Chapter 5

Matherson Public School looms over us until we can see its brick walls and rather drab surroundings. It looms over its students, standing two full stories tall, casting a shadow over their forms. Weeds grow in small puffs throughout the premises, the grass untamed and wild. Overall, it's the rehashed image of a normal high school that presents itself as a second home to many students.

Xavier pauses for me to finally catch up with him, assuming my anger would have subsided by this point. As I unwillingly make my way to his side, forced by my likely tardiness, I catch a glimpse of his excited face. "Why are you so happy, werewolf?" I snap, my voice harsh and abrasive. My bangs fall in front of my eyes as I slump slightly, resuming my usual position when I'm with people at school.

He stares at me strangely. "Why are you slouching? I thought you had perfect posture," he inquires quietly. I frown, my eyes crinkling.

"It's none of your business," I say curtly, looking away from him, "answer my question instead of asking your own."

Xavier doesn't seem affected even though I've treated him so rudely, an action, or rather lack of action I've come to predict from him. "Well, you sure have good taste," he smiles brightly, winking at my form. I boil, my eyes now in a squint. Again, Xavier just stares, oblivious to my anger and embarrassment. I wonder how he so conveniently excluded my reluctance, innocently ignoring it.

Suddenly, all connivance evaporates as I examine the huge clock on the front of the monotonous schoolhouse. "Shit!" I yell as I watch the second hand move to 12, prompting the minute hand to gravitate to its next digit. I grab Xavier's hand, pulling him along with surprising strength. As I run, I say, "Xavier, if it weren't for you, I would have been on time for school! I can't be late...I can't..."

The doors closed as I slid to meet him, blocking my path.

I lowered my head in utter defeat, my eyes staring at the floor in shame. i'm late. Mrs. Penn is going to kill me. I should have died yesterday.

I forget that I'm even holding Xavier's hand until he squeezes it tightly; sending electric sparks throughout my body. I hate that I'm so aware of him, the slightest touch alerting me and making butterflies in my stomach. Why can't I just avoid him? Why can't I hate him with all my energy instead of harboring this small sense of admiration for his beauty and perseverance?

A portly lady with a belly the size of a beach ball approaches the glass, staring at our forms. Her almost non-existent eyebrows - obviously over-plucked - rise as she gazes at Xavier's bright blue hair and sparkling green eyes. Without a word, she opens the door without looking up from his magnificence.

"Who are you?" she asks, her mouth almost dropping to her lap. He flashes a million-dollar smile, melting the woman into slush on the cold floor.

"My name is Xavier, and this is Mona, my ma-" he begins, only to wince as I squeeze his hand in a death grip.

"Well, hello Xavier," she smiles, her dull coal-black eyes shining as she absorbs his masculine features. "I've never seen you before. Are you new?" she asks, ignoring me completely.

"Yes ma'am," he confirms, "Mona came with me to show me around the school." The fat lady finally turns her laser gaze to my form, her eyes crinkling as she takes me in.

"You're not new, are you?" she asks coldly. I nod in response, not opening my mouth for this witch. "You will be counted as a latecomer," she informs me, my eyes widening in alarm at her words. I pull my hand away from Xavier, feeling a sudden rush of anger.

"Please, miss," Xavier says in a pleading tone, "she was just telling me about school, and we lost track of time...it's my fault." His touch is comforting now, filling me with a warmth I can barely comprehend.

The woman is confused now, I can tell, torn between her distaste for me and her obvious liking for the handsome man next to me. Finally, she replies, "Okay, if that's all. Please don't do this again. Consider this a warning."

Xavier flashes another heart-melting smile, stunning us both, even though I try desperately to fight it. "Thank you," he bows, taking her hand and brushing his lips there.

I can't explain the anger that comes over me in that moment. I hate him. I want him gone.

He stands elegantly upright as the woman embarrassingly orders us to follow him. Her face is red as she wobbles down the hallway, obviously affected by his seductive kindness.

Xavier laughs a little, grabbing my hand again as we follow her. I withdraw my hand again, anger overwhelming me. "Don't touch me! I demand. Now I'm laughing. I am shaking with irritation, my emotions running through my veins.

"Mona, you're jealous, aren't you?" he asks. I try desperately to contain the blush, but it still spreads across my cheeks. I don't understand why I'm acting this way. "Don't worry," he whispers as he leans in, his breath dancing against my ear, "I'll only kiss you from now on." His intimacy distracts me, destroying my defenses. Anyway, I savor his sweet words, his flattering promise.

Then I remember that I hate him.

"As if I'd let you," I tell him dryly, carefully veiling my guilty pleasure. He seems to sense it, though, a smile spreading across his features.

"I didn't know you'd end up loving me so quickly!" he says happily, only to be punched in the stomach.

"No, you fool!" I protest angrily. However, my feeble comebacks are useless against his relentless smile and assurance that I am in love with him.

The lady leads us both to a small, narrow door. "This is where you'll get your information," she directs Xavier, a hint of redness still dusting her plump cheeks. With an affectionate smile, she says, "I'm the school nurse, Mrs. Teal. Please come see me if you ever need anything. As she walks away, she deliberately swings her hips, hoping that the attractive man will look at her.

I'm shamefully happy to say he doesn't.

