Chapter 7
"Alexandria, I think if you're going to sit there and talk you probably won't mind staying after to make up the time that you cost the entire class," Stacey said in a sweet voice from the front of the room.
Nobody laughed at me like they would have if we were home. I could tell that they looked at her with a different eye though as some of the guys attention swayed from her and went to other girls in the classroom. I wanted to stand up and defend myself, but I knew that would just draw unwanted attention.
To my surprise though, Blake spoke up, "Ma'am I think that if you were going to punish anyone it should be me. I was the one that started it. Plus, it's your first day as substitute and my first day here period. Try to not be so uptight."
He finished his words with a smirk as the jocks that surrounded him laughed. They began to slap each other's hands and send each other large grins. I should have known that Blake would group with the jocks, but for some reason it just didn't click in my head. I looked over at Blake. His dark blonde hair was in a messy do but didn't cover his piercing blue eyes.
He had the looks of a leopard shifter. I took a deep breath waiting to take in his scent and smelt nothing. My eyebrows scrunched together. Why didn't I smell anything from him? The only thing I could smell was the testosterone flowing of the boys in his group. He had no scent.
Scenarios began to flash in my head. He could have been sent here to get on my good side, and then convince me to go back into my old territory. It would make it legal for them to kill me that way. There would be no repercussions if they murdered me in their land, and they all knew it.
My body was tense during the entire lesson. Stacey droned on and on. I was pretty sure everyone realized that she had no idea what the book Oliver Twist was actually about. I guess I would classify her as the stereotypic blonde. That's how I knew for a fact she was working with someone else. The question was who? Could it be Blake?
Finally, the bell rang signaling my escape from that hellhole they called English. I usually didn't mind English seeing as I loved the classic books they would make you read, but with Stacey sitting up front and Blake right beside me, I couldn't enjoy anything.
I shoved all my stuff into my book bag as I was walking out the door, not realizing that I was one of the last students out the room until a hand on my shoulder stopped me. I hardened my eyes and turned towards Stacey. "What?"
"I just wanted to let you know that you should pay attention in class. I wouldn't want to give you detention." She smirked at me thinking she had won something by being a substitute while I was a student.
"How did you even get this job? Is the principal a male? Plus, I'm sure if I told them that you spent a class period talking about how Oliver Twist is an orange cat, you wouldn't be here that long. Now, listen carefully. I will kill you if you mess with me."
I gave her my back knowing that it was a sign of disrespect. I was throwing it in her face that I was superior even with her being the older one. Walking away, I kept my body relaxed showing her that even if she tried attacking me when I wasn't looking, I wasn't afraid. I knew from experience that I could take her.
As soon as I exited the classroom door, I was bombarded by Tory. "Oh my god. Did you see it? Huh, did you? He was totally staring at you the entire time. Plus, he stood up for you. Awe, I can't wait until you start going out. Then we could double date," she paused for a second and bit her lip. "Okay, well you would have to find someone for me if you really wanted to go on a double date."
Not really understanding what had just happened, I nod my head at her and smile. She seemed to be okay with my lack of words as she began talking again on our way to class, "I mean Blake is so hot. You know what the odd thing is though?"
"You don't shut up?" said a person to my right, and I looked over at Anna. She just rolled her eyes began walking with us.
"No, I mean that's not odd. Mom says if I take my medication I wouldn't be this bad, but I don't really need it. Oh, where was I? Got it! Sebastian was glaring at Blake the entire time. What is up with that?"
"I have no idea. Plus, Sebastian is a cutie," Anna said.
I snapped my head in her direction and glared. "Mine."
Her eyes widened and she took a step away from me. "What the hell is that?"
I blinked and forced my body to calm down. "Nothing, I'm really sorry. It's just been a really long day." The smile I sent her was full of reassurance, and she seemed to be satisfied. I could still smell her fear though, and my cat loved it.
"I got to go to the bathroom," I choked out while keeping my eyes cast downward. I knew that the eerie glow was beginning to show, and it scared me to think about what exactly had caused it to happen. I guess Michael was right, it would happen even if I didn't want it to. I was becoming attached to Seb.
