The Phoenix and the Alpha

(6) Thoughts

Hey guys! Hope you like this chapter!

Warning: it's really short!

(6) Thoughts:

ALORA'S POV

You can't blame me. It wasn't really my fault in the light of what had just happened. I had tried so hard to keep myself calm, but when Brett kept making claims and talking as if he owned me, I snapped. Not only that, but he had the fucking nerve to act as if I were below him - like I was and always would be his. No one was joking when they said he was a conceited jerk of an alpha who thought he could get whatever he wanted.

Well he wasn't getting me, I scoffed to myself out loud.

I was standing right outside the school door, waiting for Jo who I had called as soon as I left the isolation room. I needed someone to talk to. I needed Jo.

But more than that, I needed a shoulder to cry on.

And that made me feel very vulnerable.

~**~

JOSIAH'S POV

"No Mr. Danvers. 'Your mom' is not the answer," the teacher curtly replied to something I hadn't heard.

With my mind running through everything that happened that morning, I didn't really worry about listening to the lesson. I mean, it wasn't like I didn't have all of eternity to learn this crap. I didn't have this class with Alora, which was damn annoying and starting to bother me more and more with each passing minute. She had seemed so out of it this morning, and I wanted nothing more than to be able to talk to her and maybe pull some pranks to get her mind off of things.

Remembering the smell of ash as Alora's shirt lit up into flame, a shrill voice brought me out of my thoughts.

"Come, take my hand. I won't let you go...I'll be your friend...I will love you so deeply. I will be the one, to kiss you at night. I will love you till the end of time..."

Damn Alora...she changed my ring tone again...

To Beyonce's End of Time of all things...

"Mr. McFarland, I hope I'm not interrupting anything..." Mrs. Calman sourly stated as I took out my cell phone. She had always hated me since last year when Alora and I released an entire bee hive loose in her room.

"No ma'am, not at all." I put on the most obviously fake-sweet smile I could muster.

I had everyone's attention as I checked the caller ID to see if it was really worth it to answer. Not that I was worried about getting in trouble - far from. I just didn't feel like talking at the moment with my mind fixated on Alora. But having heard the ring tone, I practically already knew who it was.

My suspicions were confirmed when I looked down at the glossy screen-protector over my iPhone screen and let out a sigh of relief. I quickly answered and pressed the phone up to my ear.

"What's up?" I asked quickly, not noticing everyone gawking at my nerve to answer a phone in the middle of class.

Alora's voice broke slightly over the phone, and I frowned. She never sounded like this. Sure, there had been times when Alora was a bit emotional...usually around her *ehem* time-of-the-month...but that wasn't for another week or so...

I know what you're thinking. Why was I going creeper stalkerish on Alora? Well let's just say that when you're a guy and your best friend is of the female race, you need to be fully prepared when the time comes. Let's just say it gets a little confusing for us guys when we can be hanging out with a chick perfectly happy one minute, and they're screaming their head off at you the next.

"I need s-someone to t-talk to," she choked out.

"Usual place?" I asked, trying not to sound too worried.

"Yeah."

And then the line clicked dead.

"Going somewhere Mr. McFarland?" Mrs. Calman interrupted my thoughts. Geez. We needed to find this woman a boyfriend. Maybe she'd be nicer if she actually got laid once in a while...

That brought my mind back to what might have made Alora so upset. I swear if anyone hurt her...

"Actually yes." And with that, I stood from my desk and walked out the door without another glance around the room.

Shifting the weight of my book bag on my shoulder, I walked towards the back exit of the school. I didn't notice the empty hallways or the eerie quietness that took over between classes because I was usually with Alora. Now I noticed it all.

Pushing the heavy metal bar of the exit door open, I saw Alora sitting on the steps waiting for me. It was like the many other times we had decided to skip class and meet up together at the front of the school. But this time was different. This time Alora was hurting, and I didn't know why or how to fix it.

"Hey A," I greeted her as I wrapped my arms around her shaking figure. That was warning sign #1. Alora doesn't shake unless she's mad, and at that point you'd want to high tail your ass outta there.

Now she was racking with slight sobs. I frowned at her dis-rumpled state and took a deep breath, taking in the scent of her strawberry scented shampoo along with it. She hummed as if trying to say something, but not finding the words.

"What's wrong?" I asked, concern lacing my crumbling facade of a non-caring bad-boy like it had been all morning.

"Uh..." she hesitated.

I pulled her back at arm's length reluctantly, not wanting to let her go just yet. Her brown eyes locked onto anything but me.

"Alora..."

Deep brown eyes met mine, and she shook like she might collapse, but I had a firm hold on her. I felt hurt that she was trying to keep something from me. Why was she so nervous? We knew everything about each other.

"I-I...well I..." she trailed off, involuntarily showing me her fear of the answer which I was seeking.

"It's okay, Alora, you can tell me anything," I tried to comfort her. I had never seen this fragile, breakable half that was buried deep under Alora's badass attitude.

"I found my mate."

~**~

I know it's short, but it's needed at the same time. No?