Through the dark, eerie woods, I walked. The scent of pine and earth enveloped my senses, almost overwhelming, yet strangely comforting and familiar. Despite my unfamiliarity with this place, I pressed on with a confidence that felt innate, as though these woods were my home.
"Mommy?" I cried out. Mommy? Why were we once again looking for my deadbeat egg donor? Entering the clearing, a wolf with red fur appeared, as if anticipating my return. Its piercing, yellow eyes locked onto mine. "There you are, Mommy!" I exclaimed. In a futile attempt to resist, I found myself wrapping my arms around the wolf's neck, burying my face in its soft fur. However, a sudden, menacing growl disrupted the moment. I turned to witness an even larger wolf emerging from the dark shadows of the trees, its yellow eyes fixated on us with a predator's unwavering attention. "Mommy, we have to run!" I screamed, desperately urging the wolf to its feet. We bolted into the woods, the ominous wolf in pursuit. My blood pounded in my ears as I sprinted, my legs carrying me swiftly through the labyrinth of branches and vegetation. The red wolf, my supposed mother, surged ahead, paying no attention to my desperate pleas. "Mommy, come back! I need you!" My outstretched hand grasped at emptiness as she vanished into the distance. Glancing back, I discovered the gray wolf dangerously close, its sharp canines dripping with drool, ready to devour me. "Ughh, please just kill me so I can wake up from this nightmare!" I pleaded with my subconscious as I ran. Each step felt like an eternity. My sprint abruptly ended when I tripped over a massive branch. I twisted around just in time to watch the wolf lunge at me. Beep. Beep. Beep. With a start, I jolted awake, breathless and bathed in sweat, the persistent beep of the alarm filling the room. "Okay, that's it. I really need to see a fucking therapist," I groaned, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. This marked the sixth dream of my mom, consistently ending with her leaving me for dead. I hadn't seen her since I was three years old, but since our move, my subconscious had been obsessed with her. Exhaustion gripped me after a night of tossing and turning, anxiety about my first day at the new school weighing heavily on my mind. The nightmare only exacerbated the situation, contributing to the bags underneath my eyes. "Angel, are you up? I hope you didn't snooze your alarm to go back to sleep!" a gruff voice shouted from the other side of my securely locked bedroom door. Rolling my eyes, I responded, "Yeah, Dad, I'm getting up now." "Good, you don't want to be late for your first day," he continued. "I made breakfast, so come down and eat before you leave!" "Kay," I shouted back, watching the shadow of his feet disappear from under the door. I rose from my bed and retrieved a green turtleneck dress from my closet. Heading into the hallway bathroom, I tamed my typically curly, golden-brown hair. With precision, I applied eyeliner, mascara, and a touch of green eyeshadow. Dressing up wasn't my usual style, but I aimed to reinvent myself for this new school. I grabbed my backpack and hurried downstairs into the kitchen. Dad sat at the table, devouring a plate of scrambled eggs. He was a tall, stocky man with chestnut-colored skin, a square face, and big, dark-brown eyes. His head was shiny-bald, adorned with thick, bushy eyebrows, and a smooth goatee. The plate of eggs and toast he prepared for me sat on the counter. I grabbed it and plopped down at the other end of the table. After a silent prayer, I shoved a forkful of eggs into my mouth; they were rubbery and bland but edible. I refused to even touch the scorched piece of toast. It was likely his first time using the toaster, and he must have cranked the knobs to the longest and darkest settings. Forcing a smile, I remarked, "Wow, Dad, I can't believe you cooked. Thank you; I really appreciate it." The corners of his lips curled in response. "No problem, baby girl. I just wanted to make you a special breakfast on your first day," he continued, "I know it's hard starting a new school, especially since this is your senior year. This is a new beginning for both of us, and I know we can make the best of it." I simply nodded. Yeah, a new beginning that I didn't get to have a say in. I remembered him coming home from work one day in a panic. He told me that he was let go from his job to cut costs, but he had another one lined up in a small town south of Bryson City, North Carolina called WinterCrest Woods. We literally packed up and left that same night. If I didn't know my dad like the back of my hand, I would have assumed that he planned this on purpose for whatever reason, but it was safe to assume that this move was just another on the long list of stupid, impulsive decisions that he has made since my mom left. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that it was the end of my senior year, and I couldn't finish high school in my hometown because he didn't stop for a second to think about how this decision would mess up my life. I was still disappointed, hurt...but most of all, pissed off. He was so insistent that this move would be an amazing new start for us, but was it really a new start for himself? I was on the verge of turning eighteen in a week, and I was on track to graduate in three months with no clue about what I wanted to do with my life. How could I possibly find a purpose in this small town?I wolfed down the remaining eggs, more to avoid the taste than out of enjoyment. Grabbing my bag, I rose and headed to my little, beat-up burgundy car parked in the driveway. Dad hurriedly stood up as I passed him. "Wait, I can take you to school if you want," he suggested, retrieving his keys from the silver hook on the wall. I shook my head. "Oh no, that's really okay Dad. I need to learn how to get there myself anyway." He narrowed his eyes. "C'mon, you can do that tomorrow. Let your old man drop you off on your first day." His insistence cut through the air, making it clear this wasn't just a suggestion anymore. I rolled my eyes. "Ughhh, Dad, haven't you done enough? You've already dragged us to this hellhole, and now you can't even trust me to get to school by myself? I'm not a little kid anymore, Dad. I just need some space—five minutes where it doesn't feel like you're breathing down my fucking neck!" I exclaimed in frustration. A shade of disappointment clouded his face.
