"Are you okay?" Paige asked, peering at me through her long eyelashes. I frowned at her in confusion, cowering my upper body over my notebook, a habit I did when I was nervous.

"Yes... Why would you ask?" I asked, scratching the back of my head. I was surprised she was talking to me calmly. The way she'd hung up on me a few nights back, I thought she didn't want anything to do with me.

"Well, your notebook's empty and class was dismissed ten minutes ago," she pointed out. It was then I realized that we were alone. "Something's on your mind," she continued. "Tell me."

"There's nothing wrong," I laughed nervously, shoving my books into my school bag along with my stationery. Paige didn't seem convinced.

"Hmm... I went by your house recently, and you weren't there. Your mom told me the Alpha took you in for training," she simply stated. I froze as I was bending over to pick up my bag. Paige's eyes studied me closely, as I struggled for some excuse. It didn't work out, so I remained silent. "You met Gabriel?"

"Oh, I did. He's cool," I mumbled, excited that she strayed away from the topic. "He's going to find his mate soon," I commented even if it was likely she already knew that. Everyone knew that. We exited the class and walked down the halls.

"Oh yeah!" Paige smiled, ignoring my obvious cry for conversation. I felt warm inside since it had been a while since I saw her smile and it wasn't forced. "You're going, right?" I nodded quickly, smiling too.

"Remember our lake?" I asked her, my mind floating back to the times we fished there, which was rather recently.

"Yeah, sure. Why?" she asked, puzzled.

"It's been a while since we've been there," I mumbled half to myself. I could have seen her ears visibly perk up at the sound of that. A smile crept up her lips. "How about we go there later today," I suggested. I'd been so busy with my training and she'd been so closed up with whatever problems she was having.

"I'd like that," she replied brightly. By that time, we'd reached my locker. She was waiting patiently, curling her blonde hair around her fingers, while I picked out the books I needed for my next subject.

I pulled out a book from under a pile of papers, only acting when they were on the verge of crashing to the floor. It was only then had I noticed the picture I had stuck at the back of my locker. The tape was already peeling of the metal, showing how long it'd been there.

I smiled sadly at the picture of Paige and me, arms wrapped around each other's shoulders with large grins. It was those days I enjoyed the most, and it did pain me to know that these days had almost ceased. Which was one of the reasons I offered her a relaxing time at the lake we enjoyed the most.

"Samantha!" a male voice called. I mentally groaned.

"What are you doing here?" I heard Paige seethe, which wasn't something I expected from her. I mean, it would be the last thing she did to that person.

"I'm here for Sam. I know you can hear me." I felt a finger tap my shoulder. I turned around slowly with a tight smile present on my features.

"Hi... Dale," I said through clenched teeth. He clearly was a master of 'bad timing'. He frowned at my change in tone but continued nonetheless.

"I just wanted to let you know that I'd be with Gabriel today so-"

"Is that all?" I asked hopefully.

"Well actually no. I meant to ask why you weren't answering my calls." He leaned against the locker, gazing deep into my eyes with an inquisitive look present.

"I-I uh-"

"Am I missing something here?" Paige interrupted angrily. Oh, here we go again. I thought.

"No," I laughed nervously pressing my back against the lockers. "In fact, Dale was just leaving, right?" I threw him a look. He seemed hurt and confused, but this drama was the last thing I needed.

"But you didn't answer-"

"I said right,"  I stressed, glaring now. Dale raised his hands up defensively before slowly backing away. I nodded at him with narrowed eyes, ensuring that he was not going to utter another word. Eventually, he disappeared behind a wall and I let out a sigh of relief. Paige, who was frowning at his retreating figure, then turned to face with me, puzzled. Not angry, but puzzled.

"What was that about?" she asked, helping me put some of the books that were on the verge of falling out, back into the locker.

"Psht. That boy has some major issues. I mean, he just walks up to people and asks them random questions. Like what he did me there a while ago." I made a circular pattern with my finger near my head, indicating that I thought he was loco. 

"He's not crazy," she laughed. "The Alpha's son would never pick a crazy person for his best friend."

"Best-friend?" I repeated, my eyes wide. It then occurred to me that he did say he was going to be with Gabriel later this afternoon. I was so focused and chasing him before Paige found out that I had kissed him. I blinked, wondering how I was going to deal with him after I was certain that the kiss was a mistake, but I knew I was just lying to myself. I actually did want more than I got, I was just too scared to admit it.

"Yeah. It's a really long-termed friendship. I used to see them together from since when they were pups running around, always having each other's back." I nodded, falling in sync with her and she began to walk away to our next class. "But anyway, we meet by the lake?"

"Sure," I confirmed. 

***

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P.S. Check out my other books.

If you want more werewolf drama - Wolf Blood (completed)

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Taja D'amore.