A GOOD START TO THE END

4 MARCH, FRIDAY, AFTER BREAKFAST

Savy didn't show up for breakfast till the lambo spluttered to life next door. She ran down to the dining room at the last minute and grabbed her lunch.

"Sorry, fam! Running late. Will grab a bite in school." And she was out of the house.

Eh?

Mum narrowed her eyes as we watched her run across the driveway. And then she sighed, "What should I do about her?"

I looked to Mum and then to Savy's figure now on the beta porch across the street with Lizzy, and then back at Mum again.

What could I say (that would not implicate Savy in any way)? It was particularly tricky because I didn't know what Mum knew. Did she know we were out all night? Could she have suspected us? Did anyone report sighting us at the party?

My eyes lit up at the sight of my car and the motorbikes pulling up on our driveway. Lucky!

"My ride's here!" I jumped up too. I think the faster I got away from here the better.

Which made me realize belatedly that Savy probably calculated her late appearance. She was so sneaky!

But Ki had helped me into my coat, handed me all my stuff, and let me out, "Have a good day, goddess."

"Thanks, Ki," I beamed at him, "Thank you!"

And then I called back because it was true, "You really are a lifesaver!"

Because Mum was right, I had no idea how I could've gotten through my first term in High School without him.

And Ki smiled, his killion dollar smile, and bowed at my parting, "As you are mine, goddess."

I turned around in surprise, but the sliding door was already shut and Ki's back was turned.

"Good morning, Alpha."

I turned at my good beta's greeting. Today he sounded a little more gravelly than usual. Now here was the sight of someone who seriously didn't sleep last night.

I mean, it wasn't very obvious. It was my good beta after all. He was even in a freshly pressed suit and smelled clean and minty. BUT the dark rings under his eyes! And he forgot to smile. Hahahaha.

"Hi, Harvey." I answered as he led me to the car. He opened the door for me to get in, "Are you okay to drive?"

Harvey nodded, his usual wry smile reappearing, "No worries, Alpha."

Okay... But I decided to take his word for it.

Once the car got going, and our bike escorts had shifted into their usual drive positions, Harvey began the usual morning updates.

It's the last day of school. There was a class farewell party during homeroom, followed by the Talent Time contest after lunch period.

"Good luck, Alpha." Harvey said.

"Thanks." I grinned. This was going to be the best Last Hurrah ever.

The FAO Cadence has been successfully rescheduled and would take place this afternoon after school.

Wait, it was today? Urm, I mean, why did we have to reschedule it? Wasn't it supposed to be at night (so I would have more time to read up?)

But Harvey had moved down my daily agenda. My parents had given permission for me to go to Abigail's birthday party with my friends tonight.

Ah right, my betas had rescheduled the monthly Cadence with ALL the alphas and elders of three packs and the underground army because I was going to witness the Titanic tonight.

Wow. How could I have even thought for a moment that I was RESPONSIBLE?

"I can't believe my Mum and Dad okayed that." I said. Dad would've known we were supposed to have that Cadence. Or at least Beta Lucas could've told him.

"There was some discussion." Harvey admitted, "But your Luna mother convinced Alpha Kingsley that it was more important for you to enjoy normal teenage social events at this point in time."

Which made me feel infinitely guilty about helping Savy sneak out to the dumb dance party last night. Okay, if we had asked, Mum would have definitely said no. It was AM on a school night after all, but... Savy needed to see River!

Sigh... Between Mum and Savy, I never knew whose side to take. I think it would be best to adopt Savy's earlier strategy and just avoid Mum till she sorted it out directly with Savy.

Suddenly, I was quite glad for my packed day. Who knows? Maybe the whole thing would blow over by tomorrow morning.

I can be sneaky too.

Harvey went on to update me on the various issues as presented in my report readings. Some of the issues had been resolved, others not quite yet, and there were one or two new ones, but nothing that would throw off our timeline entirely, and Harvey assured me that I wouldn't have to step in unless it was absolutely necessary. He would be sure to keep tabs and update me should it come to that.

Harvey seemed to be in the illusion that I would be able to solve whatever they couldn't.

My exhausted beta managed to get through everything, only losing his train of thought a couple of times. He didn't miss any red lights either, although at one junction, I caught Neil's mindlinked prompt, {Hey, beta. Green light.}

But on the surface, we had a perfectly smooth drive to school.

If we were driving a truck, we could dump one of the bikes up in the back and let Neil or Jax drive Harvey home, but we were in my little Peugeot which didn't fit anything as large as a bike. I don't even think it'll fit Neil.

"Will you be okay driving home?" I worried as Harvey pulled up through Winderhill's old gates.

"Yes, Alpha." Harvey winced, a sign that he was blaming himself for something again, "Apologies for not being in form this morning."

Our car came to a gentle stop at the student foyer, and my security detail moved into their usual formation for me to alight.

Since when did this become part of the daily motions of my life too?

"Just drive safely home and get rest." I said. I bumped my first gently on his shoulder, "Alpha's order. Get sleep before the Cadence today."

