Running From A Wolf

Chapter 7.

"Ah, I was wondering where that stink came from. I should have realised that Danni was in the house!" I wrinkled my nose with a disgusted expression.

"You ugly b***h! Who do you think you are?!" Danni's tiny eyes almost swelled with anger.

Danni Hill, one of the many 'popular' girls at high school, along with her twin sister, was also on the top of my very long list of haters. Her long black hair was straightened and her round face was a bit puffy. A short black skirt hugged her butt and her strapless bra(I couldn't call it a crop top, it wasn't decent enough) barely held up her modest chest.

She was actually really pretty. I hated to admit it, but she would have been much prettier without the added makeup. Now she just looked like a Barbie doll with a sticky face that was bashed one too many times.

"How hot was your morning coffee?" I asked earnestly.

"Wh-what do you mean?" Danni scowled. "Of course it was extra hot, as always."

"Ah, so that's why your face looks so melted everyday." I nodded with an enlightened look. "I thought you put glue over it, but now I see that your skin is just equivalent to plastic."

"You-" her words were stuck in her throat. If looks could harm, I would have had twelve holes pierced through me already. "How dare you speak to me like that, when your face is so ugly that you have to use four layers of foundation, and you still look like a rat!"

I shrugged. "Don't worry, I'm owning it. in ugly as f**k. And so are you."

"You little w***e-"

"Boys and girls, take a seat please!" A loud voice boomed through the speakers. "The orientation program will begin shortly."

"Go on, Danni," I goaded. "Take a seat at the front, so everyone can feast on your pleasing face."

With a loud frustrated huff, she stomped to the stairs and ran down to join a bunch of prissy diva girls. Within a few minutes, they had begun to eye me maliciously.

"Nice, Kelsie." Kristine's face beamed. "Now the first grudge has been formed right before the start of college. In fact, it's a reinforced enmity that you could have done without. I must congratulate you!"

I rubbed my nose sheepishly. "That won't be necessary, my lady."

She smacked my hand and I tried to console her. Suddenly, another female voice floated across the stadium.

"Before we proceed, we'd like to display a few pictures of the best memories of high school. Our batch was blessed with a plethora of talented people, and so the student committee voted for the best student of the year. The winner will have their glories of the nostalgic school days displayed on the screen."

We all perked up and looked at the large monitor over the arena.

I froze. My body seemed to be dipped in a pond of ice. Kristine's face paled beside me.

"Is that me?" I exclaimed, confused. That was my yearbook photograph, smiling awkwardly in cakey makeup and my fingers held up in a peace symbol. I groaned. "Eww, it's no wonder I have no fans."

"Kelsie, hide your face!" Kristine hurriedly shoved my head down.

I struggled. "But why-"

My jaw dropped. The next image was a picture of me... covered in chicken feathers.

Catcalls and jeers enveloped the stadium atmosphere. The mocking laughter was everywhere.

The images on the monitor kept changing every few seconds. A picture of me sleeping in class with obsenities written over my face, me in a muddy ditch with my face covered in dirt, me in a torn red party gown with oily hair. Every prank that I became a victim to in the last two years, displayed on that massive screen.

"That ugly freak! Why is she still here?"

"Wait, she's joining the college? Gross, I had hoped not to see her ever again!"

"Ugh, so disgusting. Does she have no shame?"

"She probably slept with the entire student council to get the spot of the best student. Sadly for her, she got played."

"I heard that she's an orphan. It's no wonder that she lacks integrity."

Not a single person questioned anything. They just pointed at me. At the damn victim.

"Kelsie, do not listen to them," Kristine tugged me lower. She urgently tapped her phone a few times.

"Ashamed yet?" Danni guffawed. She stood on her seat and pointed at me. "My, my, why would the college accept someone like you?"

"Maybe because she uses her brains rather than her money, unlike a certain nobody," snapped Kristine.

"Keep yourself out of this, prom queen," Danni sneered. "This has got nothing to do with you."

"Who gave you spoilt brats the right to bully her, huh?" Kristine exploded. Standing up as well, she turned to head down towards Danni.

I reached out reflexively and held her wrist. Slowly, I shook my head. My thoughts were swirling beyond control. I could barely breathe, but I stayed still.

It isn't worth it. It's not the first time, after all. They don't know you. It's just a facade. It's just a facade. Just a goddamn facade...

I chanted the mantra a few times in my mind. Mortification burned my cheeks and I felt cold, but I took deep breaths to steady myself. I just had to stay calm, like I always had.

"We're leaving." Kristine resolutely picked up her stuff, shoved them into the bag and pulled me to my feet.

"Kris, no," I stopped her. "We can't skip the selection."

"If this is what you must face during the most important years of your life, you would be a fool to remain. And I will never stay here alone either."

My eyes stung at her words. In the whole school, ever since I transferred to Bluedale High, Kristine was the only girl who stood up for me. She was like the caring elder sister I never had.

