CHAPTER 1: BETRAYED
AMERY'S POV
It all happened in a flash. So suddenly and out of nowhere, I found myself staring into the eyes of a huge white wolf.
It was a bizarre thing to happen and what was even more bizarre was how calm and collected I was. I wasn't freaking out or yelling cause not only was I seeing a wolf for the first time but I was also staring at it closely - yet I was calm, my whole being drawn to it.
There was something about its eyes that oddly comforted me as I looked into them. Like they weren't something I was to be scared of, they brought me an odd feeling of solace.
It felt magical. Like we were having a moment to ourselves. And just as my lips were about to utter a word, maybe its name, our little moment was quickly interrupted by a loud growl.
For the first time in a while, I shifted my gaze from the wolf to see two other wolves approaching us. It was crazy. How did I go from never seeing a wolf to seeing numerous ones in such a short timeframe?
Before I could say anything or move, the two newly arrived wolves pounced on the white one, startling us. A gasp escaped my lips in fear as I watched the white wolf retaliate immediately, the trio immediately getting into a brutal fight against each other.
"Stop!" I tried to yell to hinder them from fighting. It was terrifying and was all happening so fast. "Stop."
It was like my voice was inaudible to them as my attempt to stop them fell to no avail. I tried again, this time my words getting stuck in my throat and immediately interrupted by another loud sound.
This time though, it was a familiar one.
It was the sound of my alarm clock.
"Oh my God!" A loud exclaim escaped from my lips as I jumped up from my bed.
In a panic, I looked around me, realizing I was in my room, the only company I had being the giant teddy bear my boyfriend got me on my 18th birthday.
I wasn't in the woods. There was not even a single, not to talk of numerous wolves around me.
It was all a dream. A bad dream.
I let out a deep exhale, my cold breath hitting my skin that was now wet from sweat. I was almost panting. In fear and relief.
I was fine. Nothing happened to me. It was all just a dream.
Before I could let myself get drowned in thoughts of how terrifying and ridiculous my dream was, my thoughts got interrupted by the notification sound coming from my phone.
A light smile appeared on my face as I reached for my phone. Given the notification tone, I didn't need to think twice to know it was my boyfriend who had sent me a text.
My smile grew wider as I unlocked my phone and read the text from Sean, my high school sweetheart and safe to say, the absolute love of my life.
Amery: Aw, I love you too.
Replying his text and managing to completely forget about my bad dream in the process, I pulled my sheets over and got up from my bed. It was almost 7am already, meaning I didn't have so much time left on my hands to get ready for school.
As fast as I could, I got myself ready and dashed out of my room, my phone in my hands as I read Sean's message all over again. Other than my best friend, Natasha, Sean was the only person who made me smile so much. He was everything I could ask for. The perfect boyfriend.
Bidding my parents quick goodbye, I walked out of the house and headed to the bus station. Contemplating on taking a bus or walking to school for a while, I eventually went with the latter given how much of a stone throw my school was from our home anyways.
After walking for about fifteen minutes, I finally got to school. Though I knew I was a bit late, I wasn't bothered knowing my best friend was probably going to be just as late. That way, we were going to walk in both late and carefree.
Approaching my locker, I took out my phone to call Natasha. Normally, she'd have been waiting for me by the school gate so we could go in together but since she was nowhere to be found so late at that, I decided to give her a call.
I was immediately transferred to voicemail and though I found it odd, my mind was quickly shifted from the thought as I heard a snicker behind me.
Normally, I wouldn't have paid much attention to the snicker but it was immediately followed by whispers and more chuckles and silent laughter.
Right there at that moment, it finally dawned on me. Literally half the people in the hallways were laughing, whispering and pointing- all in my direction.
Confused, I looked around me. The whispers weren't getting any quieter, the sounds of laughter only getting louder with every second. Something must have happened. Something huge must have definitely happened.
I tried to take a wild guess, my mind immediately failing at that. I was never a popular student, my popularity only taking a leap when I managed to start dating one of the hottest boys in the school.
Even with that, I went on with my daily activities normally with my best friend and more often than not, my boyfriend by my side, so it was strange to suddenly feel like I had all the spotlight on me.
Furrowing my brows, I decided to take a brave step and approach one of the people in front of me whispering. Being with Sean for a while had managed to give me a little confidence compared to the timid girl I used to be.
"Excuse me," I called out to the girl, watching her raise her head to look up to me. On noticing who it was, she quickly hid her phone behind her and took a few steps backward. "Wait, don't run."
