𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃𝐍'𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐘 𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑. Though it wasn't Friday, it was Thursday instead.
A day before sneaking out to attend Davina's date, and a whole week sneaking behind her father's back attending school.
Oftentimes, due to his suspicion, Deena would have to leave hours before school ended or arrive hours after it started. Since the principal had been taken care of, she had nothing to worry about despite having to catch up on skipped classes. But it was thrilling, sneaking around with her aunt like Totally Spies, then laughing about it later. A secret only they shared.
Rebekah claimed she had no interest in high school but she was still seventeen. Though she was older than most — existence-wise — and have outlived everyone she knew, and matured overtime, she was still a teenager. Still a girl. Still immature and delusional at heart.
She'd join her on the bed like they were having a sleepover, wanting to listen in of her day and gossip as though she attended St. Love Academy herself. Curious about her homework and belittling her teacher's teaching methods.
Deena felt Rebekah was living through her stories and it was obvious she wanted the experience for herself. Probably didn't have many friends around her age or most who were immortal, and she didn't mind being that person. That girl friend who plays a pivotal role in any teenage girl's life, with them through thick and thin, supporting their dumb mistakes and celebrating their wins.
And truth be told, Deena needed that role in her life too whether it's from her aunt or Quinn, who have gotten quite close in such little time.
6th period was gym. Right after lunch.
Deena got dressed in her P.E. uniform; a gray shirt with 'St.Love' printed in black on the left chest area, paired with black shorts or jogging pants. There's a jacket option usually worn when it was cold or rainy or girl problems. Deena kept hers in her locker since she was already hot enough, and met the class outside near the track and football field.
"Alright, gather around class!" Coach Pasley shouted, clipping the board under his arm while grazing his hand through his half-bald hair. "We're gonna split the class into four groups. Each group will run a total of two laps and the rest is a free period. Boys, make sure you place the footballs back into the bins or I won't put them out anymore. Do not lose any of the tennis balls please; had fifty this morning, we're down to thirty."
Deena was part of group 3.
Once group 2 crossed the finish line of their 1st lap, Deena's group went right after. Most of everyone jogged, including Quinn who was part of group 2 besides a few who took the run seriously.
For Deena, a triggered werewolf, running was nothing to her. She could finish the 2 laps in under a minute or less and wouldn't break a sweat, but she took the normal route and jogged like everyone else. Especially after having lunch.
While running around the corners of the track, the hard bony side of someone's shoulder jabbed into the back of Deena's shoulder, catching her completely off guard. The action of their impact caused her to lose her footing and find the grainy track beneath her now red palms.
"Deena, you good girl?" Quinn was at her side to help her up. A snicker could be heard lingering in the air ahead of them. Knowing who it was, Quinn smacked her lips. "You're such an asshole, Jason. Go mess with someone else, fucking jerk."
"It's not my fault. She should've watched where she was going." He shrugged, laughing with his buddies who trailed behind on their last lap.
"You came from behind us. How does that work again?"
"I'm not a scientist. Figure it out."
Quinn rolled her eyes while cursing under her breath before she faced Deena who stood with her head lowered. "You okay? I don't know what his problem is but he's been at your neck this whole week. At this point, it's time to report him. Just cause his dad is some big-shot politician doesn't mean he's invincible." She suggested.
Deena didn't respond. She seemed a bit out of it and it worried Quinn.
"Deena? Are you alright? Do you need to go to the infirmary?"
She was not alright.
Being a werewolf meant dealing with unanswered anger at any given second, and 6'2, 180-pound pro-wrestler Jason was often the cause of this burning rage seething beneath her skin. It brought pleasure imagining violent ways she could get rid of him. Having to not hear his corny teasing or see his pimply face would be heaven.
And it was tempting. Like a force edging her on, a voice whispering nonstop; do it. Rip him to shreds. Make him scream. Make him beg for mercy and don't offer it. Do it. You know you want to. Do it. It's in your nature, embrace it. Do it.
But Deena stood strong. She can't draw any unwanted attention to herself. For Rebekah's sake and her own.
Inhaling a deep breath, a forced smile tugged Deena's lips before lifting her head. "I'm fine. It happens." Her voice strained, words said through her teeth.
It was clear Quinn wasn't easily convinced, even noticing the nail marks pressed deep into her palms.
Deena released her clenched fist and locked an arm around Quinn's before any assumptions progressed. "Let's not waste our energy on a nobody. Wanna get some water? It's so damn hot out here and I forgot to bring my water bottle."
