“Our last pair,” Riff chuckled with a shake of his head at the troublesome duo, “is Flik and Mara.” Flik gave me a slight wave, his eyes were black while his hair was a sandy blond. His lips curled into a friendly grin before he looked at his partner, a young girl with curly brown hair and gentle brown eyes. “And there you have our show choir. Here I’ve been, tragically surrounded by these paired off losers, all alone.” Riff laughed when they began catcalling him and promising many pranks as retribution for his statement.
Through all this, Zach sat beside me with a half-grin. With a chuckle, he nudged my shoulder with his once the show choir brought up tales of past faux pas as examples of why Riff was the real loser of the group. “How are you feeling?” He asked, and I chuckled wryly.
“Like I stumbled into an alternate universe or something,” I mumbled, and he laughed. “No one has ever cared about me before, nor how I feel or what I think. I’ve always been the poor kid, the one everyone looks down on and mistreats because who will speak in defense of the penniless orphan?” I sighed, still trying to adjust to the idea that this town wouldn’t be like the others. I was part of a group, I had friends, and was so far out of my depth that it wasn’t even the slightest bit funny. What does one do with friends? Do you have to walk them? My lips curled into a slight smirk at that thought, and I rolled my eyes. This group made me think of a pack of puppies. Squabbling and flopping over each other while they playfully fought.
“What’s so funny?” Zach asked with amusement shining in his eyes.
“Don’t hate me,” I sighed with a frown, flinching when everyone at the table stopped talking to look at me. “But uh, you guys remind me of a bunch of puppies.” They blinked, glanced at each other, and in the next second, each student burst out laughing. Moments later, tears of laughter streamed down their cheeks while they appeared unable to stop expressing their mirth. Rolling my eyes, I ate the cookie from Dare’s mom and packed the rest of the food I was responsible for ingesting.
“You do not know how well you hit that nail on the head,” Zach chuckled under his breath. I barely kept myself from reacting, pretending I didn’t hear what I doubt I was supposed to.
“Well, in all fairness,” Riff chuckled, “I told you to consider me a puppy nipping at your heels.”
“Oh!” I gasped, “That reminds me. Um, Riff, I have plans this weekend.” When he quirked his brow, I tilted my head to indicate Zach. “Zach agreed to um, let me sketch him on Saturday or Sunday. He hasn’t decided yet.” Glancing at Zach, Riff had an unreadable expression that left me feeling Zach was in trouble.
“Ah, Angel, it doesn’t have to be only us, Riff and the gang can come along too. Hey! Perhaps you can sketch all of us,” Zach offered with an easy smile, and my cheeks burned once his words sank in.
“I-I I mean I’ve sketched groups before b-but never when they know about it,” I stammered, and he shook his head with a grin.
“Not as a group, silly. We can hang out in our favorite spot in the forest, and you sketch whoever you want when the urge strikes. That can be our weekend haunt, and your running project,” Zach corrected with a gentle smile.
I lacked the courage to glance at anyone’s expressions before I murmured, “I would like that.”
“Then it’s a plan,” Rebel decreed with a chuckle. “Bar any other plans, or presence requirements, for the weekends we meet at our spot and hang out. While we do us, Angel will enjoy indulging in her artist desires, and none of us will know who her chosen model is for the moment. I like this.”
“Yeah!” Mara agreed with a sweet smile, “when we get to see her sketchbook, it’ll be like looking at a journal of our adventures.” Ducking my head, my cheeks heated while the group excitedly murmured their agreement. However, my soul was content. I could only imagine how at peace I might feel at this spot they hang out in, able to sketch as much as I desired.
Towards the end of lunch, Claire asked to see my schedule. Everyone in our choir looked at it too, and I ducked my head again, wondering if I would get teased for being a nerd since I had honors classes. “Damn girl,” Ethan chuckled, “you make me feel like a slacker. I only have normal classes. Damn.”
“I don’t even want to know how much homework you have,” Rebel added with a shudder. “That schedule is terrifying. Angel, you are my hero.” A slight smile tugged at my lips while I stared at my lap, pleased she thought so although I was nothing special.
