Tigress Story

I walk alone down the full corridor, receiving strange glances and whisperings about me.  You don't fit in… anywhere, I think, pressing faster to escape to my retreating place: Library…


People think I'm a freak and a druggie.  To a certain extent, I believe them because I am a freak, but I've never done drugs in my entire life.  In reality, I'm just misunderstood like every other teenager on earth.  Okay, that's a huge understatement: I'm misunderstood, a freak and a nobody, not to mention a shifter.

Being a shifter is what got me into trouble in the first place.  I'm a sophomore and I've transferred to five different high schools already because of anger management problems caused by my inner tiger, and I don't mean my sex drive, I literally mean tiger because at my last school I blew up in front of people, shifted and accidentally killed a boy.

See, generation passed down to the next, my family has carried The Tigress, the mother of all tigers, including males.  Just my luck to be damned with this blasted curse; I don't even know why it's so important, although I've had it explained to me repeatedly.  It bites because I can feel the fear of the chase, the blow of a bullet or arrow and the pain of a tiger dying in the wild, not to mention the thrill of being a predator… Okay, back to where I left off before I started droning on…


My breath comes out in huffy shudders as I angrily pull the door of the library open.  The familiar scent of old reading and text books and new comes barreling to my nose, striking it full out, calming me diminutively out of my fit.  I seize my favorite navy beanbag and dump it in between the secure nonfiction bookshelves.  Upon plopping down and crushing the foam inside, I draw my legs to my chest and begin rocking back and forth like a crazy person.

"You okay Lilith?"  Jenna - the loving six month pregnant librarian - inquires, struggling to bend down to my level after she walks over.

I stop rocking upon hearing her voice.  "I had another fit."  I softly reply, daring to meet a disproving look.  No, her face carries nothing but worry - she's the only one who knows I'm a shifter in the entire school.

"I'm sorry.  You okay now?"

"For the most part."

"Want me to go grab The Hunger Games for you?"

I sympathize for her.  "No, I'll go get it; you just go back and rest."

"You're so sweet honey, thanks."  She replies.

I sadly smile - only Jenna loves and cares for me in the entire world.  "You're welcome."

"Oh, before I forget, we have a new student… could you show him around?"

"It's a him?  Oh no, I don't get along with men.  Last time I fraternized with a member of the opposite sex, he ended up with a broken nose and another ended up dead."  I object.

"Please Lilith?"  She begs.

"Fine, but you owe me.  Where is he?"  I throw myself up out of my chair to look around.

"He's right there."  She points him out - he's by my favorite bookshelf.

"All right."  I saunter over to the boy; I bite my lip and look over his shoulder, finding he's reading the inside flap to The Hunger Games.  "That's a good book."

He jumps and drops the book, turning to face me; I fall in love.  He has the fairest of golden brown hair, the deepest of red violet eyes and the most handsome of faces.  He stares at me for a moment or two before picking the book up.

"Sorry about that."  I apologize.

"No problem Lilith."  He replies, making me start.

"How do you know my name?"

"I heard the Librarian talking to you.  Are you psychotic?"

"No, I rock back and forth after I have an anger explosion to help me calm down."

"Do you get angry easily?"

"Yeah.  For future references, don't come around me when I'm irate, it's… safer."

"Safer?  Are you really that dangerous?"  I nod after I think about everything that's happened to me in my life.  "Thanks for the warning."

"Sure.  What's your name?"

"Brandt."

"Nice to finally meet you."  I stick my hand out; he takes my hand and shakes it.  "May I see you schedule?"

"Sure."  He pulls a sheet of paper out of his pocket and hands it over.

I study the paper, discovering we have the same third period every day and all his classes are down the same halls as mine.  "Well, we have the same third block everyday, so you'll have first lunch.  The hallways are all labeled and easy to find and I recommend using outside as often as you can."

"Thanks for the advice Lilith."

"No problem Brandt, I just wish that others would believe me."  I sigh.

"I believe you."  I flinch when he touches my cheek.  "Sorry."

"No, it's my fault; people don't touch me."

"Because you get angry correct?"

"Yeah."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Even after two minutes with Brandt, I start worrying about my appearance and what'll come out of my mouth, which is why I start fiddling with my hair.  I stare at him, longing to know what he feels and tastes like; The Tigress becomes irritated by my obsession with Brandt.  I struggle to keep her contained, with makes my breathing change and my body begin to tremble.  Brandt notices.