"Ouu I can't skip out on this lap," Quinn removed her arm when noticing they were heading off the tracks toward the water fountains. "I've used waay too many excuses to get out of running and it's catching up to me. If I finish the two laps, my grade goes back up, and my dad gets off my ass. But I'll meet you at the bleachers afterward. Give me luck this run gives me an A or a high B 'cause I won't do it again."
Deena smiled genuinely. "Bonne chance."
Quinn left to finish her two laps and Deena headed off the tracks to get a drink of water, and not having to deal with Jason. Luckily, the line grew shorter about time she reached the water fountains outside of the bathrooms near the right side of the bleachers. Gripping as much of her thick hair into her hands, was she able to sip with ease.
Then and again,
The impact of someone forcefully nudging Deena's backside, caused the cool water to wet her entire face and her head close to hitting the brick wall of the bathrooms.
Dropping her hair with a gasp, she spun and faced no other than Jason and his dick-riding squad. "Oops, my bad." He laughed in her face. His greasy black hair soaked down his face with sweat, eyes so blue and round like bug-eyes it was unsettling when he stared.
Play cool, Deena. Play it cool.
That was initially the plan — to play it cool, keep calm, and be the bigger person by walking away. But this wasn't the first time Jason bothered her and it wouldn't be the last. For whatever reason, he found Deena interesting enough to pick on. Out of every student in school from different backgrounds and more interesting accents, she was the target. Mocking her accent and the way she pronounced her words was his favorite game.
Do it, the voice taunted. You know you can.
Deena was taught to stand up for herself and to never take anyone's shit, so why become the bigger person if it wasn't in her vocabulary? And frankly speaking, Jason had nothing going for him. He was human. Deena was not. And with the help of Davina, she's learned a spell or two.
"You have a problem with me that you somehow can't keep your balance when I'm around?" Deena spoke up while patting her wet face dry. After moving over to allow thirsty students a drink, she continued, "If you like me, there are better ways of expressing it than harassment. But clearly, you need my attention so now you have it."
His friends 'ou'ed' instigating the situation further. Jason was surprised Deena said more than a silent glare and cleared his throat. "I don't like you." He muttered, his voice almost a whisper toward the end.
"I don't either, which is nothing new."
"I'm glad it's established."
"You should apologize," Deena said.
"Apologize?" He repeated with distaste.
"For someone who's a language expert, it's sad you can't comprehend the only language you know. And I know three." Deena gave a braggy look, taking pride in her ability to understand and speak three languages fluently. "But yes, apologize. Not only have you offended me with your presence and bad breath, but you're so desperate to please your dick-riding groupies — I'm convinced it's not me you're trying to impress."
Jason's face was tomato red. A color Deena didn't know was possible.
"Damn you gonna let her talk to you like that, bro?" A friend playfully smacked his back, others laughing at him than with him.
Deena assumed Jason was finished since he turned to his friends with his back facing her — until, she found herself pushed against the brick wall of the bathroom. His fist gripping her T-shirt in a tight clutch, his dirty nails nudged deep and painfully into her chest. "I don't know how things work back where you're from, but you're in my city. In my school. In my home. In my playground. I'm not obligated to apologize to anyone, especially to you. With one word, my father will have you on the streets begging for scraps." At this, a dark chuckle filled Deena's throat. One he did not take lightly. "You think it's funny now, but we'll see who has the last laugh"
He must have lost his damn mind.
There was this ringing in Deena's head.
Do it.
A thin bridge from light to dark, easily switched over as rage surged through her bloodstream, and darkness soon covens her train of thought. "What the hell?" Jason questioned as he witnessed the change in her character and felt Deena's heaving chest beneath his hands.
What's there to lose?
She was fighting herself. Against something much stronger, much angrier, much violent — and she wanted to give in. To feel nothing but the ecstasy of a monster never met face-to-face to take complete control of her body.
Rebekah's voice echoed in the back of her head, warning Deena not to draw any attention to herself and her specialties. All it took was one person, one witness, one crying victim, and everyone would know where she was — her father would know where she wasn't supposed to be.
"Let. Go. Of. Me. Now." Deena breathed every word, a noticeable shift in her eye color was detected by Jason who was hesitant and very afraid.
But there were too many people presence that Jason felt pressured to not give up. "Or what?" He pressed his fist deep into her beating chest. She felt warm. Very warm. "Freak."
Deena was trying, really trying, but she couldn't fight the rage that has become a part of who she was. Maybe there's something wrong with me? There had never been a moment in life where she felt the need to hurt anyone and satisfy her craving with violence.
She wanted to beat him into a pulp. Until he begged. Until he wasn't breathing, bloodied and unrecognizable.