Checking the time, I stood to head towards my next class, and everyone else followed suit, other than Zach. Apparently, we have the following class together too. Waving before they broke off to go to their classes, the show choir smiled and told me to enjoy my brutal schedule. I smiled at my feet, my cheeks warm, albeit I made eye contact with each member of this group I now belonged to. God, to have friends, I considered that a pipe dream for most of my life.
I made it to honors chemistry unscathed, albeit I felt Kyler’s furious glare before I ducked and weaved between students so he couldn’t see me. Riff offered to walk me to class, but he had English next and would have to make it to the opposite side of the school. I told him that perhaps if we head towards my class earlier tomorrow, then he can. He agreed with a slight frown, kissing my forehead before he went his way.
Zach grinned when we walked into chemistry, indicating the teacher, Mrs. Decker, who told me to sit wherever I liked. Taking a seat in the middle row, but at the front desk, I smiled shyly when Zach sat to my right. Soon the class filled, but I relaxed upon discovering I didn’t recognize any of the students. Still, several girls gave me death glares, and I stared at my desk with a sense of unease. Chemistry was dangerous, all the chemicals and such. I didn’t want to be the victim of a well-planned accident.
This class was way behind my previous one, and I shook my head with a rueful frown. Mrs. Decker noticed and called me out on it while looking down her nose at me. Ah. Not going to like me, are we? So, this teacher is team Kyler. Got it. Smiling sweetly, I answered every question on the screen. Instead of using books, she projected the pages to teach us. Her frown deepened into a dark scowl, and I sighed. When she asked how I did that, I explained that my previous school studied this, and her brow cleared.
She asked if I would tutor those who had a tough time with this topic, and I blinked at her sudden sweetness. Swallowing nervously, I nodded, and she gave me a bright smile. Just like that, I became her student assistant and stared at Zach with shocked horror while he grinned with a shrug. She asked me how well I understood chemistry and I shrugged, informing my teacher that it came easy to me. I enjoyed math and science, so with chemistry being their love child, it was one of my favorite academic classes. I received a delighted smile for calling her class a love child, and my cheeks burned.
Shooing us towards the lab, Mrs. Decker had me help the students set up, and I did so, still dazed. Several students called me a suck-up under their breath. At least until a girl who gave me the nastiest glare I ever received, turned that same glare upon the class after I approached her table with shaking fingers. The chemicals we used today were particularly nasty if they came in contact with human skin.
As soon as I stood beside her, her eyes widened before her jaw clenched so tight, I heard her teeth grinding. Then she glared at everyone, and they stared at her in shock. “I’m sorry,” she murmured. “I was lied to, sweetheart, please forgive me. I won’t hurt you. Nor will I let anyone in this class do so either.”
Nodding, I explained the chemicals to her, and she listened intently while I described the reaction Mrs. Decker was looking for, and how she would know it happened. While I explained the importance of not getting any of the transparent liquid in the glass beaker on her skin, another student asked for help. With a slight smile, I turned around only to freeze with a harsh exhalation.
With a sweet smile, albeit her eyes were as cold as rocks in the winter, the taller brunette tipped her full beaker above my head. Shock that someone who knew nothing about me would kill me so horribly k
ept me rooted to the spot. Fingers wrapped around her wrist, jerking her back and twisting so not one drop spilled on me, and relief had me sighing heavily. Tears stung my eyes while I eyed the furious Zach, who confiscated the beaker before he glanced between it and the girl. “Marissa?” He asked with a slight sneer, and the girl I helped wrapped her arms around me from behind before resting her chin on my head. Fear danced along my spine and rooted me to the spot. I didn’t understand why, but I sensed a dangerous predator behind me.
“Angel says it’s hazardous, that it eats through anything organic it touches. At the very least, it would have covered Angel in chemical burns, and destroyed her eyes. More likely, from what she said, it would have killed her before we could get the stuff to counter it to her,” she mused with a playful coldness. I shuddered in response, thankful I couldn’t see her eyes.
“Do unto others what you would to yourself?” Zach questioned with a quirked brow, and my breath caught in my throat. No! They can’t! That’s murder! My eyes flicked to Zach’s, and his jaw clenched while his expression became angrier.
