Guardian

*********Author's Note******

To:

firebreather--Yes, those girls are the female pack leaders, for their generation. They are higher up on the chain than Andy because they are Weres and she isn't, or that's how they see it. That might change as the story goes on ;)

DaniD--naughty, naughty. You'll just have to wait and see, until then, enjoy the suspense. XD

To anyone else who likes this story, read, review, criticize or question. I'd love to know what you think!

Please enjoy!~

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For a moment, I sat there as a rain of sparkles fell to the ground like fairy dust. The sound of glass tinkling to the floor was the only sound, and even that was muffled to my abused eardrums. I covered my mouth and nose with my shirt, afraid to breath in the microscopic pieces of glass. There was shouting down the hall.

With a gasp, I tripped to my feet, cutting my hands as they reached out for balance. The floor crunched as I made my way to the door. I had to get out. I had to get away before someone found me here.

Outside the bathroom a crowd was forming. Fulridge had his back turned, trying to keep the gathering students away from where the commotion started. I darted into the clamoring flock of spectators. I made my way through the backpacks and elbows even as someone shouted, “Hey, who was that? Who came out?”

Shit. I parked myself at the back, hoping the glass wasn’t too noticeable on my clothes and pretended to one of the hangers on. One of the freshman teachers opened the bathroom door and stuck her head in.

“Jesus, it looks like a bomb went off,” she called, stepping back from the scene.

“What! A bomb?!”

“Seriously?”

“Shit, I’m going home—“

“Goddammit!” Fulridge shouted. “Unless you saw what happened here, get to where you’re supposed to be. I have about this much patience, I shit you not, people!”

I turned to face the main hallway.

“Mr. Fullridge! We saw it!” My chest tightened as I glanced behind me. It was Becca, a nasty smile on her face as she caught his attention.

I was so screwed…

……………………………….

The reference section was where I chose to hide. I figured it was the last place anyone would look for me until lunch-time. Seniors were allowed to go off campus then, and that was when I’d sneak out.

I sighed quietly to myself. It would probably just make me look worse…but on the bright side, maybe they would expel me straight away for destruction of school property. Maybe I should blow up the library, too.

An image appeared in my mind, of my reflection, not reflecting. It had moved on its own. It had spoke to me.

“Burn…everything,” I breathed, blinking slowly. Maybe it knew better than I did?

I opened my palm, trying to pool some power there. I grit my teeth as it came, sluggish and painful, like pulling a tree from the ground by the roots. There was barely enough there to singe a few pages, let alone the entire room.

By the end I was sweating, my breath coming hard. It was becoming even more painful as I continued to draw. It was just out of reach…

“Andrea Collins…”

I jumped as my name was called over the loud speaker. “Come to the office, please. Andrea Collins, to the office, please. Thank you.”

There was a small click as Mrs. Green shut off the line. I cursed as the small bit of magic I had gathered dispelled into the air, a tiny wisp of glittering smoke. It smelled like burning metal.

“You aren’t going?”

My head jerked up at the voice.
A brunette head was leaning over one of the waist high stacks, green eyes watching me. I recognized the small frame and petite features. It was the new boy, the one they had been harassing on Monday. I hope he wasn’t bitter over my helpful advice.

I smirked. “I probably should, but then again, if I make Them angry enough I might just get expelled.”

My honesty surprised me. Maybe because we were in a similar situation I felt that he wasn’t a threat. Then again, he could have crossed to the dark side just to get them off his back. Playing with the witch was always good for an easy initiation.

He put his chin in his hand, looking down at me with raised eyebrows and hooded eyes. “Why not just quit if you want out so badly?”

I looked up at him, revealing teeth in what I couldn’t quite call a smile. “I won’t quit, or all of this crap would be for nothing.”

For a moment he didn’t say anything. He just looked at me, like he was judging me. What right did he have to judge me? He was the one who was sniffling in the hallway.

His other hand disappeared for a moment, behind the stack. From the way his shoulder was moving, I guessed he was digging in his pocket. A second later his hand returned, something thin and shiny slinking between his fingers.

I blinked a moment, recognition seizing my brain.

“Hey…”

“You dropped this,” he interrupted.

I closed my mouth. When had I lost it? That was my necklace. I couldn’t even believe that I hadn’t noticed it was gone. I touched my neck and chest even though I knew it wasn’t there, my heart thumping erratically. My body knew something my brain was too slow to catch up with.

