I turned the water on the shower up to hot, and drew the shower curtain. I turned around and shut and locked the bathroom. Stripping my clothes off, I shrugged on my robe, waiting for the shower to warm up.
I waited, and when I saw steam coming out of the shower, I shrugged my robe off and folded it on top of my towel on the counter, next to my sink. Parting the shower curtain, I stepped into the steamy shower and felt the warm water cascade over me in wonderful waves. I dipped my head back and let the water soak into my hair, making it appear longer, darker, fuller.
I washed my hair, scrubbing it until my scalp stung. Then I rinsed my hair, and scrubbed my body clean until it felt like my scalp. I felt dirty this morning. After my shift into an owl, I've felt this way for a while.
Anyway, I rinsed myself off, wrung my hair out, turned off the water, and stepped out of the shower. I reached for my towel and wrapped it around myself securely. Then I stepped over to my mirror and wiped the steam off of it, able to see my reflection clearly again.
I dried myself as dry as I could get and then used the same towel to wrap around my head like a turban and dried my hair. Then I slipped my panties and bra on, then rubbed my arms, legs, stomach, and back with lotion. After that, I slipped on a pair skinny jeans and a red long-sleeved shirt, with crossing strings by the chest for a little flare. Then I put my motorcycle jacket on over my red shirt.
Unlocking my bathroom door, I swung it open and stepped out into my room, my hair still wet, trailing down my back. I opened my closet and slipped my feet into a pair of socks and my tall boots, matching my jacket.
Then I turned back into the bathroom and ran my blow dryer threw my hair for about ten minutes. When I was dones, a few spots were still damp, but it was good enough. I turned off the blow dryer, unplugged it, picked up my brush, brushed my thick hair, sweeping my hair up into a high ponytail. I clicked the light off in my bathroom.
I picked up my school bag from my desk chair, slipped that over my shoulder, and left my room, hurrying down the stairs, hoping not to be late for school.
***
I entered my chemistry classroom and plopped down in my seat just as the bell rang. We had a lab that day, so our teacher passed around aprons, goggles, gloves, and assigned partners. I was in a group with this girl named Avery and with Taylor, who wasn't much help during the assignment at all.
At the end of that period, I escaped as quickly as possible and counted down the minutes until lunch, where I could have a break from this never-ending day. The halls seem to whiz by as I made my way to my locker. I exchanged my chemistry books for my world history book and binder, closing my locker with a dull clank.
I headed for the AP World History classroom. It was one of my favorite classes, which I shared with Sakura, Isabella, and Austin. I pushed the door open and settled down into my assigned seat, two rows behind Isabella, with one desk in between me and Sakura on the right, and with Austin sitting directly behind me.
While I waited for the teacher to start class, I pulled out City of Bones: The Mortal Instruments, and started reading where I left off. Then, after a few minutes, the teacher's voice broke through my thoughts.
"Alright class. The bell's about to ring, so you better all be here."
After a few moments, a couple more students rushed into the room and the bell rang.
The teacher clapped her hands. "Alright. I have a surprise for you all today. A pop quiz on the reading list."
Groans echoed from her words.
The teacher sighed and grabbed at stack of papers from her desk and passed them down the rows of students. I got mine and passed the rest of the stack back to Austin. Our eyes met as I did and we gave each other a brief nod. I turned back around in my seat.
"The quiz begins… now."
I signed my name at the top and scanned the quiz page, filling in as many questions I knew the answers to and then going back and guessing on the more difficult ones. The questions were on the fall of the Roman empire, which I found very fascinating.
Blinking out of my thoughts, I returned to my quiz. I answered the next question, filling out the next multiple choice question.
"Time's up," the teacher commanded.
I put my pencil down on my desk just as I finished marking the last question and folded my quiz back up.
"Finish whatever question you're on and then pass your papers forward," our teacher instructed.
