The Rising Moon (2 page)

“
Yes sir,” I replied placing the empty dishes in the sink.

∞∞∞∞

“
Good morning!” Emi smiled wide as she stood leaning on my 1968 rusty red VW beetle. She wore her dark brown hair loose under a black felt hat.

“
I see you’re up bright and early this morning. You didn’t even wait for me to drive up to your house and get you,” I replied with a smile.

Emiliana, Emi for short, was the youngest and the only girl out of the eight Ulric children. The five eldest were married and lived scattered throughout the United States and Argentina, where her family’s from, and the two youngest were attending a University out in California.

I’ve always felt a bit jealous of Emi for having such a large family---although we did share one thing in common. She too had no parents. Her mother died during childbirth and her father died of cancer when she was three, but luckily, she had her grandmother Ramira and seven brothers to fill in their shoes.

“
I’ve been up since sunrise. Hurry now, today’s my first day of High School and I don’t want to be late,” she said as she hopped inside the passenger seat.

Emi was too young to drive yet, so I had the unwilling privilege of being her chauffeur till her fifteenth birthday in a few weeks. She scanned desperately through the stations on the non-CD playing radio trying to find the right song to theme our arrival at school. Excited to see the beige and red brick building that bore the name Lander Valley High School Emi stretched out the window waving her hat in her hand, shouting, “Heehaw!”

All the students gathered outside the building turned to look at us. Some waved their hands yelling
Heehaw
in reply and the others just stared.

It was bad enough my diminutive rusty car already drew attention among the muscled pick-up trucks. I didn’t need the whole school gawking at us as I drove in. My pallid face burned as I quickly pulled her back into the car.

“
What’s wrong with you?” My cheeks itched from the humiliation.
“Oh come on Lia,” she whined as she leaned over to the back seat to grab her bag, “you’ve been coming to this school for four years now and you don't have any friends, or never even had a boyfriend. Don’t you think it’s time to stop hiding behind the brick wall you’ve created for yourself and start to live a little?” she asked with a no-nonsense tone in her voice. “Do it for Veena. I'm sure she would rest more peaceful knowing that you’re at least attempting to have a normal teenage life instead of moping around in solitude.”

I placed my hands on the steering wheel and stared out the windshield at a loss of words. She was right. I did put up a wall around me, but I had to do it. I was a curse to anyone who got too close. I couldn’t explain it to her because she wouldn’t understand.

After a few seconds of silence and after a group of well built, jocks walked past the car she abruptly asked, "Oh my God! Did you see those guys?” she sighed deeply, “I’m so going to have a boyfriend this year.”

"You shouldn’t be thinking about boys,” I said. "Your brothers would kill you if they found out you had a boyfriend. You know how over protective they are."

"Well no one needs to know," she replied with a devious look in her eyes.

I let out a sigh, and reached over to open the door for her, "get out before you give me a heart attack."

"See you later!" she shouted as she ran to meet up with her friends.

I sat in the car watching as everyone made their way into the building. I finally decided to go inside after the second sound of the morning bell.

∞
Chapter 2 ∞

TAKING A DEEP breath, I swung the glass doors
open. Inside the brightly lit green and white hallway was adorned with "Welcome Back" and "Back to School" banners. The hall smelled of pine from the freshly mopped floors as I made my way through the army of students greeting and parading in their cliques. I breathlessly made my way to my locker. I spun the combination numbers 12-07-05-21 and pulled on the lock but it wouldn’t open. I tried it again and this time the lock opened, but the door on the freshly painted locker didn’t.

I looked around to see if anyone else was having a hard time opening their lockers, but it seemed I was the lucky one who was appointed the locker that was painted shut. A group of girls stood laughing at me as I franticly pulled on the handle and tried to pull it open. I kept my head low and silently prayed that the dam thing would open.

Finally, after a few tugs, it did. I threw my backpack inside and quickly slammed the door not knowing that my sleeve was caught on it. The girls, loud laughter attracted attention to where we stood. I glanced at them from underneath my lashes and attempted to reopen the door to free my arm.

"Did you see her eyes?” The tall blonde girl asked.

"That freak has dog eyes,” the short, chubby girl wearing a pair of jeans a size to small replied laughing. “She must be part human and part husky.”

Suddenly I found myself having the same jitters I had when I was a freshman. I wanted to climb inside the locker and lock myself inside. After freeing my arm, I hurried over to homeroom.

Inside, the students were gathered in the back left corner of the room talking. I headed to the opposite side of the room toward a vacant desk beside the window on the right.

"Are you ready for senior year?" I heard a voice say.

With a blank look on my face, I looked up at the guy seated in front of me. His dark brown hair was tied in a tail and his small brown eyes sparkled as he smiled.

"Well?” He asked.

"Uh…sure," I replied. The students to our right turned to look at me. I could tell from their expressions that they were shocked to see that the freak speaks.

"How was your summer break?” He said, ignoring the gaping audience. Who was this guy? And why was he talking to me? No one, besides my teachers ever attempted to talk to me before.

“
It was ok,” I replied.

Just then, a short round woman strolled into the classroom, carrying a stack of papers in her hands. “Good morning class,” she said. Her blonde hair tightly pulled back in a ‘cow lick’ bun. "My name’s Ms. Johansson. First off, I would like to be welcome you all to your senior year of High School,” she paused as some of the students cheered. “Settle down class. You are to report to this classroom every morning for attendance. When I call your name please come up to receive your class schedule."

What?
I pulled my chair in and covered my face in my cold sweaty hands.

"Lucy Adams, Annabel Taylor, Ryan Woodruff…," Ms. Johansson began calling out names till she finally said, "Angelia Lafosse."

