We made it through most of the classes okay, despite the fact that I don't know any of the basics of being human. After Raven realized I couldn't read very well or write at all he scoot his chair a little closer and tried to help me understand the notes he took.
Finally, the bell rang and we gathered our things to head to the cafeteria for lunch. We made our way through the hallways with him dragging me along by the hand to make sure I didn't get lost.
"Hey guys!" Everett greeted as we entered the line for lunch.
"Hey Everett!" Raven grinned, pointing to something I might like. I snorted quietly with a smile and just let Raven pick out my food.
"What's so funny?" Everett inquired, studying me.
"Hay is for horses and cows too." I mumbled, hiding my face with my hair. Silence spread between the three of us before the boys suddenly erupted with laughter, catching the attention of the other kids in the line.
It wasn't really that funny...... it's a fact.......
I stayed quiet as we made our way over to a table with a couple other kids, two girls and a guy, and sat down. The girls looked terrifyingly similar, both had dark brown hair and pale green eyes. One had glasses and the other wore a hat Raven called a beanie. The boy had a mop of black hair and grey eyes that he kept downward, barely even glancing at the three of us.
"These are my twin sisters, Elana and Elise, and my friend Drake. Guys, meet Ravens new sister, Juliet." Everett introduced with a grin, shoving some food in his mouth. I greeted each of them with a shy 'hello' before beginning to somewhat enjoy my meal, which really just consisted of an apple and some baby carrots.
"Why didn't you get the chicken stew?" One of the twins asked -the one with the glasses- staring at me as if I were some science experiment.
"Juliet is a vegetarian. Meat makes her feel Ill." Raven explained, despite the fact that I've never told him that.
"Strange." She muttered, earning a glare from her brother.
"It's no big deal, people don't like meat all the time."
"I'd like to see you go vegan, Everett." The other twin snickered, throwing a baby carrot at him.
"I will if it keeps you two from being bullies." Everett huffed back, taking a bite out of the carrot.
"Awww does our big brother have a crush????" The twins teased simultaneously. Although I didn't understand what a 'crush' was, it must've meant something as Everett muttered how twins are impossible before grabbing his tray and storming out.
I frowned softly and followed after him, completely ignoring the looks I got from the rest of the group, other than Raven. Raven just quietly went back to enjoying his food.
"Everett!" I called, speeding my steps slightly to catch up, but jeez this dude can speed walk. I lost him after a couple more turns and leaned against the wall, quickly getting lost in my thoughts.
Why we're they making a big deal out of me not eating meat?
I'm not sure Juliet.... there's something off about all of them, but I can't figure it out
What's a crush? Do you know?
It's.... it's basically the word for liking someone more than a friend, maybe in hopes of becoming mates and having foals one day
I gagged as my cheeks flamed, embarrassment filling my veins.
He wants to what!?
I never said he did!!! I just said that's the word for it, plus the chance of him having a crush on you the same day you guys met is very slim.
"Hey!" I blinked back into the real world to find the twins standing in front of me, a menacing look in their eyes.
"Um.... hi....?" I mumbled with a frown.
"Stay away from our brother. He needs his true mate, someone made to be luna. Not some puny little vegan." They hissed simultaneously, their eyes glowing a horrifying amber color.
"I'm sorry?" I questioned, my eyebrows furrowing.
"Back. Off." They growled, slamming me into the wall.
My eyes widened and I kicked my legs out, terror building up.
"Let go of me!"
"Say you'll never show your pathetic face around him again."
"I don't understand! W-were just friends." I could feel Stargazer trying to lend me her strength but it didn't seem to affect the girls in the slightest.
"Say it!"
A loud growl pulled the attention of the girls to the left, where a very angry looking Everett stood with steam practically flowing from his ears.
"What's going on here!?" He bellowed, causing the girls to drop me to the floor.
"Nothing, brother." The one with the glasses spat, linking her arm with her twins' as they stalked away. Everett came over after taking a deep breath and helped me up.
"Care to explain what that was?" He asked softly, studying my reaction.
"It was nothing. I have to go." I muttered, rushing off in the direction of the office.
