“And that's all for today.” Miss Cushion said and everyone began leaving the lab.
“Cruella, a word please.” She added the moment Cruella got up from her seat.
Even though she knew why miss Cushion had called her back, she still stayed behind as the obedient student she is. She's been trying her best to adapt to the human ways and so far, she's done a great job.
“I noticed your grades are slacking off this semester which is very unusual. Should I be worried about this?” Cushion asked and Cruella smiled slightly.
“It's nothing to worry about miss Cush, I'm just a little distracted.” She replied politely. Miss Cush as she calls her is like a mother figure here. Aside her best friend and boyfriend, she's the only human who's nice to her.
“Okay, let me know if you need anything.” Cushion said with a smile and Cruella bounced her head before leaving.
Swayer, her best friend was already at the door, waiting for her.
“Let me guess, your grades?” She asked and Cruella bounced her head.
“I told you, stop worrying about Maeve and just focus on your studies. If you fail this last semester then you can kiss graduation goodbye.” Swayer scolded.
Cruella wanted to tell her that she wasn't at all worried about Maeve in fact, Maeve is the least of her problems right now.
Everyday, she would wake up hoping she would feel different somehow, hoping she'll finally get her powers and return to her true home, Greenville but nothing ever happens.
She wished she could tell Swayer about her true identity and about the supernatural world but what difference would that make? She'll still be a looser, a powerless useless being and it won't get her back to her world.
“I'm sorry, I will study more.” She replied and Swayer smiled at her before taking hold of her hand.
“Tomorrow is Valentine's day you know, what are you going to do? We could go shopping oh and there's a frat party at Jada's.” Swayer said excitedly.
“I don't like parties.” Cruella muttered. The last time Ethan took her to a party, Maeve embarrassed her Infront of everyone, reminding her again how useless she is even in the human world.
Sometimes she wished she was never born. The moon goddess didn't bless her like she did other werewolves. On her eighteenth birthday when she was supposed to have her first shift like everyone else, nothing happened. She thought it would happen the next day but even after two years, nothing happened.
Then she assumed she was probably a witch and her mother reluctantly put her in witch school but after six months, she couldn't perform a single spell and got kicked out.
She wanted to assume that she was a vampire but vampires were either born or made. Those who are born are known as the Elites and since she wasn't part of that, there was no way she could be a vampire.
When it was discovered she had no powers, people began thinking she was human and so to avoid endangering Greenville, she was banished into the human world and since she had no powers, she couldn't find her way back in.
“Ella!! Are you even listening to me?!” Swayer yelled and that's when Cruella snapped out of her trance.
“I'm sorry, what were you saying?” She asked with an apologetic gaze. Swayer almost palmed herself as this wasn't the first or tenth time Ella had shut down in the middle of a conversation.
“What is wrong with you Ella? We've been friends for three years now and I can't help but always feel like you're hiding something from me. You can tell me anything, you know that right?” Swayer said worriedly.
“Of course I know that. I just, there are some things best kept in the dark.” Cruella replied with a sigh and knowing she won't get any different answer, Swayer decided to let the matter go and they both retired to the cafeteria.
The moment they got in, Maeve sighted them and got up from her seat with a can of orange juice.
“You shouldn't be here.” She said with a smirk and Cruella knew she was up for another drama.
“What is it now, Maeve?” Swayer rolled her eyes.
“I was just going to focus on loser Ella here but since you want to join the party, it's fine.” Maeve replied with a frown.
Cruella scoffed at her words, bringing the attention back to herself. She was just fed up of all the bullying. She isn't a kid anymore and yet people still treat her like trash. She would stand up to Maeve today and show her that she got balls too.
“Don't you ever get tired? Is your life so miserable that you decided to share it with others?” She asked and Maeve widened her eyes. Swayer's jaw dropped as this was the first time Cruella retaliated to Maeve's bullying.
“What did you just say to me?” Maeve asked and immediately spilled her orange juice on Cruella's shirt.
“Maeve are you crazy!” Swayer yelled but Cruella didn't even move. She felt strange at the moment and she couldn't tell what the feeling was but she knew it was because of anger. It was as if something was trying come out from within and the next thing she knew, she raised her hand and it landed on Maeve's face.
It was a simple slap but it sent Maeve to the ground at once, shocking everyone in the cafeteria, especially Cruella.
Maeve immediately pulled herself up from the ground and made to attack Cruella but someone grabbed her from behind.
“That's enough Maeve, you started it.” Ethan said calmly but Maeve wasn't ready to back down. She didn't want to seem weak, going down from just a slap but even she was surprised at the force of it.
“I'm gonna kill this useless girlfriend of yours!! Let go of me!” She yelled and kept struggling to break free.
Swayer finally recovered from her shock and grabbed Cruella's hand, taking her out of the cafeteria.
“We can just eat out, next class doesn't start till an hour.” She said but Cruella didn't respond. She only stared at her hands, a bright smile on her face.
“Is this it? Do I finally have powers?” she asked still looking at her hands.
“Powers? What are you talking about? I'm actually surprised you stood up to Maeve and that slap, damn!” Swayer said excitedly.
“It just happened. I don't know how or why I did it.”
“Well you should avoid Maeve more now. After what just happened, she won't stop until she hurts you.” Swayer said worriedly and Cruella bounced her head.
She still had a smile on her face. If this was really her powers manifesting, then that means she'll be home soon. That means she would no longer be bullied and called weak or useless by anyone again. She'll finally have her wolf side and she'll finally be among a pack like everyone else but then what about Swayer and Ethan? If she gets her wolf side and goes back, she'll never see them again.
She'll obviously get a mate in Greenville but Swayer would think something happened to her if she just disappeared like that. She might just have to tell her about Greenville and her powers now before that happens.
“Swayer, don't take this seriously but what if there was another world, different from this one and there were people living in it with special abilities. Would you like to go there?” she asked carefully.
“What do you mean special abilities? Like witches or vampires?”
“Yes and werewolves too. It's cool right?” Cruella asked excitedly.
“Seriously? These things only exit in fantasy books. They aren't real.” Swayer scoffed.
“But what if they were real but just in another world that humans can't see or enter?” Cruella asked again.
“I think we should go get something to eat rather than talk about fairytale books.” Swayer said and pulled her away.
Cruella wanted to tell her she wasn't joking but it's obvious Swayer won't believe until she sees proof. She'll just have to wait until she gets her wolf side or probably witch powers.
She never really got to know her true family. Her mother made sure to remind her everyday that she was adopted and so she didn't know if her real parents were werewolves, witches or vampires.
“Just a little longer and you'll believe me.” She muttered.