And just like that, Deena allowed her vision to blur, giving into that hidden devil as a gust of wind began to pick up.
You win, little voice. You win.
Deena was about to throw Jason across the field like American Football, before a gust of wind flew past her face and the weight of Jason's hands deep in her chest had lifted.
"What the hell is your problem? Get the fuck back!"
She opened her eyes, shocked to see Erik throwing Jason to the ground. Jason had no time to react nor block the punches landing at his face. He tried fighting back, but he was defenseless against a triggered werewolf. No one dared to step in.
Blood gushed from his hooked nose, groaning out in pain. Erik grabbed his shirt and lifted his weight for a better angle, threatening to punch again.
Jason flinched. "Bro, relax! I was just welcoming your girlfriend to our school." He eased jokingly though it was clear he was very scared and embarrassed. "Only ruffing her up a bit."
People were looking at Deena, waiting for her to step in and pull Erik off before the coaches took notice of the disturbance, but saving Jason was the least of her problems — he deserved it. But she was also not in the mindset to exercise good judgment. Even Erik refusing to deny their dating allegations went right past her.
If it wasn't for Jason's friends pulling off Erik when one of the PE coaches took notice of the small crowd near the restrooms, Jason wouldn't have been saved by anyone as his mouth would've been punched in.
"I don't care what you were doing, just don't let me catch you doing it again because if you fuck with her, you'll have to deal with me first." He pushed out of their hold once proving he was no longer a threat. For now. "And next time, there won't be anyone holding me back."
"My dad will deal with this! The both of you are through — done for! Over." Jason hurried off at Erik's threatening manner, not wanting another taste of right hook. Everyone else continued as they were doing.
"Deena, you good?" When facing her, it was clear that she wasn't.
This battle with herself, her emotions, was exhausting. Feeding into the wrath made it nearly impossible to calm down. She wasn't even aware Erik had led them behind the bleachers and sat her on a stone.
He knelt before her with a hand on her knee. A touch so gentle and light it would've melted her had she not been distracted. "If you can hear my voice, come to it. Come to me. Take a deep breath and calmly rise down from this rage. I know it feels really fucking good, blissful even, but I need you to calm down. We're at school and y — "
"I AM CALM!"
When pushing out her hands, Deena wasn't aware of how strong being a tribrid made her and how not calm she was, until Erik flew back into the rails which held up the bleachers. A dent was made as he fell to the ground groaning in pain.
Deena jumped to her feet with a gasp. "Oh my god! Erik, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to — I didn't know I could do that." She rushed over to help Erik to his feet.
"Don't worry about me. Though it is the first time a woman's manhandled me, I'll survive. Not completely human, remember?" Erik reminded. Right. Bayou boy is a werewolf.
Now that her head had cleared a bit, memories from before rushed her judgment. "I don't know what came over me back there."
"It's natural. Anger and strength are a part of our nature and what makes us wolves. There's nothing to be ashamed of, or at least with me there isn't since I've had my fair share of broken tables and chairs. We just gotta learn how to control it. Breathing methods are usually helpful. Close your eyes."
Erik placed Deena's hand against his chest without warning. By doing so, he invited her to focus on the steady beating of his heart to help match his rhythm. To calm her down.
It was difficult to focus by him being so close. His breath was warm against her face, a tingle numbing her fingers. Deena could've sworn Erik was watching her until she peeked open an eye and saw that his eyes were closed shut. And with what this physical contact was doing to her body, heightened her pulse with a different feeling that wasn't rage.
Focus, Deena. Forcing herself to breathe, she found herself almost in sync with everything he was and that raging wolf had finally reshaped itself into a cute puppy.
Deena released her final calming breath before she opened her eyes, meeting the hinted smile Erik wore on his face like he was pleased by her efforts. It washed off before she processed it and freed her hand from his now beating chest. So he has been watching me the entire time?
Thank god she was Black — or a darker-toned Biracial — or he would've seen how warm her cheeks grew, though a color tinted the slightest. Just not extreme. And her mind raced with lusty thoughts out of nowhere from a single touch.
She cleared her throat. "H-How did you know I was here?" Deena asked to distract herself, though her eyes lingered on his moving lips. How odd there was this underlying yearning to press her lips against his. And she wondered, how does his lips taste?
This had to be a werewolf thing. Something in the air messing with her hormones. And of course, he had no idea.
"I didn't. I have P.E this period too and saw you from across the field as our class was heading out." He failed to mention how he knew she was in trouble because of a bad feeling he had and went with his gut without hesitation. "Do you feel better?"
How hadn't I noticed him? Then again, they did have two different P.E. Coaches with their separate activities depending on the class.
