Chapter 1
My name is Elara, that’s me by the school gate. No not that one, behind her. No not the cheerleader with long blonde hair and blue eyes, behind her by the flowers sitting in the grass.
Yep her.
That’s me, the raven haired girl with weird coloured eyes - the “new” girl in town. I’ve always hated that cliche. ‘Fresh meat’ ‘Loser’ or ‘Virgin’ well at least that much was true I am a virgin, not that it’s anyone’s business.
I’m here because my parents think I need to ‘broaden my horizons - being in new a school builds character’ well its a load of bull. Starting a new school means I have to endure the dreaded first day, not to mention the humiliation of lunchtime. You know, when you go to the cafeteria load up your tray with food and look awkwardly at every table until you find a seat then at the last minute someone trips you and your food ends up in your lap - yep true story.
My father travels often for work which means I’m on my own a lot. Actually ever since I can remember. It used to bother me but now it doesn’t, I’m almost 18 and I can’t wait to finally be able to move where I want to, no rules or parents bossing me around. Complete and utter freedom. I smile to myself, that day can’t come soon enough.
My smile falters slightly as I think of my mum, we lost her to lung cancer just over two years ago and dad has never been the same since. Dad turned to drinking and well I’ve always been the quiet brooding or depressed type. It meant people - most of the time - left me alone, just the way I liked it.
The bell rings bringing me out of my thoughts. “Ughh” I muttered under my breath. Time to face the music. I get up from my spot on the grass and pull my bag over my shoulder. I could hear whispers and feel eyes on me as I made my way through the school doors to the office. After collecting my stationary and class schedule I made my way to my first class - Food Technology. I didn’t hate the class but I was definitely a foodie, I would rather buy great food than fail to make it. I took a seat in the back of class trying to blend in with the back wall and old pictures.
The final bell rings and the last of the students pile into the classroom. The teacher at the front of the class beckons everyone to be quiet and claps his hands.
“Please everyone find your seats, I know this is the first day back after break and you may not want to be here..but neither do I so let’s get this over with shall we?” The teacher smirks playfully and returns to the board. Slowly everyone starts to calm down and the teacher speaks again.
“For those of you who don’t know, my name is Mr Franks” he writes his name on the board and turns back to the students, his gaze moving across their faces.
Oh god here we go, this is the part when he’ll mention a new student and I’ll be told to stand and tell them a bit about myself. I cringe as he brings out the attendance record and I slide down my seat wishing the floor would swallow me whole and I close my eyes, waiting for the dreaded question.
“Right so, we have a new stu-” he’s cutoff abruptly as the door to the classroom slams open and another student walks in, his hair ruffled and shirt askew.
“Mr Wolfe, nice of you to join us” Mr Franks says with a knitted brow. “Please find your seat and stop disturbing my class” he jabs his thumb behind him and starts the lesson.
Thank goodness this guy walked in when he did, the gods have decided to give me a break finally! I breathe out slowly smiling on the inside. Thank you random guy! I’m still celebrating when I feel a presence next to me, my eyes flutter open and the guy who saved my bacon is standing over my desk with a smirk.
What’s this guys deal? I ask myself inwardly, his eyes flash playfully and turns back to the teacher “Hey Mr Franks, who is this in my seat?” he asks pointing at me.
My heart literally sunk to the bottom of my stomach, like that feeling you get when you miss a step and I feel sick. That bastard! I narrow my eyes and flip him off, he just chuckles and sits down in the desk next to me.
Eyes, literally all of them turned to stare at me and the teacher clears his throat.
“Ah yes, thank you Mr Wolfe for reminding me” he picks up the attendance register again and scans it. “Elara Moone” he says smiling and looking back to me.
Now please, now would be a great time to swallow me whole. I will literally do anything. I plead inwardly but again my prayers are not heard. Karma will get you Wolfe boy, I’ll make sure of it.
I plaster a fake sickly smile on and nod, “Yep, that’s me” I say, bile rising in my throat. I should be a pro at this by now, I’ve been to twelve new schools, this one now being the thirteenth and I hate being the centre of attention.
“Tell us a bit about yourself, you’re welcome to stand at the front of the class or where you are” Mr Franks insists, I shift uncomfortably in my seat, warring with standing up at all or just bolting from the classroom and I stand awkwardly.
