Page 3 of Broken Souls

“Thanks.”

My lips slightly pull up at her words but smiling doesn't come easy to me. I finish up with the table and move on to the racks. One of the higher racks I notice is all messed up, the coat hangers and bras tangled together. I reach up and wince at my body stretching.

“Shit, Elora,” Amelia says in a shrill way. I turn to her and see her biting her lower lip nervously. I frown. She's not meeting my eyes.

“Amelia?” I call.

“Your shirt pulled up,” she states.

“Oh,” I whisper, turning back to the racks. She saw my bruises.

“Do you want me to ask?” her voice says, subdued.

“No,” I murmur.

“Noted,” she says simply. I turn to her with a confused expression.

“You're not going to pressure me? Or push me to go to the police?”

“No. In abusive situations telling people, especially the authorities, can do more harm than good. I believe that whatever is happening, you'll figure out the best way to overcome this. You're smart.” Amelia offers a smile, lightening the conversation.

“Thank you.” I nod at her.

People might think she's a bad friend for not trying to help me. But I appreciate her reaction to my bruises. Just like I don't question her family life, she doesn't question mine. Plus, a human getting mixed up with werewolf business would be a huge dilemma. I know she doesn't know I'm a werewolf, but I'm glad for her respect and secrecy regarding my privacy.

“However, if you need pain pills, just ask. My sister won't even know they're missing.” Amelia shrugs like it's no big deal. I'm guessing her sister's a junkie from what I've heard her say about her family but just like her, I'm not going to pry.

“Despite the fact that we're both secretive and not close like most friends are, you really are a ray of sunshine on a rainy day,” I say, and she starts laughing.

“Thank you, but I'm not anyone's sunshine.” She sobers up from laughing. I know she's not laughing at my words but more at the fact she doesn't believe my compliment.

“To me, you are.”

“You're a good friend. If you weren't at school, I would've lost my mind already.”

Amelia and I are so similar yet we handle things in different ways. Even though our friendship isn't intimate like most friends, we really do support each other.

***

School has been going by slowly. It's so frustrating sitting in school for six hours listening to aimless bullshit. Not that I really listen. I have a good five months left of the school year. Only five months before I can really take action and try to better my life.

“Elora.” I snap out of the trance and see my English teacher staring at me sternly. “Answer to question twelve.” Her eyes are hard.

“Ugh,” I stammer.

Aren't teachers used to my withdrawal and distance from education by now? The class is staring at me. Damn, it's not surprising I don't focus on class work.

“Lunch detention. Not only are you not listening in my class, but you also never hand in homework.” She turns back to the board.

Resisting the urge to sigh loudly, I shake my head in derision at her strict teacher bullshit. I lean back in my chair, let my eyes unfocus as I stare at the wall and trance out again.

The next class goes by and then it's lunchtime. I text Amelia that I have detention so I won't sit with her. Going into the detention room, I see a few humans scattered around, looking bored out of their minds. The only other werewolf in here is Joel, the sexual deviant of the school. Well, sexual deviant when he's with his girlfriend at least. He's tapping his foot on the ground, looking irritated.

I take a seat to the side of the room. Everyone who's in detention is sitting away from each other. The teacher supervising detention is at the head of the class staring at paperwork, I assume. This isn't my first time in detention. If I'm honest, detention is relaxing. Literally everyone in the class stays silent because they're bored and not allowed to speak. It's a peaceful atmosphere. The one time I get to zone out and not get in trouble for it.

“Lora,” I turn and see Dennis calling me. He's human, the 'screw it' attitude guy of the school.

“It's Elora,” I correct him.