Chapter 6

ABBY

I woke up this morning thinking about Trevor, my mind still lingering on the moment he came close to me yesterday. I could hear his heartbeat clearly, and it made my own heart beat faster. The memory of his scent and the way his eyes sparkled when he smiled were still fresh in my mind.

I couldn't shake the feeling that I was making a huge mistake by pushing him away. But my life was too complicated now, and I didn't want him to be drawn into it.

I didn't want to go to school today, but Ashley wouldn't let me stay. She was determined to drag me to school with her.

I tried to protest, but Ashley was relentless. "You can't hide from them forever," she said, her voice firm. "You have to face everyone and show them you're not a monster."

But she was wrong. I was a monster. And deep down, I knew that going to school today would only make things worse. The other kids would whisper behind my back and call me names, just like they always did. They would never understand what it was like to be me.

Ashley didn't seem to notice the fear in my eyes. Instead, she grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the door.

"Come on," she said. "It'll be fine. I'll be with you the whole time."

Reluctantly, I followed her out of the house and towards the bus stop. 

I pulled my hood up over my head and tried to disappear into the shadows.

****

When we got to school, we found everyone gaping, but it wasn't at me. There was a new boy in school and their eyes lingered on him. He had dark tousled hair and piercing blue eyes which you could drown in if you stared too much. He was doused in dark clothing, a black tee, a black leather jacket, and dark boots, which gave him a rebellious, edgy look.

As we walked through the crowd of students, Ashley grabbed my arm and whispered, "Who is he? He's gorgeous."

I rolled my eyes at her, but secretly I couldn't help but feel curious about the new boy myself. He seemed to exude a dangerous energy, and I couldn't help but wonder what he was hiding behind those piercing blue eyes.

But he wasn't the only new student. Six other new students walked into the school courtyard, heads turned and whispers started. They were all dressed in black from head to toe, with dark sunglasses hiding their eyes. It was clear that they were trying to make a statement, and they were succeeding. They looked like trouble, and everyone knew it.

Among the six new students was a girl who stood out from the rest. She was hairy and beautiful, with long, flowing hair that cascaded down her back in waves. Her neck was delicate and slender, making her seem fragile, but her eyes were charged with a fierce intensity that hinted at a strength beneath her delicate appearance.

I watched as the girl held the boy’s hand and turned her cheek for him to kiss it. He leaned in, but instead of kissing her cheek, he planted his lips on hers. It was a long, unnecessary kiss, the kind that made me uncomfortable. But the girl didn't seem to mind.

As he pulled away, he grabbed her from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist.

“Blake!! stop” she said. But there was something in her tone that suggested she didn't want him to stop. It was almost like she was testing him, teasing him. And he was more than happy to oblige.

He had a smug smile on his face, as though he was so confident of how attractive he was. 

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his arrogance. But then again, I had to admit that the girl seemed to be enjoying his attention.

From Blake’s demeanor, it was clear that there was something strange about him, something that set him apart from everyone else. He moved too quickly, his eyes ever scanning, his ears always listening, his fingers always twitching. It was as if he was constantly searching for something, something that only he knew.

I watched as Blake scratched behind his ears. He ruffled his hair, causing it to stand up in all directions, and strode across the hallway like he was a giant, bigger than everyone. It was as if he wanted to make sure that everyone knew he was there, that he was in control.

For this reason, I hated Blake

Yeah, it was possible to hate someone without knowing the slightest bit about them.

I despised his whole being, he felt like an unending itch on my skin, like an allergy, like a burden that had just befallen me. 

But as much as I loathed him, I couldn't help but feel a strange curiosity about him. He was like a puzzle that I couldn't quite solve, and I found myself wanting to know more about him. I wanted to understand his quickness, to examine his hunger, to be in the same mind space in which he existed, to understand the essence of his being.

It seemed there was an invincible familiarity that existed between us, it made me want to run after him and ask him endless questions.

“Does Abby have a crush on the new boy?” Ashley nudged me. “You're practically drooling over him”

“I'm not drooling over anyone”, I replied defensively, almost as if I didn't believe what I was saying.

Arrgh! I hated him for making me have so many thoughts at the same time. 

I wasn't attracted to him, yet I was drawn to him for reasons unknown to me, and I detested myself for this.

“Class!!, we need to get to class” Ashley repeated, drawing me back from the well of my unending thoughts.

I shook my head and looked around, realizing that the hallway was now empty. Everyone else had already left for their next class, and we were running late.

“Are you okay?” she asked. Looking genuinely concerned.

“Sorry, I feel a little dizzy. Maybe I should just go back home”. 