As I approached the entrance of WinterCrest High, a dark, suffocating wave of fear washed over me. A multitude of students streamed in the same direction, and more were arriving, offering a glimmer of hope—I could seamlessly merge into the crowd, fading into the sea of faces and escaping notice. Pushing open the doors, an eerie hush fell over the crowd, and it may have been my imagination, but it felt as though everyone stopped and stared at me. Some exchanged low whispers with one another. My heart pounded; blood rushed to my cheeks as I hurried past them towards the administrator's office. The door stood ajar, and a post-it note on the handle read, 'Be back in 10 minutes – Greene.' Uncertain how long it had been there, I entered the office. A faint scent of sage and vanilla filled the air, adding a welcoming touch. Glancing around, I confirmed the room was indeed empty, seizing the opportunity to calm my nerves before a potential panic attack ensued. Deep breath in, breathe out. De
"Good morning, Mom. Do you need any help before class starts?" The interruption came in a high, bubbly voice, full of enthusiasm. I whipped around to see the girl I recognized from the family photo. In person, Jasmine was even more stunning! Principal Greene put a comforting hand on my shoulder as she focused her attention on her daughter. "Jasmine, I have just the task for you this morning. This is the new student, Angelique. Can you show her around and help her find her classes?" Jasmine's hazel eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. She grinned, revealing a set of perfectly aligned teeth. "Of course! Do you have her schedule?" "Yes, it's right here!" Principal Greene handed Jasmine my schedule, a crisp paper that held the roadmap to my academic journey at WinterCrest High. Her eyes darted across the paper, her lips moving slightly as she memorized the details. Jasmine's excitement bubbled over as she exclaimed, "Great! Let's get started!" Her infectious energy seemed to emanate from he
Majority of the seats were occupied, leaving me to settle into the nearest empty one. Almost immediately, I sensed eyes on me, accompanied by hushed whispers circulating throughout the room. "Is she crazy? Why is she sitting in his seat?" a girl muttered. "Someone hurry, get the new girl before she pisses him off," another person whispered. It seemed everyone was doing a poor job at keeping their voices down. I couldn't help but wonder about the mysterious "he" they were referring to. Unaware of any assigned seats, I decided to relocate to the unoccupied seat next to me, especially since everyone appeared strangely concerned. In a scene reminiscent of a teen drama, the atmosphere shifted as I rose from my seat. The door swung open, revealing a face both familiar and unfamiliar—the same guy from the picture in Principal Greene's office. Dressed in a snug grey T-shirt and dark denim jeans, he moved with a confidence that demanded attention. His arrival echoed like a silent p
"I've literally been here for like five minutes, so no, I haven't heard about how popular you are, Mr. Dante," I replied, trying to be irritated by his cockiness, but really, it was doing strange, wonderful things to my body. The coy smile remains on his face. "Damn, what a pity. I usually don't have to talk myself up." "Yeah, I'm sure I probably would've heard about how girls just start tearing their clothes off when you walk into a room, huh?" I teased, raising an eyebrow. I wonder if I'd be one of those girls. No. Stop. I'm not thirsty like that! He chuckled lightly. "You know, that really doesn't happen as often as you think it would." I feign a pout. "Aww, I'm sorry to hear that." By now, I'd completely ditched the classwork and my full attention was on him. It was a first for me, actually having a guy pay attention. I'm usually the quiet, nerdy girl who sits at the front of the class and doesn't make friends. So, his genuine interest piqued my curiosity. I coul
We walked all the way across campus to get to my study hall. I insisted that Jasmine head to her own class to avoid being late, yet deep down, I genuinely appreciated her walking alongside me. She marked the beginning of genuine friendship in this new environment, where it felt like everyone else kept their distance as if I had a contagious disease or something.After thanking her, I entered the classroom and chose a seat towards the back. With no homework to occupy my time, I found myself overthinking about various aspects of my life. I planned to interrogate my father when he picked me up from school; evidently, we had a lot to discuss. I was also terrified that I couldn't shake Dante from my thoughts. The emotions that lingered after he walked away left me with a sense of cold emptiness, a feeling that seemed irrational considering he was just a stranger I had one conversation with. I couldn't stop thinking about how soft his lips would be against mine. How it would feel to run my
Suddenly, I felt this strange pull. My gaze shifted towards the entrance of the cafeteria to see Dante and a group of tall, muscular guys walking in. His eyes once again immediately locked with mine, as if he, too, sensed the peculiar connection. Butterflies danced wildly in my stomach as I blushed and quickly looked away. Crossing my fingers underneath the table, I hoped they weren't headed in our direction.My breath caught in my throat as I watch all of them strolling across the room and settling down at our table. Dante positioned himself directly across from me. I subtly shifted in an unnatural position, intentionally avoiding eye contact with him, even though, if given the chance, I could have stared into his beautiful eyes all day. They reminded me of spring—a blend of fresh earth and leaves on a tree. "Hey Dante," Peach purred, her voice carrying a hint of seduction. Uncertain if it was my imagination, I observed the exchange.He doesn't even look in her direction. "Peach," he
Dante stared at me with intensity as he settled back into his seat. I averted my gaze, desperately hoping that Jasmine would dismiss the incident. The last thing I wanted was for her to assume I was hitting on her brother, especially not in front of her.Maybe it would help if he would stop staring at me like that! I exclaimed in my head.After a prolonged and awkward silence, Jasmine suddenly burst into giggles. "Bestie, be careful next time. You could've caught an STD or something.""Jasmine," he warned in a low voice, his tone stern.She put her hands up innocently, and Peach and Mya silently returned to their seats beside her. "Sorry, bro, I was just kidding," Jasmine apologized with a playful smile.I frowned. I recognized her jest, yet there was an underlying truth to it; she was hinting at the long list of girls he had been with. The idea of him desiring someone else and being in past relationships unexpectedly tugged at my heartstrings for some inexplicable reason.I shook my