"You couldn't wait until after his party to break his heart?!" Andrea shouts at me. I was getting out of the car as I numbly try to go about my day.
I had woken up to cry as Mark held me. I cried like if I lost someone I loved so dearly. I went about breakfast with the Burke's with a blank expression barely talking, barely eating, barely existing.
"Andrea that's none of your business. Calm down, people are starting to stare," Diana tells her.
"I don't care!" Andrea grits out but much more lower. "You clearly had your fun and now you're ready to throw him away like an used tissue. I knew you weren't worth his time and love. You just strung him along to break him."
"Andrea! Stop it!" Diana keeps insisting.
Eyes were on us as I stood there letting her berate me. Robb and the guys were standing idly by. They had worried expressions as they looked between me and Andrea.
"I hope whatever fun you got out of this was worth it." Andrea sneers as she ignores Diana.
Andrea leaves me as the guys go follow her while I just stand there frozen and emotionless.
I adjust my glasses before shutting and locking the car.
I start head to class when I notice Diana was slowly following behind me.
"What are you doing?" I ask her when I know she's following me.
"I'm on duty today." She offers me smile but it doesn't reach her eyes.
"Why? There's no need to guard me," I tell her as she continues to follow me.
"Ander wouldn't want you to be alone. He said we still had to protect you."
"Well I'd prefer you didn't. I don't want to owe him anything."
"He's not doing it so you can repay him. He's doing it because he cares about you."
I turn to her, "this is me. Bye."
I walk in as Mr. Shwerb looks at me suspiciously but doesn't say anything.
I ignore him to get to my seat. Ander is there but he doesn't say anything. He just stares out the window. "You look beautiful."
"What?" I say.
"You look beautiful," Ander tells me. He doesn't move to touch me but he does turn to look at me. He had shades on as well. I don't take mine off and neither does he.
He goes back to looking out the window as I try not to break. I listen to music to drown myself out.
I'm here. Focus on me. Mark tells me as my mind wanders.
I go by the rest of the day as if I wasn't breaking inside. I needed to fix this but I couldn't even fix me.
During lunch I went to my tree. "It's been so long," I tell it.
"You're talking to trees now?" Jay asks me as I sit. Diana was there but hasn't said anything to me. In our physical education class she didn't speak to me either. I asked her things but she only gave one word answers. I figured that they all hated me just as much as Andrea.
"What are you doing here?" I ask him. He looks hurt when I said that.
"I thought we were lunch buddies. I can go," he says looking at the ground the whole time.
"No, sorry. Of course we are. You're always welcome here."
He sighs in relief as he sits by me. He gives me my three sandwiches as I hand him two turkey sandwiches with avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo.
He beams at them as he eats. I don't eat as I sit back and close my eyes.
"You want to hang out today?" Jay asks me. "We can train."
I look at him as to see if he's really not Bass.
"Oh, yes! I need training," Diana says.
"Don't you hate me?" I ask them. They look at me confused.
"No, why would we?" Jay says.
Now it was my turn to return the look as I'm 100% sure they were there when Andrea went off on me.
"Andrea obviously does, why not you?"
"Andrea is just hurt. She didn't mean what she said." Diana defends her.
"I'm sure she meant it and then some. I don't blame her I'd hate me too."
Don't forget I'm here, babe. Stay with me. Mark has been more vigilant with me and I don't mind but sometimes I'd like to feel sorry for myself. I like to wallow.
"Yeah well Andrea does what Andrea wants. Ander had assured us that everything is fine so I believe him." Jay says as he eats.
I give him two sandwiches back but he refused them. "I'm not hungry Jay. I'm not carrying them around to go to waste."
He took them and soon ate them.
I barely managed one. My appetite was diminishing and that is never a good sign. I had to eat the calories I burned but I couldn't bring myself to eat more.
"We can go back to my house," Diana suggested.
"I rather not. I think I'm just going to stay in so you don't have to follow me." I tell her.
"I don't mind," she tells me with a small smile.
"Mark will be there so there's no point."
"Really, I don't mind." She insisted.
"I rather not go home if you want to do something," Jay tells me.
"Okay, we can train by my house. Just one thing, I need Bass." I tell Diana.
She looked like she was having second thoughts about the whole training ordeal.
"Just Bass, Mark and the others won't be there. Bass is a better suited teacher than I'll ever be."
"Just one?" She tentatively asks. She looks like she's about to puke. "Okay."
I nodded at her when she asked if just one. She doesn't look too sure of her answer. She dropped her container which made her blush. She was having a mini freak out.
"I'll be there if it becomes too much I'll ask him to leave. I can make him keep his distance," I add as I try to assure her. Maybe I'm pushing her too much. She's clearly not ready.
"No, it's okay. I can handle it," she tries to reassure herself more than to convince me.
Should I be offended? Mark asks me.
I snort as we head back to the building. Jay seemed excited.
ME: How do you feel about a training session today?
BASS: Always ready. Let me know what time.
ME: Meet me at the Burke's after school.
BASS: You got it, sunshine!
