The Wolves: Part One: Lost

Chapter 2

I didn't step in because I never really liked visiting him. Being there and seeing his tombstone made the pain and reality hurt even more, but today, just like every year that his anniversary comes by, I couldn't help just closing my eyes and hoping that the past seven years were just one of my vivid nightmares and when I opened them I would see his warm smile and be in his strong embrace. Getting closer to the entrance of the cemetery, I shut my eyes for a moment and let myself remember.

Thinking about his warm smile and the way he smelled of mint anytime he hugged me, were the small things I kept close. His deep blue eyes and his dirty blonde curls that neither him nor my mom could keep up with. Throughout the years, he developed aging lines that would be more prominent because of his expressive personality. My dad, Max, was a handsome man, simple, a family man. As a baby I was attached to my dad and would cry whenever I was taken away from his side, so my mother would say to me when I was younger. She would say that I only had eyes for my dad and when I was born I was the light of his life. No matter what,

I love my mom and sister dearly, but my dad was something different. He understood me better than anyone ever had. No matter how much I felt out of place, he would find a way to pull me out of the darkness and keep me grounded. Now I just felt lost, like I was floating, going through the motions of life.

My mother, Rose Atler, was a ball of sunshine just like my sister. She loved my father so much I can still see in her eyes the emptiness of losing my dad. My sister Sage was too young to even remember or mourn his loss and, in a strange way, I was happy she couldn't remember him, so she wouldn't know how much it hurt that he was gone. My sister looked just like my mother and father, there was no denying she was their offspring. My mother was beautiful. Her long blonde hair was always a mess, but it never looked bad, she had gentle features, like my sister. They were all well-built and athletic, tall and tan, lively. Sage got all of my parents' good traits and looks; my mother's messy blonde hair, freckles and gentle beauty. She also got my father's blue eyes and athletic ability. I had gotten nothing; my pale skin, dark straight hair, and dull eyes, short stature, and cold personality which felt like a curse at the time. I laugh now at all the townspeople's gossip, which was that my mother had had an affair or that her real child had been switched with me. As a child I truly believed that I had been placed in the wrong family, that I didn't even fit in the town where I was born. There were many instances where I would run home crying because of the isolation I felt, and my father would be there waiting for me with such a warm and strong hug that I would forget all my pain. My parent's love story was like any other. Grew up together in the small town of Raven Falls, fell madly in love and became high school sweethearts and, at age eighteen, eloped; moved to our home and had us. Everyone knew and loved my father. He was the local architect and was always fixing up Raven Falls. He loved this town and everyone in it and wanted to make sure it got a lot of love.

One of the last conversations I had with my father was on the day that he died. That particular day i had gotten in a fight in school, and he was the one that was called to pick me up.

"So you want to fill me in?"

"She started it."

"Lea remember what we talked about, you can't let them get to you. You can't fight every single person who says something mean. This is your town and I want you to learn how to love it."

"I know dad, but I hate this town and everyone in it, and they hate me."

I still remember the look he gave me at that moment. I know he felt my pain, but he was also hurt. He then changed his look and smiled and pulled me up into his arms.

"My Luna, there will be a time when you see just how beautiful you truly are, and all those things that make you so different from everyone in this town and even in this family are what make you better than all the hurt, what makes you Lea. The day will come when your beauty and heart will either make something beautiful and strong or break those around you".

After that, I hugged him and we went home. I wouldn't let go of his hand the entire time. At the time, his words didn't seem to register with me, but I felt comfort in them, even as a child.

Now that I am older, and he is gone, I think back at his words and what he wanted me to get out of them. I wasn't that different. The only difference was that I didn't fight with others and just ignored them and the town. I didn't hate the town now like back then, but I still wanted to run away from all the pain.

Having witnessed my father's death, I always try to push down any memories of that day and him to the back of my mind. Since everything about his death pointed to an accidental death, I didn't want to obsess about a past I couldn't change. I felt my eyes sting as I remembered those words and our time when, all of a sudden, I heard a loud honk and a screeching breaking sound coming from behind me. I immediately opened my eyes and turned around to see a red convertible stopped in the middle of the road right in front of me. As I made out the figure behind the wheel, a smile escaped my lips, after the initial shock.

"Lea Marie Atler, are you trying to get killed? What are you doing standing in the middle of the road like some kind of deer?!"

The tall and blonde figure yelled at me in a nagging tone as I walked over to the passenger seat of the car and got in.

" Hello Ally, good morning to you too."

"Good morning? How can you call this a good morning when I almost ran you over with my car? My goodness, you are going to be the death of me." Her mood lightened up, and she smiled at me, as she started up the car again.

" Sorry Ally, I just spaced out, didn't really get much sleep last night. For a moment, I forgot that I had stopped to look over, and I must have been in a daze, sorry."

She didn't look over, but she exhaled softly and smiled, knowing I was talking about my dad.

"August 10th already?"

"Yup."

We didn't speak for a moment because I knew Ally wouldn't pity me, but I knew she would worry.

