História Shifter Academy - Eighteen and still young

Chapter 13

Two months went by really fast. The girls and I became really close during that time . I sat everyday with them, Derik and Chris. James still bothered me some, but Derik helped me getting over it. I hadn’t really talked to my mother since I was too busy training with Mace, and I was actually really happy about that. Every day I fought with him, or being beaten to a pulp is more like it, I would start thinking about my dad and my motivation just grew. Gwen and Mia were really worried about me because almost every night after that day I woke up crying. I always had the same dream about my dad’s murder, and some weird French dude who was always beside him screaming “SPAGUETTI” while many other guys were beating my dad up. He always hated French people, and now I know why.

 I had spent most of my time with Mace and Griff, and it’s been great. I think I might be actually falling for him. The person, not the lion. What was a really bad sign. I’ve been getting better at fighting, and now I am one of the bests around here. Actually the only ones I lose for are Mace, James and a snake guy. That dude was flexible. I could fight evenly with Derek now. Tomorrow is my birthday. Since I was born at three in the morning, I will go through the change tonight. I couldn´t believe it’s finally going to happen.

I was still laying in bed after waking up, chilling out, when Mia jumped on top of me and Rin, her spirit, sat beside the bed. If she was a dog, I am sure she would be flapping her tail. “Today is the day. Wake up sleeping beauty. Don’t make me ask for Rin’s help to get you out of bed!!” With that my eyes flew open. I had that experience once and I’m sure it was not pleasant at all.

“I am awake. I was just resting.” I said rubbing my eyes while sitting up. “I am so nervous that I hadn’t slept at all last night.”

“Well, then you will just have to suck it up. Today is the last day you will have without an annoying spirit around you, so you will have to enjoy it as much as you can.” As Gwen said that, Hell, who was standing right beside her, snorted.

“I was talking about you, fur ball.” Gwen told him, and with that he really looked offended. Mia and I started laughing. Gwen grabbed him and started scratching his belly, and the grumpy bunny lost his composure.

“Ok, let´s go eat breakfast. Kayla, you have less than fifteen minutes to be ready to go, or we are taking you on your pajamas.” Mia said, and they started toward the cafeteria.

I went to take a shower.  And as I passed I petted Rin, who was still sitting beside my bad. It seemed like she was trying to control her excitement. She was a real sweetheart. I took my time washing my hair. I got a message on my cell phone and dried my hand using the other to hold the curtains open so I could pick up the phone.

Hey, u r taking too long. We r waiting 4 u.

It was from Derek. In the last months, we also got closer. But he was more like an older brother to me. I washed my body and dried myself. I dressed my uniform, and was ready to go. I didn´t have energy or patience to blow dry my hair, so I just went with it wet. It would dry itself in two hours or so. my hair had my personality, so it did whatever it wanted to. Sometimes it was nice, but the other days… It was a freak show.

I went downstairs and found all of my friends sitting together. I sat between Mia and Derek. “Hey! What took you so long?” Derek asked me.

“Well I was trying to drown myself in the bathtub, but your text ruined my plans. So I decided on coming downstairs instead.” I told him smirking as I stole an apple from him.

“Good to know. I will text you more often then.” He told me smiling.

“So, Kayla, how are you feeling? Nervous to find out your animal? I remember when it was me getting ready to change. I was almost pissing my pants. I didn´t know the exact time that I was born, so when I changed I just blacked out, and woke up with Rex beside me. It was freaky.” Chris told me pointing at his dog.

“Yeah, I was born at four in the afternoon. So when the time was coming I just went to my room to laid down. All my family was there, because they wanted to watch the whole thing. It was weird. My brother didn’t stop teasing me after he found out I was a bunny.” Gwen said.

“And what is he?” I asked her.

“He is a hamster.” We all burst into laughs and everyone in the cafeteria looked at our table. We were the group that everyone made jokes at but secretly wanted to be as not-caring as us. We tried as much as possible to stop laughing, so we all ended up gagging and coughing, what just made us laugh harder.

I felt a hand grabbing my shoulder, and out of reflex, I went to grab its arm to twist it, but immediately my hand was held in place before I could reach it. “hey, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” James voice sounded in my ear. His breath hot in my flesh.  “But you were very fast, I will give you that.” he dropped my hand and sat between me and Derik, who didn’t look very happy about the arrangements. Chris was very uncomfortable as well, and went closer to Gwen. I had a feeling that he had a crush on her, but unfortunately in wasn’t reciprocate.

