The Ember In The Dark
Ch. 2

I knocked on the door and a student opened it.

"You must be my new student.” An older lady with long faded blonde hair and glasses greeted mefrom the front of the room. I nodded my head at her. "Take a seat at one of the empty chairs." Sheinstructed.

Everyone kept their attention on me as I took a seat in the back row. Boys eyeing my body againand girls giving me curious or jealous glances. It's always the same no matter where you go I guess.At least here I won't be as much of a failure. I fit better with the humans than anywhere else.

Mrs. Williams continued her trig lesson. The bell rang shortly after, and I collected my things.

Next was P.E. with Rachel. I'm glad we have a couple classes together, it gives me a friendly face inthe crowd. I walked down the hall Rachel showed me earlier.

"Ember!" Ash's voice called from behind me and I turned to replace him with Toni still. His 6'2 self waseasy to spot amongst the crowd. I waited for him to catch up.

"Hey, what's up?" I asked him.

"I have P.E. now too. We'll be in the gym at the same time. So it's kind of like we have 2nd periodtogether after all.” He smiled excitedly, he's just like a kid sometimes. I was unable to hold my smileback.

"That's great." I told him.

"Oh hey, this is Toni. He's invited us to sit with him at lunch.” Ash introduced. "Toni, this is my twin,Ember."

"Hey." Toni nodded at me. His eyes catching mine again. My heart fluttered for a moment... odd."Hey." I awkwardly nodded back. "Ash. I had someone invite me to sit with them at lunch as well." Itold him pouting. "Her name is Rachel.” I told him. "I'll introduce you in P.E. we have it together.”"Oh." Ash sounded disappointed.

"We don't have to sit together, you know. If you want to sit with Toni." I don't want to keep himfrom making friends. He did switch schools for me already. He pouted thinking for a moment.

"If it's the same Rachel, I'm thinking about, she's my cousin. I sit near her, anyway. So it seems we allwould have wound up at the same spot.” Toni added and Ash lit up.

"Ha! How perfect.” Ash was so easy to make happy. I smiled again, shaking my head at him. Sillybrother. "I think we're doing really well for our first day." He whispered in my ear.

"Don't jinx it." I poked him in the side making him grimace.

Toni laughed. I forgot he was there for a moment. I fought the blush from creeping on my cheeksagain.

We made it to the gym and I went to my spot, seeing Rachel in the distance. She waved at me andthen at her cousin Toni, behind me. How coincidental.

She led me down the stairs to a locker room marked girls. Inside were a group of girls changing inthe open. I have never changed in front of anyone before. Rachel lent me some shorts that felt waytoo short and a shirt.

"Come on, let's go before we're bothered.” She started to push me back out, but it was too late.

A tall 5'9 girl stood before my 5'3 self. Her long blonde hair was tied back in a high ponytail. Shewas really pretty with dark blue eyes and sharp features.

"Hey, Rachel. Were you able to talk to Toni?" She asked her.

"I told you I wasn't going to get involved. Talk to him yourself." Rachel snapped.

Tall blonde girl made a face. I can tell I'm not going to like this girl. She reached to grab Rachel, but Iinstinctively grabbed her wrist and pulled it down. She bent forward, following her wrist. She lookedup at me pissed and confused. I let her wrist go pushing her back up. I didn't mean to do that. Isighed. Damnit.

"Leave her alone.” Was all I said to her before grabbing Rachel and walking out. My heart wasracing, knowing there would be backlash later for that. Rachel laughed beside me as we left thelocker room.

"Oh girl. You didn't need to do that, but I really appreciate it.” She told me. "That's Myra. Queen B ofsorts. She and Toni were dating for a while before he broke up with her. He's not into mean girlsand he didn't like the way Myra acted with others.” She explained. "Myra thinks she can get me tochange his mind.” She rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I know what that's like. To be the in-between of girls and a relative. It happens to me withmy brother a lot." I explained.

