HOW TIME FLIES

19 FEBRUARY, FRIDAY, LAST BELL

Since everyone seemed to be busy with their own thing (or else in suspended animation), I decided to do my own thing too. I reached into my bag for the next volume of that manga (which was purely for research), but touched my kindle. Sigh, so I took out my kindle to read instead - not because I particularly wanted to read anything in it, but because I felt like if I wasn't going to study the Friday before my exam week, I should at least be catching up on the reports that my betas had no doubt been sending me.

I'm not sure why but my betas tend to assume that the moment they had uploaded their reports to my kindle, I would know it. As much as I would love to plug this auto-update function directly into my brain, the technological level of today still required me to READ. So I did... I even added notes in my kindle to the documents, although I missed being able to write in colored pens on physical paper, or arranging their order according to which sheets I would prefer to keep on top, or putting sticky tabs at places I wanted quick reference to. I know I'm young and my generation was supposed to be techie and all, but I still liked to work with physical paper. Its just that, with the amount of reports I was getting, the paper would probably stack as high as a tree.

So after a while, I did write a few notes on paper, and then, maybe its because of Mrs Henderson's lesson on mind maps this morning, I thought it would be brilliant to make mind maps of what I needed to remember... which took a while, and I had to rewrite it because I messed up on the spacing, and then I hit a financial report... and I promptly gave up. I mean seriously. I looked at the squiggly looking mind map off center on the piece of paper (this was my second try). Now I remembered why I stopped drawing thinking trees.

Eventually, I decided to stop taking notes altogether and just read report after report like I would my textbook. When I finished, I checked my watch... and then I checked the time at the corner of my kindle to make sure my watch was still working. I'm not sure how, but it was still five minutes to the last bell.

You know how they say "Time flies when you're having fun." I must have not been having any fun at all. Should I ever desire to extend the last few moments of my life, I would take out my kindle and read my betas' reports.

Henry put down his handphone and turned to me, "You think we should wake the others yet?"

He nodded towards Maria as if indicating that I should do something about it.

I looked at Maria, she was still wearing her creepy smile and staring straight ahead.

Marcus put away his stuff and look expectantly at me.

Why me?

I turned to Maria, "Hey, Maria, it's nearly time for last bell."

Maria blinked, she looked mildly surprised and checked her old fashioned looking gold watch, which she always wore with the clock face on the inside of her wrist, "Time really flies when you're having fun."

"What were you doing?" I asked, aloud, because who knew what else could be possessing this girl.

"I was only inquiring into the events I had missed prior to my return." Maria said prettily. She must have meant she was poking her nose into everyone else's brains no doubt.

"Just get everyone going." Henry took an impatient glance at his watch, "I have places to be."

Yes, your royal alpha-ness.

As if to prove his point, his phone dinged. He checked it, "F***. They're early."

I looked at Maria, "Can you like turn everyone back on?"

Or in Henry's case, why don't you also freeze time so he could get to wherever he has to be and meet whoever he has to meet? "What's the big event?" I asked casually.

"My Inaugeration." Henry answered. Short of actually saying "duh", he pretty much made it sound like he was replying an imbecile.

"That's tomorrow." I knew, because I read the program in one of my beta's reports. I even knew that Henry's guest list was like the attendance sheet for the High Council Alpha Convention and The Book of Who's Who combined together. It was such a long list, my kindle had hung midway scrolling. Twice. One of the reasons why I dreaded opening the appendix documents... My betas (specifically Harvey) liked enclosing detailed notes.

Wow, I should always keep abreast with my Kindle reading - it really made me feel on top of everything. Like I actually knew what was going on, I even knew what was about to happen over the course of the next few days. At least I knew what was supposed to happen, but you know, and I know, that my life seldom happened the way it was supposed to.

"The ceremony starts tomorrow, but the guests would probably arrive today." Marcus explained, "Especially those from abroad... Basically, the further they are, the earlier they arrive."

