Stay Away

          I don’t remember my bed feeling so stiff and uncomfortable. I move around a bit, but it doesn’t seem to help. I can hear the birds chirping loudly. I guess I kept the window open last night. 

*Chirp* *Chirp*

          I wish the birds would sleep in like most people try to do. Their chirping is starting to make my head hurt. I don’t hurt as bad as yesterday, but my face hurts really bad. I can also feel pain when I take a breath. “AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!” Ice cold water lands all over me and it is a shock to the senses.

          “Get the hell up! People are starting to wake up and the last thing they need to see is you passed out on the sidewalk.” I know that voice and they must be the same person who brought the ice water and put it on me. I sit up slowly and try to blink multiple times to clear my sight. I hear a sigh and look up to my right. My step-mother is standing there, glaring at me. Margaret Hastings, Luna to the Wild Tail Pack, chosen mate to my later father, Bryan Williams. Margaret has been running the pack since my father passed while waiting for her son to come of age. She has always hated me, but I never knew why. I have learned, over the years, to try to stay out of her way as much as possible. Sometimes it works, but then I’m stuck dealing with Laslo. I can never decide which one is worse to stomach. A pill bottle hits me on my head and drops to my side. “Take them now.”

          When my father passed, I would get bad spells where I would end up passing out. The doctor said that the stress of my father dying along with my being without a wolf was too much for my frail body (his words) and the pills are intended to keep the spells at bay. The lack of spells keeps unnecessary stress off of my body and gives me more chance of surviving. These days though, I’m not sure exactly what I’m surviving to do. I have no friends and no family. No one deals with me or acknowledges me, except maybe Flora. Flora is my half sister and she is 13 years old. She doesn’t deal with me often because she will get in a lot of trouble. She does slip me food or help with my chores sometimes when no one is paying attention. I like her and she looks a lot like dad. She has the same dark brown eyes and full cheeks. Flora has a dark skin tone like dad did and shares many of his personality traits. I try to keep my distance because I hate when she gets in trouble simply because she chooses to treat me like a human being.

          I watch Margaret retreat back into the house and I struggle to get on my feet. We don’t stay in the packhouse. After dad died, Margaret wanted to live away from others to have privacy. She had a house built for the family and, surprisingly, brought me with them. I was surprised for a brief time because once I got in the house, I realized what my purpose was. I was brought here to be a slave. I cook and clean for everyone in the house. I do the laundry and the yard work. There isn’t much I’m not expected to do. I can remember the first day here once I learned what my purpose would be. I was devastated because I thought I would be loved like my father loved me; I was 6 when dad died.

          I slowly head into the house, stopping in the kitchen to get a glass of water to take my pill. I notice no one is milling around the kitchen today. It must be because I wasn't here to cook breakfast. The last thing I remember was walking home and thinking of Zahara. Just like that, memories flood my mind. I was hit, hard, when I got close to the house. I’m pretty sure it was Laslo who hit me and he told me to stay away from her and I know he had to be talking about Zahara. I knew that he would react in some kind of way after he saw us sitting together at lunch. I don’t know why she took the time to talk to me, but I have to make sure that it doesn’t happen again. The best thing for Zahara is to stay away from me and it would be the best thing for myself as well. I head down to the basement to get ready for another day of my horrible life. 

~Zahara~

          I was excited to get up and get ready for school today. I spent the night thinking about Cory. I don’t understand why he is stuck in my mind, but he is. I have decided that I’m going to do what I can to get to know him no matter how much he protests. 

          I’m sitting in homeroom, waiting for Cory to come in. I guess I got to school too early, but I don't mind it. I made sure to sit in the same seat as yesterday to make sure I will end up next to him. I’m doodling in my notebook when I see a manicured hand cover my page. The nails are coffin style and neon yellow. I look at the smooth, white hand that the nails are attached to. I follow the hand up to see blue eyes glaring at me. “You are new, so I will simply give you some good advice.” I don’t know what this chick is talking about, but I’m sure it doesn't interest me. She has long blond hair that she has in ringlets. She has a long pointy nose and thin lips. She is wearing heavy makeup and a designer dress. I look at her, but don’t respond. Her eyes narrow, “stay away from Laslo.” Laslo?! Who the hell wants Laslo? He doesn’t interest me in the slightest. Instead of responding to her, I continue to look at her and wonder why this was a big enough issue that she felt the need to approach me with it. I’m new to the school and don’t even know who she is. I see the door open and Cory walk in. I watch him walk over to the same seat from yesterday and sit down. The girl must have been following my gaze because she starts to laugh. “Pathetic.” She stands up and straightens out her dress. “If I were you, I wouldn’t bother talking to Cory. He is even more pathetic than you.” She flips her hair and walks out of the room.

          “Who was that?” I ask, turning to Cory. He has his head down and face covered. 

          “Nikki,” Cory mumbles. Hmmm, Nikki. She may prove to be an issue so I better keep an eye on her. Now that I’m focused on Cory, I wonder why he is trying to hide himself. Before I can ask, the teacher walks in and starts to give the announcements. When he is finished, I tap Cory on the arm to get his attention. “We really shouldn’t…….you should just leave me alone.” 

          “Why is everyone telling me that? Since I’ve been here, everyone has said to stay away from you. Why is that? What is so wrong with you?” I’m starting to get frustrated with everyone. I like to get to know people on my own. I don’t treat people based on what others say about them. From what I can tell, Cory is a great person so I don’t get why so many people are trying to get me to keep my distance. Cory doesn’t answer me and I can feel my frustration building. “Hello?! Are you going to answer me?” No response. I tug on Cory’s arm hard enough to get him to turn to me and I gasp at what I see. Cory has a huge bruise on his caramel skin. It engulfs his chin and cheek. “Who did that to you?”

          “It doesn’t matter. This should be proof that I’m not worth your time.” The bell rings and Cory leaves quickly like he did before. I slowly gather my things trying to figure out who would be cruel enough to hurt such a sweet boy like that.