By Your Side. (Sequel to Art Girl and Wolf Boy)

By Your Side. (18)

Archer's POV:

The highlight of my day was supposed to be lunch. I mean, I'm a guy. I love to eat. the fact that Phoebe could eat at my table only made it a million times better.  

I say supposed to be because now, it wasn't. In fact, I don't think it could get any worse.

Two words: Fred Cole.

I didn't know that I was capable of hating someone so much. I mean, I'd just met the boy. He was the same age as me and Phoebe came to the table, skipping of all things with his hand laced in hers. That hand. I wanted to tear it off and shove it down his ugly throat. I was so angry I didn't realize that she was snapping her fingers in my face, practically in my lap. Max had kept a firm grip on my shoulder as I looked up at her. "Yes?"

"Are you alright? You look like your about to punch something."

She had no idea how close she was to the truth. I met her gaze and forced a smile on my face. "I'm fine....I'm...I'm perfectly fine. I just..."

And then I stood up, like a coward, and walked away. I barely made it across the soccer field and into the trees before I shifed, bursting out of my clothes. I skipped school for the rest of the day.

You're off to a great start, Archer, I told myself sarcastically. Skipping school on the first day. My mother would be so proud.

I didn't go home until dark, running around, and I easily walked through the house up to my room. The front door was open. My mom, I guess. She had a good intuition.

Phoebe was sitting on my bed, arms folded over her lap when I came in.

"Don't look," I muttered before she could turn. I picked up a pair of basketball shorts from the floor and folded my arms across my chest, walking over to her and sitting beside her. She leaned into me.

"What happened?" She asked softly. I just shook my head.

"Was it Fred? Do you know him? He's really nice, Archer. He was the only guy to talk to me--"

I started to tremor. "Please," I said through my teeth. "Can we talk about something different?"

"Why?" She looked at me, her eyes flashing. "Why can't I seem to talk about anything freely now?"

"Pho," I sighed. "How were your classes?"

She took a hint and dropped it, but leaned away from me, huffing. "The homework's hell."

"Where's your school bag?" I asked.

She pointed. I picked it up and set it on the bed, zipping it open and taking out her books. "Two things: one, you're going to let me carry your books from now on."

"I'm not a baby, Archer. I can take care of myself."

I waited. She huffed, tossing some of her blonde hair over her shoulder. "Fine."

In spite of my mood, I grinned.

"Don't think that you've won something, Archer Jack Connor."

"I won't." I winked.

We were halfway through her literature (she'd gotten my homework from Max, who'd gotten my homework for me) when she blurted, "Fred asked me out on a date."

I blinked, trying to remove the red haze that suddenly came over my vision. All of my muscles tensed and I snapped my head toward her, my eyes becoming dark.

"What did you say?" I growled ferociously.

She put her pen down with a sharp 'tap!' against her binder and looked at me angrily. "You know, Archer, if I didn't know better I'd say you were jealous," she snapped. "Why does it matter?"