A group of girls stood by the door, clustered like pigeons, cooing and giggling. I saw several of the guys staring at them as they left, hoping to catch their eye, only to be disappointed. I snorted softly. Good luck with that. At least three of the girls were blonde, slender and beautiful, and a couple wore extremely short skirts that gave a fantastic view of their long, tanned legs. This was obviously the schools pom squad, and guys like meor anyone who wasnt a jock or richhad no chance.
And then, one of the girls turned and looked right at me.
I glanced away, hoping that no one noticed. Cheerleaders, Id discovered, usually dated large, overly protective football stars whose policy was punch first, ask questions later. I did not want to find myself pressed up against my locker or a bathroom stall on my first day, about to get my face smashed in, because Id had the gall to look at the quarterbacks girlfriend. I heard more whispers, imagined fingers pointed my way, and then a chorus of shocked squeaks and gasps reached my corner.
Shes really going to do it, someone hissed, and then footsteps padded across the room. One of the girls had broken away from the pack and was approaching me. Wonderful.
Go away, I thought, shifting farther toward the wall. I have nothing you want or need. Im not here so you can prove that youre not scared of the tough new kid, and I do not want to get in a fight with your meathead boyfriend. Leave me alone.
Hi.
Resigned, I turned and stared into the face of a girl.
She was shorter than the others, more perky and cute than graceful and beautiful. Her long, straight hair was inky-black, though she had dyed a few strands around her face a brilliant sapphire. She wore sneakers and dark jeans, tight enough to hug her slender legs, but not looking like shed painted them on. Warm brown eyes peered down at me as she stood with her hands clasped behind her, shifting from foot to foot, as if it was impossible for her to stay still.
Sorry about the note, she continued, as I shifted back to eye her warily. I told Regan not to do itMiss Singer has eyes like a hawk. We didnt mean to get you in trouble. She smiled, and it lit up the room. My heart sank; I didnt want it to light up the room. I didnt want to notice anything about this girl, especially the fact that she was extremely attractive. Im Kenzie. Well, Mackenzie is my full name, but everyone calls me Kenzie. Dont call me Mac or Ill slug you.
Behind her, the rest of the girls gaped and whispered to each other, shooting us furtive glances. I suddenly felt like some kind of exhibit at the zoo. Resentment simmered. I was just a curiosity to them; the dangerous new kid to be stared at and gossiped about.
And you are ? Kenzie prompted.
I looked away. Not interested.
Okay. Wow. She sounded surprised, but not angry, not yet. Thats not what I was expecting.
Get used to it. Inwardly, I cringed at the sound of my own voice. I was being a dick; I was fully aware of that. I was also fully aware that I was murdering any hope for acceptance in this place. You didnt talk this way to a cute, popular cheerleader without becoming a social pariah. She would go back to her friends, and they would gossip, and more rumors would spread, and Id be shunned for the rest of the year.
Good, I thought, trying to convince myself. Thats what I want. No one gets hurt this way. Everyone can just leave me alone.
Except the girl wasnt leaving. From the corner of my eye, I saw her lean back and cross her arms, still with that lopsided grin on her face. No need to be nasty, she said, seeming unconcerned with my aggressiveness. Im not asking for a date, tough guy, just your name.
Why was she still talking to me? Wasnt I making myself clear? I didnt want to talk. I didnt want to answer her questions. The longer I spoke to anyone, the greater the chance that They would notice, and then the nightmare would begin again. Its Ethan, I muttered, still staring at the wall. I forced the next words out. Now piss off.
Huh. Well, arent we hostile. My words were not having the effect I wanted. Instead of driving her off, she seemed almost excited. What the hell? I resisted the urge to glance at her, though I still felt that smile, directed at me. I was just trying to be nice, seeing as its your first day and all. Are you like this with everyone you meet?
Miss St. James. Our teachers voice cut across the room. Kenzie turned, and I snuck a peek at her. I need to speak with Mr. Chase, Miss Singer continued, smiling at Kenzie. Go to your next class, please.
Kenzie nodded. Sure, Miss Singer. Glancing back, she caught me looking at her and grinned before I could look away. See ya around, tough guy.
