You Have Always Been Mine

Chapter 3 ~ Where there’s smoke, there’s fire

There’s nothing more annoying than a pack of giggling teenage girls, whispering excitedly amongst themselves and glancing not-so-subtly in his direction, Max decides as he casually leans on the hood of the car the next Monday morning at the high school’s parking lot to wait for Ginny to get in. Technically, he should already leave because his own classes would be starting soon, but he refuses to leave until he’s certain that everyone gets inside their classrooms first, especially Ginny and her friends, who are flight risks. Once is enough to teach him a lesson, and he’s not going to forget anytime soon.

Ginny seems just as perplexed as he is about what is going on but she joins her peers without hesitating, taking her place beside the girl he considers to be the most unruly of them all, Alyssa. Max will never understand Ginny’s eagerness to be part of this group. Sure, they’re rich and popular, but they’re also arrogant and rather mean-spirited, often unkind and inconsiderate towards others of lower ranks and unsteady financial status. One could argue that it is absolutely normal behavior—a mechanism of natural selection where only the fittest and most qualified get included—but Max firmly believes they are nothing but spoiled little snobs who happened to be lucky to have been born in their wealthy and titled families, where compassion and respectfulness are words long-forgotten. Or purposely ignored.

Ginny should know better than to be influenced by these brats, but Max fears she is still too young, too sheltered, and unfortunately, very impressionable. Which is why he tries his best to keep his eye on her and gently remind her of the things that matter.

Max sighs. Whatever mischief Ginny and her friends are up to, he’ll figure it out later. For now, he’s going to be late and it’s imperative that they get inside soon. Later, he’ll just have to make sure to whisk Ginny away as soon as the bell rings at the end of the day, giving them no time to regroup.

Max frowns. Whatever was making the girls titter, Ginny seems to have caught up pretty quickly because she starts to glance in his direction too, with an odd expression of mixed curiosity and disbelief.

He clears his throat, then raises an eyebrow as a silent reminder of their conversation yesterday. She looks away, chastened, but after a few seconds, she glances at him again, this time with a thoughtful expression on her face. Thankfully, the bell rings and the group hurries inside. Max takes a deep breath, briefly wondering if he should just stay out here and be ready for the disaster brewing, but he remembers he has an important lecture he absolutely cannot miss.

Shaking his head, Max hurries to his own class. He’s already late, but it shouldn’t be a problem with his professors. Alpha Timothy has an understanding with the school that Max needs a flexible schedule given the priority of his job protecting the alpha’s daughter. At any point, should there be an emergency or urgent situation, he is to be allowed to leave immediately or permitted to arrive late. Being a respected shareholder, the board granted the alpha’s request. A building with their family name on it and frequent donations also helped facilitate things.

Class is already underway when he finally arrives and is showing something on the projector. Everyone turns to look at him, a few whispering something. The old professor, Mr. Williams, gives him an annoyed look for disrupting the flow of the lesson but otherwise ignores him and tells the class to focus.

Max doesn’t need to hear clearly to know what the other students are muttering about. This professor is known for being strict on students being on time. Others who have failed to arrive before the door closes have been marked as absent anyway or punished with tasks, because the teacher believes in training them to be responsible for their future jobs, where one cannot simply waltz in when it’s convenient. However, given the special circumstance Max finds himself in, he has some sort of free pass.

“Oh look, Mr. Special Circumstances is late again. What happened to ‘it’s not okay to be late for your future jobs’? Tsk!” A voice from a darkened corner mutters.

“Apparently, it doesn’t apply to him because he’s already doing his future job!” Someone responds, the tone sarcastic.

A few students snicker.

“What’s he doing then, wasting time coming to class? One doesn’t need to be literate to be a watchdog.”

More choked laughter follows, prompting their professor to raise his voice and tell the class to hush.

Max clenches his fist, feeling cold and hot at the same time. A watchdog, they call him, their reaction hinting at something more. Something unkind and definitely meant to be hurtful. Something that makes him want to punch somebody.

‘Focus on your studies,’ he could hear his mother’s gentle voice. ‘They are not worth the trouble. Once you’ve graduated and made yourself successful in your chosen career, no one will question your worth anymore.’

