon drifted off. Could Dad explain this to me? Someone tapped my shoulder, taking me out of the daze.

"What?" I asked a little too harshly.

"Sorry," Aurelia apologized. "Are you even paying attention?"

Ugh. Sometimes I wish I had the power to let people leave me alone when I didn't want them to bother me. I sighed.

"Sorry." I put my half eaten sandwich down. "I still have that presentation on my mind."

"Oh yeah! I forgot about that!" Sam turned her body around and pulled out her makeup bag. "We need to get you fixed up."

"Sam, I know you're here to help me, but I think I'll be okay. The circles under my eyes are about gone at this point."

Sam gave me a look. "Brynlee, you're letting me help you whether you like it or not."

I swore under my breath, no one hearing me except Aurelia. Her eyes went big for a second. She hates when I do that. I quickly shoved the rest of my sandwich in my mouth and followed my friend to the bathroom.

Once inside — thank goodness it was empty — the makeup was out and going on my face.

I stood there, looking in the mirror with its few scratches on it, watching my friend apply the little bits that were needed to hide my tiredness.

"Wow! Brynlee looks so cute with makeup! She should wear it more often."

"What?" I shook my head as Sam put her finger towards my face. "Did you say something?"

Sam gave me a confused look. "No.'

"Oh." I went back to staring at the mirror. That's when I heard it again.

"Brynlee really should wear makeup more often. It just suits her so well. She looks almost like a model, but not. It only she gave things like this a chance-"

"What would I give a chance?" I said out loud.

Sam stopped. "What are you talking about?"

"You said I should give things a chance."

"No I didn't." She shook her head in confusion. "I swear I didn't say anything."

"But I just heard you!" I know I did. How can I fake hearing someone talk who's standing right in front of me?

"I swear I didn't say anything. You're probably hearing things in your head."

We gave each other confused looks as the finishing touches of my makeup were added. I started to feel a headache growing in my head. Ugh! Why is this happening!

"I always thought someone was wrong with Brynlee. I didn't think it was this weird. Is she reading my thoughts?"

"Stop!" I screeched. I pulled myself away from the sink and from my friend. "I know I'm not hearing things. You are saying something, and they're about me!" I stopped for a moment. Sam had a look of shock and concern on her face.

"Do you really think there's something wrong with me?" I looked in her eyes, searching for an answer. She dropped them before I could really catch anything.

"Brynlee, I don't know what is wrong with you, but if you're hearing voices, maybe you should go see the nurse. Get some sleep. Maybe you can do the presentation tomorrow when you're well rested. It really isn't normal to be hearing things."

Normal? I wanted to scream at her. Does she not know how my whole life is not normal! Of course she wouldn't. She doesn't know what its like to be a wolf like me. She's just a human. If I told her, she would think I seriously went off the deep end and needed immediate mental help.

I stared at my her, my expression blank. "I'm gonna go." I slipped out of the bathroom, leaving Sam there. I imagined her face was covered in confusion as I walked out. I couldn't face her. Something was messed up about me. I just wanted to go home, get out of here.

The bell finally rang to end lunch. I quickly ran to my locker and pretended to be focused on the textbooks inside, praying to the Moon Goddess that my friends wouldn't find me. I wasn't quick enough to finish it when Aurelia  walked up to me.

"Brynlee, you left your stuff at the lunch table." She held up my backpack and lunchbox.

"Oh, thanks." I took them from her hands, shoving my lunchbox in my locker and closing the metal door and swung my backpack over my shoulder. The headache slowly started to leave as I adjusted my backpack to my shoulders.

"Are you okay? Sam said you were acting weird and then just walked out."

"I'm fine," I lied. "Let's just get this presentation done and over with."

Aurelia nodded, giving me one more look before turning on her heels to walk down the hall. I followed right behind her, keeping my head down.

What is wrong with me?