Chương 8: MADISON WAS MAD

Since I was done with homework on the train home, I had half an hour to spare before dinner. I decided to call Madison. Madison was my best friend from West Mountain. We graduated together. I used to be bossy, playful, and talkative… which was a bad thing according to my school teachers. After changing my seats a few times, my form teacher, Mrs. Reed, decided to pair me with Madison. Madison was a pretty girl with long, straight brown hair and bangs. She was quiet, gentle, and determined, and Mrs.

Reed felt she would be a good influence on me. I didn't think Madison liked me at first. She used to click her tongue at me or sigh at whatever I decided to do. I don't know if she had many friends. I never really cared what she did beyond being my deskmate. As a kid, I already had a loner streak in me. I went to the washroom by myself, I spent lunchtime on my own in the school field, I headed home straight after school. I always chose the hallway less traveled. I was the only one from my pack.

The other kids were either human or, more often than not, pups from West Mountain Pack. But I was strong and fast and tall. I was the tallest girl, and there were only four boys taller than me. Four male warrior pups. If—and only if—I did have friends around me, it would be these same four guys: Jake, Jerry, Ken, and Alec. They were big, loud, and stupid, but they laughed at my jokes and never questioned me, so we always got along. After a while, Madison began to follow me to lunch.

The six of us would eat together, usually making up stupid jokes and laughing loudly. Madison would eat quietly. She would smile sometimes. Along the way, I met another girl named Una. Una was a dark-skinned human. She was small, not even coming up to my shoulder at full height. She had bright eyes and was loud and dramatic about everything. Every conversation began with "OMG!" and for some reason, she would always come to me when I was doing my alone thing in school and just follow me about.

One day, Una told me that she was my best friend. I was like, "okay." The next day, Madison said that I had to break it up with Una because she was my best friend first. I didn't know "best friend" was an exclusive thing. I mulled over it all weekend. My mum said that I could have as many best friends as I liked. So Monday morning, I told Madison that I wouldn't break up with Una. And she could take it or leave it.

I could have as many best friends as I wanted, but if I had to choose one, it would be my little sister Savy anyway. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. She wasn't happy but didn't say anything more about it, so I thought it was fine. We continued the way it was, when suddenly one day, Una walked over after school while Madison and I were walking on the school field. Madison threw a fit. She actually screamed at Una and then at me.

If I wanted to be friends with Una, it was fine, but I couldn't hang out with both of them at the same time. Una fled the scene. I turned around in shock and left to go home without another word. What just happened? I really didn't get it. Madison was mad. Not just the angry kind of mad, if you know what I mean. The next day, Madison and Una both acted like nothing happened. And neither had ever appeared in front of me at the same time again, so I continued with two best friends for the rest of elementary school.

Come to think of it, Madison was mad. I wonder how I never realized it. In my last year at West Mountain, my parents told me I could go for a movie with my school friends as a birthday treat. My mum thought that since it would be my last year there, I should have a nice memory with my friends. I was excited. It would be the first time I went out with friends without adult supervision. I decided to ask Madison and the four guys. I thought it would be fun. I forgot what we watched, but the theater was empty.

We sat in a long row. The movie was fun because Jake sat next to me, and the two of us took turns doing running commentary, and all of us would crack up howling with laughter like the wolves that we were. I really enjoyed that. After the show, Madison suddenly burst into tears and ran. The guys and I chased her all the way to their pack house. Actually, I chased her, and the guys chased me. And then, because I didn't dare to enter another pack house without my parents, I left the guys there and went home.

That pretty much ruined the outing. I called Madison to see if she was alright after getting home. She was fine, but she wouldn't tell me why she cried. Maybe it was something to do with Jake and me. We were just having fun, but maybe we were too loud and annoying. So she cried. Yeah. Mad, I know. Suddenly, I'm remembering all the crazy bits of our best friend relationship. Madison had a birthday party and invited me and the four guys. It was just a small party.

We all went; I had special permission to enter their pack house that day. Madison's family stayed in a small apartment there. It was strange to me because their apartment was in the basement. I remembered being surprised when I first saw it. It was small and dim, but clean and simple. The food was unexpected. Instead of cakes and finger foods, her dad served a proper lunch meal of pasta. It was delicious. I ate seconds and thirds. Madison's mum asked me, "Do you like the food, dear?"

I nodded and told them truthfully, "It's the best pasta I've ever had!" At that, her parents beamed at me. Her dad grinned and stepped out from their small kitchen with another plate of pasta for me and proudly said to Madison, "See, even your friend here loves my cooking! Why did you think it wasn't good enough?" At this, Madison glared and wouldn't speak to anyone. It was awkward for the rest of the party. She wouldn't open any of the presents or talk or anything.

The guys and I finished eating and left shortly after. I asked her when I next saw her in school if she was alright. I tried to ask her about what happened at her party and she burst out at me, "Not everyone is the daughter of an alpha, okay? Some of us are Omegas who have to work very hard!" Okay… Then she cried and ran off. What just happened? I looked at the four boys and they looked at me, their faces betraying different emotions, but because they didn't say anything, I would never know anything. Okay…

It was none of my business anyway. I bit my lip silently and sat back in my seat. Madison returned before the teacher came in and sat next to me. And everything went back to as if nothing happened. And for some reason, even though I now knew that Madison was mad, even though I was beginning to wonder if our relationship was dysfunctional, I still called her and asked how her first day went. Because she was my best friend, right? And I wanted to be a good friend. We talked a bit…

Mostly I let her talk, and then we hung up.