by Lili Lam
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Anya's disbelieving voice said through the receiver of my cell phone. "Rewind and tell me again." She cried excitedly. Really, again? I was explaining to her how Tristan and I are officially together now. After telling Tristan I accepted being his mate and a long make-out session ensued, Tristan asked me to be his girlfriend.
My heart burst with happiness as soon as the words escaped his mouth. I've never had a boyfriend before. Of course, I couldn't explain the entire story to Anya. I had to leave out the whole 'mate' thing along with what I witnessed in the woods. In time, she'll know from Luke. It's not my place to ruin his chance with her. Hopefully, she won't freak out the same way I did.
She's an easy going girl, so I can totally see her thinking Luke and the guys being wolves is the coolest thing since the invention of the Iphone. Anya called me this morning while I was getting dressed for school. The ear-piercing scream that I had to endure was traumatizing.
She heard from Luke last night that Tristan and I are now a couple. Well, that didn't sit very well with her. Boys, they gossip worse than females do! "Why am I the last one to know that my best friend has a boyfriend?" She all but shrieked into my ear before I finished saying hello.
Hence, why I'm having this conversation with her right this Moment. She couldn't wait until after school when she saw me in person to bring any of this up. "I said sorry." I apologized for the tenth time. "I wanted to tell you in person." I scrambled to come up with an excuse so she'd stop screaming. "Listen Anya, I have to finish getting ready for school. Can we talk about this later?"
"You better believe we'll talk about this later." She huffed an annoyed breath into the line, "Be over around six."
"Ok darling, have a great day at school." I sang out. "Love ya bish."
"Love ya too." She grunted before hanging up. I know she's a little angry at the fact that I didn't call her up right away when I got home last night, but I couldn't help it. Last night was like a dream. I hardly recalled getting home, eating dinner, showering or even going to bed.
Pulling on my blue strappy sandals, I took a final glance at myself in the mirror. I decided to leave my hair down and curly today. Hope I look all right, I thought staring at my outfit. I was wearing a pair of gray shorts, a blue tank, and a three-quarter sleeved black cardigan. I rushed out my front door, even though I already knew what would be patiently waiting for me in the driveway. Seeing his angelic face still manages to take my very breath away.
Once again, he was leaning against his truck looking mighty delicious. Wearing a plain white T-shirt with baggy army green cargo shorts and a pair of timberland boots with the laces undone. OM to the friggin G, he gives that thug-look a whole new meaning. He has the sporty look, the baggy look, and don't get me started on when he cleans himself up, eek!
"Like what you see?" Tristan's voice disrupted me from my drool session. If I don't stop, I'm going to make us extremely late. He was smirking at me with a knowing look plastered to his face. My cheeks felt warm, I'm sure they're tinged a scarlet red color as I grew embarrassed. I chewed down on my bottom lip, making my way towards the car.
"Ehh, I've seen better." I mumbled walking by him in a dismissive manner. Before I made it a step past him, I was gripped up into a bear hug from behind. The shock of being picked up off the ground in one swoop caused me to yelp out, "Tristan!" in surprise.
His warm breath against my cheek made me shiver involuntarily. "You've seen better?" He growled his face pressed right up against my ear. "Who is it?" He asked through gritted teeth.
"No I haven't." I admitted shaking my head no, because honestly, I’ve never seen anyone better looking. I let out a giggle. ‘What a jealous buffoon.’ It's so cute though.
"That's what I thought." His chuckle vibrated against my back as he leaned his face down and kissed me on the cheek. "You look beautiful today by the way."
"Thanks, you're looking beautiful today too." I joked getting into the car. He gave me the playful stink-eye as he made his way around to get into the driver's side after shutting my door. Tristan held my hand the entire way to school; it's hard to believe how much has changed in just a matter of days. Things between us felt so, natural. It's hard to explain it's like we don't even have to try to get along with one another. Our different personalities seem to mesh well together.
Pulling into a parking spot right next to Max's Suburban, Tristan gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before he brought the back of it up to his lips. He could probably feel the stress omitting off me in waves. Think anyone noticed both Tristan and I missed school yesterday? I can just imagine the gossip now.
"Don't look so worried." Tristan insisted with a smile. "Luke already let the cat out the bag." His eyes went wide in mock horror. "Everyone knows you're my girl and we're together." Oh god, what does he mean by everyone knows? Everyone as in all the guys or everyone as in the entire freaking school?
