The White Wolf (2020)

Chapter Fourteen

SYDNEY

"So what were you doing hanging out with Mr. Lacrosse and his buddies?" Meg inquired while looping her arm through Sydney's. Her, Meg, Mat, and Emmery were walking through the crowded hallways aimlessly, similar to what Jay and her had comfortably been doing beforehand.

"I came in early for the newspaper and yearbook, and he happened to be here too, and we just ran into each other in the halls, and he remembers us from class yesterday, and wanted to know about the coverage of the lacrosse team." Sydney internally cringed at that word vomit and just hoped they would be fine with the reasoning of it.

She glanced over to Mat to see what his reaction to her fib was, but his hands were buried in his pockets and he was looking off to the side.

Meg's laughter brought Sydney back to their conversation, "If you say so, can't have little Syd spilling out secrets. Especially since the school wants to do an investigation into the whole fucking thing. Mean honestly, if that happened to any other group other than the sports people, no one would give a damn." Meg was scowling now.

"Is that what provoked the change in hair?" Sydney gestured to Meg's newly bleached hair.

This caused her to scoff, "No", she dragged out, "just wanted a change, and had to bleach it first before bringing in the new color."

Sydney and Emmery shared a smile. Despite what their friend said, they knew Meg didn't want to get caught in fear of her parents' rath, and if it would at all jeopardize her chance at moving to New York to go to college to study theater.

"What changes did you make to the newspaper?" Emmery perked up looking at Sydney.

With that Sydney eased into the truthful conversation of the edits she did last night, and tried to block out everything that had happened in between then and now. The three girls chatted, with Mat following behind until the warning bell finally sounded and they went their own ways.

Mat, Emmery, and Sydney all had journalism together and once in the classroom, Emmery dropped off her items in a set beside Mat, then quickly excused herself to run to the restroom before the final bell rung.

Mat had an earbud in one of his ears and with his arms crossed as watched out the window. Anxiety welled up in Sydney. They had never really gotten a chance to talk last night after he caught her from running away. Jay had ushered her upstairs, and guilt ate at Sydney realizing she never texted him despite what she threatened Jay with, and she wasn't sure what the real bad blood was between the two of them.

"Er Mat?" Sydney crocked out.

He glanced at her waiting for her to continue, but he didn't prompt her with anything.

"About last night..." She wasn't sure where to go with that. So much had happened, and while she felt guilty, she also was annoyed by this silence, especially since he had secrets too.

He pulled his earbud from his ear and his brown eyes pierced her, "What Sydney? What about last night?"

She felt defensive, "I don't understand why you're giving me the silent treatment, I'm sorry I left with Jay last night, but in my defense it was one hell of a night, learning your best friend is a werewolf, and being attacked by one!" She was trying to keep her voice low in the class, but all too soon the raw emotions were building back up.

All she could think about were the scars on her throat, and then blood coating the floor.

Mat frowned and pulled her chair closer to him, letting his arm rest around the back of her chair, "Syd," he sighed, "I'm not mad at you, I'm sorry about everything that happened last night. I'm not sure how the hell you're his mate, but he should be able to protect you better. I should've been able to protect you better."