My Friends and My Bully Chapter 01

Anna

From 6th Grade to 9th Grade, my life had been nothing but suffering. Being called a fat pig by my worst nightmare in school–Piper–was a daily thing for me. I’d get teased, slammed into a locker, kicked, spilled coffee on… The list went on and on. One would think getting at home, things might be better and more comforting, but it was the opposite.

My father hated me, my brother pretended I didn’t exist most of the time, and to be honest, maybe that was for the better. Being accused of being responsible for my mother’s death was a burden I had carried ever since I was born.

*****

I rested my chin in my hand, elbow pressed against the cool top of my desk.

Piper and her friends were tittering near the doorway, speaking in hushed tones only occasionally interrupted by squeals.

Caleb appeared in the doorway, leaning lazily against it with his arms crossed tightly over his chest.

The summer had been kind to him, chiseling his features, taking the boyishness out of his face and leaving the stone solid features of a man. Stubble spread over his square jaw, his once round cheeks now angular and tan. I leaned back at my desk, unsure of why he was here. I just wanted homeroom to start so I could get on with my day.

Aaron breezed in after him, another shocking display of masculinity. He had filled out, and was probably at least two inches taller than he’d been at the end of last school year. His t-shirt hugged his biceps, his jeans clinging to the full muscles of his thighs as he strolled in.

Like his brother, the camp they had supposedly attended over the summer seemed to have helped him prepare for his role as future Alpha. I wished it would have helped prepare him for his role as a student, so he would just sit the fuck down and let us all move on with our day.

He sank into a desk at the back of the classroom, making room for his friends to file in after him.

The rest of the Alpha pack waltzed in, all the males who were born into ranked families, destined for greatness because their parents held titles and ranks. Word was that they’d all gone to some kind of elite training camp this summer, and now that I saw them, I believed it.

My father hadn’t told me where my brother had been, but as he strutted into the classroom, it was clear he’d made good use of his summer too. He would be taking my father’s place as Gamma when we graduated, and Robert had clearly taken that seriously. His face was more solemn, and he had also filled out, grown a little taller.

He breezed past Piper without a second glance. The slack jawed look she gave him did grant me some pleasure, but the glare he leveled at me afterwards sucked it all away.

Something feral and wild stirred in the back of my mind. I knew what it was. I heard stories about what this was like, about what finally meeting your wolf was like. But I was only sixteen, and I wasn’t supposed to get my wolf until I turned eighteen. Still, the wolf clawing at the back of my consciousness scratched and howled, thrashing against something deep in my mind.

Beta Elias had shown me breathing techniques, helped me learn to settle her over the summer. As far as I knew, he was the only one who knew of my wolf, the only one who knew the raw power that she possessed, that flowed through my veins.

Betas Declan and Roman strolled in behind my brother, broad shouldered and handsome. They matched the other three, taller and more graceful. And more pompous. If I’d been brave enough, I might have even rolled my eyes at this ridiculous display.

Caleb straightened, turning without a word and disappearing back out into the hall. He was a grade ahead of the rest of us, so he had somewhere else to be, somewhere other than a homeroom class full of sophomores.

A solid slap rang out, knocking my head to the side and making the room spin. I realized I’d flown out of my desk, landing hard on the tile floor. I clutched instinctively at my cheek, snapping to see who had hit me.

Piper.

I should have known.

“Take a picture, bitch, it’ll last longer. They’re not interested in being ogled by a fat ass like you,” she sneered.

The classroom erupted into laughter, merciless jeering that made my eyes burn and threatened to make me cry. I wasn’t interested in those pompous assholes either. Piper was clearly just upset that not a single one of them had even spared her a second glance as they came in, deciding to take her frustration out on me.

I ran my tongue across my bottom lip, tasting the familiar coppery tang of blood. I must have hit my mouth when I fell. It didn’t matter. Ever since my wolf appeared, I healed so much faster. Swallowing away the little smear of blood, I ran my tongue over my lip again, testing. As I expected, it was already healed.

I climbed slowly to my feet, running a hand through my hair. The whole classroom was watching me. The Alpha pack boys seemed emotionless, unaffected. At least they weren’t laughing.

Because everyone else was watching me, no one else saw Madeline slink into the classroom. I couldn’t say I always agreed with her methods, but I was proud of how far she’d come since she was that crying girl in the hallway, sobbing over a broken science project.

Which was why I said nothing as she pulled off the lid of her drink, and dumped it over Piper’s head.

Piper screeched, turning on her heels to glare at Madeline. Upon discovering who she was though, Piper said nothing, only stood fuming as Madeline’s feline grin crept across her face.

“What’s the matter, Pipes, cat got your tongue?” Madeline purred.

A furious squeal erupted from Piper’s throat, but it was the only reaction Madeline could drag from her. Madeline turned on her heels, satisfied when the classroom turned their scrutiny and mockery on Piper instead of on me. She huffed a laugh as she stepped out into the hall.

Piper’s anger was barely leashed, something skittering dangerously under her skin. My wolf stirred, snapping lazy teeth in her direction. Whatever it was, my wolf didn’t see it as much of a threat. Piper’s eyes darted between Aaron and the door where Caleb had thankfully disappeared from moments ago.

The whole thing made so much more sense now. Piper was so desperate for the attention of the Alpha pack boys that she would do anything to get it.

She leaned down into my space, scowling at where the red mark on my cheek was quickly disappearing.

“Looks like I’ll have to find new ways to entertain myself,” she muttered, straightening again.

I laid my head back down on the desk, praying that this day would just already be over.