“Please don’t,” I pleaded with a soft sob. Marissa’s arms moved before her hands on my hips turned me around, and she pulled me into a hug. I didn’t think of my back when I tried to push away, but somehow, she knew about it because she ensured no pressure touched my spine. Oddly enough, I sensed something within Marissa shift. A gentle calmness replaced whatever gave me the feeling she was a predator. It was as if she focused on soothing my fear instead of exacting revenge.
“It can’t be that dangerous,” a boy in class scoffed, and Zach grinned, grabbing a pipette and arching his brow. Mrs. Decker frowned, having come to our half of the lab to see what happened, and she made a wait motion. Coming back a moment later, she raised the powder in her hand and shrugged. Sneering, the boy held out his hand while a smirking Zach put one drop on his skin.
He screamed. Oh, how he screamed. Mrs. Decker nullified the chemical within a second, but he still cried while she led him to the sink and rinsed his hand. “This is why we don’t play with chemicals, children. And why Angel warned you on the dangers of it touching your skin. Heather, you will come with me to the principal’s office and explain to your mother why you tried to murder another student. I hope you have a good reason, although I don’t see how you could. I almost feel sorry for you because your mother will rake you over the coals. Jack, we’ll drop off at the nurse along the way. He needs to go to the hospital because he will have what looks like a severe burn, and they can help it heal faster. Neither of you will step foot in my classroom again. Angel, I leave you in charge of the lab once you calm down. I’m sorry these little heathens are so terribly behaved.”
Shuddering, I hid my face against Marissa’s shoulder while our teacher had Heather grab her and Jack’s backpacks and led the subdued students out of the room. I couldn’t stop seeing in my mind what would have happened had even a drop fallen on my head and whimpered. Shaking my head, I pulled myself together after a moment and appeared calm while I gave quiet instructions. But my heart was pained while what happened terrified my soul. What did I do to that girl? Was I so horrible, so terrible, that I deserved to die? And what did these poor teenagers do that made them deserving of watching someone die that way? It would have been ghastly, and everyone in the room would have required intense therapy to function.
I kept my eyes down, refusing to look at anyone, albeit I answered their questions and helped them with their labs. But I didn’t get close to anyone. I didn’t care to discover that Heather’s friends decided to finish what she started. When Mrs. Decker returned a few minutes before class ended, she told me to step outside and breathe. Taking my backpack, I did as I was told, surprise filling me when Riff awaited me with open arms.
Without thinking, I threw myself into his embrace before I broke down sobbing in his arms. Riff said nothing, just held me while I purged my fear, horror and pain from discovering someone I didn’t know hated me that much. I was glad she wouldn’t be returning to this class, but sorry that her hatred of me got her in trouble. It was my fault her mom was mad at her because I’m so terrible she wanted me dead.
“It’s easy to lead Heather. Someone put her up to it, and I can guess who,” Riff murmured when my self-loathing rose to choke me. “I will beat him within an inch of his life, the fucker. This isn’t funny. But come, let me walk you to your next class. I know you’ve been looking forward to it because of how your eyes lit up when we talked about sketching at lunch. Maybe this class will be good, and you’ll feel better, hmm?” Nodding, I sighed with relief when he put his arm around my shoulders. It felt right, like this was how we should walk. I felt safe and like I mattered to someone. Riff stopped outside my art classroom, annoying a bunch of students since the bell rang on our way.
Snapping insults at anyone who dared to glare, he reminded me of a guard dog, and I couldn’t stop the soft chuckle that escaped my lips. With a bright smile, Riff kissed my forehead, and I sighed, meeting his gaze with a grateful smile while peace filled my soul. “If you need me, call upon me, Angel,” he decreed, tapping my nose with his forefinger and a playful frown. Grinning at my snort of surprise, Riff chuckled and waved before joining the throng of teenagers to head to his class. Sighing, I shook my head and turned to go to art, although a slight smile curled my lips.
