Warning: Violence(Fighting) in the middle of this chapter

The last few weeks of school went by quickly and soon it was summer break. Most of the summer was eventful, Lulu and I spent some time together in the woods, the beach, the skating rink, the park and the library. Mike and Kevin even tagged along with us a few times. Lulu and I had sleepovers–my sisters would be absolutely ecstatic and would join us. 

Lulu and I decided to ditch the whole "learning about werewolves" thing until I was ready to know more. I wasn't really eager about it anymore, I didn't want to stress myself out with this new identity.

I had also moved in with my aunt, Mellissa, due to unknown reasons that my mom wouldn't explain. I never saw my mom since I had moved in with Mellissa. I was so confused but I eventually brushed it off.

Aside from hanging out with Lulu, I did spend time with Mike and Kevin. We would go to the local park and play basketball either one on one or with the other neighborhood kids. Josh was on vacation for half of the summer and I was honestly happy about that. 

Kevin, Mike, and I had movie nights or tv show marathons, watching the entire first season of Supernatural and watching every season of Superman: The Animated Series including Batman: The Animated Series. We stayed up playing video games until 4 am in the morning.

But then came July and this one day just had to be the one day to mess up my summer mood–the day Josh came back from his vacation. It was July 2, 2006 Sunday afternoon. I was hanging out with my friends in my room.

I was lounging in my saucer chair as I was reading my letter that I had received from Lulu. Since this was the mid-2000s, cell phones weren't really a huge thing and Lulu and I didn't own any cellphones at the time. Lulu and I wrote letters to each other instead of talking on the house phone. Writing letters was more personal for us.

Josh, who was one of my friends but more like a frenemy–suddenly snatched the letter from my hands.

"What's this Jake?" he asked, eyes scanning the page.

"Give it back," I demanded as I tried to snatch it back, but he moved the paper out of my reach.

Josh had been in my life since first grade. He had some bad habits—he had a habit of getting on my nerves. He could be aggressive either through physical actions or speech. Honestly, I just dealt with it.

"Dude, what's with you and these letters? I see you reading them all the time," Kevin said, folding his arms and looking at me with a raised eyebrow. Kevin is my best friend. I met him in 6th grade when he moved from Sacramento, California. He's a year older than me though, but in the same grade.

"They're all from Lulu, if you must know," I told them, already annoyed.

"Would you guys leave him alone?" my other best friend, Mike, said sternly.

"Josh, give him the letter back."

I also met Mike in first grade. Mike is a bit humorous and easygoing as well as understanding. Mike and I were like two peas in a pod. We did everything together, more than I did with Kevin and Josh. He's been by my side ever since.

Josh ignored him. He just kept the letter in his hand. His face had a smug expression. He proceeded to say in a mocking tone, "Why do you even like Lulu? She's nothing special."

I gave him the evil eye as anger bubbled inside me. In seconds, the letter was ripped in half. Mike and Kevin gasped. My hands clenched into fists.

"You asshole!" I shouted as I lunged at him.

Josh didn't even have time to react before my fist smashed into his nose. My friends quickly pulled me off of him before I damaged his face further.

"Get. Out," I growled at Josh, still heaving in anger. His hand was clutching his nose as he stared at me with wide eyes.

"But–"

"Get out!" I shoved him out of my room and slammed the door shut.

'Ugh. Why am I still friends with him?'

Anger still simmered inside me as I sharply let out a frustrated sigh. Mike and Kevin just stood in silence. I ran a hand through my hair as I picked up the torn letter, picking up the pieces and setting them on my dresser. I needed a distraction. I looked over at my bass guitar and grabbed it.

"Wanna hear me play?" I asked.

They both nodded.

Sitting on my bed, I positioned my fingers on the strings and strummed a chord. Playing the guitar was one of the things that kept me calm. It was also my escape. It all started from walking inside of a guitar shop and being mesmerized by the countless guitars. My love for rock music boosted this discovery. I eventually was given one for my eleventh birthday and it just became my passion.

I took a deep breath and started playing the iconic guitar solo that appears at the beginning of the song "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses.

_________________________________________

A month and a half later, I went back to school for 8th grade. It was Monday August 14 2006. As I walked in the classroom, I noticed there were some kids that were in my class last year. I remember seeing two goth girls staring at me, whispering to each other. Since I could hear from a long distance, I heard them saying how cute I was.

'Wow. As soon as I walk in.'

I quickly found a seat and sat down. My eyes lingered on a beautiful girl as she walked in. She had caramel skin and long curly brown hair, but something caught my eye. Her bracelet. I instantly recognized who she was.

"Lulu!" I called out to her.

She turned her head towards me, her eyes widening.

"Oh my god, Jake!" she exclaimed before rushing over. I stood up from my seat and she threw her arms around me; and we hugged each other tightly.

"How though?" I asked, looking at her.

"My mama decided to move back to this side of town and thought me and you shouldn't split up," Lulu explained with a smile.

I blushed. "I'm so happy you came back."

Before we could say more, the teacher entered and instructed everyone to find a seat. We quickly obeyed. During passing period, as we stood by our lockers, Lulu and I were chatting about things that we didn't get to talk about in the letters.

"So did you tell Mike and Kevin about you know yet?" Lulu asked.

"No. I'm actually afraid to," I responded.

"Jay, you need to tell them. They're your friends–"

"Our friends," I corrected her.

She rolled her eyes. "Our friends. They shouldn't see you as a freak."

She was right. I've been friends with them for so long that I should be trusting them.

"Alright."

