Gill
"Are we there yet?" my father whined from the passenger seat of the car. I rolled my eyes.
"Okay, seriously? Again, who is the kid here? And why do I have to drive? You are perfectly capable, and have had your license much longer than I have. "
"Because I don't want to?" He shrugged. I rolled my eyes.
"And I do?" He stuck his tongue out.
"Well, you never answered me. Are we there yet?" I laughed and gestured toward the approaching sign.
Crimson Lake welcomes you!
"YES WE'RE HERE FINALLY WHY DID YOU PICK A STATE SO FAR AWAY?!" My father eagerly stared out the window.
"I have my reasons," I replied. Those being that I was least likely to be murdered in an alleyway because I liked dudes. Not that I planned on coming out. Hell no, this was my fresh start, and I was gonna make the most of it.
It wasn't too long before we were pulling into the driveway of an old, rickety, colonial style house. The dark brown paint was peeling, and the lawn was ridden with leaves and weeds.
It was perfect.
"Home sweet home," I smiled and shut off the car, unbuckling my seat belt. "Come on, Dad. I want to get at least my room unpacked before bed."
The house seemed bigger on the inside. The front door lead right into the living room, which had nothing but a worn leather sofa left by the previous owner. The walls were covered in a tacky blue and yellow wallpaper that belonged in a granny's kitchen, and the floor was a nice hardwood.
"We have a lot of work to do, you realize that, right?" My father looked over and smiled.
"It'll be fun. First thing to go, this dreadful wallpaper. I'll stop and get some paint tomorrow."
Fresh start. Okay. This is good. Maybe I could even find someone here... yeah right. People like me weren't made for friends, let alone love...
It took us until about midnight to finish unpacking the bedrooms, kitchen, and bathrooms. I actually had my own for once! No more entering the bathroom after my father, wishing I owned a gas mask.
"You better get to bed, Mijo. School tomorrow."
"Yeah, I'm going. You too though, first day at the shop." He smiled and approached me, kissing the top of my head.
"Buenos noches, Mijo,"
"Goodnight, Papá."
I hardly slept a wink that night, mainly from nerves, but also because I kept hearing some sort of animal outside, and it made me feel a little anxious.
"Mijo! Up, up, come on! School today!" I groaned and pulled the covers further over my head.
"Go away," I grumbled.
"But hey hey hey guess what?" I pulled away the blanket and opened one eye.
"What?" My father just smiled and replied in his best Donkey impression:
"I'm making waffles!" I rolled my eyes and smiled. My father was an interesting fella alright.
"Fine, I'll be down in a minute." He left me to get ready. I decided to wear something simple, as I knew I would already stand out as the knew kid, didn't need a giant target painted on my back as well. I chose a baggy hoodie and black skinny jeans, paired with my favorite pair of worn Converse. I showered quickly, not bothering to brush my mane of curls, and made my way to the kitchen for breakfast.
"HE'S ALIVE!" My father held his hands up like a mad scientist and cackled.
"Yeah, yeah, where's my food?" He handed me a plate quickly and sat beside me. We are quickly before piling into the car, him driving this time, as I was too nervous.
"Deep breaths, Mijo. You'll do great. You're awesome, just like your Papá!"
"And here I thought you were being supportive." He laughed and leaned to kiss the top of my head.
"I might be home late, but you can stop by the shop if you want. Tell me how your first day went."
"Okay, love you Papá." He mumbled an 'I love you too' before I stumbled my way out of the car, and into the crowded parking lot.
"Here goes nothing," I mumbled.
***
I found the office building and my locker with ease, as they were near the main parking lot, and the classrooms were pretty easy as well, considering the kind secretary, Miss Ryans, gave me a map of the school, and had written directions to each of my classes. I could feel eyes on me wherever I went. Everywhere I turned, I could feel eyes on me from all directions. However, my classes went smoothly and nobody tried talking to me...until I got to U.S History, that is.
"Hi! You're new! I'm Holly!" A petite girl beside me stretched out her hand and grinned. She was beautiful, with lightly tanned skin and wavy blonde hair. Part of me wished I could have felt something for her.
"Uh, hi. Yeah I just moved from New Mexico. I'm-"
"Gilberto Mendoza? Is there a Gilberto Mendoza here today?" The teacher called from the from of the classroom.
"Um.. that's me.." I shyly rose my hand. "Gill is fine though..."
"Alright, Gill. Welcome to US History. I'm Miss. Callaway," she gave me a kind smile, which I returned. She began the lesson, something about the second world war.
