Virals Pack: Reborn

Chapter 19: Accepted (Part 1)

A/N: So, so sorry for the big delay! This week is finals week so things are crazy and I've had so much work to do and little time or creativity left over to write. Once school is done, I should hopefully have more time to write, I'm hopefully going to get a job but I should have more time to be able to write. Please send some feedback and ideas though, it'd be really helpful! Enjoy! 

*Katrina pov*

Hi waited with me patiently for the majority of the hour. When there was about 5 minutes left of class, he gently convinced me to get up and go back to class so we could at least get our bags. "Do you want to join us on the Sewee after the bell rings?" He inquired.

"The...Seweed?" I questioned while walking as slowly as I could down the hallway.

"No, no, the Sewee" he chuckled "It's the name of Ben's boat, he's our main transport by way of the sea."

"Oh, sure, I guess I'll join. If it isn't a problem." I was still hesitant at my security within the pack

Sensing this, Hi replied with "Don't worry, four-fifths of the pack already likes you to some degree, so you will be okay. Besides, Morris Island kids gotta stick together, right?"

Right

*Time skip*

The overall atmosphere on the boat was tense. It wasn't unpleasant, or hostile, but I simply was not yet fully accepted into the pack. Shelton was a great deal friendlier after our gaming adventures together and was significantly more chattier now that he seemed more comfortable. Hi already was chill in my presence, no need to worry about any backlashes from him. Tory however, seemed to be keeping a careful eye on me from the front of the ship, near the glowering Ben. As for Ben, well, he still doesn't seem to like me. 

"So" Hi begins, trying to pull everyone into a conversation. "What heaps of homework do you all have to get done?" 

Shelton sighs "I have pre-calculus book work to get done, and a physics report to wrap up. Thank goodness Mr. S doesn't demand anything else other than notes for AP US History every week."

Tory groans "Great, now I've got two APUSH chapters to catch up on now."

"That's what you get for being smarties" Ben chuckles from the helm. "I've just got geometry and bio to do."

"Underachiever" Hi teases Ben from a safe distance.

"Yeah" Shelton pipes up "You could be in chem by now if you had just taken bio freshman year."

Hi casually glances at me, probably to see if the mention of chemistry evokes a visible reaction. I restrain myself from making any noticeable reaction to the reminder of before and simply say "Well that depends on if you like math equations."

"True, true" Shelton nods, accepting my input thoughtfully. "Chemistry is a lot of math."

"How would you know?" Hi elbows Shelton "You skipped from bio to physics, smarty-pants."

"Only because I completed algebra two a year early!" Shelton protests "I'm taking chem next year."

"Well I assure you it will be tons of fun." I jump back into the conversation.

"Oh really? What fun have you had so far?" Shelton questions. 

I tense up for a moment this time, remembering the incident today. Hi reaches over and casually places his hand on top of mine, answering for me "Lots of lab work, math, and other stuff." 

Shelton glances at our hands and then looks up at me with a question in his eyes. I avoid his gaze and turn towards Hi "We still need to finish that lab, though."

Hi nods "Okay, okay, we can do it tomorrow after school."

"After school?" I question.

"Yeah, Mr. R only gives so many lab days, and they are never enough. The sooner we can finish the lab up, the better."

"Okay then" I nod

We sit for a while in awkward silence. After a stretch of time that seemed longer than it probably was, we reach Morris Island. Ben moors the Sewee and Hi jumps of the boat shouting "All right, study time! Who wants to join me at my house?" 

Tory snorts in amusement "Your room is a mess, let's go to my house. Besides, we should probably introduce Katrina formally to Whitney." 

The boys collectively groan. "She doesn't like me" Ben sulks. 

"Too bad, cause she's going to throw a fit if I don't introduce the new member of our Morris Crew." Tory stands firm as Ben shoots her a resentful glance. I shift uncomfortably, wondering if I will ever be accepted into the Morris Island Pack completely.