I watched her bounce back to her friends, who surrounded her, giggling and whispering. Sneaking unsubtle glances back at me, they filed through the door into the hall, leaving me alone with the teacher.
Come here, Mr. Chase, if you would. I dont want to shout at you over the classroom.
I pulled myself up and walked down the aisle to slouch into a front-row desk. Miss Singers sharp black eyes watched me over her glasses before she launched into a lecture about her no-tolerance policy for horseplay, and how she understood my situation, and how I could make something of myself if I just focused. As if that was all there was to it.
Thanks, but you might as well save your breath. Ive heard this all before. How difficult it must be, moving to a new school, startingover. How bad my life at home must be. Dont act like you know what Im going through. You dont know me. You dont know anything about my life. No one does.
If I had any say in it, no one ever would.
I got through my next two classes the same wayby ignoring everyone around me. When lunchtime rolled around, I watched the students filing down the hall toward the cafeteria, then turned and went in the opposite direction.
My fellow classmates were starting to get to me. I wanted to be outside, away from the crowds and curious looks. I didnt want to be trapped at a table by myself, dreading that someone would come up and talk. No one would do it to be friendly, I was fairly certain. By now, that girl and her friends had probably spread the story of our first meeting through the whole school, maybe embellishing a few things, like how I called her awful names but somehow came on to her at the same time. Regardless, I didnt want to deal with angry boyfriends and indignant questions. I wanted to be left alone.
I turned a corner into another hall, intent on finding an isolated part of the school where I could eat in peace, and stumbled across the very thing I was trying to avoid.
A boy stood with his back to the lockers, thin shoulders hunched, his expression sullen and trapped. Standing in front of him were two larger boys, broad-shouldered and thick-necked, leering down at the kid they had pinned against the wall. For a second, I thought the kid had whiskers. Then he looked at me, quietly pleading, and through a mop of straw-colored hair, I caught a flash of orange eyes and two furred ears poking up from his head.
I swore. Quietly, using a word Mom would tear my head off for. These two idiots had no idea what they were doing. They couldnt See what he really was, of course. The human they had cornered was one of Them, one of the fey, or at least part fey. The term half-breed shot through my mind, and I clenched my fist around my lunch bag. Why? Why couldnt I ever be free of them? Why did they dog me every step of my life?
I swore. Quietly, using a word Mom would tear my head off for. These two idiots had no idea what they were doing. They couldnt See what he really was, of course. The human they had cornered was one of Them, one of the fey, or at least part fey. The term half-breed shot through my mind, and I clenched my fist around my lunch bag. Why? Why couldnt I ever be free of them? Why did they dog me every step of my life?
Dont lie to me, freak, one of the jocks was saying, shoving the boys shoulder back into the lockers. He had short, ruddy hair and was a little smaller than his bull-necked companion but not by much. Regan saw you hanging around my car yesterday. You think its funny that I nearly ran off the road? Huh? He shoved him again, making a hollow clang against the lockers. That snake didnt crawl in there by itself.
I didnt do it! the half-breed protested, flinching from the blow. I caught the flash of pointed canines when he opened his mouth, but of course, the two jocks couldnt see that. Brian, I swear, that wasnt me.
Yeah? So, you calling Regan a liar, then? the smaller one asked, then turned to his friend. I think the freak just called Regan a liar, did you hear that, Tony? Tony scowled and cracked his knuckles, and Brian turned back to the half-breed. That wasnt very smart of you, loser. Why dont we pay a visit to the bathroom? You can get reacquainted with Mr. Toilet.
Oh, great. I did not need this. I should turn around and walk away. Hes part faery, my rational mind thought. Get mixed up in this, and youll attract Their attention for sure.
The half-breed cringed, looking miserable but resigned. Like he was used to this kind of treatment.
I sighed. And proceeded to do something stupid.
Well, Im so glad this place has the same gorilla-faced morons as my old school, I said, not moving from where I stood. They whirled on me, eyes widening, and I smirked. Whats the matter, Daddy cut off your allowance this month, so you have to beat it out of the losers and freaks? Does practice not give you enough manhandling time?
Who the hell are you? The smaller jock, Brian, took a menacing step forward, getting in my face. I gazed back at him, still smirking. This your boyfriend, then? He raised his voice. You got a death wish, fag?