Everyone turned to look at me. I heard my name being called, but I couldn’t find the strength to stand up. My body felt heavy. Fear of walking up to the class glued me to the seat.
"An-ge-lia La-fosse,” She repeated my name in short syllables making sure she was pronouncing it correctly.
“Hey,” the guy who sat in front of me whispered, “she’s calling you.”

"Oh," I said as I bit my lip. My nose slowly flared as I took in a deep breath. The walk up to the front of the class seemed endless. I tried to breath normal, slowly inhaling and exhaling as my eyes followed the blue and white floor tiles that trailed to the front mahogany desk.

"Here you go Miss Lafosse.” She said handing me a couple of sheets of paper. “I am pronouncing it correctly aren’t I?”

“
Yes ma’am.” I smiled vaguely at her and turned back up the endless rows of desks, it was impossible not to notice the curious eyes that observed my every move. My face was tomato red as I sped back to my desk.

Finally, the bell rang and everyone quickly jumped out their seats and exited the classroom. I waited till everyone was gone and with my schedule in hand, made my way to the door.

“
I’m Ryan by the way,” the brown-eyed guy said. His tall, muscular body towered over me.

“
My name’s Angelia,” I said in a low voice. “Everyone calls me Lia.”

“
Lia,” his voice was smooth and deep. "Do you mind if I take a look at your schedule?” He asked as he pulled it out of the grip of my hand before I can answer. "We have English together.” He sounded pleased. I nodded, as I hugged my books tightly. "Mind if I walk with you?" he asked.

I swallowed hard, feeling shy, excited, and unsure all at once. Unable to say no to his puppy dog eyes, I cleared my throat and replied, “Sure.”

"Ladies first,” he said with a quick bow, ignoring the gawking looks from the girls that stood outside the door.

When we reached English class, I quickly took the first empty seat I could find in the back of the class. Ryan continued his well mannered demure and pulled out the seat for me. To his favor, the seat beside mine was up for grabs.

I tried so hard not to look at him. I overheard the girls who sat in front of me mummer to one another. They wondered what Ryan, one of the most handsome guys in school, could possibly see in me. I asked myself the same thing. I ran my right hand up and down the side of my face scratching an imaginary itch on my forehead as my eyes slowly strolled over to him from behind my fingers. He was clearly admiring. He instantly looked at me and smiled. I quickly turned my head and attention to Mr. Hilder who stood in front of the class talking about what he will be expecting from us this year. At the end of class, I gathered my books and quickly headed out the door.

At lunchtime, I sat in the courtyard, alone sheltered under a canopy of orange and red maple leaves as I ate my lunch and watched the students gathered in the yard.

In the far corner of the yard among a pack of friends, I saw Ryan. He was laughing and playfully joking around with some guys. He was the tallest and strongest of the boys in the group. There were four boys laughing along with him, a couple nestled together on a blanket and four girls reading and listening to music.

I stuffed the empty soda can and sandwich wrapper into the paper lunch bag. Suddenly, Ryan’s eyes flashed over to meet mine. I dropped my head and quickly gathered my books, as he made his way through the yard. Faster than I can make an excuse to bolt, he stood in front of me.

"Hi," he said with a smile. "Why don’t you join me and my friends?"

I took another quick glance at the group of kids staring at us. The two boys that looked like identical twins smiled widely at me.

“
I don’t know. I don’t think I’ll fit in.” My voice sounded insecure.

"You'll fit in fine, trust me.”

"Maybe tomorrow," I said. "I already finished eating and besides lunch time is almost over.” I sounded so stiff and false.

"Ok, tomorrow then.”

The day seemed to have gone by quickly. I stepped out of my final class and found Ryan standing beside my locker.

“
I was wondering if I could call you sometime," he said.

My brain scrambled, thinking of what to say. I wanted to be his friend, I really did, but I couldn’t. It wouldn’t be fair for him. "I don’t think it’s a good idea.” I said as I shut the door.

“
Why not?” His once bright eyes were now dark and confused. Unable to tell him why, I quickly turned, and walked away.

"Lia!" shouted Emi as I ran past her in the parking lot. I’ve almost forgotten about her. She turned to wave goodbye to her flock of friends and caught up to me. “What’s the matter? Why the rush to get home?” she asked, her brows knit with concern.

"Nothing, just get inside." My expression froze as I looked past her confused face and over to Ryan who stood outside the front door watching me like a hawk. Emi turned to see what caught my attention.

“
Who’s that?” she asked. His tall, brawny physic was not easy to ignore.

“
No one,” I quickly answered. I rushed open the door like my life depended on it and quickly started to make my way out of the parking lot.

“
Well that 'no one' is gorgeous,” she said wide-eyed, “and I think he’s thinking the same about you. Did you see how he was looking at you?”

Ignoring her question I quickly tried to change the subject. “So, how was your first day at school?” I asked, trying to keep her thoughts and mouth busy.

“
It was great!” she exclaimed.

For the rest of the ride home she talked about how she got lost trying to find her classes, which teachers she liked or didn't like and how her team won the basketball match during gym class. After a while, her voice drifted to a mumble as I stared stolid out the window.

The exhaustion of the day finally caught up to me when I arrived at home. I warmed up some left over pizza and headed to my room. After I changed into a pair of sweats, I wrapped my hair into a bun and went through the stack of books I received at school today. Once in bed I heard the sound of the kitchen door open. I went to see what condition John was in tonight. I was glad he didn’t smell of whisky. He hung his hat and slipped off his boots. Quietly I began to pour him a cup of coffee.