LOOKING DAMN SUS

Normally, I was better at making new friends, but today my Afternoon Entourage and Alpha Princess-ness was like an invisible chasm I couldn't seem to bridge. None of the new girls wanted to make eye contact with me. Patricia went as far as to take out her phone to pass the time.

It didn't help that Laura told us to continue with our girl talk. Girl Talk was really not my forte.

And to make things infinitely worse, neither Savy (which was expected) nor Lizzy (even though she was usually nice like that) seemed to want to be there.

Let me just give you an example:

ME (to Blaine because she was the one seated directly opposite me): What kind of music do you like?

BLAINE: Alt Rock, Classic Rock, and bit of Pop Rock.

It was a lot of rock. Despite that, I think I responded very properly.

ME: Oh, Savy likes Rock too. What bands do you listen to?

I mean, I was doing pretty good right? I patted myself on my back.

BLAINE: Do you know Imagine Dragons?

I had no idea. I automatically turned to ask my Beta, but Ben was still on strike and I highly doubted Sir Wolfgang would know my music preference. I shook my head and turned back to the conversation so Wolfgang didn't approach us again.

BLAINE (with a shrug): Then you'd probably not know the others.

I tried again.

ME: New Leaf Academy has a huge band culture. They were last year's Battle of the Bands Champion. Do you play any instruments?

Maybe she would like to join a band too?

BLAINE: No.

And then she put on her earphones, crossed her arms, and... I guess that was one way to end a conversation.

I was going to be gracious like my Mum, ignoring Blaine, I turned to the other girls, "What about the rest of you? What kind of music do you like?"

The other girls shrugged.

SADIE: I usually just listen to whatever is on the radio.

ME: Yeah, me too.

Although I was quite aware that whatever played on the radio was Harvey's playlist… our pack had been streaming music for a while now. I'm sure we had radio channels, I just hadn't really seen a radio around for a while now.

But Sadie was talking to me, so I decided to pick the topic we obviously had in common.

ME (in my friendliest way): So you can fight? How long have you been training for?

SADIE: Since I was young… it's been a while now, but I wanted to train again.

Yes! Okay. This was a conversation right?

ME: Cool. Do you have a preferred weapon or style?

SADIE (After considering it a little): I use daggers, but I can also use a double sword. I'm better at daggers though, because I'm short and also I don't have the strength needed for two long swords.

ME: Yeah, double swords. I heard it's very challenging to master.

SADIE: What about you, princess? What weapons do you favor?

Ohhh… She was asking me! We were making conversation!

ME (really pleased): I just started learning to use the short sword and bow. Before this, just bare fist and some stick fighting.

I really wanted Sadie to be impressed and be my friend!

SADIE: Princess is so talented!

Okay, I know I wanted Sadie to be impressed, but that was kind of weird coming from a modern teenage girl. Oh well.

ME: Not really. I mean, just because I'm learning it, doesn't mean I'm good at it. I still have a long way to go.

SADIE: Everyone knows about the Alpha Princess' amazing talent, so you can't deny it. I just hope I can do okay at the training session. Is it very strict?

I wasn't too comfortable about everyone knowing about my "amazing talent", but I knew how to answer about the training session, so I quickly jumped into it.

ME: You don't have to worry. The instructors are strict but fair, and they're really nice people if you meet them outside training session.

I suddenly couldn't wait for Sadie to come try out a session, meet Hank and the other wolves, and experience it for herself.

ME: It's very fun. My favorite part is the wolf run…

Lizzy crumpled her used napkin and put it into her sandwich bag, "Opps, Sam, we should go. Ben needs our help for something."

Eh? What in the world would Ben need our help for?

Savy stood up too.

"Sorry, got to go. Maybe we'll see you around in school and stuff." Lizzy told the other girls.

"Yeah." Savy smiled and gave a small wave, "See you."

Eh? But I was just about to make a friend!

Wolfgang had come over to clear my lunch bag and empty coke can. I was quite sure by now that all four girls - even Blaine, would tense up whenever Wolfgang came close. It didn't help that Wolfgang's expression was unsmiling. I guess it would be best to remove myself (and Wolfgang) from present company. Savy's expression was carefully neutral, but I knew she wasn't happy either.

"See you." I gave my new friend a smile. Maybe with time, the others would warm up too.

The moment I stood up, the girls all stood up and bowed too.

Savy didn't waste any time. I was dragged by my hand to where Ben was still tapping on his phone.

"What's up?" He asked without looking up.

Lizzy found a garbage bag lying on the ground next to Ben. She picked it up and opened it for Savy and Wolfgang to drop our trash into, "Just helping you throw out the trash."

"Why did we leave the table?" I asked. I might be slow but Ben definitely didn't need all three of us to help him throw our own trash.

"Ben, Sam wants to leave now." Savy said.

"No, I don't." I said.

Ben put down his phone, "'What the hell."

He looked to Savy, to me, and then to Lizzy, "'What? Don't use Sam on me. You know I hate it Liz."

"I'm not!" Lizzy exclaimed, "We're using YOU on Sam."

"Were those girls giving Sam trouble?" Ben narrowed his eyes now.

I shook my head quickly, "No, I even made a friend!"

Wolfgang didn't seem to agree, "They were very rude to our princess."

"They can't help it." I tried to defend my new friend(s), "They don't know any better. They've just joined our pack…"

"So what do you want me to do?" Ben asked, but he was asking Lizzy and Savy.

"Nothing. Why do you have to do anything?" It was my job to make them feel at home. I was the Alpha, I should be welcoming them - even if Blaine was a bit rude, but we're teenagers. And she looked a little like she was going through a rebellious phase.

Anyway, I didn't really mind. Besides, I made a new friend. Sadie was nice, and maybe the others would warm up over time too.

{Sam, we're not pups anymore. Don't get too friendly with every wolf you meet.} Savy decided Lizzy and her would just have to clue me in, {You don't go to New Leaf, so you don't know, but there are girls who will stick to you like glue because they want some kind of benefit from befriending the Alpha's and Beta's daughters, or in Lizzy's case, because they want to get close to Ben.}

{Been there, done that.} Lizzy sigh.

{Poor Lizzy suffered a lot.} Savy explained, {So just be polite, and don't let them get too close. Especially don't give them your phone number.}

{Or Ben's number.} Lizzy added.

{Or Harvey's either.} Savy cautioned, {Or Sir Wolfgang's...}

Now I was sure they were being paranoid. For one thing, Wolfgang was obviously out of our age bracket.

{OMG.} Lizzy realized, {You probably have the phone number of all the hottest guys in our pack.}

{Just say you lost your phone.} Savy decided.

Which would be the truth most of the time, like right now… I had no idea where it was. I thought it was with me… I looked at Ben. Here's hoping it was with him and not somewhere 20 years in the future.

"Don't look now, but they're looking over here." Ben looked back down at his phone and pretended to be working.

Wolfgang just happened to check his phone too. How sus.

{They're looking at YOU.} Lizzy accused her brother, {If I get asked to pass my nincompoop brother another love note, I will strangle someone.}

{Smile.} Savy reminded us.

So we did.

Ben raised a brow at us, "You know, the three of you look damn sus when you do that."