The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven

by Jessica Miller

  “I’m not disturbing you, am I?” he asked kindly. I took out my head phones and shook my head. “You mind?” he gestured to the bench, taking a seat next to me. “Any particular reason you’re out here by yourself?”

  “I wasn’t in the mood to watch my roommate make a porno with her boyfriend,” I replied.

  His eyes widened a bit at first, but then they smiled when he chuckled. “I see. Who’s your roommate?” he asked curiously.

  “Mackenzie Hilliard,” I said. Just saying her name left a bitter taste in my mouth.

  “I take it you two are getting along well then,” he smiled mockingly. I rolled my eyes. “You’re new here, aren’t you?”

  “Gee, what tipped you off?” I said, keeping with the sarcastic tone.

  He gave another subtle laugh. “Not one for small talk?”

  “Sorry, been a long day.”

  “Things not what you expected?” he pried.

  “I don’t know. I guess I don’t really know what to expect. Then again, it’s only the first day and I have the roommate from hell who kicked me out so she could make out with her boyfriend. I can’t say I was expecting that.”

  “Well, as you mentioned, it is only the first day. Give it time. It will get better,” he smiled, making his eyes reflect a light green color.

  I quickly turned away, feeling my cheeks get hot. “If it’s so great what are you doing out here?”

  “I like to come out here and clear my head,” he admitted.

  “It seems like a good place to do that,” I said, tugging down the sleeves of my shirt, trying to fight the chill.

  “It is, but I wouldn’t stay out here too long. It can get pretty chilly at night.”

  “What are you, my keeper?” I said with a little more attitude than I intended. I’m sure he was only trying to be nice, but I was tired of people deciding for me what would be in my best interest.

  “You going to the party tonight?” he asked, ignoring my comment.

  I sighed, picking at my nails. “I guess, what else is there to do?” He didn’t answer, confirming I didn’t have many other options. “I assume you’re going?”

  “Nah, not my thing,” he said nonchalantly.

  I raised a brow at him. “Not your thing?” He totally looked like the type to be guzzling beer at a party. He had that whole preppy frat boy look to him.

  When he didn’t clarify I thought maybe I insulted him. “Well, it was nice chatting with you. Enjoy your party, but not too much,” he smiled, getting up. I was about to tell him I was sorry if I upset him, but before I even got the chance he was gone. I looked around, but he was nowhere in sight. Huh, weird? I turned back around scratching my head. I looked over my shoulder wondering how he disappeared so quickly like that. I shrugged it off, putting my ear buds back in. I had to keep reminding myself this was a school for the supernatural, anything was possible.

  “Ella.” I sat up. “Ella.” I looked around swearing I heard someone call my name. “Ella, take out your head phones and turn around.” It was Dean. He was talking in my head again. I tugged on my ear bud strings and turned around to see Dean, Cameron, and Austin coming up behind me. “Hey guys,” I said, standing up.

  “What are you doing out here? Cameron asked.

  “Avoiding my roommate,” I said, tucking away my IPod.

  “She can’t be that bad,” Dean said, thinking I was overreacting.

  “Who’s your roommate?” Cameron asked.

  “Mackenzie.”

  “Ooh,” they all said with sympathetic looks. “Well cheer up, because we’re going to a party,” Cameron said, jumping over the bench and linking her arm in mine. “But you need to change first.”

  I looked at my outfit wondering what was wrong with it. Cameron tugged on my arm. “I can’t. Mackenzie kicked me out so her and her boyfriend could make bastard babies.”

  “Ah yes, Roman and Mackenzie, the most tragic love story of all,” Austin said.

  “Tragic?” I asked.

  “Tragic in the way that the relationship coincides in the first place,” Cameron said, confusing me. “Roman and Mackenzie are complete opposites. While Roman is an all-around standup guy, Mackenzie is an evil hag from hell. I still insist she put a spell on him. That would explain the only reason he fell for her.”

  “She’s not that bad. Did you ever think he actually likes her and that maybe he sees something in her that nobody else does?” Austin said, making Cameron glare at him.

