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“Yeah, a few days ago,” Jess answered her, the word short and impatient.
“Do you have brothers and sisters?” I was surprised by the question, but I shouldn’t have been. It should have been something I’d thought to ask, but I was glad Anna had thought to since I hadn’t.
“A younger brother,” she replied cautiously, her expression growing suspicious.
“How old is he?”
“What difference does it make? Are you looking for a boyfriend?” Jess retorted and I snorted in amusement, impressed despite myself by her spunk. “And the fifth degree? It’s one thing if you want to be friends, and another if you’re just looking for the inside scoop on the new girl.” There was a wounded look in Jess’s eyes that had my wolf bristling protectively even though I’d been the one to have Anna pump her for information.
“I wasn’t,” Anna’s voice faded under Jess’s glare, and I could sense her desire to run away from Jess’ anger.
“Weren’t you?” Jess snapped, stomping away, and I sensed Anna’s shame.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, so quietly I barely heard her. “I messed up.”
“You didn’t,” I replied, opening my eyes as she came to a stop in front of me. “You did exactly what I asked. Jess is reluctant to trust us.”
“I pushed her away,” Anna cried, tears pooling in her eyes. “I don’t know how to be friends with an outsider.”
“None of us do,” I admitted wryly and she glanced up at me in surprise. I shrugged. “We’ve been so inclusive that most of us don’t know how to deal with others outside our group. Maybe Jess is our chance to change that.”
“You’re not upset?” Anna verified and I shook my head.
“No. We’ll keep trying,” I promised, patting her shoulder gently. “Jess is going to like us.” My lips curled up but the smile didn’t reach my eyes as I added under my breath, “One way or another.”
***
“She got called to the office,” Anna reported and I blew the whistle, halting the ongoing basketball game.
“Get dressed,” I shouted, ignoring their baffled expressions. We still had twenty minutes of class and I never let them go early, but curiosity had me hurrying them along.
One of the female students came over, twirling her hair around her finger, no doubt about to ask me a dumb question, so I crossed my arms over my chest and gave her my most intimidating expression. She faltered at my harsh stare, her hand dropping as she took a step back. I raised a single eyebrow and she trembled.
Caleb jogged over, giving her one of his disarming grins, which raised her confidence as she stepped forward again. My jaw locked as I glanced impatiently at the door and Caleb clapped his hand on my shoulder.
“Gonna go lurk in the hallway?” He questioned under his breath as I glowered at the persistent girl.
“It’s not lurking if you have a reason for being there,” I bit out and gestured to the waffling girl. “What do you want,” I glanced at her shirt where I insisted every student print their last name, “Sharp?”
“I was just wondering – I mean me and some other girls, uh, students were wondering if you were going to,” I leaned my head forward, wondering myself if she was ever going to ask an actual question. “AreYouGoingToTheDance?” She finished in a jumbled rush and I wasn’t sure I’d heard her correctly until Caleb choked back a laugh.
“Am I going to the dance?” I repeated slower and she nodded, her cheeks growing redder by the second. “No, I’m not chaperoning the dance,” I enunciated as Caleb bit his lip, trying to hold back his laughter. “Now, I suggest you go get dressed or you’ll miss lunch.” She nodded, looking miserable as she ran toward the locker room.
“That was mean,” Caleb said immediately and I shoved him in the direction of the boys’ locker room.
“No, mean would be leading that girl on,” I retorted, motioning for him to go. “She’s not our kind, and besides that’s illegal in all states.”
“Ahhhh, yeah, you should probably take your own advice,” Caleb’s gaze strayed to the door I was edging toward as he threw in one last comment, “Lurker.”
A growl rumbled from me, but I didn’t reply as I tried to make it to the main building in time to catch her.
The bell rang before I could make it to the office and I was caught in the tide of students. I stood in the hall as students parted around me going to the cafeteria. My gaze scanned the flow of students, searching for her, since it was too difficult to pick out her scent in the crowded sea of bodies.
I frowned as the rush of students diminished and she wasn’t there. I walked back toward the office, positive I hadn’t missed her.
“Do you see her?” I sent over the Pack link, quickly receiving several negatives. An unfamiliar tightness seized my chest as I quickened my steps.