"Is something going on?" I tried to sound as clueless as possible. "Everyone seems to be talking about something. Did something happen?"
"I don't know if it's okay for me to tell you this," she obviously hesitated before speaking up. "But- I don't think I can tell you myself. You know what, just see it for yourself."
My heart quickened as she handed her phone over to me. Even before I gave the phone a glance, I could feel my nerves building up, a strange tension creeping towards me. I looked at the girl again, had a sigh escape my lips then went ahead to look at the phone.
I could swear I felt my heart skip several beats as I watched the video playing on the phone. I felt my heart crash to the floor then break into a million pieces as I watched it, hoping it was all just a continuation from my previous bad dream.
Right in front of my eyes was a video of no one other than my best friend, Natasha, making out with my boyfriend, Sean.
I shook my head vehemently, trying to tell myself it was all a lie. But the moment I caught the familiar birthmark on Sean's back, I knew it was a bit too real to be a lie.
Sean was cheating on me...
With my best friend.
It felt like I was punched in the guts, the pain taking its time to spread round my whole body. I felt broken. Too broken.
What could I say or do? I couldn't bring myself to cry even if I wanted to. I was simply consumed by anger, pain and resentment, my anger slowly consuming me.
The people I treasured the most had worked together to break my trust. It felt like I was at a dead end. The two people I always went to when I was in pain had finally become the cause of my greatest pain.
"Amery? Are you okay?"
The girl in front of me quickly collected her phone from me, preventing it from mindlessly slipping out of my hands. Slowly, I brought myself to look at her as she stared at me with apologetic eyes.
I wasn't okay. I was far from okay. I was broken. Deeply.
"Of course, she isn't okay. How could she be?"
I recognized that tone. The familiar tone filled with sarcasm and content. The sick laughter that came after her words, showing how petty and disgusting they could be as humans.
It was no one other than the self-acclaimed queen bee of our high school. Alongside her group of tiny minions behind her.
For some reason unknown to me, she never liked me and quite unfortunately for her, the feeling was incredibly mutual too. I never liked how she gave Sean seductive glances even when I was right next to him and how she effortlessly passed nasty remarks about me and Natasha's friendship.
"Aw, Amery," she continued with a smug smile on her face. "You must have seen the video, am I right? Aw, doesn't it hurt?"
I had been trying so hard to keep my anger concealed but she just managed to give my patience a good push.
"This is why you shouldn't have dated a guy like Sean in the first place. And that b***h you call your best friend? How does it feel to finally be betrayed by her? You're such an i***t, Amery. You only have a pretty face and nothing but that. People like you-"
"Shut your stupid mouth," I lashed out at her. "You b***h. You-"
"How dare you call me a b***h!"
"You're a b***h," I repeated, angering her. "And I'm going to say it as much times as possible until you get that registered in your brain, you stupid bitch."
"How dare you!"
She yelled at me again but this time, it came with a violent attack. She raised her arm, in an attempt to throw a slap across my face.
Unluckily for her, I saw it coming and immediately dodged it. I had no intention to stay calm as I immediately retaliated by throwing a slap across her face, one she couldn't dodge.
Things escalated very quickly with us pulling each other's hair and screaming at each other. I was mad and pissed and so hurt and took the opportunity to vent out all the anger from my boyfriend cheating on me on her.
"Enough, you two! To the principal's office, now!"
It only lasted for a while though as we were quickly both shipped off to the principal's office before things could get a little bloody.
"Amery Hunter, I heard you attacked first. What in the world were you thinking?"
The principal got nothing from me in response. Not even a single one or glance from me as I had other things on my mind.
My anger had returned and this time it was fully settled on Sean. I was ready to face whatever consequences my actions brought as all I wanted to do was find him and confront him. To yell at him, demanding an answer or at least a good enough explanation for his actions until my lungs hurt.
Then I was going to walk up to Natasha and vent how disappointed I was with her until she was filled with guilt and found herself apologizing to me on both her knees.
"Amery Hunter, you show no remorse for your actions. As a result, you're suspended for two weeks."
Just perfect. Just as expected.
Wiping my cheeks that were drenched in tears, I stormed out of the principal's office and set to go find Sean and Natasha. I could feel my blood boil, my anger overtaking me with me having no intention whatsoever to stop it.
Wherever they both were, I was going to find them and make them regret ever betraying me.