Ashley laughed, shaking her head. "Nice try," she said. "I know you're just looking for an excuse to hide in your room, and I'm not buying it."

I couldn't help but smile at her accusation. She knew me too well. 

"Okay, fine. You caught me," I admitted, feeling slightly embarrassed

Trevor walked past us. As he got closer, he locked his gaze onto mine, and it felt like he was trying to peer into my soul.

I tried to smile politely, but Trevor's expression didn't change. He kept staring at me like he was trying to convey something important. It made me feel uneasy, like he could see something everyone else couldn't, something that needed to be addressed or avoided.

“Trevor!” Ashley exclaimed as Trevor walked towards us.

“Hey, can we talk during lunch? I really want us to talk” he asked me.

“Yes,” Ashley said, without giving me a chance to decline, and she pulled me along as she walked, half running towards our literature class.

****

I sat in the back of the classroom, trying to focus on the lecture, but my mind kept drifting to Blake. I couldn't explain it, but there was something about him that made me feel safe and calm. I glanced over at him, and our eyes met for a brief moment before he turned back to his notes.

As the lecture continued, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the sense of calm that had washed over me. Yesterday, I had been a mess, my instincts raging out of control. I had nearly lost control when I caught the scent of fresh blood in the cafeteria. It was a miracle that no one had been hurt.

But today was different. My impulses weren't raging like they did yesterday. I wasn't hearing people's heartbeats from afar, and I wasn't hungry for raw meat. I felt like I was finally in control of myself again.

And then it hit me. The reason why I was so calm today was because of Blake. The way he looked at me as if he knew me, the way our eyes seemed to sink into each other. It didn't occur to me earlier, but whatever was happening to me must be happening to him as well. That's why he looked at me like he knew me. Maybe he could sense it.

I watched as Ashley animatedly argued with Mrs. Anderson about the major issues in Shakespeare's "Tragedy of Macbeth". Mrs. Anderson, who was known for her strict demeanor, seemed to be enjoying the lively discussion as much as Ashley was.

The argument had begun when Mrs. Anderson had said that the main issue in Shakespeare's play Macbeth was the protagonist's ambition. According to her, it was Macbeth's intense desire for power that had led him to commit murder and ultimately to his downfall.

Mrs. Anderson was right, of course. Macbeth's ambition was a central theme of the play, and everyone who had read it would agree with her. But Ashley didn't. She always had a habit of disagreeing when people discussed topics about power, politics or issues of major consequence.

"I don't think it's just about ambition," Ashley said, her voice rising in frustration. "Macbeth was also influenced by Lady Macbeth and the witches. They played a major role in his downfall."

Mrs. Anderson raised an eyebrow. "Yes, but it was his ambition that made him susceptible to their influence, don't you think?"

Ashley shook her head vigorously. "No, I think he was a good man who got caught up in something he couldn't control. He was manipulated and betrayed by the people he trusted."

Mrs. Anderson looked at Ashley for a long moment, considering her words. "That's an interesting interpretation, Ashley," she said finally. "But it's not one that many scholars or critics would agree with."

"I don't care about what they think," Ashley retorted. "I have my own opinions, and I think they're just as valid as anyone else's."

Mrs. Anderson sighed. "Of course, you're entitled to your own opinions, Ashley. But it's important to be open to other points of view and to consider different perspectives. That's what studying literature is all about."

Ashley folded her arms across her chest. "I know that, Mrs. Anderson. But I still don't think it's just about ambition. There's more to the story than that."

That’s the way Ashley argues, always disagreeing, but she ends up agreeing by the end of her sentence without even knowing it. She might change a word or a phrase but she ends up making the same point you already did.

Mrs. Anderson gave Ashley a gentle smile. "I understand, Ashley. And who knows, maybe you'll convince me to see things your way someday. But for now, let's focus on the text and what it has to teach us."

The bell signaled the end of the class, and I let out a sigh of relief. I had been dreading this moment all morning. It was time for lunch, and that meant I would have to face Trevor.

I packed up my things and started walking towards the door when I saw Jasmine walking towards me and Ash. She had a huge smile on her face, like a proud parent watching her child succeed.

“Great job, Ash!" Jasmine exclaimed, clapping her hands. "You really nailed that argument."

Ash beamed with pride, clearly thrilled with the praise. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Jasmine loved watching Ash argue, and it seemed like she was always pushing her to join more and more debate clubs.

Ash grinned at her. "Thanks, Jasmine. It's always nice to have fans."

“So, are you guys ready for lunch?" Jasmine asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

I nodded, my stomach churning with nerves.

Let's see what Trevor has to discuss with me.