by Lou Grimes
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know I was doing it,” Louvette said honestly. She was struggling to pay attention.
From the corner of her eye, Louvette could see Emily Bonesteel sneering at the fact that Louvette got in trouble. Emily sat two rows over, level with Louvette’s desk. The temptation to throw the pencil at Emily flooded her. She let the feeling flow right through her. With Louvette’s luck, she’d throw the pencil too hard and it would end up stabbing her. The possibility of mortally wounding her was an extra incentive that she chose to ignore for the sake of her school record. Publicly stabbing people wouldn’t be a skill she could list on a college application. In private, she might be able to do so unnoticed, but that was another beast entirely.
Now honing in on the dreg sitting beside her, Louvette could hear her leg bouncing continuously. Emily’s legs were crossed, showing off a pair of ripped jeans that would have gotten her banned from any school other than Whitefish Academy for the overabundant display of skin. Being from one of the founding families gave her the power to dress as skimpily as she desired. Unfortunately, she wasn’t using her power for something that mattered, like getting the school a new library. Emily’s arms were crossed over her chest, stretching her tight plain white button up to the max as she no doubt intended to.
Louvette huffed and then tried to focus on the lecture. Only a minute or two passed when the tapping started up again. She glanced at her hand, but understood immediately it wasn’t coming from her.
Bonesteel was now tapping her pencil in the same manner Louvette had been doing before. To make matters worse, Emily was smirking at Louvette akin to the pure evil spawn she was. She continued for a few seconds before the teacher lost her patience. The second the teacher spoke, Emily stopped.
“Louvette Blackwood, if you disrupt this class one more time, you are going to be in detention,” the teacher reprimanded her again.
“It’s not me,” Louvette defended, shaking her head.
“I saw you doing it the last time. It is you. Now stop,” the teacher snapped. The teacher 100% believed that Louvette had committed this crime. She could see it in her eyes. There was no second of hesitation. Louvette had been placed on the misbehaving list in her mind.
“Whatever,” Louvette growled, seeing that Emily wasn’t going to stop. Louvette crossed her arms and waited for the inevitable. She didn’t have to be psychic to predict she was going to get in trouble, thanks to Emily.
The lecture began again.
From the teacher’s tight voice, she was expecting the tapping as soon as she started. This time Emily waited a full five minutes to start thumping her pencil, dragging the torture out. The brat held off until the teacher’s voice had relaxed.
“Ms. Blackwood, please leave my class. You are disturbing everyone in here who is trying to learn something. You can finish going over this lecture in detention tomorrow,” the teacher said.
“Fine,” Louvette growled, comprehending that no amount of arguing was going to change this teacher’s mind. It was only detention. Nothing new that Louvette hadn’t experienced a million times before.
Full of hurt, she stormed out. Louvette had liked this teacher, but not even giving her the benefit of the doubt had made Louvette bitter in that instant. The thought of throwing her backpack at the wall was pleasing, but actions like that might get the wrong people noticing her.
The next class wasn’t for another twenty minutes. She roamed the halls like a zombie searching for brains since her own was missing. After walking off some stress, she decided to go wait outside Cara’s class.
Louvette slid to the ground and waited once again. She was ready for this day to be over even more than before. Thankfully, Cara was in her next class. That brought some light to the darkness of being unfairly deemed a misbehaving young woman– by her favorite teacher, no less. She tilted her head up and closed her eyes as Arsen had taught her. The method he taught her was basically meditating to release the demons swirling in her head.
Resting her head on her knees, she pictured the place she loved most to escape this reality. The place she loved most was obvious: the forest. She imagined herself running in the forest as a wolf, bounding through snow.
Her heartbeat slowed. Peace entered her heart. A sense of clarity came over her, helping to release her grudges. She let her anger toward her teacher go. She let her vexation towards Emily go as well, although Louvette doubted she deserved it.
The bell ringing jolted her out of her peaceful place.
Cara walked out. She stopped at the sight of Louvette sitting on the floor.
