The Alpha

Eight

‘Sorry love birds but I am gonna have to tell you to cut this little thing out and to move it. Can’t be having you two making babies on my watch.’

Ms Hanson said, standing in the archway, which is diagonally opposite to where me and Emmett are standing, that connects the sports hall to the rest of the school building.

Acting way over dramatic with her mask of disgust, making her winks stand out and deepen in her skin.

Emmett was the first to move, I slowly followed after.

Once Emmett was through the double doors Ms Hanson grabbed my upper arm before I could follow him.

‘I have to congratulate you kid, two boys at once. And not any two boys but Wilbur and Emmett. Well done!’

Her disgust was all gone, replaced with a smile, almost like she was proud of me, as she patted me hard on the back, basically winding me.

‘oh no … um its lot like that-‘

‘It's okay to admit it, hey it's not bad you’ve got two hands. And if I was your age oooh.’

‘Umm okay. But really it's not-‘

Letting go of my arm she pushes me through the double doors to the girls changing room.

‘Good luck kid.’ She said patting my back more gently this time. A hint of a smile playing on her lips.

‘What?’ I say turning around to find out she was already half way down the corridor.

I wonder what the good luck was for. Oh well. Time to head home.

Walking into the changing room, my wet trainers squelched with each step. I walk over to my things and grab my kit bag, which is holding my clothes. Not wanting to take a shower at school and also I don’t have a towel or anything. I decided that I’ll just walk home in my dirty wet P.E kit not wanting to get my clothes all dirty as my hair is still wet and leaving muddy droplets behind me.

Just as I was about to take my leave from this horrid place of a changing room, I was stopped.

‘Hey! You! Wet muddy girl!’

Not loving that nickname.

Turning around slowly I am met with none other than Harley Snyder herself as well as her friends.

‘Oh hi.’ I say giving them a weak wave and smile, as they all scan me head to toe. I gulp.

‘Nice game out there, you’ve got some potential in you it seems.’ Harley says in her sweet voice and sticks out her hand. ‘I am Harley, Harley Snyder.’

Wiping my hand on the cleanest part of me I shake her saying, ‘Phoebe Burrows.’

Taking her hand out of mine, a smile engulfed her face. ‘ Well Phoebe how would you like it if we invited you to hang out with us after school?’

Is this some trick? Why is she asking me to hang out? Did she hit her head? Am I dead? What’s going on? Why is she being nice and acknowledging me all of a sudden? What is her ulterior motive?

‘Oh well that would be cool and all but-‘

‘Oh honey I didn’t mean tonight, you need to get cleaned up.’ Said still with a sweet smile on her face. Okay this is getting scary now, I don’t think i’ve seen her smile for this long before.

‘How about this Friday?’

‘Yeah sure’

‘Amazing.’ She says her smile gets even bigger as she clasps my hands in hers, squeezing them. ‘I’ll pick you up then.’

‘Okay’ I say breathlessly as she and her friends walk past me out of the changing room.

Did that just happen? Oh my god! Wait, how is she meant to pick me up? She doesn’t know where I live. And I don’t think it's best for me to now go chasing her down the corridor.

Dammit Phoebe!

As I walk out I am met by Emmett standing there waiting for me.

‘Why hello stranger.’ I say making him look up from his phone.

‘Hello there.; he says circling his arm around my waist.

‘Wait not don’t touch me!’ Pushing him away.

‘What , why ?’ His hands up in surrender

‘You’ll get all dirty, muddy and wet.’

‘I think I can handle that, if it means I can be with you.’ He says as a smile forms on his face and his arm goes back around my waist.

Making our way to my locker I get out my bag and coat. Also sneaking a handful of honey and nut clusters into my mouth, being sneaky by basically having my whole head in my locker.

‘What are you doing there?’ Emmett said through laughter.

I slowly back away out my lock with remains of honey and nut clusters in my hand and some around my mouth. With my mouth still full I couldn’t answer him, making my eyes go wide as I tried my best to eat fast and to communicate with him. Sadly all my attempts were in vain. Well not solely as I did get to hear him laugh more and to smile so that’s at least something.

As we walk out of school just before we go our separate ways and say goodbye.

‘Oh something strange happened when I went into the changing room after P.E.’

‘Really what happened?’

‘You know Harley?’

‘Harley Snyder?’ He asked and I nodded in silence as he continued, 'Yeah I know her.’

‘ Well she asked me to hang out with her and her friends.’

‘Okay and what’s strange about that?’

‘What’s strange? Maybe that we have been in the same classes since kindergarten and this is the first time she has actually spoken and interacted with me.’

‘ Oh well maybe she just wants to be your friend.’

‘Hmm maybe.’

‘when did she say she wanted to hang out?’

‘Friday.’

‘That nice though that you are getting to know people.’

‘ I Guess.’ ‘ goodbye.’

‘ Bye.’ He says after he kisses me on my muddy cheek. Before jogging off to his car. I wave at him as he passes me in his car exiting through the school gates, with me on the path and him on the road.

With a sigh escaping my lips I readjust my bags on my shoulder and push the button at the traffic lights.

Once through the light blue door I am greeted with … nothing there was just silence. No Edric sitting in his spot on the sofa, not the TV turned up too loud, the TV not displaying one of Edric’s many video games. His coat or his work shoes are in the hallway.

‘Edric?’ I call out to be answered with nothing but silence. Is he not home yet? But he always finishes before me. What’s going on? Where is he? Did something horrible happen to him? Oh no!

Feeling the blood drain from my face and the world around me grow dark and cold.

Only to be interrupted by my phone pining from a notification.

{ won’t be home till late work buddies are going out } - Edric

‘That little piece of - ! Making me worry for no reason. The next time I see him I’ll - !’

I ramble on to myself.

As I kick my trainers off and walk round through the living room to the kitchen opening a side door revealing a cupboard holding a washer and dryer one on top of the other.

Taking my clothes off I pile them into the washer, with some detergent and softener. Turning it on as I prepare a nice warm bath, just what I need.

All dressing in my PJs and a towel wrapped around my head I empty the washing machine and then load the dryer. While my P.E. Kit is drying. I help myself to the snack box full of chocolates. Sitting snug on the sofa with a blanket I turn the TV on looking for something to watch as my phone goes off again.

{ (new notification from i********: ) - Harley S <3 - has requested to follow you. }

Opening i********: I accept the request to then immediately get another notification.

{ you have been added to a group chat created by Harley S <3 }