Trying Not To Love You ~ JHTBY Book II

12. Training

At school the next day, I could barely focus on anything but the conversation in the woods that Gaige and I had overheard Monday. I know that the Moon Goddess had said that there was going to be a war, but she didn't say why..and that thought kept swimming around inside of my head.

"Aria!" My head jerked up and looked around. I came face to face with Ms. Manson with her hands on her hips, glaring down at me. "I have been calling your name for the past five minutes. Get your head out of the clouds, girl and pay attention," she shouted at me.

I bit back a growl but nodded tightly, "Yes, ma'am," I said curtly and she looked surprised, like she was expecting me to put some sort of fight or make a scene. On any other day, I would have, but let's be honest, I frankly just don't give a shit and I am just way too tired.

"Yes, well that's more like it," she said and then turned away from me and trotted away to her desk.

I rolled my eyes and opened up mine and Gaige's link. How much longer do I have to put up with this bullshit?

We just got here, babe..what's wrong?

Nothing really.. I am just tired and really want to go home, I said, and as I did, I could feel the fatigue from not sleeping right for days catch up with me and I could barely hold my eyes open.

Babydoll, are you sure you're ok? You don't sound like yourself, he said, and I knew that he could tell that something was up. I haven't really said anything about my obsessive worries to Gaige, because he seemed not to be letting it get to him, so, I just didn't want to put that on him.

Yeah..of course I am..just a little run down.

He hesitated for a minute and I could tell that he was calculating and picking apart every damned word I said..he was worse that a girl and a cheating boyfriend sometimes. Alright..give me five minutes, he said and cut the link.

As promised, a few minutes later, I got a call that I was being released early. I grabbed my things and walked out of the classroom, Gaige was waiting on me beside my locker. I smiled gently at him and he smiled back, as soon as I got close enough, he held out his arms and pulled me in for a hug. As I pulled back, he grabbed my cheeks and pressed his lips gently but firmly to mine, effectively taking my breath away.

When he pulled back, he left me panting with dark, lust filled eyes. "What was that for," I asked him as I ran a hand through my hair, attempting to bring order to the mess that Gaige had created.

He shrugged and grabbed my things away from me, "I felt like it..and you sort of looked like you needed it, love," he said as we started walking out of the school and toward the direction of his truck.

I laughed lightly, "Well, thanks...I think."

Gaige threw all of our things into the back and pulled out of the parking lot. As we rove down the road, it was somewhat quiet, besides the soft sound of Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroger's Let Me Go playing in the background.

As we pulled into the drive way, Gaige stopped the truck and turned to look at me, "So are you going to tell me what is really going on, or am I going to have to guess," he said jokingly, but I could sense the very serious undertone to his words.

I was silent as I had an inner battle with myself on whether or not I should just tell him how I felt. On the one hand, he is my mate and I love him, and I don't like the thought of keeping something from him, but on the other hand, again, he is my mate and I love him, but I don't want to put unnecessary stress on him. Oh well, screw it.

I sighed and looked back up at him to see him waiting patiently with an expecting look on his face, "I can't stop thinking about those guys talking in the woods a couple of days ago..I know that you wouldn't let anything happen to me intentionally, but what if someone in our pack gets hurt? What if someone in my dad's pack gets hurt? What about Noah, Ryan, Halle, Hadleigh, Blake, little Marleigh? Or my mom and Dad? Or God forbid you?! What the hell would I do, Gaige? What if one of you guys get hurt or...killed? It would be my fault!"