Four

Dev and I sat on the log around the fire. The crackling fills my ears.

"How did practice go?" He asked.

I shrug my shoulders. "Same old thing."

"Oh you were back, later than normally."

I nod. "Yeah, I hung out with Dyani, she stayed and watched me practice."

"Oh what did you guys do?"

I raised an eyebrow at him.

He just laughs.

"I am starting to question my relationship with her."

"Why? You guys have been together for over a year."

"I don't feel like we have anything in common."

Dev nods, "Cut her loose then."

I frown. It would be hard to break up with Dyani. I don't know, I am probably just in my head too much.

"Somebody else caught your eye?"

"I don't know, I couldn't be with her anyway."

"Why?" He analyzes my face.

I know Dev wouldn't understand. He doesn't go to high school. He has no idea of the social ladder.

"Because she is a computer nerd, and I am a school football jock."

"So you're worried what people will think?" I see that twinkle in his eye, indicating that he's finding this humorous.

"Softa I guess."

"Look, after school is over, you're never going to see those people again, and this girl may be the one, and you're letting her go because you're worried about what someone will think who won't be in your life years from now."

I smile.Dev has the reputation for being a goofball, but sometimes he's really wise and gives great advice.

"Thanks man, right now I am not compelled enough to act on anything."

He nods. "Well, maybe the time will be right."

The next day at school, I sit at my desk, and I feel somewhat guilty because I felt relieved I didn't see Dyani in the hallways. Which is abnormal for her. It truly was.

I see her finally entering the classroom, and she looks like a mess. Not her normal self, she wears sweatpants, a sweater, and her hair in a messy bun. Everyone who knows Dyani knows she dresses to impress. I actually have never seen her look like that.

I look back at her and she looks down.

I feel like things make sense when my name and hers were called down to the principal's office. Dyani wasn't shocked, I sure am.

We both walk out of the classroom. I feel annoyed as we walk down the hallway, she barely makes eye contact with me.

"Chetan, Please take a seat next to Zare." The secretary tells me.

I nod.

She looks just as uncomfortable as me. Her leg quickly moves up and down.

"What's going on?" I eye her and I see she seems like she's going to cry. I am not sure why this bothers me.

"Dyani, and Brody got caught drinking on school property."

I know the anger fills my face.

"Oh we are guilty by association."

She laughs. "I guess so."

"Zare, I don't really know you, but do you think you deserve better than Brody?"

She looks a little confused by my statement.

"He isn't as bad as everyone thinks. He can be really sweet and caring. It's just he has to stop his abuse of substances."

I nod. "Honorable to stand by him, but if it's dragging you down, then you might want to think about that."

"Thanks Chetan." I pat her leg.

I see Dyani walk out of the office with a yellow slip of paper in her hand. A detention slip.

"Dyani." She looks at me and then looks away.

"Chetan, I'm ready for you now." I hear the principal call.

"Give me a second."

"Excuse me", I hear his voice obviously annoyed.

Dyani finally walks over to me. She looks up at me with those beautiful eyes.

"You have no explanation for me?"

"Drinking was only half of it." She tells me.

Zare looks down at the ground.

I move hair from Dyani's face. "We're going to talk about this later." I look into her eyes, before I place a kiss on her nose.

She nods.

I watch her walk away.

Finally sitting in the principal's office, I sit in the chair across from his desk with my arms across my chest. He slams down empty beer bottles on his table.

"I won't tolerate drinking at school property by anyone, even our football star," he spat out the words.

I laugh. "I'm glad I am held responsible for something, just like every other student, because that hasn't been the case certainly, but this time you can't even prove I was there because I wasn't, those aren't mine."

"Dyani was."

I raise an eyebrow. "And your wife and you do everything together?"

His face is red. "And do you have an alibi for yesterday evening?"

"I was with Mr.Kabir."

Alpha Kabir was on my school paperwork. And not only do I get in trouble from my parents for getting in trouble in school, I also get punished through the pack by the alpha.

"He is your employer?"

I nod. That's what the school thinks.

"And what kind of work do you do for Mr.Kabir?"

I let out a deep breath, because I was getting very irritated, to say the least. "I'm not going to sit through your interrogation, I wasn't drinking on school property, and if you check my alibi, it'll check out."

I stand up to leave. "Chetan, I really hope your alibi checks out."

"And Zare, I think you shouldn't be accusing her either."

I storm from his office. Just to see Ajay approaching. I roll my eyes.

"Really Kabir sent you?"

"Chetan, the fighting, and getting in trouble at school, needs to stop, because when I am Alpha I'm no longer dealing with it."

I roll my eyes.

I see Zare wide eyed.

Great.