The Alpha's Effect.

"Maureen, what in the world are you talking about?" Ciara shrieked. Maureen completely losing her carefully constructed 'stone-faced' persona, let out, "Halloween's cancelled? Are you kidding me? What kind of shenanigans are going down at Piperswood College?

They cancelled Halloween today! Who cancels an event less than a day before the event!? Ben and I had our costumes all planned – it was going to be epic! This is a total disaster!" Maureen was practically shaking Ciara by this point.

Ciara rolled her eyes, a picture of nonchalant calm. "Girl, you scared the bejeezus out of me! I thought I'd done something seriously wrong. I saw the news and just Instagrammed all my friends. Didn't want to spoil your meticulously crafted Halloween plans. Sorry, sweetie – there's always next year," she said, winking as she flipped pancakes. "You're not even bothered? I guess most single people just don't care as much about these things," Maureen added with a sly grin.

Ciara switched off the stove, tossed her apron over Maureen's head, and they were suddenly wrestling around the kitchen, a chaotic whirlwind of flour and laughter. The jarring buzz of Ciara's phone brought their playful mayhem to a screeching halt.

"Who's calling this time?" Ciara asked, heading back to the counter. "Ugh, it's my sister," she groaned. "She only ever calls when she's coming home or the Arthurs are planning some extravagant family shindig." "Just answer the darn phone, you spoiled brat," Maureen said, smiling and already munching on a pancake.

"Hello sis… what's the emergency this time?" Her sister's voice boomed through the speakerphone. "Show some respect, is that how you speak to your sister after months of not seeing nor hearing from me?" "Just get to the point," Ciara muttered, her patience wearing thin.

"Okay, okay… Mom and Dad's anniversary is this Saturday. You know how that goes. See you then, darling." The line went dead. "WHAT?! Wait… Charlotte…!" Ciara sputtered. "Can this week get any worse? Their anniversary?! Seriously?"

"Oops," Maureen said, grinning mischievously. "Looks like another family obligation has snagged you. Have fun, sweetie!" Maureen blew her a kiss. "Have 'fun'? More like a 'family-sized nightmare'," she grumbled. "You wouldn't understand, Maureen." "Oh, honey, you should know by now that wealth doesn't always bring sunshine and rainbows," Maureen said, attempting a comforting smile that fell a bit flat. "You'll be fine, though. You always are."

Ciara slumped onto the couch, a picture of quiet frustration. She rested her head on Maureen's shoulder, silently joining her in a pancake feast. The unspoken understanding hung heavy in the air; no words were needed. It was one of those moments, you know?

Outside, the sun blazed, painting the day in cheerful hues. Everything felt…right. Meanwhile, Alpha, leaving his mother's house with a newfound sense of peace, headed straight for the basketball court. For him, hoops were a kind of therapy, a way to unwind.

He hit the court, his presence immediately drawing attention. "Yo, Alpha! Long time no see, man! Where you been hiding?" Dave, a fellow player, called out. Alpha shrugged, a hint of weariness in his voice. "Classes have been brutal, man. Getting here hasn't been easy, believe me." Dave chuckled, "Still the bookworm, eh? Well, at least you're here. Let's ball!"

Alpha quickly changed into his jersey, joining the game. Then, Michael, Fred, and Sarah arrived. Michael and Fred joined the game, while Sarah, a whirlwind of energy, cheered on "The Titans," Alpha's team and her boyfriend Michael's. Her enthusiastic shouts of "Go Titans! Go Titans!" were easily heard over the court's din. Other girls chanted for the opposing team, "Go Wolves! Go Wolves!" Sarah, meanwhile, filmed everything, her excitement palpable.

The Titans won, and the guys collapsed onto the benches, exhausted but exhilarated. Sarah, ever the supportive girlfriend, handed Michael a towel and water. Then, she offered Fred a drink, and finally, Alpha, with a casual, "Here you go, Mr. Loverboy." She handed Alpha a drink also. Alpha rolled his eyes, but Fred, bless his heart, couldn't resist a jab. "Speaking of loverboy, Alpha…" Before Fred could continue his line of blabbing about Alpha's date with Ciara, Alpha clamped a towel over Fred's mouth, playfully wrestling him to the ground.

Michael laughed and tried to pull them apart. "Don't say a word, Fred," Alpha insisted, cleaning his face and settling back onto the bench. Fred, adjusting his hair, grumbled, "That's not exactly a diplomatic way to shut a friend up."

A beat of silence, then Sarah piped up, "Okay, spill. What's the deal with Alpha? What happened on that date with… Ciara, was it?" Alpha, clearly flustered, mumbled something about nothing happening. Sarah, arms crossed, wasn't buying it.

Michael, ever the peacemaker, intervened, "Guys, I'm starving! Lunch is on me—who's in?" A chorus of agreement followed, punctuated by Sarah's playful jab, "Yeah, babe. But Alpha, you're paying since you're so tight-lipped!" With a sigh of resignation and burying his face in his hands, Alpha conceded. The friends left the court, the mystery of Alpha's date remaining tantalizingly unsolved.

