C4 Confrontations and anxieties

As the alarm blares the next morning, I realize that I'm already wide awake. The haunting echoes of wolves howling throughout the night had kept me from getting a peaceful night's rest. It was a stark reminder that the information I had read about Haven being a natural habitat for wolves and other wild animals was indeed accurate.

Feeling exhausted, I opt for a soothing bath instead of a quick shower to help alleviate the tension that had settled into my muscles. As I sink into the warm water, I feel the weariness slowly ebbing away, leaving me feeling rejuvenated. Just as I start to relax and savor the tranquility of the moment, the water begins to lose its warmth, jolting me back to reality. This completely baffles me as I just got in. Is the weather so cold that it has cooled my bath water?

Since there's still time I decide to make breakfast for myself and my mum. I finally settled on pancakes and eggs after much deliberation on what to cook. Like my mum has a timer on her because as soon as I finish plating the food and placing it on the table she comes out of her bedroom.

"Good morning mum." I greet her smiling.

"My baby, good morning. Wow, this is a nice surprise." She tells me smiling happily.

"Mum I know we've not spent time together since we moved because of your work and my school so I thought breakfast together would be nice," I tell her shyly

"Thank you, baby, I love it." She pecks my cheek before sitting down and diving into her breakfast. "These pancakes are so delicious." She tells me as I prepare coffee for her and tea for myself.

I take a sip of my tea and discover it is already cold. “Ew, why is this cold already?”

"Really? Let me try my coffee." My mum takes a sip of hers and sighs." It's still hot."

"I don't get it. The same thing happened when I was in the bath this morning and my water just went cold."

"Don't worry about that sweetheart. Things like this happen all the time. It's probably just the weather. Don’t worry I will make you a new cup of tea just the way you like it.”

"Yes, please. I love your tea," I say with a smile. She kindly makes me a fresh cup, and I savored it while enjoying my breakfast. The earlier discomfort with the temperature was now forgotten as I suddenly recalled the storybook she had shared with me the day before. Excitedly, I asked her about it, eager to hear more. Hey, I didn't know you still had my favourite storybook from when I was a child." She looks confused.

"What storybook?"

"The one of the lost princess. I saw it in my room last night. By the way strange place to leave it."

"Honey, the lost princess didn't have a storybook, I told the story from my head."

"Mum why are you so forgetful? The book is in my room." I tell her.

"Okay go bring it let me see it. Maybe then I'll remember."

"Alright." I get the book for her and she looks confused but the look quickly wipes from her face as she laughs.

"OH baby, you're right. I'm really forgetful. Let me hold on to this, I left it in your room yesterday while I was airing your bedroom."

"Okay, whatever." I clear the table and do the dishes before going to finish preparing for school. Just because I'm in a good mood, I decide to put on a little makeup to complement my outfit of mini, grey tweed gown and stockings.

I put on mascara and eyeliner which pops my blue eyes and light pink lip-gloss. I style my hair in space buns and bathe myself in perfume before putting on my thrifted Doc Martens’ shoes that I saved for months for. Once I’m satisfied with my appearance I join my mum in the car so she can drop me at school.

This time around, I'm more accustomed to Haven college since I had yesterday to be acquainted. It truly is easier to navigate a place when there is time to be familiar with it.

Checking my timetable, I go to my first class but the teacher isn't here yet so I take a seat and just listen to music on my iPod until the teacher gets here. Even though I'm into my music, I still notice the 'untouchables'. The untouchables are the group of kids Candace told me about yesterday and I took it upon myself to start calling them that.

I finally have the opportunity to study them properly. As I observe them, I can't help but admire their beauty. However, my attention is drawn to Dominic. His muscular physique and beautiful blonde hair immediately catches my eye. What truly captivates me, though, are his striking grey eyes. They seem to hold a depth and warmth that make me feel as if they can see and heal all my scars. Suddenly, he turns his head and our eyes meet, causing me to startle with surprise.

Intrigued, I lean in to confirm that he is indeed looking at me, but as I do, his gaze shifts away. It seems I may not have been the one he was focusing on after all. Nevertheless, I find myself unable to look away as they engage in discussion amongst themselves. Only when the professor enters the room do I reluctantly tear my eyes away from them. Throughout the class, I feel eyes on me but when I look around, no one is watching me. With a fast-beating heart, I bolt out of the class immediately after it's over and rush to the bathroom to wash my face in the hope that it clears my anxiety. My hand hovers over the tap but before I can open the tap the water gushes out and splashes everywhere.

"What the fuck?" I try closing it and after a while it finally does. The other people in the bathroom staring at me and one of the girls; Stephanie I believe from The Untouchables, the one who Candace believes is obsessed with Dominic looks into my eyes to tell me "That's what happens when they let lowlifes into a place too good for them."

"What did you just say?" I ask her.

"You heard me. There's no way I'm repeating myself for a lowlife like you." She turns to walk away but my feet remain planted in the same place as I boil in anger. Everywhere become still and I hear the wind roaring in my ears. I wish I could douse her in water. Suddenly, the tap explodes and water pours all over her in full force, drenching her head to toe, like it was targeting her.

"What did you do?" She fumes at me.

"Me, I'm not even touching the tap. This is not my fault."

"You bitch, I don't know how you did what you did but watch your back." She threatens me and I swear her eyes flash black but when I look closely it's back to brown.

Is this girl threatening me? This must be a big, fat joke. She must really think this is high school. "Look, I'm sorry you got drenched but if you think about it the tap exploded on me earlier so it is most likely faulty."

She visibly deflates and I relax." You are right, it's probably just the tap malfunctioning, I don't know why I lost my temper like that. Anyway, I'm going to go now so I can clean up "

"Okay, no problem, and once again I'm very sorry," I tell her and she smiles at me before leaving. Whew! I was scared for a moment that she was going to attack me but it seems she isn't the crazy bitch Candace thinks she is.

I leave the bathroom and continue my day as I normally do. When it's closing time, I walk home as usual but end up deciding to do some exploring since I've not seen Haven Town. I might as well kill two birds with one stone by also looking for a part-time job.

The dense forest is cloaked in an eerie silence, amplifying the tension in the air. As I cautiously tread through the underbrush, I can't shake off the chill that grips me from within. Suddenly, the sharp crack of a twig pierces the stillness, causing me to whirl around in alarm. My eyes dart around, but I see nothing out of the ordinary. I resume my walk, but the sound repeats, this time accompanied by a rhythmic crunch of footsteps. A surge of instinctual fear urges me to flee, but before I can react, the sounds draw nearer. I turn towards the source of the approaching footsteps, only to be met with the sight of an unexpected figure.

I don’t know who I expected to see but it isn’t Stephanie and two other girls whose names remain unknown. My heart breaks into a faster-than-normal rhythm while every hair on my skin stands.