"You okay?"   He worries.

I back away from him, in case I do or The Tigress does something to harm him; he tries stepping forward towards me.  "Don't."  I whisper.

I look at Jenna and notice she noticed what's going on with me.  She waddles over and grabs Brant's shoulder.  "Why don't you come help me behind the counter?  There's a boatload of students waiting to check out."

He looks anxiously at me, but he goes with Jenna.  "Thank you."  I mouth when she looks back at me.

She nods once and starts talking to Brandt for cover.  I go settle back in my chair and curl up in the fetal position on my side.  Closing my eyes, I slowly breathe and count to twenty.  I feel someone stroke my hair; I open my eyes and glance up to see Brandt's the one touching me.

"I'm sorry."  He softly apologizes.

"It's fine; you just startled me is all."

He gets me to sit up and takes my place in my chair.  I about chew him out for taking my spot, up until I realize what he was doing: he lays me down again with my head resting on his lap.  He starts stroking my hair again, his fingers brushing behind my ear; I begin to involuntarily purr and rub my cheek against his thigh until I hear him start to chuckle.

"I'm sorry."  I blush embarrassedly as I recognize what I did.

"No, no.  It's quite all right; it's cute."

I don't think that I've ever remained this calm around someone, especially a member of the opposite sex.  He begins fondling my hair once more; I make sure not to rub my head again, but I can't help the purring.  I sit and stand up about five minutes later, my back to Brandt, feeling a lot better than I was earlier; I feel his hands on my shoulders.

"I don't know what you're going through, but I'm here and I'll listen to whatever you have to say."  He breathes into my ear.

I close my eyes and sigh.  "Thank you for your concern."

His hands move across my collarbone and his arms curl around me; his lips plant themselves on my neck.  I go rigid and stop breathing, shell shocked that he's brave enough to try that when we've only known each other almost ten minutes.

"You taste good."  He quietly remarks.

"How do you taste?"  I didn't mean for that to come out, but it did anyways.

"You wanna find out?"  He seductively asks.

I'm not sure what to say to that because it's tempting, but The Tigress is starting to pick a fight with me again.  Brandt turns me around and finally really looks me in the eye.  Something draws me closer to him.  He cups the back of my neck and leans forward, his lips gingerly caressing mine; I feel something deep and ancient towards him that I've never felt regarding other people.

In order to keep me close, he forces me against the library wall and tangles his fingers in my short hair; I pull him closer, my fingers surreptitiously slithering under his shirt, feeling the softness of his skin and the stiffness of muscle.  My heart hammers in my chest; I moan contently, running my hands from his abs around to his back to hold him tight.  His hands work their way under my shirt and up to my bra; he unfastens the hook in the front and touches my breasts with a feathery touch.  

The Tigress is now hyperaware of the man pinning me down and the tool in his pants, which makes her scream to stop; I don't.  His bump rubs against my jeans and his hand runs up my side to my back; I draw my leg up to his hip and wrap it around his leg, wanting him in a way that I shouldn't.  We break away for a second to stare at each other then go back to kissing.  His hand touches my breast again, playing with my nipple this time before fastening my bra together.  Our lips separate for the second time, remaining close to each other.

"Did you feel something?"  He whispers; I can only nod in reply.  "I did too." - I rub my cheek against his; he brushes my cheekbone with the back of his fingers, which makes my heart pump furiously yet again; I sniff, about to cry - "Hey, hey, hey; what's that for?"  He questions, running his hand on my hair.

"I've never had anything like this before."

"Never?  Hasn't anyone told you they're there for you?"

"No.  No one's cared about me until Jenna."

"Not even your mom and dad?"

"My mom died after I was born and… my father just sort of stopped caring when I turned twelve."

"I'm sorry Lilith."

"It's not your fault Brandt."

"I know, but I feel horrible."

I roughly push myself away from him - The Tigress is getting feisty again and this time she won't let me get away with it and I really don't want to hurt this boy because he's been nothing but kind to me.  "I'm sorry, but I have to go."

"Do you want me to escort you to where you're going?"

"No, I need time alone."  I, very civilized like, reply.

"All right.  I'll see you at lunch right?"