But I couldn't let her give up her ambitions just for me. Bluedale University had the resources to take her higher. Gods knew that her parents wanted to keep her at home, and train her to be the perfect socialite housewife. If she left now...

"And she has sunk her deep claws into Kristine again."

"In my opinion, Kristine is too good to be with anyone of Kelsie's temperament. Kelsie is clearly taking advantage of Kristine, yet all the latter feels is righteousness towards Kelsie."

"Poor Kristine. To be manipulated to such an extent. She's defending the ugly freak at her own expense."

"Yeah. She cares for her 'friend' too much.'

"The ugly freak is a witch!"

"She should die. Throw her out!"

A slight pain throbbed beneath my chest. As the voices around me grew bolder, the agonising pain spread over my skin, stinging and burning my body without any external signs. My eyes dulled.

They spoke the truth.

It was true. The only reason I got out of trouble on a regular basis was due to Kristine. She shielded me, defended me, she even held me while I cried. She gave me the love of a sibling; she was my family.

But what have I ever done for her? I had gotten her into more trouble, had her name tarnished, prevented her from being more free just by sticking around. She was surrounded by hatred just because she stood by me. That's right, I was the problem.

Maybe college really was a bad idea...

"Stop," Kristine tugged on my palm. "Do not degrade yourself. Blame the people who cannot see the pearl."

I sighed with dejection. "I want to go home."

Kristine looked heartbroken. Her face was conflicted. "... fine. But you have to let me come-"

"Everybody, be seated. Now."

An authoritative voice spoke sternly over the speakers. All of us simultaneously turned to look at the centre of the arena.

An immensely tall, muscular man stood on the podium, dressed in a silk shirt and slacks. His brown complexion and the short black curls on his head immediately made the girls gasp. He didn't seem to be much older than us. On his face was a cross-shaped pale scar beside his eye. While the features and his expression made him appear ferocious, the effect on us, the audience, was the very opposite.

"It's Professor Ryan!"

"Oh. My. GOD!! My handsome Ryan Stodon! He's the reason I joined Bluedale University!"

"A grade-S mercenary! Rumors say that he accepts several high profile assignments to protect the major power players of the world!"

"Pah! Why would he do that? Coach Ryan is from the wealthiest rhino shifters' clan. He is already rich. In fact, he is the tutor of many world renowned experts. And he's a businessman too!"

"Then why would he teach in such a lousy college?"

"Nobody knows. People say that he's the foster son of the school's headmaster..."

A tsunami of heated discussions erupted around us. Kristine and I were completely forgotten as the shifters turned to observe the so called 'coach'.

At the podium, Ryan frowned. He directed a sharp look around the thousands of gathered shifters.

"Silence."

Like a layer of dust quietly covering the bleachers, all the chatter died down. Suddenly, the whole place was as silent as a tomb.

"Discipline. That is the first lesson I teach to all the students." Professor Ryan's hoarse voice reverberated through the stands.

"How cool..." a soft whisper floated in the air before the place was overtaken by deadly silence again.

"So, do I need to repeat myself?" The coach calmly uncuffed his designer sleeves and glared...right at me.

Oh s**t.

Kristine had already sat down in a state of shock, but I was still frozen all the way through. Professor Ryan locked his black eyes on mine and one side of his lips lifted.

"Freshman, you have guts." His eyebrows raised nonchalantly. "You want me to knock you down a notch or two?"

Kristine shook her head and immediately pulled me down. My heart pounded wildly with cold fear, my ass almost cracking on the seat in my haste.

Professor Ryan sneered. "We have quite the odd entourage this year."

Snickers emerged from the audience again. I seethed.

Stupid stupid stupid!

"Who is that?" The mockery in his question was clearly palpable. Another bout of sneers erupted from the highly entertained audience.

I cast my eyes to the floor and swallowed my tears. Fury and humiliation burnt within each vein in my body. I sat with my back cowering slightly.

My tears threatened to pour, but I bit my cheeks. Hard.

"It was a small misunderstanding, Coach." A brightly smiling girl stepped onto the podium and spoke beside the coach. "We had prepared a slideshow of our school memories, but they were replaced with that student's images. We were just asking her to admit her wrong deed and apologize."

"So she is just another attention seeking brat." Ryan had a sinister glint in his eyes. "I think I've found my first trainee of the year."

Kristine gasped with shock. Her face paled considerably. Not just her, everyone gaped at me, appallingly surprised. Then the expressions gradually changed to pity, like they were waiting for my funeral.

"Shall I add her to your list, then, sir?"

"Yes," Ryan's eyes fixed on me. "Freshman, what's your name?"

No. Oh no. No no no no no. Why do I have to experience this?

Lovely. My own teacher would end up killing me. I could see it happen.

"I forfeit!" My voice blurted out.

"What?!" Kristine choked.

I wasn't officially a student at Bluedale University yet and my miserable days were already predetermined. I would definitely be a fool to blatantly stick around while I had the chance to escape.

Kristine definitely couldn't save me now. .