I shoved the bathroom door open. It hit the wall making a loud bang echo throughout the empty room. I walked towards the sinks. Reaching my hand out to turn on the faucet, I stopped. Cocking my head to the side, I listened to a faint crying noise coming from a stall on the end. I stepped towards it wondering if a human would actually find out what was wrong. Being a shifter, crying would only be thought of as a weakness. I reach my hand up to knock. Hesitating momentarily, I finally let my knuckles hit the door.
Faint sniffs came from the other side. "Y-yeah?"
I recognized the voice as soon as it came out her mouth. "Courtney? What is it that you are crying about?"
She cracked the door open an inch. "Who is it?"
"Alexandria Holt."
She let out a groan. "The new girl? I got caught crying in the bathroom by the hot new girl? Look, my boyfriend cheated on me okay? The normal high school bullshit."
"Do you want me to help you kill him?" I asked her. If someone had broken a sacred bond, they deserved to die.
Silence was all that could be heard from the other side before she started to giggle. Opening the door wide enough for me to see her face, she smiled at me. "Thank you for cheering me up." She stood up from her spot on the toilet seat lid and walked out of the stall. She staggered to the sink that I previously occupied and turned the water on. Grabbing a paper towel, she wet it and began to dab it under her eyes removing all evidence of her tears.
"So, you are okay now?" I asked not really understanding what had happened to make her happy once more.
"Yeah. You know, if you weren't competition, we could have been great friends. Seeing as you are though," she turned and faced me, "if you tell anyone about this, I will ruin you. Understand?"
I held in my laugh. "Yep."
"Good. Now, leave while I fix my make-up. I don't want to be seen with you." She flashed me a small smile and proceeded to ignore my existence.
The whole ordeal had calmed me down, and I had no problem with leaving the girl's bathroom that rank of cleaning supplies. As soon as the door swung closed behind me, someone grabbed my wrist. I was about to fling them off, when I looked up into familiar brown eyes, "What are you doing?"
"Well, since you weren't in class. I went looking for you to make sure everything was okay. I mean you never know what can happen with the spawn of Satan roaming the hallways."
I laugh made its way out of my mouth. "I like her new nickname, but wait aren't you late for class now?"
"Yeah, but I figured we could just skip. My grandfather won't mind, and you're emancipated."
"Okay. It's boring here anyway. Where do you plan on going?"
A sly smile crossed his face. "I'll show you when we get there. You just have to promise to at least listen to what I have to say when we get there."
I narrowed my eyes at Seb. "What exactly are you going to ask?"
He ignored me, and began dragging me out the school building. I had jumped into his truck so many times in the last few days that it felt almost natural by now. Once I was in the seat, my body finally decided to relax. I knew that wherever he was taking me, it would be safe. For some reason he had the same urge that I did when it came to protecting each other.
He flipped on the radio and to my surprise a song that I actually liked blared from the speakers. Knowing all the words, I opened my mouth and let them flow from my lips. I was in the middle of the chorus, when it was cut off. Glaring over at Seb, I asked, "What was that for?"
He just stared at me, forgetting about the road. I reached over and slapped him on the back of the head. Regaining his focus, he turned his eyes back forward. Various expressions flashed on his face too fast for me to determine what he was thinking. He flicked his eyes in my direction. "Has anyone ever told you that you sound like a drowning cat when you sing?"
My face turned scarlet as I mumbled, "Yes."
Laughter filled the truck. "I heard that. Did you forget that I can hear a little better than the average human?"
I opened my mouth to give him a witty comeback, but he didn't give me the time. "Never mind, we're here."
I looked up. I felt the excitement bubbling inside me. We were parked at the edge of the woods. Large trees covered almost every inch of the land. Everything that wasn't covered in trees was lush with life. I flung the door open and started to run towards the woods.
I stopped though, once I got to the edge. I needed to remember that I didn't have the freedom to shift anywhere I wanted anymore. I couldn't let others know that I was here. Taking the chance of letting other's see me was something I would never risk.
"It's okay. We own all this land. It's where my grandfather goes when he wants to run free. He told me about how exhilarating it is. I know that you haven't shifted in a long time."
I looked at him with gratitude shinning in my eyes. This was the sweetest thing anybody has ever done for me. I started to walk into the woods, but Seb stopped me, "Wait. You said that you would listen to what I have to say first."
"Okay, then can I go in the woods and shift?" I asked in a rush.
He hesitated. "I want you to shift in front of me."