“So, how are you feeling? Big day today huh?” looking at me, sounding very honest.

I straighten up. “As if you care.” I knew this was just a act. I wasn’t going to fall for that just yet.

“Just give her space James, this is not a good time for you to start with Kayla” Gwen looked at him as if she wanted to rip his heart out. Her words were gentle, but the way she said it made it look like a death sentence.

Mia told me once, that Gwen and James dated for a while a few months before I showed up. She said that Gwen knew he was a better person that he showed everyone. But then one day he said he wanted to break up. He said that he was sleeping with another girl and that he didn’t want her anymore. So she hated him ever since.

“Jeez, why are you guys so defensive over Kayla? Can’t you guys learn to share?” he faked some sincerity.

“Fuck off, dude, she asked nicely for you to stay away. The next time, I will be the one to ask you, and you can be sure that I won’t be as nice.” Derek growled.

“Stay away from this, cow. This is between Kayla and I.”

 “James, I ignored you during class, and even you ridiculous attempts of winning me over. But I will not stand you making jokes about my friend. So, either you leave now, or we will get into a serious fight.”

“You think you can take me into a fight? You are not even changed yet. But I can tell you that it’s really cute to hear you saying that you stand a chance.” He said standing up. I followed him, and with that everyone in our table did as well.

I tried to kick him but he easily dodged, and when I tried to punch him, he grabbed my hand again and pushed me against the wall. I pinned me with his body and I just couldn’t move at all.

 “That was so hot.” He said, looking amazed. He leaned toward me and breathed in.

“James, let me go, now!” he was seriously making me lose my mind. He then got closer to my mouth and anticipation welcomed me. I don´t know why, but a part of me wanted him to kiss me.

He was a hair length away when he breathed “happy birthday, Hellcat.” And then he let me go and left the cafeteria. The whole room was silent for a few seconds. Everyone was staring at me and didn’t know what to do. My friend all looked shocked, and I couldn’t blamed them. I was shocked as well. But with me. Was I really going to let him kiss me? the guy was a jerk!

The cafeteria, where it was total silent, erupted into applauses. Derek growled. “I swear to God that one day I’m going to kill this guy.”

“Not if I kill him first.” I Mace said behind.

I quickly turned around to see him and Griff standing side by side. Both looking all territorial. Griff composed himself first and came to me rubbing his head on me like he always did.

 “Ok, the show is over. Everyone to your classes.” Mace said ans sure enough, everyone that was still staring at me started leaving. I heard about a commotion in the cafeteria and I had a felling it had something to do with you. I guess I was right.” He analyzed me for a second and then looked at the door where James had walked through. “is that guy still bothering you?” he asked me in a tired tone.

“Not really. It’s ok. I can handle it. Don’t worry about it. And if it gets to difficult I will just call big-scary-lion-guy here to come protect me” I noticed my sarcasm and I could see the tip of his lips curving slightly up. “Oh my god, was that a smile? Or almost? Did someone took a picture of it?” I took Griff´s face in my hand. “What is going on little man? Is it a special day or something?” I told him as he snuggled on my hands. I could hear gasps from some students who were still standing around as I automatically moved away from him. They could never get use to me touching Griff. From what Mia told me, he was always like a teacher himself, and everyone respected him as such, and when a touched him and he reacted like that, mainly because I was not his master, was a complete shock for everyone. I didn’t get it though what was the big deal. Whatever.

 “I have sense of humor ok? You just don’t see it often.” Mace said, and I could see from the side of my vision that my friend were looking at him open mouthed. I think they never saw him smiling either.

“Wow, you better stop there, today the day started with too many emotions already, and if you start smiling now, someone might have a heart attack. No more unusual stuff for the day.” I told him and he started laughing.

“Yeah, you really have your ways of making life interesting.” He said. “So, what time will you go through the change?”

“Three in the morning.” Everyone else went to their classes, so now we were alone on the cafeteria.

“Nice, so I guess for training tomorrow, you will be already with your animal.” He looked deep in my eyes. “Are you nervous?”

“Me? Nervous? I don´t know the meaning of the word.” Did I fooled him? Did he knew I was lying? No, I had my mom’s poker face, so he would never know.

“it’s ok. Everyone freaks out when is their turn. It’s natural.” Damn, he knew. I think I didn’t got those traits from my mother after all. That sucks.

“Yeah,” I said thinking about all my plans of being famous in Las Vegas being ruined. “I guess so.”

“Let’s go, you have to go to your class before you are late. I’ll take you there.” He started moving toward the door and I followed him.