"I'm still angry if that's what you're asking, but I do feel a lot better than before. Thank you."
"Just doing what any best werewolf teacher would do." An idea popped into his head seconds later. "You know, I can help control that anger. The best outcome is to transfer it into something more physical..."
Deena's mouth went dry, almost choking on her saliva at his last comment trailing off to build the topic. There's no way he'd boldly hint at what came across her mind first, unless she truly had a dirty mind. Or unless he really was offering a sexual alternative?
I mean...I'm down with it.
Erik didn't seem the type to befriend the new girl for a quick hookup behind the school's bleachers, but then again, given his flirty nature, her assumption couldn't be that far off.
"...Boxing, drawing, watching movies, a good jog in the morning, conversing." Erik casually continued as if he had no idea of the fear he caused.
Deena was embarrassed. He was offering genuine options to help her as a new werewolf, not lure her to fulfill his sexual pleasures. Or hers. She forced herself to calm down.
"I mean, if you don't know what's your thing then maybe I can help you find it. Show you what it's like to be a true wolf." He proudly offered his services hintly finding a way to hang out in between classes and whatnot.
Deena was clearly desperate since she knew nothing about being a werewolf. Sure, she took basic notes on supernatural species, but there was no in-depth information she had on them as much as she had on vampires. More specifically, the Original Vampires.
"I could really use the help." She admitted. "I know nothing about being a werewolf and every day I dread the night a full moon will rise. If there are better perks to being a werewolf then I'm all yours."
"Bet. After school, we head to the Bayou?"
Deena nodded, agreeing. "I'll be there."
...Right after she finds a way to get rid of Rebekah or convince her to buy more time.
The two headed back to the field. Watching Deena return to Quinn chilling near the bleachers on her phone, Erik left to play a short game of soccer with his classmates. Quinn wondered where she went and what happened with Jason before continuing a conversation they were having during the laps, but Deena wasn't listening.
Her attention never left Erik.
There was something about him, only feeling a sense of enlightenment and comfort whenever his presence lingered. Sometimes she'd go out her way to find him just to feel it again, a quick hit of calmness whenever in range.
She wondered if he felt it too? If he sought her presence for the same reason? Or was it one-sided and he was only around to help her adjust? She also wondered if she was feeling this way because he was nice and the only werewolf she knew around her age, and what she felt was more gratitude than attraction? Although, the attraction was there too.
Deena love pretty people, and Erik was one of them.
It wasn't before her attention found Coach Pasley squinting beneath his cap out towards the bleachers. "Salée?" It took Deena a minute to realize he was calling for her and stood to her feet as he struggled to single her out among the many students scattered around from different classes. "Principal's office, kid! Take your stuff with you."
"What does the principal want with you when you just got here?" Asked Quinn while skimming through the photos they took together.
Many reasons. For starters, almost sending a student to the ER...who possibly ended up with a broken nose. And now that she was looking out into the field, Jason was nowhere to be seen. Fuck. I'm in so much trouble.
Despite her fear of the inevitable, Deena kept a cool face. "Who knows? Probably something stupid." She shrugged off. Or something dangerous.
"You want me to come with? It's a great excuse to get out the sun even though I already put on some sunscreen beforehand. Gym is my least favorite class if you hadn't realized. I'll do anything to escape."
"You need the grade, remember?"
Quinn huffed.
Though Deena remembered the location of the Guidance Office, it didn't stop Quinn from reminding her of the directions. It was the tour guide persona within that she couldn't let go of.
A teacher sent Deena straight to the principal's office when entering the Guidance Office, not even lifting his head from his computer to acknowledge her presence as if he knew it was her.
No one answered after she knocked against the pear glass door and decided to enter without an invitation, finding Principal Callaway sat faced with the back of his chair facing her.
"You asked for me?" Deena took her seat in the cold, leather chair across his messy desk of stacked folders and printed announcements to send out. There was no time to change out of her P.E. uniform, her sweat sticking to the chair and cold.
"Yes, I did."
Her face grew white as if she had seen a ghost when the chair spun and it wasn't a middle-aged bald-headed man revealed but her father.
Deena jumped to her feet, staggering back. "What are you doing here? At my school? H-how did you find out?"
"How could I have not?"
She closed her eyes hoping it was a dream, but no, it wasn't. This was real. He was real. It was then she wished Principal Callaway was dealing with her instead.
Klaus leaned further in the chair. His hands created the gesture of surprise. "Daddy's come to sign you out. I hope that's all your things because we're leaving immediately." He stood with grace and stepped out of the office to be stalked after.