The Alpha's Beta

Chapter 5

"Hunter! Come on out, boy! It's just me and my friend, Noah!" Hunter came running out of the trees, tongue hanging out. But as soon as he saw Noah, he stopped in his tracks. The dog circled around Noah, growling, and nudged me away from him. "Uh, Hunter? Chill out, please. It's just my friend. Hunter! Stop it!" 

"Well, that's definitely my dog. But what'd you do? Brainwash him?" Noah told me, staring straight at his dog. I thought I heard a small growl come from his direction, but I'm pretty sure it was Hunter. "Nick? It's fine. See? It's just me." Noah reached his hand out slowly to Hunter - or Nick, I guess.

Hunter - his name is Nick! - finally stopped and allowed his rightful master to pet him. "Good boy," Noah praised.

"So, his name is Nick?"

"Yeah, after Saint Nicholas. Stupid, I know. But you can blame my dad. He named him." 

"Do you know why Hun- Nick would've acted like that?"

"Well, he was missing for close to a month. Maybe he didn't recognize me." Noah sounded doubtful.

"You never know. He is just a dog." Nick growled at me when I said that. "Geez. You are. Don't yell at me for it."

Noah laughed. "And I thought that I was the only one who talked to animals like that. Like they're people."

"He seems to understand us like a person would, so he deserves the respect."

"True. Well, I'd better get this guy home. Just let me call my mom real quick." He walked off for a little privacy.

"Guess you're going home now, huh? I'll miss you and all your howling. Even though it was really annoying at first." I rubbed his back, and he leaned into me.

"She'll be here in ten minutes. She was right in town." Noah told me as he walked back.

"Okay, that's fine."

The ten minutes went by fast and it seemed that it was just a few seconds later when I was waving good-bye to Noah and Nick. Nick had his nose to the back window, this giant frown on his face. And yes, dogs can frown.

Later that night, I was tossing and turning in bed, trying to fall asleep. When I heard them. The howls. But it didn't sound like Nick's. It was some other animal. But what?

**

"So, is Nick liking being home?" First hour. It was a week after Noah had taken his dog home. School had gone as normal since then. 

"Yeah, he's doing pretty good. He's finally clean!" We laughed, but there was something hollow about the way Noah laughed.

"Hey, are you okay? You seem upset or something?" 

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." He avoided my eyes.

"Mhmm, suure. Seriously, what's wrong?"

"Nothing!" He snapped. Then he softened his tone. "Really, I'm fine."

I let it slide. "Okay." 

I caught Tia's eye across the room, and shot my eyes towards Noah. She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. She looked away as quickly as she looked towards me.

Hmm, what was up with those two? 

"Ms. Black, would you kindly answer number four?" Mr. Barnes asked.

I quickly looked over the question. "The word you should underline is 'dancing.'"

The teacher sighed. "Correct, again, Ms. Black."

"Show-off!" Noah hissed, teasingly.

"Deal with it." I whispered back.

*

I set my lunch tray on the table. Sat down. Started eating. Phase one of my plan to figure out what the secret was (also known as Plan B, just because): act like nothing happened.

"Raven was being a show-off again!" Noah tattled. 

Tia looked up from her food. "Uh, yeah. I know. I was there. But she wasn't being a show-off, by the way."

"Raven, you are a bad, bad human being. Humans that want to reach nirvana have to be selfless, and not boastful." Ethan, as always, was acting like a lunatic. That's just the way he is.

"Um, okay. Whatever. You guys are weird." I told them.

"We know. You've told us." Noah, Tia, and Ethan said, all at the same time. They looked at each other, stared for about two seconds, and burst into laughter. I joined them, because it was pretty funny.

It was times like these that made me a tad bit homesick. Moments that I used to have in Monroe. With my friends. Or with my family. 

I shook off the sudden sadness that had come over me. Pull it together, Rav. You have to be strong. For Mom.

"Hey, Raven? You okay?" Tia asked, waving her hand in front of my face. I grabbed her hand and pinned it to the table. "Hey! Really, though, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I'm fine now." 

"It seems all of the girls are concerned about everyone today. Empathy much? Just bring it down a notch, guys." Noah announced. 

"Yeah. Both Noah and I are fine."

Tia looked at me with an expression that said 'We're talking about this later.' I returned that look with one of my own, 'I will talk when you do.'

"Humph," Tia huffed. "Fine. I'll tell you later. But only if you'll tell me what's wrong." She crossed her arms. 

"I'll tell you later," I told her innocently. Then I got up and took off for the doors right as the bell rang.