Marcus sighed, a long suffering sigh, "When my Alpha had his Inaugeration, my Dad didn't come home for weeks! I can't imagine how Peter is dealing with yours, your guest list is a hundred times my alpha's."

Henry shrugged and smirked arrogantly, "You can't compare you pack with Silver Mountain."

"Yes, yes. Silver Mountain is peerless among all other average GDP packs." Marcus waved it off lightly.

I even knew what GDP was! Oh my magic kindle, how you have enlightened me with knowledge I did not even know I needed!

"What are you grinning at?" Henry scolded, "Do you think Night Leaf can match up?"

"I was thinking GDP is Gross Domestic Product." I answered.

Henry actually laughed, "Yeah, whatever, Sam. It's a good thing your mate is a Lorent."

There is was again! I wasn't going to let it go this time.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I demanded.

"What's what supposed to mean?" Henry lifted a brow.

"That part - the one about Bell. What's he got to do with anything?" Why did you guys always made it sound like I needed him to help me take care of my pack? I was the Alpha. I will take care of everyone!

"James?" Henry seemed to be still trying to figure out what the deal was, "Just what I said, he's a good mate for you."

Because his smile makes his face handsome, and his dark curls were like black flames, and his voice like the sound of the sea? If Henry had said that, it would have been weird.

"He's not just an excellent military strategist," Henry explained, "His business acumen is as sharp as his blade. In his hands, I'm sure the combined Moon Bell Pack is going to be a world power one day. Maybe even rival to Silver Mountain and Black Forest."

"No!" Marcus gasped in mock astonishment, "How can any pack measure up to Silver Mountain's standard."

When Marcus was happy, he didn't just smile more, he was also more sarcastic.

"I'm the Alpha!" I flared.

"Calm down, Sam." Henry said, "I'm not saying you're not."

Now he just sounded like he was placating a spoiled pup. I tossed my head at him and glared... exactly like a spoiled pup. Wow, I really should stop doing that - but it was a reflex.

"Look Sam," Henry said, and I understood he was going to get real with me now, "You're cute. And your wolf... your wolf is something fierce."

I felt Boo puff with pride. {Of course I am.}

"But you're just a girl. Let the men handle things okay?" Henry sounded like he was trying to be patient, "You've got the Death God Incarnate as your Mate, and there isn't a wolf who would dare casually offend your Mad Maverick Dad. And not that I think you'd ever need it, but there's always me, your Plan C... so just... you know, be happy and do whatever you girls like to do."

At this point, I should just punch Henry, but I was too confused - it was like my thoughts were like a tangled ball of string, so the words couldn't come out immediately. Was Henry referring to the time I planned to storm Ciara Coven and he was Plan C? Or something in the future? Was he talking about the alliance between our two packs? Since when did he care about my happiness?

"Why are you suddenly being nice to me?" I blurted out. Because he was - male chauvinism and unbearable bossiness aside, Henry was being caring?

"Whatever Sam," Henry shrugged, "I'm just telling you AS A FRIEND, okay.?"

I nodded. He wasn't lying, but he was definitely not telling me everything either, even AS A FRIEND. I guess the Young Alpha of Silver Mountain would have inherited a mountain of secrets to keep too, so I decided to let it go. For our friendship to work, we needed to respect this kind of boundaries. At any rate, I knew not to poke my nose into other people's personal business - unlike a certain vamp.

So I returned my attention to the said vamp, "Maria! Hurry up!"

The bell rang, and all at once, the class startled as if awoken by the sound, but by now I knew from sensing Maria's flame, she had released them from her control. I also knew her flame had grown darker... and the void she used to wear around her, was now truly an emptiness that was endless. Was that what her dark cycle did to her?

"Oh my, is that the bell?" Mr Devon looked quizzically at the textbook in his hand, and then back up at the clock, and then his watch, "How time flies."

"Please excuse me, Teacher Devon." Henry picked up his bag and headed for the door.

