The Final Star (Book Four: The Star Series)

Chapter 2

I brush my hair with my fingers and try to fix my shirt alittle. It's one of Josh's old tshirts. It's just a white Hanes shirt but it's massive on me. So I tie it up on my side to make it look a little better. I rush outside as fast as I can and head to school

I love going to school. I get out of the house and don't have to deal with the hatred of my uncles. It's not too much better at school but at least I don't get hit. The kids pick on me a bit. They call me names. But who can blame them. I look like I belong on the streets. Most of the kids in school are wolves like me. We are right next to a pack. I have though about going to their alpha for help. But I don't want to cause any trouble if my uncles find out.

I walk to school and when I arrive I see Charlie standing at the door. He stands there everyday. He's one of the only people around that is nice to me. I met him the second day we moved in. I was out back getting the laundry off the line and I heard a commotion up front. Usually I don't go to see what my uncles are up to but for some reason that day I had an urge to go see who was here. We I walked around to the front of the house I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw a new shiny black car in the drive.

Uncle Jared was there arguing with a tall, big man. I knew instantly that it was a wolf. And I was intrigued. So I stayed silent as to not be noticed. The wolf was yelling that vampires weren't welcome in their territory. Then to my surprise a younger man stepped up to the man speaking with Jared and whispered in his ear. They both looked over at me and I instantly felt embarrassed to be ease dropping. Jared looked back to see what they were looking at and I knew by the look in his eyes that I was in for it that night.

I put my head down and the next thing I know the laundry basket is being lifted out of my hands. I glance up and see the younger wolf and I am frozen solid. I instantly feel like he is special. Like I need to get to know him. Maybe he is the one that will help me.

He looks to be about sixteen or seventeen. I'm not sure. He is talk and tan and muscular. His is gorgeous and I cant help it when my cheeks begin to turn red. "Hi. I'm Charlie." He says. I see my uncle watching and I put my head back down. I'm all ready in trouble. I won't be in trouble for speaking to him also.

Charlie seems to sense my reluctance and he hands me back the basket and walks away. I quickly retreat back into the house. I shake myself out of my memory and continue up towards the school. Since the day I started Charlie has waited for me outside the front of the school every morning. He eats lunch with me every day. And every so often he offers to carry my books. I really enjoy his company. He talks to me about his day. About what has been happening in the pack. He does ask me questions but when I don't respond he just moves on. I'm thankful for that. It nice to have somebody who seems like they enjoy spending time with you even if you are semi rude to them. I know that's how I come off. And I don't want to. I just don't want to be in trouble.

I finally reach the front door and Charlie smiles brightly and opens the door. "Good morning beautiful." He says. I give him a smile and walk into the school. I head straight for my locker and Charlie is right behind me talking away. "We went to the lake over the weekend. We had a blast. Maybe next time you would like to come with us." I glance at him as I start putting the books from my bag into my locker. He runs his hand through his hair and all I can think is how gorgeous he is. Why he spends so much time with me I would never know. "Or maybe not. It was just an idea." He says and shrugs his shoulders. How much I would love to go off to a lake with him for a weekend. But there's no way that would ever happen. I would get beat for just suggesting such a thing.

I give him a small smile and he changes the subject. "I hope I don't flunk the math test. I didn't forgot about it and didn't study." He is saying when Lily comes walking up. Lily is the most popular girl in school. She's a senior like Charlie. I'm just a sophomore. She walk up and puts an arm around Charlie's shoulder. And suddenly I get the urge to want to punch her. That's weird. Why am I feeling so protective over Charlie. Maybe it's just the fact that he's the only thing I have close to a friend.

"I heard you went to the lake without me. We could have had so much fun." She says and starts playing with Charlie's hair. He shrugs her off of him and replies. "Sorry. You know when we go to the lake house it's just family." He says and that makes me look up. He just invited me. It makes me smile thinking that he invited me and is refusing Lily.

She finally notices me and I must look like an i***t smiling like a fool. "What are you smiling at rogue?" She asks and then slams into my shoulder as she is walking away. "Hey." Charlie says. I noticed that every wolf that is in the halls stops what they are doing and looks at Charlie. "This ends now. Nobody is to call Jade any more names. Nobody is to touch her. Nobody is to do anything to cause her torment. Do we understand?" He almost growls. And I'm surprised that when I look around they all have their heads bowed. He looks at Lily and says menacingly. "Do you have something to say to Jade?" He asks. She looks at me and I can see the hatred burning in her eyes. I have seen that look a hundred times before. "I'm sorry." She says and turns her back and walks off.

I can't help it. I look at Charlie and I simply say. "Thank you." He looks shocked when I say that to him. "Wow, you can talk." He says and chuckles. "I'm just joking. Your welcome." He says. At that moment I looked into his eyes and I could see something that I have been urning for the past ten years for. I saw that he cared. And I may be thinking to much into it. But I think I see love. I smile and shut my locker and head to class.

Like usually Charlie is there at lunch. And after school he is there waiting at the front of the school again. He strides up next to me. "How about I walk you home?" He asks and my eyes widen in fear. If Jared saw him I would surely be in for it. I shake my head no. He must see the fear in my eyes because he takes a step back and just looks at me. He's thinking for a moment and then speaks again. "What if I just walk you to your street. I wont take you all the way." I think about it and decide that it would be okay as long as he doesn't go near my house. I nod and he seems to brighten.

He walks me to my street and I feel like I'm floating on cloud nine. It has been so long since I believed I had a friend. I wish I could tell him how much this means to me. I turn to walk down my road when he grabs my arm and I turn back around. He hands me a piece of paper. I look at it and see that its a phone number. I c**k my head and give him a curious look.

"In case you ever decide to talk again. Give me a call. Or if you ever need anything. I don't know what your scared of. I don't know why you don't talk when now I know you can. And I don't know why you looked so worried when I offered to walk you home. But whatever it is. I can help. And if you ever decide you want my help just get hold me. Hell, you can even text me. No talking necessary." He says and smiles. And I can't help it but that is the first time that anybody has noticed that I had a problem and needed help, so I throw my arms around him in a tight hug.

It feels so good when he wraps his arms around me too. And I can't help the tears that start to slip down my cheeks. I turn and run down my street before he sees me crying.