He extended the chain so that it glittered under the fluorescents. It dangled a foot in front of me. But I couldn’t take it; my hands didn’t want to move. I watched it like a snake that was going to strike.

“He said you’re welcome back anytime.”

My eyes flashed up as my spine stiffened.

“Who?”

His chin was back in his hand and he was wearing an amused smile as if he found me incredibly entertaining. This person was totally different from the boy in the hallway.

“Him, of course. You can’t have forgotten that you were dinner on Monday, could you?”

I felt my teeth grate together. I snatched the necklace away from him and stood. I opened my mouth to tell him where he could…

My eyes landed on his neck, where there must have been five sets of bites. Sudden understanding crashed over me. The “homo” pictures must have been him being bitten. I wondered how they’d been taken.

I wondered how he dealt with living in a vampire’s house.

I wondered why I was standing there staring at him like an idiot.

“No, I didn’t forget,” I said evenly. “And thanks, but no thanks. I like my blood where it is.”

I gave him irksome smile before I hefted my bag onto my shoulder and turned to leave.

“Hey,” he said, a funny note creeping into his voice. I looked back.

The superior look was gone, leaving something shy and uncertain behind. “If they don’t kill you…I eat lunch on the roof.”

I blinked. Was he saying he wanted me to eat lunch with him?

A minute passed and I watched his face close down again. The haughty look was slowly returning.

“The roof, huh?” I finally said, before leaving. “It’s a good spot.”

…………………………….

“Andrea Collins.”

I gave a wistful sigh as the principal called my name. I had been sitting in one of the uncomfortable office chairs for almost a quarter of an hour.

He waited at the door for me, a thick folder tucked under his arm. Uh-oh. I recognized that gigantic blue rubber band. It replaced the green one that had been stretched too far.

Even though I had been contemplating expulsion, my heart still hammered as I squeezed in front of him into the office. I sat down in the chair facing his desk with a practiced ease. Me and it had gotten to know each other really well.

Mr. Richardson let out a breath as he sat in his own chair. It’s leather seat squelched as his weight descended upon it. I realized that it was new. In fact, other than the chair I was sitting on and the office plant, everything around me was new. Even the computer was sitting bright and shiny, like a virgin on his desk.

My lip twitched as I guessed where the money must have come from. Oh yes. Mr. Farkas kept the principal sitting pretty and completely wrapped around his little finger.

“Andrea,” Mr. Richardson said, pulling me out of my inner rant. He tapped the folder sitting under his hand. “I’ve seen you regularly since you entered this school. I understand your position here, so I’ve let several occurrences slide. But, I’m afraid that destroying one of the school’s restrooms cannot be ignored.”

I wondered, hopefully, if he would ask me to clear out my locker. I could always get my GED.

“Under the school policy, your actions will be reported to the Judicial Board and your punishment—“

“The Judicial Board?!”

“Andrea—“

“You can’t be serious?! I destroyed that bathroom! Shouldn’t you be kicking me out?”

My heart was pounding. I shouldn’t be sent there. I shouldn’t have to be sent there. This was a decision for adults, not for a group of students elected because of a popularity contest.

“It’s policy, Andrea. It’s in the handbook.”

“It’s political bullshit.”

“Miss Collins! Watch your language in this office.”

“I will not!” I shouted, standing. A purple vein began to throb at his temple. “How much?! How much did that jackass pay you to be such a pansy! Why don’t you grow a set of balls and expel me, you sack of—“

“Miss Collins! If you finish that sentence, I will be the very first to suggest that you be held back a year.”

That snapped my mouth shut.

“Your appointment has been set for today at three fifteen. There will be severe repercussions if you are late or absent. Until then, get the Hell out of my office.”

He didn’t have to say it twice. I left, grinding my teeth, so mad that I was fighting the urge to cry. It was an awful thing my body did when I was furious. It was embarrassing. I bit the inside of my cheek as I stomped my way to the Music Room.

It would be abandoned until Band practice. By then my head should already be rolling.

“Damn it,” I hissed under my breath. I’d have to see him, even after what happened yesterday.

What would he make me do? Crawl on the floor? Beg for mercy?

I remembered him pinning me to the desk, and a hot flush crept up my neck and onto my cheeks.

“Maybe I should start wearing silver,” I said to myself, as I opened the door.