A Lion's Will

The sun begins peeking over the horizon just as I reach the top of the hill at the end of the hiking trail. I huff, wiping the sweat off of my brow I start back down the trail. Setting my eyes at a point in the distance ready to run as if the devil is at my heels. I take off at a steady pace. I reach the front door of my home just as the alarm on my phone starts beeping letting me know it’s time to get up for the day. I kick off my muddy running shoes outside before heading up to my room. I see Charlotte coming out of her and Tim’s room. Her once smiling mouth sets into a hard line when she sees my wild hair and sweaty face. I wave her off when a look of concern now begins to spread on her face as Tim tops the stairs holding out a plate of breakfast. Set on showering before I answer any questions I head to my bathroom and turn the faucet on as hot as it will going trying to will the nightmare that still chills me to the bone out as quickly as possible. Hopping into the shower I make quick work of cleaning myself and then I slow as the bathroom door closes. “Want to talk about it?” Charlotte asks her voice light barely concealing the concern laced in her words. I shake my head before remembering that she can’t see me, “No, it’s the same soup just reheated kind of day.” I hear Charlotte shift her feet before speaking, “You haven’t had a nightmare that bad in months, Ness.” I give a shrug, turning off the water and reaching out for my towel and robe. Char places them in my outstretched hand, “I don’t think I’ll ever stop having these nightmares.” I tell her while wrapping the fluffy material around me and step out of the shower. Char raises her eyebrows at my statement trying to think of a reply to my unsettling words. She’s always worried about me. I walk into the hall and then into my room to get dressed. Char follows hot on my heels. I dip into my closet gathering together my favorite cream blouse, leather jacket, boots, and high waisted jeans. Charlotte’s thin arms are crossed over her chest and her brow is furrowed. I look at her after I set the clothes on the bed. She sighs and walks out of the room, the conversation clearly not over, but paused for the moment. I know she’s worried I’ll go back to drinking and being out at all hours of the night, or that she’ll get a call one night that the police found my dead body in a ditch somewhere, but that’s never going to happen, at least not again. Charlotte and I are all we have left in this world besides a set of grandparents that live two states away, and I’ll be damned if she has to bury another family member. I look at the clock to see that I have about thirty minutes to dress and put on my face for the day if I’m going to pick up Katie and Sam on the way to school. I throw my clothes on, drag a brush through my hair, and apply enough makeup to look like I actually slept last night before rushing out of my room snagging my bookbag by the door on the way out. Tim tosses me my keys and a granola bar from the bottom of the stairs. I snag them from the air as my foot hits the bottom step. Char holds out my softball bag and gives me a grim smile. “I love you, kid.” She says, “Don’t get into any trouble, please, and you know you can tell me anything.” I nod hauling the bag over my shoulder and give her a slight hug and nod before flinging the front door open. I practically jump down the stairs when my phone starts vibrating in my back pocket. I throw my softball bag and backpack in the trunk of my 64’ Chevy Impala, then yank my phone from my pocket. I slide my thumb across the screen and bring the phone to my ear, “Hello, Katie. I’m on my way to your house right now.” I tell her backing out of the drive and heading down the road into town. Katie huffs, “Well hurry up, it's supposed to rain today and I straightened my hair. I don’t want it to get frizzy.” I chuckle, “Okay, okay I’ll be there shortly.” I say taking a corner a little sharp. “So, do I need to bring products and utensils to do your hair, or did you actually put effort into looking decent today?” Katie asks, her voice deadpan. “Hmm, let me think….Do I ever put any effort into my hair on away game days?” I ask her. She laughs, “I’ll take that as a yes to help with your hair.” I snort, “I couldn’t care less, you know I like my waves, but if you want to by all means fix me up boss.” “Oh, I will and you’ll have no say in the matter.” Katie says matter of factly. I turn another corn and pull into her driveway, “Alright, well hurry up and come out so we can go get Sam and coffee before class.” Katie strides out of her house. Her almost platinum hair glinting in the morning sun. Katie is what most would call a blonde bomb-shell. She is tall, gorgeous, and wicked smart. Her usually nice demeanor lulls people into a sense of ease, but she isn’t afraid to extend her claws when needed. Katie steps into the car giving me a once over. “Cute shirt and shoes, but the makeup and hair needs work.” She says, forever the fashion judge. I roll my eyes at her, “Whatever, I happen to think I look just fine.” I back out of the driveway and head for Sam’s house two and a half blocks over. I text Sam and she trudges out of her house with her head hanging low. My eyes narrow on her face as she gets into the back seat of the Impala. Katie’s face is set in a hard expression and we look at each other for a moment before giving each other a small nod to leave it alone until we get coffee and a pastry in her. I drive to Katie’s mom’s bakery that doubles as a coffee shop. Katie runs inside to grab our usual order and I turn in the front bench seat to look at Sam. She stares out of the window until she turns her hazel eyes on me. “What?” She asks defensively. I raise my hands and then raise my brow at her, “I’m just worried about you so, do you want to tell