PETTY TRICKS AND BIG TALK

I was feeling good, or at least, I was feeling more like myself since entering this timeline. The last bell had rung, and I was on a mission. The only problem was my lucky sense of direction was just like the rest of my wolf power - weak, and I had no idea where the sports clubs were. I vaguely remember at orientation there was a sports complex shared by the middle schools and high schools sections. I didn't pay any mind to it back then because I wasn't going to join a sports club (yuck!) and I had personally thought a world without boys was very nice (huh?).

I guess it would make sense if I remembered that unlike Sam, who was usually running out with the boys, Lala was usually home or sitting with the girls because her big brothers were the ones who were running out.

Boys my age were stinky yucky creatures who were loud and unpredictable. Boys older than me were big and scary. All except for Kev. When Kev moved to Morning Light, Lala had cried the most.

Hm? I looked around, the sports complex should be around here? But it wasn't. I was in a little groove of trees. I think they were orange trees? I can't say for sure but if it was the Orange Grove, then I should be going the right way. There was a paved path going through the Orange Grove so I wasn't going to get lost or anything, BUT I wasn't looking forward to entering the mix compound on my own. What if I accidentally enter the boy's side of the building?

Like, I don't think I would be in physical danger, but if it leaked out to the rest of the girls, wouldn't I be labeled as desperate and attention seeking? Wolves who were not the Alpha really had troublesome problems.

Like if I were the Alpha I would be daring, not desperate, and naturally, I would be in the center of attention. I was the Alpha after all. If my wolves didn't look up to me, who else would they look to?

But I wasn't the Alpha in this life. Maybe this would be a good learning experience, to work things out within the means of a cute high school she-wolf. Okay, La. You can do this! Be brave.

Halfway in I realized it was quiet, too quiet. It was after school, so while I understood that the freshmen were still in their probation/try-out phase and there would always be students who'd like to catch a bite before heading to their club activities, there should still be a number of sports club members heading over about now.

There was no one.

Maybe I was going the wrong way.

I looked about feeling quite sure I had to be going the right way, but where was everyone else? Maybe I should turn back? I could always try again tomorrow. In fact, by tomorrow, I might even be back in my original timeline.

As luck would have it, just as the thought of turning back occurred to me, I caught sight of movement behind the trees. There was someone…

"Who-" but I stopped myself. I can't believe that Lala's first reaction was to call out, "Who's there?" That was like shouting to the enemy, "Shoot me!" or "I'm over here!"

WTH? Didn't she learn anything during her survival/trekking training back at Lycan Study Group Camps?

No. Because Lala usually skipped the outdoor camps. Lala, if it's survival of the fittest, you're really pushing yourself up to be up there with the top 10 wolves to die first.

Luckily, my opponent was just as clueless. He popped out from the tree line to see who it was, "What?"

Unluckily, he was a boy, but he spoke to me first, okay? I didn't break any of the rules! I wasn't desperate or anything!

Wait, I knew him!

"Roan?" Yes! It really was him. Roan, Coach Em's son, who was staying at the Lorent Pack. In my past life, he had watch me beat up the Lorent clowns at our first meeting and then nodded a bow and left after that.

And what more, Roan had his archery bag slung behind him. I recognized the shape and brand of the case, he definitely had archery gear in that.

The boy stopped, "Who are you?"

Your worst nightmare. Muahahahaha.

Aloud I told him, "I'm La. Are you going for practice?"

"Don't wanna." Roan said. What a brat.

Roan wasn't very communicative. He changed direction to leave.

"Wait, I'm looking for Coach Emerson, is he at the club today?" I chased after him.

"It's that way." Roan tried to avoid eye contact, "Go straight."

I wanted to believe him, but even the silly girl Lala noticed that he was pointing to the opposite direction than he was going.

"I don't believe you." I decided Roan was the kind of guy you needed to show who's boss, "Take me there."

"Don't wanna." Roan tried to make a run for it. I gave chase. I had to give it my all since just past the Orange Grove would put us back out in the open where EVERYONE would see me chase and possibly tackle down a boy. OMO, talk about desperate. My reputation would surely be ruined then.

I lunged forwards and grabbed his sleeve. I had meant to catch his arm, but my body really wasn't what it used to be, so I ended up only pulling at the back of his sleeve… and then tripping over my own feet and headbutting him in his shoulder.