We all complied, the rustling sound of papers filling the silent air. I handed my paper to the student in front of me. I followed my paper with my eyes as it traveled up the room and into the teachers grasp. She collected all the papers and set them in a neat stack on her desk.
"Okay." She clapped her hands. "The rest of the period is free time. You could spend it doing your next reading assignment, from page ninety-four to one hundred and six, or doing other academic work." She finished her speech and sat at her desk, already starting to grade our quizzes.
I took out my world history book and started reading the assigned pages. Finishing the reading pages early, I swapped my history book for my agenda and wrote down that I had finished the reading in AP World History.
Then the bell rang, shrill and commanding, causing everyone to get up and shuffle their school books either into their bags or their arms, springing from the room. I did the same, packing up my belongings and shuffling out the door.
I walked down the hallway, my footsteps echoing off of the tile. I didn't have to stop at my locker this period, which saved me some time. I hurried off to my next class, sitting down in my seat, and pulling out my book to read in the spare moments I had before class started.
Calculus was pretty boring. We reviewed out homework, elaborated more, and I almost died from boredom. And I could tell Sakura and Autumn were feeling the same way.
Autumn and I had made eye contact half-way through class, and she mimed strangling herself, causing me to hold in a laugh.
Then I moved on to AP French, III which I had with Isabella, which was more than I little awkward. She barely made eye contact with me as I entered the room, and then avoided my gaze for the rest of the period. Then I felt horrible all over again, which made focusing harder than it already was.
Then, after AP French III, I finally headed to lunch, after a treacherously long day, which was sadly only half over. But then again, I also wanted it to never end, because I knew when I got home, I would have to talk to my father, which I was dreading a lot.
I thought about this as I opened my locker and stuffed my bag in it and retrieved my lunch bag, a brown bag with a sandwich, apple, a bag of chips, and a water bottle contained inside it. I grabbed it, the paper crunching under my fingers. I also grabbed my motorcycle jacket that was hanging in my locker. I shrugged it on and retrieved my lunch bag again, shut my locker, and walked to the end of the main hall and out the double doors into the courtyard, where most of the students ate lunch.
I felt the double doors swing shut behind behind me and I felt the cold air hit me when I stepped outside. The heat was officially gone, and autumn was officially here.
Scanning the nearby tables, I looked for Shawn, and spotted him by a large tree, shaded from the sun. He saw me and waved me over. I waved back and started to make my way over.
The stone ground was sparsely covered in leaves, which crunched under my boots. The wind tousled my hair, whipping it around my shoulders. I approached the table and took a seat across from him, setting my lunch bag on the table. "Hey." I started, sounding awkward.
He nodded at me.
"I need to talk to you."
"Was is it now?"
I took a deep, shuddering breath. "I was talking with Sakura last night, and she wants me to tell Isabella about you and me. She can tell I've been keeping something from her, and I wanted to know if you were okay with that."
Shawn sighed. "It's just my secret anymore. We share this one, and if you trust her enough, then I guess I do too."
I eyed him suspiciously. "What's your game?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I slipped up and told Sakura, and now I want to tell someone else, and you aren't angry with me?"
He shook his head. "I guess I'm just less trusting than you. I haven't had the slightest thought about telling someone close to me. I figured I would either scar them, freak them out, have them hate me, have them tell the entire world-"
"Okay, I got it." I interrupted, cutting him off.
He stopped. "Sorry."
I shrugged. Then I was reminded of something, taking a bite from my sandwich. "Just to let you know, there's a rumor going around school that we're dating." I mentioned after swallowing my food. I took another bite.
"Seriously?"
I nodded, swallowing more of my sandwich. "When Sakura told me, I said the same thing. It's like these people can't see two people talking and immediately assume they must be dating."
Shawn rolled his eyes. "Small-minded people, who like to think everything is as it seems."
"And we both know that's not true."
We exchanged smirks.
Then we both dug into our lunch, talking about the shifts we've both had, and how Shawn had another one last night.
