Aprilynne Pike - Wings

LAURELS SHOES FLIPPED A CHEERFUL RHYTHM THAT defied her dark mood. As she walked through the halls of Del Norte High, people watched her pass with curious eyes.

After double-checking her schedule, Laurel found the biology lab and hurried to claim a seat by the windows. If she had to be indoors, she wanted to at least see outside. The rest of the class filed in slowly. One boy smiled in her direction as he walked to the front of the classroom and she tried to muster one up in return. She hoped he didnt think it was a grimace.

A tall, thin man introduced himself as Mr. James and began passing out textbooks. The beginning of the book seemed fairly standard classifications of plants and animals, she knew those then it started to move into basic human anatomy. Around page eighty, the text started to resemble a foreign language. Laurel grumbled under her breath. This was going to be a long semester.

As Mr. James called out the roll, Laurel recognized a few names from her first two classes that morning, but it was going to be a long time before she matched even half of them to the faces that surrounded her. She felt lost amid the sea of unfamiliar people.

Her mom had assured her that every sophomore would feel the same after all, it was their first day in high school too but no one else looked lost or scared. Maybe being lost and scared was something you got used to after years of public school.

Homeschooling had worked just fine for Laurel over the last ten years; she didnt see any reason for that to change. But her parents were determined to do everything right for their only child. When she was five, that meant being homeschooled in a tiny town. Apparently, now that she was fifteen, it meant public school in a slightly less tiny town.

The room grew quiet and Laurel snapped to attention when the teacher repeated her name. Laurel Sewell?

Here, she said quickly.

She squirmed as Mr. James studied her over the rim of his glasses and then moved on to the next name.

Laurel released the breath shed been holding and pulled out her notebook, trying to draw as little attention to herself as possible.

As the teacher explained the semesters curriculum, her eyes kept straying to the boy who had smiled at her earlier. She had to stifle a grin when she noticed him sneaking glances at her too.

When Mr. James released them for lunch, Laurel gratefully slid her book into her bag.

Hey.

She looked up. It was the boy who had been watching her. His eyes caught her attention first. They were a bright blue that contrasted with the olive tone of his skin. The color looked out of place, but not in a bad way. Kind of exotic. His slightly wavy, light-brown hair was on the longish side and slipped across his forehead in a soft arc.

Youre Laurel, right? Below the eyes was a warm but casual smile with very straight teeth. Braces probably, Laurel thought as her tongue unconsciously ran over her own teeth, also quite straight. Lucky for her, naturally straight.

Yeah. Her voice caught in her throat and she coughed, feeling stupid.

Im David. David Lawson. II wanted to say hi. And welcome to Crescent City, I guess.

Laurel forced a small smile. Thanks, she said.

Want to sit with me and my friends for lunch?

Where? Laurel asked.

David looked at her strangely. Inthe cafeteria?

Oh, she said, disappointed. He seemed nice, but she was tired of being cooped up inside. Actually, Im going to go find a place outside. She paused. Thank you, though.

Outside sounds good to me. Want some company?

Really?

Sure. Ive got my lunch in my backpack, so Im all set. Besides, he said, hefting his bag onto one shoulder, you shouldnt sit alone your first day.

Thanks, she said after a tiny hesitation. Id like that.

They walked out to the back lawn together and found a grassy spot that wasnt too damp. Laurel spread her jacket on the ground and sat on it; David kept his on. Arent you cold? he asked, looking skeptically at her jean shorts and tank top.

She slipped out of her shoes and dug her toes into the thick grass. I dont get cold very often at least not here. If we go somewhere with snow, Im miserable. But this weathers perfect for me. She smiled awkwardly. My mom jokes that Im cold-blooded.

Lucky you. I moved here from L.A. about five years ago and Im still not used to the temperature.

Its not that cold.

Sure, David said with a grin, but its not that warm either. After our first year here, I looked up the weather records; did you know that the difference between the average temperature in July and December is only fourteen degrees? Now that is messed up.

They fell silent as David ate a sandwich and Laurel poked at a salad with a fork.

My mom packed me an extra cupcake, David said, breaking the silence. Want it? He held out a pretty cupcake with blue frosting. Its homemade.

No, thanks.

David looked at her salad doubtfully, then back at the cupcake.

Laurel realized what David was thinking and sighed. Why was that the first conclusion everyone always jumped to? Surely she wasnt the only person in the world who just really liked vegetables. Laurel tapped one fingernail against her can of Sprite. Its not diet.

I didnt mean

Im vegan, Laurel interrupted. Pretty strict, actually.

Oh, yeah?

She nodded, then laughed stiffly. Cant have too many veggies, right?

I guess not.

David cleared his throat and asked, So, when did you move here?

In May. Ive been working for my dad a lot. He owns the bookstore downtown.

Really? David asked. I went in there last week. Its a great store. I dont remember seeing you though.

Thats my moms fault. She dragged me around shopping for school supplies all week. This is the first year I havent been homeschooled, and my moms convinced I dont have enough supplies.

Homeschooled?

Yeah. Theyre forcing me to go public this year.

He grinned. Well, Im glad they did. He looked down at his cupcake for a few seconds before asking, Do you miss your old town?

Sometimes. She smiled softly. But its nice here. My old town, Orick, is seriously small. Like five-hundred-people small.

Wow. He chuckled. L.A.s just a little bigger than that.

She laughed and choked on her soda.

David looked like he was ready to ask something else, but the bell sounded and he smiled instead. Can we do this again tomorrow? He hesitated for a second, then added, With my friends, maybe?

Laurels first instinct was to say no, but shed enjoyed Davids company. Besides, socializing more was yet another reason her mom had insisted on public school this year. Sure, she said before she could lose her nerve. Thatd be fun.

Awesome. He stood and offered her his hand. He pulled her to her feet and grinned lopsidedly for a minute. Well, Illsee you around, I guess.

She watched him walk away. His jacket and loose-fitting jeans looked more or less like everyone elses, but there was a sureness in his walk that set him apart from the crowd. Laurel was envious of that confident stride.

Maybe someday.

Laurel threw her backpack on the counter and slumped onto a barstool. Her mom, Sarah, glanced up from the bread she was kneading. How was school?

It sucked.

Her hands stopped. Language, Laurel.

Well, it did. And theres not a better word to describe it.

You have to give it some time, hon.

Everyone stares at me like Im a freak.

They stare at you because youre new.

I dont look like everyone else.

Her mom grinned. Would you want to?

Laurel rolled her eyes, but she had to admit her mother had scored a point. She might be homeschooled and a little sheltered, but she knew she looked a lot like the teens in magazines and on television.