His mother. The voice of kindness and reason, despite everything she went through in life. The only voice worth listening to. Max takes a deep breath and focuses on what the professor is discussing. Fortunately, he catches up easily because he has been reading ahead and researching about this particular topic so he knows what the teacher is talking about and he only needs a few clarifications.

When the bell rings once more to signal the end of the class, he shoots out of his seat, determined to get to Ginny’s school before she’s out in the parking lot with her friends.

“Mr. Arden, a moment please,” his professor calls before he reaches the door.

Max closes his eyes in frustration and takes a deep breath before turning around. “Sir?”

Professor Williams waves for him to come closer. “I need to talk to you, just give me a few minutes.”

“But sir, I—”

The professor gives him a sharp look. “Surely you can spare me a minute, given how many times I already spared you for being late.”

Max sighs and walks back inside, towards the professor’s desk.

His classmates snicker as they leave, amused that he’s being detained. For them it probably feels like justice is being served. Max patiently waits for the professor to say what he needs to say, but the old man simply continues to tidy his desk, until the last student has gone out the door.

“Sir, I really—”

“No need to apologize, I know you have a job to do. I merely want to give you this.” He hands him a folder, which Max opens right away to see what’s inside.

“That’s the lesson plan for the next trimester. There’s also a special project you will have to do to get extra credit. I know you have been studying ahead, which is good since you’re missing crucial parts of the lessons when you’re late or need to leave early or even in the middle of class. Your grades are good and I don’t want them to suffer because you’re running around, looking after the alpha’s daughter.”

Max stares at the papers and then looks up. “This is… I mean… this is a huge help, thank you… but may I ask why?”

His professor raises an eyebrow. “Surely you don’t intend to become her personal baby sitter for the rest of your life? That would be such a waste of your intellect and hard working nature. Not to mention how disappointing that would be, proving the naysayers right.”

Max can feel his throat swelling with emotion. He nods. “Thank you, sir. I will make good use of this.”

“Good. I expect you to ace the finals so don’t make me regret this.”

“I won’t let you down.”

“Very well. Now you can go.”

Max didn’t need to be told twice. He races out of there, cold dread eating him up as he glances at his watch, knowing he’s already a few minutes late. If Ginny gets into trouble again—

Relief washes over him like cold water on a hot summer’s day when he finds Ginny in the parking lot waiting for him beside the car. She’s all alone, her friends nowhere in sight, busy typing on her smartphone.

“Hey, sorry I’m late. My professor wanted to speak to me.”

She shrugs, still staring at her phone. “It’s fine. I just got here anyway.”

He opens the door for her and she goes in without another word. Max closes the door, feeling quite pleased that she’s being cooperative and well-behaved. It’s such a relief not to have her fighting him about going home.

“Not that I care about them but…what happened to your cronies?”

She shrugs again. “They left already. I think they’re going to Alyssa’s house.”

Max frowns. Usually, that would make her want to come with them and she’d beg Max to accompany her even just for a little bit.

“And… you’re okay just going home?”

Ginny stiffens, then puts her phone down to look at him with exasperation. “Of course I’m not. But I’m trying to be less difficult because you promised to talk to dad about being more flexible with my schedule, and I’m just trying to show you I can be responsible and mature too, if you just give me a chance.”

Max bites back a grin. “Is that so?”

Ginny narrows her eyes at him. “Why is that funny?”

He shakes his head. “Sorry, you’re right. I appreciate the effort and I will certainly talk to your father soon.”

“Good!” She smiles brightly and then turns back to her phone.

They drive quietly for a bit, and then Max remembers something he wanted to ask her.

“What was that all about?”

“What was what?” she asks him back, distracted.

“This morning. What were your friends going on about, giggling and whispering while looking at me?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why would my friends gossip about you?” She is frowning at him as if with disapproval, but one glance at the blush on her cheeks tells him it’s NOT nothing.

“Ginny…”

She still pretends not to know what he’s talking about, but sighs after a few minutes that he gives her a silent treatment. “Okay, fine! If you really must know, they’re just being idiots. I mean, they were teasing me about you and it’s ridiculous, really.”

“What do you mean?”

Her blush deepens. “They said you act overly-protective because… well, because you’re in love with me.”