My feet faltered when I walked in, only to find one of Kyler’s friends from the gas station sitting at an otherwise empty table. He and I were the only ones here so far, and his gaze met mine as soon as I stopped in the doorway. Swallowing nervously, I shakily moved out of the way with my eyes on the ground, feeling like an ant under a microscope.
“My apologies, Angel, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I was trying to check you for other injuries. Kyler and I broke up, I guess you could say,” the boy murmured. The sorrow in his voice had my eyes flicking up on their own, checking his while I instinctively stepped forward to offer comfort. Shaking my head, I quashed the urge, and a slight smile tugged at the boy’s lips. “My name is Dakota, and I promise I won’t hurt you. I’m sorry about the gas station. Kyler… well, my father works for his, and he can make life uncomfortable if he is a dick. Which, as I’m sure you might have noticed, Kyler walks that path while whistling a cheerful tune. If you meant that move you stopped, I wouldn’t protest.”
I blinked at the ground while debating what to do. Sighing, I berated myself for pretending I had a choice. If I did not comfort the boy with the sad, dark blue eyes, I would lie awake tonight wondering if he was all right. Before my mind could rationalize to my heart and soul that this was a terrible idea, I moved towards the patient teenager. He bowed his head, allowing me to take in his sad posture and mop of copper hair. Once I stood in front of him, I swallowed before opening my arms and dropping my eyes.
Dakota enveloped me in a warm hug within a beat of my heart, and my eyes closed when he placed a kiss on the top of my head. “Easy, little Angel, I won’t hurt you,” he murmured, and only then did I realize I trembled. Gentle fingers under my chin encouraged me to tilt my head to meet his eyes. His were full of concern, relief and warmth. “You are so damn brave that I’m in awe,” he admitted with a wry smile which turned into a grin that I bet made all the girls swoon. It was full of mischief while making you feel warm and included in his scheme and enhanced his natural beauty.
Why are the people in this school so damn gorgeous? Even several teachers are, and I have never seen so much beauty under one roof. Not like this. Their good looks were devastating, attractive, and yet I sensed something dangerous lurking under the surface. But Dakota reminded me of a puppy, too. What the hell? I was beginning to understand why they said Marcus would wait until I was ready to explain things. Because I am not prepared to learn their truth. No, until I knew I could stay I shouldn’t learn the secret living under their skin.
I rubbed Dakota’s back, and he sighed as if the weight of the world fell off his shoulders. Moments later, he smiled and released me
from his embrace. “Thank you, Angel, I feel much better. I hope you do, too,” Dakota told me with a sweet smile. He was more beautiful than Riff and Kyler because he had this sweetness to him the other boys lacked. It’s like if this were a pack of dogs, Riff, and Kyler were the more dominant duo while Dakota was relaxed. Not submissive, but not a leader either. Safer, more innocent, yet more dangerous. What happened if the powers that be issued an order? As he said, Kyler’s dad was his dad’s boss. Thus, he responded when Kyler barked.
Ah. Perhaps that’s why Kyler was so used to getting his way because his dad was the boss of whatever business supported the town. That would explain a lot. Alas, it didn’t give him permission to act like the world owed him just because he was born into power. But the question becomes what did Riff mean that after school, he could do something about Kyler? What would change after school? Ah well, only time will tell. Not worth borrowing trouble when the answer would be revealed soon.
The teacher walked in a few minutes later, introducing himself as Mr. Lynch. He said I could sit beside Dakota since every other seat was taken, and the boy brightened. My soul relaxed, and I gave him a smile which he returned with that heartthrob grin of his. Once the bell rang, our teacher explained that we were to sketch something for our homework, but we had all week to work on it. During class, he instructed us to draw anything we liked, so long as it included perspective. I perked since I liked perspective, but I needed to work on it. Here, I could do so and receive the instruction I needed to perfect it.
“I only intend for this to be a beginning, class, a rough draft. You have this week to work on it during our time together. Over the weekend, I will go over them and give each of you what instruction or insight you need to perfect your drawing. Next week, you will draw it again for a grade,” Mr. Lynch explained while walking around the classroom.
Bouquet of Regret (Angel's Shifters Book 1) Page 6