Two

Vespa

Nothing prepared me for the killer headache that attacked my head when I forced my eyes open. It sounded like someone was beating rumba drums inside my skull. It was so bad that I couldn't keep my eyes open. 

Groaning, I rubbed my temples with my fingertips in an attempt to stop the ache, Then I lay still, trying to take in my surroundings.

The headache vanished like a mist when I realized where I was; my bookshelf that had my favourite book collections, the familiar cream shade of my room, my cat…

Fear trapped the wind in my chest. I was at my parents' house. I was supposed to be in school.

This meant that my parents were aware of the disgraceful incident at the airport!

 Raw pain washed over me as Donovan's rejection replayed in my brain. That jerk swore his undying love to me two days ago and even told me sweet nothings about how he couldn't wait to see me. 

 Grabbing my phone from the nightstand to call Ria, I realized my battery was drained. Just as I was cursing my luck, My seventeen-year-old sister, Astrid, walked in with a tray of food.  

Her almond-shaped eyes, small nose, and black, curly hair, resembled Disney's Mulan. It always struck me how different we looked and how strange that I was the only blonde-haired, green-eyed person in my family.

 "How are you, sis? I made you chicken soup."

"My body hurts," I groaned, managing to sit up. Astrid handed me the warm china bowl filled with chunks of boiled chicken floating in a broth.

"Thanks," I murmured, then stopped her before she left. "How did I get here?"

She shrugged. "Your friend brought you home. Mum is pissed at you, though."

 She took out her phone and played the video of Donovan rejecting me in front of everyone.

"You're trending for all the wrong reasons. They have turned it into memes. Even the polar bears in Antarctica must have heard. Mom is mortified because her friends and neighbors haven't stopped calling."

Burying my face in my pillow, I groaned. "Oh, fuck."

"Shut the video," I pleaded when she began reading mean comments. Most of them labeled me "desperado," "pathetic," and "stupid." Only a few of them blamed Donovan. I never was one to take hurtful words to heart, but this one made me burn.

Donovan repaid my love for him by getting someone pregnant. With the amount of shit I'd endured, I was on the verge of ending up a spinster.

Snowy, my Persian cat, meowed, announcing his presence. Smiling, I stroked his white fur and stared at his ice-crystal eyes and pink ears.

My stomach trembled with dread, wondering how my parents took the news. Gathering courage, I padded down the stairs, taking a little time to prepare myself.

My tired-looking dad and angry-faced mom sat in our chalet-style living room, sipping tea while watching the news. Mom glared daggers while my father's expression remained neutral.

Luther, my younger brother/ Astrid's twin, was never interested in anything and typed away on his phone without sparing me a glance.

"Glad you're awake Vespa," Mom said with a flat tone. "Your carelessness needs to be studied as a course."

Apologetic, I bowed my head. "Mom, Dad, I'm sorry. I thought Donovan liked me."

"You thought?"Mom spat, her voice going several notches higher and her face turning bright red. "You idiot! I've always known you were a problem, but this takes the cake. You deliberately dated a werewolf to go against our wishes! For God's sake, Vespa, what were you thinking?"

"Mom, I beg you to stop. It was a mistake."

She shot me a dirty look. "A mistake you say? How dare you call this humiliating, public scandal upon my family a mistake?"

My temper rose, alongside my voice. "It's my family too! Aren't you listening to my side of the story? You always nag about having grandkids and I thought getting married early would make you happy but in reality, I don't owe you any grandbabies."

Mom and Dad had me in mid-life after struggling with infertility for over twenty years of marriage. One of the reasons I proposed to Donovan was to settle down early and give my parents grandbabies.

Her wrinkled face softened a bit. "You have no excuse to fall in love with a werewolf , Vespa."

She insisted that I accept George Sandcastle's proposal because he was willing to accept me and that I should be happy for his generous spirit. 

I got up and was this close to telling them that George was a coward who hadn't come out of the closet. Instead I swallowed my words. 

Days turned into one week. Staying at home was hell because my mum couldn't stop heaping blame on me for everything. Ria encouraged me to return to school and not miss more classes, as staying away from school without a tangible reason was risky for a finalist.

On Monday morning, I brushed my pixie hair, styled it in my signature side part, and wore a black hoodie on jeans.

My hands couldn't stop trembling as I drove to school. Bypassing the gates and parking near my faculty building, I broke into a cold sweat. 

Scandal was bad for a popular figure like me. I held notable positions, including the Vice President of the Students Union, hosted a show on campus radio, was the powerhouse behind the school's editorial, and ran a feminist network, where we empower ourselves to become bold and daring.

I felt the opposite, scared like a chicken. I expected the campus to buzz with the news of my failed proposal and some sort of monster attack when I drove past. Surprisingly, nothing in the air felt malicious. 

Shaking off my nervousness, I quickly went through the empty corridors towards my lecture hall. 

My ears caught a giggle when I walked in. The suspects sat at their tables, glancing my way. The rest of the class ignored me as if I had the plague. A few stares here and there from people weren't going to stop me.

Ria rushed in and hugged me fiercely. "Please don't waste your energy on hateful talk."

I responded with a nod, changing the topic. 

The second I left the lecture hall, everyone began speaking at once. Some were brave to say nasty things to my face, like a tall girl with frizzy hair.

"... delusional. A joke to her so-called feminist movement."

 I ignored them. Ria however wasn't having it. She used to be dangerously timid in high school. Now, she faced the girls, giving them the insults they deserved. 

"You know you can't defend me from everyone, right?" I smiled sadly, but her concerned gaze drank me up. "The girls are reacting to what they saw."

"There are cruel memes of you online…"

"I've seen them all and honestly, I'm fine."

At midday, I headed to the Student Union Secretariat. My to-do list was full; meet my project supervisor, work on a story for the student newspaper, anchor my slot at the student radio station…bla bla bla.

  I couldn't bring myself to do anything. 

The dean of student affairs, a short man with a beer belly, summoned us and announced that over a hundred werewolves were on their way for the semester's exchange program, where humans and wolves would study together, some cultural appropriation shit.

 Kaden, the student union president grumbled under his breath. "Weren't we trying to get rid of the few werewolves in our midst? Why is the school allowing for more?"

"I'm not the vice-chancellor," the dean chuckled. "Go sue him and not me. Ensure that your people coexist with the werewolves and make them settle in nicely in the spare hostels. Failure to do so means you're asking for trouble."

When he left, Kaden turned to me with a dark smile.

"Those freaks must have paid the Vice-Chancellor a lot of money. I'm glad you like them so much to fuck one, so knock yourself out with their registration."

My response was usually very nasty, but I was too sad to argue. I walked away instead. Ria joined me later and volunteered to help out.

About five long buses containing werewolves killed their engines right in front of the building. Tall and imposing werewolves began climbing down one after the other.

Ria poked me with a pen to get my attention."Holy fuck, Vespa. Your saviors are here."

"Saviors?"

"Yes! The three guys from Donovan's apartment. You don't remember them?"