"Understood, Alpha." Harvey nodded a bow, but his wry smile had returned, "Thanks."

Fluffy opened the car door and I stepped out. It was like every other school day. I walked to class with Fluffy and EJ, all three of us with smiles plastered on our faces, completely "oblivious" to any camera shutter sounds.

The only difference was that I happened to chance upon Fluffy and EJ's mindlinking.

{Mou... I'll take the first period after homeroom. You take the second.} EJ was saying.

{How rare of you to take the initiative and let me sleep first.} Fluffy said.

{No! Mou! Fluffyyyyy... I mean I sleep first. You sleep the second period...} EJ clarified, {Or, I know! I'll sleep first half, you sleep after lunch!} EJ said.

{Great idea!} Fluffy answered in uncharacteristic enthusiasm, {But I'm afraid I won't last that long. May I switch shifts with you?}

{No way!} EJ shot back immediately, {We have the talent time after lunch! I won't be able to sleep at all!}

Fluffy chuckled over the mindlink.

{Mou, Fluffy. You were tricking me!} EJ accused, {You're mean!}

{If we had matching nicknames, would you like to be called pot or kettle?} Fluffy asked.

{Huh?} EJ sounded confused, {I'll be Pot I guess.}

Fluffy didn't say anything immediately.

{Why are you suddenly talking about matching nicknames?} EJ wondered.

We stepped into class.

{Don't tell me you're into me?} EJ exclaimed, {Fluffy, I love you man. You're like a brother to me... A weird and twisted brother, but I like girls.}

Fluffy didn't react, {I'm going to go change gear. Don't sleep on duty, EJ.}

And then Fluffy bowed politely to me and left.

I sat down and duly took out my surface pro because I had a lot of RESPONSIBLE reading to catch up on.

EJ pouted and looked upset at his desk. He flopped down in his seat and dropped his head on the table, hitting it with his forehead. Then he proceeded to toss and turn on his desk.

I put down my screen, "What's wrong EJ?"

"I can't sleep." EJ bemoaned miserably.

Yeah, cos you're on duty, I know.

"I'm having love life problems, Pretty Alpha." EJ confided.

Uh huh.

"Pretty Alpha, what would you do if someone you've always loved like a brother suddenly confesses to you?" EJ asked.

Eh? I checked my database of all the girl talk I've ever heard, "Do you like him?"

Yes. I believe that would be the first question to ask when your girlfriend shares about a guy confessing to her.

"ACK! It's not me, Pretty Alpha!" EJ panicked.

But you just said you were having love life problems!

{Lie.} Yes, thank you boo. Like it wasn't obvious enough already.

"I'm asking for MY FRIEND." EJ said hastily, "What should MY FRIEND do?"

Okay...

"Does your FRIEND like him?" I guess it was harmless enough to play along.

"My FRIEND likes him like a brother." EJ stressed "friend" again, just in case I should forget it wasn't about him.

"How can I break it to him gently?" EJ bemoaned.

"You mean, how can YOUR FRIEND break it to him gently." I corrected wryly. Hahaha. EJ was so funny sometimes.

"What? Yes. Of course my friend. Who else could I be talking about?" EJ laughed with false bravado.

"What so funny?" Fluffy returned in his school uniform, he beamed at EJ, "Good. I was almost sure you'd be sleeping."

"EJ's friend doesn't know how to break it to a friend that they're just friends." I told my tactician, "What should EJ's friend do?"

EJ panicked, "No, no, it's nothing! Forget it! It's nothing!"

"Is your "friend" sure that he was confessed to?" Fluffy smiled benevolently as he offered his guidance.

"You know it yourself!" EJ accused.

Fluffy's wolf smiled, but it was definitely evil, "How embarrassing and uncool would it be if it were a misunderstanding."

EJ looked aghast.

"But you, I mean your "friend" can have a serious heart-to-heart..." Fluffy advised.

"You know I can't do serious heart-to-heart things!" EJ wailed, "I'm just a heartless guy. I can only do superficial love."

I tilted my head when I heard that. I wonder how seriously to take that statement.

"I'm saying your "friend", not you EJ." Fluffy's smile never waned. He was enjoying himself way too much at EJ's expense.

"Fluffy!" I scolded, "Help EJ properly!"

"Very well, pretty alpha." Fluffy faked reluctance, "It was a misunderstanding, EJ."

"Eh...that means..." EJ was still trying to wrap his head around it.

"It means you're embarrassed and uncool." Fluffy smiled.

"WHAT? NO WAY!" EJ took immediate affront and forgot about his love life problem, "I'm cool and fun! All the girls say so!"

Fluffy shrugged, "Anyway, the only one I'd ever love is Pretty Alpha."

"Yes, yes. Me too!" EJ declared, "But only in a superficial love way. I am a cool and heartless guy after all."

I really didn't see how that could be something to boast about.

But EJ left to change gear, happy again, and I guess everyone just needed more sleep to be normal again.

Overall, I'd say today was a good start to the last day of school. At the very least, nothing exploded in my face, and aside from the lack of Zs, my wolves were all their usual selves.