"Do you want to skip and make a day of it? I mean, after today's events, I think we could both use a break."

I laughed at her nonchalant attitude and smiled as I admired my best friend, and how lucky I was to have her in my life.

"I think as seniors we shouldn't skip the first day of school. Also, I am pretty sure your mom would kill you."

"Oh yes, I forgot about Madam Mayor, she could be a downer if she finds out, and in this town it is not an if, but a when." She said as she scrunched up her nose in a thinking manner.

"Well, don't stress. We can hang out after school. I don't have anything going on."

"See, that is why you are the smart one in this friendship."

"However, my smart friend, I am going to have to make a complaint."

I looked at her confused, not sure what she could be talking about.

"A complaint?"

"No friend of mine is leaving this car looking like that on her first day of school. There is no way."

"Come on Ally, I am comfortable, and who cares what I look like? You are literally the only person I talk to in school. If you want, I will give you full reign for a makeover any other day."

She said nothing as she continued to drive while she was thinking and then smiled.

Scared to know the meaning behind that smile. I simply waited for her thoughts.

"Dry cleaning."

"Dry cleaning?"

"I have my dry cleaning in the back, because, of course, my mother had me collect it before I went to school. So there has to be something there for you to wear."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes, it is your last year in high school and this year is going to be your year, so you can't start it by wearing your standard loner girl get up. Not on my watch. This year everyone is going to see how beautiful and wonderful you are, and that you are not the sad girl whose dad died."

She was serious when she spoke, which was different for her. I had known Ally since we were six, and she never let anything bring her down. She was the most confident person I knew. Ally McCall was part of the town's most influential and powerful people. Her father was in charge of the town's mass wood and coal production and distribution and her mother was mayor of Raven Fall. She had an older brother named Scott McCall, who was also popular and good-looking, a college senior and the business administrator and partner of the family business. I usually call him Scotty, much to his dislike, since I have had a friendship with him since my childhood, and a huge crush all throughout my formative years until I met him. Most people assume that our friendship is a charity case because of Ally's status and personality, but all the presumptions couldn't be further away from the truth. Ally was gorgeous, almost like a model. Her hair was strawberry blonde, and it was wavy and always done. She was 5'8 and skinny but with curves. Her skin was between tan and pale. Ally was always maintained and beautiful, her eyes a vivid green. Ally always dressed in the most expensive clothing and had on makeup. Her beauty and popularity stood out, and she was the envy of a lot of girls and the desire of a lot if not most of the boys in our town. I laugh because she says I am beautiful, but next to her, who could notice anything else? She was not stuck up despite her wealth or her family. On the contrary, she was warm and protective and had always stood up for me despite any fallback she could face.

I know what she meant, and I understood her, it must have been hard on her too, having her to hear all the stuff people said about me, and I didn't help by being like this, not caring, not changing, never trying. She was right. I did need to change, and it wouldn't hurt to start now, today.

"Your right, it is time for me to change." I said, determined to show her that I could be there for her too. I could be different.

She smiled again and was so happy.

"Perfect, but we have to get you changed before we get to school, and we are so close. We are going to have to stop somewhere real fast for you to change."

"Sounds good, but we don't have much time, and we can't be late. Where should we stop?"

"Well, we could just stop at a nearby gas station really quickly and change there. How about that?"

"I, don't know that gas station is gross. Just park the car by one of the nearby woods, and I'll just go behind a tree or a bush and change. I would much rather do that."

"Well ok, whatever you want."

In a moment, we found one of the many nearby openings to the Raven Falls surrounding woods and we went out. I stood there while she looked through the pile of clothes to see what would fit. It wasn't like we were the same measurement, so it wasn't going to be easy.

"This is the one."

When I looked in her direction, she had a white sundress in her hands.

"A dress?"

"Yes, this is going to be perfect, it is really short on me, but it is going to look perfect on you. The style is simple and fitting but not too tight, it is casual enough that it will look good with those shoes. So go find a tree and put it on. I will wait for you here."

I was hesitant, but I decided to push my boundaries. Walking deep enough into the woods so that I wouldn't be seen changing. Placing the dress on a branch, so it wouldn't be on the ground, I gave another look before undressing and I took my top off, following with my pants and shoes. There I was in the middle of the woods half naked, and I couldn't help but laugh at the situation. While I went to grab the dress I couldn't shake the feeling that there was a pair of eyes on me. Shuddering there alone, I quickly grabbed the dress and put it on. As I grabbed my clothes I felt the cool summer breeze and I enjoyed it, while I walked back to the car.

"Ok now we are talking, you look amazing!" Ally screeched and jumped as she wrapped her arms around me.

"I don't know, you don't think it's too much for school?"

"Are you kidding me, have you seen how I dress? I think you look beautiful, besides you look pretty casual to me."

"Well, thank you for the dress. Now let's go before it's too late."

"Dean Edwards is going to lose his mind."

After hearing her words, I felt like I was going to be sick. I had to see him.