Then I saw them–Emma, Ariana, Evelyn, and Ashley. They were known as the Wicked Divas, always walking the halls and stuck at each other's side. They were like the middle school version of the Mean Girls except they wore black leather and denim; and were not rude to everyone who came across their path.

They chose their targets. None of them were super popular–except Emma. Right behind them were their so-called boyfriends, the Wicked Kings–Michael, Chase, Landon and Chris.

I rolled my eyes as Emma made her way towards us, her blonde high ponytail swaying side to side graciously.

"Oh look, it's the big bad emo boy Jay and his bestie," she sneered.

I tensed when she said my nickname. Emma was my enemy. She was the so-called "Queen Bee" and an insufferable spoiled brat. Her reputation was fueled by her mischievous attitude–even being the daughter of a notorious mafia boss serving a life sentence fueled it even more.

Everyone was wary of her but not just her–her eyes as well. They were extremely eerie and an electric green–would even glow whenever she was wielding her enchantment spells.

"Leave us alone," Lulu demanded.

"Aww she speaks," Emma teased with an evil grin. She shoved Lulu against the locker and her friends started laughing.

"What is wrong with you?!" I yelled at her madly as I pushed her away from Lulu.

"Nothin' is. The problem is you. We all know what you really are," Emma said as she pointed her finger at me, moving closer.

'How could she possibly know what I am?'

I grunted and shoved her, making her land on the floor.

In a split second, I was being shoved against the locker by Chase.

"How dare you push her!" he growled at me.

I shoved him off with force without hesitation. Before things escalated even more, Lulu quickly stepped in between us, her arms outstretched in desperation. "Stop it, both of you!"

Chase dismissed her with an irritated grunt and told her to shut up which added more to my frustration.

"Don't tell her to shut up," I grimaced.

Some of the other students who were walking by stopped to see what was going on.

"What are you gonna do about it?" Chase said, his brown eyes glaring at me.

I protectively moved Lulu, putting her behind me. Clenching my fists, I said, "Disrespect her again and you'll regret it."

Chase snickered and said to everyone, "Looks like Jake is protectin' his girl. No wonder she's so weak."

His friends and the Wicked Divas started laughing.

I grumbled and threw my fist at his face. He stumbled back and looked at me. Everyone was silent now. Tension filled the air as a huff left my mouth. I was about to say something, but Lulu beat me to it.

"That's what you get for calling me weak."

She had a look of determination in her eyes. Her brows were arched together and her mouth was in a frown. Her face was that of a warrior.

"But you are. Otherwise you wouldn't need him to protect you."

They started bickering back and forth. My eyes left them for a few seconds. In those few seconds, I spotted Mike and Kevin in the distance. My eyes went back to Chase and Lulu. And then–

Smack!

Everything had completely stopped.

All I heard was my heart beating and my slow breathing. At the corner of my eye I saw Ariana pulling Emma away as everyone backed away a bit. All eyes were on me. I guess they were waiting for my reaction.

My breathing accelerated. I clenched my fists and lost all senses. I lunged at Chase, making us land on the hard shiny floor with a thud. Everyone started cheering for us as I began punching him in the face.

Adrenaline overpowered me as I kept going. Losing control, my hands went around his neck, strangling him. His hands went up to my arms, trying to pull them away. He made choking sounds as I examined his face. His nose was a bloody mess and he had a few bruises on his face.

'This is what he get for hurtin' her.'

Then I heard my name being called.

"Jake!"

I stopped and loosened my grip on Chase's neck. Everyone was still cheering. I looked up and saw my cousin, Trixie, pushing her way through the crowd. I started to get up, but as soon as I was halfway up, a knee collided with my forbidden area which made me fall over.

I cried out in pain. Chase stood up, towering over me and rubbing his neck. Before I tried to get up, Chase smashed his foot into my stomach, which earned more cheers.

'Why are they cheerin'? They should be helping.'

I curled up into a ball, holding my stomach. I could hear Trixie's infuriated shouts that were being directed towards Chase. I felt something growing inside of my stomach, It felt strange.

My heart beats increased and my heavy breathing dissolved into growls. My body vibrated and glowed with a blue aura as my bones snapped and switched places. I could hear people gasping and screaming. Fur sprouted out of my body as my wolf began making its appearance.

'No no no. Not here.'

After I was transformed, I growled at Chase. Trixie backed away slowly, everyone else either ran or stood there watching. I slowly sauntered towards Chase, growling lowly.

We made direct eye contact and I could instantly tell that he was intimidated by me because he began backing away into a wall. He was shaking violently as his eyes were glued on me.

I stopped in front of him and went for his arm. The arm with the hand he supposedly smacked Lulu with. I bit down hard, causing him to let out a blood curdling scream.

I tasted iron–blood on my teeth. Chase's other arm started smacking me in the face as he kept screaming. I fought the urge to fling him down the hallway, my wolf threatening me to do so. I finally let go of his arm and backed away, watching him faint and fall limp.

I shifted back and turned around. Lulu was still standing in the same spot with a horrified look on her face, gazing at me. Next to her was Alice and Aliese. As soon as I made eye contact with Lulu, she looked away and ran.

My body wanted to run after her, but somehow couldn't. I was frozen in place. Not too long after, Alice and Aliese decided to go after her after giving me a lecture.

My hair was suddenly yanked back violently and I winced.

"What is wrong with you?! You could've killed him!"

It was Trixie.

I didn't say anything. I didn't want to further embarrass myself or make matters worse while there were 10 other people still in the hallway.