Chapter 1
Isabella
Summer this year had gone by briskly. The leaves that littered pavement grounds and wet grass were no longer green but a happy pumpkin-coloured orange and autumn brown. They crunched under my rain boots as I made my way down the steps of my porch and to my driveway where my 1987 olive Jeep Cherokee was parked. It had been a birthday gift from my father this summer, and although it enacted strange noises and homed an unpleasant smell whenever it'd been running for too long, it was my first ever car and the feeling of liberty and independence that accompanied the gift was unmatched. My father hadn't told me where he'd gotten it from, but I wasn't too keen on finding out.
I unlocked the driver door and threw my backpack onto the passenger seat. I drove the key into the ignition in an attempt to start the car. The engine roared for mere seconds before going silent. I tried again, but had no luck in turning on the ancient vehicle. I tried for the third time, this time my flustered mother came running out of the house.
"What's the matter with you!" she was still dressed in a pair of white pajama shorts and a black bra," you woke me up!"
I rolled down the window which seemed to take ages," "I can't start the car again."
"Why are you even trying? I told you, this car won't last longer than a week!"
"Well, I can't just toss it out!"
"Get out, I'll do it!!" she burst down the steps and violently grabbed at the handle of the driver door.
"Can you calm down, you're going to break it," I mumbled, jumping off from my seat so she can replace it.
She huffed sarcastically," like there's any more damage that can be done to this piece of crap."
I rolled my eyes and watched as she pressed her foot on the gas while twisting the key. The engine roared again but died no more than twenty seconds later. She mumbled angrily under her breath and played around with the gear, before pressing down on the gas pedal again.
She twisted the key around and the vehicle erupted firstly with deep roars that turned into screeches that sounded like metal plates being rubbed against each other. The noise continued for a minute and then- boom- the car shook violently as my mother had successfully revived it back to life.
I could not help my smile of relief," thank god!"
"No, thank me," she jumped out of the car, tossing her short messy blond hair to one side.
"Thank you!" I yelped happily as I took my seat whilst she was hurrying inside and began to finally back out of the driveway.
Today marks the first day of my last year at Eastsound High. I had spent the entire summer plotting my life after high school, I hated to admit that at the end of the day, it all depended on whether my boyfriend, Holden,gets a football scholarship or not. I'd enroll in whatever university he gets into, this had been our plan for years. The chances of him getting a scholarship were high, this year he was promised the position as the team captain for the Eastsound High Marmots. I couldn't wait to get to school to see Holden, we'd spent the majority of the summer apart. Most summers, his parents take him away to spend time at their family cabin in Seattle and most summers I accompany him. This time, my father had fallen off the bandwagon again that is being sober and I had to be there to care for my chaotic mother. Most times I felt as if I were her parent. I hadn't seen my father since mid August when he'd shown up in the Jeep.
"You didn't think I'd forget your big eighteen did you?" he had slurred and handed me the rusted keys. Drunk or not, I was thrilled to see him. My father was kind and generous, the type of man that would give his last dollar to a stranger, and unfortunately that, and brown liquor had been his downfall for most of his years. My mother was always erratic and dependant, the type to do first, think later. They were a match made in hell.
I peered outside with disappointment as droplets of rain drizzled against the dashboard. The ladle to turn on the windshield wipers did nothing and so for the remainder of the car ride I had to squint to better see the road. Luckily, Eastsound was a small town, nothing was too far and the school was just ten minutes from my home. I parked the car and tried not to think of the dread of turning it back on after school. I prayed that I would have no issues although it was doubtful. I slung my backpack around my shoulder and turned to face the crowd of high schoolers that were rushing inside. The rain poured with more pressure and I could not have enough time to gaze around for familiar faces. I quickly mirrored the mob that burst through the main entrance.
Inside, dozens of students were reuniting with their cliques. I searched for the bright yellow and navy blue football jackets and found them in the corner of the hall. Holden was standing around with three of his teammates and two girls. The short blonde who had her back to me was my best friend Kyla. She held hands with her boyfriend, Matt. With unstifled excitement, I ran over and wrapped my arms around her neck. She turned to discover that it was me and screeched louder than my Jeep had.
"Oh my god, Izzy!"
We jumped up and down, still locked in a tight embrace. We had just seen each other a week ago but still, it felt like ages. I met Kyla when her family had just moved here in the third grade. My initial impression of her had been that she was bratty and rude. Those were all true factors of her personality even today, but they accompanied loyal and compassionate.
Holden cleared his throat to announce his presence.
"I guess I'm just invisible then?"