  “If you like her so much maybe you should date her,” Cameron replied.

  “Oh come on babe,” Austin said, pulling Cameron closer and whispering sweet nothings into her ear, making her giggle. She blushed and then pushed him away, pretending to be mad again.

  “I think he’s with her because she puts out,” Dean said.

  “You would,” I said, looking at him disgusted. “If you hate her so much than why are you friend’s with her?” I asked.

  Austin laughed while Cameron rolled her eyes. “She’s my stepsister,” Cameron replied. “It’s clear my dad was in some tragic accident altering his perception and making him blind.”

  I tried to hide my smile. I was happy to know I wasn’t the only one who had to suffer. Maybe I could ask Cameron for some tips on how she survived. “Oh, I thought being her roommate was bad. I can’t imagine being related to her.”

  “Trust me, as far as I am concerned nothing is legally binding. I give it a year at the most,” she said. “Come on, we’ll go with you to make sure the wicked witch doesn’t give you any problems.” She took my hand and led the way across the snowy grass back to the dorms.

  I opened the door to my room to have Mackenzie snap at me again. “Hello, knock much?” Mackenzie said as she quickly adjusted her shirt.

  “Not on the door to my own room,” I countered.

  “It won’t be your room for long,” she sneered.

  “Chill out Mac,” Cameron said, barging in the room behind me with Dean and Austin on her tail.

  “I told you not to call me that,” Mackenzie said, scowling at Cameron.

  Cameron ignored her as she plopped down on my bed. Dean and Austin walked over to Roman, said what’s up, and made themselves comfortable on the bed causing Mackenzie to stomp off into the bathroom. Roman rolled his eyes and got up to knock on the bathroom door. “Kenzie…”

  “Let her go,” Cameron said. Roman knocked again. Mackenzie finally came out of the bathroom and turned to glare at me, again, then stomped out of the room. “Have fun,” Cameron sang as Roman took off after her.

  “He sure does go out of his way for her,” I said.

  “She puts out,” Austin said simply. I tried to ignore the bile that was rising in my throat as I looked through my clothes for something to wear.

  “Why can’t I just wear what I have on?” I whined.

  “Because this is a party Ella, not a hike through the woods,” Cameron said, eyeing me up and down. I ignored her jab about my outfit and continued to look for something to wear. Everything I brought was pretty much the same as what I had on. I didn’t even want to go to this party, but I knew they wouldn’t leave me alone unless I did.

  I decided on a long sleeve shirt with jeans and Josie’s boots. I didn’t care to deal with the stress of my blue streak so I pulled up my hair and tried to hide it. From what my parents had told me, no one had ever heard of someone’s appearance altering like this after receiving their powers. So I stuck out like a sore thumb. And why not, let’s just add another thing to the list of reasons why people think I’m weird.

  “So what’s the big deal about this party anyways?” I asked, coming out of the bathroom. The disappointed look on Cameron’s face said she wished I would have kept my hair down. She told me earlier that she liked my streak and said I should embrace it.

  “It’s the party of all parties,” Dean said. Although I’m sure he would have said that about any party.

  “It’s kinda like a welcome back party,” Cameron said.
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br />   “More like check out the new meat,” Austin smiled.

  “Perfect,” I thought.

  “He’s just kidding,” Cameron said, throwing a pillow at him. I grabbed my phone as we headed out the door and downstairs to the first floor. I started to wonder where this party was when they took a quick right down a hall, leading to a door that read Basement above it. Austin knocked on the door with some kind of secret knock.

  After a moment, the door opened and we were led down a flight of stairs. What kind of party was this, and why was it in the basement? It seemed kind of creepy to me to have a party in a dark, damp, dirty basement, but then again it could be worse.

  Chapter nine

  Okay, so this was definitely not like any basement I have ever seen. There were hardwood floors covered by a few throw rugs. The walls were painted in bright colors and looked like some of the students had added their own special touch. They had twined twinkling lights around the few poles that stuck out and hung outdoor Christmas lights along the ceiling. The couches and chairs looked like they were donated from the goodwill along with lawn chairs and folding tables. Overall it was the perfect place to have a party and not at all what I had expected.