Katie and I what’s going on?” Sam gives a small shake of her head, “Duncan and I got into it last night about how my parents are planning my future, and won’t take my feelings or wants into consideration.” She says a tear rolling down her face. I nod, “Did you guys yell at each other this time?” She nods trying to stifle a sob, her body shaking from the force of it, “Yeah, and I said some really terrible things to him.” “I’m sure both of you did, and I’m sure you both just need to talk about it.” I tell her meeting her eyes in the rearview mirror as she leans forward on the front seat. Sam nods and wipes her tears on the sleeves of her sweater. Katie comes back with the coffee and a bag of donut holes for Sam. Sam takes the bag gratefully and settles back into her seat. I head towards school bumping music the whole way. We pull into the parking lot, and Katie turns in her seat to stare at Sam. “So, do we need to kick his ass, or do you want to handle it?” She asks. Sam shakes her head, “Thanks for the offer, but I think that I’ll handle it. It was a stupid fight anyways. Besides, Ness would most likely be the one doing most of the fighting.” Katie lifts a brow, “I can hold my own, when I need to.” She says. I chuckle while taking a sip of my coffee getting out of the car. Sam follows after me and then Katie. I pop open the trunk to grab my bag out when I hear the familiar roar of a motorcycle entering the parking lot near us. I look up, slinging my bag over my shoulder to see a blacked out sports bike pulling into a parking spot. The rider goes to pull his helmet off to reveal dark brown hair long enough to be styled slightly, but short enough to not get helmet hair while riding. I slam the trunk shut. The rider turns our direction after settling his bike on its kickstand. Katie’s mouth drops open and to be honest if I wasn’t admiring the bike still mine probably would have too. The rider has golden tanned skin and gray eyes so light they look almost silver. I laugh at Katie and lift her chin up. “Close your mouth, flies will get in.” I tell her as I walk towards the door trying to ignore the newcomer all together. Katie and Sam catch up easily, their legs being slightly longer than mine, “Are you blind?” Katie asks, baffled at my reaction to the new guy. I roll my eyes at her, “No, I can admit he’s hot, but I’m exhausted and more worried about getting to the office before the warning bell so that I can settle into a nice chair before people start filling the halls.” “You didn’t sleep last night?” Katie asks, her brows pull together while her eyes scan my knuckles for bruises . I nod, “Nightmares again.” Sam touches my shoulder to slow down my pace, “Do you wanna talk about it? Their anniversary is coming up.” I shake my head, “I’m fine it just happens. I’ll be fine after the anniversary passes.” They give me a nod of understanding and we continue our walk to the main office. We round the corn to the office from the cafeteria and see Duncan waiting by the office door with Jeremy. Jeremy spots us first and taps Duncan to look up. Sam’s steps stutter and I step into front of her and cross my arms giving Duncan a ‘Try me b***h’ look. Duncan raises his hands in surrender and I pin him with a warning look before walking past him and into the office as the warning bell tolls. Jer steps into the office behind Katie, “So, how bad is it?” “He insulted her parents, and in turn insulted Sam.” I tell Jer, after setting my stuff down and settling into a chair for Katie to do her touch ups. Katie gets to work setting her tools out, “Just let them talk it out.” I nod and Jer gives a half smile, “Fine by me, I need to get to Trig anyways.” We wave bye to him as he exits the office and Martha, the main office secretary, strolls in. “Hey girls, did you bring my usual?” She asks. I wave towards the white cup sitting on her desk and try not to move too much while Katie finishes placing loose curls throughout my hair. After she’s done with the hair she takes a look at my face. Deciding on a slight smokey eye, she takes out an eyeliner and gets to work. She hands me a mascara wand and a mirror before putting on the finishing touches. “There, much better.” She says triumphantly, placing her brushes back into her bag. I scoff but admire her handy work in my hand held mirror before she snags it from my grip. I readjust in my chair into a more comfortable position. Martha sends Katie and Sam to get the attendance sheets from the first and second floors while I pull out the book we’re reading for my college English class. Martha starts talking with someone at the front desk and I kind of tune them out until a tanned finger taps on the top of my book. I raise my eyes to meet those of the new guy from earlier and I lift a brow at him, “Are you in the habit of interrupting someone when they’re reading?” I ask. He chuckles, sending a tingle down my spine at the delicious sound, “No, but you are supposed to be the one giving me a tour of the school.” He says his voice like warm spiked honey. I look over to Martha, and she gives me a nod and motions with her pencil for me to scoot. I sigh, putting my book back in my bag I stand up. I went eye to chest with the new guy, and he took a step back to give me room to move. “Alright, let me see your schedule.” I said, reaching my hand out. He places his schedule in my palm, it's still warm from the printer. His fingers graze mine, and it's like electricity travelling up my arm to my chest. I took his schedule, and gave it once over before grabbing my bag and heading out of the door. “Okay Mr…. Warren Slaughter, my name is Vanessa Wynters and I will be your tour guide to Mountain Ridge High, home of the Vikings.” I tell him, giving a grand wave to the school emblem and entrance hall. He smiles, “It's a pleasure to meet you, Vanessa.”