Chapter 5

I think this is the day where I die.

I have two hours of P.E., and for thirty whole minutes, our gym teacher warmed our bodies up by making us run around the basketball court. My heart was ready to give up after the fifth round, but he was always on my ass, so I couldn't give up.

By the time he pairs us up for some exercises, I'm a sweating mess. I end up with Blake, and it's awkward and way too quiet between us. I think we're the only ones who aren't talking to each other.

"Alright, everybody! I want thirty sit-ups for now. Your partner will help you if you're having trouble," the teacher yells before blowing his whistle, silencing the groans of complaints.

I look at Blake. "So, you want to go first or..."

"You go first," he says, his tone pretty much dead, and I roll my eyes at his lack of enthusiasm.

Am I that boring?

I sit down on the floor and position my body, ready for the damn sit-ups. I feel a pair of hands grabbing my ankles, the touch sending a shiver running through my back. I take a deep breath before doing the damn exercise, counting down as I do so.

All the while, Blake is staring right into my eyes, which makes the little hairs on my neck stand up. Thirty sit-ups later, we switch, and I awkwardly sit next to him, not knowing if he needs my help or not.

I look around, hugging my knees. "Um... Do you like, need my help?"

Blake shakes his head. "No."

Alright, I don't get him at all! Back at my house, he seemed okay, and now he's like this! I mean, is he shy, or one of those reserved people? Up until now, the only time he said a quite long sentence was at my place after dinner.

Sigh.

I quietly watch him do the exercises with the front of his dark hair dripping in sweat from earlier. My eyes linger on his grey T-shirt, flashing a sneak peek of his abs every time he comes back up. My eyes travel further down to his sporty black pants and matching colored sneakers. Werewolves and their handsome features are frustrating me.

Once he's done, things get even more awkward. He sits down next to me, and I don't know what to say. Half of the students, which are probably humans, are still finishing theirs.

I glance at Blake a few times when I catch him staring at me. The fact that he doesn't look away irritates me. After the fifth glance, I shift my body toward him and stare right back at him with narrowed eyes.

I slowly start exhaling from my mouth as my body warms up under his stare. What the hell?

For a full sixty seconds, we stare at each other, until - finally - one of us says something.

"Your eyes are weird," he states, leaning toward me.

I lean back with a frown. "What?"

"Your pupils aren't round... It kinda reminds of cat-like eyes or even snake's ones," he explains, and I look away from him.

"Your eyes are weird too. I noticed they change color," I say, hoping Blake would back off.

"They do," he casually replies before grabbing my face and making me stare at him.

My cheeks flush at his rough hands on them. I don't know where to look, and the fact that he's leaning toward me makes my heart quicken. I can't help it, alright. Just like I can't help my eyes from dropping on his downturned plump lips.

"You're so-"

The teacher interrupts him with his whistle. Blake rolls his eyes, releasing me and sits back down. I turn around, trying to calm down my erratic heart. My Gods, what was that?

"Nice kids! Now please, stand up and run around here five times. This is the last one before we start playing, let's go!"

Again?!

He whistles again, and I feel myself slowly dying from exhaustion.

•─────·☾ ☽·─────•

"Finally!" I say, imitating those rock singers, who can make their voice really raw. I think people call them screams or growls. I don't remember exactly.

I put my tray down on our usual table and don't waste time digging into my lunch. Taylor and Bella throw me a weird look.

"You're eating more than usual," Taylor states, taking a bite from her homemade sandwich.

"I had P.E., and let's just say that the teacher was crazier than usual," I say before releasing a low moan when the taste of fish touches my palate.

Taylor and Bella scrunch their noses in disgust.

"I hate the smell of that," Bella murmurs, making me frown.

"And I hate how easily you guys get angry at the world, but you don't see me tell you that," I say, getting defensive.

Bella rolls her eyes. "That's not true."

I lift an eyebrow. "Really? Then you don't mind if I start calling you mutts, right?"

I notice Taylor's lips twitch as she tightens her hold on the sandwich. "No," she says, slightly growling.

"Okay then from now on, I'm calling you... mutts," I repeat the last word as I look straight into Taylor's eyes.

She growls, staring right back at me. "Why are you staring at me?"

"I watched Animal Planet last week, and I learned that if I stare into a mutt's eyes, it might get... aggressive," I say, grinning.

"Stop it," Bella says, and I shift my focus to her.

"I didn't do anything," I say, innocently.

She glares at me. "Don't call us mutts."

I grin. "Once again, I am right, and you guys are wrong."

I do a small happy dance in my seat before taking a bite of the fish.

