As I waited by the double doors to the entry of the school I saw Karter's beat-up old red truck his grandfather left him. As he drove in and headed to where I was standing I caught the ending of his conversation. "Mom, Jayla is all over me. No, I can't, I won't. Because I am, Bye Mom," He quickly hung up the phone and stuffed it into his jean pocket as he noticed me standing uneasy. "Good morning, Euphemia," He grinned, that smile could make any girl weak in the knees and it did.
"Phemie," I said quietly, barely intelligible unless you had wolf ears.
"Pardon?" He asked, even though I know he could hear. He rounded a car and made his way to my side extending his arm for me to take.
"You can call me Phemie," I managed to choke out, staring at his arm and then back up into those lovely dark brown eyes.
"Sure, Phemie, this is the part where you take my arm, and we walk into school together. Don't worry, I won't bite... hard," He winked as he took my hand, draped it over his arm and we both headed through the doors into the field of sweat, hormones, and teen angst, otherwise known as high school. Thank Goddess I was graduating in a month, I am so ready to move on from high school. Even though I'm still unsure if I want to start college right away or take a year's sabbatical. Just as my head was beginning to rush from the mere touch of my long-time crush, I finally blocked out the ringing in my ears to the absolute ringing of the chatter of students. "Hey, don't worry. You've got quite the grip on you," Karter bent down close to my ear, brushing against my long curly golden locks.
"Sorry," I loosened my hold as I spotted Evelyn and Camilla waiting by our lockers. "My friends are just there."
"So, since we didn't get a chance to really talk this morning, do you mind if we sit at lunch together?" He asked as we got to my locker. I nodded my head and watched him walk off.
"Oh, my, girl!" Evelyn squealed as she squeezed my arm. "When did this happen? Are you now together? What is happening?"
"Evelyn, calm it! We fell asleep before we could call you," Cami snapped as she popped her gum and rolled her dark brown eyes.
"Wait, you knew?" Evelyn whined as she turned around to face Camilla.
"Ladies, the bell rings in 3...2...1..." Mr. Cuttingham announced just like he did every day before. His short black hair had crept out from the sides of his fedora, as he wiped down the wrinkles on his button-down shirt.
"Okay, I have to say, I am so ready to be done with school," Camilla spoke between sighs. "Who are you going to prom with?" She asked Evelyn as we headed to our next class.
"Jesse Owens asked," Evelyn shrugged her shoulders, as we were greeted by the teacher, Mrs. Brooks.
"The nerd?" Camilla gawked as she slammed her dark purple binder down on the desk.
Evelyn shrugged again as she sat next to me, "He's not a nerd, he's just graduating a year early. Plus, I really like his hazel eyes,"
"Leave her alone, Cami, besides have you gotten Principal Rhoads to agree to have your mate come to Prom?" I asked raising my freshly done blonde eyebrows in her direction.
"Yes, and he said I'm lucky that we are mates, or he wouldn't allow it," She said taking out her purse and searching for her ruby red lip gloss that complimented her honey-toned skin. Maximiliano Fernandez is Camilla's mate, they found each other two years ago. Unfortunately, according to everyone else, he is twenty-three, which is a five-year age gap between them. Everyone except them, Evelyn and I. As we headed to three more classes it was finally time for lunch, and my nerves were so bad. How is it that my crush, everyone's crush, Mr. Football, track star, and future alpha of the Moon Light Pack ask to know me more?
"Phemie," Karter waved as he jogged over. He was still sweaty from running track in gym class, his dirty blonde hair matted to his temples and his face had a tinge of pink. "Hey, how are you?" He asked as he sat backward on the bench next to me.
"I'm okay," I forced a smile and tried my hardest not to breathe in his intoxicating scent of sandalwood.
"That's good, I wanted to officially ask you to prom," He smirked leaning his elbows on the table. "Will you go to prom with me?"
"Of course," I yipped just as Camilla pinched me to get me out of this trance he somehow put me under.
"Karter!" Yelled an all too familiar voice coming from across the cafeteria. The voice of Jayla Stewert, Ms. Popular, cheerleader, and swim team captain herself. The voice of the platinum blonde bombshell that tortured me throughout middle school. Her high ponytail bounced as she made her way to my table, her heels clicking with every step she took. "Sweetheart, can I talk to you?" She spoke in an annoying baby voice before eyeing me up and down.
"Jayla," He started as he turned his head looking up at her. "I'm not getting up, I literally just sat down,"
"What?" She looked at him in confusion. "Fine, whatever. I umm... wanted to ask, you know stepping up, rocking the feminist way," She awkwardly giggled as she swayed her hips. "So, Karter, will you go to prom with me?"
