Chương 37: BOY'S LOCKER TALK

After Study Group, Mrs. Beta received a mind link and told Dean and me that the meeting at the Alpha's office in the pack house was confirmed for 8 p. m. Then she excused herself because she had some research to do in the library. Jessica stood up and waved.

"I have to go now. My family is waiting for me." The Lorent Pack wasn't far from ours, but it was still at least an hour's drive away. I knew Jessica couldn't wait to get there, but I also suddenly realized this would leave me alone with Dean. Which, on any other day, would have been perfect for us to hang out together—but not today. I didn't really want to face him right now. I hadn't processed what happened over breakfast yet. Why did I feel like someone had punched me in the gut?

The words"break up" flashed in my head. Right. But why did Dean want to break up with me again? I knew I wasn't the best listener; I had interrupted him several times. He did take my questions rather badly too. Was it my fault Dean wanted to break up? And what did Shannon mean? How had he misunderstood Dean to think we were dating? Shannon knew better than anyone that Dean and I had always been best friends. But why did everything feel so much worse after Shannon said his piece?

And now I didn't know what to say to Dean anymore. All I knew was that I just wanted my jacket back. Because now that I was remembering what Jessica had said earlier this week about Dean wearing my jacket as if it meant something. And now that Shannon had linked that to a supposed dating relationship... Just give me my jacket back! Give me my best friend back! Give me the times when Shannon, Dean, and I could hang out and never get bored as long as there were the three of us together.

I got up without looking at Dean. I didn't want to see him right now. But of course, Dean didn't know that.

"Sam?"

"Oh, I have to meet Savy!" I excused myself hastily and fled, forcing my feet to slow down a bit because I didn't want Dean to think I was running away. I wished very hard that I was old enough and shifted so I could mind link Savy to just meet me at the porch. But that would require her to be old enough too. And I definitely didn't want any of us to get older—quite the opposite! Why couldn't we stay puppies forever?

Savy and I had originally planned on lunching with the others first, but I didn't feel like returning to the scene of the "break up." Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. As luck would have it, I bumped into Savy and the rest of her class at the top of the stairs. Thank goddess.

"Let's go, Savy." I tugged her down with me.

"We'll eat in town, my treat."

"Hey, Sam! Wait!" Shannon caught up with us, taking two steps at a time.

"Don't push, Shannon!" Lizzy scolded. But the stairs were wide enough, and she huffed and headed toward the dining hall with the others. Shannon tailed Savy and me to the porch.

"Where are you girls going?" he asked. When Shannon asked like that, it sounded like he was flirting, but this was just the way Shannon spoke. We were all used to it.

"Shopping. Wanna come?" I invited automatically. And then I regretted it immediately.

"On second thought, better not, Shannon. We actually need to buy stuff, so I can't take you mirror-gazing." This was not how I would speak to most people. But this was just the way I spoke to Shannon. We were all used to it. Shannon laughed.

"I can't help it... I just look too good."

"Some other time, when I need a good-looking distraction, then," I said. We were laughing together at the bus stop, and for a moment, it was as if Dean's earlier break up scene never happened. Savy had given us space by going to check the shuttle bus schedule. Did Savy still think Shannon was my soulmate? She was wrong, of course. See, if we were puppies, we'd just be two pups being silly beans at the bus stop. When exactly did everything start to change? Why couldn't we stay puppies forever?

Shannon leaned closer suddenly.

"What?" I leaned away.

"Not playing Sam, listen." So I stopped. Shannon had a serious side too.

"Sam, about Dean—he's been saying stuff at school lately..." Shannon started, his voice lowered. When Shannon talked like that, he didn't sound like he was flirting. He sounded pretty dead serious. Happy puppy feelings all gone.

"What kind of stuff?" I asked. My voice came out quiet too.

"Stuff I should have called him out on much earlier, Sam. But I didn't. I'm sorry, Sam," Shannon explained, without explaining anything.

"What did he say?" My mind was flipping through what-if scenarios at this point. What could Dean have said? Why was Shannon being serious about it?

"Stuff like holding hands with you and nearly kissing you." Shannon mumbled, so I could tell he was hoping I couldn't quite hear him.

"Boy's locker talk." What the hell is "boy's locker talk"? I didn't even know boys talked in the locker room. I thought they only grunted. Hahaha. Regressed into their caveman ways, unable to communicate with anything more than guttural sounds, and a lot of thumping of chests, slapping of backs, and stomping of feet...

"Wait, what? When?" My eyes widened belatedly. I was flipping through my memory, trying to locate such a moment of nearly kissing Dean.

"I knew it," Shannon said.

"Knew what?" I asked.

"It didn't happen!" Shannon looked triumphant.

"Of course it didn't!" I exclaimed. Savy was standing next to me now. I was quite sure she had heard everything because she was covering her mouth with her hand—and because the shuttle bus was leaving, but she wasn't rushing me to go. I grabbed her arm and hoisted her toward the bus, waving the other hand for the driver to know we were boarding.

"How could you even think it was possible?" I shot back at my departure.

"I didn't, but he had your jacket." Shannon shrugged.

"The next time I hear it, I'll be sure to squelch him in the mouth!" He shouted the last words to me as I boarded the shuttle bus with Savy.

"Oh no," I said under my breath.

"What are you going to do?" Savy asked me. I looked at her and tried to think of something—anything at all—that I could feel reasonably sure I could do after knowing all this.

"Urm... go shopping?" Savy rolled her eyes.

"Yes, Alpha. You are right, as always."