“How did you get here so fast?” Cara asked, intrigued.
“I got kicked out of class,” Louvette said, frustrated. She stood up and they started heading down the hall to their next class. Students darting through the halls now filled the space, so they walked at a steady pace to be able to talk outside the classroom.
“You got in trouble? What did you do?” Cara wondered out of amazement. Louvette couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped at Cara’s look of shock.
She could understand Cara’s bewilderment because, since arriving at Whitefish Academy, she had a spotless record here.
“I didn’t do anything. Emily got me in trouble,” Louvette said fiercely.
“How did she get you in trouble?” Cara asked, letting Louvette vent.
“She pretended she was me, but still acted like herself,” Louvette said. Cara’s eyebrows started to knit together.
“What?” Cara questioned uncomprehendingly.
“Well, I annoyed my teacher first from tapping a pencil, but didn’t realize I was doing it so loud. She pretended she was me and kept tapping since we sit near each other,” Louvette explained further.
“Oh, I’m sorry she’s so nasty to you. She wasn’t half bad in middle school, but I think her hormones put her through a ringer,” Cara said.
“Don’t be sorry. This isn’t your fault,” Louvette said. They walked in silence for a few mournful minutes, imagining what life would be like with no Emily Bonesteel in the world.
“Are you ready for tonight?” Louvette asked on a more positive note.
“You mean, am I ready for junk food, movies, and some girl talk?” Cara asked without expecting an answer.
“Yeah,” Louvette answered, smiling.
“Of course I am. Is that even an actual question?” Cara asked. They stopped at their final class.
“Would you like me to bring anything specific?” Cara asked.
“Just bring whatever food you want, besides pizza; I’ve got that covered,” Louvette instructed her, pointing to herself.
“Sounds great,” Cara said beaming.
They were both too exhilarated to focus, so they spent the whole class sending notes back and forth. The teacher never spotted their notes. Since technology had brought forth the overuse of cell phones, their teachers had lost the ability to detect notes. Now, they could pick out perpetual phone users more. Soon, the final bell rang as the school day came to an end.
***
Her doorbell dinged later that night when Cara finally arrived. Louvette flew downstairs as an eagle shapeshifter majestically cut through the sky. The house smelled tantalizing from the bitter dark chocolate Louvette was melting for fondue.
“Is your mom here?” Cara asked, eyes flicking around the house as if she might come out to greet her.
“No, she’s at work until super late. However, I told her that we were having girls’ night, so she won’t bother us,” Louvette said.
“Oh! You didn’t have to do that, but I appreciate it,” Cara said.
“I didn’t ask her not to come around. She said she wouldn’t. She freaking loves you,” Louvette revealed.
“Everyone usually does. Why does she, though?” Cara asked, laughing.
“Because she came in on me working on my entry piece for the Art Institute of Chicago. I never thought college was an option before you,” Louvette explained, waiting for Cara to take in
the barely hidden message in her words.
“That’s so nice of you to say,” Cara started to say. She paused. Louvette tried to not let her grin slip, though it was extremely hard to resist.
“You’re going to college with me,” Cara squealed.
“I’m applying, but that doesn’t mean I’ll get in,” Louvette said in a warning tone.
“You will get in,” Cara proclaimed, more confident in Louvette than she was in herself.
“How can you tell? You’ve never even seen my work,” Louvette said.
“I’ve seen your doodles on the pages when you get bored in class. You have enough talent to be accepted,” Cara said with conviction.
“Thank you,” Louvette said, flattered that she had paid attention to her doodles. The scribbles on the side of school papers were nothing compared to what she could accomplish on some quality art paper and her medium of choice, like sketching.
“Would it be an invasion of privacy if I asked to see something on canvas?” Cara asked gently.
“Not at all,” Louvette said. An invasion of privacy would have been helping herself to Louvette’s work without asking.
“I’m so excited!” Cara exclaimed.
“Let’s go to my room. That’s where all my work is,” Louvette told her.
