3. Deception

Briar opened her eyes, looking around the hospital like room she was in, not reme1mbering what happened or how she got here.

“There you are! You had a panick attack. How long have you been them?” the nurse asked.

“Ever since my mom and dad started fighting I guess.” Briar replied.

“Im sorry, that seems to be effecting the younger generations too much." the nurse asked.

“I remember just needing to get out of here and once I was outside I sat on the steps. Nothing after that though, sorry.” Bri looked at her hands.

“Don’t apologize. Your two friends were pretty worried about you, you owe them a thank you. You can leave when you feel up to it. I know it’s your first day, so take your time." the nurse smiled.

“Thank you.” Bri mumbled and swung her legs over the side of the cot, put her shoes back on and grabbing her things, Bri walked out of the room where Rei and another guy were waiting for her.

“Briar, you feeling better?” Rei smiled at her.

“Shouldn’t you be barking up Alyssa’s tree?” Briar snapped.

“He doesn’t know what it’s like to be with anyone else. She’s his first.” Artemis laughed at the whole situation.

“I don’t even know you, so why are you to speaking to me?” she shot back at Artemis.

Hearing Rei giggling behind her, she whipped around to face Artemis and thought she had a concussion, seeing double. Turning back, she focused her anger on him.

“You aren’t innocent, Rei. I’m sure deep down, you two enjoy women fawning and fighting over you, don’t you? I’m out of here.” She shoved angrily past Rei, walking to her truck.

As soon as she got in, Bri let out a scream of frustration out and slammed her stirring wheel with her hand. Calming herself down, she started her truck. Before she could even put it in gear, Rei jumped in her passenger seat.

“What are you doing, Rei? I need to go home, be by myself, or something. Anything other than being here. Just get out and go to Alyssa. She seems to want you, and I’m in the way.” Briar leaned her head on her steering wheel, eyes closed.

“I don’t want Alyssa. She’s great, but she is not for me. We have known each other since we were kids. Her parents split when she was young, and she thinks the world owes her something. I’m more interested in you.” He said.

Briar looked up from the wheel, and turned her head to look at him.

“Is this what guys do for kicks around here? Alyssa and her minions trying to make the new girl feel 2 inches tall, while you flash me your smile like I’m going to drop my panties for you?” Briar started laughing, and was crying shortly from his puzzled expression.

“Do you know how imbalanced you are?” He asked smiling at her.

“You don’t even want to know, believe me. I don’t even like myself when my other half takes me.” She laughed harder.

“HEY!” Came a knock from behind Rei. It was Alyssa. She jerked open the door, and pulled Rei out of the truck,

“I thought I told you I didn’t want you around Rei. Are you incapable of following orders?” Alyssa’s tone was pure venom. Seeing the crowd of people gathering to watch the show, Briar was not up for this.

“Rei, get her out of the way or I will run her over. I’m not doing this, not today.” Briar’s eyes changed from their normal color to a golden color, burning into Rei’s eyes.

“Alyssa, maybe you should back off. You don’t want to face a newly emerged wolf. She will not be able to control her rage.” Rei whispered in her ear.

“This little newbie couldn’t hurt me if she tried.” Alyssa whispered back.

“Alright, I’m reaching the end of my rope here. Rei, take her away now, or she’s going to get hurt.” Briar growled.

“Sure, Alyssa, let’s go. You are in danger of stepping over a line I can’t pull you back from. Let it go. Now!” Rei locked eyes with her. Alyssa instantly backed down.

“Whatever. You two can have each other.” Alyssa snapped walking towards her minions.

Rei looked at Briar, judging her mood before opening his mouth.

“Don’t leave? Alyssa is a bitch, but she was where you are a couple years ago when she first transferred here. Don’t let her win or hold that power over you.” Rei said.

“Being well liked has never been a concern of mine, I prefer my solitude.” Bri snapped.

“Tell you what. If you stay and finish your day, I will be a buffer between you and Alyssa?” He offered.

“Great, almost 17 and you think I need a babysitter. That’s strike two.” Briar said through clenched teeth.

“Good. What’s your next class?” he asked her.

“Music Theory. Do you play an instrument? She asked, stifling a laugh.

