Chapter 6-01

Second period English was the most boring class I had ever had. But I had rather stayed for a few more minutes than get stuck up at my locker by none other than Jake. He leaned against the open side of my locker, smirking. "Hey, Mary. What're you up to?" I scowled, but didn't even look at him as I switched out my books. I stepped back and closed my locker. Before I could step away, his arm wrapped around my waist, pulling my back to his chest. His breath was at my ears as I searched around frantically for Destiny. "I want you to meet me outside at lunch." I shook my head immediately. His fingers tightened on my hips, and my hands shook and my palms became sweaty. "Meet me outside at lunch." He demanded. I squeaked, hoping he would take it as a yes, and scurried away from him. I was still shaking when I sat down in third period. The desk in front of me jolted as he sat down. I glanced up, expecting to see Jake, but instead Josh smiled back at me. I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Hey!" he said. "I didn't realize we had another class together." In the middle of Josh's sentence, my wolf interrupted, saying, I know! You can call me J! There's a lot more kids with the initial J than I realized. How can I hear you, J? I like it, yes! You let your guard down. It may have something to do with that new kid… do you have eyes for Josh already? He snickered. I blushed deeply and Josh raised an eyebrow, which made me blush even more. Hey! So you do? He chuckled. No—well…—no! Of course not. I haven't even said a word to him. He's just cute, that's all. 'Oh those amazing eyes!' he mocked. I protested, I do not sound like that! "Joshua! Can you please come up here?" Mrs. Cadwell asked. He nodded and went to stand in the front of the class. Is there any way we can talk without you hearing my thoughts? If you spoke to me, then yes. I put my head down as she introduced Joshua to the class, although everyone knew about him. I'm sorry, I whispered, trying hard to not remember anything. How 'bout I meet you in the woods after school? Same spot where we met. Our spot. Sounds great! But I thought you wanted me to forget you. That's basically impossible now, Danny. You know me as a human, you see me every day. I trust you not to tell anyone. You… trust me? I asked slowly as Josh made his way back to his seat. I kinda have to. Friends trust each other, right? I closed my eyes and smiled, but then frowned. Not all the time. What, you don't trust a wolf? He joked. I have issues with that. Ah, I see. It's okay, I'll get through to you eventually, and I know it. I hope so, J. Glad to finally have something to call me? He asked. I don't know. 'My wolf' is growing on me. I am yours, Danny, I promise. He said, sounding like there was a hidden meaning inside. And don't you forget it. Never, he vowed. Don't forget; out spot right after school. I said in a voice that made it obvious I wanted to end the conversation. Of course! He said. Until then, Danny. Bye, J. I smiled and put up the wall. Yes! A white slip of paper appeared on my desk. My name was written on it with sloppy, but readable handwriting. I unfolded it, revealing a sentence that read, "Do you write?" I glanced up at the back of Josh's head, and then up at the teacher with wide eyes "I guess so…" I wrote and folded it back up. On second thought I opened it and added, "No one's ever talked to me. Ever since I stopped talking, my 'friends' wouldn't put up with me and no one else even bothers." I then poked him with the corner of the folded paper. He reached behind his back and grabbed it, bringing it around so he could read it. The distant chatter of Mrs. Cadwell talking stopped along with my heart. She caught us. I thought, glancing up. Her eyes locked with mine and the thrill of being noticed rushed through me for the first time. Before everyone else knew what was going on, she smiled and continued teaching. I sat back and drew my eyebrows together. She smiled… she caught me passing notes and smiled, like she approved. Weird. The paper landed on my desk again. "Then they weren't really friends at all." "Why are you talking to me?" I replied. He was very quick at responding. "No one deserves to be ignored." "So you just feel sorry for me?" "No! I wanted to talk to someone who wasn't falling all over me." I frowned at the paper. He was the new guy; new, fresh meat for the girls. But he was expecting me not to have even the tiniest crush on him when he was the only guy who talks to me. "Destiny?" I asked. "Yes… you know her?" "She's my sister." I wrote reluctantly. "Her? She's your sister?" "Unfortunately…and her boyfriend wants to meet me during lunch. I don't know what he wants, but I don't think I want to." "Do you want me to go with you?" "You'd do that?" "Well, yes. It seems like this guy scares you." "He does. A lot." Well, that was kid of the truth. The thought of Destiny catching us scared me more than he did, but he did still scare me. "You scare easily, don't you?" "Yea," "So are you gonna tell me why you don't speak out loud?" "It's personal, Josh." He sighed lowly. "Okay," he wrote a minute later. I was afraid he would bring up me not talking again, so I didn't respond. Instead, I put it in my bag for later. Something to remember a conversation by. Joshua walked with me to the cafeteria, but it still felt like I wasn't there. All the pretty girls were surrounding him, flirting like there was no tomorrow. He was smiling, and being polite, but I could tell he wasn't enjoying the attention like any other guy would. One clasped his hand in hers, and a hot pain flashed through my stomach. Someone clutched my arm rightly, making me go stiff as I walked. Destiny's shrill voice hissed in my ear, "You try anything, and you are dead. You understand me? He's mine. You have no chance with the new boy. So don't even try. He's gonna want a pretty girl, not some shy little whore who wants attention." No one else seemed to hear her little rant of power, and I just nodded. I knew I didn't have a chance at getting a boyfriend, and I wasn't going to try, but she was too stupid to realize that. I slowed, letting the group I had no reason being with pass me. I walked slower, looking down at my feet. Reluctantly, I made my way out the cafeteria doors toward the old willow tree planted in remembrance of those who died on 9/11. Jake was already waiting for me, leaning against the tree like he owned it and it meant nothing else. He smirked at me as I approached. "Danny!" he greeted. Normally, I would've nodded, but this time I didn't do anything. I stopped ten feet from him. He smiled devilishly and closed the distance between us. His hand trailed up my stomach. "Look, so you know the new kid?" he asked.