"Yes." - I nod once before leaving my safe place; I stalk down the empty hallway and slam my fist into a locker, irate with the fact that I let him in - "You infatuating, disagreeable bastard.  Why is it that you can get in whereas everyone else can't?  Why!" - I yell out in frustration, slamming my fist against the locker with less force this time - "Why?" - I slump down to the ground as angry tears run down my cheeks - "You feeble, ridiculous, asinine idiot."

I manage to pick myself up and walk to my first period, which is where my stuff is in case you were wondering.  I settle in my desk indignantly, baffled with this Brandt person; The Tigress inside makes me growl at the thought of him, telling me she doesn't like him very much, especially after how he touched me.  I think about his touch and my hand automatically goes to my breast; I frown, displeased that I can't feel his fingers caress my girls again.  I begin longing for him.  I curse as I get out of my desk and up to the library again.

I run up to him when I find him, not caring about the strange stares or the fact The Tigress doesn't want me to be with him.  "You've chosen to return."  He comments.

"I couldn't exactly stand it, being away from you."  I bashfully reply, digging my toe into the floor and twisting it back and forth.

"Come here."  I feel his hands yank me to him.  I look up into his eyes, pressing closer to him.  I smell his neck and kiss the soft skin before he makes our lips meet again.

"Why did you come here?"  I inquire.

"Not here."  He replies, dragging me to where we were earlier.  "Look, I came here because of you; I'm supposed to watch out for you."

"Am I in trouble?"  I worry without telling him what I am.

"Not exactly.  I'm not allowed to tell you."

"Great."  I breathe.

"At least I have something to look forward to."  He comments.

"Which would be?"

"Getting to be with a beautiful girl like yourself."

I blush.  "I have a fan now.  I'm not sure if I should be flattered or kick your ass."

"Be flattered; I don't get along with many girls."

"Really?"

"Not at all."  He pulls me down with him, which makes me straddle him.

He lies back and I follow.  I run a hand down his chest before moving to rest in between his legs.  "Brandt, why am I drawn to you?"

"I don't know."  He starts stroking my hair again.

I inhale his scent and close my eyes for a moment, trying to place it.  "Your smell is familiar."  I comment.

"It is?"

"Yeah.  It smells like… you and… aftershave."

"You missed one."

"I did?"

"Uh-hu, the light scent of cologne."  He points out.

I smell again.  "I did.  Oh well, I got most of them."

"That you did."  He pokes my tip of my nose.

"Hey, no one pokes my nose!"  I object, rubbing it.

"You're silly."

He begins kissing me again; I wrap my arms around him.  His hands find their way to my jeans, in which they become undone.  I don't care about that until I listen to another set becoming unfastened.  I break away and push myself up.

"Brandt, I don't have sex with people, especially ones I met with a half hour ago."  I say, zipping my jeans back up.

"I'm sorry; I don't act this straightforward."  He apologizes.  "Wait, you're virgin?"

"I am proud to say that I'm virgin… although I am sorry to say that my lips are no longer; it's your fault."

"I'm your first kiss?"  He wonders.

"Yes.  Nobody's ever paid this much attention to me in my life.  In fact, nobody's paid attention to me unless I act out; I don't do it on purpose."  I explain.

"I never said you do."  He smirks.

"What are you smirking about?"

"I'm just proud that I got to kiss you first."

He pulls me back down, letting me rest on his torso; I start drifting off to his steady breath and his rhythmic heart beat…


I wake up and the library is quiet.  I rub my head to Brandt's chest.  "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"Hmmm?"

"Time?"  I repeat in not so many words.

He blinks a couple times and looks at his wristwatch.  "It's nine thirty."

"Nine thirty?  Oh shit, we're late for second period.  If my dad finds out that I skipped first period, he's going to kill me."

I hear footsteps and look up; Jenna looks down on us and smiles.  "Don't worry, I've covered for you guys, but you got to get going now."

"Jenna… thank you."  I fervently say, having difficulties getting up - how I managed to get wrapped around Brandt in my sleep is beyond me.  "I'm stuck."  She begins to chuckle.  "Could you please refrain from laughing at me?"

"Sorry, it's just funny is all." - She apologizes - "Okay, Brandt, let go of Lilith."
We follow Jenna's directions and a minute later, we're sitting opposite of each other.  "Thanks Jenna."  We say in unison.

"No problem you two, just get to class now."  She urges.