They entered a restaurant to grab something to eat. As soon as they walked in, Alpha's eyes met Ariel's, and they both recognized each other. Ariel had recently gotten a per time job at the restaurant. Considering her work ethics, Ariel couldn't shout out, despite having just seen her crush. They just exchanged waves.

The squad settled in a booth. Ariel quickly rushed over to take their orders. "Hi, welcome! What can I get for y'all?" Her eyes lingered on Alpha.

"Ermm, don't worry, let's go. I'll get our orders to the table myself," Michael said, standing up and heading to the counter with Ariel who kept on turning back having her gaze on Alpha, her eyes filled with admiration.

"Is it just me, or is that girl weird?" Sarah asked.

"Kind of. You know her, man? You guys waved earlier," Fred said.

Alpha hesitated before responding, "Well, yes... I mean, she's Ciara's friend, yeah."

Sarah leaned back in her chair, staring at Alpha. "Whoa, okay! I think I like what's going on, even if Alpha won't spill the rest of it." Alpha said nothing.

Their orders arrived: mac and cheese, sandwiches, sodas, spaghetti, and tacos. As they ate, they discussed random school things. When they finished eating and was ready to go, Ariel rushed over to them.

"Hi, Alpha! Please, could we talk for a while?" Alpha nodded, and his friends excused him.

Ariel quickly hugged Alpha tightly. "Alpha, I was so scared something might have happened to you! I was worried sick. Did you get my text?" She released him from the hug.

Alpha looked bewildered. "Thank... you, Ariel. I...I just needed some time off. I didn't actually go missing, but thanks for your concern, though."

Ariel's eyes conveyed her love for Alpha. "Alright, that's fine. Just take care of yourself, and please visit us more often. We might have the Halloween decorations taken down since it isn't happening this semester."

Alpha nodded. "Oh, yeah. Sure, I'd visit... probably soon."

Fred shouted from behind, "C'mon, Alpha!" Alpha was relieved to be rescued from the awkward conversation.

"Alright, man!" Alpha quickly turned to leave. "Gotta go, Ariel... ermm... bye, then."

Ariel smiled, shouting, "Bye, Alpha!" As she returned to work, she couldn't help but smile to herself.

The friends continued laughing and teasing each other as they walked away.

Ariel burst into the room, a whirlwind of energy. "Guess what, you guys! You'll never believe who I saw at Foodies Treat!" Her excitement was infectious, a palpable wave washing over the room. Ciara, meticulously folding clothes into a charming pink travel bag, barely glanced up. Maureen, meanwhile, was quietly washing dishes, seemingly oblivious to the unfolding drama.

"Spill it, Ari," Ciara said, her voice calm despite the obvious disruption.

"Alpha!" Ariel exclaimed, her voice practically vibrating. "And his friends! He looked amazing in that jersey—oh my gosh, I could have melted!"

Maureen stopped mid-rinse, a fork suspended in mid-air. "Did you say Alpha?" Ciara's relaxed demeanor subtly shifted; a flicker of unease crossed her face, quickly masked.

"Yep," Ariel confirmed, beaming. "My Alpha, my prince charming! I even gave him a hug—it was amazing." She dramatically clutched her chest, a wide grin splitting her face.

Maureen chuckled. "A hug? Honey, that's hardly earth-shattering. Imagine if it had been a kiss!"

Ariel's eyes widened. "A kiss? That's the next item on my agenda!" she declared, already heading for the kitchen. "Maybe when we're…"

Ciara's sudden, sharp interruption cut through the air. "No! No kiss! Absolutely not!"

A chorus of "Why?" erupted from the others. Ciara, clearly flustered, stammered a response. "Well…Alpha's never been in a relationship before. He probably hasn't even… you know…had his first kiss."

Ariel, ever optimistic, chirped, "Even better! Our first kiss would be extra special." Maureen nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

Ciara sighed, defeated. "Fine. Do what you want." Then, a shadow crossed her face. "But why do I get the feeling you don't actually want me to be happy with Alpha?"

Ciara's defensiveness was palpable. "Where's that coming from? Give me a break!" Ariel, however, felt her suspicion confirmed. "You know what? You've never exactly been thrilled about it. Maybe you're not as supportive as you pretend to be."

A moment of stunned silence hung in the air before Maureen broke the tension. "Seriously, guys? All this Alpha drama? What happened to our 'girl code'?"

Ariel, with a mischievous glint in her eye, quipped, "Do we still have a girl code? I think we've all broken a few." They all dissolved into laughter, the tension dissipating like morning mist.

"But we stick together, right?" Maureen added. Ciara apologized for her reaction, and Ariel readily reciprocated.

"I'm beat," Ariel groaned. "And Ciara, what's with the packing? Off on a romantic getaway?"

Ciara rolled her eyes. "Very funny. It's my parents' anniversary this Saturday. Washington D.C. here I come!"

"Oh! That's fantastic!" Ariel exclaimed. "Clingy parents, annoying sister, and weird guests! Is that what's fantastic?"

"I'm sorry sweetie, you'd be back in no time." Ariel said. Ciara nodded and dragged her box to the room.