Xavier smiles at me, then opens the door for us both to enter. The most cluttered and disorganized place I've seen in my entire life is in front of me, still shocking me. "Wow," I mutter as I survey the mess: the collage of papers, staples, pens, and sticky notes that bury everything else.

Lying just behind the disastrous mess is a stick-thin, rather petite lady with a beehive hairdo that climbs about seven inches into the air. It's a masterpiece, reminding me a bit of those wigs in medieval times, and rather typical of an older woman like her.

Her voice is simply hysterical. "Hello kids," she squeaks like a mouse, her words almost indistinguishable, "how can I help you?"

Xavier takes the lead again, leaving me huddled in his shadow. "I'm new here," he informs her, throwing a smile at the tiny, shriveled plant that happens to have a voice and a towering hairdo.

Her facial expressions unchanged, she bends over the floor to pick up some abandoned papers. "Ah, the new student. I've got your schedule in this pile...somewhere..." she comments as she places the pile in her lap. A truly monstrous pile of papers... I wonder how she can sort through all that junk.

However, in a record time of three seconds, she takes out a thin sheet of paper, hands it to Xavier and we look at her with a total and complete surprise. The lady looks at our faces without blinking. "You need passes, don't you?" she asks quickly, flipping through the papers like a flash. After another extremely quick search, she pulls out five or six passes and hands them to him.

"Thank you, Madame..." Xavier searches through the lady's clothes for a badge, "Miss Lori." There is a slight, almost undetectable crease on her forehead as she turns to her computer, annoyance flickering across her features. We stand there for a minute, then Xavier tugs at my hand. "Come on, let's go," he urges, dragging me out of the doorway.

When we finally escape the messy room, I burst out laughing. Xavier tries to calm down, but soon he's laughing with me. "His voice..." I almost groan, drowning in a fit of laughter, "His hair..." When did I start laughing with him? What is wrong with me?

"Now, Mona," Xavier gently corrects, "let's not make fun of each other..."

"Look at you," I tease him, "you're trying so hard to be the perfect gentleman." I let out a laugh, momentarily forgetting myself.

"Shut up." All at once, he takes me in his arms, cradling me in his firm embrace. His arms wrap around me, holding me tight. "I'm your gentleman," he laughs, "and I won't let you go until you admit it."

Alarm, awareness, and pure electricity run through my body at the same time as I realize how close he is to me. His smile is inches from mine, his breath dancing across my cheek.

If I tilt my head slightly toward his, I can taste his warm, cool lips.

Quickly I hold back before I give in to temptation, the resistance resuming. I remind myself once again that I hate him. I'm not supposed to get along with this beautiful, crazy man. I stiffen, rebuilding the walls around my heart as quickly as they had fallen.

I also notice that we are in the middle of the school hallway.

He suddenly seems to notice my hesitation, and quietly asks, "What's wrong, Mona?"

I look away from him as I utter these next few words, each harsh and bitter. "Let go of me," I ask, my voice firm.

I'm afraid to look him in the eye, afraid they'll reveal the truth.

He lets go and I walk away from him, my head still bowed. "What happened?" he persists, "you were just fine a few seconds ago-"

"Let's just get you to class," I mumble, not wanting to listen to his dissection of our previous conversation, trying to sift through the offensive words he must have said. Quickly, I snatch the paper from his slender hands, watching him carefully. Xavier stares at me with a desperate expression as I avoid his gaze.

"You," my eyes widen, "idiot!" I whirl around on top of him, anger pulsing through my veins. I grip the paper tightly in my hands until it almost crumples under my fingers. "Why do you have EXACTLY the same schedule as me?" I ask furiously. My face crinkles in annoyance at his stalker-like attitude.

"Well, I might have asked..." he pauses, hissing as he looks away.

Why can't he leave me alone?

I mean, he's my 'buddy', but seriously... I need some privacy, away from this madness. My blood starts to boil, but I quickly calm down.

"Alright then," I reply in a robotic, emotionless voice, "come over here." I turn around, beginning the walk through the maze of hallways and rooms to our first class. As I pass him, I drop the schedule from my grip, allowing it to hit the floor with a thud.

Xavier stops to pick it up, a smile on his face.

There's a pounding of feet as he rushes to meet me, but I simply push him away, ignoring his forceful words. "Mona," he says ecstatically, "let's go on a date tonight. Shall we?"

Ha. As if.

"What if?" I scoff.

A muscular hand grabs my wrist, pivoting me to face him. "Mona," he declares firmly, "you're going to fall in love with me. No matter how hard you try to make me leave, I won't give up." Every word he speaks is full of authority, pure determination. His eyes darken as they narrow, all the implications of his words hit me hard. My life is changing...has changed...forever. I will never be alone again.

I recoil in shock as I watch him, admiring his beauty. He looks completely different now, more dangerously handsome than cutely naive. It was like before, when he said the same thing on the way to school.

Right now, he looks like the wolf.

Suddenly, his intensity drops and he flashes a beautiful smile again. "So how about a date, Mona?" he asks once more. I finally look up at him, appreciating his masculine perfection, the social climbs I could make if I'm by his side.

"No," I shake my head, though the corner of my mouth lifts, the hint of a smile appearing.

"Please, Mona?" he begs, lips in a tempting pout. I look straight ahead, firm in my decision. He smiles even more, pestering me even more. Irritation and a strange, unfamiliar emotion run through me. Is it... excitement?

Life is surely going to be interesting with this blue-haired man.