The sound of his voice alone had stolen all of my thoughts. I gazed with loving eyes at my six- foot -something brown-haired and brown-eyed dreamy boyfriend. My smile grew wider and I wrapped my arms around my high school sweetheart. I felt safe again, head against his tough chest, wrapped inside of his big warm jacket. Would anything ever bring me more joy?
He squeezed me hard, nestled his chin atop my head and whispered in my ear," god, I missed you so much."
"Don't do that again," I fought the urge to tear up.
"Don't do what again?"
"Don't ever leave."
"I won't have to, next time, you're coming with me."
I had caught up with a few more of Holden's football friends and even Matt who I hadn't seen since the last day of school. The first football practise was tonight after school and Kyla and I had already cleared our schedule to be there for our boyfriends.
I held Holden's hand and Kyla held Matt's while we strut over to a long wooden table led by a dozen teachers who were handing out timetables.
I recognized one of them immediately as my art teacher from last year.
"Mrs.Winston!"
"Isabella, look at you! You're taller," she wore and adjusted her white reading glasses that were hanging on long pearls at her chest.
I grinned at the middle aged lady," I can't stop growing, I'm almost 5'8."
"I think you've got me again for art this year."
"No complaints." I adored Mrs. Winston. She was the kind of teacher that related to her students on a personal level. During several occasions where I was having trouble at home, she was more than lenient to provide me with extensions.
"I've got your timetable right here," she pulled out a sheet from a pile of others," remind me of your last name Holden."
"Clark."
"Perfect, and here's yours....Kyla, there's yours and Matt, I have yours right here too."
I took a second to compare all of our timetables. It seemed that the only class we had all together was art with Mrs.Winston. Holden and I shared no more classes but Kyla and I had English together.
"I was hoping for more classes with you," Holden had a sad puppy dog look on his face.
"Me too," I responded," I guess it will make us miss each other even more."
He places both his hands on my waist and pulled me closer. I felt shivers on my skin.
"I spent the entire summer missing you, I don't want to miss you anymore."
I placed a quick peck on his lips before any of the teachers had seen.
"Maybe you can transfer," I suggested," or I can."
"That's a great idea."
First period wasn't for another twenty minutes. We spent the time catching up with the rest of the football team and their girlfriends. Kyla, of course, was not so open to the idea of having more friends. She seemed to have something negative to say about them all.
"Did you see how that Rebecca was staring at Matt? Like jeez, we can all see you."
I hadn't noticed but I laughed alongside my best friend. Eventually we began to make our way to our individual classes. My first class was Math, Holden and Kyla were in the same first period which was History. I felt a twang of jealousy as they headed that way together.
Math had gone by dreadfully slow and it seemed as if the teacher was in a hurry to get started. There was no time wasted jumping straight into loads of work. My thoughts, however, kept drifting. I thought about Holden's scholarship and what I would do if he were to get picked up by a fancy overpriced university that I could not afford?
Of course I had saved up some money from my part time job at the Steve's Home and Hardware, but it wouldn't nearly be enough to cover the first year let alone them all. Sometimes I was envious of Holden, and how well off his family was. He didn't always seem to understand that I wasn't as privileged, although he had always been generous with me. But I could never ask him to help me with my college tuition...
What Holden didn't know was that part of the reason why I had stayed behind this summer was also because my manager had offered me a full time position for my time off school. Since dad had left, we needed the money and I could not refuse. I was back to part time now, but mom had recently landed her previous job back as a hair dresser. Maybe this time, she'll be able to keep it. It was bad enough having to worry about dad, and college, the last thing I needed was the stress of our monthly bills hanging above my head like a ticking dagger.
I was suddenly brought back to reality by the sound ensued by Mr. Blake's thick geometry textbook slammed against my desk.
"Nice to see you Ms. Harris," he leaned his thin, tall body my way and pointed beady eyes at me accusingly.
I grabbed the book from his fingers and mumbled," it's nice to see you too, Mr. Blake."
I was more excited for the second period because it was with Kyla. Our English teacher; Ms. Debly was more curious about all of our summers. Kyla and I sat side by side and waited for our turns. I watched with content as Ms. Debly called out on a girl in the back.
"Sarah is it?" she asked.
"Yes, Sarah Larson," a small brunette girl squeaked from behind.
"And how was your summer?"
"Every year we take a trip to Woodstock, we've got a huge cabin there where most of my family get together during summers."
"Did you say Woodstock, as in Vermont?" a male's voice interrupted from the middle row.
Sarah nodded," yes, Vermont, we usually fly-"
"Did you see or hear anything, about that wolf thing-"
"What wolf thing?" this time it was Ms. Debly. The entire class stared at Sarah with anticipation and growing curiosity.
"Oh yes, it was all over the news. The entire town was shaken for a while, we even debated going home early."
