CHAPTER TWO

There are some days that already feel like shit before they even start. 

This was one of those days. 

The air felt weird and the sky was bright and the sun burnt too hot. 

“Class,” Mr. Cartwright said, adjusting his glasses and waving towards the door. “We have a new student, Maya, would you please take him around on your way to the office and get him his class schedule?” 

Of course. 

Because why not add tour guide to my growing list of responsibilities in school? 

I stood up slowly as the door opened. A tall figure stepped inside, and just like that the entire classroom went silent. 

The boy didn’t look nervous as every new student would be. 

He looked like he was already bored. 

But not in a bad boy way… just in an ‘I guess I have to be here’ way. 

Like none of us mattered. 

But still, he had that aura like he knew he commanded the room and he wasn’t performing. 

No, he looked like he genuinely didn’t care if anyone liked him or not. 

His eyes were the thing that held me steady, they were the kind of eyes that make you forget what you were doing. 

“This is Louis,” Mr Cartwright said. “Louis, this is Maya. She’ll show you around today, she’s in charge of the Anti-Werewolf Fair, so you’re in good hands.” 

Louis looked at me. 

Like he was reading me, like he knew something about me that I didn’t know. 

“Hi,” I said.. 

He nodded once but didn’t smile. 

*** 

We walked down the hall, I was slightly ahead of him. I kept my pace even, my arms full of flyers and buttons. 

The silence was thick, like something was waiting to be said but no one wanted to say it. 

“So,” I spoke first, “where’d you move from?” 

Louis shrugged. “Here and there.” 

Keeping the mystery. 

“Okay. This is the library,” I pointed, “but no one really uses it unless they’re going for a quick nap or to get away from Zelda.”

He smirked. “You say that like it’s personal,” he said. 

I blinked. “What?” 

“Zelda. You say the name like it has a bad taste.” 

I turned slightly to look at him. 

He was watching me intently, like a puzzle he was trying to solve and he was almost done. 

“She’s not my favorite person,” I replied honestly. 

“Why not?” 

I raised an eyebrow. “You like asking questions a lot don’t you?” 

He didn’t answer. 

But he looked like he was enjoying himself. 

I kept walking. 

*** 

We arrived the Principal’s office and the secretary had that fake smile that was permanently glued to her face. She handed Louis his schedule and transfer papers while giving him a look. 

I felt weirded out by how she batted her eyelashes at him. 

Did I forget to mention he was drop dead handsome?

As we turned to leave, I saw the wicked witch of Houston. 

Zelda. 

She had on bright red lipstick, that wasn’t there this morning. 

“Oh, Mr Evers,” she gave the principal a blinding smile. “I just heard about the new student! How exciting!” 

“Zelda, my dear.” The principal beamed. 

“Perfect timing. Maybe you can help Maya show Louis around. You’re both the top students of the school.” 

I opened my mouth, ready to speak. 

“Actually,” Zelda cut in. “This is more my forte and Maya has a lot on her plate with the upcoming fair and memorial. I think I can take the new student off her hands for a bit.” 

The principal didn’t even look at me before agreeing. 

“You’re right! Maya, you’re excused. Zelda will handle it.”

My jaw tightened. 

Louis didn’t say anything, but when I glanced at him, he looked slightly pissed. 

He didn’t even look at Zelda. 

“Whatever,” I muttered under my breath before brushing past Zelda. 

I told myself I wasn’t jealous. 

It was just Zelda. Getting her way with her charm. 

It had nothing to do with Louis. 

*** 

The day was slow. 

I didn’t see Louis again, not during lunch and not in the halls. I didn’t even see him after school and I didn’t think much about it. At least that’s what I told myself every time I scanned a group of students and didn’t see him. 

I walked home, my backpack on my shoulders. The Hawkes would be home late today. They had therapy appointment, I think, or maybe they had visited the cemetery. 

I wasn’t sure which… the only blank spaces in our schedule board were those that had to do with their son. 

As I crossed the street, I heard footsteps behind me. 

Not fast. But close. Too close. 

I stopped and so did the footsteps. 

I turned around, my heartbeat faster.

Louis. 

He was just standing there. 

Walking, at the same pace with me and in my street. 

“Are you following me now?” I asked, I was more annoyed than afraid after finding out it was him. 

He didn’t flinch. 

“No,” he said calmly. “I’m just going home.”

I scoffed. “Are you going into the woods? Because I know everyone on this street.” 

He jerked his head towards the house next to mine. 

He walked past me without another word, opened the gate beside my house and stepped inside like he’d lived there forever. 

I stood frozen with shame. 

He looked back and his eyes met mine. 

“I guess you don’t know everyone on

this street then, neighbor.” He said. 

Then he turned around and went inside.