Cara followed Louvette up to her room.
Louvette started to grab some of her completed pieces. She looked up in time to see Cara picking up her entrance piece.
“This isn’t finished yet. This is going to be a key piece in my portfolio that I’m going to submit for my application, I think,” Louvette cautioned warily. She made a mental note not to leave it out for anyone else to see, but there was no one else in her life that didn’t know yet.
Louvette scrutinized Cara’s brow furrowing for a minute. Louvette wished more than anything, to see the flash of awareness of the supernatural world. There was nothing, unless she’d missed it. No minuscule flash of recognition passed over her face when she saw the Lupine sketched before her eyes. The picture quality wasn’t the reason; her mother had recognized it the second she saw it.
“This is really cool. Where did you come up with the idea for it?” Cara asked.
Louvette’s mouth tilted as she lost hope of Cara finding out about Lupines on her own. Someone had to tell her. It was about to be Louvette if the Rivers’ didn’t wilt under pressure like the flowers that they were. From the amount of security the Rivers’ had on their compound, Louvette would bet that Cara’s father was terrified of something unnatural getting in.
“I got the idea from the town’s werewolf legends when I first moved here,” Louvette said neutrally, not aiming to put any words in her head because she had promised Arsen she wouldn’t. Louvette was all but playing charades with her and Cara wasn’t seeing the worlds around her.
She inaudibly sighed when Cara finally put it down.
They spent the next hour or so poring through Louvette’s portfolio. Cara’s interest in the topic kept them so long they didn’t watch any terrible chick flicks.
Cara’s stomach growled before Louvette’s could. Giggling ensued until Louvette could get herself together long enough to order pizza.
After they were stuffed, the two of them sat back and enjoyed the stars that now illuminated the sky.
“This could be us in a year,” Cara said, painting an enjoyable picture to Louvette. Louvette couldn’t help but wonder where Arsen would be when she went to college. She couldn’t genuinely see him at the Art Institute of Chicago. She had no clue if he would want to go to college at all. He was constantly busy with pack duties now. She doubted he could even leave since he was kind of the heir apparent around here.
“It sounds like a fairy tale,” Louvette said. It did for some reason. If her college years were anything like this last year had been, she wouldn’t have time to enjoy it. She hoped for a normal college experience. She’d at least strive to have a blast while she was at college. They were silent. Their stuffed bellies had calmed the two of them for a few peaceful moments. The only sounds were the ones of nature since the window was open for them.
“How are things going between you and Garrett?” Louvette asked.
“Great. He’s been fairly busy, so we’ve spent more time making out than arguing,” Cara said to her. Louvette laughed.
“That was way too much information, but thanks for that image. It’s now burned on my brain,” Louvette said.
“Did you meet my parents at the Whitecreek Christmas party?” Cara asked out of the blue. It was Louvette’s turn to pause. She wondered if Cara’s father had told his daughter about their interaction.
“I did meet them for a second. Did your mother mention me?” Louvette questioned back. She was dubious Cara’s father would, but there was still a chance for Cara’s mother to have.
“Cindy is not my mother. She’s my stepmom,” Cara corrected Louvette. Things made more sense to Louvette now. Cara didn’t seem anything like Mrs. Rivers, either. Cindy Rivers didn’t react to anything; it was as if she was carved out of stone. She acted like someone who didn’t care. That conclusion hurt Louvette, so it had to hurt Cara.
“Where’s your mother, if you don’t mind me asking?” Louvette explored further.
“She died after bringing me into this world,” Cara explained. A ghost of pain and tears filled the corner of her eyes.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t know,” Louvette said.
“Not the first thing I tell people, to be honest,” Cara said.
“I completely understand. I’m always here if you need someone to talk to,” Louvette responded.
“You know what’s the worst? I’m pretty sure he blames me for it,” Cara added.
