The New Girl

ROSELYNN

I sighed in relief as I collapsed onto my bed.

“I’m done!” I yelled, throwing a fist into the air.

Finally, everything in the house was in order. The living room looked decent, the kitchen had everything it needed, the dining room looked very nice, and the bedrooms were in order.

I sat up when I realized that tomorrow was Monday. Then I rolled over and screamed into my mattress.

I didn’t want to go to school tomorrow, and to make matters worse, it was already two months into my senior year.

I forced myself to stand up and walk over to my closet. Grumbling to myself, I picked out an outfit for tomorrow, tossing the clothes onto the satellite chair that was shoved into a corner.

As I was looking through my bookbag to make sure I had all of my school supplies, my laptop started beeping.

I looked at the computer, which sat open on the desk beside my bed, and saw Ramona’s face smiling on the screen.

I sat down in the swivel chair and answered her call.

“Oh, thank God! I didn’t know if they had set up your internet yet,” Ramona sighed.

I laughed, “Yeah. It was hooked up yesterday.”

“Oh, look at your room! Very nice,” Ramona gushed.

“Thanks. I spent the better part of today fixing it.”

“So,” Ramona started, “you’re going to the high school that has ranked number one in almost all sports in the state for years. Are you going to try out for the softball team?”

“Um…I don’t know. Do you think I have a chance? I mean, you said it yourself…they are ranked number one in the state,” I mumbled.

“Of course you have a chance! Besides, if you don’t try you’ll be upset with yourself forever. And you were the best pitcher our school has had in awhile,” she said.

I laughed. “Thanks, and you’re probably right. I’ll talk to the coach tomorrow about trying out.”

“Good. I’ve got to go, my mom is yelling for me. Talk to you tomorrow!” Ramona yelled before ending the call.

I closed my laptop and leaned back in the chair. Then I got an idea. I slipped on some old sneakers before walking into my dad’s office.

“Do you know where my net is?” I asked.

“I put it in the garage. Do you need help setting it up?” he asked, already getting up.

“Nah, I got it. Thank you, though.” I walked into the garage and found my pitching net still packed into its box, with a five-gallon bucket of softballs beside it.

I found my softball bag sitting near the bucket and pulled it onto my shoulders, then grabbed the bucket and walked into the backyard.

I went back to get the net then set it up in the backyard, near the fence furthest away from the house.

I opened my bag and pulled out my two gloves, then stretched before slipping on the left-handed one.

I grabbed a ball out of the five-gallon bucket and spun it around in my hand before tucking it into the glove.

I brought the glove up so that the tip of it touched my nose. I breathed deeply, the smell of leather filling my nose.

Then I moved, releasing the ball and watching it head towards the net.

I nodded when it hit the painted red mark on it, then did the process all over again.

It was almost dark by the time I moved everything onto the porch and carried my bag up to my room.

I had no idea how I didn’t notice it wasn’t in my room to begin with. This bag was my prized possession.

After eating and taking a shower, I set my alarm clock and climbed into bed.

Tomorrow was my first day at a new school, and I could already feel my nervousness growing.

I hoped it went well.

***

I woke up the next morning and got dressed, then grabbed my bookbag and my softball bag.

I walked down the stairs and found Lucky and Whiskey curled up on the couch. I laughed and let them outside.

I wasn’t worried about them running away; they would both come back for food.

I set my bags down by the door, then walked back into the kitchen, where I found a note from my dad.

Rose,

I had to go in early today. Don’t wait up, because I will probably be working late. Have fun at school.

I sighed and threw the note away. It reminded me that we’d had to move because of his job.

I quickly fixed something simple for breakfast before leaving the house, making sure I had my phone, wallet, and keys.

I threw my bags into the trunk of my car, then pulled out of the driveway.

Once I saw the school building, I looked for a way into the parking lot. Then I quickly pulled into the parking lot and found a spot.

I got out of the car, ignoring the curious glances that the loitering students cast my way. I got my book bag out of the trunk before shutting it and heading into the large brick building.

After finding the office, I walked in and talked to the secretary about getting my schedule.

“Name?” she asked, not looking up at me.

“Roselynn Callahan.”

“Here you go. Math and science rooms are on the second floor, English and history are on the first floor, and elective classrooms are scattered throughout the school,” she said, handing me several sheets of paper.

