Carramel's POV
After I left James to enter the classroom into Species Religions, all of my earlier confidence went down the drain. I had lowered my eyes as I walked in the room but much to my surprise and delight, no one raised a fuss when I walked in and I was able to sit in my favorite secluded seat in the back in peace. As I sit here I'll admit that it was a little strange especially with how fast gossip travels with supernaturals but in no way was I going to bring it up.
I turn myself away from staring out the window to tune back into my teacher, Mr. Cedric's lesson.
"Compared to humans, the way the supernaturals honor their respective deities, is strange. The humans are divided into groups into whatever belief system they choose rather than being born into one by species. A lot of times with humans, anything that makes one group different from the other causes controversy and sometimes even violence, religion being one of those things. Yes, Makayla?"
The Witch lowers her hand as her head tilts in confusion. "Mr. C, why does religion cause problems if it's all about which God you believe in?" She asks, a lot of students nodding their head in confusion.
"That's a good question, and to be quite frank with you, Makayla, I'm not sure. Because there is even division within those religions."
Jackson, a werewolf that sits a few rows ahead of me raises his hand. When the teacher motions for him to speak, I'm actually shocked at how deep his voice is. "Can you give us an example of a divide within one religion?"
Mr. Cedric nods with a smile on his face, looking around the classroom. "I could, but I want to see what you guys know. Someone answers Jackson question. What is an example of a divide within one religion?" The classroom begins to murmur some too nervous to speak up and some not sure if they know the answer.
I'm not quite sure if I have more confidence left than I thought I would, or if it's because any mention of unfair treatment gets my blood boiling, but for the first time this year, I raise my hand in class. Some of the students around me immediately get quiet, looking towards Mr. Cedric to notice my hand in the air, but he's too focused on the kids up front. That is until I notice Enza sitting a row ahead of me on the far right giving me a proud smile.
She raises her hand, gold acrylics sparkling in the light from outside as she does. Mr. Cedric immediately turns towards her and answers with a smile I'm not quite sure I like. "Ahh, Enza, you have the answer."
"No, Mr. Cedric but Carramel does." She says firmly gesturing to my small form in the back row. Our teacher's eyebrows shoot up in surprise as she turns around to find my blushing face with my hand up indeed.
"I'm sorry Carramel, I didn't see your hand. You have the answer?" He asks kindly. Through the barrier in my mind, I can feel my dumb wolf bristle at the slightly patronizing tone in his voice but I ignore them both and give a firm nod of my head. "Please tell the rest of your classmates."
"One example of a divide inside one religion is homosexuality in Christianity. There are some Christians that follow the old testament that states that Homosexuality is a sin and often times those who show these attributes, signs or come out of the closet can be beaten, bullied, sent to camps and even held down so that the gay can be prayed away." I say, my voice rising in confidence and rage as I continue on.
"Stuff like that really happens?" Asks Jackson his face pale and voice strained.
I look him dead in the eye as I answer. "In grade school I went to a mixed school and my best friend was a werewolf from my sister pack name Jonas. He was two years older than me but he was the nicest kid I ever met. We grew up but we never lost connection like some of you do, instead we got closer regardless of going to different schools and having different lives. He found his Mate two years back at a football game. He said he was the most handsome boy he met in his life. We were on the phone when he saw him. But that boy was raised as that kind of Christian and he got his big brother and half the football team to jump him behind the bleachers even though as a supernatural we can't help who our Mate is. I don't even think he got a chance to tell that boy what he was. He almost wasn't found in time, half dead by the time someone found him. But it didn't matter anyway, because he killed him self three days later." I tell him voice cracking as tears fall down my face as I tell a story so close to my heart, it feels empty as I share it. But I promised myself no matter what I would never let his story go untold.
Jackson and half the classes eyes are wet too as Makayla speaks up again, voice watery. "What's the other side. There's two sides right? Tell me it's better."
I nod clearing my voice to answer, though my courage is quickly running out at the emotional turmoil going through me. "The other part of it is that some follow the new testament that preaches 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.' These people want to spread love and want everyone to be able to feel accepted even if they don't particularly agree with what the other person stands for. Like anything there's two sides: one of beauty and one of hate." I tell them and once I'm done I shrink down into my seat, wishing the eyes were off me now. My body is feeling too overstimulated to let these people watch me. It seems as if some of them understand and turn away to give me privacy after the story I've told.
"Thank you Carramel for teaching the class and sharing your story. We're all very sorry for your loss. Okay class the bell will ring any second, and I want you guys to do some thinking on today, come back tomorrow and tell me what you think about religion and the divide it can cause or about homophobia, both options up for debate!" Just then the bell rings and students begin to shuffle out of the room. "You guys have a safe day!"
I try to control my breathing as everyone begins to leave, until a tap on my shoulder makes me jump so hard, I bang my knee against the table. I turn to my left to see Jackson and Makayla standing beside me with small smiles on their face. I lean down to rub the rapidly forming bruise as I look at them warily.
"Hey, I'm Jackson, it's nice to meet you." He says though thankfully he keeps his hands lowered at his side.
"Hi." I say my fingers giving him a small wave as I pick up my bag and set it in my lap.
"And I'm Makayla, we have World Languages together last hour." I nod my head giving her a wave also.
"I'm really sorry you have to witness that, and I'm sorry if I pushed, asking you about it being real." Jackson apologizes and it makes me smile. "I have class with James next hour if you want me to take you to him. I heard you're his Luna, sorry if I'm not supposed to know." He says and even though he's from our sister pack, I can tell he is really trying not to trigger me into a panic attack and it makes me like him instantly.
"Okay thank you." I say quietly standing once he and Makayla step back. I begin to follow them outside the classroom, when I see Makayla sneaking peaks at me. When she catches me looking she smiles a light blush coming to her cheeks.
"Sorry, you're just so gorgeous. My coven is full of pale uptight bitches, it's refreshing to see someone so full of life and empathy for others." She says giving me a soft smile as we make our way down some stairs.
"I've never talked to a Witch before." I tell her quietly, cheeks heating up and I look at the floor.
"Honestly, it's not fun. Though, having someone that can bust you out of trouble always comes in handy." I giggle at her shaking my head as Jackson slows down outside of a classroom. He pokes his head in and I can't help but move forward so I can too. I find James sitting on his desk talking to his Beta and what looks like a Faerie with wild gestures. I see him show off the hickey I gave him, blushing as he grins proudly, but as soon as he feels my eyes on him, he looks up and finds my small form at the door, peeking under Jackson's arm. A warm smile engulf his face as he hops off the desk, maneuvering around bags and feet to get to me.
I giggle in excitement, my smile wide as I hold my arms up just in time for James to crash into me scooping me up in his arms so that my head is level with his.
"Did you miss me, bean?" He asks his eyes shining with happiness at my presence. Instead of giving him an answer, I immediately crash my lips to his giving his a long deep kiss that has me gasping for air and cat calls being said in appreciation. Knowing I have an audience makes my cock jump behind my pants, making me want to lean in again. But with a look to James' eyes and how he struggling to hold back already, I decide on giving him one last peck on the cheek.
"I have a free period next. Can I stay with you?" I ask against his lips, loving how his eyes immediately light up.
"You sure? You're okay with that?" He asks thought his excitement clearly is trying to take over.
"Yes. Unless this is a strict class?" I answer suddenly wary at the idea of intruding in a class.
"No this is Econ but we just had a test the other day so the rest of the week is chill." He promises.
"Then yes, I want to spend the day with you." I tell him and he happily whisks me into the classroom just as the bell rings.