Chapter 7 Whispers in the Hallway
Maddie Pov
Lecture hall 204 was bigger than I expected. Rows of seats going up like stairs. A huge whiteboard at the front, windows on one side letting in too much sunlight. I stood in the doorway with my backpack on one shoulder, tried to make myself walk in.
Heads turned, one by one. Like dominoes falling, everyone staring at me. The new girl, the wolfless freak. I could hear whispers starting up before I even took a step.
"Is that her?"
"The one with no wolf?"
"Why is she even here?"
"Wolfless freak."
My stomach twisted. I kept my head down. Walked toward the back row because that's where invisible people sit. Where people who want to disappear go, my shoes sounded too loud on the floor. Each step echoed.
More whispers.
"She looks normal."
"I heard she got slapped by Simone yesterday."
"Probably deserved it."
"Who even let her in?"
I picked a seat in the last row by the window. Dropped my backpack on the floor, pulled out my notebook. My hands were shaking so I pressed them flat on the desk. Stared at the blank page in front of me.
The whispers kept going. Kept getting louder. I could feel eyes on me from every direction, burning into my back. My sides, everywhere.
"I can't believe she showed up."
"Does she think she belongs here?"
"Wolfless people shouldn't be allowed."
My chest felt tight. My heart was pounding so hard I thought everyone could hear it. I wanted to run, to grab my bag and leave. Go back to my dorm, hide under the covers and pretend none of this was happening.
But I didn't move, i couldn't move. Because if I ran now I'd be running forever.
The door opened again. More students coming in, i kept my eyes on my notebook. Drew small circles in the corner of the page. Anything to look busy, to look like I didn't care about the staring.
Then I smelled it. Sweet perfume. Too strong. The kind that makes your nose burn, my whole body tensed.
Footsteps coming closer. Heels clicking on the floor, they stopped right next to my desk.
"Well well," a voice said. That voice. The blonde girl from yesterday. Simone.
I didn't look up. Just kept drawing circles.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you," she said. Her voice was sharp and mean.
I looked up slowly. She was standing there with two other girls behind her. All of them pretty, looking at me like I was dirt on their shoes.
Simone leaned down. Put both hands on my desk and got right in my face. Her perfume was even stronger up close, made my eyes water.
"Stay away from what's mine, little trash," she said. Loud enough for half the room to hear, loud enough to make sure everyone was listening. "Or I'll make sure you regret coming here."
My heart was hammering. My hands gripped the edge of my desk so hard my fingers hurt. Every part of me wanted to say something back, i wanted to stand up and shove her away.
But I didn't. I just stared at my notebook, pressed my lips together and tried to breathe.
"I'm talking to you," Simone said louder. "Did you hear me?"
I didn't answer, i couldn't answer. My throat felt closed up, if I opened my mouth I might cry. Or scream. Or both.
"Answer me!" Simone slammed her hand on my desk. The sound made me flinch.
Still I didn't look at her. Just gripped my pen tighter. My fingers were white around it, the plastic was starting to crack.
Simone straightened up. Laughed this cold laugh. "Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic, come on girls. Let's not waste our time with trash."
She walked away. Her friends followed, their heels clicked across the floor. I could hear them laughing, whispering and it was probably about me.
The room was still quiet. Everyone had watched the whole thing, they had seen me just sit there and take it without fighting back. Now they knew i was weak. Easy to push around.
I stared at my notebook. My vision was blurry. Tears were coming but I blinked them back hard. I wouldn't cry, not here. Not in front of all these people.
The professor walked in. Started talking about werewolf law or something. I didn't hear any of it. Just kept staring at my notebook. At the circles I'd drawn, at my pen that was cracked from how hard I'd been holding it.
My cheek still hurt from yesterday. I touched it gently. It was definitely bruised now. I could feel the swelling, everyone could see it. Everyone knew Simone had slapped me, that I'd just stood there and let it happen.
"You should have fought back," Gory said in my head. Her voice was angry. "You should have shown her you're not weak."
"I can't," I whispered without moving my lips. "I'm trying to stay hidden remember? Fighting draws attention."
"Letting people walk all over you draws more attention," Gory said. "It makes you a target."
She was right. I knew she was right. But what was I supposed to do? Shift in front of everyone? Show them my white fur? Get myself killed like my parents?
No. I'd rather be a target than dead.
The class dragged on forever. The professor kept talking, students kept whispering. I kept staring at my blank notebook, i didn't write a single word. Couldn't focus on anything except the burning feeling in my chest.
Finally the bell rang. Everyone started packing up, chairs scraping, bags zipping, voices getting louder. I waited until most people left before I stood up, didn't want to get caught in the crowd, didn't want more people staring.
I walked out of the classroom with my head down. I kept to the side of the hallway, made myself small and invisible. That's what I was good at now, disappearing.
"Hey new girl!" someone called out. I didn't turn around, just kept walking.
"I'm talking to you!"
I walked faster. My backpack bounced against my shoulder, the hallway seemed to stretch on forever.
Footsteps behind me, they were getting closer. "Are you deaf?"
I turned the corner. Almost ran into someone, mumbled sorry and kept going. My heart was racing again, everything felt too loud, bright. Too much.