Taylor huffs. "Don't involve me. I didn't do anything."

I smile, taking a sip from my water bottle. "Well, changing the subject, what do you guys have next?"

"Art," Taylor says, and I slump my shoulders.

"Bella?" I ask, and she rubs her chin deep in thought.

"Chemistry, I think."

I groan. "I'm alone."

"Catherine," someone calls from behind me.

I turn around, catching Blake walking up to our table with an unreadable look on his face. The fact that his eyes are a darker shade of blue worries me, though. "Blake?"

"I need to talk to you... alone," he says before pointing to the cafeteria door.

Did I do something wrong? Lord, he's not going to kill me, is he? Shit, he found out that I'm a cat, didn't he? I'm doomed.

I'm not ready to leave the town.

I slowly nod my head before standing up and follow him outside the cafeteria. I swallow a lump that's tightening my throat, everyone is staring at us in shock and confusion. I know. Why would a Mortal follow one of the Beasts?

That I don't know.

When we're outside, Blake turns around, shoving his hands in the front pockets of his dark jeans. "Look, I know you consider me a weirdo, and I'm not usually like this, and what I'm about to tell you will make me even weirder, but whatever, I'm rambling," He takes a shaky breath in, "Catherine, I need to kiss you."

"Huh?" I say, dumbfounded.

What the...

He sighs, looking away from me. "I know you heard me."

"Well, I wish I hadn't," I say, and he locks his eyes with mine.

"Why not?"

"Because you can't go around telling girls you need to kiss them."

He grins, his eyes twinkling with something I can't decipher. "Actually, I never had to. This is the first time."

I sigh, massaging my forehead, my head starting to throb. He's already giving me a headache. "Well, I'm sorry, but I don't want you to kiss me. Thanks for asking me about it, though," I say, turning around, ready to go back to my girls when he grabs my wrist.

"It's important," he says in a tight voice. I glance back, seeing his wide eyes pleading for me to give in. My heart speeds up, and I quickly pull my hand away from his hold.

What the hell was that?

I cross my arms across my chest, still feeling his warm touch on my wrist, leaving me more confused than ever. "Why?" I manage to ask.

He flicks his eyes away. "I can't tell you."

That's all I needed to hear.

"Then have a nice day," I say, turning around to leave. This time he doesn't stop me.

He's talkative now, and he's right. He really is a weirdo.

Inside the cafeteria, I sit back down in my seat, my eyes glancing back at Blake. He's now ruffling his hair as he heads back to his table. Taylor is the first one to speak up. "What happened?"

I shrug my shoulders. "I don't know. Blake told me he needed to kiss me, and I said no. Why would he want to kiss me?"

Bella rubs her chin in thought before a smile creeps up on her lips. "He wants to know if you're his mate."

I frown. "What? Doesn't a werewolf find his mate by the scent?"

"Well, yes, but only if his mate is also a werewolf. If his mate is a human or any other supernatural creature, then he needs to kiss them. After the kiss, he starts to smell the scent. It's weird, I know."

I bite my tongue.

I can't help but feel this tiny bit of hope to be his mate. Why? I don't know. If I am indeed his mate, though, will he accept me? Even after finding out that I'm a cat?

The Heartfilias are the last werecats that exist on earth. Okay, maybe I'm being dramatic now, but in my defence, I've never met another werecat that isn't related to us.

My parents told me that I didn't need to hide my feline side ever since we moved here. They never explained why, but it's fine because I can't bring myself to actually do it. I'm scared of everyone's judgment.

Will I be accepted, or will I be bullied and later on kicked out from the city? It wouldn't be the first time for it to happen. That's why I hide my scent and make everyone believe that I'm human. That way, I don't get bullied, nor do I get 'loved' by the Pops or Beasts. It's highly unlikely for the latter to happen, but you never know.

"Look, he's staring at you, right now," Taylor says with a chuckle.

This is getting tiring.

I turn my head around, catching his intense gaze. He doesn't look away, of course. Why does he always do that? I tear my eyes away, not being able to hold his stare any longer. Plus, his eyes kept going back and forth between blue and black.

"You're totally his mate. I think he can feel it even without the kiss," Taylor says, shrugging her shoulders.

"But shouldn't I feel something too? I mean, I know I feel the pull during the full moon, but shouldn't I at least feel some kind of weird attraction toward him?" I ask, confused.

Bella hums for a second. "I don't know. You're a werecat. You should ask your mom about it."

She's right. She can definitely give me an answer.

I nod, chugging down the water and let out a noisy exhale.

There's no harm in asking, right?