The Reluctant Cougar (Rise of the Alpha King's Heir)

Robbie and Marta (Part 1)

End of 8th Grade

It was a day like any other, just some random day towards the end of the school year. Robbie was trailing behind his friends on the way to their next class, per usual just trying to stay out of Ben and Dustin's way as they shoved each other and acted like idiots. He glanced over to see Edward giving them a condescending glare. It made Robbie smile. No matter how old they got, some things never changed.

"Look!" Dustin breathed, blocking one of Ben's fists. "Seventh grade girls."

"It's the same girls that've always been one grade below us," Edward said, seemingly bored. "I don't know why you're so excited." 

"Yeah, but they're a little more more now, you know?" Dustin said, holding his hands vaguely in front of his chest.

Robbie found himself snorting. If Dustin had done that around a group of Giftling girls--

"They still look like little kids to me," Ben said dismissively.

Dustin punched his shoulder,  teasing, "I guess school girls would seem underdeveloped compared to a college girl like Eileeeeen."

Ben's goofy grin made them all laugh.

"Bro, that's just sad," Dustin said with mock sadness.

Ben shrugged, "What can I say? I'm hooked."

"On a girl that's never even kissed you. On a girl you're not allowed to touch."

"Like you can touch any of the Weildon girls anyway?" Ben shot back.

"If we start courting, maybe," Dustin said, eyes sparking with excitement.

Ben shook his head, "Courting's not worth it unless you know she's the one..."

"My older brothers beg to differ--"

Robbie's attention was pulled from Ben and Dustin as Edward tugged on his shirtsleeve.

"What?"

"That kid that used to watch you--the one we weren't sure was a boy or a girl...I think that's...her."

Robbie's gaze followed Edward's eye line to see a beautiful girl with olive skin, silky black hair, and enormous bright blue eyes.

"No," Robbie shook his head, his eyes drinking her in. "No way. She can't be that... kid."

But he remembered those eyes, those intense eyes that had followed him everywhere.

Their gazes met, held, and the breath whooshed from his body as the earth--or more likely his legs--trembled.

Her eyes widened in surprise before a blush swept over her face. She quickly turned away, jogging to catch up with her class.

Suddenly Robbie was no longer looking forward to summer. No, suddenly he was looking forward to next school year.

***

"Eighth grade girls at three o'clock," Dustin whispered to them on the first day of ninth grade.

Robbie quickly searched the group, heart pounding as he looked for one special pair of bright blue eyes.

There.

She'd grown over the summer, he realized. She'd gained an inch or two in height, her silky black hair tumbled down her back, and--well, in Dustin's words, she was a little more...more.

As if she felt him watching her she stopped and turned, eyes flickering over the milling students until they landed on him.

Joy lit her face, and Robbie's heart pounded.