Fine Moon

Chapter one

When my mum loaded our things into the truck and announced we were going to Disneyland, I knew I was in trouble. Like any respectable teenager, I made my unwilling cooperation abundantly clear as I clambered In the passenger seat, enveloped immediately in the unfortunate smell of sour milk that seemed to defy the air fresheners hanging optimistically above the dashboard. Months ago I spilt a strawberry milkshake all over the seats and I knew then that wherever we move, that smell that no amount of soap touches will most likely follow us. My mum didn't find that observation as amusing as I did, nor did she laugh when I brought out my Mickey Mouse ears. Honestly some people have nooo sense of humour.

Disneyland was our code for moving - an inside joke turned sour from frequent use. We moved more than most people, a chain that had started once my Dad left when I was nine. As we drove to whatever place my mum had decided to start again in, again, I tried to study her profile in a manner that I hoped was conspicuous. With long cinnamon coloured hair that hung in girlish waves down her back and eyes that always seemed on the verge of laughter, she looked good for forty-two. Her flighty nature was most definitely not due to lack of male attention -unlike me my mother had no trouble in that regard- and neither was it due to an inability to make friends. While we've never had a lot in the way of money, it was with a smile and an absurdly optimistic attitude that she took whatever job was available. Sometimes though I couldn't help but wonder if she were as happy as she seemed. I don't need a psych degree to tell you she is clearly running away from something...

"Blue will you quit staring at me already," a quick smile softens the words as she turned to glance at me briefly. "You're not being as subtle as you think you are."

"Am I not? There goes my dream of being a Russian spy."

She laughs. "You're not Russian."

"I could be if I tried hard enough, especially in that ridiculous furry hat you bought me"-

"Hey let's leave the hat out of this." When she laughs some of the tension eases from her shoulders. and yet as she opens her mouth again, I know what's coming. "I'm sorry about all this Blue."

"It's fine." I hated her apologies but most of all I hated how sad she seemed when saying them.

"It's not, I promised I wouldn't make you move again." Her smile is gone completely now and her hands are holding the wheel so tightly her knuckles have turned white.

"It's fine," I repeat, this time stronger. As we sit in a tense silence I suddenly wish we had the foresight to get the radio repaired. Still I fiddle uncomfortable with the dials, knowing that no music is going to come to my rescue.

"Besides," I say, trying to throw off the heavy atmosphere with a forced smile. "This trip is getting me out of a presentation that I was decidedly unprepared for." My efforts are rewarded with a smile, even if it's fleeting.

By the time our truck trundles into Beacon Hills, my optimism has started to fray. I can say it's fine and I can smile, but inside I'm already picturing a new life that comes with unfamiliar baggage and even more unfamiliar people. My mum loved this part, making connections and friends, but for me it was the worst. While I'm not completely introverted, I am far from a social butterfly - think of me more as a social moth perhaps only less hairy and thankfully free from antennae. I was not looking forward to school and every time I thought about it, my stomach decided to turn to lead and my palms would sweat.

I'm immediately pulled from my teenage misgivings when we pull up outside our new house. It's small and painted an unfortunate colour that can't seem to decide between yellow and green. God even the door matches. It is however surprisingly picturesque, or at least it is if I squint just a little bit-

"What do you think?" My mothers smile is so bright and hopeful I can't help but match it.

"It's certainly nicer than our last place!" It was true. While in need of decorating it already beat our last two bedroom apartment.

"I know! Property is surprisingly cheap here," she says as she starts to pull out our suitcases. "I didn't dare ask why." Wise choice I thought to myself, as I clamber out after her.

The interior was much nicer and when I run up the stairs to explore the bedrooms, I know immediately which one was mine. It was the smaller of the three and oddly L-shaped, but it was cosy and overlooked the backyard which I already loved. We hadn't had our own outside space for years. I stand in the centre of the room trying to take everything in. Although the awful floral wallpaper was peeling and the skirting boards were all but begging for a fresh coat of paint, I could see the potential and for once I actually felt something related to excitement.