"Oh, you know Jayla you're a little late because I already asked Phemie," He smiled widely as he pointed in my direction. Unfortunately, for me, I had just taken a huge bite of my double cheeseburger and had ketchup on the side of my mouth. I smiled as best as I could turning to face this now angry queen bee. Karter took the opportunity to wipe my mouth with his thumb, which prompted this screech to come from Jayla's mouth, which had remained closed. "You can get pretty messy," He teased as he sucked his thumb. "I like it," The bell rang and he disappeared into the crowd, my heart stopped for a moment still unsure if I was in a dream.
"So, are we just not going to talk about what happened at lunch today?" Camilla raised her thin black eyebrow as we made our way out of the last class. I shrugged as I stared at the floor. "Uh-huh, well don't forget mom's today, she's making tacos," She grabbed my arm as we made our way to the parking lot. As we arrived at Camilla's house the quaint multi-colored brick home, on the outskirts of the town, almost beyond Moon Light Pack boundary. We're met by her two brothers, the younger annoying, Sebastian, and the older ex-drug addict, David. David was and has always been obsessed with me, he can't seem to help himself, playing in my hair, and trying to get me alone, even when he met his mate, Tabitha. Ever since she left him for the beta of the Twilight Pack three years ago, he's been a complete mess, sleeping on people's sofas, unable to hold a job, I'm glad he's off of drugs though. Then there's Bash as Cami and I call him, he's sixteen and homeschooled. For what reason? Cami thinks it's because he's the baby and Mrs. Luciana Lopez can't seem to part with him, which tracks. He has managed to convince her to start school next year.
"Sweet Phemie, it's so good to see your beauty again," David helped me out of my jeep as he grabbed my hand smelling the air. "Sweet as always," He winked.
"David stop being disgusting, besides, Phemie is going to prom with Karter Jenkins," Camilla smiled as she took me from her brother and pulled me inside. "Mami, I brought Euphemia!" She yelled dragging me into the kitchen where her mother was making tortillas by hand.
"Hello, Mrs. Luciana," I stated as I was pushed in her direction.
"Please, Euphemia, just Luci," She grabbed me up squeezing me as her thick Spanish accent hovered around her. The smell of citrus always enveloped her, as I was brought back to my childhood of cookies and milk, and late nights up with Cami and her mother.
"Phemie, thanks again for coming over last night," Cami put her hand on my shoulder as we made our way through the crowd of the long hallway. "Sorry about my brothers, I never knew how bad they both liked you until they started serenading you," Her big brown eyes got expansive as the corner to one side of her mouth came down in pure embarrassment. "Yeah, I'm just glad your mom came in with a broom when she did," I laughed remembering the sight of Mrs. Luciana hitting both boys over the head until they left the room. "Phemie, hey wait up!" Came the voice I loved hearing, the soothing way my name rolled off his tongue was like magic. "Hey, I was looking for you at the doors, I wanted us to walk into school together every day," He jogged over as he grabbed up my arm snaking his through his. "So, I'll walk you to your locker and I'd like to meet up for lunch again if that's cool?" He asked as we turned the corner, everyone's eyes were upon us and I could guess what they were thinking. Wh
"Sorry, I couldn't find anything at your aunt's boutique, Cami," I stated, grabbing my bag from the backseat. "Well, not everyone can wear Fiesta Boutique's dresses," Camilla shrugged as she stood by the large fern next to the doors of the school. "Are you going to try another place?" She asked putting a sucker in her mouth. "Yeah, I'm glad you and Evelyn found your dresses though," I smiled as I waved toward Jesse and Evelyn heading in our direction. "Phemie, hey, sorry you couldn't find a dress," Karter surprised me walking up from behind. "Shall we?" He asked as he held up his arm for me to take. "I'd like to talk to you at lunch," I nodded my head and watched Jesse kiss Evelyn on the cheek before leaving for his class. Karter however took me off guard by grabbing my hand and kissing it. "I..I...I am dreaming, that didn't just happen. Did it?" I stuttered as I held my hand to my chest. "It did now come on before you have a heart attack," Cami giggled as she shook her head whi
"Phemie, over here!" Evelyn waved as she held onto Jesse's arm as they stood by the doors to the school. I made my way over to my best friends when I feel an arm draped over my shoulders. "Hey, you!" Came the sultry voice of my long-time crush. We did get a little closer over the weekend, after he took me dress shopping we stopped for ice cream. Saturday morning he showed up at my door with coffee and donuts, and we spent the entire day together. Sunday he came over that afternoon and took me out for lunch and we spent most of the day at the park. It was amazing, the most fun I had in a long time, and to think it was all spent with Karter Jenkins! "I had a great time over the weekend," He whispered close to my ear. "Well, you two look cozy," Cami eyed us both before winking. She quickly turned around and sashayed into the overly crowded hallway. The stares kept coming like they had when Karter first asked me to walk into the school with him, but I didn't care anymore. Okay, well, may