“Here is fine thank you” I say blushing, my hand goes instinctively to the birthmark on my left elbow. I hated being asked about it. “Umm..obviously new to town and I live with my dad, no siblings. We’re up in the old Henson house” I start pulling down the sleeves to my large black cardigan. Then the whispers start. Great what is it now? I ask myself, some students eyes go wide, some don’t even care and turn back to doodling on their desk.
Wolfe boy speaks up first, “They say old man Phillips killed himself in that house, hung himself from the bannister in the foyer” he says running a hand through his thick brown hair.
A girl with blonde hair pitches in too, “My daddy said that place is haunted and anyone who lives there goes crazy, he’s been trying to have it torn down for years” she looks at me with a disgusted look and I roll my eyes.
“It’s just a house” I say sitting back down in my seat.
“That’s what Danny said” the girl chipped in again “he went crazy and they had to ship him away” the whole classroom went dead silent, you could cut the tension with a knife.
“Who is Danny?” I asked perplexed.
Mr Franks raises his hands to stop any answers to my question, “Alright that’s enough Miss Moore” he said, eyeing the class with a look that said - don’t answer that.
Well now I was curious, I was going to find out what happened to this Danny guy one way or another.
The lesson passed in a blur and the bell finally rung, finally. I gathered my books and shoved them in my bag, I had a free period and I was going to spend it as far away from people as possible. I rush through the doors and follow the map I was given by the office lady and find the library. Salvation!
I find the darkest corner of the library and drop my bag down on the table with a sigh. Finally some peace and quiet. I pull my arms up and rest my head in my hands closing my eyes. Only 2 more months of this and I’ll be 18, finally I’ll be free. I giggle to myself and open my eyes.
There seated in front of me was Wolfe boy. I jumped back startled and clutched my chest.
“Dude at least give someone a warning!” I sputtered loudly, my heart thumping fast. He sat there with a smirk, his green eyes laughing.
A student nearby shushed us, glaring at us from between the bookshelves.
“Sorry” I whispered putting my hands up in defence, when they turned away I glared back at Wolfe boy, he was still smiling.
His eyes were giving me the once over and they stopped suddenly on my elbow his eyes going wide in surprise but he quickly regained his composure back to his cocky self.
“Nice tattoo” he said pointing at the mark on my elbow “I’ve got three” he smirked again. Small talk nice.
I went to grab a book from my bag and pulled my cardigan sleeve down to my wrist. “Not a tattoo” I said tightly and began pretending to read my book.
But he stayed there, watching and smiling weirdly.
“What’s your problem?” I asked putting my book down “no other newbies to give wedgies to or harass? I’m busy, please leave me alone”
He laughed warm and deep, revealing some aggravatingly seductive dimples. My heart fluttered with a mind of its own, but I had to rein it in. Nope, not gonna happen. Stop it! I inwardly warned my heart, this guy has warning signs all over him. I’d be stupid to fall for a guy like this.
He looked at me with his head cocked to the side. “You’re cute when you’re angry Moone” he said smiling. Uggh shoot me already I said to myself, not falling for his cheap one liners.
"Wolfe and Moone, it's like the goddess made us for eachother" he swooned, fluttering his eyes sarcastically.
I could have vomited. But also deep down the cutesyness inside me was clapping its hands.
I sighed and packed up my things, so much for some peace and quiet. I go to stand and he looks at me confused. “Look” I said giving him a pointed glare “I’m not here to make friends, once I’m 18 in a couple months I’m leaving. So don’t get comfortable, don’t try to flirt with me, just leave me alone because I’m not interested”
He looked torn, almost heart broken. Hah bet he didn’t see that coming, I smiled inwardly. That was until he smiled that cocky smile and stands up too. He towers over me and I’m pretty tall myself. He leans in so close I can feel his breath on my cheek as he whispers.
“I can see it in your eyes that you’re interested” he smirked. My body reacted in a way it never had before, not with any guy. It felt like I was floating on air, enchanted and weirdly warm. I inhaled his scent of pine and it made me light headed, my heart started beating faster.
I pulled myself from the trance and shook my head. “You’re crazy and wrong, please leave me alone” I said grabbing my things to leave and I could feel him watch me as I walked away.
Now that was super weird I thought to myself, looking back to where we sat but he had disappeared. I opened the door outside and relief washed over me, my mind wasn’t fuzzy anymore. Maybe I was just feeling a bit ill I convinced myself.
The rest of the day passed by at a snails pace and I continued to get weird looks. Hopefully tomorrow people will go back to pretending I don’t exist.