It took us two days to sort the house, two whole days of us lugging boxes, painting everything we could get out hands on and turning the jungle into a garden. Mercifully my mum had the foresight to hire a moving team to help us with the furniture and as the space began to fill with our things, some of the anxiety started to leave me as familiarity returned. My room was the last to be transformed. Together we had taken away the dated wallpaper and painted everything so the walls were now a comforting shade of eggshell blue that I always found calming. I know I know, awfully dull but perhaps my edge-factor will be restored when I plaster the walls with posters. Anyway the point is I have my own space again, a place to do with whatever I wished. At the moment however, what I wished was to remain cocooned in my duvet forever, especially as I consider the day ahead of me.

"Blueeeeeeeeeee." There it goes again, my mother doing her best impression of a shrill parent. "Blue! You're going to be late for school!"

As I heard her footsteps cross the landing towards me, I groan and clench my eyes shut knowing what was about to happen. True to form, the blanket was unfairly ripped away from me. Confronted by awful daylight, I pathetically lay in the middle of my bed, my limbs all pointing outwards like a sad little starfish.

"Why would you do this to me?" I say, blinking groggily. "Have I not been a good daughter?" I know without looking that she rolled her eyes.

"The best," she says, though her tone says she's not so sure. "Now get up. You have fifteen minutes or you're walking there."

When she leaves as abruptly as she arrived, I finally start moving. Glancing in the mirror I'm met with tired blue eyes and freckles that seemed stark against skin even paler than normal. I couldn't sleep last night, choosing instead to sit up and whittle over my first day and the importance of first impressions. Determined to hide the evidence, I brush my hair that is the exact shade of my mums and tie it back in a ponytail before I set to work on my makeup. Clothes is a much more daunting task but when my name was yelled for the fifth time this morning, I settle on a pair of black jeans, cherry-red Dr Martens and a dark green vest top, backpack slung over my shoulder in what I hoped was a careless manner.

We made it on time, something that causes me to feel both dread and relief at the same time. I didn't want to draw any unnecessary attention to myself and yet at the same time, I had hoped to delay the inevitable. With my bag on my lap I peer out the car window at Beacon Hills High School, watching pensively as the other students merge into groups and pour up the steps before being immediately enveloped by white walls. I could feel my palms starting to sweat already. Attractive I know.

"Are you OK?" My mum asks, watching me softly. She knew how hard I found making friends, how much I hated awkward social interactions and first school days were always awkward. When I don't reply she places a hand in mine and squeezes reassuringly. "Just be yourself and you'll be fine." I resist the urge to tell her that statement is easy for her to say, she never has trouble making friends.

With one last goodbye and a grateful smile, I force myself out and into the teenage world once more, my bag slung up on my shoulder. It's not as bad as I had feared, I suppose if I was really honest with myself, it never is. As I enter the doors, only a few people pay me any sort of attention. Most are too wrapped up in their own conversations, converging around their lockers or heading to their classrooms.

Glancing at the timetable held awkwardly in my hands, I try to make sense of where I was supposed to be going without looking too much like the lost newbie that I was. I must have been staring too intently because I manage to crash into someone else so hard the air was immediately knocked out of me. Awkward limbs -mine and the poor person I had unwilling accosted- flailed everywhere as each of us attempted to right themselves.

It was a boy with pale skin and a shock of brown hair and when he helped me back to my feet, I immediately launch into apologies.

"I am so sorry," he says, beating me to it. "You wouldn't believe how often this happens"-

"No it was my fault," I say quickly cutting off his nervous ramblings. "I was too busy trying to figure out where I was going." I look at him then, actually look at him I mean. He was cute in an awkward kinda way, with nervous energy bouncing off of him in waves. He also unfortunately, appeared to be my age. I say unfortunately because that means I just embarrassed myself in front of someone who may very well be in one of my classes.

"Do you have any idea where the principals office is?" I ask when he remains silent and staring. As if my question pulls him back from whatever he's thinking, he suddenly launches into life taking the timetable from me.