"The twin that doesn't look like you?" She asked.

"Yeah. You'll meet him here in a minute. He has P.E. this period too.”

"Oh I'm very curious now." She wiggled her eyebrows and I smiled.

We headed back up to the gym. All the boys" eyes landed on me from across the floor, as we walkedto our spot. I heard some whistles, but I kept my head up. I refuse to blush or show anyvulnerability.

"You got a boyfriend Ember?" Rachel asked.

"No, I do not.” I told her. "Haven't met a boy that doesn't annoy me yet." I joked, but really I've hadmy heart broken too deeply to want to date anyone right now.

I saw Ash from across the way. He must have borrowed some clothes too. He had a pair of navyblue gym shorts and a gray shirt on. He was tense, trying not to get onto all the boys for looking atme.

'What are you wearing?’ He mind linked.

Ash and I could link one another since we were 5. It's the only person I can do it with.

“Gym clothes, duh. I borrowed some from Rachel.’

“Those shorts are too short." He scowled at me and I returned it.

“Trust me, 1 know. I don't like it. I'll have my own clothes tomorrow."

A whistle sounded loudly, making my ears ring. I could tell who was a werewolf by the way theyreacted to the whistle, and it seems Toni and Rachel are among them.

Rachel seemed to notice my sensitivity to the whistle too and we shared a knowing look. Only sheprobably didn't really know about me.

"All right, girls today we play with the boys instead of against them. Get in groups of 4." Sheinstructed, leaving to go talk to the boys coach who had just given the same instructions to theboys.

Ash and I locked eyes and made a Beeline for one another. Rachel and Toni followed behind each ofus.

"Well that was easy.” Ash smiled as we all joined

"Rachel, this is my brother, Ash.” I introduced him to her.

"Hey" He gave her a small wave.

"Hey. You guys aren't normies are you?" She asked suddenly.

"Rachel!" Toni scolded her. His voice came off strong, sending butterflies fluttering around mystomach.

"What? You can totally smell it on him.” She defended.

"Yeah, we're not human.” Ash answered quickly.

"I thought you guys weren't. I wasn't sure though.” Toni said smiling.

I nodded my head. I'm not correcting him about me.

"We're more than that." Ash said, not looking away from Rachel. "Our Dad's a dragon and our momis a werewolf and elf." Ash revealed.

Toni whistled impressively.

"That's a really rare pairing. So wait, do you guys have both a dragon and a wolf?" He askedexcitedly and Ash realized he messed up. He cleared his throat awkwardly.

"I have both." Ash said, looking at me. "But Ember."

"I have none." I finished for him, crossing my arms and looking ahead at the wall.

I could tell Toni was feeling sympathy for me, but I didn't want that.

"I'm sorry." Ash told me and I poked him in the side again. I didn't want him to be sad.

"Shut up. I'm fine." I rolled my eyes at him. "I'll still beat your ass at this game." I smiled at him.

I was the better fighter between Ash and I, but he always overpowered me. I could beat him insports though. We all played for a while until the coach blew her whistle and it was time to change. Ibeat Ash as often as I could. He was pouty when we seperated to go change.

"Who was that guy you guys were playing with today?" Myra asked us as we changed.

"What's it to you?" I snapped. I wasn't in the best mood.

"Curious minds want to know." She stated, slightly snarky.

"He's Embers twin." Rachel answered, realizing they wouldn't leave till they had one.

Suddenly Myra looked at me differently and I knew she planned on wheasiling her way into my life.She now needs me to get close to my brother.

"You should come sit with us at lunch. We would love to host the new students.” She was suddenlysO sweet.

"No thanks. I already have plans.” I slammed Rachel's locker closed and grabbed her. I pulled herout of the locker room. "Sorry." I sighed letting go of her hand.

"Hey, I get it. I'll meet you outside at lunch, okay?" She smiled and waved goodbye