Of fire & Wolves

Pale town high school looked like something out of a storybook. The imposing three-storey sandstone structure with its decorative turrets, arched bays and massive three-door entrance made of thick heavy wood looked ostentatious among the dense green forest. The longer I studied the school the more my anxiety grew as I peered through the front windshield of my rusty old beater car. Already students were arriving, they milled about in groups on the grass area near the parking lot, tree line and at the few stone picnic tables. If I wanted to avoid a flood of students I need to leave the comfort of my car. I lean my head on the old worn steering wheel and close my eyes I do my breathing exercises in an attempt to slow my racing heart and build my courage. It’s time to go. I need to get out of this car. I need to walk in there and find the office of the registrar. With a deep breath I lift my head and open my eyes I avoid looking out the window and focus on grabbing my bag and keys. In the next breath, I open the door, it sequels in protest. I cringe at the assault on my ears. Don’t look up just keep your eyes down. On weak knees, I stumble around my door and close it with a loud clunk. I eternally flinch, I didn’t think I had closed it that hard. Sending a mental apology to the old car. The old beast has been nothing but good to me. Having taken me further than I had thought possible. My move here to pale town took me four days. Why pale town? The small town was hidden among hectares of vast forests, mountains, and lakes. It was quiet, Nothing like the big city I escaped from. How did I find Pale town? After saving every penny from a overnight part-time and full-time day job plus the help of a couple of odd & ends jobs on the side, I had a nice little egg. So as soon as I was emancipated I packed my bag bought a cheap car and skipped town with no destination in mind. I drove until buildings, houses and farms melted away into winding roads and thick forest. I drove for hours until a came upon a the small sign for pale town. Immediately the dozen or so building grouped along the two lane road appealed to me. Parking i step out of the car stretching my sore and tired legs. Why go to all this trouble? I've asked myself that same question. Unbeknownst I have always felt different. Like I am struggling more than others. The close intertwined bodies of a bustling city brought me severe anxiety, crippling headaches and on occasion rage episodes. It was easier outside the city. Arriving in pale town it was not at all what I had expected. The town situated along the two-lane country road was made of tall brick. Skin pricking from watching eyes. I walked up the steps and push my way through the heavy door silence greats me as the heavy door closed with a thud. Large wooden stairs leads up to the second floor on either side of the grand staircase are large corridors. Large chandeliers hang among the exposed beams of the entrance and at the top of the stairs. Waxed and glossy wood floors carpeted with runners a rich green reminded me of the thick forest outside.. Down the hallways dark wood mouldings dressed the quarter of the walls, and crowned the ceilings in a grid like pattern. My fingers brush the polished banister as I slowly climb the stairs, as I ogle bewildering at the interior. For a brief moment I contemplated if I might have the wrong place but the driveway marked the long curved drive in with the sign for pale town and the one sitting out front marked that this was the high school and based on the kids loitering outside and also not wanting to exit to face said kids I was confident enough that i had the right place. As I reach the second floor landing I search for a sign or plaque, anything to discern the direction or location of the office. Never having visited the school before I was unsure on where to go. Completing my registration online myself at the small community library in the shared building that housed the post and municipality offices had been easy, but it never once referenced the school was private or for the elite nor in my registrar package that included my schedule in an email that advised I had to report to the office before classes on my first day. I’d never thought I’d need an atlas to find the office because this school was a whole other world. At the top of the stairs beneath one of the Chrystal chandeliers that adorned the open area stood three hallways one straight ahead, one to my left and one to my right. I peer down each hallway not seeing the office down either corridor to my left or right I decide to meander down the centre hall. Elaborate painting depict scenic landscapes, important people and hunting scenes. Every hundred feet or so is wooden door. No windows adorn the door just small black metal plates with gold numbers differentiate the doors as I approach the end of the hall it breaks into three up, left and right. One would assume a main office of a high school to be near the main doors or close by... as debate weather to turn back and look again the sound of yelling and banging makes me jump. Down the left corridor a pair of boys wrestle pushing each other. Someone brushes by me from the opposite direction I jump at the contact, heading down same hall as the wrestling boys who have disappeared while sparing me a glances before carrying on her way. Tense I look around, I must not have heard the bell because students start to converge from the hallways and descend from the stairs. I move to the side, to avoid getting trampled on and somehow get caught between a pair of bodies as they move down the hall. “Hey! Watch it!” They twist around me, sparing me a brief look filled with curiosity before continuing on as I look around mostly everyone gauges me with looks ranging between curiosity, interest, or scrutiny. Flushing I try my best to avoid eye contact as the all to familiar tension envelopes me. I knew that being the new kid in a small town I would be greeted with stares and whispers. This too shall pass, eventually the gossip and stares from the students and towns folk will stop and I’ll re-enter the world of invisibility, i only have to endure a year. Since pulling into pale town people openly stared unabashed their eyes following me everywhere I went, not unexpected but like the stares of my school mates something felt slightly off. Lost in the sea of body’s I keep my eyes down as I follow the triad of moving bodies so I didn’t get stomped on. After a few minuets the flow of students diminished as students entered into the windowless doors lining the hall. My plan was to wait for the class bell when the hallways would empty to search for a teacher who could point my in the direction of the office or to continue my search until somebody finds me wandering and stops me to ask questions. A tap to my shoulder has me jumping with a squeal i whirl to face the person in question who made me jump like the scaredy cat I am. “Hi I’m Anne! Sorry I didn’t mean to frighten you” the girl says with a chuckle. Anne was the same height as I with pale blonde hair tan blemish free skin, crystal blue eyes and bright white teeth. Her enthusiasm was unperturbed as I glower at her she smile, I blink she’s so... shiny. “It’s Esmeray right?” She says leaning forward slightly into my space. I blank at the intrusion. “How...” I mumble. She smiles wider, my head pricks uncomfortably at this strange intrusive girl. Thankfully she stands up straight smile never falling. “We’ve never had an out of towner before, the second you stepped in to pale town everyone knew about you.” She says. “Never?” She grins and shakes her head. “No one ever just visits pale town unless there’s a reason.” “Well crap” she looks at me quizzically. Explains the stares and looks. “So what brings you to pale town?” She questions unblinkingly. “Uh...” Never have I met such an obtrusive individual. I waited for a flash of annoyance but it never surfaced, I wondered as to the reason but before I could divulge deeper my attention was drawn back to Anne. “Let’s be friends! Come I’ll show you around!”