Being Casey

Chapter 5: The Pack

"Bailey," I said, my voice calm. "Just calm down, let your senses control you, let your mind go blank. You might not get it for a while." I said. She nodded and tried again. She jumped and landed on two feet.

"I can't do it!"

"Yes, you can." I said, sitting down. I patted my seat next to me. "You won't get it the first day."

She sat down next to me and put her head in her hands. "It's so hard. I don't understand....can we stop for the day? Please?"

I nodded. I looked around the woods and didn't see Ethan. That meant I was giving Bailey a ride back. "I'm going to phase and give you a arise back. But I want to you try to phase one more time, okay?" She nodded and walked over to me. She jumped, and failed again.

"I can't do it!!!" She screamed.

"Look, it's fine, we'll try again later." I said to her, and walked over to the middle of the clearing. I jumped and landed on four paws. I turned my head up and howled. I heard rustling in the woods and turned my head. It was Ethan. I howled, and Bailey climbed into my back. I darted out into the woods, and ran. I looked around, my senses in high gear. I skidded to a stop we we got close enough to the edge of the woods. Bailey climbed off my back and put our backpacks down. I jumped up and landed on two feet. I looked at Bailey, who was looking down. "What's wrong?"

"It's scary. That we can do...this." She said. I nodded.

"I know, it's scary at first. But I'm still getting used to it. So your not alone, I think Ethan's the only one who's used to it." I said.

She smiled at this. "I thought I was alone! Look, I need to go home, so I'll see you later okay?"

I nodded. I turned around and Ethan was standing there. I smiled. "Sup kid?"

He shook his head. "Kid? Please, your the kid."

"Psht! Not at all! But I'm kinda more mature than you. Ass wap Wednesday? Are you kidding me?"

He threw his head back and laughed. "Just be glad I didn't slap your ass."

"I'd rather have my ass slapped by someone who isn't a complete douche!" I yelled. He put his hand over his chest, like it hurt.

"Ouch. I'm notta douche."

"Yeah, sure." I said walking towards the exit of the woods. He followed me and walked next to me. "Since when do you hang out with Jack?" I asked, swinging my arms.

"He plays basketball, I play basketball."

"So..you play the douche bag sport?" I asked. He pinched my side. "Ow."

"I do not play the 'douche bag sport'."

"The only time I've ever liked basketball was in the 6th grade. The basketball team was like, somewhat shirtless and they all had abbs. It was a good day." I said smiling.

"You little..you watched basketball game to see guys shirtless?"

"Well? Am I supposed to care about the game?"

"Yeah, that's the point!"

"Not in my mind." I said, we had walked far without even noticing. We were already at the edge of the woods. But we kept walking.

"Make me a deal. I'll go to your volleyball games if you come to my basketball game, but you seriously have to pay attention."

I held out my hand and he shook it. "Deal."

***

"Hey Zach," Ethan said. "We need to talk."

"About what?" Zach asked.

"Come with us now, we explain later." I said. He nodded and I turned around. I grabbed Ethan's wrist and pulled him out of the house. "I'll get your brother, you go show my bro. Okay?"

He nodded and let go of my wrist. I ran off to the woods and jumped as I was running. I landed and ran. I ran until the edge of the woods. With my wolf vision, I looked ahead, and I could see better. I saw Ethan's house, Jackson outside, playing catch with his house. He threw it up and caught it as it rolled off the house. I jumped up and landed in human form. I jogged towards the house and Jackson stopped.

"Where's Ethan? You two are always together."

"He's at my house. I'm here to get you. Can we get a ride to my house?" I asked.

He nodded. He jogged off towards the house. Emerging a few minutes later, he carried a key. He walked over to a shed, and started up a machine. A gator emerged with Jackson driving. I walked up to him, and shoved him to the other side. "You are like eleven, I'm fifteen, your not driving." I said, stepping on the gas and driving down the rode. I pulled into to my driveway, and cut the engine. I stepped off of the gator and stopped.

"Where's Ethan?" Jackson asked.

"Come with me." I said. I walked out to the woods, to a little clearing I found Ethan and Zach there, waiting for us. I raised and eyebrow at Ethan, asking him if he'd told Zach. He shook his head.

"Both of you," Ethan said. "Shut up and do what we say. Got it?" Jackson nodded and Zach shook his head.

"No, why would I listen to a kid younger than me?" Zach back talked.

"Zach, you did not want to do that," I said. I looked at Ethan. He jumped and landed, growling at Zach. Zach fell off his feet, landing with a 'thud'.

"WHAT THE HELL!" He yelled. I grinned, then jumped, landed and growled, just like Ethan. This time, Jackson fell. He managed to stay on his feet after Ethan phased, but when I did, he fell. I jumped forward, landing softly. Ethan did too.

"Once opon a pack of werewolves." Ethan and I said smiling.

***

"One more time." I said to Zach. He jumped and fell on his face. "Haha!" I laughed. "Smooth."

"Oh shut up! This is hard! Just go hang out with your stupid boyfriend. I got this."

"We're the alphas, we have to hang out. He's not my boyfriend, you idiot. By the way, you obviously don't have this." I said, turning my back on him and walking away.

****

"Kelsey!" I yelled down the halls. "Kelsey!"

"Casey! Where have you been?! I thought you were like DEAD!"

"Not I'm not dead. What are you doing after school?"

"Nothing, I'll come over."

"That's not exactly what I had in mind...there's a basketball game, Ethan wants me to go. He's on the team."

"Albino? Are you...going out with Ethan?" She asked.

"No! We're just friends."

"He's a friend you like."

"Nope."

"He asked you to go to his basketball game. You spent all day with him yesterday. You like him."

"No I do-" I said, but I was cut off.

"Hey Casey." Ethan said.

"Hey kid."

"We discussed this yesterday, your the kid." He said, smiling. "Are you coming to my basketball game?"

I looked at Kelsey. "Yeah, but you owe me a volleyball game."

He laughed. "Alright, see you later." He turned around and walked away.

"Albino, BS you don't like him."

"I don't! Just believe me on that one. Ethan's just a friend."