ROBIN, CHARBEAR, AND ME

ROBIN, CHARBEAR, AND ME

All that work to centralize the government only to decentralize it again... Repeatedly throughout history, sometimes under the same King's rule. It all seemed rather inefficient.

"Why do they keep changing their system?"

"Good question." Sir looked very pleased, I guess his student asked the right question, "If you were the king, why would YOU decentralize and then centralize it again?"

If I were the king? Like when I was the Alpha? "I would merge everything and consolidate my power so I can keep my wolves safe and protect their happiness, BUT I guess I'll also redistribute the controls across my territory for efficiency to achieve the same goals."

At least that was why I was merging the Green Packlands, and why I wanted each Pack Town to have its own autonomy. "Also, I think it's better to preserve the distinct culture and identity of each wolf group."

Like letting the Lorents continue in their snobbish ways, and the Morning Light continue to be barbarians, "Instead of pitting our differences, it would be better to celebrate them as part of our rich and vibrant collective heritage."

"It'll also be better for local tourism." I added simply because I remembered our plans for Moon Bell. There would be no Moon Bell in this timeline.

I stopped talking when I realized Sir was frowning at me. Was I wrong?

"Hm... Tourism... That is an interesting idea." Sir rubbed his chin.

"She got it right, didn't she?" Robin asked and then she laughed, "Haha, you didn't expect her to know the answer did you?"

"Well, it's not wrong." Sir allowed.

So it wasn't the right answer either? Well, I was thinking of the Green Packlands, not the Colored Mountains.

"So is the answer right or wrong?" Robin asked, "Tell me properly so I don't write the wrong answers in my notes!"

Robin was really taking notes in class. Despite her carefree laughter and outspoken nature, she was very studious.

Sir laughed, "Who knows the hearts and minds of kings?"

Don't just quote random lycan prose when you don't know the answer!

"Tell me, what does your textbook say?" Sir asked.

Some girls started flipping through their textbooks, but Robin had already read today's chapter, "It's not in the textbook, Sir."

"Then it won't be in your exam either." Sir waved it off. He raised a brow to consider me, "You are the new girl..."

Yes. I was also in your form class for more than a month, Sir! But that aside, was my answer right or wrong? Did Sir really not know? I thought about it, how should I ask this? "Then what would have been YOUR answer, Sir?"

"Good job, La." Robin highly approved. She picked up her pen and got ready to write it down Sir's model answer.

"My answer?" Sir considered it, "I'll probably copy yours."

"Sir!!!" Robin chastised.

"Either that, or I'll copy something from W.A. Chimay's white paper on the Reorganization of Governance based on the Study of Lycan Historical Records." Sir said. Was that a hint? The right answer was there?

"W.A. Chimay Reorganization of Governance..." Robin copied.

Sir waited for Robin to write it down and then changed his mind, "On second thoughts, I'll choose this girl's answer. It's much shorter to copy. High school girls are so smart!"

"Sir!!!" Robin was exasperated. The other girls laughed.

"Lady Amber's protégée." Sir murmured to himself, "How scary."

The bell rang just at this moment, but I heard him.

"Lunch time!" Sir declared, "Every man for himself!"

And he was gone.

"Humph. He ran away." Robin put away her pen.

I gathered my books to go too.

"Let's have lunch together?" Robin asked.

"Yay!" I nodded happily "Let's go!"

I could've been the alpha, but I was not. And although I was a bit regretful that there would be no Moon Bell, this life was pretty fun too.

"Haha, it was so satisfying to see Sir's face in shock." Robin told me, "But how did you know the answer?"

"I just... I just knew." I said weakly.

"Oh, Charlene's over there! Let's go say hi." Robin pressed into the crowded hallway. It got more crowded as we approached the cafeteria.

"Charlene! Char!" Robin called.

Charlene was also in our Form Class. On our first day at school, the three of us sat together during the assembly, and then we had lunch together because we didn't know anyone else in our class. Robin and Charlene weren't Lorent girls. They had enrolled at Middle School and did so well in their promotional exams that they were moved up to the top class.

But what really surprised me was that Charlene was Charbear! Aka Henry's girlfriend who he said wasn't his girlfriend.

Apparently, he must have forgotten to communicate that bit to her because from day one, Charbear had told us that she was dating the young alpha from her pack.

Henry, my friend, you're a player.

"Hi Robin! Hi La!" Charlene smiled brightly at us, "Wanna have lunch together?"

I think I was very lucky to meet Robin and Charlene here. Lala was kind of quiet in school, but between Robin's outspokenness and Charlene's modest level of popularity, she was automatically slotted somewhere a little above average in the popularity scale.

If she wanted to climb any higher, she's have to join the theatre club or Princess Club, or the student council. I guess Lala was working at it in her own way, but seriously it was troublesome.

We got into the line and heard the girls in front of us gossip about another group of girls going to the boy's cafeteria to buy lunch.

This wasn't against the school rules, but as a rule of a thumb, any girl who tries "put themselves out there" by approaching a boy, or going into the boy's buildings, or dressing or behaving provocatively in front of our brother school were "desperate" and "pathetic".

It was okay if you were approached by a boy though. And should a boy come over to the girl's building to look for you, it would cause a stir on both sides. Case in point, until today, because Charles came over to my classroom to check on me on Day 1, some girls still believed that we were dating, there were also rumors that the new girl was so pretty that even Charles came to check her out in person, and on the rare occasion we accidentally pass each other, his friends would still tease him and smack him hard on between his shoulders.

Naturally, the both of us would advert our gazes and pretend not to know each other. It was less embarrassing that way.

Anyway, there was one lesson Lala learned since coming here, it was best not to stand out too much, or offend anybody.

This was all new for me though. I used to be the Alpha, so naturally I would stand out. And you remembered my blue hair right?

I was also more used to people trying not to offend ME. I was the Alpha after all. Why should I care what weak wolves think?

I followed Robin and Charbear down the cafeteria line and went with whatever Robin picked because Charbear was on a diet and only ate soup and salad - which was 80%water and leaves, right?

Today, we got baked chicken in mushroom sauce, broccoli, and mash. I thought it was pretty nice. It made Winderhill's fare look like a grease pit delights.

There was even a choice of dessert. Fruit cup or jelly cup. (Of course I picked jelly.)

"Urugh, I hate cafeteria food!" Charbear made a face when we sat down with our meals.

That's because you only bought leaves. The salad option wasn't even that much cheaper than the main course. It was like really expensive rabbit food.

"I know right?" Robin looked pained, "It's not even food."

Actually, it was, but I was too busy eating to argue.