Chapter 10: First Day Shadows

The next morning came quicker than I expected. Sunlight slipped through the curtains in my new room. Downstairs, cabinets opened and closed. Coffee started brewing. I pulled on jeans and a plain black shirt, ran a hand through my hair, and headed down. Ryan and Lila were already at the kitchen table. Cereal bowls sat out, and a speaker played low in the background.

“Ready for this?” Ryan asked, sliding a bowl my way.

“As ready as I’ll get,” I said, sitting down. My stomach felt tight. School. After all this time, it sounded strange.

Lila smiled across the table. “You’ll be fine. Just act normal.”

We finished breakfast quick, then piled into Ryan’s car. The drive to Beacon Hills High took about fifteen minutes. Streets passed by with teenagers and youths pulling up in cars and bikes. The school building came into view, big brick walls and a wide parking lot already filling up. Cars honked lightly as everyone found spots. I watched groups of teenagers laughing and shoving each other by the doors. Normal stuff.

Ryan parked near the front office. “Let’s get you signed in.”

Inside, the office smelled like old paper and fresh coffee. A lady behind the counter looked up when we walked in. Ryan handled most of the talking, showing some papers the pack had fixed up overnight. Transfer records, address stuff. Lila stood beside me.

“Jax here is starting today,” Ryan explained. “He just moved closer from the countryside.”

The lady nodded, typing on her computer. “Welcome to Beacon Hills. Here’s your schedule, Jax. First class is biology in classroom 212.”

I took the paper, folding it once. “Thanks.”

Ryan checked his watch. Time for him to head out. He pulled me and Lila aside near the door while others moved through the halls.

“Be careful,” he told Lila, voice low but firm. “Don’t attract attention. Keep your head down if anything feels off and call for your brother immediately.”

Lila nodded. “I will.”

Then Ryan turned to me. His eyes locked on mine. “Look after her, Jax. That’s your main job here. Watch her back. Anything feels wrong, you text me right away.”

“I got it,” I said. “She’ll be okay with me around.”

He gave my shoulder a squeeze, then headed out. The door swung shut behind him, and the noise of the school swallowed us up again.

Lila glanced at my schedule. “Which class first?”

“Biology, classroom 212,” I told her.

She waved for me to follow. “Come on. I’ll walk you there.”

The halls were crowded. Lockers slammed, voices echoed off the walls. Posters for sports teams and club meetings covered the bulletin boards. We weaved through it all, Lila pointing out the library and cafeteria on the way.

“Meet me by the big oak tree out back when the last bell rings,” she said, stopping outside classroom 212. “It’s quiet there. We can walk home together.”

“Sounds good,” I replied. “Thanks, Lila.”

She gave a quick wave and disappeared into the flow of students. I took a breath and pushed the door open.

A lecture was already going on. The teacher stood at the front, chalk in hand, talking about a bone fracture or something. Heads turned when I stepped in. My heart beat faster. I felt every eye on me.

“Excuse me,” I said, voice a bit rough. “Is this biology class?”

The lecturer, a woman with glasses and short hair, paused. She checked a note on her desk. “Jax?”

“Yeah, that’s me,” I answered.

“We got a call you’d be joining us.” She smiled a little. “Good timing. Class, this is Jax. He’s a transfer student. Make him feel welcome.”

Whispers started right away. I heard them as I walked to an empty desk. “New guy looks tough.” Some girls in the back row glanced my way, smiles lingering a second too long. A couple guys near the window sized me up, one cracking his knuckles like he saw fresh meat for pushing around. I kept my face straight and sat down next to a guy with messy brown hair and a girl with glasses who was doodling in her notebook.

The lecture picked up again. I tried to focus, but my mind wandered to the forest fight yesterday.

The guy next to me leaned over after a few minutes. “Hey, I’m Mike,” he whispered. “First day, huh?”

“Jax,” I said back. “Yeah, just got here.”

The girl on the other side looked up. “I’m Sarah. Nice to meet you.”

We kept it quiet so the teacher wouldn’t notice. Mike passed me a spare notebook. “You’ll need this. Mrs. Hale moves fast.”

“Thanks,” I muttered. Small talk filled the gaps between notes. Mike asked where I moved from. I kept it vague, said up north. Sarah mentioned the upcoming game. By the end of class, it felt less heavy.

The day went on like that. More rooms, more faces. I switched classes, met a few other youths like me in passing. Lunch was loud in the cafeteria. I grabbed a tray and found a corner spot. Lila waved from across the room but stayed with her group. Good. No need to stick too close yet.

When the final bell rang, I headed outside. Mike caught up with me near the doors. We walked slowly, talking more.

“You seem alright,” Mike said. “Most new guys act weird the first day.”

I shrugged. “Trying to fit in.”

He glanced around, then lowered his voice. “Listen, there’s this thing people talk about. At night, a wolf’s been seen in the hallways here. Howling sometimes. Shadows moving where they shouldn’t. Probably just stories, but…”

My skin prickled. A wolf. In school. I kept my face calm. “Sounds crazy.”

“Yeah right?” Mike said. “But some others swear it’s real. I’m checking it out tonight. Around 10:30. You in? Meet by the side gate.”

Before I could answer, Lila’s voice cut through. “Jax! Over here!”

She stood by the oak tree, waving. I looked back at Mike.

“Think about it,” he said quickly. “Could be fun. Or nothing.”

I just looked at him without a word and headed toward Lila. My mind spun as I walked. Mike seemed alright, but that story… What kind of guy talks about wolves on day one? Would I really go meet him later, sneak back here at night? Or just ignore it and stay home safe with Ryan and Lila?

Deep down, though, I felt that pull. Eager. Curious. If there really was something wolf-related at this school, I needed to know. It could be trouble. Or it could be connected to us. Either way, the thought stuck with me as Lila and I started the walk home. The normal school day was done, but something bigger felt like it was just starting.

“What was that about?” Lila asked as we left the grounds.

“Nothing much,” I said. “Just making friends.”

She gave me a look but didn’t push. The streets felt different now. Like they hid more than I first thought. Beacon Hills wasn’t just any school. And I might already be in, deeper than I planned.