False Confidence

Halloween

Azriel Huang

This Friday felt  a lot more promising than the last.

It had been exactly a week since that particular party at my house and the days went by with a steady and familiar rhythm. I hadn't seen much of Trent nor Ani and I preferred that way. Each day, to my surprise, I had found that I was fond of Wren as a friend. Well-frenemy, only to consider how I still got the urge to lash out every time he opened his big mouth. We took to hanging out pretty consistently to everyone's dismay, especially Griffin and Aniya, who required a detailed explanation.

Though my friends displayed shock, I had heard talk of Trent and Ani being livid upon figuring out that Wren and I had grown past our original hatred for one another. Apparently, they'd made a spectacle of it while I had eaten lunch in the private area of my car.

Wren didn't bring it up so neither did I. He was still friends with Ani and Trent, to no one's surprise, it wasn't like I wanted him to break them off just because I hated them. I wouldn't have the gall when our sort-of-friendship was still shaky and we didn't exactly go out of our way to do the normal friendly things you usually did with your friend. No, we still took all the jabs we could get at one another, using the newfound tolerance for each other as way to utilize more opportunities to throw around mild insults.

I dragged my towel across my face, feeling comfortable in the non-sweaty garments I had thrown on after freshening up. The locker room was pretty much empty apart from me and a couple other students since practice had just ended. It wasn't even basketball season yet but the coach insisted we practice even more so on the off-season.

The room reeked of sweat and some foul odor that could be nothing other then dirty socks that no one had taken home to wash. With the pungent air attacking my nostrils, I moved hastily, quickly gathering all of my items and started towards the large doors. A casual tap to my shoulder caused me to halt, my head turning towards the direction of its person. I wasn't shocked to find that Quinn had stopped me from leaving, always enjoying a bit of locker room gossip.

"So what's the deal with Wren?" He inquired curiously, leaning further in as if it might will me to answer faster.

"Hello to you too, Quinn." I replied dryly, choking back a scoff that so badly wanted to escape the cavern of my mouth. He only rolled his eyes in return, stepping back a little as I stood up straighter, taking pleasure in the few inches I had over him.

"Wolves at our school are fucking disgusted y'know." Quinn quickly continued like he was speaking with limited time. He tried to glower ferociously but it was akin to  a gnat trying to roar like a lion.

"Hm?" I questioned, intrigued by the bold statement. He seemed to cower, but only by a little.

"They think you're only being friendly because you're intimidated by him." Quinn scoffed, regaining his haughty air at my gritted teeth. I should've seen it coming, Wren having intervened in both of my recent fights. There was a right in their suspicion. No one wanted their future alpha weak.

"You lower ranks wouldn't know, but I have to make friends with him because our pack needs this alliance." I sniped back, flashing my canines at him. "You wouldn't understand what I have to endure for all our sakes." The lies took easily to my tongue, spilling off like rotten honey. It seemed to work though, he just blanched and scurried out through the other exit. I released a heavy sigh turning only to hear a creak and then the large doors wide open. Wren had both strong arms braced against the handles of the doors, his deadly expression holding no warmth as it barred down on me. It was all icy and wrong, even when we were at odds with one another I rarely received such a glare.

"D-Did you hear what I said?" I stammered, cursing myself for letting his demeanor have such an effect on me. Wren only grinned coldly as he clenched his jaw whilst a muscle feathered there. I gulped. His eyes keenly tracked the movement.