I was still fuming as I watched the others talking in loose groups over half an hour later. As soon as Daniel had let me up I had scratched him across the face and ran up the tree I was sitting in before. The low branches had made it easy to leap into, and I was the only one in human form to escape the bombarding thoughts of the others, who just wouldn't shut up about my failure.
As the rest of the pack slowly dispersed, I huffed and climbed down from my tree. Walking over to Drake, who was the only one in the clearing now, I surrendered my racing thoughts to him.
I told him everything, from Luka attacking me, to McDreamy, to the stuff we had done to Anthony before Drake had even arrived.
Drake just stood there quietly, taking everything in and only asking questions every now and again. He was surprised when I told him about what Luka had done to me, and the scar that was stil a shiny pink on my shoulder.
"I never would've thought he was a wolf...." I trailed off, lost in my own thoughts.
"No. Neither did I. And the thought that he attacked you, and how we almost brought him up to our meeting location to be changed....ah god." Drake paced back and forth, which slowly started to hypnotize me. I yawned, starting to get very tired. Whether it was the fighting that had tired me out, Drake's hypnotic pacing, or the fact that it was two in the morning, I wouldn't know.
"Hmm, I think I have an idea..." Drake's voice jolted me back into conciousness, and I looked up at him expectantly.
"I think it is time for some of my pack to enroll at your school...." Drake trailed off, looking at me.
It took me a while to realise that Drake was actually asking me for permission. The thought surprised me, and I stood with my mouth hanging open in shock.
"Lyra, wakey wakey!" Drake laughed, snapping me out of my daze.
"Uh, sure, that would be...great." I tried to smile, but failed miserably as I was still shocked.
"Fantastic, we will start tomorrow then. See ya." Drake turned and walked off.
I stood there for a while longer, to shocked to move. What the hell did I just get myself into?!
* * * * *
I collapsed on my bed, so tired and dazed that my face didn't even hurt thaqt much anymore. Who knew that trees hurt so much to crash into?
I closed my eyes, sighing as my muscles relaxed and my mind drifted into a beautiful state of unconciousness........
RING!!!!!!!!
"Holy shit!!" I lept out of bed, dasing to my phone - which was turned up as loud as it could go. My heart was still racing as I clicked answer, and I held the phone up to my mouth, yelling into it. "What the hell are you calling me at this hour for?!"
"Woah, calm down Lyra!"
It was Jaron.
Great.
I sighed, bringing the phone up to my ear. "What do you want?"
"Well, I was just ringing to see if you're okay."
I stared at the carpet, quite confused. "Uh, yeah.....why?"
"Well it's second period, and I was getting worried that you had been attacked by.....yeah, you know." Jaron trailed off, not wanting to say Luka's name.
I laughed. "I'm fine, I just slept in. I'll see you at interval." I pressed the end call button before Jaron could reply, and threw the phone onto my desk. I yawned, stretched, then threw open my curtains. The sunlight streamed in, warming my body instantly. "Ahh, what an amazing day...."
I turned, spotting my not-so-white-anymore sheets that were absolutely covered in dirt and leaves. I looked down at my clothes, which were also covered in dirt and leaves. Ah....that explains that.
I tore off my dirt-covered clothes, chucking on my clean school uniform instead. Grabbing the dirty clothing and linen that littered my room, I took it all and dumped it into the wash.
The house was quiet and I didn't see anyone, so mum and dad must be at work and the kids at school. Thank god.
I raided the pantry - grabbing enough food to make four hungry teens happy - and put it all in my schoolbag. I grabbed my keys, phone and headphones, then left for school.
Of course I wouldn't go straight there though. I smiled wickedly to myself, putting my hand in my pocket and jangling the loose change I had found on the bench. A sugar burst and a few energy drinks will do me good.
* * * * *
I walked into school just as the bell rang to signify the beginning of interval. Man I have good timing. I gulped down a V as I walked, grateful for the burst of energy as the caffiene flowed through my body. I'd grabbed a few Vs, cause I had an awful feeling that one of them wouldn't last the rest of the school day.
As soon as I had gotten 50 metres into the school grounds I could feel eyes on the back of my neck. My heart stopped, and I turned around slowly, expecting to see Luka, but it was only one of Drake's pack members. She smiled at me, and I smiled back, trying to calm my racing heart.
I walked quickly over to my group, and as soon as I had sat down with them I felt the eyes move off my back. I sighed and took another massive gulp, loving the feeling of energy coursing through my veins.