"So, are you liking it in Washington? We get a bit more rain here." Holly commented beside me, giving a slight chuckle. Twilight much?
"I guess so," I shrugged. "We just got in yesterday, so I haven't really done much of anything." She nodded and was about to respond, but the lecture began.
Miss Callaway gave us the last ten minutes or so of class to do whatever, so I decided to sketch for an upcoming art project I had in mind: an honest self portrait. A self portrait, but instead of an exact replica of your face, what you see when you look at yourself, both physically, and figuratively.
"Damn, you are good," Holly commented, smiling at my sketch. I blushed and shook my head.
"Oh, no. This is nothing. I just started, and I already got the eyes wrong, and my nose is lopsided." She rolled her eyes.
"Nonsense, its great." The bell rang then, signalling lunch time, and so I stood, cleaning up my station.
"You should sit with me and my friends at lunch! I mean, unless you already made some friends you'd rather sit with..." she looked down.
"Uh- yeah. I'll sit with you." And so I, Gilberto Mendoza, made my way to the cafeteria with a hyper girl called Holly, who was quickly becoming my very first friend.
Tobias
"-and then she did this thing with her hips, and-" I slammed my hand on Jax' s mouth, preventing him from continuing.
"Okay, bro. I'm super happy you found your mate this weekend, but I really don't want to hear about you having sex. I'm trying to eat here," I grimaced, gesturing toward my lunch.
"You're just jealous I'm getting some and you're not," he mocked, shoving a handful of fries into his mouth. Jax was a cool guy. His full name was Ajax. Why he wanted to shorten it a single letter, was beyond me. I had known him since I was a mere pup, our fathers being best friends. He was to be my beta when I became alpha...if I became alpha.
"Shut up, you know I'm looking for her." He gave me a guilty look.
"I know, sorry man. Kayla has a few single friends from her pack, maybe one of them?" I shook my head.
"I would have at least caught a scent on her or something."
"Right, well. I'm sorry. Oh! Did I tell you about my new job?" I raised a brow.
"No, you haven't. Since when do you work?"
"Since I got a girlfriend, shits expensive. Anyway, apparently that old mechanic shop is finally getting a new owner. You should apply too, man." I shrugged.
"Yeah, maybe."
"Oh, and the owner has a son. They both just moved here, so he'll be going to school here." I furrowed my brow. Nobody ever moved to Crimson Lake...
"That is weird. Do you know if they're weres? Rogues maybe?" He shook his head.
"Nah, human. A couple trackers went by their house late last night. Plus, I had a class with the kid already this morning. He's tiny and harmless." Intriguing...
It was then I was greeted with the most amazing smell, like sweet vanilla and cherries. I frantically turned my head in all directions, searching for the source of the scent, but the cafeteria was too crowded.
"Bro, do you smell that?" Jax gave me a confused look.
"Smell what? The shitty meatloaf, or Coach Weakly's pit sweat?"
"No, its a good scent," I took a deep breath through my nose. "A really good scent." His eyes widened.
"Dude! You realize what that is?? Your mate! That's why I can't smell it!"
"You think?" I asked, though the purring of my wolf, Griffin, told me he was right.
"What are you doing sitting here?? Get your ass up and go find her!" He kicked my shin under the table, and I jumped from my seat, heading toward the smell...
"Holly?" I furrowed my brow. That was impossible, she wasn't my mate...
"Tobias! I invited the new kid to sit with us, I hope that's okay?" She but her lip nervously. That was it! The new kid! He must have been my mate... But he was a guy I thought?
"Where is he?" I asked eagerly.
"Well, maybe-"
"Oof-" I felt a small figure crash into my back, making my skin erupt into flames. I turned my head and nearly took a leap back. It was him!
"Uhm... I'm sorry, I didn't see you and I kind a tripped and I wasn't paying attention and-" I couldn't take my eyes off him.
'Mine ' Griffin purred in satisfaction at the sound of his mates voice. A guy??
"-bias!" I snapped out of my trance and reluctantly looked away from my mates blushing face.
"Huh?" She gave me a confused look.
"This is Gill, the new kid I told you about? He's gonna sit with us." I smiled at the thought of my mate sitting so close.
"That's perfect." I stated, locking eyes with Gill. So beautiful...
The three of us made our way back to where Jax was sitting. How was I gonna tell him? How was I gonna tell my dad??? Could there be two alphas? How would we continue the bloodline???
"Jax, this is Gill." Holly introduced. My heart fluttered at the sight of Gill's shy smile. This was going to be difficult.
YAAAAY ANOTHER CHAPTER ð