A/N: I really don't know if this is going to work, but I'm going to give it a try anyway. lol. It's a supernatural fic. With werewolves and other cool creatures. But I don't know. (nervous laugh).
His blue eyes scanned over the newspaper in his hands. Most of the occasion, he hated the schools new "Read to Succeed" program. It consisted of reading every Wednesday morning for twenty minutes in second period, considering first was only homeroom and thirty minutes long. Most of the time, kids did their homework for the day's classes…most of the time.
But on the rare occasion that the paper actually had something interesting in it, the students would actually do what they were supposed to be doing…read. Like today, where Troy Bolton was neglecting his unfinished AP Calculus homework for the front-page article.
Third Mauling Shocks Albuquerque
ALBUQUERQUE -- Pamela Smart went home after attending one of her children's high school board meetings yesterday night to find her 35 year-old husband, Berry Smart, dead in the kitchen. In a police statement released earlier this morning, officers at the scene reported that Berry Smith had apparently been ripped completely in half. Claw marks were found on the walls and counters in the kitchen. The back door had also been ripped off its hinges and the prints that had been found at the scene have now been identified as paw prints. As rare as the situations sounds, the killers have been identified as a large pack of wild wolves, possible five to seven in number. Though specialists are still trying to figure out how the wolves managed to get inside the house and tear a human in half, they are not denying that it's possible. Albuquerque police have linked Berry Smarts mauling to two others that have occurred earlier this month. 22 year-old Lindsey Walsh and 47 year-old Mike Rowan had also been found mauled to death in their homes with injuries matching Berry Smart's. With the third consecutive attack under observation, police have taken to the woods. "We have to find and stop these wild animals before they cause more harm to the community," Said Lieutenant Deputy Lincoln Marsh to the press. Albuquerque police reported that the death has been ruled as an attack by the pack of wolves and that Berry Smart died of massive blood loss from several severed arteries. An autopsy was performed by State Medical Examiner Tom Carry, police said, and Albuquerque police are continuing the investigation. "If we don't find the pack soon," said Lieutenant Deputy Marsh, "we might have to take greater steps to protect the public, like enforcing an earlier curfew. We know the public wont like it, but they have to understand that it's our job to protect them."
Troy shook his head, setting down the paper. What is the world coming to? The bell sounded and he stood, slinging his JanSport backpack over his shoulder. He stepped out into the halls of East High, the red and white banners entering his vision. If he hadn't spent his full time at East High, the school would have seen monstrous, but now in his forth year, every hallway felt like home. The smile on his face widened as he found Chad making his way towards him, squeezing through the crowded hallway.
"What's up?" Chad's hand found his as his friend's curly hair bounced. "You finish that AP Calculus homework?"
"No," Troy answered as they started heading towards their lockers. "I actually read an article in the newspaper." He gave a small laugh when Chad's mouth dropped open his eyes going wide as he gave Troy a teasing smile, "I know," Troy said shoving him, "shocker right."
"I will confess captain," Chad stuck his head in the air, putting a hand over his chest as they rounded a corner, "I to read the newspaper today."
"The one about the pack of wolves killing that man?" Troy asked as they both stopped in front of their lockers.
"Yup," Chad answered swapping his US/VA Government book for his AP Calculus book, "Though, I'm more worried about the curfew. I have things to do at night."
"I know," Troy answered swapping books as well, "I agree with you buddy."
"Still," Chad said, a grim frown on his face, "A pack of wolves attacking people," the dark teen let a shiver run through his body, "scary."
"It couldn't have been wolves," the strong, but shy voice made both of the teens turned, Troy's smile widening. Gabriella stood next to Taylor, her backpack slung over her shoulder. Taylor's signature backpack on wheels rested at a stop behind them.
"Why not?" Chad asked, zipping up his backpack and slinging his arm around Taylor's shoulder.
"Wolves don't attack humans," she answered flat out as Troy walked forward, draping his arm over her shoulder as well. Her hand reached up, threading her fingers through his as they started walking. "They're more scared of us than we are of them."