It took me a while to realise that my pack was staring at me. And it took me even longer to realise that we had three new editions to our group. "Uh....what?"
"You're late....." Leigh prompted.
"Soooo.....?" I teased.
"So why?" Claire asked, glaring at me.
"Why what?" I put an innocent look on my face.
"Why were you late?" Grace demanded.
"Late?! ME?! Never!" I grinned at my pack, and they all glared at me.
"Tell us, or I'll throw my lasagna sandwich at you!" Jaron threatened, holding up half of his sandwich. My mouth watered as I looked at it, and I realised that I hadn't even had breakfast yet. I smiled a little as my mind suddenly thought of a fantastic idea.
"Go on then." I teased, and opened my mouth.
Jaron growled, tearing half of his sandwich in half and throwing a piece at me. I caught it expertly in my mouth and ate it, savouring the amazing flavours. "Wow, your mum is a good cook!"
"Thanks" Jaron grinned.
I was about to reply when someone cleared their throat. I looked around expectantly, spotting Drake, Taylor and Daniel staring questioningly at our antics.
"Oh....hey guys...." I grinned innocently.
"Good afternoon..." Drake replied with a hint of a smile on his face.
"So....what are you guys doing here?" I already knew why they were at school, but why they were sitting with our group? "Do you reeeeally have to sit with our group?"
"Yes we do." Drake looked straight at me, but I didn't know if that was a command or a simple answer to my question.
"Right...." I turned back to my group, discussing our lunchtime food hunt today.
"Seriously?! Burger King?!" Zac laughed. "You know that McD's is waaaay better then THAT crap!"
I watched Drake's expressions as he watched my pack's squabbles with a sense of amusement. I laughed when he reacted to Leigh's bickering to Jaron about which recurve bow thickness was better, and how the Eragon series is stupid because no one understands any of the native language except the one word 'Brisingr'.
All the while Claire and Grace were sampling Grace's freshly made brownies, trying to figure out what ingredient was missing, all the while slapping mine and Jaron's hands as we attempted to grab another piece of her delicious cooking.
I cried out in triumph as I finally managed to snag a piece, and an unexpected laugh behind me made me turn in fright. I sighed in relief though when I managed to make out the wonderful form of Derek, who was sillouetted by the hot sun behind him.
"Well well well, sleeping beauty has finally woken up." He laughed, and I moved around to make a spot for him beside me.
Derek smiled at me and sat down with a huff, and I moved towards him, resting my head on his shoulder as he put his arm around me. I yawned, not realising how tired I was despite my sleep in this morning, and it took my tired state a while to notice that Drake was staring at me, his eyes flickering to Derek as well, demanding an explaination.
I suddenly realised what I was doing and quickly moved my head off Derek's shoulder. "Whoops, sorry-" My apology was cut off as I yawned again.
"It's fine." Derek smiled, still keeping his arm around me. I felt too tired to relitate as I lay my head back on his shoulder, glaring at Zac to explain to Drake before I closed my eyes in surrender.
My mind drifted as I half-listened to Zac's explaination about me and Derek. Obviously Zac knew more then me though, as he quickly explained the entire situation.
"....and because of the...you know, Lyra has surrenderred to her hormones and Derek is now her boyfriend."
My eyes snapped open.
Derek?!
My boyfriend?!
Not that it was a bad thing, but I hadn't known him for THAT long.
I glared at Zac, who just smiled at me in return. "What? It IS true. You two act like a pair already, so why not?"
I looked up at Derek, who didn't seem at all concerned with our argument. He caught my gaze as he looked down at me. "Well...sure, why not? Zac is right, I guess."
My heart lept, but before I could relitate the bell rang, signifying the end of interval. I glared at Zac. "We will finish this later."
Derek laughed, squeezing my hand as he got up. "Don't hurt him too much."
Zac nodded his head in agreement. "Besides, were going to..."
Zac was cut off as Leigh wrapped her hand over Zac's mouth. "Mundane..." I heared her hiss into his ear.
"Mmm rrffggg...." Zac grumbled, and Leigh removed her hand, wiping Zac's spit on Jaron's shirt.
"Hey!" Jaron complained, grabbing his bottle and squirting Leigh full in the face. I laughed, and stopped Leigh relitating with an attack of her own as she tried to pull her own bottle out.
"Save it for later, you guys!" I laughed.
Leigh glared at Jaron with a look so evil that it would have melted steel.
"You'd better watch out..."