No Longer Running

Chapter 5

“What do you mean?” He asked, confused.

“I’ll tell you about it at lunch, first period is about to start.”

“Alright” Jayke said and nodded. “See you later” He walked in the opposite direction we came from, grinning and winking at the pretty girls who gawked at him.

I smiled and walked inside the classroom. Since it was still half empty, I was able to find a seat in the back of the class. I walked to the last desk near right side of the room, sat down, and took out my book to sketch until the teacher arrived.

While I sketched, I kept thinking about Doug. I had met him 2 years earlier, he was the first kid who welcomed me to the new school and the only one I’d become close friends with. He didn’t know about my situation, but he always knew something was wrong; I just couldn’t tell him. Telling people about me meant risking my families’ life, risking my own and anyone’s who knew me.

As our sophomore year went by, he became more attached. I knew he started like me in the way I couldn’t, and I couldn’t let him get hurt either, so I started pushing him away slowly. Near the end of our sophomore year, and when my family had begun to pack so we could move, he confessed that he’d fallen in love with me. I didn’t know what to do.

Near our last couple days of school, I told him to give us some space so I could figure things out between us. I didn’t tell him I loved him, but I didn’t deny it either, so he gave me some space. He thought I loved him as well, that I just needed a few days to let it sink in.

Little did he know; it was my only way of escape. He didn’t know what I was. I had to hurt him to keep him safe; to keep my family safe, so after we went our separate ways, I ran. He still texted me every day; he didn’t want me to forget him, but I turned off our phone service and disappeared from everyone’s radar.

My family lived far from his pack, so we were able to leave easily.

I sighed as I put my sketch book back inside my backpack. The teacher had just walked in while everyone walked to their seats. He introduced himself as Mr. Dude; which is funny because now everyone would call him “Duuuuude” every time they pass him in the hall. I chuckled and pulled out a notebook and pen.

“Class, welcome to your senior year. This is calculus, one of the best classes in this school…” A few students laughed and snickered at that comment. I just sat there ignoring him as he droned on about math and how it’ll be useful in your adult life. Blah blah blah…

When Mr. Dude finally stopped talking, we’d been passed our new books and were given a pop quiz to see what we know about the subject. Everyone groaned and complained as I just sat there quietly.

“You always were the only one who ever paid complete attention in class.” I jumped at the comment, refusing to turn around and look. I knew who was there and I couldn’t believe he’d sat there this whole time and I didn’t catch his scent. There were too many wolves in the class; that it blended in.

“I’ve always found my education more important” I replied quietly. I peaked at him through my eyelashes then started on my quiz. It took me five minutes to finish and since I finished before everyone, I pulled out my sketch book to pass the time.

I ignored Doug for the rest of the class. Students kept glancing my way and whispering, thinking I couldn’t hear. They wanted to know why Doug kept staring at me, and it was making me uncomfortable. As soon as the bell rang I gathered my things and walked out the class quickly. I didn’t want to talk to Doug.

Sadly, he caught up to be right outside the classroom door and grabbed my arm. “Hey, why do you keep avoiding me?” he asked with a hint of sadness in his voice.