I knew he would be up for it. I just hope Diana is ready.
Ander walks by me. He opens the door for me as I thank him and head inside. He wasn't making it easy but it was comforting that he was around. I really didn't deserve him.
"Jay let's go!" Andrea shouts at him.
"I'm going with Vanessa. Go ahead without me." Jay responds.
I was walking out as I had accompanied Diana to her locker. I was opening the door for her when we heard Andrea.
"You're seriously siding with her? She's a traitor!" Andrea practically screeches.
"Andrea that's enough!" Ander says forcefully. He looks livid.
"Don't Andrea me! It's the truth, she practically used you. Stop defending her."
"Jay, go it's fine." Ander tells him as Jay was there frozen. "That's between me and her, you have no business on the matter."
"Yeah well I hope you open your eyes soon. She may be your mate but that doesn't mean she's right for you."
"Andrea shut up and get in the truck," Robb tells her.
She glares at him. "You're still going to the party." She huffs as she goes to get in the passenger side. Theo doesn't acknowledge me but he never really did so that's nothing new. Robb looked at me with what seemed like sadness.
Jay looked scorned as he follows me and Diana. I had stood there taking every word she said to me. Diana is looking at the ground as she goes to the passenger side.
I get in without further incident.
"Whoa, a new student?" Bass says cheerfully.
Angie and John were happy to see I had company they were worried about me since I left that morning. I told them we were having a picnic in the woods. Angie sets out to make us food. I don't say anything as I went to get a change of clothes.
Bass had brought shorts for Jay but no shirt. Which I should have been more specific when I said to bring clothes for Jay.
I was lending Diana clothes as we needed to change to be able to change after. To not arouse suspicion.
I took the designer bag Ash had given me to use as a book bag to put the extra clothes in. I didn't have more shirts but I did have the one Mark had lend me. I grabbed that as I found her some shorts. Since she's smaller and slimmer than me mostly everything would not fit her.
Once sorted I head downstairs where Jay was with John and Angie as Diana stood idly by.
"So you're her friend?" Angie asks him.
"It's not him Angie," I tell her. She looked embarrassed but nodded. "Thank you for this, we'll be back soon."
I give her and John a hug and a kiss as I push Diana and Jay outside as they said their goodbyes. Now we stand before the wise Bass.
He was more than ready to get started. We had to change first.
I caught Diana sniffing her shirt a few times. She must have smelled Mark and was probably trying to place it or something.
Jay was shirtless which made me look all over but him. I don't know why I always got awkward when skin is exposed. I always try not to stare. Diana felt the same way as she blushed when she saw Bass just as shirtless.
"All right, get to wolfing!" Bass orders excitedly.
"It isn't what you want to do Bass, Diana needs to ease into things. What do you want to do?" I ask her.
She blushes more. "I'd like to do wolf form. We didn't get to last time and anything is fine."
"Are you sure?" I ask her. She nods once in a stiff manner.
"Perfect!" Bass clasps his hands.
"You'll be doing offense. Try to catch me."
With that Bass dashes away. We all look after him as if he lost his mind. I slowly smile as I look at Diana and Jay before running and shifting mid air. They soon follow as we all try to catch him as if he were a golden ticket.
When I got close to him I was more than ready to bite into his leg when Diana pushes me out of the way. We snap at each other just as Jay dashes by. He was really fast. We ended up going after Jay instead of Bass.
It took a long time to get to Jay but when we did we both ram into him from both sides.
Jay howls as we leave him behind.
Bass was now ahead of us that we almost lost track of him. I sniff the air for him as I follow the strongest one. Diana takes another route which has me questioning my decision.
Jay caught up without a hitch as we continue to hunt Bass down. I follow my scent as Jay follows me.
We caught up to him just as Diana tries to pounce on him only to collide with Jay I hadn't noticed he had left my side.
Bass was now going up to the tree tops. I lock onto him as I try to see where he might come down to if he does so. I dash to a clearing where he might have to jump down to because the trees are too far apart to jump to.
Once I get there sure enough Bass was coming down and I was more than ready to pounce on him when Jay shoves me aside with his head. I stumble as I roll to come to a stand. I growl at him as he misses his shot.
Diana dashes past me as I shift back. "STOP!" I yell after them. Jay stops as Diana falters before they both come back to me.
"We need to team up for this. We can't keep making each other miss him. Diana, you and me we will guide him towards the edge. Jay you stand by when you see an opening tackle him. He's fast so be faster. Got it?"
They snort their agreement. I tell them to go as I shift back to my wolf. Diana and I set to do what I had tasked us to do. We almost mess up but we got to redirect him just in time.
We had lost him for a second but I managed to sniff him out, that was our mistake. We kept it up for a few minutes until Jay found his opening.
One second Bass is up and running the next he's on the ground with Jay on top.
I shift back as I go to them. "Tap out Bass, we got you."
Bass glares at me as Jay sneers at him. Bass sighs as he taps.
"You cheated," Bass accuses.
"You said we needed to catch you. You never said teamwork was out of the question."