"Ah yes, of course, Young Alpha Henry. My congratulations to you..." But Mr Devon couldn't finish speaking before Henry was out the door.

The rest of the class carried on in the after bell noises of packing bags, chatting, and scrapping chairs repeatedly on the class room floor. (Why did humans have to do that?)

Maria sighed, and for some reason I heard it over the din, "What a pity, I thought Henry might actually confess."

"Confess what?" Did Henry betray me in some way? Oh, was that why he was so nice? Was he feeling guilty?

Maria laughed, her laughter tinkling like broken glass dropping onto the floor, "If I told you that Alpha, it would spoil the suspense."

What suspense? Did we look like some drama plot unfolding to her?

I narrowed my eyes at her, "Did you read his mind or something?"

Maria shook her head, "I'm not stupid. Anyway, I didn't have to read his mind, it was quite obvious."

What was quite obvious?

"Tell me." I ordered.

But at that moment, Marcus had done packing up his things, "Hey Sam! Harv's here. Come on."

Oh right, Mum said I had to go straight home today, the Lorents were coming - and Eeep! Bell!

{Mate!} I hope he comes in person!

I grabbed my stuff and chased after Marcus, "Wait up!"

"Yeah, okay, okay." Marcus slowed down.

We walked together for a bit and Marcus held the stairway door for me before I realized, "You're not my beta, you don't have to walk me to the car or anything."

Marcus shrugged, "It's no biggie, Harv's going to lend me some extra equip for our band, so its on the way."

Oh.

"How's the band coming along?" I felt a little excited for Marcus. I'm glad he got his band.

Marcus was even gladder than I was, it was like his eyes lit up and his tired and worn out beta body ignited with new life as he told me about the practices and the progress the band was making. I wondered if Harvey spoke like that about his band? Harvey's tone was always calm, collected, and measured. I've always liked it - it made me feel like everything was under control. But now I wondered if Harvey was ever giddy with excitement, or over the moon about anything before.

A stray camera shutter sound caught my attention. Oh great, now I was being pictured with Marcus.

"So he's the one she really likes?" One girl asked another.

Wait, what? I looked at Marcus in alarm, but he had not noticed the cameras or even the gossip we just passed, he was too busy telling me about how they had ordered equipment and even additional amps to boost their sound at the performance. They're also tailoring their outfits and hiring a professional stage and lighting designer. Our Last Hurrah was going to be OP at the school talent time. Those kids who were going to come up and play the piano or sing a song were going to cry on the day. They weren't going to stand a chance.

Unless Our Last Hurrah turned out to be very, very, bad. I've actually never heard them play, so I wouldn't know.

"Hi, Harv."

"Yo, Marc."

The two guys did that guy hand grasp thing at the car. Harvey had the boot opened, he pulled out a small box amplifier and some cables.

"Thanks, man." Marcus told him as he hefted up the amp, "There was a shipping delay on our online order. I'll return all this when our stuff gets delivered."

"No hurry, they were just lying around anyway." Harvey helped Marcus hook the coils of cable around his shoulder so that Marcus could carry everything, "You got everything?"

"Yeah, thanks." Marcus made his move, "Bye Sam."

"Bye!" I waved.

"Apologies, Alpha." Harvey shut the boot and opened the car door for me.

Suddenly the four uniformed motorbike escorts pulled their bikes into position, helmets on, visors down, stands up, at the ready. They looked so official and correct, I just did a quick double check to make sure that under the reflective visors were really my wolves. You know, just in case I accidentally left Fluffy and EJ back there. But it was really them, even Jax was here now. I guess he finally got out of bed.

{Mine} Yes, my four idiots... but you wouldn't be able to tell right now. Right now, they were very official and intimidating Blue Night Leaf Warriors on motorbike escort duty.

I wished I had an Alpha uniform too. Then when I put it on, I wouldn't be "just a girl" anymore. Did they sell those online or could I get it tailored?