I arrived at the school gate of Shadow High School ten minutes early, but I chose not to walk inside yet. I hid behind a large oak tree, hoping to shield myself from the judgmental eyes of other students.School had become my least favorite place, a constant reminder of my differences and the painful truth I discovered when I was thirteen—I couldn't shift like other werewolves because I was wolfless.That revelation turned my life upside down in ways I never could have imagined.I became the different one. The wolfless are born with bad luck, they said. And it did feel like a curse.Since then, I could no longer catch up with my peers who had already shifted in terms of physical strength.Werewolves, especially teenagers in school, valued athletic abilities. Slowly but surely, my friends distanced themselves from me, and I became an outsider amongst my kind.I spent a long time getting used to my “difference”, and I realized I should not let my circumstances define me.I channeled m
“I think we should kick her out of here,” the tanned boy suggested as he passed Lucas, his words dripping with contempt. “She’s the wolfless girl. All of her bad luck is going to rub off on the team.”His use of the term "wolfless" made it sound as if I had some kind of contagious disease.It felt like I was being branded as an outcast, someone to be avoided at all costs.And in some ways, I supposed I was.Lucas, with a furrowed brow, looked at me, his deep blue eyes reminiscent of calm ocean waves after a storm.It was evident he was torn, unsure of what to do.Normally, I would have already left to avoid any further trouble, especially in front of such an intimidating audience. I didn't know if it was because of his familiarity or his hesitation, so I decided to say something for myself."You won't even know I'm here," I managed to say to Lucas.There was a friendliness in his gaze that gave me the courage to continue."I'm only sitting here because it's too hot outside. And beside
"What?" I stared at Jessica in disbelief, my heart racing in my chest.The weight of her words bore down on me, filling me with confusion."We've heard the rumors," Jessica said, her voice filled with both amusement and superiority, as she casually pointed to her group of friends surrounding her. “You’ve been keeping yourself pretty busy today. Haven’t you, Shana?”All of her minions stood there, smirks etched across their faces.Shadow High was a hub of gossip and rumors where whispers spread quickly.Every week there seemed to be a different story that students focused on.But as an outsider, I had always remained on the outskirts, unaware of the intricate network of information swirling around me.I had no friends, after all. There was no one to gossip with."What rumor?" I asked in a barely audible voice, feeling a sense of unease creeping up my spine.Rolling her eyes, Jessica took out her phone from her pocket, a wicked smile playing on her lips. “Don’t even pretend like you don
Everyone in the cafeteria looked surprised to see Lucas standing there, but nobody was more surprised than me.He stood tall and almost looked like a fallen angel with his dark hair framing the edges of his face. His bright blue eyes shined as they scanned the students in the cafeteria.My heart skipped a beat as I watched Jessica, unable to contain her excitement, practically throw herself against Lucas."Lucas, you'll never guess it!" Jessica exclaimed, her voice laced with anticipation. "Shana just confessed her undying love for you!"Lucas turned his gaze towards me, raising an eyebrow inquisitively.His piercing blue eyes now locked onto mine, and I could feel myself blush under his scrutiny.He still held my mother's necklace delicately in his hand, his fingers tracing its intricate design.My voice came out louder than intended as I spoke up, desperately trying to clarify the misunderstanding. "No, I never said that! It’s all just a rumor. That’s it,”I looked down at the neckl
My locker had been forcefully opened, evident by the fact that I couldn't even close it anymore.The lock had been wholly mangled and rendered useless, leaving me with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.An overwhelming wave of anxiety swept through me as I realized that whoever had my diary now possessed all my private and personal secrets.The thought of my deepest thoughts, the details of my bullying experiences, the words of encouragement I wrote to myself, and my heartfelt drawings being exposed to the entire school made my heart race.I knew that if someone decided to broadcast it, I would become the laughingstock once and for all.And why wouldn't they share that information?After all, I was the wolfless girl, the perpetual loser, the outcast who was the primary target of bullying.Amidst my panic, a memory flashed in my mind.It was the photo of me and Bear, my only picture of him.A sense of both comfort and concern washed over me as I contemplated the possible conse
"I recognized you from our photo Jessica sent in the group chat," Lucas explained as he carried me to the nurse's office.One of his hands supported my back while the other was perfectly nestled underneath my thighs.I held onto him tightly.“You could recognize me?” I asked with shock. “I mean, I don’t exactly look the same.”Lucas shook his head. “I don’t know how I didn’t notice before.”He looked down at me carefully and I felt like I was glued to his arms. “Your eyes are still the same.”“You mean a dull, boring, brown?” I joked.“Nothing about you is boring, Shana.” Lucas looked away from me and then, continued to walk forward down the hallways.I swallowed, not allowing his words to affect me as much as I wanted them to.Nothing about you is boring.“Where are you taking me?” I asked him.“The nurse’s office,” Lucas replied. “You have a nasty cut on your forehead.”I relaxed in his arms a bit. Our school nurse knew me well since I had been visiting her frequently since the star
This was my first time skipping class to run away from school. As an outcast, I couldn’t afford to be that rebellious kid.But it seemed like Lucas was quite experienced in doing so, thanks to the secret passageway in the school's basement.I couldn't believe my eyes as Lucas led me outside of the school, away from the prying eyes of teachers and fellow students."Where does your grandma live now?" I asked, trying to keep up with his brisk pace as we headed toward a parking lot adjacent to the school campus."The same old neighborhood," Lucas replied casually, glancing back at me. "It's just a short ride away."I scanned the parking lot, wondering which car belonged to Lucas.However, my question was soon answered when I nearly collided with him as he abruptly stopped in front of me.My eyes widened in disbelief as I peered over his shoulder."Please tell me that's not yours," I blurted out, stunned.With a confident grin, Lucas swung his leg over a sleek, black motorcycle, his hands
Lucas playfully jiggled the finger dolls, eliciting a smile from me.A flood of childhood memories with Lucas rushed into my mind.Lucas took charge of crafting the boy finger dolls, while I took care of the girls.He used to tease mine for their oversized eyes, almost comically disproportionate to their heads.I, on the other hand, would poke fun at his mischievous-looking boys, forever sporting half-smiles."I apologize, Shana," Lucas said in a high-pitched voice, raising his index finger and wiggling one of the girl dolls.Then he lifted another finger, showcasing one of his boys. "We're sorry we disrupted the reunion.""Apologize to Grandma Jo," I addressed the finger doll, without turning to face Lucas.I rose from my seat and headed to the sink to tidy up the dishes.A few moments later, Grandma Jo followed me into the kitchen while I was washing the dishes."What are you doing, dear?" She gently swatted me away from the sink, taking the plate from my hands. "You're my guest her