"Sometimes fear brings out aggression," Chad put in, lifting up his eyebrows. He was teasing her and Gabriella smiled at the challenge.
"Or sometimes you just accuse the wrong person," Gabriella shot back. Troy knew she was only playing, the smile on her face assured him of that, but there was defensiveness in her voice that made him wonder. His hand tightened around hers and she glanced into his eyes. He mouthed 'are you ok' and she smiled, inclining her head slightly. He still didn't buy it, but he left it be.
"I agree with Gabriella," Taylor said. "I mean. Wolves can't rip off doors from their hinges, the cops are missing something."
"Well," Chad sighed, his body language saying he was defeated. "If my girlfriend doesn't even agree with me, then I guess I have to give in."
"Gabriella Montez: one," Troy said with a smile, "Chad Danforth: zero."
"Rub it in," Chad sarcastically smiled.
He gave Troy a smile as they stopped in front of Mr. Plots AP Calculus class. Although it had been a great year, Troy had no one in his first period US/VA government class. Gabriella and Taylor had been gifted with the same first period, Chad even had Jason, but Troy had no one. It was probably the only reason why he liked AP Calculus, he had friends.
Troy turned his blue eyes to Gabriella; "I'll see you at lunch." He leaned in for a kiss, her lips meeting his.
"See you then," she said smiling, turning to head off to her AP Bio II class.
Chad's hands pushed him into the classroom as the bell sounded and the duo found their regular seats in the back. Troy plopped down in his seat, Chad following suite. They both brought out their textbook and opened them, the regular ritual of making it look like they were actually going to doing something.
"So, you think they did it?" Chad asked in a low voice as Mr. Plot started notes.
"Who?" Troy asked while writing down the equation on the board.
"The wolves," Chad answered, "or do you think it's some psychotic serial killer?"
'I don't know," Troy answered, shrugging his shoulders. "The article did say that they found paw prints and claw marks in the house, but I don't think wolves can knock a door off its hinges, let alone rip someone in half."
"True," Chad nodded his head, his pen scribbling on his paper. "Have you ever heard of any wolves in Albuquerque before?"
"Not in the city," Troy answered, "But I'm sure there around somewhere. I mean, we are in New Mexico and wolves are kind of considered sacred by the Native American tribes here."
"Good point, I never thought about it like that before," Chad confessed, growing quiet as Mr. Plot made his timely round of the classroom.
"So, to answer your question," Troy spoke as Mr. Plot returned to his desk. "No, I don't think it was a pack of wolves."
Chad gave him a sidelong glance, eyebrows raised, "Psychotic serial killer?"
"Psychotic serial killer," Troy answered with a nod of his head.
"Sweet," the smile on Chad's face made Troy laugh, drawing the attention of Mr. Plot.
"Troy," the older man's eyebrows were raised, "Do you know how to find the zeros and discriminates of this function?"
"Umm, no sir." Troy answered trying not to turn red. Chad had his head buried in his hands on his desk, his body shaking with silent laughs.
"Well then, I suggest that you pay attention," he turned back to the board and started writing.
"Yes sir," Trot sank in his desk seat, his pen going to his paper. The bell rang forty-five minutes later, Troy's brain shot. It was the first time in a long time that he had paid attention and he wondered why he had taken AP Calculus in the first place. He was good at math…but not that good.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when Chad placed a hand on his shoulder. "You ready to go to lunch and then home?" Being seniors, they could control their class load for their last year of high school. In doing so, the four close friends had only five classes, having already completed the required amount to graduate. Although Troy had been told that on a college application, taking the minimum amount of classes looked tacky, it was fun leaving right after lunch.
"Yeah, lunch sounds good," he nodded as the descended the stairs to the cafeteria. 'I'm starving."
"I'm so hungry," Chad placed a hand on his stomach, whining.
"I know," Troy placed his hand on the top of Chad head, rustling his curly hair. "Lets get you some food."
They found their regular table, Gabriella and Taylor already seated. Jason and Kelsi had also joined them, although the both of them had one more class after lunch.
"You really need to go see it," Taylor said to Gabriella, Kelsi nodding her head in agreement. "It really is a good movie."