"Really?" I put my sandwich down. "You've been holding onto that and you let me ramble on about Isabella for half the lunch period?"
Shawn shrugged. "Isn't it always 'Ladies first'?"
I laughed. "Maybe fifty years ago, but not really anymore."
Shawn smiled.
Then I returned to seriousness. "Did you fully shift this time?" I lowered my voice to a mock-whisper.
He nodded. "But I passed out after it happened. I only was animal and conscious at the same time for about five minutes."
"Could you tell what animal you are in that short amount of time?"
He shook his head.
"Did you try what I said, about accepting it?"
Shawn nodded. "It hurt less this time, but it still hurt a lot."
I nodded. "I know how you feel. I didn't really have a choice, whether I'd accepted my shift or not, but I don't really want to go through that again."
He nodded, listening carefully to my words.
"But at the same time," I continued, "I would give anything to feel the freedom of flying again, soaring through the night sky, and how… powerful it made me feel."
"Maybe I'll feel that way once I stay awake for it and get to enjoy the actual animal part."
I grinned. "Maybe next time."
"We'll see."
"So are you really okay with me telling Isabella?"
He nodded. "I really am. It freaked me out at first, but I guess talking about it with someone other than myself made me more open to the idea."
"Well, thanks for the honesty."
"No problem."
Then the lunch bell rang.
We packed up our things and walked down the hall together to each of our lockers. We came across my locker first. I spun the quick combination, my locker clicked open, and I retrieved my Honors English Lit. notebook, reading book, and folder. I took out my bag and stuffed my english things in it.
Then we walked down the rest of the hall and came to Shawn's locker, where he got out his astronomy books. He closed his locker when he was done and turned to me. "See you later?"
I nodded, then grimaced. "This never gonna stop being weird, is it?"
Shawn shook his head, sighing. "No, not really."
I changed the subject. "So what should we tell people about the dating rumors?"
"Nothing," Shawn responded. "If we don't acknowledge it, it'll die down on its own."
"Hopefully." We both added.
I smiled. "Jinx."
He rolled his eyes. "Do I owe you a favor now?"
"Maaaaybe."
He shook his head. "See you later, Vera." Shawn added as he walked away down the hall.
I waved, turning the other direction down the school hall, headed towards my locker. Stopping there, I grabbed my materials for my English class, and headed that direction after closing my locker door.
We did more assignments in Honors English Literature. The Scarlet Letter was still boring, and at that point I was about eight chapters into it. We answered questions, on paper and verbally, did more reading and comprehension assignments, and I almost died from my utter hatred of this class.
I was so grateful when the bell rang after that period I'd have married it. Well, sort of. I had a love-hate relationship with the school bell. It does get me out of classes I dislike, but it also interrupts me a lot when I'm talking with friends, like Shawn, recently. I thought about this as I walked down the hall and to my locker, heading for study hall, finally.
But I had work to that period, unlike I normally did. I kept my english literature stuff in my bag and only added my free-reading book incase I had time after I was done with my work.
I walked down the hall, my boots clicking and tapping against the tile floor. Pushing the study hall door open, I walked in and sat not too far away from Shawn, settling into a seat. I pulled my work out and got started immediately.
***
The air smelled cold and reminded me of autumn. I looked up and saw the trees lining the sidewalk were already ignited by the colors of fall. Some had already fallen, like at school, and crunched under my boots again as I walked home.
I had a car, but I didn't like taking it. And it wasn't really mine. My father had bought himself a car, and then two months later, he won a Toyota Camry in some lottery thing. He kept it, and said I could drive it, but I liked getting exercise when it was warm out. I usually only drove it in the winter or when I needed to stay warm or when I was too tired to walk. It was light jacket weather now, so I didn't need to hurry to start driving until at least a month. And since we lived in Louisiana, we hardly ever see any snow. We have before, but not in the past two years.