I heard the driver door close at the same time my door was yanked open. Max practically dragged me out the truck, twirling me around like a rag doll in an embrace "Aww our wittle Tristan's all grown up and got himself a girlfriend!" Max cried out dramatically causing people to stare at us strangely.
Thanks a lot Max. For those who didn't hear the news from Luke, surely didn't miss it escaping from Max's blabbermouth. "That's quite enough, put her down." Tristan laughed at my horrified expression. Nice to know he gets a kick out of my humiliation.
"We gotta go. Coach called a meeting before homeroom, Tris." Luke said coming over and slapping him on the shoulder. "Wants to go over this year's plays."
"Ok." Tristan answered with a slight nod of the head, he looked a little disappointed. "You going to be alright?" He asked me with concern.
"I'll be fine, I'm sure none of my stalkers will get me while I'm walking to homeroom." I joked giving him a big smile to reassure him I'd be fine.
“That's not funny." Tristan warned with a serious glare. "Maybe you should come with me to the meeting. I'll get coach to give you a pass if we're late."
He can't be serious can he? "I'm not going to the soccer meeting, I'm not even on the team!" I squealed in disbelief. "I promise I'll be fine."
Tristan stood there and stared at me for a few minutes contemplating on what he wanted to do. "Just be careful." He whispered leaning down to hug me then pecking me lightly on the lips.
I watched as he pulled away and walked off towards the soccer field. The rest of the team seemed to be over there waiting on their captain. Coach wasn't on the field yet. Be careful...of what? We're in school for heaven's sake! What could possibly get me while I'm walking to homeroom? Then again, let me not speak too soon. The girls at this school can be vicious, so I've heard. Now that they know Tristan is off the market I can only picture what will happen to me.
Walking into the school I tried holding my head up high as I happened to stroll by Jewel's locker. She was standing around with her usual minions. Let's just say if looks could kill, I'd be laying dead on the ground. The amount of evil daggers thrown my way as they mumbled under their breath about me was chilling.
Stopping at my locker to grab my things, I passed by the main office on my way to homeroom. Just as I walked by, I heard my name being called by Principal White.
"Ahh Annalise, just the person I was looking for." Principal White lilted happily. "I've got a huge favor to ask of you."
I cringed slightly with my back facing the good old principal. Last time he asked me for a favor, it involved volunteering my free period to serve lunch. He was short staffed after one of the lunch ladies called out sick. Let's just say me in a hair net and apron scooping globs of mashed potatoes onto trays was not something I looked forward to in the future.
"Yes Principal White?" I answered in my smallest voice, turning around to face him. My eyes went agape as I took in the guy standing next to him. From what I could see of him, he was good looking. He could fit right in there with Tristan and his group of friends.
This guy was at least six feet tall, brown
hair, mysterious chocolate brown eyes that hid behind the hood he had on his head. I wondered why Principal White hasn't asked him to remove it yet, or maybe he has and the guy refused. He looked older or maybe it was just the scruff that grew along his jaw line. Considering the fact that I’m only sixteen, older to me meant like eighteen or nineteen, Tristan's age.
Not to judge a book by it's cover, but this guy looked bad ass. Like he wasn't the type to follow any rules and did whatever he damn well pleased. "This is our newest student, Axel Fisher." Principal White introduced. "Since you'll have the same homeroom, I was hoping you'd be so kind and show him around."
Ahh great...nerd girl's just been volunteered yet again. Except this time I'd be the new guy's personal tour guide. Breathing out a sigh, I accepted the fact that I wouldn't have much say in this. It's not like I could decline. What's my excuse going to be?
'Sorry Principal White, no can do. My boyfriend's overly protective and would rip this guy limb from limb if I were seen next to him?'
"Hi Axel." I said reintroducing myself properly; I held my hand out for him to shake it. "Nice to meet you, I'm Lise."
At this Principal White thanked me for being such a model student and walked off towards the direction of the teacher's lounge. No doubt to get his third cup of coffee. Axel gave me a shy smile, "Pleasure to meet you Lise." His voice was stealthy yet resonant. Maybe he's not a bad boy and I had him pegged all wrong.
He reached his hand out to grab a hold of mine and as soon as that happened, I began panicking as my breathing quickened and my heart pounded wildly against my chest.
Snatching my hand out of his like I'd been burned, I looked at him in stupefaction. What the hell was that and why were there shocks when he touched me?
From what Tristan explained to me yesterday, those little shockwaves we felt between one another when we touched were because we're mates. So if that's the case and it's something mates share. Why the hell did I just feel what I felt when I touched the new guy Axel Fisher?
Chapter 13: Protector