"Ow!" He said. I'm not sure if it were his lack of expression, or his consistent deadpan, but he kinda reminded me of a certain beta I used to have. Maybe that was also why I so naturally used force on him.

I grabbed him by his lapel so he couldn't get away, "Take.me.there."

"Or what?" He asked.

Grrr… what a stubborn guy!

"Or… or…" What could I pose as a threat to this guy? Even though he was only an inch taller than I was, it was obvious I wouldn't be able to beat him up, not with this weak body.

But I wasn't going to lose, I had come so far, I didn't want to go back. Even the Lala in me didn't want to go back to the weak girl she thought she was. Today, I was going to take back my life!

"Or I'll tell everyone you're my boyfriend!"

"What?" Roan said.

What? What the hell? Was that the best I could come up with?

"Is that suppose to be a threat?" Roan looked momentarily confused.

But I thought boys were supposed to be afraid of cooties? Or at least afraid of constant teasing from their friends. Didn't he see what happened to Charles? Maybe this guy had no friends to tease him.

"Including your Dad." I added. Just to make sure he would comply. Let's hope his relationship with his father was just as bad as it was in my last life.

"What?" Roan said, but I sensed a mild alarm. Good.

"Yes." I smiled, "I'll tell Coach Emerson you're my boyfriend if you don't bring me to practice."

Roan stopped to consider this, "Why do you want to see my old man?"

"I want a chance to join the girls archery team." I said, and then I thought it would be better to reassure him, "Don't worry, if you help me meet him, I won't bother you every again."

"Even if you don't get in the team?" Roan asked.

Good. He was serious about this.

"Yes." I promised, "I just want to meet Coach Em. Whether or not I get in will be based on my own abilities, and nothing to do with you or anyone else."

Roan didn't say anything for a while, then he nodded, "Fine. Follow me."

And to my surprise, he led me back where he came from. He wasn't lying when he pointed out the direction to me the first time.

"Eh? So it was really this way?" I couldn't hide my surprise, "Then why were you going the other way… Oh! You were skipping training weren't you?"

Unfortunately we arrives at the archery field and Coach Em and the rest of the boys archery team were just gathering for instructions.

"Eh?" Coach Em looked around surprised when we emerged from the bushes behind him, "Who's skipping training… ROAN?"

And then he frowned at me, "Eh, girl. What are you doing here?"

Normally, Lala would have died in such a situation. Face it, that weak girl would have died a hundred times just to get here.

Alright, this was a little embarrassing. I had pretty much barged out through the bushes with a boy I barely knew into the middle of the boy's archery team where most of the guys were seniors from the Lorent Academy and Lorent High School.

But this wasn't the time to cower and apologize and show any weakness. I wanted in on the girls archery team.

"Hi Coach! My name is Lala, and I want to join the girls archery team!" I announced loudly.

"The girl's practice is tomorrow." Coach Em said.

"So I'm in?" I gave Coach my best shining eyes.

"No. This is a competitive club, and its by invite only." Coach said.

"So invite me to come tomorrow!" I decided Coach Em was really a lot like Roan. You needed to seriously show them who's boss or they won't pay you any attention.

"What?" Coach Em said, and then he shook his head, "Do you not know the meaning of by invite only?"

"Lend me a bow and three arrows." I decided that action would speak louder than words with bull headed wolves like Coach Em, "If I get all three in the gold, you invite me."

"What?" Coach Em grumbled, "Why do I have to waste any more time with you?"

"What is she trying to do?" Some of the seniors grumbled among themselves, "She's holding up our practice time."

"Shhh... She's cute." One of them said.

I remembered belatedly that cuteness was also a kind of strength. Unfortunately, I failed to see how to apply it in this situation, "If you don't want to waste any more time, just let me shoot. If I miss, I'll disappear and never come back."

Coach Em sighed, "Fine. But if you miss, don't come crying to me."

Ha! Father and son weren't too different to deal with.

Someone got a bow and three arrows for me.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Coach yelled at one of the seniors. The nice one who said I was cute.

"I was moving the target closer, the girls usually don't train with the targets so far away." The nice senior said.

"Don't waste your time." Coach Em was so mean, "She said she'd hit three goals. She didn't specify the distance."

"It's fine." I brushed it off, "Petty tricks."

"Hn." Coach Em folded his arms, "Big talk."

Good. I got him where I wanted.