"I don't know," Gabriella was hesitant. "I normally don't like scary movies."
"It's not scary," Kelsi assured.
Gabriella eyed them curiously, "But I thought you said you jumped like half the time watching it."
"There's a big difference between scary and suspenseful," Taylor explained. "I Am Legend is not scary, it's suspenseful."
"That was the best movie I've ever seen," Chad exclaimed taking a seat next to Taylor. "Will Smith needs to get an award for acting like that. I almost cried."
"You cried?" Gabriella gave him a playful grin.
"Almost," Chad said, lifting up a finger. "Keyword in that sentence: almost."
"I haven't seen it," Troy confessed, taking his usual seat next to Gabriella. The twos hands automatically found one another's, their fingers threading together.
"Well there you go," Taylor said, opening her had towards Troy. "You can go with Troy."
He watched as she turned her chocolate eyes to him. He gave her a small smile, only her seeing the reassurance in his eyes. She nodded her head, "Ok, I'll go see it."
"Tomorrow night?" he asked, his hand tightening around hers.
"Why not, " she sighed, caving. "I need to get this over with."
"Yes!" Taylor smiled as the lunch bell sounded. The group sighed and stood, parting ways with Jason and Kelsi as they headed towards the exit of the school. Troy unzipped his backpack, still walking, and pulled out his navy blue Hollister sweatshirt, he could feel the cold seeping in through the exit doors.
"See ya Mrs. Porter," he waved to the security guard stationed at the attendance desk.
"You take it easy this weekend Troy," she smiled and waved back.
"I will," he inclined his head as he opened the door, the temperature automatically dropping. He shivered under his sweatshirt, Gabriella wrapping both of her arms around one of his. The doors behind them opened again, two more seniors exiting the school to freedom.
"It's going to rain," Gabriella stated, almost to herself as she looked up to the sky dark sky.
"What?" Troy smiled and looked to the sky as well. It was cloudy, but they weren't rain clouds.
She gave a small laugh, shaking her head, "Nothing."
"No, tell me," he persisted as they walked towards the parked cars.
"You won't laugh?" she asked, her mouth twisted up into a smile.
"No," he promised, "I won't laugh."
She took a deep breath, shrugging her shoulders, "I can always feel when it's about to rain. I can smell it. Something in the air changes and I can just…tell."
"Weirdo," Chad insulted from next to Taylor, a smile on his face.
"Crybaby," Gabriella shot back, getting a laugh from Taylor and a wide grin from Troy.
"Gabriella Montez: two," Chad dropped his head as Troy spoke, throwing a curse into the ground, "Chad Danforth: zero."
"I really suck at this game," Chad smiled and then waved as him and Taylor kept walking towards their parked cars.
"You think I'm crazy," Gabriella turned to Troy, her eyes soft as they stopped in front of her dark blue Honda Civic.
"No," he reached up to stroke her cheek with his right hand. "I think you're the most beautiful girl in the world." He leaned in and kissed her. He smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.
"Get a room!" Troy vaguely heard Chad yell, but he paid no attention to his best friend. All that mattered was Gabriella and the moment.
She drew away a second later, her hands still wrapped around his neck as she tilted her head to the sky, "Here it comes."
He looked up, his eyes scrunching together. He waited, then, a raindrop hit him square in the eye, then another, and another. Soon, the entire sky was filled with rain and Troy's mouth hung open. He looked to Gabriella and she flashed him a confident smile.
"Told you," she teased, touching her forehead to his.
He smiled as her black hair formed to her face, "meet you at the movie theater next to my house?"
"Tomorrow night? Somewhere close to 9:00?" she asked, the rain pelting down on their shoulders.
"Yeah," he smiled as she dropped her arms and heading towards her front car door. He stuck his hands in his pockets as she gave him one last smile before sliding into her car. He waited for her to back out, tilting his head back and staring at the dark sky. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath as he let the cold rain pour down on his shoulders.
He smiled, blue eyes shining. Gabriella Montez completely amazed him.
A/N: I'll update the next chapter sometime tomorrow! I know it was kind of dull, but its just the beggining!
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