“Okay. Thank you,” I called over my shoulder before exiting the office.

She didn’t respond.

“Rude,” I mumbled while I looked down at my schedule.

“She can be prickly,” a voice laughed. I looked up from the paper.

“Hi,” the girl chirped, holding out her hand, “I’m Aisha!”

“Roselynn. Nice to meet you,” I smiled back, shaking her hand.

“I know she’s not very helpful, so that’s why I’m here. If you need any help finding classes, or have any questions, just find me and I’ll help you,” Aisha said.

“Actually,” I mumbled, “do you know where I could find the softball coach?”

“Oh, Coach Byrd? Are you going to try out for the team? What position?” She asked one question after the other.

“Yep. I’m a pitcher and a third baseman,” I stated proudly.

“That’s awesome! I’m a catcher and a first baseman,” she squealed.

I smiled up at her; she was at least five-foot ten. And she was pretty, with her long hair and blue eyes.

“Meet me near the softball field after school and I’ll introduce you to her.” Aisha grinned.

“That would be great, thank you.” I sighed as the bell rang. “I had better get to class. I’ll see you after school.” I waved at Aisha over my shoulder before walking away.

Then I stared down at the paper in my hands, wondering if I should have also asked her for directions.

“232, AP Calculus…” I mumbled to myself.

Then—

“Oof!” I clutched the papers in my hands tightly as my butt connected with the tiled floor of the school.

“Are you alright?” the person I’d just crashed into asked, stretching out a hand to help me up. It was a male voice, around my age.

I took their hand, noticing the pleasant heat that shot up my arm when our skin touched.

“Um, yeah. I’m good. Thank you.” I pulled my hand out of his, then looked up into warm brown eyes and a million-dollar smile.

“I’m Felix.” His low voice echoed through the hall.

“Roselynn,” I supplied, trying to ignore the way his voice sounded.

“It was nice to meet you, Roselynn, but you might want to get to class,” he laughed before walking away.

Oh, yeah. School is still a thing, isn’t it?

I briefly glanced over my shoulder to stare at him. Is it even legal to look that good?

He glanced over his shoulder at me before smiling and giving me a wink. My face heated up. I turned around and quickly walked away.

Nope, no. He did not just catch me staring at him.

I refused to believe that just happened.

FELIX

I was talking with Ryder and Ryker, my beta and delta, when I smelled rosewater. I froze when Damon, my wolf, started pacing in my head.

“Mate!” he yelled, causing me to wince.

I looked at Ryder and Ryker, who were looking at each other, confused.

“I’ll talk to you two later,” I mumbled, turning away from them.

I followed that scent, not really paying attention to where I was headed. It was getting stronger, when I rounded the corner, it was all I could smell.

Right before someone crashed into me.

“Oof!” I looked down when I heard the noise.

“That’s her!” Damon yelled.

“She’s a human,” I whispered.

“And?” Damon growled.

“There’s nothing wrong with that. I’m just stating a fact,” I huffed at him. He went silent, probably ignoring me.

I returned my attention to the girl sitting on the floor in a daze. “Are you alright?” I asked, reaching out a hand.

She placed her much-smaller hand in mine. I enjoyed the heat that spread through my arm, and I could hear Damon purring. My wolf was purring.

She pulled her hand away, and I missed the contact.

“Um,” she mumbled, but I could hear her perfectly, “yeah. I’m good. Thank you.”

She looked up at me, and I couldn’t help but smile. She was almost a foot shorter than me, with long brown hair and beautiful blue eyes.

I realized I was staring and mentally shook my head. “I’m Felix.”

“Roselynn,” she replied, a small blush tinting her cheeks pink.

“It was nice to meet you, Roselynn, but you might want to get to class.” I laughed, not able to help myself, then walked away so I didn’t do something stupid—like hug her.

As I walked down the hall, Damon was yelling at me to turn around.

“Stop. She’s human, not a werewolf. If we did something stupid, she would freak out,” I sighed.

“But… Ugh! Fine,” he grumbled before going silent again.

I shook my head at him, then felt someone staring at me. When I glanced over my shoulder, I saw Roselynn staring at me.

When we made eye contact, I flashed her a grin and a wink, then watched as her face grew very red before she darted down the hall.

I laughed softly before heading to my own class.

I couldn’t wait to tell my pack that I had found my mate.

They would be so happy.