Now, of course, we were beginning to attract attention. Students who had been averting their eyes and pretending not to see the trio against the locker began to hover, as if sensing violence on the air. Murmurs of Fight rippled through the crowd, gaining speed, until it felt as if the entire school was watching this little drama play out in the middle of the hall. The boy theyd been picking on, the half-breed, gave me a fearful, apologetic look and scurried off, vanishing into the crowd. Youre welcome, I thought, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. Well, I had stepped into this pile of crapI might as well go all out.
New kid, grunted Brians companion, stepping away from the lockers, looming behind the other. The one from Southside.
Oh, yeah. Brian glanced at his friend, then back at me. His lip curled in disdain. Youre that kid who shanked his cellmate in juvie, he continued, raising his voice for the benefit of the crowd. After setting fire to the school and pulling a knife on a teacher.
I raised an eyebrow. Really? Thats a new one.
Scandalized gasps and murmurs went through the student body, gaining speed like wildfire. This would be all over school tomorrow. I wondered how many more crimes I could add to my already lengthy imaginary list.
You think youre tough, fag? Bolstered by the mob, Brian stepped closer, crowding me, an evil smile on his face. So youre an arsonist and a criminal, big deal. You think Im scared of you?
At least one more.
I straightened, going toe-to-toe with my opponent. Arsonist, huh? I said, matching his sneer with my own. And here I thought you were as stupid as you look. Did you learn that big word in English today?
His face contorted, and he swung at me. We were extremely close, so it was a nasty right hook, coming straight at my jaw. I ducked beneath it and shoved his arm as the fist went by, pushing him into the wall. Howls and cheers rose around us as Brian spun furiously and swung at me a second time. I twisted away, keeping my fists close to my cheeks, boxer style, to defend myself.
Enough!
Teachers descended from nowhere, pulling us apart. Brian swore and fought to get to me, trying to shove past the teacher, but I let myself be pulled off to the side. The one who grabbed me kept a tight hold of my collar, as if I might break free and throw a punch at him.
Principals office, Kingston, ordered the teacher, steering Brian down the hall. Get moving. He glared back at me. You, too, new kid. And you better pray you dont have a knife hidden somewhere on you, or youll be suspended before you can blink.
As they dragged me off to the principals office, I saw the half-faery watching me from the crowd. His orange eyes, solemn and grim, never left mine, until I was pulled around a corner and lost from view.
CHAPTER TWO
HALF-BREED
I slumped in the chair in the principals office, arms crossed, waiting for the man across the desk to notice us. The gold sign on the mahogany surface read Richard S. Hill, Principal, though the signs owner hadnt given us more than a glance when we were brought in. He sat with his eyes glued to the computer screen, a small, balding man with a beaky nose and razor-thin eyebrows, lowered into a frown. His mouth pursed as he scanned the screen, making us wait.
After a minute or two, the jock in the chair next to mine blew out an impatient sigh.
So, uh, do you need me anymore? he asked, leaning forward as if preparing to stand. I can go now, right?
Kingston, the principal said, finally glancing up. He blinked at Brian, then frowned again. You have a big game this weekend, dont you? Yes, you can go. Just dont get into any more trouble. I dont want to hear about fights in the hallways, understand?
Sure, Mr. Hill. Brian stood, gave me a triumphant sneer, and swaggered out of the office.
Oh, thats fair. Jock-boy was the one who threw the first punch, but we dont want to jeopardize the teams chance of winning the game, do we? I waited for the principal to notice me, but he had gone back to reading whatever was on the computer. Leaning back, I crossed my legs and gazed longingly out the door. The ticking of the clock filled the small room, and students stopped to stare at me through the window on the door before moving on.
Youve quite the file, Mr. Chase, Hill finally said without looking up.
I suppressed a wince.
Fighting, truancy, hidden weapons, arson. He pushed back his chair, and those hard black eyes finally settled on me. Is there anything youd like to add? Like assaulting the schools star quarterback on your very first day? Mr. Kingstons father is part of the school board, in case you did not realize.
I didnt start that fight, I muttered. He was the one who swung at me.
Oh? You were just minding your own business, then? The principals sallow lips curled in a faint smile. He swung at you out of nowhere?