"So you're the new girl. Yeah I can totally take you to it - if you like of course! Oh look we have math together...and economy. Sorry guess that means you have to put up with coach too. He's crazy intense. Hey what's your name?"

I'm struggling to keep up with the fast stream of chatter that I almost miss the question.

"It's Blue," I reply with a smile. "And yours?"

"Stiles. It a sort of nickname...sort of," he adds quickly at the bemused look on my face. He comes to an abrupt stop outside an office and gestures awkwardly. "Here's your stop."

"Thanks Stiles," I say stepping past him. "Im glad to have already met one friendly face. I guess I'll see you in math." I mean it too, there is something strangely endearing about him and when I head into the office, I feel a lot more optimistic.

It was a typical meeting, brief with attempts at being personable and welcoming yet somehow failing at both. I've done so many first days that honestly I could have recited the Principal's whole speech. But still I smiled and asked the obligatory questions that they always seemed to expect. By the time he gave me my locker keys and released me, it was nearly second period so I headed to class early.

Lurking in the halls awkwardly, I try to present a picture of complete calmness, as if I belong here, as if I already fitted in. By the time others join me, the mask starts to crumble pretty quickly.

Just be yourself. I repeat my mothers words like a mantra over and over as I follow everyone into the classroom, eyes on the floor stubbornly refusing the make eye contact with anyone. I didn't need to, I could feel their stares. Be. Yourself. Just be-

"Miss Louise?"

Oh no. Just as I had hoped to escape to the back of the classroom, here comes the awkward introduction that teachers insist on every time. Honestly, why do they do that? I Can say without a shadow of a doubt that never has such an introduction benefited anyone. Still, it wasn't in my nature to be rude.

"Yes Ms..."

"Ms. Flemming," she says with a wide smile. "I understand this is your first lesson here Blue?"

"That's right but I really don't want to make a fuss"- It was too late. I could see it in her eyes that nothing I could say would sway her.

"Class I'd like you all to welcome a new student," she says loudly, instantly demanding attention. I smile and even give a little awkward wave as everyone turns their eyes toward me. "Her name is Blue and I expect you all to make her feel as welcome as you would like if it were your first day."

Oh thank the heavens she didn't make me introduce myself at least. My relief was short lived. Turning to me she said in a quieter voice, "have you been shown around the school yet?"

"No but that won't be necessary"-

"Are there any volunteers to show our new addition around the school?" Her voice is so loud and sudden it makes me flinch. When no one immediately volunteers, it's all I can do to maintain a smile and my dignity. I'm about to give up hope when a pale arms enthusiastically shoots up in the air. Ms. Fleming sighs loudly. "Anyone but Stiles?"

"I guess I can do it," a voice chimes in from my left as a beautiful redhead flounces into the class, apparently unconcerned that she's late. As she slides into her seat she gives me a careful once over, her gaze lingering disapprovingly on my boots. Still, the smile she gives me is beautiful if not sincere. "I'm Lydia and I'd be happy to show you around."

Desperate to no longer be the centre of attention, I quickly murmur my thanks and disappear into the back like I originally planned. I smile gratefully at stiles as I pass him and I'm about to assure him I would have been happy for his company when I make eye contact with the boy sat behind him.

I'm immediately bewildered at how I had managed to miss him before. It's strange but now I see him, he's all I see. He's staring back at me too and right away I'm struck with how warm his brown eyes are. From the corner of my eye, I can see Stiles looking back and forth between us and I finally force my gaze away. But I don't continue anymore, instead i sit myself behind the desk beside him.

I try so hard to focus on my first lesson, reminding myself that I'm not the type of girl to lose her head over a cute boy but as much as I hate to be a breathing cliche, I sit there imagining ways I could introduce myself without seeming creepy or weird. It's only as the teacher addresses him that I learn his name. It's Scott, a solid name that I decide immediately suits him.

A/n so this is my first teen wolf story! I know it was only a short beginning but I hope you all enjoyed it and continue to enjoy it; I have big plans for this series. I'd be hugely grateful if you could favourite/review - any feedback is always welcome :) thank youuu