Lycan My Crush

Chapter 3: Lycanthrophobes

I know I have to stop mentally spinning after seeing Felix working in the café. I have to think about something – anything – else.

I go up and order a cup of coffee called tres leches cinnamon dolce from the barista. I'm impressed when she says that she is actually the one who came up with the recipe for the drink I just ordered. It takes her every bit of two seconds after I say my name for her to realize who I am.

I get the same response as I usually do, a mild mental freak out followed by requests for either an autograph or a selfie for social media with permission to tag me. I agree to the selfie, but I tell her I can't endorse the coffee shop. We pose for the picture, and it is on social media right as my coffee finishes perking.

The barista, Selene, makes me promise to leave a review and tell her what I think about it before I leave the café. I almost burn my tongue it is so hot, but I can tell that it is absolutely wonderful and just the thing I need to keep me focused. I take the cup over to my spot before delving into my reading for the day.

The first few assignments are simple readings from English literature passages and some introduction passages about the university and the different disciplines within the school. A lot of it is common sense. Regardless, I take notes and submit my assignments before moving on to the next assignment.

The next assignment is to read about modern events in the news. It is supposed to be some kind of engaging activity where my classmates and I will have something in common to talk about to break the ice. Naturally, I pull out my tablet and type “news," tapping on the first link that pops up.

I regret this decision immediately. The first article I see is about a Lycan attack downtown in the subway station in New York City. The title reads, “Lycan attack – Four dead and seven in critical condition." I click on the article and read it.

A Lycan was in the subway and suddenly, quote “for no reason," changed and started rampaging. He clawed his way through four people who were standing nearby. “It was obvious he lost his mind," said one bystander. Yeah. That is what they are. A bystander – someone who sees something and does nothing to help.

I feel frustration and anger.

I know exactly what bystander means, and I know the media probably swayed the story to make the Lycan more callous than he was. I just want to know if these eleven people were all innocent or if they provoked the Lycan in some way or another. It wouldn't be the first time.

Lycans are often ostracized, being left out or bullied for who and what they are. It's often overlooked because the argument, “Lycans need to take their medication and practice controlling themselves," comes up. Maybe that part is true. I've never had to suppress that kind of anger. I've never had to stop myself from changing, shifting into a werewolf where my mind is ripped from me.

Still, I wonder if the Lycan was provoked and if that was why he lost control.

I can't look at this anymore. I turn off my tablet and decide to focus on something else. I do a quick time check and see I still have about forty minutes before I need to be in my next class. Perfect. I can't believe I've been sitting here for so long.

There's time for probably one more assignment before I need to get going.

Rummaging through my backpack, I pull out my folder and flip it open. Papers threaten to fly out of it, but I catch them in time and push them back into place. Everything is organized into neat little sections. I almost feel like I'm back in elementary school as I look at the color coated pieces of paper.

Still, how I feel won't get the packet read by the next class. There are a dozen sections about student loans, degree programs, good conduct, and a few other things about the university.

I read through the section about degree maps and look at my class list. Everything is laid out perfectly in neat little columns on the almost offensive shade of lime green paper. I don't know why, but I almost feel sad for a moment. I see the class list from now until the end of my college career. It makes me feel like my whole life is planned out for me.

The sound of harsh clattering on the ground and breaking glass makes me jump out of my skin. Heart racing, I look around the café to see where the noise came from. There are chipped and broken mugs and plates still spinning on the ground where they landed.

My eyes shift up from the broken glass to the figure who is on all fours on the ground twenty-five feet or so away from me. My heart clenches in my chest.

Felix.

At first glance, I almost want to think he tripped on the edge of a table while carrying a heavy tray of glassware. He managed to keep himself from face planting on the ground, but the tray he was carrying moments before scattered and broke almost every dish that was on it.

It is the snickering I hear, however, that immediately throws that theory out of the window.

Across the room sitting at one of the tables is a group of four male students. They're broader and more muscular than Felix. Honestly, they look like a bunch of cliché jocks from how they hold themselves to how they snicker and lean toward one another complementing how they “got him good."

I feel my skin burn and, involuntarily, I feel my jaw clench. I grind my teeth just for a moment before I hear my mother's scolding tone in the back of my head that it'll ruin my teeth.

Felix, obviously frustrated, pushes himself up onto his knees and gives the four students a dirty look before leaning back onto all fours to pick up the larger pieces of shattered glass.

“Look at that. A pup who can clean after itself," sniggers one of the boys. The others join in with their obnoxious nasally laughs. I see Felix's body tense, but he says nothing. He just takes it.

I feel like I've been punched in the gut. Everything in me flips and churns, making me feel like I want to throw up. No doubt those guys are Lycanthrophobes – people who dislike and/or have a prejudice against Lycans.

Sadly, there are a lot of Lycanthrophobes out there in the world. Even though Lycanthropy can't be spread, as far as the science has shown us, it is the simple fact that they're different that causes this hostility.

The boys must have known Felix from before and knew he was a Lycan. Why else would they make that comment? I dig my nails into my skin as I hear them pipe up again.

“Oi," says one of the other guys before he starts whistling as if he were trying to get the attention of a puppy. “Missed a spot over here." I see Felix take a breath before nodding.

“Thanks," he mutters, that smooth and velvety voice with just the slightest twang of a country accent sounds tired and broken.

My heart flutters and aches. I have half a mind to go over and say something just as my alarm to go to class starts buzzing. I almost ignore it when I once again remember my mother's stern words.

By being a public figure, everything I do is a statement. If I endorse a product, it could influence others to buy the same thing without receiving any monetary compensation. With a single message on Shine or my other social media platforms, I can make official statements that could help or hinder my career.

Part of me doesn't care about any of that. Something wrong is happening in front of me and I feel compelled to do something.

The other part knows my mother and other advisors would give me an earful by making a scene without consulting them first.

I grind my teeth and watch Felix stand with the tray of broken glass. His pale blue eyes look so sad, even at this distance.

Curses! I hurry and pack my things before storming out of the café.

I'm such a hypocrite. Here I am hating bystanders and here I am being one.

I need to do something about this, but what?