THE FIRST GOODBYE

29 FEBRUARY, MONDAY, LUNCH BREAK

I hadn't known exactly where Henry meant when he said to meet at "our usual table." I was trying to decide if he meant the table at the student foyer where we sometimes waited for our ride home, or the bench by the football field, the one next to the woods near our classroom. We did our first project there, and we had lunch there before too.

So I ended up following Fluffy and EJ who went straight out to the picnic area at what used to be the deserted side of the school where I took my lunch alone. The vamps took over the area for a bit and made a bloody mess of it, but then River came and "covered evil with good", making it Spring so that it quickly became a favorite picnic spot for the students.

Today, it was no different - still Spring, and still bustling with students hanging out and having lunch. Once upon a time, this was a cold and desolate abandoned side of the school grounds where even the janitor didn't bother to empty the bins. I used to take my lunches here to be alone. When was the last time I had lunch alone in school?

Henry and the others waved to us from "our table." I don't think I would ever had imagined my highschool life to become this when I first started.

A few tables away, I saw River and Keanu having a bench all to themselves. Wilhelm and Wolfgang were standing guard while girls gathered around to watch them eat. Poor River! Ever since his identity as Snow Moon Kingdom's crowned prince leaked, he couldn't go anywhere without security detail either.

The leak was definitely related to the Ceremony of the Departed - but I'm not sure about the details. I had just read snippets from one of the media summary reports in my reading list this morning. I hadn't really thought about the implications of this identity leak until I saw River awkwardly laughing at something one of the girls were saying to him. Wolfgang looked impatient and annoyed, but neither Wilhelm or himself moved from their guard position behind River.

That's not fair! I thought students weren't allowed bodyguards! I guess these rules didn't apply to foreign princes? Foreign princes who were surprisingly popular in this time and age.

Jasmine patted the seat next to her for me, and I noticed my lunch bag sitting prettily at my place. MY LUNCH! I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT ALL ABOUT MY LUNCH!

Thank goddess Jasmine had been a trustworthy friend to bring it for me!

While I stared at my lunch bag in shock at my own oversight, Henry cleared his throat and announced, "Now that we are all here, I have something important to announce."

Wait, no! I wasn't ready!

But of course Henry continued according to his own internal agenda and announced to the table, "I'll be transferring to Black Forest High from next term."

The table quietened, and then I realized Henry and Marcus was looking at me. Wait, what? My turn?

I guess I took too long because Henry said for me, "Sam is transferring out too. She's going to the Lorent Girls' School."

I managed to nod, "Yeah."

I didn't dare to look at Jasmine, so I just stared hard at the unopened lunch bag in front of me.

"I'm going to New Leaf Academy." Marcus said.

"Mou! Since all of you are leaving, I'm leaving too!" EJ declared.

"Idiot. We won't be needed here after our pretty alpha leaves." Fluffy smiled.

"Mou! But I just started getting the hang of school." EJ whined. So did he want to leave or not?

I felt bad for Fluffy and EJ. It wasn't like I could bring them to the Lorent Girls School with me.

I had never really thought about going to school as the "priviledge" that my Dad had claimed education to be, but suddenly I remembered how these two had hawed and hamed about this being their first time in highschool and how happy they were.

Of course, EJ was just fooling around most of the time, alternating between his ridiculous acrobatic style of football and charming highschool girls for free snacks, but I'm sure football, snacks, and girls were part of highschool life too.

And Fluffy had read all his textbooks... I guess between the both of them, they were seriously making the most of their short highschool life.

Maybe I should ask someone about letting Fluffy and EJ continue going to school if they wanted. Maybe I should talk to Dad about it? See what the Father of Lycan Public Education got to say about that.

"So you're all leaving?" Jasmine asked. I was aruptly brought back to the conversation, but Jasmine didn't sound terribly devastated, so I dared to look up. Jasmine sighed, "Liam and I thought this would happen, but I was just hoping you'll all at least stay till the end of the year."

Wait, what?

"You knew we were going to leave?" Like I was worriedly and guiltily keeping this a secret from her all this time when she KNEW?

Jasmine shook her head, "Well no, I didn't know for sure, but Liam's dad commented that having Henry and you here in Winderhill had caused quite a stir and he didn't think a place like Winderhill, or the Crystal Wind pack could keep up the security needed in the long term."

"So I guess it would only be natural if you have to transfer to a safer school." Jasmine sighed, "I had hoped you'll all stay till the end of the year though "

And then she got teary really quickly after that, "Th...there's a lot, I... I wanted to do together. And...and...who knows when we'd ever see each other again."

"You can always text us." I remembered Savy's advice.

"We are all still going to the Spring Equinox Concert at New Leaf, right?" Henry asked.

Oh, right! I beamed, "That's right! We could go to lots of concerts together!"

"It doesn't have to be a concert." Henry corrected me.

I nodded, "Right! It doesn't have to be a concert!"

Jasmine laughed a little, "Are you sure you alphas are going to want to meet up with us normal nobodies?"

"You're not a nobody! You're my friend!" I declared at once.

"Right, because anyone who is a friend of the Alpha Princess is immediately a somebody." Marcus smirked.

"Maybe if you name-dropped her, you might get a discount at BETAMEN." Henry joined in.

"No! That's not what I meant!" I shook my head, and then I realized the guys were teasing me again, "You know what I mean!"