“Surely not,” Louvette said, attempting to convince herself and Cara that was not the case. However, there was something horribly wrong with their relationship. She had no clue what it was, but it was making Cara bitter toward her father. Louvette couldn’t blame her. There was a chance he did blame her. Louvette hoped differently for both their sakes.
“He does. He barely acknowledges my existence,” Cara said.
“I bet he’s just busy,” Louvette comforted her.
“He has plenty of time for my stepbrothers. They are always hanging out,” Cara pointed out.
“I’m sorry,” Louvette said. She had no other words for her. Pity for Cara filled her. The pity must have shown through her eyes.
“That’s how it’s always been. It was only me on my own, but now I have you,” Cara said.
“Yeah, you do,” Louvette promised guiltily. She was skeptical Cara would feel the same whenever she was told about Louvette being a Lupine.
“Enough of all the moping. Let’s have fun,” Cara announced, noticeably gaining her composure again.
“I’m down. What do you want to do?” Louvette asked, ready for the fun she talked about. She and Cara thought for a few minutes before Cara spoke.
“Let’s play truth or dare,” Cara said. Louvette did her best not to noticeably flinch from the game Cara wished to play.
“Ain’t that sort of a kid’s game? What’s next? Spin the bottle?” Louvette asked. She was far from the picture of maturity that she was painting, but hoped to lead Cara away from that option of fun.
“I’ve always been a bit immature, please,” Cara begged, hopping up and down. She was a kid on a candy high as if to prove her point.
“Okay,” Louvette said, giving in unwillingly. Cara was such a force of nature that Louvette almost felt horrible for Garrett because she doubted he would or could tell her no.
Cara clambered off the seat onto the floor. She crossed her legs animatedly. Louvette moved more slowly, but soon was mirroring Cara’s position on the floor.
“Who’s going to go first?” Louvette asked.
“Let’s flip a coin,” Cara said, digging into her pocket. She pulled out a quarter, then placed it on her thumb. She flipped the quarter into the air. It flipped several absurdly long times. The quarte
r landed on the floor and finally clanged to a sudden stop. The two of them leaned forward to check.
Cara laughed. She smacked her hand down on the quarter, picking it up in the process.
“Your turn,” she said, giving her a saucy smirk.
“This should be entertaining,” Louvette said, shaking her head at Cara’s antics.
“Truth or dare?” Cara asked.
“Dare,” Louvette announced.
“Hmmm Louvette Blackwood, I dare you to tell me how awesome I am,” Cara instructed.
“Cara, you are so awesome, and life would be terribly boring without you,” Louvette exaggerated, but only a little. Whitefish might not have been as entertaining if she hadn’t met Cara.
“Now, my turn. Truth or dare, Cara?” Louvette asked, perfectly aware of which one Cara would pick.
“Dare, of course,” Cara said, before jumping down in front of Louvette, waiting for her answer.
“Now that you got a fix, I dare you to go an hour of not telling the world you’re its gift to mankind,” Louvette responded.
“This is going to be difficult, but okay,” Cara admitted. Louvette had no doubt her task might have been the most difficult rule for Cara to follow.
“Truth or dare, Louvette?” she asked.
“Dare,” Louvette started to say.
“No, ma’am. You cannot pick the same thing twice in a row,” Cara scolded her.
“Since when was that a rule?” Louvette asked while giggling.
“House rules, since I started the game,” Cara said. House rules were a figment of Cara’s imagination, but Louvette let her play her games. Playing games was Cara’s favorite pastime.
“Okay. Truth, since I have no choice,” Louvette replied.
“Do you believe in things that go bump in the night?” Cara asked in a deadpan tone.
The room was painfully silent. Louvette’s face was frozen as she was unsure how to answer.
“Because I’ll still love you if you do,” Cara added. For a minute, Cara kept a straight face, but her façade crumpled as she collapsed into giggling.
Cara giggled for the longest that she had ever laughed in front of Louvette. Louvette reciprocated her laugh, becoming aware of her tension slipping away. After a few seconds too long, Louvette’s giggling halted.