"Phemie!" Karter yelled out as he jogged his way over. He seemed a bit disheveled, his blonde hair was matted to his temples, his face had a tinge of pink, and his beautiful brown eyes were now bloodshot. "Phemie can I talk to you?" He asked as he grabbed my elbow and pulled me to the side. "We've gotten to know each other I think, and if I'm honest I've started to fall for you, Euphemia. I wanted to know if you wanted to make it official?" All I could do was smile, I couldn't speak, I couldn't move, everything I ever wanted I was finally getting, remembering Mrs. Maisel's words. "Phemie, you're doing it again," He chuckled as he brushed my blonde hair out of my dark blue eyes. "Is that a yes? I'll take that as a yes," He grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me. My first kiss, with my crush, could this be any more perfect? "I'll see you later okay? No matter what happens I'm taking you to prom," He leaned down and kissed my hand before making his way inside the school. "Phemie, what
"Hey Phemie, still no word from Karter?" Evelyn asked as she and Jesse walked up to my locker. "No, and I don't understand it's been five days since he asked me out, it's been five days since I spoke to him, it's been five days since he showed up to school," I stated as I looked down at the phone in my hand hoping it would ring with his name across the screen. "Have you seen him or his truck at his parents' house?" I questioned Jesse, with a hint of desperation in my eyes. "No, Phemie, they haven't and Jesse would let you know otherwise if he sees him in class or at home," Cami forced a smile as she took my phone and put it in her back pocket before dragging me to class. "Ladies the bell rings in 3...2...1..." Mr. Cuttingham spoke out as he took off his brown fedora before setting it on his desk. "Tomorrow is prom, and I wanted to remind all of you to vote for homecoming royalty," He smiled in my direction before starting his lesson. The loudspeaker crackled as we exited class and
"Girls it's time to wake up!" Cami clapped her hands taking off her brown bonnet with pink roses on the trim. "Today is prom, and we have so much to do!" "Yes, hair, nails, dresses!" Evelyn exclaimed as she threw the covers off of her and ran to the bathroom. "Do you think..." I began as I got out of my bed heading to the kitchen to make coffee, but I was quickly cut off. "I don't think, and neither will you. We are not thinking, we are having a relaxing day," Camilla said as she began putting her hair into a bun. "Now, get dressed, no making coffee, I told you everything is on Max," She held up a gold debit card, before slipping into her grey sweatpants. As we headed off to start the day we dropped by Wolf's Whipped Coffee Shop before heading to get our nails done at Nicki's Nail Art. "Do you guys think orange is too much?" Evelyn asked as she held up her left hand. "I mean should I pick a different color because my dress is orange?" "What color are your shoes?" Cami asked as sh
"Phemie, it's been two weeks since prom," Cami softly spoke as she rubbed my back. "You have to get up. So Karter found his mate, and queen bee Jayla won homecoming queen, life continues," She tried to encourage me as she handed me my favorite vanilla bean frappuccino with caramel drizzle. "I can't Camilla, I just can't," I took the cup as I sat up in bed sniffling. My hair was definitely a mess, I hadn't brushed it in a week, and I probably smelled, too bad my nose was stopped up. "My crush, I finally got him, I finally had him in my grasp, we dated, and then he's someone else's mate," I began crying again as I choked on my words, grabbing another tissue from the nightstand. "Yes, and we can't ponder on that anymore. You missed the last week of school, and we understood, but tomorrow is graduation and we need to get ahead and start getting you ready and up to performance rate," She stood up from the bed, throwing back my covers, and headed to the bathroom. "Come on, let's get you
"I'm so glad you girls slept over. We needed this," Cami handed me a cup of coffee before turning around to fix another. "Yes, I had a great time, especially when David and Bash started to sing to Phemie and Mrs. Luci came in with her broom," Evelyn laughed as she took the cup from Camilla. "Good morning girls!" Mrs. Luciana rang out as she entered the kitchen in her silk floral robe with her dark brunette hair in a messy bun. Left open she wore a small silk pink cami and shorts, she was slim like Camilla and had a beauty mark on her left lip. Her carefree personality is intoxicating, you feel safe and at home in her presence. "Hope you slept well, today is a big day. Graduation!" She cheered as she sipped from her cup making her way to the round kitchen table. "Good morning girls," David yawned as he made his way to the counter. "Good morning, my sweet," He grabbed my hand and kissed it before fixing himself a cup of coffee. "David, don't make me get the broom," Mrs. Luciana sang