Anyway, I didn't hurry home. It was about ten minutes away when I walked, and about three minutes when I drove. Things weren't always this way with my father. And I don't remember a time when my mother was around, so it's pretty much just been the two of us. He would always have time for me when I was younger, or he stayed home from work when I was sick, or didn't go when I was younger and wasn't in school that day. He had sacrificed a lot for me.
But as I got older, it had started to fade, and he was more busy, had less time for me, and I started hanging out with other kids my age instead of at home. We kind grew apart with us realizing it, I guess. We weren't cold or standoffish towards each other, we just didn't have a lot to say. And then when I misbehaved or came home late without telling him, he acted like an overprotective parent, which is just annoying.
After a little while, I got home and retired to my room. I finished up the last of my homework, and I put it away with a relieved sigh in my otherwise silent room. I stacked my books on my desk and went into my bathroom and took my ponytail down, rebrushed my hair, and tied it back up again.
Now came the hard part. I've been thinking about talking to Isabella all day, but I didn't want to have this talk in school, where people might hear. I descended my staircase, turned to the right, crossing in front of my front door, and down the hall into the kitchen. I left a note on the fridge saying that I was out, and would be back for dinner.
I came back down the front hall and out the front door, locking it behind me. I turned and walked down my front steps, stuffing the house key in my jacket pocket, my phone in the opposite pocket. I hadn't even bothered to take it off when I got home, since I knew I'd be back out.
Isabella and I lived in neighboring neighborhoods. The only friend of mine who lived on my street was Autumn. Sakura was close, but her house wasn't really in a neighborhood. Shawn lived farthest away from me, his neighborhood closer to town, and only about a block from school. And Austin's and Isabella's neighborhood was behind the trees behind my house, but I didn't feel like cutting through the forest today.
I blinked out of my thoughts and realized I was already halfway to Isabella's house. I imagined her house in my mind. It was a two-story building, with a tall, victorian style to it, with white siding and earthy-colored stones. Her roof shingles were dark. Most houses in this town were very similar. The building regulations make us all use the same material options, and a small option of house style choices.
I continued walking and turned into Isabella's street. Her house was about halfway down the street I was one, and I could see it a few houses up. Walking faster, I walked up her driveway and over to her front door, ringing the doorbell.
Austin opened the door. He smiled. "Hey."
I smiled. "Can I talk to Isabella?"
"Sure." Austin turned his head back into the house and shouted. "Bella, someone's here for you." He turned back to me. "So what brings you by?"
"Incase you haven't noticed, things have been a little tense between us lately."
"Yeah, I noticed. I just assumed you'd work it out. You two always do."
"Thanks."
"Who was at the-" Isabella started as she walked in from the right, from her family room. She cut herself off when she saw me. "Vera."
"Hi." I said softly, stuffing my hands in my back jean pockets. "Can we go somewhere and talk?"
Isabella nodded. "Let me get my jacket."
She turned back around and came back a few moments later, shrugging on a jacket.
I stepped back from the doorway and gave her some room to follow me out. She brushed past me and down her front steps. Austin and I made eye contact, his saying, 'good luck' and mine saying, 'thanks.'
I followed Isabella and we walked down the sidewalk about a house length deep into her neighborhood.
"So what did you wanna talk about?"
"Why I've been so distant lately."
"I'm finally getting an explanation? Gee, I'm flattered."
"Bella,--"
She cut me off.
"Don't 'Bella' me. It's been five. Freaking. Days. You've been keeping something from me. You've been lying to me. I thought we didn't do that."
"I'm sorry. But the truth is so messed up. You would've judged me."
She stopped me and grabbed my hand. "You should know by now that I don't judge people for doing things, unless it's Austin."
"Okay, but it's a really long story."
We came to a gazebo at a crosswalk, Isabella headed for it and sat at one seat. She patted the stone next to her, telling me to join her. I complied.
"Tell me everything."
I took a deep breath. "It kind of all started two years ago…"