Maureen then announced she'd be spending the weekend nursing a sick Ben. Ariel, suddenly realizing she was the only one staying put, slumped dramatically. "Everyone's abandoning me!"

Maureen, trying to lighten the mood, suggested, " Come on, Ariel you've gat other buddies or why don't you hang out with Alpha and his friends?"

Ariel's eyes lit up. A mischievous grin spread across her face. It seemed the pursuit of Alpha was far from over.

Ciara wrestled with her suitcase, a low groan escaping her lips. "Too much stuff! Seriously, two days? This packing thing is a total nightmare". Her phone buzzed – Alpha. "Hey," she said, trying for nonchalant, "What's up? Yeah, tonight works. Gotta head home tomorrow so tonight is better. See you then. Bye!" She took a deep breath. "Stay calm, Ciara, stay calm". She said to yourself.

Bathroom time. Towel in hand, she headed to the bathroom. It was about 7:30 pm, Maureen and Ariel were sprawled on the couch, practically drooling over some red-carpet dresses.

"OMG, this dress is stunning! And the shoes? To die for!" Ariel practically shrieked.

Maureen nodded enthusiastically. "Seriously, it's…" She trailed off, lost for words.

"Guys, I'm heading out," Ciara announced, ready to head out the door. Red hoodie, black jeans, trusty white bag – the whole shebang. Hair neatly tamed, a touch of makeup. Ready to roll.

Ariel's jaw dropped. "Girl, where you going looking this cute? You're practically glowing!"

Maureen chimed in, a touch of worry in her voice, "Ciara, you fly out at 8 am tomorrow! Shouldn't you be, you know, resting?"

"Relax, ladies," Ciara reassured them, "Just need some fresh air, some tunes, and a bit of me-time. Headset's coming with me."

Ariel and Maureen exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them. "Aww, okay," Ariel said softly. "Need backup? We're here if you need us."

"Sure you don't want company?" Maureen added, her voice laced with concern.

Ciara smiled, genuinely touched. "You guys are sweethearts, but I really just need a solo mission. Love you both! Muah!" Air kisses all around as she slipped out the door.

Once Ciara was gone, Maureen turned to Ariel, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Seriously, you two need to find your own perfect guy and have a great relationship! Enough of the 'solos' already."

Ariel chuckled. "Oh, honey, my prince charming is just around the corner. You'll see."

"Yeah, yeah," Maureen teased, "In your dreams."

They both laughed, returning to their phone-fueled fashion show.

Ciara arrived at the park, the designated meeting spot. The scene was idyllic – couples strolled hand-in-hand, fairy lights twinkled, creating a truly romantic atmosphere. She found a bench, took a long sip from her water bottle, and smiled, soaking it all in. It felt like a scene from a movie, a little too perfect, almost.

Then, Alpha appeared. "Hi Ciara," he greeted her, "How's it going?"

"Hey Alpha," she replied, her gaze still lingering on the picturesque scene. "Pretty good". "You're early!" Alpha added.

"Just wanted to get here and clear my head," she explained, pulling him down onto the bench beside her. "Remember when we were kids? Running around like maniacs, life was so much simpler then, wasn't it?" A wistful smile played on her lips. Alpha, trying to be more cautious this time, carefully navigated his words, trying to keep things light.

"Yeah, those were the days," he agreed. "Simpler, definitely. Innocent, even. Hey, I brought something." He produced a bag containing her favorite soda and a burger. "I figured you'd be hungry. Hope you like burgers – I took a bit of a gamble there."

Ciara's eyes lit up. "You know me too well! Thanks." They shared a laugh, both grabbing their food. The casual chatter flowed easily, but a palpable tension simmered beneath the surface.

Finally, Alpha blurted out, "Ciara, I'm really sorry about the other day… the kiss. It was a colossal blunder."

Ciara, ever the pragmatist, responded with a knowing smile. "It's okay, Alpha. But," she continued, turning serious, "I have a few questions for you. When did your feelings for me develop?"

The question caught Alpha off guard. He nearly choked on his burger. "Forever, Ciara," he stammered, avoiding eye contact. "But your family… things got complicated after you moved to DC. I felt… out of your league, I guess. I'm really sorry."

Ciara nodded, understanding dawning in her eyes. "I know my parents weren't exactly helpful. But, Alpha," she said, taking his hands, "you can always talk to me. My parents are the problem, not us. But… it can't work between us. It just can't."

Alpha's face fell. "Why, Ciara? Please, let's give it time."

"There's no time, Alpha," she explained gently. "I'm going home tomorrow; my parents' anniversary is Saturday. I need to be there."

"Oh, that's… nice," he managed, a touch awkwardly. "Give them my best."

"Will do," she said. Then, he blurted, "Ciara, do you love me? I mean, really love me?"

Ciara sighed, rolling her eyes. "Even if I did, Alpha, what difference would it make? My roommate has a major crush on you, and… this just isn't feasible. I'm sorry."

She stood to leave, but Alpha rose too, his hand gently catching hers. His expression was serious, almost grim. Ciara's heart pounded; she had no idea what was coming next.