“No.” Rei said, busted out laughing. “Athletics are my specialty

“Your loss. Thanks for the pep talk. Can I ask you to keep Alyssa out of arms reach please?” she asked him.

“I absolutely will. Let’s go, I’ll walk you in.” Rei offered.

“Yeah, I guess.” She replied, climbed out of her truck.

There were very few people around, so she assumed they were already in class.

Awesome.

“Ill bet you’re a “Type A” personality, huh?” He mused.

“Why because I get excited at the thought of possibly learning something new each day?” she stopped, looking at him. Rei’s eyes were twinkling and he was turning red from holding back his laughter.

“I’m sorry!” Bri blushed. “I’ve been an “Ever Nerd” since birth, and most people fear intelligence.” Bri smiled.

“I’m probably one of the few you’ll meet that disagrees with you.” He smiled back.

“I bet you say that to all the new girls, don’t you? Isn’t that how you met Alyssa? Were you her knight in shining armor?” she asked, walking ahead of him.

“Your words wound me.” He pouted.

“Sorry, bad day, remember?” she apologized.

“Ill forgive you, just this one time though.” He joked.

"Ok, good.” She laughed and walked into the auditorium.

Her happiness was short lived, however, hearing the sweet, clear sound of violin strings singing from center stage. She said good bye to Rei and headed toward the stage, looking for the conductor to check in since she was late in arriving.

“Excuse me? This is a class, no visitors allowed.” A tall, female with blond hair, blue eyes and coke bottle glasses. Briar wondered if she was related to Ms. Danielson the secretary.

“I’m sorry,” she sure had been saying that a lot today, she thought. “I’m Briar KingBear. Ms. Danielson said she talked to you about me?” she smiled.

“I was wondering what happened to you. I understand this is your first day, but being tardy to class is frowned upon. Come see me after class and I’ll get you caught up. For now, just take a seat on the edge of the stage and I’ll work you into what we’re doing today.” She said.

“Alright, thank you.” She said. When she turned to see who was playing the song she heard walking in, but quickly realized she was better off not knowing.

“New Girl! You lost? The section for SKIDS is down in the pit. The stage is for upperclassmen.” Alyssa sneered.

“Are you daft? I’m a junior.” Briar rolled her eyes, “Maybe you should skip Ivy week when looking for a college, and focus on community education?” she snapped.

“Remember that talk we had? I warned you to stay out of my way, and off my radar. This would be a great time to listen.” Alyssa barked back.

“I do. I’m not going to change myself to fit your life. Grow up, Alyssa.” Bri said walking to a chair in the violin section.

While she set her stuff up, Alyssa watched, trembling, trying to control the rage welling up inside of her, threatening to release Mirage, her wolf, right on the spot. Good thing one of her minions noticed and intercepted her, or things would have gotten real messy, real quick.

“OK guys, get it together. We have a few things to discuss before I hand out your assignments, audition pieces, and itinerary for the fall harvest.” Mrs. Vinkel came to the stage, clapping her hands.

“First off, everyone please welcome our newest violinist, Briar KingBear from Seattle Washington. She comes to us highly recommended by her previous orchestra, Seattle Symphony.” She paused, allowing the gasps and whispers to calm before going on.

“She will be Alyssa’s second seat, and will play along side her at the Harvest Festival. You two will be performing the Bach Double for 2 violins.” Mrs. Vinkel said. “Start warming up while I grab the sheet music.” She said as she walked off stage, leaving a stunned Alyssa and a smirking Briar behind.

“This is not right! I work too hard to be replaced by a SKID!” Katrina, Alyssa’s best friend growled.

"Believe me, K, this isn’t over. She’s not gona be here long.” Alyssa growled. Going over to sit in her seat, Alyssa leaned over so she could whisper in her ear.

“You’re in Katrina’s seat for now. Maybe the other students are in awe of you, but they don’t know any better. I do, and you cannot fool me.”

Bri smiled and looked at Alyssa with molten eyes, rather than her normal amber colored ones. Alyssa must have sensed the danger and backed down. Briar turned away from her and “cleared the mechanism”. It was the way she had been taught to shut out the unnecessary noise in her head.