Wait, how did Henry know about BETAMEN?

"Oooh..." Jasmine recognized the brand too, "That's the new fancy brand Krystal was talking about this morning."

Wait, how did Krystal know about BETAMEN?

"Did you know? Our blue warrior jackets are by BETAMEN?" Fluffy smiled.

I didn't know that.

"That's the only BETAMEN we'd ever own though." EJ complained, "One month's salary won't be enough to buy a jacket there."

I knew the world was changing all the time, but first Spring, and now BETAMEN's launch. It's like everything keeps popping out when I least expected it.

Including a mindlink from Savy:

{Sam? Are you near where River is?} My little sister suddenly popped into my mind - even though I was quite sure my mindlinks were largely blocked.

{Yeah...} I answered, half wondering if I was imagining Savy in my head (like those sirens I kept hearing today) and if not, how the hell she slipped a mindlink through my vamp proof block?

{Can you do me a favor?} Savy asked sweetly.

{Yeah, what?} I shouldn't have asked.

{Can you go over there and tell those girls hanging around him to buzz off?} Savy instructed, {If they don't, feel free to slap them with your hair.}

Wait, who's him? Wha-

And then I realized that one of the many photos being taken of the foreign prince at the next table must have been shared on someone's social media and news of the young prince's many admirers must have leaked out.

Hahahahaha.

{Are you laughing, Sam? What's so funny?} Savy didn't sound amused.

{Savy, are you jealous?} I blurted back.

{Oh, forget I said anything!}

And Savy dropped off the mindlink channel and blocked me out.

SHE BLOCKED ME OUT? Wth! Blocking out my mindlinks was my thing!

But Savy was not happy about River's new groupie, so I probably should do something about it. I mean, River was just being his usual nice guy self and laughing awkwardly all the way. Stooooopid!

"Pretty Alpha! Where are you going?" Fluffy asked.

I realised belatedly that I had gotten up from my seat.

Urm... I'm going to storm over there and give River a piece of my mind... And then I realised I couldn't possibly just storm over and yell at River for laughing stoopidly and being surrounded by girls. Omo.

I'd look like I was the jealous girlfriend!

(When the actual jealous gf was Savy, not me! Savy!!!! But how was I going to explain that?)

"I... Ah..." I pointed at River and then stopped and looked back at my friends. What should I do?

I hate to admit it, but I had no idea how to deal with this. It's not like they were armed rogues. I felt my forehead crinkle. Think Sam, think!

"I need to tell River something." I managed.

"Yeah, what?" Henry raised a brow.

That's right. It's not like I could tell him, "Hey! Don't laugh with other girls!"

Even if I whispered it, and he immediately removed himself from the gaggle of girls, it would look really sus.

I sat down again and sulked.

"What?" Henry asked, "No one's stopping you."

Yeah, but I'm too stupid to figure out how to do this kind of thing!

I can't yell, I can't whisper... Maybe I can just go over and punch him? Not too hard... Just enough to knock him out. But then I doubt Wilhelm or Wolfgang would just stand there and let me.

So I'll have to be prepared to defend myself from the Fire Wolf. Wilhelm, I can take one on one, but both of them at the same time? If they were trained to fight together, then they'd have the upper hand... Wait, what was I thinking?

"Earth to Sam, earth to Sam!" Marcus said.

"What?" I flared a little.

"Nothing. Just wondering if you need any help." Marcus shrugged.

Oh, okay! I could get back up. We could take down River's guard and I would punch him and knock him out, and he won't laugh with those girls anymore and Savy won't be crossed.

I had Fluffy and EJ. That was more than enough help to take down two guards.... But wait, wouldn't fighting in school be breaking the rules?

I glared across to the other table. The wolves around me look over.

"Okay, it's something to do with Prince River." Fluffy deduced, "Do you want him for something?"

Yeah! That's right! Why didn't I think of that? I'll just make up some excuse to call him away.

At this point, Wilhelm smiled at me from across the table. Ack! Why did he notice me? Was it because I pointed?

Wilhelm bent over River's shoulder and whispered something to him. The young prince and Keanu both looked over to our table.

And then River stood up and came over.

Wait! I wasn't ready yet! Why was the whole world going so fast today?

"Hi Sam." River said when he reached our table.

"The young Prince River." Wolfgang stiffly announced from behind him.

Everyone at my table who needed to bow nodded respectfully.

"Ah, no... It's okay." River immediately flustered, "You don't need to... Wolfgang, I told you not to do that in school!"

"My apologies, young prince." Wolfgang replied stiffly. He sounded more huffy than sorry though.

"Hi!" I smiled, here's hoping to not to look as flustered as River, "I was just about to go over."

"Uh... Yeah.." River cast a fugitive glance back to his table, "I just wanted to get away though..."

"You can sit here, if you want." Henry offered coolly.

"Thanks!" River bowed. Even though he was a prince. Wolfgang looked on with deep disapproval at Moon Bell's young prince bowing thanks to another young alpha.

I felt bad for River, "You have it tough huh?"

"Oh." River sat down. He took another fugitive glance back at the other table, "Yeah... I don't really know how to handle this kind of attention."

Actually, I had meant dealing with Wolfgang breathing down his back all day, but oh well, at least I can go home and comfort Savy with the fact that River wasn't enjoying himself just now.