"What happened?"
"There was a pack of wolves that must have been living in Waru forest. Sometime during mid August, they all died."
"How many wolves exactly?" Kyla's eyes were wide open.
"There must have been dozens but the pictures were gruesome. It looked like an attack, because some of them had no heads, and others were cut right open."
"Does the police have any idea what could have happened?"
"We left a week later, after seeing those pictures, nothing really felt the same. I know they're just wolves, but still."
"I was just reading up on it," it was the same blond boy from the middle row," they're saying it must have been some sort of wolf rivalry thing, an attack from a nearby pack. No human would have been able to do it-"
"Alright, I'm afraid we're starting to stumble off topic," intervened Ms. Delby and then she turned to Kyla," and how was your summer, my dear."
"Oh it couldn't have been better," Kyla beamed as she applied a thick coat of pink lipgloss," I spent the entire summer with my boyfriend Matt, and my best friend, Izzy."
Break after class was only half an hour. We had caught up with Matt and Holden and taken our seats on a vacant bench outside next to a yellowing oak tree. Holden had taken off his jacket and wrapped it around me. Kyla stared at Matt until he got the hint to do the same. She seemed satisfied after that as she bit into her granola bar.
"What are you guys doing this weekend," she asked through bites.
"Matt and I have football practice."
"Again?" I turned to ask Holden. He tossed his other leg over the seat of the bench so that he was straddling the wood and pulled me closer so that I was in between his lap.
"First practice is today at 3:30, then it's three practices a week, Monday's Wednesdays and Fridays. If there's an upcoming game then possibly Sunday's too."
"That's intense," Kyla winced," when's the first game?"
"In three weeks," this time it was Matt," just in time for Holden to get the hang of being captain."
"Still feels like a dream," he nestled his mouth into my neck and I shivered.
"We should all go down to Lost Reserve on Saturday, before the snow hits," said Kyla," we can take my dads van, maybe have a bonfire by the cliff?"
I turned my head to look at Holden who was considering it. Finally he said," I'm game, you Matt?"
Matt nodded and mumbled through bites of Kyla's granola," I'm game too, maybe we can even invite some of the other guys from the team."
"Ew, don't invite Rebecca's boyfriend," Kyla sneered and I giggled.
"Why?"
"Cause I don't like her," she ended the conversation at that and Matt didn't dare to press her.
We all had next period together. In addition to being in Art with my boyfriend and best friends, the sight of Mrs. Winston writing her name on the board lit up the room.
I couldn't help but comment," I think we all know your name by now, Mrs. Winston."
She turned around with a welcoming smile and said," didn't you hear? There's a new student this year?"
We gazed at each other in confusion. Eastsound was a small town, we hardly ever had any new comers and I was certain that no one could remember the last time this high school had a new student. We chose our seats, Kyla and I behind Matt and Holden. Mrs. Winston began by explaining to the class how the semester was going to be broken down. Matt leaned towards Holden and whispered," do you think it's a girl or a guy?"
"Who?"
"The new student."
"I don't know but it's odd, moving here during the last year of high school don't you think?"
"Are you worried he'll turn out to be a football player?" Kyla teased.
Holden seemed offended," even if he is, which I'm sure he's not, if he's even a he, I've been promised team captain."
"They can't take that back," I defended.
"And he's late, not a good look," this time it was Matt.
The class had gone for about twenty more minutes after that and Mrs. Winston was just about to explain to us our first art project when a knock ensued by the entrance door stole the attention from her. We all turned to look at the intruder.
I heard a gasp and a couple draws of breath. I could have turned to look at the source of the sounds but I was intrigued by the person at the door. He was tall, taller than most guys here, even Holden. Although he had on a thick leather jacket, you could see the outline of his chest and the size of his bulking arms as if he'd weight lifted since he'd been a toddler. He was naturally tan with long brown curly hair that halted at his shoulders. It was messy, and tossed to one side of his head. In his large hands was a firmly gripped timetable.
"I'm sorry, I'm new here, I got lost," his voice was deep, deeper than his age, with the slight tinge of rasp that could drive a girl over the edge. I hadn't realized that my mouth was open the entire time until Holden turned back to look at me and I struggled to quickly compose myself.
"That's alright sweet heart," Mrs. Winston took his time bale to make sure he was in the right place," looks like you've got art with me too. Your timing is perfect, we were just about to go over our first project."
He seemed to have to pressure his lips into a polite smile," great."
"What's your name, dear?"
"Caleb Waru."
"Class, please welcome Caleb Waru to Eastsound high, Caleb dear, choose your seat anywhere."
The class echoed awkwardly with polite. Caleb kept his eyes down and took his seat at the very back left corner.