Bass grumbles. "Fine you won. Want another round?"
Diana and Jay shift back as they come to stand by me.
"No, you need to pay up," Diana says.
I look at her surprised. "We never made a bet."
"Well we should have. Next one if we manage to make you bleed you'll buy us dinner. If you manage to get back to our clothes unscathed then we.." Diana stops to think.
"We will train with you all day any day you choose. The whole day. Nonstop." I say.
They all look at me dumbfounded. I shrug.
"We got this," I tell them.
Bass smirks as he rubs his hands together menacingly. "You got a deal."
I smile as he gets ready to start. I look at my team. "Diana you'll have to work with Jay in letting me get him. Even if you're close and feel you can get him, don't. I'll do the honors. Keep him closed in and as close to edge as possible. Got it?"
They nod. "All right Bass we're ready. You go first."
Diana and Jay shifted once Bass is out of view I turn to them. "Diana you get him. Me and Jay will distract him. He thinks it's me but it'll be you." I shift and we dash away.
Bass was paying attention to me which was what I wanted. Once he thought I was the main threat he wasn't as vigilant to the others. Don't get me wrong he still kept them at a distance but he was focused on me. I leap towards him but he dodged me by crouching as I fly over him. When I crash land on my paws I run back to where he is. Jay manages to jump out of his way as Diana slowly but surely creeps up on him. When Jay goes for another leap Bass stops letting Jay dash right by him.
I run to him next as Diana uses my attack to her advantage as he steps to the side she sneaks up on him as I completely miss but she locks on. She bites his leg as Bass falls to his knee. Diana had blood on her so it meant we had won.
"Clever little wolf." Bass says.
We shift back as I walk towards him with a smirk on my face, "Never doubt that."
We head back to the clothes in wolf form since we trailed too far away from them. Once we shift back I fall on the ground to rest a second. I reach for the bag to get water from it. Angie had packed a lot for us to eat.
I hand Jay and Diana a water bottle as we sit on the ground.
"So close," Bass mumbles. I laugh which he only glares at me. "This isn't over."
"You're training tonight. Relax Bass. You're acting like you're preparing for war."
A look crosses his face. He turns away from me before I can process it. Something was up.
"What is it Bass?"
"Nothing," he says quickly. "It's just those rogues are getting bolder. We need to prepare."
I nod as it's true but something doesn't sit well with me. I don't push it. I'm probably over analyzing things again. Overthinking is my mortal flaw.
"That was fun," Diana says.
"I'm glad you have enjoyed your session with Master Bass," Bass says bowing.
I snort as I take the food out. We eat as Bass tells us he should have brought his speaker that that's why he was beaten.
"It's getting late, how long have we been training?" I ask them. Bass had left because he needed to pick the playlist for later.
"Not sure but I should get back. I still have to train later as well," Jay says.
I give them their clothes as we go change behind trees.
"I can drive you," I tell them.
"As much fun as this was I don't think I'm ready for the group one," Diana admits.
"Don't worry about it. If you're up to it I can get Bass to come train us together."
She smiles at me as she nods.
"Besides this one was a more lenient one, the ones he plans for later are brutal. This was a more teamwork one." I tell her.
"He didn't even say what it was," Jay says.
"That's Bass. He makes you figure it out on your own. Since you can prepare all you want but it'll never come out as planned. He's more of go with the flow, come up with plans on the spot, kind of guy."
"They are intense workouts. He insists we do it in the dark. Then he runs into the woods. It was chaos. Why can't they be like this? Ander tries to take leadership but ends up overwhelmed."
"I bet, they do get a little too much. I had trouble as well took me a while to get the hang of it. Just remind Ander to not overthink, to relax and see what could help in the situation. Since you can speak to one another use that."
Jay nods. We reach the house as John comes out. "I was about to look for you. I thought you might have gotten lost."
"Nope. Just got talking so we lost track of time. Sorry." I tell him.
He nods, "well then it's time for dinner and I'm not taking nos."
Angie was asking so many questions that John had to tell her to breathe. Jay and Diana chuckled as she told them of how me and Mark would bicker doing lunches for us to eat.
After dinner I had invited them to my room.
"I love your room, especially your bed," Jay says as he lays down. He looks to be sleeping when he closes his eyes.
"I love your night light," Diana says. She walks to my closet as I go sit on the rocking chair. I grab my bear to hug it.
"Whoa, you have a walk in closet," she tells me in awe.
"Why are your books so depressing?" Jay asks me as he looks at the bookshelf.
"Not this one," Diana says as she holds Curious George.
I snort a laugh, "they're not mine."
They look at me confused but don't press.
"Okay, I really need to get going now." Jay says.
I walk with them as I go tell Angie and John I was dropping them off. They told me to be careful as they said their goodbyes to our visitors.
"They were very nice," Jay tells me as we step outside.
"They're the best."
A car pulls in as it's headlights blinds us.
Ander steps out, "hello."
"Hi," I respond as Jay and Diana say goodbye.
I wave as he pulls away.
"Who was that?" John asks me.
"Their ride," is all I say.