A Few Hours Before

After calming Emily down, and returning to the Cafe, they were able to wrap up the situation without any further problem. Hazel returned their uniform to the class president before heading out with Emily to the bonfire. They found a good spot to watch the bonfire. Emily’s stomach suddenly gave off a grumble. Hazel giggles at her, “You haven’t eaten anything since that blow up.”

“I couldn’t stomach anything,” said Emily with a hunger expression, “Now that all the stress is gone, I’m feeling hungry again.”

Emily and Hazel hear the aftermath committee announcing their refreshment booth. Hazel smiles out as she stands up from her seat, “I’ll get us some refreshments, you stay here.”

Emily nods and waves at Hazel as she leaves to get them refreshments. Just as she was about to put her hand down, she was suddenly grabbed and pulled down. Emily glares at the person that pulled her arm and yanks it out of their grip. She glares at them, “What are you doing?”

Present

The person that pulled her arm was Ash. He became baffled when he saw her face. Orpha’s words echoed inside of his head of how she was a troublemaker. There were also rumors about her being a delinquent who fought against those that were older than her or got on her bad side. But the main reason why he was baffled was because he thought that she was the alpha that he had encountered in his middle school years. However, Orpha told him that she was an Omega, there’s no way he would mistaken an Alpha’s smell for an Omega.

“Sorry…” Ash said with his face still shocked, “I thought that you were someone else.”

Emily kept her sight on him. She recalled seeing him from somewhere but where? Hazel came back with the refreshments alongside LJ and Orpha. She was chatting away with Orpha until they arrived. LJ drinks his juice through a straw and blinks at them.

“Did we miss something?,” LJ burps out.

“No,” said Ash, “Where’s my drink?”

Orpha gave him a cola, “Here.”

“Thanks.”

Hazel gave Emily a hotdog and a bottle of water. She sat down beside her and ate her cream filled bread. Orpha greets Emily as she greets back. Emily ate her hotdog while keeping a dagger glare at Ash who was trying to hide himself from her glare. LJ and Orpha notice the weird atmosphere and nugs Ash.

“Everything okay?” LJ asked, “Emily looks like she wants to smack you.”

Ash slurps his drinks without saying anything. Orpha was going to ask as well, but was stopped by the noise in the front. They were about to light up the bonfire. Everyone in the surrounding area sits quietly as the people with the torch walk up to the wood. They turn around with a bow and toss the torch into the bonfire.

WHOOSH!

Everyone cheered at the sight of seeing the bonfire lit and blazing high in the sky. Soda cups were toast together as the couples went up to the bonfire and started dancing. Music was being played in the background. LJ was asked by many girls to dance and Orpha was also invited. Ash refused and wanted to enjoy the sight as much as he could. Hazel was also asked for a dance, but she refused, saying that her legs were exhausted from the festival. There were some that wanted to asked Emily, but were too scared so they just whistle away.

Ash watches his friends dance with a smile. He sips more of the soda until he suddenly catches another scent of the Alpha’s pheromones. He glanced behind him instead of acting recklessly this time. Emily and Hazel were talking about something as they laughed. They felt someone staring at them and looked down. Ash quickly looks away before they catch him.

Emily kicks his chair, “You got a problem…?”

Ash shakes his head, “No…”

“Then why do you keep looking over here?” Emily demanded.

“About that…'' Ash couldn’t very well tell them that he thought that he smelled the alpha that helped him in middle school.

Emily tilts her head to the side with a scum-like expression on, “I don’t care if you have a crush on Hazel or something but you’re acting like a creep right now.”

Ash’s face crack. That was the first time anyone ever called him a creep. It wounded his pride. He got up from his seat somewhat pissed off, “Who are you calling a creep?”

Emily also stood up and pointed at him with her mouth looking down on him, “You.”

Ash’s vein pops out in anger. He cracks his knuckles at her, “Even if you're a girl, I’ll beat some senses into you for insulting me.”

Emily pulls up her sleeves, “Bring it.”

Ash and Emily saw something black at the corner of their eyes. They turn around only to be flicked in the head by Hazel. It was a loud BANG! Emily and Ash hunch over covering their painful forehead. Hazel was smiling at them, but her eyes and body language said otherwise.

“Don’t start a fight while others are trying to relax here,” said Hazel with a smile.

They look at Hazel before looking at each other. The more they stare at each other the more they feel angry at the other. Emily was the one who started it first by spitting at his feet. Irritated, Ash spits back at her. They kept spitting at each other to the point where if someone listened closely to their direction, all they could hear was just spitting sound. Hazel crosses her arm and smiles at them while her back is on fire trying to hold back from smacking both of their heads. They felt the threat coming from her and stopped. They snob off at each other and watch the bonfire.

After a few hours later, the bonfire finally died out, and the students started to clear up from the field. LJ and Orpha return from their dance and see something unexpected. Ash and Emily were leaning on Hazel’s shoulder dozing off while Hazel looked like she just went through hell. They wanted to ask what happened, but Hazel’s expression made it hard for them to ask.

LJ takes Ash off from her shoulder and throws his arm over his shoulder. Orpha helps him carry Ash. Hazel lightly shakes Emily to wake up. She opened her drowsy eyes that were half closed, “Did I win…?”

Hazel shrugs, “The events are over, it time to go home.”

Emily pauses for a moment and nods. Orpha blinks at her, “You really know how to take care of her.”

Hazel smiles, “Well, I’ve been with her since childhood.”

“What did she mean by, did she win?” LJ asked.

Hazel gave out a sigh, “These two had a staring contest and fell asleep right afterwards from all the bickering…”

“Thank you for dealing with our child,” LJ and Orpha apologized with a deep bow.

“You’re welcome,” said Hazel.

…

Everything felt hot and suffocating. Ash wanted to find something cold to jump into or even swallow ice. Just something cool and refreshing to just take away this burning heat sensation from within him. Ash reached out and suddenly grabbed someone. He pins that person down and sees a female figure below him.

She had an unusual delicious smell about her. Something that attracted him to her. He couldn’t help but lean in closer and sniff her neck. Her soft and white skin, and tempting smell made the burning sensation from within him go away. He wanted to see her face. He needed to know who this woman was that had calmed the heat inside of him.

However, the moment he lifted himself to look at her face was the moment he woke up from his dream. Ash found himself awake in his own bed. He gets up and rubs his face. The last thing he remembers was bickering with Emily. He didn’t mean to look at her or come in like a creep. There was just that smell coming from her direction. He wanted to apologize but did she really have to get so agitated at him when he wanted to apologize.

He also recalls Hazel trying to calm their dispute and was put in the middle as a ref for them. Ash felt horrible for putting Hazel in that position. He wanted to crawl into a hole for acting so immature and getting provoked by Emily of all people. Just remembering the spitting and bickering made him feel small.

Who the hell said that she was a delinquent?! More like a fifth grader if you ask me…!

To Be Continued