  On the one wall there was a mural of a garden – which looked vaguely familiar – and on another was a forest with witches huddled around a cauldron, wolves hidden in the trees with – if I had to guess – vampires standing next to them, all of their eyes glowing bright. Interesting choice of art, but then, this is a school for the supernatural.

  In one corner kids were playing beer pong and in another they were playing flip cups. Some were just standing around socializing, flirting, and some were dancing. All in all it was like one of the many parties we had back in Vermont at the sorority house.

  “So what’s with the secret knock?” I asked Dean.

  “Have to weed out the uglies somehow,” he smiled.

  “You’re such a dick,” I groaned. He just laughed and took off to go talk to some girls. Austin spotted some of his friends and dragged Cameron with him, leaving me to fend for myself.

  Fantastic.

  I glanced around the room, hoping maybe I would find some nonalcoholic beverages. I spotted a plastic tub against the far wall and thought I’d take my chances. Half the ice was melted and whatever was in there was sitting on the bottom. I pushed my sleeve up and stuck my hand in. The freezing cold water was a shock at first and took everything I had not to pull my hand out right away. When I finally got a hold of a can, I pulled it out to discover it was a beer. I set it aside, stuck my hand back in, and tried again, and again. Everything I found was a beer.

  “Fishing for gold?” Roman asked, startling me. I stood up, wiping my arm on my pants, and then pulled down my sleeve. He was leaning casually against the wall, wearing dark blue jeans and the stereo typical, tight, black T-shirt.

  “No. I was looking for soda,” I said.

  “Soda’s over there,” he replied, pointing to a corner in the back.

  “Thanks,” I mumbled.

  “I’m Roman,” he said, extending a hand.

  “Ella,” I said, feeling a little guarded.

  “You’re new here.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Welcome to Hamilton Hill,” he smiled kindly.

  When he didn’t offer up anymore conversation I said, “Soda over there?”

  “Yeah,” he smiled. I made my way over in the direction he pointed. I could feel him watching me. I looked over my shoulder and confirmed my suspicion. I couldn’t get rid of this strange feeling that I knew him. I knew I never met him before but when he was around I felt a strange connection to him. Maybe it was his eyes or his hair or the fact that I’m still in love with my dead boyfriend and any guy with dark blue eyes and black hair reminds me of him. This wasn’t healthy. I was supposed to have let him go, but I knew in my heart there’d always be a small part of him that remained there. I took a breath, relinquishing all thoughts of Tristan.

  I didn’t see any plastic tubs in the corner Roman had pointed to. I stepped through the arch way and found a freezer. I opened it up figuring this was what he was talking about. What I found was not soda. “What the…?” I picked up one of the blood filled bags that was inside the freezer.

  “What are you doing?” Mackenzie said, startling me.

  I spun around dropping the bag. “I was looking for a soda,” I said quickly, hoping she didn’t spot the bag I just dropped by her feet.

  “Clearly,” she said, picking up the bag and waving it in front of me. Not in the mood to deal with her, I ignored her and pushed past her on my way back out into the party. “Hey, Ella,” Mackenzie called. “You forgot something.”

  I turned to face her as she threw the bag at me. I caught it as it exploded in my hands, blood squirting all over my shirt and face. “Oops,” Mackenzie giggled, receiving a few laughs from the kids nearby. She walked by me smiling wickedly while I stood there shell shocked. I had to bite my lip to keep from crying. No way was I going to let this bitch get to me.

  Cameron and Sienna caught wind of what happened and came rushing over. “I’ll go get some wet paper towels,” Sienna said, hurrying off.

  Cameron picked up the now empty bag and threw it in the trash. “What happened?” she asked.

  “Mackenzie,” I said, grinding my teeth.

  “I couldn’t find any,” Sienna said apologetically.