I never want that to happen again....
I think we've had enough terrifying moments to last a lifetime
Agreed
~~~~
I sat there for the rest of the school day until finally Ray came and picked us up. To say he was surprised I was already in the office was an understatement. We drove in silence, other than Raven singing the stuff that was coming through the truck, and as soon as it was parked in the driveway I hurried over to Solaris, throwing my arms around his neck.
"Momma?" He questioned, resting his chin on my shoulder.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm ok Sol, I just missed you." I sighed heavily and took in his scent. He smelled like freshly cut grass and the old are Scotch.
"I hope you weren't Oo much trouble for Scotch." He bickered softly and tossed his head, blowing his breath in my face. I squinted at him and shook my head when Ray came over.
"So, want to talk about why you were in the office so early?" He asked, gently rubbing my colts nose.
"Just a small incident... nothing I couldn't handle...." I replied softly, lowering my gaze to the ground beneath our feet.
"Look. I know I'm not your real dad and this isn't your real home, but I want you to know Raven and I are here for you. So if something happened at school that upset you, I want to know so I can fix it. Otherwise your just going to suffer, and I really don't want that."
"I didn't expect this whole schooling thing to be so hard. They judged me for not eating meat and then they pushed me around and I can't figure out what I did wrong." I exploded, causing Solaris to flinch back slightly. I frowned and reached my hand out for him to sniff.
"Chances are it's just them. They could be jealous, or maybe they just like seeing people upset, but you can't let them win by running off and skipping classes ok?"
"Ok..."
"I have just the thing to cheer you up." I looked at him confusedly before following him back to the house.
"Hm?"
"Since tomorrow is Saturday, you and Raven can come with me to a friends ranch. He's selling some older or problematic horses and wants me to have the first pick. Maybe we can get you a horse of your own while you wait for your guy to grow up."
I grinned and nodded eagerly.
"I'd love to."
"Sounds like a plan then. Why don't you go hang out in your room while I get an early start on dinner?"
I nodded and made my way up the stairs and into the bedroom I've called mine since I moved in. I sat on the bed and studied the walls, noticing how bare they were compared to the other rooms in the house.
"Maybe if you ask you can redecorate this room how you want. I'm sure the bare white walls aren't very pretty to look at." My head whipped around to see Raven smiling sadly at me. I simply shrugged and gave him a questioning look.
"Dad told me you got bullied. Was it the twins?" He came and sat by me, an angry fire in his eyes.
"Yeah." I answered shortly, studying him. His fingers started twitching and he reached for his back, a pained expression crossing his face.
"Raven?" He grunted and arched his back, the bumps I've seen before making a reappearance, only this time they grew until the fabric of his shirt ripped and out popped two large, black, feathered wings.
A gasp left me as he laid face down on my bed, his wings curling and uncurling right in front of me. My hand reached out on its own and lightly touched the closest one, my curiosity getting the best of me.
"What are you....?" I inquired softly as the wing flinched beneath my fingers. Raven sat up with a groan before giving me a weird look.
"You're not afraid?"
"No....? Should I be?"
"No. This is great." He grinned.
"I'm a harpee. Basically I'm like half bird, ironically I'm half Raven. The only thing is I can't shift, I just have the wings, sight, smell etcetera."
"Oh like the scavenger bird? I used to see them in the rafters at my old home. They were so noisy." I scrunched my nose in distaste.
"Did you live in a barn?" Raven asked jokingly, his wings folding and disappearing behind his back. I paused for a second and stared at him, vaguely wondering if I should tell him.
Should I? I mean, he let me find out his secret....
Well technically, he didn't let you, he couldn't really choose with the whole pain in the back thing.
Please?
Fine. But only him.
Deal!
"Yeah, I did. Um, since you trusted me with your secret I think I should be honest with you." I began, fidgeting nervously.
"I won't tell anyone if that's what you're worried about."
"I'm a horseshifter."
A/N
Almost two chapters worth! So proud UwU
I have a plan for the next chapter -kinda- so we'll see how fast I can update again.
I hope this makes up for the wait!