  “Let’s take her to the bathroom,” Cameron suggested, noticing I was about to lose it. They led me to the bathroom so I could get myself cleaned up. Unfortunately, there was a line, forcing us to wait. I got more and more agitated as we waited because I couldn’t touch anything for risk of spreading the mess.

  “If I would have known you were such a messy eater I would have offered you a bib,” Roman joked.

  “I’m glad I was able to amuse you,” I glared, whispering ‘prick’ under my breath.

  He narrowed his eyes at me clearing hearing me. “It was just a joke,” he said defensively.

  “Yeah thanks, ha-ha so funny I forgot to laugh.” I squared my shoulders, proving to him that he and his girlfriend’s little prank was no bother to me and I would not be bullied easily.

  “Whatever,” he growled, walking past us. So much for him being one of the good guys.

  “What a dick,” I thought, biting my lip again to keep from crying. I wasn’t usually the type to cry when I was upset. It was more when I was so angry I couldn’t control it and I hated that. I wasn’t going to allow that to happen now. I took a breath and looked up at the lights so I could blink away my tears. Cameron, noticing my expression, banged on the door to the bathroom. “Hurry up in there,” she shouted. “If it wasn’t working for you when you left your room it’s not going to work for you now.”

  Some short, chubby, brunette stepped out of the bathroom and gave Cameron a nasty look. “Finally,” Cameron said, not caring about the girl’s feelings. She pushed the girl aside and dragged Sienna and I into the cramped space that was the bathroom. I ran my hands under the faucet and splashed some cool water on my face. I wiped off the rest of the blood with wet paper towels.

  “Good as new,” Sienna smiled optimistically. I looked down at my blood soaked shirt and her smile faded. “Well, almost?”

  Someone knocked on the door. “In a minute!” Cameron yelled. The person’s response was to bang on the door. Cameron pounded her fist back. “Use the other bathroom,” she grunted and turned back around to face me rolling her eyes at the distraction.

  Feeling at a loss, I was about to tell them I was just going to go back to my room when Cameron said, “Take off your shirt.”

  I looked at her thinking she couldn’t be serious, but the look on her face told me she was dead serious. “Okay, but then I would be naked and I don’t think that would help.”

  “It might help your reputation though,” Sienna giggled. I shook my head letting her know she wasn’t helping.

  Cameron sighed. “Just trust me. Give me your shirt
,” she said, holding out her hand.

  I thought what the hell. I had nothing left to lose, well, except maybe my pants. I took off my shirt and handed it to Cameron. Before I could ask what her plan was both girls stared at me with wide eyes. “What?” I asked self-consciously.

  “I just…never seen someone our age with tattoos, well with that many, I mean…” Sienna stammered.

  “Is this another side effect from your powers?” Cameron asked, gawking at me curiously.

  “No. I was just…bored,” I joked. I crossed my fingers hoping they would leave it at that. It was best excuse I could come up with on short notice. I didn’t know these girls well enough to let them in on the truth.

  “I would have guessed you did it to piss off your parents. I mean, that’s what I would have done,” Cameron shrugged, giving me a good excuse for the future. I made a mental note to keep that one in mind.

  Both girls managed to drag their eyes away to concentrate on the matter at hand. Cameron handed the shirt to Sienna. “Do a glamour spell on it,” she said.

  “Oh, I don’t know. I’ve only done it once before and I’m not very good at it,” Sienna said sheepishly.

  “A glamour spell?” I asked, completely clueless.

  “Sienna’s a witch and a good one. She’s better than she gives herself credit for,” Cameron said, nudging Sienna and trying to encourage her.

  “I’ll try, but I’m going to warn you, the last time I tried this I turned my pants into a cat.”

  “Wait, what?” I said as she took the shirt.

  “I was going for a leopard print skirt,” she clarified as if that made it all better. Not knowing what else to say I just nodded as she gripped the shirt tight and closed her eyes to concentrate. I stood there hoping this would work. There wasn’t much room left in this tiny bathroom for her to accidentally conjure something else.